From one skier to another since 2007.
On the eve of the proprietor of this site's first tournament, a post. It’s been a while after all. Where has the Captain been all summer? Why, skiing of course. Joel, if this morning’s sets were any indicator, we’re going to rock this thing tomorrow. And even if we don’t, we’re going to have a ball anyway. (You may have to remind me of that tomorrow.) Our road show is 17 strong with 7 entrants in the tourney. The really exciting news is that 4 of our crew will be skiing in their first tournament! Joel, Fu-man & the little Fu’s, good luck & have fun. (Mrs. Original wishes you well too. She’s pretty bummed not to be able to share your big day.) I hope you catch the bug and come back year after year. We’re doing our part to grow the sport. That pumps me up even more than cutting line and standing up trick passes. (Again, gentle reminders tomorrow as needed). As for the skiing, I’m getting fired up and the nerves are setting in nice and early. You’d think after 9 tournaments (17 rounds) this year I’d settle down. But, with progress comes greater expectations. A wise veteran of our game told me this year that he’s never met a tournament water skier who wasn’t greedy. So let’s go stretch for those extra balls, points and feet. Its tournament time!
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Once in a while, one finds a gold mine in his own backyard. Duck Lake, a 90 acre private paradise, sits only a mile from where I live now, and only 5 miles from where I grew up. I've driven by its web of navigable channels thousands of times, but until Saturday I'd never been out on the lake. That all changed this weekend with a generous offer to ski and ski we did! John (The Duck Lake Legend) has a tight slalom course situated perfectly. Even on a windy day, it skied great. Skiing with guys who are far better than you always paves the way for learning a few things and John and Mike did not disappoint. They made the short line look easy and taught me a few things about my onside turn. I finally ran a clean pass at 34mph and turned around and ran -22, albeit with a little "help". Thanks guys, for a great morning on the lake. The Legend lives!
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Skiing with someone better than you is always good...unless they don't know how they do it. So what did they share with you about your onside turn?
As I'm coming into the turn, I'm dropping my head and left shoulder (1-3-5). The obvious correction was to stay on the handle a little longer, but maintianing a better upper body posture really helps....when I do it right. I think the whole habbit comes from my general struggle to slow the ski down. Any advice on that would be appreciated.
That's a symptom of my onside turn. It helps to know why it's happening. Mine is a result of several things, mostly staring at the buoy too long. Another is rotating the turn (or not staying square to the course as I finish the turn). Finally not generating the proper speed and direction into the buoy to create enough speed and space to comfortably make a controlled turn. Staying with the handle will help, but there are ways to make that easier to do. Work on ways to make speed and space and the turn becomes less frantic. If you are skiing the best line then speed is your friend and you'll find you don't want to get rid of it.
Deke was right, it will be twisted. Have you tried trailing arm pressure or being open to the boat? (you had to know this was coming) If done properly this will release you out into a wide early fast line that will surprise you with the space you create.
I'm completely changing the way I Think about a turn finish. I try to keep the shoulders still (especially the outside shoulder), I try to sweep the handle slowly to the outside hip, as the outside hand reaches the handle I try to twist my upper body to face down the course, the more I can square my body down the lake, the more speed and direction I build. Release this at the second wake and your body will unwind pointing to the shore.
Now obviously you can't work on all that at once. But being open will start the ball rolling, the more you can exagerate the openess the better results you will get.
Of course this all just my opinion.
Tricked on a sheet of glass last night, slalomed on glass this morning. And, its only May
Printer-friendly versionOn the eve of the proprietor of this site's first tournament, a post. It’s been a while after all. Where has the Captain been all summer? Why, skiing of course. Joel, if this morning’s sets were any indicator, we’re going to rock this thing tomorrow. And even if we don’t, we’re going to have a ball anyway. (You may have to remind me of that tomorrow.) Our road show is 17 strong with 7 entrants in the tourney. The really exciting news is that 4 of our crew will be skiing in their first tournament! Joel, Fu-man & the little Fu’s, good luck & have fun. (Mrs. Original wishes you well too. She’s pretty bummed not to be able to share your big day.) I hope you catch the bug and come back year after year. We’re doing our part to grow the sport. That pumps me up even more than cutting line and standing up trick passes. (Again, gentle reminders tomorrow as needed). As for the skiing, I’m getting fired up and the nerves are setting in nice and early. You’d think after 9 tournaments (17 rounds) this year I’d settle down. But, with progress comes greater expectations. A wise veteran of our game told me this year that he’s never met a tournament water skier who wasn’t greedy. So let’s go stretch for those extra balls, points and feet. Its tournament time!
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Really hoping to just make it
Really hoping to just make it through my opener.
Don't be tempted to start at
Don't be tempted to start at a slower speed than you normally ski at. Ski what you ski in practice and you will be fine. Good luck.
The plan is 32 > 34 > 36 mph,
The plan is 32 > 34 > 36 mph, then cut it if I complete 36. Got 5@36 this morning after back to back 34's and a 32 before that. Mph, that is.
Go Joel! This must be really
Go Joel! This must be really exciting!
Ryan, I think our group needs
Ryan, I think our group needs a common theme/uniform of some sort...
Go gettum guys! Tournaments
Go gettum guys! Tournaments are awesome!
Good Luck!
Have fun, stay focused, relax! This is all supposed to be FUN right? So why not have a blast while doing it? I look forward to the full report.
Full post coming on all the
Full post coming on all the details BUT- here are the Cliff's notes:
1. Everyone in my family had a BLAST, they can't wait for the next one.
2. Skied a PB and tourney PB, 2@-22 36mph (yes, full -15 34 and -15 36 before that)
3. I wish I had started doing this a long time ago
4. Can't wait until next summer
5. Can't wait until 2014 when I can ski 34 after getting good and solid at 36...
6. Everything I thought I knew about tournaments was wrong, in a good way.
Tourney
Welcome to the club, Joel, and glad you had a great time. You meet the finest folks at tourneys, make lifelong friends, and share the passion we have for our great sport. Thanks to you, also, for the website which brings friends together to share views on the greatness of water skiing. Another Summer has flown by, but the anticipation for next year is just one more great aspect of our sport.