tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (03/19/85)
I would like to see some people that water ski post some stuff in net.rec.boat. Yes Virginia, there are still some of us out there that burn the fossil fuel to have fun. Don't get me wrong, I am also a laser sailer, a canoeist, and occasionally hit the white water, but I love to ski. In particular I am interested in hearing any user experiences with some of the HO (Hugh O'Brian) skis and bindings I have seen in the last couple of years. The idea of adjustable sized interchangeable toe pieces is ideal for people like me that have to share a ski with another guy and two little footed ladies. Are they worth the bucks? What about the fact that they raise you an inch above the surface of the ski? SHould I get the plate version or the regular version? Do the Velcro straps help and do they hold up under a lot of use? Also I would like to hear from a few people about water ski slalom courses and how to build them. I set one up last winter. An experience to say the least. See other article for a humorous description of that experience. thanks
rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) (03/20/85)
Yes there are some water skiers out here. It seems that any time I have posted anything to do with power boats to this news group, it is religiously ignored. If anyone out there has any recomendations on water skis I would be interested also, as one of my old faithful skis finially tore a footing. Rick Schieve
tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (03/21/85)
Well, good to hear there are other skiers out there... I skied for a couple of years on a western wood ski (real wood) and it was nfg. It seems that all western wood skis (even the glass ones) have this problem that when you shift your weight foreward to brake they stop. Period. A face plant is the next action. We then switched to an O'Brian Competitor. It is a top end recreational ski that is really well put together and skis like a dream. You can carve a turn till your shoulder hits the water and the ski still digs into the water. There are obviously better skis out there, Jobe, HO, Connely etc. They all cost proportionally more. A recommendation though. I used to laugh when I saw these guys with their pool cue in a bag heading to the pool hall. We bought a bag for our ski and it is either in the water or in the bag. No flying dock starts, this thing never touches anything harsher than the water or my head (in a crash and burn). It is worth it. In fact, my ski partner and I are the only ones allowed to use it. We have a reasonably good pair of glass skis (cut and jump) for the hackers to use. I may sound like a fanatic, but $400 to $500 is hard to come by to replace ones favorite ski. Now all I need is a boat with more than 75 ponies. Oh, and another thing. Try wearing water ski gloves. (this guy is a freak you say!) Really, it makes it a lot easier. The grip you get is great and the savings on the hands is worth it. (easier to tear out your shoulder than slip out of your hands!) t.jones
rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) (03/22/85)
> Now all I need is a boat with more than 75 ponies. Last season I upgraded from a pig 16-ft semi-tri-hull with a 65 hp outboard to a 17-ft shallow-vee with a 140 hp outboard. Obviously a enjoy the added power and speed when skiing. But what I found to be surprising is that I use about 30 to 40% less gas. Instead of taking forever to come out of the water and running full throttle all the time, you come right out and run at about 1/3 to 1/2 throttle. I know in the long run the gas is really a small part of the overall expenditure for skiing, but maybe this will add a little inspiration in your quest for more ponies. > Oh, and another thing. Try wearing water ski gloves. (this guy is a > freak you say!) Really, it makes it a lot easier. The grip you get is great > and the savings on the hands is worth it. (easier to tear out your shoulder > than slip out of your hands!) I have heard these are supposed to be great, how about some suggestions on brand names and styles. Rick Schieve ...ihnp4!ihu1g!rls
tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (03/26/85)
re gloves... I had two pairs. The first pair was some sort of goretex type glove I think and it lasted less than a season. My partner used O'Brien Gloves, the really tacky bright green and blue ones. That is what I use now. They feel really strange but they grip well and are rugged. They only cost about $20 here in Canada. A good investment. With them on you never let go... (been going down so long it looks like up)
mem@cositex.UUCP (Mary Esther Middleton) (03/29/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** Well, here in Austin, it's been water skiing season just about year round. We've has a fairly short winter, and if you have a wet suit, and a boat, you're ready to go. In fact, we were water skiing the week before Christmas, and went to Vail the week of. We had to let up for about a month or two, but we're back at it again! My boyfriend and I bought a Ski Nautique last September, and what a great investment! It has a Cleveland 351 engine (that's 255 horsepower), which pulls you up out of the water quickly. You don't even have to get your head wet! In an earlier article, someone was asking about what kind of gloves to wear. I have tried two different kinds so far: Connelly makes both gloves. One is a competition tournament glove (the best). It sells around town for $15.95, but you can get it through the Overton's mail order catalog for $11.95. This glove has a velcro strap, and is of much better quality than their other glove that I have used (I don't know what they call it). Both are in the Overton's catalog. If you want a copy of the catalog, you can call 1-800-334-6541, and if you are in N.C., call 1-800-682-8263. They carry a wide range of supplies and equipment at a very reasonable price. We also bought our boat cover from Overton's. About skis. We have some kind of EP tournament ski, but a friend of mine has a Jobe Open Class (with a double boot), and I prefer this ski to the EP. We are still trying them out, trying to decide what to get. I don't think my boyfriend and I will get the same kind of ski. He skis tournaments etc., and I am not currently at that level, although I am trying. I'll be thinking of all you out there this week when I'm out cutting it up! Mary Esther Middleton
rcs@linus.UUCP (Richard C. Smith) (03/29/85)
I have a Connelly HP Graphite with HO Pro-Wrap bindings for both the front and rear feet. If you don't wish to share the ski with other people, this binding is great. It never has come off of my feet, even during some bad wipe-outs. The ski has the Connelly tournament fin foil. It pulls the ski down into the water on turns and provides greater accelleration. Gloves are a good idea. They help keep your grip strong with only a little effort. Happy Skiing, Rick Smith ...decvax!linus!rcs
tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (04/02/85)
I am interested in knowing how to get out of the water when both feet are in bindings. This probably stems from our lack of ponies (75) and my weight (188) but it takes all its got when I have one leg helping. I also am interested in how one gets up barefoot (I know I need more ponies) without using a skim disk or ?? I want to body surf then stand up. How? Do I have to be good at barefoot before I can do this, or is this a way to learn both at the same time... (having to go back to get skim disk or whatever wastes time and gas...) I want, I want, I want... oh well, still room for improvement if you have this many wants... tj
rls@ihu1g.UUCP (r.l. schieve) (04/03/85)
> > I am interested in knowing how to get out of the water when both feet are > in bindings. This probably stems from our lack of ponies (75) and my weight > (188) but it takes all its got when I have one leg helping. > I am not sure exactly what you are asking here, do you mean that you usually get up on both and drop one? I have gotten up on one ski with as little as 35hp as follows: do not put both feet in the bindings, the rear foot digs the back of the ski in too much and you just play tug of war with the boat and the boat never gets on plane. Instead put your front foot in the ski and let the other foot drag behind like a rudder. As the boat pulls there is some initial trouble as the rope and ski conflict. Let your front knee come up to your chest if needed, don't try to keep the front leg straight. The back leg drags behind. When the boat picks up speed and is on plane then put the rear foot in the rear binding. This method works well for me and many people that I have taught. Rick Schieve
tj@utcs.UUCP (tj) (04/04/85)
indeed... I did not make it clear... I have no problem getting up on one ski, did it for too long behind a 45 horse before I spent the $ on 75 horses... But I would like to know if I am doing something fundamentally wrong when trying to get up with both feet in the bindings of my single ski. (I don't even remember how to ski on two skis!!!) If i get a new ski I might consider two full bindings so I will never come out but if I really need Mega-Ponies to get out of the water with both feet strapped in then I can't afford it. The full bindings make it impossible to get your back foot in after getting up. (actually maybe I am wrong here.. maybe I am assuming that since these are really tedious to put on while sitting in the water they would be impossible when skiing but I could be wrong!!) tj