Wake skiing

Mdvalant are you still interested in selling yours?

quinner wrote: Maximal691 wrote: Trick skiing is pretty much dead. Like anything else that takes real skill, work and talent, It is unfortunate that most would rather load up their boat with unneeded ballast creating a huge wake, tearing up the lake, eroding the shoreline, etc. etc. to embark in something that takes almost no skill, like surfing or wake boarding.

   CQ..you are my new best friend!! My sentiments exactly!! I usually write my opinions on this stuff off to the fact that I'm long past my prime and I just don't get it. All my skiing life the goal was for flat water and smooth lakes and boats that provided the same. Nothing is more disheartening to me than looking out on glass water and then seeing some loaded up "wake" boat come along just as you are ready to take a ski or run.
    If some of these style boaters were ever fortunate enough to become lakefront property owners many would change their minds in a hurry. My adult son is a boarder and wake surfer [sadly] in addition to other disciplines but he knows to go far down the lake away from not only our property but any of our neighbors who might recognize his boat. Our lake was formed back in the TVA days and the shoreline was stable all these years until the past few with the advent of these surf monsters. I've probably lost 6'-8' of shoreline over the past four years and there appears to be no end in sight.
    Nothing better on a quiet evening on the lake than a monster v-drive pulling a couple tubes or a six year old on a board with the tower speakers blasting out rap music!! We all know it is nearly impossible to learn anything without some blaring music.
     Well, that was my rant for the day!!

And I hold my statement that trickskiing is pretty much dead. When was the last time you saw it on tv? Or anywhere for that matter. That stuff went the same way as trick Rollerskating.

Maximal691 wrote: Quinner, I think you must be joking to think that only waterskiing takes skill and practice. If you're being serious you must live a pretty sheltered life. Airtique, my family does have lake front property. If you're so concerned about erosion you should probably invest in a retaining wall if you lost 6-8' of shoreline already. I like the mentality you have about not ***************ting in your nest. It's ok for your son to make wakes as long as it's not in your backyard... Just someone elses..

Really??? Where did I say that?? The point I was trying to make is trick skiing takes a great deal of skill and balance, as a result it takes practice which usually equals a time commitment should you wish to really excel. Sadly this is something more and more people simply have no interest in. Based on what are some of the most popular events on water these days, tubing followed by wakeboarding while surfing is probably gaining the most new riders, which are substantially easier to do, to the point of requiring almost no skill whatsoever with something like tubing.

I was also very surprised to see +1 valents comment that trick skiing is lame, wow. Throughout my involvement in show skiing the best trick skiers were generally the best all around skiers. While my son was in show skiing I sent him up north to train every season and they typically spent close to 70% of that time on trick. IMO trick skiing can be the foundation for just about any event on the water, but then again, apparently I lead a very sheltered life

Regarding your comment of adding retaining walls, seriously?? That is probably the WORST thing you can do to any body of water, that stuff should be banned!! Have you ever seen what happens to a wave when it hits a wall??

Well you said "...to embark in something that takes almost no skill, like surfing and wake boarding", which is just insane. You must be just turning down free boats and sponserships at a cyclic rate if it's that easy to you. Its that mentality that holds sports back. You are like the old racers who talked down on the freestyle movement in snow skiing. You need to respect that they both take talent, just because its not for you doesnt mean its a worthless throw away sport. I love slalom skiing, i also like wakeboarding. I even have fun taking out my friends who can do neither of those on a tube. And retaining walls, they bounce off the waves off without disipitating them. I just think it's funny that Airtique is so concerned about losing lake front yet still has a boat that gets loaded up with ballast and surfed behind. Pretty hypocritical. I also like the condiscending tone that they cant afford property on the lake. News flash, if you can drop close to six figures on a boat, chances are you can buy some property on a lake.

Not selling at this time, asked my buddy and he voted to keep them around. Sorry. Also sorry I'm on my phone and unable to help you argue with the grumpier old men.

Maximal691 wrote: This is just turning into a pissing match. If anyone has any wakeski info post up. Mdvalant did you catch my post about a price for your skis?

     No pissing...just opinions. And while I do own an Air and it does take in approximately 450lb of water when used for boarding it has never had sacks and has never been used to surf. My son uses his own boat for that when he comes over from N.C.

I think were going to have to disagree that wake boarding doesn't require much talent. You're personal abilities came in when you said "it takes almost no skill" that would mean it must be really easy for you. I've been doing it for a while and I still find it challenging. As far as surfing goes, I've never done it from behind a boat, just in the ocean. Although I could stand up, I wouldn't say I had mastered it, and it was far from just standing on a dock. And as far as what bill said, it is condescending to say these people cannot afford lake property. Suppose I said said I was 60? Would it be ok for me to make these posts then? I'm actually 24 but I don't feel like age has anything to do with this.

quinner wrote: Maximal691 wrote: Well you said "...to embark in something that takes almost no skill, like surfing and wake boarding", which is just insane. You must be just turning down free boats and sponserships at a cyclic rate if it's that easy to you. Its that mentality that holds sports back. Obviously I am referring to the basic skills to embark on a specific discipline, and yes IMO surfing is about as difficult as standing on a dock, please explain to me otherwise. Wakeboarding does require a bit more skill, balance and a bit of strength however is still nowhere near as difficult as tricking, again explain to me otherwise. Um, also not sure where my personal abilities were part of my conversation?? Holding back the sport, wow, lol, OK. You mentioned TV, can't say I have seen any water sport other then Wakeboarding on ESPN or any major network in years, guess I just don't have the clout I used too Maximal691 wrote: just because its not for you doesn't mean its a worthless throw away sport. I love slalom skiing, i also like wakeboarding. I even have fun taking out my friends who can do neither of those on a tube. When did I say it is not for me or a worthless sport? I Enjoy wakeboarding from time to time, particularly anytime I have a chance to ride a different board. What I did touch on originally is what I don't like about wakeboarding and surfing to some degree, the common mentality that you need thousands of pounds of ballast and a 3+ foot wake to do it. As an example a neighbor bought a 220 last year, running 1000lbs on top of the factory ballast, that boat comes out and all 220 acres of our lake is destroyed for riders who can barely do wake to wakes. Another neighbor started surfing last year, same thing. Maximal691 wrote: I just think it's funny that Airtique is so concerned about losing lake front yet still has a boat that gets loaded up with ballast and surfed behind. Pretty hypocritical. I also like the condiscending tone that they cant afford property on the lake. News flash, if you can drop close to six figures on a boat, chances are you can buy some property on a lake. So what are you max, 20-21 yrs old?? And your calling out Bill, who may be old enough to be your grandfather, as a hypocrite and condescending, not cool. Here's another wake up call, just because someone has a six figure wake boat does not mean they can or should afford it.

Chris,
Very well put. I agree totally.

NG,
You don't even want to fill in you profile?

Maximal691 wrote: Profile? What do you want to know about me? Just feel free to ask me.

When I greet and welcome new members to CCfan, and if they haven't given their first names, I will typically ask if they would mind adding that to their profile. I will then go on to say that they should take some time and read some of the great info and threads taking note that most use first names. Unlike other sites, CCfan members don't use screen names very much.

Making a diary entry is also a great way to fill others in on yourself. The pictures and text tell lots. Take some time and do a diary entry if you care to.

Maximal691 wrote: And I hold my statement that trickskiing is pretty much dead. When was the last time you saw it on tv? Or anywhere for that matter. That stuff went the same way as trick Rollerskating.

Well let's see I guess that is a matter of opinion. I'm guessing you haven't been to a Professional Waterski Tournament in a while. I've been going to the Master's at Callaway Gardens for quite some time and trick skiing is very much alive and well. With the comment about it not being on TV then I guess Slalom skiing is dead too with that philosophy as it hasn't been on TV in forever too. They're are plenty of pro young trick skiers out there younger than 24 and some juniors are up and coming. It's still fascinating to watch and the crowds I've seen still love the sport so it's not dead as you so proclaim.

I bet 98% of people could walk right by Chris Parrish, Andy Mapple, Kristi Overton Johnston, and not know who they are and of there accomplishments in the field of watersports unless you are a fan of the sport. It all depends on your point of view. Andy Mapple can still tear up the slalom course at 49 and Bob Lapoint is 56 and can still do the same. How many pro wakeboarders are gonna be able to throw their game the same when they are 50+. Not too many I'd guess.

I'm a wakeboarder as well but you don't need a boat loaded down with 1500lbs to throw your stuff. I've done it behind a Bass boat with the motor trimmed up. You have to work a little harder but that is what makes you a better athlete IMO. Most guys I see boarding with all that weight can barely ride but yet they churn up the water for those who are fishing,skiiing or boarding as well. Laws are starting to take place on some lakes forbidding wakeboard boats to fill their tanks because of erosion problems, and yes some are also not allowing retaining walls because the owners want the natural beauty of the lake.

52nd Masters Ski Tournament

Jaret Llewllyn on his toe pass. The dude is 40 yrs old and still looks good on the water.


51st Masters

Whitney McClintock Masters TRICK Champion age 19

Morfoot wrote: yes some are also not allowing retaining walls because the owners want the natural beauty of the lake.

The DNR up north in my district hasn't allowed retaining/erosion control walls since they started enforcement back in the 20's.

also, tim's photo sums up why i've never trick skied...i just think it looks kinda fruity...there is one old guy on my lake with a nice ski nautique that trick skis...he's really good, but he looks like he's swing dancing out there no offense to anyone who trick skis, it's just not for me.
i'm sure figure skating takes a lot of talent too, but i'd much rather play hockey instead...
just for the record (as it seems to matter somewhat in this thread) i live on the water, wakeboard 100% of the time behind my 2001 with about 800lbs ballast, and my best tricks are heel and toe 5's...

i guess natural is relative...a collection of rocks is certainly more natural looking than corrugated steel...but a pile of rocks would protect just as well...

I'm on a cliff side of the lake. It makes everything from lifts to coolers a chore.