I think I can cross the wake now. - 6/1/2010
I free-skied Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of this Memorial Day weekend. It was absolutely fantastic. I ran a few sets at -15@34 then bumped the line up to -22@34. After one set of -22@34 on Saturday, I was officially hooked on that length and speed combo for the remainder of the long weekend.
Here's what's amazing: I couldn't even slightly play around at -22, even early last season, without being terrified of the wake at that length. Regardless of the boat I was behind, it always seemed like a huge obstacle. During these last few sets of free-skiing, I was absolutely tearing through the wake. It felt like there was basically zero wake at that length. I always knew that our boat was supposed to have a terrific -22 wake but I just didn't "get it" until now. The -22 wake is friggin' excellent.
I'm coming into the wakes these days with power. At 34mph, especially at -22, that means a nice stern hop over the wake, clearing the trough, into the wash. I've written about this phenomenon before extensively but could never figure out how to do it. The feeling is that of invincibility over the wake. No doubts, no weakness, no hesitation, off-side or on.
I was just starting to feel this last fall when I was getting deep into the course at 34mph. Strong into the wake, ski out in front, single hop, turn, repeat. No bobble.
I don't know how I got here other than water time, basically, but I've waited for this amount of confidence behind the boat for a long, long time and I think it finally hit me. These -22@34 sets were real eye openers for me, making me feel more than ever like the fun is just beginning in my slalom skiing!
Comments:
luv2ski, 6/1/2010: Great to hear Joel. Don't be afraid to go shorter now, the wake only gets better. I tried a 32 off pass at 34 in open water this past weekend and had a blast.WadeWilliams, 6/4/2010: Radddd!
skibrain, 6/6/2010: We haven't had course access on our public lake yet this season. I've got to admit I prefer free skiing so much more. Getting more runs in every time we've been out, skiing, longer runs (24-26 turns going the length of the lake), working on form vs. ball count...
***Comments cannot be made on archived items. If this is a new post, just go to the home page to comment on it***
