View Full Version : Driving the course tips.
André
03-09-2005, 01:19 PM
I would like to know how you guys turn the boat around for a second pass in a row when not shorthening the rope.We have plenty of room but sometimes it seems like the boat is hitting real hard in our wake when coming back for the course and sometimes the transition is soft but can't pinpoint what Nathalie is doing differently.
How big of a diameter do you use to turn around usually ?
Do you turn entirely on one side of the course so that you finish the turn in line with the boat path ?
Favorite side to do the turn ?
Do you give more throttle when turning ?
If you slow down while turning,will Perfect Pass kick in ?
If someone could post a drawing of a course with ideal boat path,that would be cool!
Thanks to any tips!
André
rodltg2
03-09-2005, 01:40 PM
to disengage perfect pass you will need to slow the boat down significanlty and then back up to about 28. thats a good speed to make a turn. if you dont back off the throttle enough the pp wont disengage and will speed back up to your set speed.
best thing to do is drop your skier at the end of each pass to let the wakes wash out and have the skier rest . if you prefer not to do that, you should continue the boat path while veering to the right as long as possible. then start a left turn ,then make a right turn around the island ( if there is one ) .
André
03-09-2005, 01:50 PM
Nope ,can't afford one!
But i like to ski more then one pass at a time,at least up and down the course.
I was wondering if there was special technique to turn around...
Professor
03-09-2005, 02:25 PM
We usually stop at each end of the course (a must at many private lakes because of distance or for those skiers, like me, who need a breather). I assume that your course is in an open area. Do you have to worry about other boat traffic? Our drivers tend to turn away from possible boat traffic so they can have better sight control. When making another pass through the course our drivers tend to cut a slow arc (usually turning starboard) back into the wake and in line with the course (with a little more throttle since the skier’s speed slows…but will compensate for the skier’s ability). We make new skiers/drivers read schnitz’s essay on “Safety” and driving: http://www.schnitzskis.com/pages/460851/index.htm
east tx skier
03-09-2005, 02:27 PM
Rod hit it. Take the turn slow and make sure, as the skier, you stay right behind the boat. Turn island or not, you're going to get a little wake heading back in. Most I've spoken to with turn islands seem to think they're more trouble than they're worth because of the extra maintenance involved. Perfect pass will let go once you drop below the set RPM, but shoot for well below that range.
I think the best strategy is to just drop and rest.
USC8791
03-09-2005, 08:37 PM
Ditto. Stop and rest at each end.
André
03-09-2005, 09:44 PM
Well,it seems that everybody ski that way except me!
Maybe i'll change my way of training...
Leroy
03-09-2005, 10:06 PM
André; How many runs do you normally do before needing a breather?
T Scott
03-09-2005, 10:49 PM
Andre',
We usually drop at both ends of the course, however, the water is much warmer here!! When I do back to back passes, I drive approx. 250-300 feet straight out of the course and then begin a "dog bone'. I turn the boat to the left and then circle back to the right, completing the circle and heading straight down the same boat path. The circle I drive is approx. 80-100 feet.
Hope it helps!
Tom
I do the same turn as T Scott. Usually four passes without a break is about max. I might try stopping more mid summer when the water warms up! But we usually ski with three people in the am before work and wouldn’t want it take any longer. Jamie
Farmer Ted
03-10-2005, 12:32 AM
Here's how I like it,
after I fall at the three ball...uh never mind
bradamerry
03-10-2005, 07:05 AM
Here's how I like it,
after I fall at the three ball...uh never mind
And this is when I try and see how many bouys I can hit with the dragging rope :dance: !
André
03-10-2005, 08:09 AM
It was 4 passes until last year when i went down to up and down the course.Since i'm not shorthening the rope everytime,i don't want to stop at each end.
But all the serious slalom skiers i have talk to mostly drop at each end.
Wonder why they put turning islands on made man lakes?
sfitzgerald351
03-10-2005, 09:06 AM
Wow you guys have some deluxe courses. The course on the lake I ski at has only about 200 feet at the far end to turn in and thus no room to drop and wait and then pull up again. So you're committed to doing a really tight turn at the end in about 3-4' of water. They marked the turn with bouys which is nice. The basic idea is the same as T Scott though (and how I've always driven the turns at any course):
Come straight out of the course.
Once the skier is through and steady, cut left or right about 100 feet on about a 45 degree angle
Then turn the opposite direction such that you make a nice circle and end up lined up with the course at the end. Gives the skier about 100 feet or so to pull out and get started. The skier will usually cross the wakes just prior to the pull out.
I've always found that the turns are easiest at speed (like 30).
André
03-10-2005, 09:14 AM
I do have about 3500 ' of straight where the course is located in a small bay so distance is not a problem.Just looking for the best way to turn around without making too much rollers and having the boat slam into our own wake when coming back.
Perfect Pass surging was also a concern...
Thanks for your reply so far!
Ditto. Stop and rest at each end.
unless others are waiting to ski and you are burning water as you bs!
georgea0731
03-10-2005, 11:26 AM
We ski on a public lake where we maintain a slalom course. A friend, delta pilot, taught his wife, once you leave the course go straight for 2 seconds, then turn approx. 45 degrees, go for approx. 3-5 seconds, then turn the opposite direction in a gentle turn that puts you in line with the course. You're going to hit a bump/waves when coming back around from the initial turn, but at 45 degree angle it should be minimum. This pattern should look similar to a tear drop. Sometimes you turn back in a little slower and you end up a little to the left of course and do a slight right turn to get you straight again. You get better at it with time, of course you can adjust it for safety. I've heard you should go left 1st then turn right so the driver is in the best position to react, to see (especially if the skier falls) and it keeps the course to the drivers right too/shortest distance. The diagram might help if it shows up right sorry (3rd try)!
jimmer2880
03-10-2005, 12:00 PM
I find it's easier (less energy) on the skier (myself) to drop each time. Also, then we're not sending rollers through the other 10 miles of river after every pass.
sfitzgerald351
03-10-2005, 12:30 PM
George, that diagram is exactly what we do and it seems to work really nicely if you're not going to drop at the end. You just make lengthen or shorten the loop as space allows.
André
03-10-2005, 05:00 PM
Thanks for the diagram George.
Since we turn in a small bay ,we don't send rollers anywhere on the lake.No
houses or cottage for a mile around.
Robert Averyt
03-11-2005, 09:31 AM
Doug,
Check out the turn islands on Lake Louise. We have absolutely no maintenance problems with our turn islands at all.
east tx skier
03-11-2005, 10:25 AM
I'll give it a look, Robert. But until I do, what did you all do to prevent erosion?
/edit. I don't see no stinkin' turn islands. Is that it? What do I win? :D
ski_king
03-11-2005, 11:14 AM
I wish I was good enough to need to stop and shorten the rope.
I typically do about 4 passes before I stop and rest, assuming I don't crash first.
We do about the same as some of you. After about 5 seconds, turn left about 45 degrees, 5 seconds later start the u turn and that should line you up about right.
One end of the course has a bridge pier in line with the course and we have to modiy the turn somewhat.
Robert Averyt
03-11-2005, 11:21 AM
Doug,
We do not have Islands. Thats why.
Can't imagine why anyone would build a lake with them.
Dont mean to be a smart a-s Just feelin a little friskey with this wonderful weather we are having.
I hope everyone has a great weekend on the lake.
André
03-11-2005, 11:38 AM
Robert
Do you allow wakeboarding and ballast on your lake?
phecksel
03-11-2005, 11:39 AM
Our course requires tight turns, although our higher skilled skiers will stop after each pass. four seconds after exisiting the course, sharp 45° right, sharp 135° left, line back up and go. Crossing the wakes is a minor event, wouldn't even spill the coffee :)
east tx skier
03-11-2005, 11:50 AM
Doug,
We do not have Islands. Thats why.
Can't imagine why anyone would build a lake with them.
Dont mean to be a smart a-s Just feelin a little friskey with this wonderful weather we are having.
I hope everyone has a great weekend on the lake.
Hey, that's what I figured. My experience skiing with islands is that they don't completely eliminate the wake crossing when doing a turnaround and also make it harder to drop at that end.
Robert Averyt
03-11-2005, 03:45 PM
Andre,
Do we allow what? Wakeboarding? Ballast?
Are you talking about those guys and gals on that big fat board that cant ride a trick ski? Just pokin fun again.
Andre, No we do not allow wakeboards or fat sacks.
My kids use to ask me why there were so many Jet skis and wakeboarders and so few trick, jump and slalom skiers. My answer was and still is because its easy.
Jmho and I am sticking to it.
Robert Averyt
MasterMason
03-11-2005, 03:50 PM
Robert, I think it is easier to get to the middle of the road wakeboarding, but those guys you see on TV take it to a different level that isn't very easy IMHO. That being said, I prefer the stick myself, because thats what I have been doing since I was about 6.
BTW #1 son got his 2nd degree last night :o
what's middle of the road compared to a guy throwing off axis inverts? Is that the same as comparing a guy skiing full line length to a guy skiing into 41 off?
Robert Averyt
03-11-2005, 03:57 PM
I see all kinds of kids doing flips on wakeboards and very few doing them on trick skis. I have alot of respect for a kid doing a flip on a trick ski. He has dedicated him self to something that is not easy to do.
Same goes for a nice toe pass.
jmho.
Robert Averyt
Master congrats on the 2nd degree are you teaching him?
MasterMason
03-11-2005, 04:07 PM
Tex, Yes that would be my comparison to middle of the road.
Robert, Thanks, yes I am his instructor. He was so nervous at the first proficency his hands were shaking, and not because he didn't know it. I think he was afraid he would let me down if he messed up. But he did great.
Robert Averyt
03-11-2005, 04:09 PM
Tex, Yes that would be my comparison to middle of the road.
Robert, Thanks, yes I am his instructor. He was so nervous at the first proficency his hands were shaking, and not because he didn't know it. I think he was afraid he would let me down if he messed up. But he did great.
I know you are very proud. I have two daughters. So I will not get that unless I have grand sons. Now that would be really cool.
what is middle of the road on a wakeboard? landing in the flats, rolls, railey's? congrats to the kid.
Robert-I wish more kids were tricking? they just don't get exposed to it. when i was skiing in shows, alot of guys could throw inverts on wakeboards-we would try and get them to do it on a trick ski and it would be amazing how fast they could pick it up. i am talking about guys who could ski but had never really tricked before. sorry for the hijack?-drive straight, keep a constant speed and bring a hot chick with you!