Short slalom course

[JohnE]

I remember reading in a thread here somewhere about a short slalom course. Somehow there are still 6 balls, but overall course length is a few hundred feet shorter than the standard course. Anyone remember the thread, or otherwise have any info on it?

I was talking to a guy tonight and he was telling me about his friend putting this course in on a very small manmade lake.

Any info will be appreciated.

[TX.X-30 fan]

I remember a thread about a guy that could move the balls in a little and back out and almost no one knew??

[shepherd]

Here you go: http://www.tmcowners.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?t=22618&highlight=ball

You skiing the course now John?

[88 PS190]

I remember reading in a thread here somewhere about a short slalom course. Somehow there are still 6 balls, but overall course length is a few hundred feet shorter than the standard course. .


In general you'd do better having a 4 ball course with the standard dimensions between balls, or a 6 ball course with no pregates.

IMHO the most crucial thing to learn is timing, the gates to one ball and then rythmn with the rest of the course. A 4 ball course establishes that but the skier also needs to remember that they should try to get time on a six ball course because it highlights things they don't see on the 4, mainly that it gets harder to stay on time the further in the course, and that its really easy to be behind 5 and 6 even if you were alright 3 and 4.

A six ball course minus the pregates does save quite a bit of space, althoguh many courses don't have pregates anyway.

Constructing a 6 ball to smaller than full dimensions will mean that while it could be fun to ski, you'll be all off if you ski anywhere else.

[shellabargerj]

I ski with my boat on an irrigation lake. It's not big enough for a six-ball course without doing some land-shark skiing on the ends, so we run a four-ball course. I agree that getting the entrance timing and getting into rhythm is important, and it's fun and closer to my house than our regular six-ball course lake.

[Skipper]

Our lake is a little under 1800 feet long. We were using a standard six ball course. There was enough room but the set up was very short. Once you got out of the water you had to pull out for the gate. We switched to an 8 ball course. Now the overall course length is shorter and the setup is longer.

[JohnE]

Here you go: http://www.tmcowners.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?t=22618&highlight=ball

You skiing the course now John?


Shep,

That's the thread I was looking for, thanks. I ski'd the course last night for the first time this year. It's humbling. We tried to go last week, but the wind was nearly gale force. Big whitecaps. Going to try for 2 days a week if schedule permits.

Thanks for the advice everyone. There is a serious skier I know who is setting up this 8 ball course on a short private lake. He ski's mornings on our lake, but is so seriuos that he wants great water at night (who doesn't) and know the owner of some piece of property with an existing small manmade lake. I was trying to visualize this 8 ball course, and couldn't. Unfortunately I don't know him well enough to get in on this......

[BrianM]

Unfortunately I don't know him well enough to get in on this......

Time to make better friends with the guy.

[Monte]

John, If you'll just strap a wakeboard to your feet you won't have to worry about such.8p:rolleyes::D

Good luck with your quest:cool:

[Gonzo]

In general you'd do better having a 4 ball course with the standard dimensions between balls, or a 6 ball course with no pregates.

A six ball course minus the pregates does save quite a bit of space, althoguh many courses don't have pregates anyway.



This is what I was thinking, if boat turn is tight then you simply start outside of no1 like you do when teaching the course to a beginer, ignoring gates. I think if you bring the balls in toward the guides you may find yourself "shadowing" a full course later when you get on one without even realizing it. but then what do I know its been 14 years since I was on one with any regularity :D:D

[Gonzo]

whoops, answer found... should have read it all (and only one page too, Im getting lazy)

[Skipper]

... I was trying to visualize this 8 ball course, and couldn't...

The 8 ball course elimates the need for 55 meter pregates. The course is a few hundred feet shorter than a 6 ball with pregates. At each end of the course are red skier end gates. When entering the course these gates are for boat alignment. You ski the last 6 of the 8 balls on the course. Confused yet? When the boat pulls you out of the water the boat passes through the red gates. At the next gate (green balls) there is a skier ball to the right; the ball is not in use but this is where you pull out to set up. The next gate (yellow balls) has a skier ball to the left; the ball is not in use but most people initiate their turn into the skier gate at this point. The next gate is the skier gate with red balls. From this point you are in a six ball course (for the most part). The last gate on the course is the skier exit gate.

Basically, this course is 300 feet shorter than a standard 6 ball with pre-gates. On a short lake it allows a little extra time to setup. For example; I am a 34mph skier. On our short lake with the six ball course I had to start my pull out just as soon as I was standing up. With the 8 ball course I can actually get up and ski the length of one gate before I have to pull out. Doesn't seem like much, but it makes a hellova difference when you are skiing.

[uawaterskier]

The 8 ball course elimates the need for 55 meter pregates. The course is a few hundred feet shorter than a 6 ball with pregates. At each end of the course are red skier end gates. When entering the course these gates are for boat alignment. You ski the last 6 of the 8 balls on the course. Confused yet? When the boat pulls you out of the water the boat passes through the red gates. At the next gate (green balls) there is a skier ball to the right; the ball is not in use but this is where you pull out to set up. The next gate (yellow balls) has a skier ball to the left; the ball is not in use but most people initiate their turn into the skier gate at this point. The next gate is the skier gate with red balls. From this point you are in a six ball course (for the most part). The last gate on the course is the skier exit gate.

Basically, this course is 300 feet shorter than a standard 6 ball with pre-gates. On a short lake it allows a little extra time to setup. For example; I am a 34mph skier. On our short lake with the six ball course I had to start my pull out just as soon as I was standing up. With the 8 ball course I can actually get up and ski the length of one gate before I have to pull out. Doesn't seem like much, but it makes a hellova difference when you are skiing.
so basically its like being able to "shift" the course to each end of the lake every time you make a pass?

[Skipper]

Here is a diagram of the 8 ball course - NOT to scale

[Skipper]

so basically its like being able to "shift" the course to each end of the lake every time you make a pass?

Yes. Some folks get confused by the extra balls. Some ingenious people at a lake in Mississippi connected a cable from one five ball to a garage door opener to the other five ball. They used a garage door opener remote to lower the extra 5 ball before pulling into the course.

[#47of100TeamMC]

Just out of curiousity, How does this setup work with Perfect Pass and Course Magnets?

[Skipper]

Just out of curiousity, How does this setup work with Perfect Pass and Course Magnets?


We only run one sensor on the PP (left side of the boat). Then place a magnet on the left ball of each gate we want a sensor. PP works just fine.

In the diagram below I added the placement of magnets on the course.

[Skipper]

Correction: The diagram above shows blue circles for right to left travel and purple circles for left to right travel. That is backwards.

[Skipper]

That's why I get so angry. I don't know my left from my right!

[uawaterskier]

wow im impressed bill. I like it alot.

[JohnE]

Bill,

Great diagram and it makes perfect sense now.

Thanks,

John