PICS PUDDINGSTONE WATERSKI RACES 5/9

[Firecracker]

The Social and Pro Social classes have always been limited to hands out front for the entire race, with a 100 foot maximum rope length for Social, and the templated 69" ski. The rules state that the Social class skiers must put the ski on in the water unassisted. Pro Social allows a 70" square back ski, 130 foot rope, and race type bindings since they can be helped into the ski on the boat.

It's been several years since I was actively involved, so I checked the rule book at the site.

There ya go! LOL I forgot it WAS restricted to hands out only...

 

[fdlock890]

What kind of speeds are these boats going?
Thanks, Lock

 

[Firecracker]

What kind of speeds are these boats going?
Thanks, Lock

Depends on the class... Anywhere from 40mph to 90mph. :skull

 

[Oz Dude]

The Social and Pro Social classes have always been limited to hands out front for the entire race, with a 100 foot maximum rope length for Social, and the templated 69" ski. The rules state that the Social class skiers must put the ski on in the water unassisted. Pro Social allows a 70" square back ski, 130 foot rope, and race type bindings since they can be helped into the ski on the boat.

It's been several years since I was actively involved, so I checked the rule book at the site.

Hey, thanks for the clarification. Ok, so as part of "social" classes over there you have to have your hands out front, except for marathons as you said...

We don't have a "halfway" class like pro social though. The only other restricted class is 60mph where you are limited to 100ft lines. Everything else is per pro class as 60mph class was intended for those entering the sport to get a feel for everything and then step up. Due to the initial popularity of it though, this season that's just finished saw the introduction of 70mph class. Too many arguments were happening in 60 between seasoned guys who had got bakc into it, and beginners. What the old pros forgot is that everyone needs to learn (even them way back when) and learning isn't always pretty.

It will be interesting to see if they introduce 80mph class next season either in addition to the others, or in place of 70mph class, as it wasn't really popular all season. I think in the B2B race last November when we ran in 60 (and broke out at 61.1 DAMN IT!) our time was only 4 min slower that the class winning boat for 70 which showed there weren't any real competitive boats there.

With SMOC and MOC doing 90+, 80mph class would be a good step up from 60mph without having to wring every last ounce out of boat and skiers.

Are your Unlimited guys getting up to the same speeds as we do here when you river race??

Oz

 

[River Lynchmob]

Hey, thanks for the clarification. Ok, so as part of "social" classes over there you have to have your hands out front, except for marathons as you said...

We don't have a "halfway" class like pro social though. The only other restricted class is 60mph where you are limited to 100ft lines. Everything else is per pro class as 60mph class was intended for those entering the sport to get a feel for everything and then step up. Due to the initial popularity of it though, this season that's just finished saw the introduction of 70mph class. Too many arguments were happening in 60 between seasoned guys who had got bakc into it, and beginners. What the old pros forgot is that everyone needs to learn (even them way back when) and learning isn't always pretty.

It will be interesting to see if they introduce 80mph class next season either in addition to the others, or in place of 70mph class, as it wasn't really popular all season. I think in the B2B race last November when we ran in 60 (and broke out at 61.1 DAMN IT!) our time was only 4 min slower that the class winning boat for 70 which showed there weren't any real competitive boats there.

With SMOC and MOC doing 90+, 80mph class would be a good step up from 60mph without having to wring every last ounce out of boat and skiers.

Are your Unlimited guys getting up to the same speeds as we do here when you river race??

Oz

No they aren't...racing here is still on the decline. The only guys that can reach those speeds here are Todd haig and Peter Procter...in Parker earlier this year they hit about 116 up the front chute. There are some decent younger skier coming up but nothing like Todd or Marty Well or Corey Cook...just isn't the depth of skiers that there are in Oz...unfortunately

 

[Firecracker]

Hey, thanks for the clarification. Ok, so as part of "social" classes over there you have to have your hands out front, except for marathons as you said...

We don't have a "halfway" class like pro social though. The only other restricted class is 60mph where you are limited to 100ft lines. Everything else is per pro class as 60mph class was intended for those entering the sport to get a feel for everything and then step up. Due to the initial popularity of it though, this season that's just finished saw the introduction of 70mph class. Too many arguments were happening in 60 between seasoned guys who had got bakc into it, and beginners. What the old pros forgot is that everyone needs to learn (even them way back when) and learning isn't always pretty.

It will be interesting to see if they introduce 80mph class next season either in addition to the others, or in place of 70mph class, as it wasn't really popular all season. I think in the B2B race last November when we ran in 60 (and broke out at 61.1 DAMN IT!) our time was only 4 min slower that the class winning boat for 70 which showed there weren't any real competitive boats there.

With SMOC and MOC doing 90+, 80mph class would be a good step up from 60mph without having to wring every last ounce out of boat and skiers.

Are your Unlimited guys getting up to the same speeds as we do here when you river race??

Oz

The 60mph class, how long does it take you to finish? About an hour fifteen?

 

[Firecracker]

Hey, thanks for the clarification. Ok, so as part of "social" classes over there you have to have your hands out front, except for marathons as you said...

We don't have a "halfway" class like pro social though. The only other restricted class is 60mph where you are limited to 100ft lines. Everything else is per pro class as 60mph class was intended for those entering the sport to get a feel for everything and then step up. Due to the initial popularity of it though, this season that's just finished saw the introduction of 70mph class. Too many arguments were happening in 60 between seasoned guys who had got bakc into it, and beginners. What the old pros forgot is that everyone needs to learn (even them way back when) and learning isn't always pretty.

It will be interesting to see if they introduce 80mph class next season either in addition to the others, or in place of 70mph class, as it wasn't really popular all season. I think in the B2B race last November when we ran in 60 (and broke out at 61.1 DAMN IT!) our time was only 4 min slower that the class winning boat for 70 which showed there weren't any real competitive boats there.

With SMOC and MOC doing 90+, 80mph class would be a good step up from 60mph without having to wring every last ounce out of boat and skiers.

Are your Unlimited guys getting up to the same speeds as we do here when you river race??

Oz

Oh, and our river races aren't like yours either... There would be some higher speeds if we ran our river races as you guys do. But over here, we still set up a cours which we run circles around for an hour. They won't let us shut down rivers like that over here. You guys are the lucky ones!!! Your country loves the sport. Here it is so small, they gripe about closing 7 miles of a river off for us. Let alone 50+ miles...

 

[Oz Dude]

River Lynchmob - that's why I don't get it. Americans are pretty big on "Extreme Anything" and it doesn't get more extreme than ripping along the water at 100+ on a plank of wood!

There's plenty of fast boats over there. You guys need to get some of the next generation up and running...

Firecracker - yeah, I think our time was about 76min from memory. The 1-up race earlier this month is slightly shorter and that was 63min.

As for closing the river, we only have a few "classics" each year that take up such a huge amount of real estate. The other rounds are all run on open rivers, and, depending on the marshals at the event, social boats are permitted to enter the course during an event, although are strongly advised to keep to the extreme edge of the course...

Oz

 

[gar163y]

So what kind of boat is the smokin boat?

It's a Bernico F2 :thumbsup

http://www.bernico.be/nederlands/bernico.html

 

[RiverDave]

Welcome to the board Gar!

RD

 

[boat527]

Got this from my brother yesterday.. Boat 143

Pretty cool.. makes me want to race again!


[video=youtube;ycYbPPajToU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycYbPPajToU[/video]

 

[RiverDave]

Bitchen video!! I desperately want to buy some on board cameras for events like this..

RD

 

[obnoxious001]

Got this from my brother yesterday.. Boat 143

Pretty cool.. makes me want to race again!

Yep, me too! The music was very appropriate, since I rode in Wayne's boat for a huge AC/DC fan, Scott Dominguez in the 2000 marathon season here in the US. I was sorry I missed getting over to that race to say hello to old friends, even worse since it was only 4 miles from my house!

 

[Firecracker]

Bitchen video!! I desperately want to buy some on board cameras for events like this..

RD

WE use the GoPro Helmet HERO cameras. They're pretty cheap, about $100. They have no wires either. Jut a memory card, and two 'AA' batteries. A 2gb card will get about 45 minutes of footage.

They are better on a stable surface too... Here's one from my camera at the US Open Last Year:

[video=vimeo;2778202]http://vimeo.com/2778202[/video]

Sorry I have no music...

 

[skifaster]

WW, you coming out to Puddingstone again? You gonna ski this time?

 

[whiteworks]

WW, you coming out to Puddingstone again? You gonna ski this time?

I am planning on coming out. I will not be skiing, I still suck

 

[skifaster]

I am planning on coming out. I will not be skiing, I still suck

Bring your trunks, you are skiing. Grass Roots Race is perfect for people who just learned to ski or have never raced. Its only a couple laps. Mike Bemis will be there too and you can talk to him about making ski's.

 

[River Lynchmob]

I'll be out there...even going to ski a little bit :skull thats could be painful :champagne:

 

[obnoxious001]

I'll be out there...even going to ski a little bit :skull thats could be painful :champagne:

You want a warm up ride at Puddingstone first John?

 

[River Lynchmob]

You want a warm up ride at Puddingstone first John?

would love to but i dont think i will have time and all my stuff is in Parker. Planning on bringing it back this weekend

 

[obnoxious001]

would love to but i dont think i will have time and all my stuff is in Parker. Planning on bringing it back this weekend

Ok,, you are invited to ski any time I have the boat out, and I imagine your feet would fit in my ski

 

[River Lynchmob]

Ok,, you are invited to ski any time I have the boat out, and I imagine your feet would fit in my ski

Thanks for the offer. I wear a 10

 

[obnoxious001]

Thanks for the offer. I wear a 10

They should fit. Becker has a loaner from Dennis that you probably could fit into also.

What kind of class are you going to race?

 

[River Lynchmob]

They should fit. Becker has a loaner from Dennis that you probably could fit into also.

What kind of class are you going to race?

Planning on the Grass Roots race, the double up draw, the reverse direction race and maybe novice. maybe a relay if I feel up to it

 

[obnoxious001]

Planning on the Grass Roots race, the double up draw, the reverse direction race and maybe novice. maybe a relay if I feel up to it

That's a lot of racing for $30!!!

One question though, for the Grass Roots race, you have to have grass growing out of your shorts,, or do you need to be singing "Temptation Eyes" while you ski?

 

[River Lynchmob]

That's a lot of racing for $30!!!

One question though, for the Grass Roots race, you have to have grass growing out of your shorts,, or do you need to be singing "Temptation Eyes" while you ski?

I thought it meant you had to have grass hanging out of your mouth :skull

 

[obnoxious001]

Ok, for the stupid guys like us,, what exactly is that race?

 

[River Lynchmob]

Ok, for the stupid guys like us,, what exactly is that race?

No clue...maybe Andy can answer it for us

 

[Crazyhippy]

From the flyer linked on NWSRA's homepage, and on here...

Grass Roots Race – All skiers must have joined as Grass Roots Members for Puddingstone Fun Day. Existing USAWS and NWSRA members not eligible. 2 LAPS

 

[obnoxious001]

From the flyer linked on NWSRA's homepage, and on here...

Grass Roots Race – All skiers must have joined as Grass Roots Members for Puddingstone Fun Day. Existing USAWS and NWSRA members not eligible. 2 LAPS

That doesn't seem like too much of an explanation. Sounds like guys that used to race could show up with race skis racing against rookies on recreational skis?

 

[Crazyhippy]

That doesn't seem like too much of an explanation. Sounds like guys that used to race could show up with race skis racing against rookies on recreational skis?

pretty much... have to have been away from NWSRA for 3yrs...

 

[skifaster]

pretty much... have to have been away from NWSRA for 3yrs...

Grass Roots is a new program for USA Waterski. Long story short, the grass roots race is really for someone who has never raced before. So old ski racers can't ski the grass roots race, no matter how long it has been since they last raced. Lynch can ski Novice, but not grass roots.

 

[Crazyhippy]

Grass Roots is a new program for USA Waterski. Long story short, the grass roots race is really for someone who has never raced before. So old ski racers can't ski the grass roots race, no matter how long it has been since they last raced. Lynch can ski Novice, but not grass roots.

I'm just going off of what the flyer says...

This is a USAWS Grass Roots Event. If you are not a member of the NWSRA/USAWS, you can join for $35 if you have not been a member in the past 3 years. This $35 fee is a one time fee and only good for Grass Roots Events.

and

Grass Roots Race – All skiers must have joined as Grass Roots Members for Puddingstone Fun Day. Existing USAWS and NWSRA members not eligible. 2 LAPS

http://www.nwsra.net/09puddfly.pdf

 

[obnoxious001]

Actually I think "Skifaster" is the president, so would follow what he has to say about it.

I was just trying to get a definative answer,, might make it easier for new people to want to come and and ski if they know they don't have to race experienced racers. Now Lynch and I don't have to worry about bringing a box of grass with us to the lake Saturday.

 

[skifaster]

I'm just going off of what the flyer says...



and



http://www.nwsra.net/09puddfly.pdf

The flyer is correct as far as the 3 year limitation for Grass Roots "membership". That allows a reduced membership fee and is a new program from USA Waterski. For our purposes at these races, the grass roots race is strictly for people who have NEVER raced before. It is to encourage people to try it and not be intimidated by racing people who have done it before. If someone skied the Grass Roots race in May, they can do it again this time.
The whole idea of the Puddingstone Fun day is to be just that... Fun. We just want people to give it a try.

 

[Crazyhippy]

Sounds like a great idea.

Next idea/ question/ comment is allong the same line. Are the "Fun races" requiring a race approved lifevest (wetsuit) or is a "normal" Coast Guard approved vest ok? It would eliminate yet another hurdle to people (like me)

 

[skifaster]

At Puddingstone for these fun races the rules are much looser, so a normal coast guard approved jacket is fine. Helmets are still required. There are plenty of people that can lend you what you need to give it a try at the event. At the last event, one gentleman brought a beach chair and a cooler with no intention of skiing. He decided to ski and we lent him everything he needed and he had a great time.

 

[SKIA36]

At Puddingstone for these fun races the rules are much looser, so a normal coast guard approved jacket is fine. Helmets are still required. There are plenty of people that can lend you what you need to give it a try at the event. At the last event, one gentleman brought a beach chair and a cooler with no intention of skiing. He decided to ski and we lent him everything he needed and he had a great time.

I find it hard to believe a "Gentleman" would ski race...

 

[Crazyhippy]

I find it hard to believe a "Gentleman" would ski race...

He was a Gentleman before, something else now:champagne::monkey:

 

[racerden]

I find it hard to believe a "Gentleman" would ski race...

Why's that?
________
Lovely Wendie99

 

[Kdub157]

Whiteworks - awesome pics dude!!!!

It's good to see that Ski Racing is alive and well in the USA. I must admit, I can't believe a sport that can have so much involvement is not supported better over there. Even in the pics it's obvious by the fact that y'all only run single skier events. A day like that is equivalent to a club day here in Oz. When we have our big races, you've got 100+ teams all requiring 2 skiers and it's a blast to be part of it. More people should go along to an event just to watch. It doesn't take much to then get yourelf an observer, some gear, and then all you need to do is find a skier. By the time you add in wives, girlfriends, families, etc you have a day out for 20 people and you can all get involved.

Did you notice boat 627? That's a 21' Force from Oz. I'm surprised they have a 2.5 on it though. Big boat with drag behind. All the outboard variants over here of that hull are powered by 300's. If you get a chance, track down Howard Hoggins and his Twin Turbo Big Block version called Armed Force. That's the spec we run here for our Superclass where they're in the 120's...

What really blew me away about your pics was the number of skiers that still ski with their handles in front!! Wow, there needs to be some sort of education program over there to help these guys and girls cause they are making their lives much harder hangin on out the back when they aren't wrapped up... I couldn't really tell from your pics but are the guys who are wrapped up starting fully wrapped or are they coming up out of the hole and then wrapping up?? Other than one or two little kids over here that don't have the strength in their arms yet, I don't know of one ski racer who still has their handles in front!

As for the little ones, that was very cool. That's the future of the sport right there and once they're hooked, they're in it for life. We have a local club here that fosters young talent. There are kids as young as 7 that ski fully wrapped up on a rail. And the one thing you NEVER hear at a club day from kids??? I'm bored... Just doesn't happen...

I also saw somewhere in the thread that you were thinking about having a run later in the year but needed to get your strength up? Try this exercise - stand with your back against a wall and slide down until your thigs are parallel to the ground (before you go all the way down to a crouch). Now hold that position... Best ecercise there is for strengthening the legs. To help pass the time do it in a room where you have a TV. Try starting with one segment of a show between ad breaks. Then slowly work up from there. Once you can get to 30min, you're ready for anything

I'll start another thread when I get a few min and put up some Aussie shots.

Oz :thumbsup

oz dude--
they only ski hands out front in the "hands out front" race