I Feel Old School or Just Old.

[skibrain]

Dry suits. Enough gear that the air and water temp isn't too big an issue. Ice on the lake does not work, however.

[AZBoatDreamer]

Dry suits. Enough gear that the air and water temp isn't too big an issue. Ice on the lake does not work, however.

about what time of the year do you loose the Dry suits?

[skibrain]

The date is so variable, but when water gets warmer than about 60 degrees.
Then straight to the shorty wetsuit.

[AZBoatDreamer]

OK Brian. Thanks.

[AZBoatDreamer]

Nervous about sking again this Year. Its been since last OCT since I skied. Maybe its time to invest in a dry suit.

I'm going to be sore.

[CaptainKickback]

Wakeboarding. Special boats. Humm. I'm planning to put three bilge pumps in my project boat to pump water out. Just seems wrong to intentionally pump it into the boat. lol

[saxrulez]

Wakeboarding. Special boats. Humm. I'm planning to put three bilge pumps in my project boat to pump water out. Just seems wrong to intentionally pump it into the boat. lol

I'm with you there.

I'm 28 right now. I already have old man syndrome with wakeboard boats with giant wakes and speakers blasting. Those drive me nuts as well as a few of the jet ski's around here that are louder than drag cars. I got tired of them so I went to fishing in the no wake zone, and then they started doing 60mph toward the no wake zone buoys and cutting a 180 right at the buoy. Jerks!

[WD40.1]

Resurecting a great thread!
Just signed up today to discuss some smart tabs, but that's not what's important here...

Sign me up for the Old School crowd!
At 53 years old, I still love to cut it up.

OK...so maybe I should dump the old '78 HO Graphite T1 for something with a little newer technology.
Either that, or at least get longer than a 65" ski.
That worked back then when I was lighter and stronger, but right now I'm sucking a lot of water getting up!
(Click pics for fullsize)

I think I can...I think I can...
dski1.jpg

Good thing I've got the adjustable wings on the fin to keep the tail stuck.
dski5.jpg

Sadie...our most faithful observer.
dski2.jpg

dski3.jpg

dski4.jpg

I've now added a ski tow pylon (NOT a tower) which makes a huge difference when pulling hard turns.
My wife also mentioned that she doesn't feel me pulling the boat around nearly as much anymore either.

[theBrownskull]

I am 43 and do both but I have more fun on waterskis.

[Edge180]

Resurecting a great thread!
Just signed up today to discuss some smart tabs, but that's not what's important here...

Sign me up for the Old School crowd!
At 53 years old, I still love to cut it up.

OK...so maybe I should dump the old '78 HO Graphite T1 for something with a little newer technology.
Either that, or at least get longer than a 65" ski.
That worked back then when I was lighter and stronger, but right now I'm sucking a lot of water getting up!
(Click pics for fullsize)

I've now added a ski tow pylon (NOT a tower) which makes a huge difference when pulling hard turns.
My wife also mentioned that she doesn't feel me pulling the boat around nearly as much anymore either.

Good on you WD40.1! Nice work. My dad, taught me everything he knows about slalom skiing, now drops a ski in deep water. I know he longs for the good ol days of dock starts; but I won't let him. He's 65?

I can do both, but enjoy slalom so much more! Been skiiing since I was 12? Am 38 now and am learning to love it more with practice.
2008_Ski5.jpg

[dypcdiver]

@Edge180
Err excuse me, but I'm 65 still do deep water starts on my old Jobe Eliminator,(if you were my son I'd take your lates toy away until you promised to behave) must admit though, that I no longer run bouys (none here in the Med). I was in Turkey a few weeks back and tried Wakeboarding behind a Skinautique, got up first time, easy after a mono. I don't see what all the fuss is about, it is just like snowboards, they won't catch on!!

[JEBar]

have really enjoyed the pictures and comments, they bring back memories .... I'm pushing 66 and haven't been on skis in longer than I care to think about .... I still enjoy driving for those who do

Jim

[bikerdib]

Any of you "older" guys remember an old gentleman called 'Banana George' Blair? He used to travel with the professional waterski tour back in the '70s and '80s. I met him a couple of times at tournaments; total class of a gentleman. He was still barefooting in 2011 at the age of 85. In fact he attempted it again at age 93:

http://growingbolder.com/media/sport...ck-137386.html

[skibrain]

Yes George Blair. I was looking at buying a boat of his third hand from a guy here in MN a few years back. SkiPro Extreme 400 hp VP stern drive w/ twin barefoot booms. Great deal but I decided I didn't need a 70 mph ski/footing boat.

It was yellow.

[bikerdib]

Oh, come on skibrain, only 70 mph. I also remember a guy (sorry I don't recall his name) that barefooted behind a dragboat. Talk about high speed barefooting...!

Sorry about my typo in the previous post I made. Obviously Banana George was 93 in 2011 when he made the attempt in the link in that post.

Here he is when he was 85, still entertaining at tournaments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JankgaPZp9w

[skibrain]

My inspiration when growing up was an old guy who lived on the lake named Sam. He had been waterskiing since early 50s, and was an outstanding slalom and tricker, and barefooted at least once a week. I skied with him on and off until he died in his 70s. Footing until the end. I'd like to be like Sam.

[79Merc80]

Back in the mid 80's, I got a little board kneeling on a hydroslide. When I was growing up, we had a "Crazyboard" that was a peice of marine plywood that we stood up and rode. Well, I started to ride the hydroslide standing up. About a year later the wakeboards started to show up. I have a video of my riding it. I wish I knew how to capture a still from that VHS video.

Biggest challange to riding the hydroslide standing up was the only thing keeping me on the board was gravity, any chop and I would come off the board.


Craig

[blmeanie]

I wish I knew how to capture a still from that VHS video.

Craig

have the vhs converted to digital, it is losing quality every day it sits around, even if you think you are being good to it in a closet or wherever. From the digital movie, stills are easy to capture.

[bikerdib]

You want to get a little of that "unconnected feeling" again, try what I'm trying to learn; wakeskating. Then after you've tried it a while watch a video or two of guys that are good at it. It's really humbling.

Back in the mid 80's, I got a little board kneeling on a hydroslide. When I was growing up, we had a "Crazyboard" that was a peice of marine plywood that we stood up and rode. Well, I started to ride the hydroslide standing up. About a year later the wakeboards started to show up. I have a video of my riding it. I wish I knew how to capture a still from that VHS video.

Biggest challange to riding the hydroslide standing up was the only thing keeping me on the board was gravity, any chop and I would come off the board.


Craig

[aspeck]

Used to be a hard core slalom skier, but got tired of dislocating my shoulder on right hand turns (football injury that I hid from coaches and doc ... not a smart move). Gave it up, had shoulder surgery, got older and gained way to much weight ... Still have my old Connelly ski with the double hot foot bindings ... A real bear to deep water start with, but fun once up! Oh to have the strength to go back there ... Maybe if I lose 80 pounds I could do it again....

[jclem]

Absolutely not! I'm 48 and after 20 years away from boating (more importantly skiing) we have a boat, I'm slaloming again, and teaching my kids to ski! Not cutting as hard as before but smiling just as big. No desire to wake board, but I have nothing against those that do.