Prediction for Aug 15

[BensonWdby]

I am here at The Liquid Edge skiing with Doug. Got here early enough to get in a set - made some progress. I ski with him againa for two set tomorrow and then Sunday 3 sets the Andy Mapple.

My predicton for end of day Sunday - improve my Personal Best by 12 - to full pass at 15 off @ 34. I know it doesn't sound like much but for an old open water skier - this will be huge.

Cross your fingers.

(a good sign - we got Dougs 4 year old up on two skis today...)

Dave

[BensonWdby]

Progress - made my 32 tonight and went right into 34 for 3. Hope to get there by end of day tomorrow - if my hands hold up. The water is really warm here...

[deerfield]

Benson - What happened today (Sunday)? Make all six balls @ 15/34? How the hands? = Deerfield

[Mikey]

What are you doing for your hands to hold up. Glove liners,duct tape? I was warned of this so i'm curious as we head south in 2 days . I am bringing duct tape,as my gloves are tight and i really don't think i could get them on over liners.

[BensonWdby]

Was in a bit of a rush on Sunday - skied all three sets with Andy. Pretty windy - course was good but definintely having an influence on the body. My 32 pass got stronger Sunday morning, both head and tail wind. But only got 3@34. Then fatigue started setting in for the last two sets. Turns our I ran 6 full sets in 48 hours by the end of Sunday. The last past I skipped off 3 ball - landed the ski - but Andy called it day for me - wisely...

So I never made my prediction.

I like to think if it were a little less wind - just maybe. Hopefully today I can get in a set with a local guy... But I will take a 9 ball improvement.. and have a great experience to go with it.

Skiing with Andy was a treat - very accessible. Got to sit in the boat as he ran down the rope from 28 off into 41 off (head wind). He makes it look so easy. Also got to sit in the boat during a fun competition with a couple of the guys where they went down in speed. All the regular guys used a huge ski - Andy used his normal ski (O'Brien Elite). Ran 22off at 15mph. I also think we have established that 13mph is impossible.

Truly another great weekend at The Liquid Edge. I wish they were closer - 7 hours is pushing the envelope...

Regarding the hands:
I had a huge blister on left forefinger pad starting Sunday morning. Doug recommended 'Palm Protectors'. Much easier to fit under gloves. They are a thin neoprene pad covers only the pads of your hands, just past the lifeline on your palm. It has two small holes that slip over the two middle fingers down to the knuckle so they never go in the fingers of the gloves. A thin strap over the back of the hand. These are my new best friends. Never opened up any of the blisters on my hands and stopped the growth of all of the existing ones. I highly recommend them. I am sure you can get them from Doug, but they are not on his site so you would have to email him, http://theliquidedge.com/. The ones I bought are from Masterline - http://www.masterlineusa.com/Masterline/Gloves/palm_pro

Keep your head up - and don't look down...
Dave

[Sled491]

Very cool. If your up to it were setting our course up this saturday morning.

[BensonWdby]

Thanks - but family weekend at lake this... Good luck and have fun..

[Sled491]

Hey enjoy, I know it will be a morning of fun and frusturation. Will try to get some video. I seem to have lost all the video I took last summer in the course, oh well such is the digital age :)

[deerfield]

Very cool. If your up to it were setting our course up this saturday morning.

Hey, Sled - Is this a one-day deal or keeping it in for rest of the summer? - Deerfield

[Sled491]

One day deal and will be set in any one of our 3 lakes depending on wind. Too much boat traffic and too many yahoos to risk leaving it in. If your interested we'll be setting up around 6 am sat and will run until we can't run any more.

Oh and that's not to say we won't set up again a few more times yet this year, we run until we can't, last year Nov 8th

[deerfield]

Sled - I'd like to ski with you guys. But, for me to be there at 6 tomorrow morning, I'd have to leave my house at 4, which means get up at 3. That's kinda early. Also, rain is in the forecast. I'll call or pm you during the week. Maybe one of the other times before season end I'll drive up the night before, stay at a local hotel, and be ready to go at 6. - Deerfield

[Sled491]

Hey Deerfiedl no probs. I'm just sitting here waiting for my buddy to show up. It will take about 45 min to set the course up. Because of the weather there will only be 3 of us skiing this morning, ususally when we set the course we run 2 boats because of the number of guys who show up. So today I'll get to ski until my arms fall off :)

[BensonWdby]

Wish I could have made it -- Hope you had some good runs...

[Sled491]

Picked up at my dock at 6:10. Decided to head up 2 lakes for better water based on weather forcast. Took about 45 min to set course (had a tangle at one of the bouys). We were skiing by just after 7am.

We skied hard until first boat was out of gas about 2 1/2 hrs. Then another buddy showed up with his boat and we skied his until it was out of gas. Poured in the spare 2 gallons we carry and tore down the course. Was back at my pier by 1.

Several passes for 6 balls at 22 off at 33 mph were made. I struggled and never made more than 3 balls at 33. Was fun.

Deerfield we are doing it again next saturday morning. We are going to another lake not far from mine. It is slow no wake until 8am so we will be haveing a reasonable start time. We'll be behind my buddies brothers Nautique for the day.

[Sled491]

So Dave how did it go? I skied again sunday and just had no energy. Going to ski tomorrow morning before I head to work. I've pulled out an old 66" ski and put my current bindings on it. I skied it sunday but was too tired to really ski it. I think my 68 is just too long now and I find it very slow. On the other hand it is very easy to get up on :)

[BensonWdby]

We got skunked - tubes until sunset ... My local connection is a little 'iffy'. thought I woul dhear from him tonight - also - but noshow - kind of windy... One day at a time I guess...