Thursday, September 29, 2011

In honor of their...

first trip to Midwest Collegiate Regionals in a looong time,  I will show a little Hawkeye love

In your head, substitute "tournament" for "game"



here are a couple of the top Hawkeyes in action

Maddy: UI team president and  matriarch.  She also happens to be the baddest chick in the Great Plains conference.




David: Dedicated protegee of yours truly.  He Starts as soon as the ice melts, and skis until it comes back.  He has had top 5 finishes in tricks this season (I attribute this to coaching) 




Mitch:
(no video available)
His slalom scores (and boat towing)  make up for  his clumsiness on a pair of tricks (he's getting better).  Each week, he leads Iowa's men's slalom team, and hopes that he does not have to jump.


Stephanie:  "Who is the new girl that just came out?"  "I don't know."  "Damn, she can really ski.  Usually when we get newbies we're lucky if they can do a deep water start... on jumpers."



  

GO HAWKS!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

I swing both...

ways.  I have proof, finally.







Waiting slightly longer through the top of the wake = ride the damn reverse out.


Monday, September 26, 2011

Still preturning...

that toeside flip.  Otherwise, this was a decent sequence.





Despite the preturn, I could have ridden that one out had I let go of the outside hand on the landing.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

First, I bring her to the lake.  The next step is to get her to ride in the boat while skiers are being pulled.

100_2076

100_2078
Done.

 Despite the squniting, and a life Jacket that will fit much better next summer, she was all smiles.   Ok, maybe that was not exactly a smile.  but I am going to claim victory because there was no crying involved.

Friday, September 16, 2011

The first of hopefully...

many trips to the ski lake

At the ski lake 02

Step 1: complete.  Lots more to come.

If you take one thing away...

from this clip, it should be unintentionally profound comment from the Greek guy.



He mentions that "it is a real family event." Mr. Patounis is exactly right. One of the best parts about competitive waterskiing (its inherent adrenaline-junkie satisfying nature notwithstanding) is that an ENTIRE family (the family dog notwithstanding) can get out and compete. Competitions, from local tournaments all the way to the National championships, are organized around that very principle. Everyone from kids under 5 years old to Great-grandparents can lube 'em up, strap 'em on, and try to rip it.

This aspect of competitive waterskiing runs counter (thankfully) to the prevailing  sports culture. There seems to be an idea in our society that from birth through high school, competing in organized sports is second only to school in a kids' life, but after that, it is vain, selfish, and childish to go out and compete in anything not work-related, especially if one has children of his/her own.

Personally, I think that is a load of crap.


Why aren't there more outlets for oragnaized competition for every member of a family?  Perhaps if that were the case, this country would boast a lower percentage of  type 2 couch potatoes.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Oh 35mph, how I have...

missed you so. Admittedly, the longing for faster speeds is harder to see from that jump.

 Thanks to AWSA's recent (no-brainer) raising of some jump speeds , I am jumping at 35mph again. The M3 official ramp height will stay at 5'. To tell the truth, I would be happy either way on the ramp height, as I have always been more of a speed jumper than a big lift jumper. Now I just need more jumps that look like this one,  only farther.