It wouldn't be regionals...

without a close call on the jump ramp.

'08:


'09:


BTW, brilliant color commentary from Reedski on the '08 jump.

In response to the "clean out your jumpsuit" comment, Don't worry Brian, I always PJD.

T minus 2...

days until I leave for Nationals.


Hell yes.

Shameless...

self-promotion.

I am on the Flickr Blog.




Here is the soon-to-be famous photo


So, My enhanced silhouette is out there, for all the billions** of readers of the Flickr Blog to barely see.

This could be my big break. I could make millions of theoretical dollars.




*The picture is of me, but someone in the boat took the picture. Actually, the photo on the flickr blog was taken from Libby's flickr page, as she enhanced the original picture and uploaded it.


**Fair enough, billions is a bit of hyperbole.

Road trip suggestion...

for my blogging Brethren, The CRB.

Get thee to Wilmington IL, this Saturday evening to watch Men 2 jump @ the Midwest Regional Championships.

The contenders* are all jumping their at best, and far.
Brian Ansel- 168 "on a 3/4" @ the Iowa Games**
Jeff Surdej- 166 @ The Illinois State Championships**
Brett Mommer- 160 "on my heels" @ The Illinois State Championships**
Aaron Weeks- no score from Indiana State Championships, but a solid 146 average.
Rykert Toledano- 156 and "I missed my lift" @ the Iowa Games**
Mike LaMarche- 143 @ the Illinois State Championships**


* All the level 8 jumpers as of Monday 7/27/09 on the usawaterski.org
ranking list.
** scores posted in a 5-10 mph tight-crossing tailwind


This Year, Water's Edge has a second ramp. That Means GUARANTEED HEADWIND. Guaranteed headwind means BIGGER JUMPS.

CRB, need a phat ride to roll into the event?

May I suggest this:

I think there just...

might be a link between calm water and good slalom:

Wednesday: calm water and Terry strokes his 32
water still calm and your fearless blog moderator strokes (sloppily)
his 32 as well.

Enter into evidence:






I want to collect LOTS more data.

Good Andrew...

First-ever complete pass at 30mph (30.4 to be exact).



Bad Andrew:
First time over the ramp.


RESIST THE RAMP AND GET ON YOUR TOES!


Don't worry Andrew, you'll get it.

Am I delusional,...

or do I have a knack for picking tournaments with shitty weather?





I must be crazy.

2 days...

off from work but I haven't been able to find a third. Damn.

Though posting average-at-best scores...

I fell in Love with Clearwater Beach and the annual Des Moines slalom tournament. That place is almost perfect.
What is so great about it?


I'll show you









Mud ridin', titty bars and waterskiing: The zenith (or trough) of modern civilization.

Like I said, almost perfect.

One quick addition:




Now it's perfect.

I finally...

caught a flip on camera.


More specifically, Katie actually caught it on camera. I've yet to master the film-while skiing technique.

Speaking of catching, here's a nasty edge-catch on a reverse W5F.


That one was a bell-ringer.

Ahhhh, young grasshopper....

effort come with bruises.

Tom is, literally, busting his ass to qualify for Midwest regionals this year. Here is some video evidence of said ass-busting.



Unfortunately, he is at a level where he is progressing, but can't quite anticipate an oncoming slalom crash. With practice, hopefully he will learn to recognize an impending shit sandwich, and avoid it. Until then, well, like Dr. evil says



A hard knock life indeed.

Methinks the...

Toe Back to Backs are a little sloppy.

Happy Birthday...

to Nola.




2 Years old and counting.

Must....

stop....




preturning

Since it's too...

god damn windy to ski this weekend, here is an off-topic WTF video.


Personally, I prefer Honey mustard on my feet.

Very nearly...

eating shit.



It's hard to see at full speed, but I almost fell head over heels over head over heels coming into number three.


In other news, Leah is finally sticking her hips and chest out over her skis.


If Leah does that this weekend, she'll collect some hardware from the Beaver at collegiate all-stars,


http://

This is...

damn cool.



I hope watching it doesn't give me vertigo again.

That ramp...

sat idle for too long.

No more.

Pat:


Me:


Leah (she skied at Bennett's for a week back in March, so she's already doing three-quarter cuts):


No big jumps on Sunday, but no big splats either.

As usual, we jumped in an all-too-frequent tailwind.

It's almost time...

to start jumping.

Though not cutting terribly hard in this clip, Leah is turning and edging the skis with a strong, balanced, body position.



I need to push my ass forward sligtly, otherwise there will be a few OTBs in my near future.


I would have done a few singles yesterday, but for a couple minor probelems.
1. The ramp had no flotation under the back left corner.
2. Said ramp was floating on the edge of the lake.

A day late ...

and off-topic, this is my 4/20 tribute.

In three parts:








This tribute is a day late. I couldn't post this yesterday because I had to pick up Nola from the shore of some pond. She smelled like PBR.