Water Ski (Winter 2006)

Citation preview

5 tips Get that end-of-season PB p.64

TM

next year’s now

gear

Sneak peek, p.26

buyer beware 7 red flags when purchasing a used boat, p.78

THOMAS DEGASPERI

9 skiers changing everything From how you’ll ski to where you’ll live, p.58

+

• Ski France • Best used boats • The toughest event • 4 slalom course fixes

WINTER 2006 Volume 28 Issue 8

w w w. w a t e r s k i m a g . c o m U.S. $4.99 CAN. $5.99 D I S P L AY U N T I L 1 2 / 2 6 / 0 6

WINTER 2006 • VOLUME 28 ISSUE 8

THIS PAGE: When Jamie Beauchesne’s not slaying buoys, you’ll find him on his bike in the mountains of New Hampshire. Photo Karl Stone COVER: Could Thomas Degasperi be the next big thing in men’s slalom? We think he’s well on his way. Photo Thomas Gustafson

DEPARTMENTS 10

From the Dock

FEATURES 64

A summer to remember

12 16

Gear 2007 product buzz

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OnBoard Why you should invest in a trampoline this winter.

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OverDrive How Keith St. Ogne broke the world slalom barefoot record — officially.

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InBoard Don’t shop for a used boat without these tips from inboard expert Bubba Beck.

Core With a recent world record in the women’s trick event, Mandy Nightingale is fired up more than ever to make her mark as an overall skier. Plus, what’s the toughest event?

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Shortlines Our first-ever Best of Clubs Awards. Plus, blueprints for a water-ski stadium and a chat with USAWS’s new head honcho.

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5 ways to ski your PB before the season ends. Plus, how to keep your slalom course up and running.

BackWash Huey Lewis’ hidden affection for the slalom course.

InSlalom

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End of the Line Did you see the size of that skier’s head?

36 Sets Jodi Fisher shows his sponsors some love and his competitors what he’s made of.

44 The World’s Next Big Skier By Chris Tauber Find out why Thomas Degasperi is poised to become the next big thing in slalom.

50 The French Connection By Todd Ristorcelli A ski expedition through five of France’s great ski sites reveals that the love of skiing is universal.

58 9 Skiers Who Are Changing Everything

By Adrienne Brice and Chris Tauber Meet the skiers who are shaping the world you ski in — from the gear you use to the boats you drive to the places you live.

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FromTheDock Todd Ristorcelli EDITOR

Adrienne Brice ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Rob Stave ART DIRECTOR

Tom James EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Bill Doster STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/PHOTO EDITOR

Chris Tauber, Darren Wendroff SENIOR WRITERS

Kathleen M. Kiely COPY CHIEF

Matthew E. Miller COPY EDITOR

Jeremy Serkin ONLINE EDITOR

Natalie Angley, Rachel Bayne, Lew Beck, Marcus Brown, Steve Cockeram, Bob Corson, Thomas Gustafson, Trent Finlayson, Ravi Jain, Tom King, Meridith Kohut, Paul MacDonald, Bryan Myss, Francois Robineau, Kyle Schmidt, Will Shilling, Seth Stisher, Chris Sullivan, Tim Walker CONTRIBUTORS

Kristin Davis INTERN

Patti Hall PRODUCTION MANAGER

Alison Dobesh

Club Nautique du Gatinais Nemours, France

T. RISTORCELLI

ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER 407-571-4740; FAX: 407-571-4741

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John McEver

Summer to Remember I’m

feeling a little empty inside. The water is cooling off, the sets are dwindling and the winter is coming. I’ve skied so much this year that it’s going to be hard to face the offseason. But I’ve realized in these dark days, there’s some light for all of us. First off, I have to take a break from skiing sometime. I do live in Orlando, so I could technically ski year-round, but my body would kill me if I tried it. This past summer I wouldn’t pull myself away from the lake even though I had a disk herniation screaming at me in my lower back. Amid the winter chill, I’ll finally stay inside for a while. Sure, I’ll rest, but then I’ll work on all of the innovative exercises for building core strength. My plan is to make a full recovery. Time off the water also allows me to reflect on my skiing, the tournaments I competed in and the new friends I met throughout my travels. For me, there were many standout moments in the ’06 season. Back during the live Webcast of the WaterSki Pro Slalom Shootout in June, I had friends from around the world cheering me on when I skied in the semifinal round. It’s exciting to think that someday every major ski event could have a live Webcast (see page 62 for more on that). My two-week French water-ski voyage in July (page 50) was another summer

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highlight. The skiers, the food, the wine and the ski sites were amazing. I’ll never forget exiting the gates at the Lacanau Ski Club on my first pass, in disbelief that the water conditions were relatively calm despite a gusty wind blowing off the North Atlantic. The towering pines surrounding the site were a gift to skiers. And for months, I’ll be replaying in my mind the sickest move I’ve ever seen on a slalom ski. It was during Jamie Beauchesne’s victory at one of the coolest events of the year, the BoardStock Toyota Last Man Standing Slalom Shootout in August. The guy rounded 3 ball at 39 off, then he hit a roller and the ski went airborne as he hurtled through the air sideways. With catlike reflexes, he somehow managed to get the ski underneath him and back to the wakes, scoring that extra half buoy he needed to win. Unbelievable. You know, maybe the off-season isn’t so bad. It’s the perfect chance to reflect and recharge. All the great moments on the water this year will keep the stoke burning bright until next season.

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Terry Snow ..................................................................................................................PRESIDENT Russ Cherami ..................................................................... DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SALES Martin S. Walker ..........................................................................ADVERTISING CONSULTANT Bruce Miller ........................................................ VICE PRESIDENT, CONSUMER MARKETING Dean Psarakis ............................................ BUSINESS DIRECTOR, CONSUMER MARKETING Leigh Bingham .................................SUBSCRIPTION DIRECTOR, CONSUMER MARKETING Peter Winn ............... PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, CONSUMER MARKETING Vicki Weston ........................................................................... SINGLE COPY SALES DIRECTOR Lisa Earlywine ...................................................... DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION OPERATIONS Jay Evans........................................................... DIRECTOR OF NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES Mike Stea .................................... DIRECTOR OF NETWORK AND COMPUTER OPERATIONS Nancy Coalter.......................................................................................................... CONTROLLER Dinah Peterson...............................................................................................CREDIT MANAGER Sheri Bass ........................................................................DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Heather Idema..........................................................................................RESEARCH DIRECTOR Dean Turcol.........................................................................DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

SUBSCRIPTIONS: call 800-879-0495 Occasionally, we make portions of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we think may be of interest to you. If you do not want to receive these offers, please advise us at 1-800-879-0495. Publication Agreement Number 40018707 Canada Return Mail: 4960-2 Walker Rd., Windsor, ON N9A 6J3 CONTRIBUTIONS: Address all editorial correspondence to Editor, WaterSki Magazine, PO Box 8500, Winter Park, FL 32790. All manuscripts and letters sent to World Publications LLC will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to editing. World Publications LLC does not necessarily endorse authors’ views. World Publications LLC is not responsible for loss of or damage to manuscripts, photography or art. Return postage must accompany material if it is to be returned. Contents copyright 2006 by World Publications LLC.

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BackWash

Slalom Salute We ski on Taylorsville Lake about 20 minutes south of Louisville, Kentucky. This past Friday evening while we were on the water, two Apache helicopters were flying a low-altitude exercise along the course of the lake. As I waved from my ski I could see the officer in the second seat snap off a salute in reply. My friend was able to take the attached photos as the second Apache flew past me. The Apache is an amazing aircraft,

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and it makes you proud to be an American to see the capability and commitment of the men and women who fly them. My hat is off to all the service personnel who give their time and risk their lives so we can live (and play) in safety! Brings a whole new perspective to “Homeland Security.” — Kevin Franke, Louisville, Kentucky

Huey Lewis’ Water Ski Tribute I just finished Navy flight school in Pensacola and there is nothing more stressful than that salty R. Lee Ermey-style instructor breathing down your neck, criticizing every move you input on the stick. The best and only way to clear your head is to hop in the course. It’s amazing how you don’t have a care in the world at 35 off in perfect butter. I

equate skiing to the Huey Lewis song, “I Want a New Drug.” If you listen to it, you would think it’s all about skiing. — Patrick Hylant, via e-mail

Bottoms Up I treat the endeavor of finding WaterSki at the bookstore as something special. I grab my coffee at Starbucks, purchase the mag, and then ever so carefully bring it home. The cover is cracked—along with a beer—and I treat myself to some quality reading. I improved my skiing a thousand fold by studying your instructional articles. It is so unselfish for those in the know to share this valuable information. Tonight I will hoist one to you, one and all. Take your fitness section—very, very important. We had a weather window yesterday morning and hit the lake cold without a warm up. Strained my back, missed today, and now I’m sitting here pounding on the keyboard dreaming of glass and walls of water (I think at a bar, this is simply called a scotch and water). You would think at 51, I’d know better. To all you young folks, never let this sport go. The thrill never dies! — Bruce Dryer, via e-mail

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BackWash

The Perfect Vacation Every year my family goes to our favorite lake for a week of nothing but blood-andguts slalom skiing. This year’s trip was probably the best ever with every slalom course on the lake being buoy-less. It was great teaching my cousin’s friend to slalom, then wakeboard and eventually wakeskate, all within 36 hours (slalom was his favorite, of course). The highlight of our trip though was the sunset runs we got in two nights before we left. The water was perfect glass and we were blessed even further with an amazing sunset. Needless to say I’m just waiting to go back again next year. — Jordan Wilson, via e-mail

Binding Dilemma I’m a beginner slalom skier. I bought a new ski, and the binding is really tight to the point it almost hurts my foot but doesn’t pinch it anywhere. Is this the way it should fit or did I buy the wrong size? — Sharon, Carson City, Nevada The tightness of a skier’s bindings is all about personal preference. Some skiers like them really tight for increased edge control, while others prefer a more relaxed fit. Bindings will stretch out to a certain degree, so if you use them a few more times, they might loosen up and be more comfortable. — ED

Barefooting in Hungary I met with Paul Macdonald at the 2002 Barefoot Worlds in Austria as the first competitor from Hungary, and I became very impressed by those great sportsmen. Now I am the leader of the barefoot council in our national water-ski federation, and also I am a devoted fan of WaterSki. A few years ago barefooting was totally unknown in my country. But this year we have decided to organize our first international barefoot competition in Budapest. We are expanding our contacts with council members from the Europe-Africa-Middle East region, and we organized a Meridian Challenge round with the European Barefoot Council. This was our first step toward joining the other barefoot countries. — Diana “Dio” Dorflinger, via e-mail 14

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Shortlines Best Clubs Ever BY ADRIENNE BRICE

MID VALLEY SKI CLUB WATERFORD, CALIFORNIA Whether you don’t have a boat to call your own or you’re all too familiar with the perils of boat ownership, the Mid Valley Ski Club has you covered. At their scheduled practices, one member brings a boat and everyone skis behind it. “All you do is pay per pass,” says club member Kay Nelson. “This is great for people who don’t own a boat and is also convenient [for people who do] because you don’t have to bring out your own boat that night and worry about cleaning it at the end of the day.” midvalleywaterskiclub.com 16

COURTESY FREDDIE SNELL

THE PATRIOTIC SKI CLUB SMITHVILLE, TENNESSEE “There are many of us who find that teaching comes naturally,” says Patriotic Ski Club’s only remaining original member, Freddie Snell. “It blows my

mind to think of how many people the club has introduced to the sport.” Snell says that between learn-to-ski clinics and just shaking hands with new people at the lake, he estimates that the club has taught thousands of people how to ski. “Being Tennesseans and friendly, we’ll talk to just about anybody,” he says. “And if you seem like you want to ski, we’ll invite you to join. It is that simple.” patrioticskiclub.com

Best Event Pioneers METROPLEX SKI CLUB FORT WORTH, TEXAS At the Metroplex Ski Club, it’s all about trying new things. “The show skiers put on a learn-to-jump clinic,” says club president Mike Spence.” It allows the hard-core slalom skiers an opportunity to be exposed to other types of skiing. We also run a weekly ski league to introduce skiers to the fun of tournament skiing.” Spence says that all the members like to foster a

learning-friendly environment. “This way everyone gets to know everyone better,” he says. metroplexskiclub.com

Best Matchmakers SUNRISE WATERSKI CLUB LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA Lots of clubs have set up skiers with PB-setting drivers, trustworthy mechanics, expert fin tweakers and even life-long friends, but how many have facilitated marriages? W I N T E R

COURTESY GREG GATZKA

COURTESY KAY NELSON (2)

Best Boat Sharers

Best New-Talent Scouts

COURTESY MIKE SPENCE

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ver the past two years, the number of clubs affiliated with USA Water Ski has increased significantly, with more than 100 clubs joining its ranks since 2004. So why the sudden spike in group activity? “The sport, for the uninitiated, can seem intimidating and difficult to get into,” says Greg Gatzka, Sunrise Waterski Club coordinator. “Water-ski clubs serve as the bridge that gets you to the other side.” And plenty of people are crossing over. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, water skiing is among the fastest-growing sports of the year, with a near 27 percent increase in participation. So in honor of all those clubs extending the bridge, we present to you WaterSki’s first-ever Best of Clubs Awards:

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STAT OF THE MONTH

858

USA Water Ski-sanctioned tournaments currently scheduled that are being hosted by the approximately 641 USAWS-affiliated water-ski clubs.

Meet the Boss New USA Water Ski executive director Andy Jugan has some questions to answer

Ski Club of the Palm Beaches Okeeheelee, Florida

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“My wife reminded me recently that my involvement in the [Sunrise] water-ski club was how I met her,” says Gatzka, “and now she is my number-one boat driver.” If that’s not a match made in ski heaven, we don’t know what is. Gatzka says impromptu weekend gatherings (like potlucks and other non-ski-related activities) help nurture the close bonds among members. sunrisewaterski.com

IS IT TRUE, YOU’VE NEVER WATER SKIED? I did water ski as a kid, but I’ve never competed. That’s true. HOW CAN SOMEONE WITH SUCH LIMITED WATER-SKIING EXPERIENCE LEAD THE SPORT? The reason the committee brought me here is USA Water Ski needs an experienced sports management professional, and I’ve been involved in sports since college at a very high level as an athlete, coach and administrator. I’ve been successful working with volunteers, coaches, athletes and sponsors for the past 40 years, so it’s a matter of taking those management skills and translating them to the opportunity around me.

Best Tournament Hosts

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WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY FOR USA WATER SKI? Water skiing is one of the original extreme sports. You have speed, competition, people flying upside down, cutting across buoys. Plus the athletes are tan, fit and in bathing suits at the lake. So I think we have to rebuild this brand, get back to major venues, get it in front of the people again, and bring the non-endemic sponsors back in. SO WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO GET ON THE WATER? Hopefully, in the next two months. It’s a busy time right now. I’ve been meeting the athletes, getting to know the staff and volunteers, and working on strategy, and we have all our championship events. My average day is about 10 hours. But my wife is still in Kentucky, selling our house, so I’ve got little to no distractions. BILLDOSTER.COM

SKI CLUB OF THE PALM BEACHES OKEEHEELEE, FLORIDA With nine National Championships on its resume, the Ski Club of the Palm Beaches, has hosting tournaments down to a science. “We strive to have officials within our club,” says club president Charlotte Melchers. “It helps us be self-sufficient so we don’t have to rely on outside help.” Melchers says the club, which boasts about 50 tournament officials and the latest scoring, timing and judging technology, is so self-reliant they could host a National Championship — with four lakes and a practice lake — using only club resources and members. okeeski.com

COURTESY LYNN NOVAKOFSKI

oday, those who cannot do often lead. Enter Andy Jugan, he of little waterskiing experience, now executive director at USA Water Ski. When he was executive director at the Greater Louisville Sports Commission, Jugan’s initiatives led to more than $110 million in economic impact. Will he be able to work that mojo with USA Water Ski? Here’s what he said:

WHOA, DON’T TELL HER THAT. Oops. You’re right, that’s true.

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ShortLines PEOPLE WHO SKI:

Chad Scott, Federal Agent BY ADRIENNE BRICE

THOMAS GUSTAFSON (2)

RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES When your day job is busting major drug deals and your hobby is winning ski tournaments, finding yourself in the news is pretty commonplace. The following are all real headlines from the pages of Scott’s life. You can’t make this stuff up.

If

you’ve never had to leave a tournament suddenly to go make a drug bust, you have no idea what it’s like to be Chad Scott. In fact, just talking on the phone can be an exercise in abrupt gear shifts for the Men 3 competitor. (“If we’re about to jump out of the car and make an arrest, I’ll have to call you back,” he says during one conversation.) But if anyone fits the bill of a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration — who moonlights as a championship 34 mph slalom skier — it’s Chad Scott. While his booming voice projects the tough persona you’d expect from a federal agent, the words he speaks carry the focus on family that’s important to so many skiers. “Really the biggest thing [about being an agent] is trying to affect somebody’s life positively,” he says, “maybe make a difference.” It’s this blend of passion and punch that make Scott such a fierce competitor on the water. His shortline skills at 34 mph have earned him two second place medals at the Nationals and a spot in the final round of the Ski Nautique Big Dawg finals in October. But Scott’s list of titles isn’t finished just yet. “I’m still eyeing a national championship,” he says. “I’ve been close, but I’d 18

like to conquer that title at least once.” In the meantime he’s keeping watch over his 14-year-old Tyler, who’s already a three-time national champion and holds two national records. “When I ski my focus is on him,” he says. “I actually get more nervous when he skis than I do when I ski.” Still, it’s hard to imagine any circumstance instilling anxiety in Scott. The man who’s had hits taken out on his life by the drug dealers he’s busted laughs off questions about the day-to-day excitement factor of taking out real-life bad guys. And ask him about the challenge of balancing a skiing career with such a demanding day job and he’ll shrug. “I just do the best that I can do with it,” he says. “Work is sometimes demanding. It is what it is.” You can’t argue with that logic. And you really can’t argue with a man who, at any given moment, could be jumping out of his car to make an arrest.

Arrest in Alleged Plot to Murder DEA Agent in Louisiana CNN.com, January 2006 Johnnie Sims is arrested in a sting operation after allegedly paying an undercover agent the first $1,000 of a $15,000 contract to kill Scott.

9 Arrested in Largest Bust Since Storm The Times-Picayune, May 2006 Scott busts a drug deal involving evacuees who had relocated to Texas and were allegedly trafficking cocaine and pills back home.

The Battle of the Big Dawgs Begins Waterskimag.com, June 2006 Scott’s top-eight finish in the first stop of the Big Dawg tournament series earns him a spot in the final round in October.

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ShortLines

Smallest Rivalry of the Month It’s never too early to draw the proverbial line in the sand, or in the case of Logan Vick and Cole Marsolek, the sandbox. Although these two hard-core skiers, with a combined age of two years, five months, have never met (and can hardly speak for that matter), we imagine if they did, things would get a little feisty, sort of like when Ali met Frazier for the first time. So forecasting a future Thrilla in Manilla, we present Logan and Cole’s tale of the tape:

LISSA MARSOLEK

Cole Marsolek

PRESTON VICK

Logan Vick

Age at First Set

6 months, 21 days

22 months, 16 days

Stats

0 Off @ 4 miles per hour

50-foot rope length; 5 miles per hour

Skiing Publicity

Local papers, local TV news, Guinness World Records

CNN, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Skiing Lineage

Grandfather was a regional slalom champ who competed in the 1974 Wisconsin Nationals. Mother held record as youngest female water skier at 16 months.

Mom competed in tournaments in Michigan. Both parents are avid wakeboarders; grandfather show skied at age 6.

Training Regimen

Up promptly at 6:30 a.m.; starts off with formula and oatmeal and banana cereal; nap at 9:30; usually gets on the water at 10:30. Most of training done on weekends when dad has free time.

Gets up in the morning; eats Corn Pops; plays with toy tool set and rides his cars; hits the water at 4 p.m. when dad comes back from work.

Skiing Vocabulary

Has yet to say a word, but he does make a noise that sounds like, “I ski.”

Ski pwleeze/Hit it/Go/Stop/I fall

Favorite NonSkiing Activity

Likes playing in shallow water, watching Baby Einstein, eating dirt.

Driving battery-powered go-cart

Records Already in the Bag

Youngest person ever to water ski (currently under review by Guinness World Records)

Number two Play of the Day on ESPN’s Sportscenter. Happily skied for 45 minutes straight one day.

Quote from his trainer

(Trainer a.k.a. dad, Preston Vick) “I didn’t actually get involved with skiing until I was 17, and my wife started when she was 16 months, so Logan’s got us beat for sure.”

(Trainer a.k.a. mom, Lissa Marsolek) “He’s a little showboat. He’s waving and blowing kisses, so he’s all about the showmanship.”

WHERE WOULD YOU ROCK THIS?

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JOSH JOHNSON

Like it or not, Old Man Winter’s on his way. And to do a set with him, you gotta want it. Show us how much by donning your moldy wetsuit in public, and topping this photo of our intern Brett. If you can beat him, we’ll send you a Body Glove 3/2 Vapor. E-mail your photos to editor@ waterskimag.com. We’ll pick a winner in December, and all entries will be posted on waterskimag.com. So don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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Stadium Skiing A pro skier constructs the blueprints for tournament skiing’s future BY TRENT FINLAYSON

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hat happens when you meld a professional water skier, a relentless visionary and a graduating architecture student into a single being? You get blueprints for the world’s first realizable water-ski stadium and the coolest architectural thesis project the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has ever seen. Australian slalom pro Brad Priekulis was recruited to the southern Louisiana school in the fall of 2000 to fill a spot on its national champion water-ski team. Since Priekulis was already immersed in art and design, UL’s nationally acclaimed architecture program seemed like the perfect fit. Very early in the program, Brad and his professors began to realize his exceptional potential for his chosen course of study. After a remarkable undergrad career, Priekulis was faced with the task of preparing his final project — constructing a full set of schematic designs and three-dimensional models to represent a workable structure that could not only live up to a chosen region’s set of building codes, but would also be visually appealing — all in one year. As a competitor in Melbourne, Australia’s Moomba Masters, Brad knew the banks of the fabled Yarra River was the only place to put his dream site. With a site selected, Brad’s vision was starting to take shape. Next would come the hard part: The design process would take nearly 10 months of eight- to 10-hour days, six days a week. Although Brad’s skiing had to take a back seat to

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his hours of design work, his passion for the sport only grew as he toiled away blueprinting the first financially and structurally feasible true stadium-style water-ski venue. The plans for his ski site involve constructing a retaining wall and digging the lake 40 feet below the natural level of the river. This will allow fresh water to continually flow through his concrete-lined lake. An overhanging roof will keep the site and the spectators protected from the elements, while still allowing for natural air and lighting. The seating area follows the path of the course, allowing fans an unparalleled overhead view of the action. Brad feels the future of professional skiing could heavily depend upon the quality of the event venues. “I really think the only thing keeping our sport from gaining status is our lack of fan interaction,” he says. “Too often spectators are tucked far away from the action, with very limited viewing. In my stadium,

the crowd is only meters away from the athlete, and in places can even feel the mist from the spray.” His thesis defense was not merely accepted; it gained him national accolades in the process. Brad received the American Institute of Architecture’s Award of Excellence for his lake design. For now, Brad’s vision will have to remain in the form of blueprint and model, but he feels a slightly scaled-down version of his project could be within reach. If nothing else, the world is now one large step closer to witnessing professional water skiing in a true stadium setting.

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ShortLines

Ski School COURTESY MIKE GARDNER (4)

With Paul Macdonald

How to Build a Ski-Boat Bed W BY JESSICA APFELBAUM

hile sleeping in your ski boat may be a tad bit obsessive, California skier Mike Gardner thought the idea would make the perfect birthday gift for his three-year-old son. “My wife saw a wood boat bed in a Pottery Barn catalog for $1,100, and I thought that I could build something like that for half that,” Gardner says. Here are Gardner’s blueprints for building your own “dream machine.”

STEP 1: CLEAR IT WITH THE BOSS After coming up with the idea to build the ski-boat bed for his son, Gardner says his hardest obstacle was overcoming his wife’s skepticism. “Some of my past projects have turned into thousand-pound steel white elephants. She had veto power throughout the process.” STEP 2: BEG, BORROW AND SCHMOOZE Gardner received gauges, steering wheels and lights from his local Malibu dealer. “When I explained the purpose they came up with a few nonfunctioning gauges that looked great all the same for much less than replacement parts.” Gardner also admitted 22

his job at a promotion company gave him access to high-end machinery not available to the average Joe. Says Gardner, “The right tools make all the difference.” STEP 3: OPT FOR HEAVY METAL Gardner suggests using steel instead of wood, so you can sand all the welds and powder coat the imperfections for a smooth finish. “Wood requires fasteners and filler and laminating,” says Gardner. “Huge hassle.”

STEP 4: PREPARE FOR MORE ORDERS Once the boat was approved, equipped and constructed, Gardner’s four- and five-yearold sons started pleading for boat bunk beds of their own. “I was thinking that with proper rigging, I could set it all up on a pseudo trailer,” he says. “It’s a work in progress, and I have to get executive approval once again.”

This Month’s Lesson: When to End the Season

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or skiers, the “perfect” date to end a season is a sensitive issue: too early and you may miss a perfect Indian summer; too late and your boat’s frozen to the dock. To determine the perfect final day, one must understand when others end their season. Experts recommend that the inflatable season begin as soon as the ice melts and end, say, June 1, claiming that warmer air and water expand the air within the inflatable while warm water softens the rubber stressing the tubes’ seams. PWC owners should consider an even shorter season. Numerous psychiatrists have noted that a PWC should be winterized immediately following Memorial Day weekend. Studies show that after three 18-hour days of unbridled doughnuts, wake jumping and mindless navigation, PWC owners experience great increases in depression and anxiety trying to duplicate that senseless glory all summer. Same for summer wakeboarding, which can only be described as “dangerous” by experts who study water levels. During the summer, evaporation causes a drastic loss of water depth; once these levels drop low enough, the draft of large wakeboard boats makes acceleration deadly. Experts recommend June 7 as the perfect winterization day for wakeboarders. Once water skiers are aware when others end their season, the only question is “when do you want to end the season?” Let’s be honest: Without inflatables, PWCs and wakeboarders, the water is ours! Simply refer to the 2006 Farmer’s Almanac for the date of the season’s first frost. Then winterize your boat several hours beforehand. In 37 straight years, Paul Macdonald has never winterized his boat before January 4.

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ShortLines SITE TO SEE: LAKE JEPAWHIT, MICHIGAN

WATER SKIERS TO THE RESCUE

COURTESY DAN SWINT (3)

Since 1948, the Golden Gate Water Ski Club has slalomed the California Delta where the Middle River and Vicotia Canal meet. But in 2003, Contra Costa County declared the GGWSC a public nuisance and demanded that they remove all docks and structures. Citing that in 60 years the club has never received a complaint and that they do not even ski in a public area, the GGWSC has taken the county to court. To join the fight for freedom and find out more about how you can help, contact Richard Frankhuizen at [email protected]. LOCATION: Gaines Township, Michigan, 46 miles east of Lansing and 75 miles northwest of Detroit.

SPECS: The lake, a.k.a. Barefooter’s Paradise because of its length and glassy conditions, measures 2,400 feet long; it’s 300 feet wide at its widest point; and it covers more than 13.5 acres, varying between 13 and 15 feet deep. WHAT!? MY NAME IS: Digging the lake out of a farmer’s cornfield on 40 acres of land six years ago, owners Jeff and Patti Smith named it using the first few letters of each of their names and that of their 18-year-old daughter Whitney. ETERNAL SUNSHINE ON A SPOTLESS LAKE: The 100-foot-tall maple trees that line Lake Jepawhit’s west side practically guarantee year-round glass. And skiers enjoy 24 hours of visibility per day due to the eight refurbished light poles from Eastern Michigan University’s stadium that face the lake’s west side. 24

LAKE OF DREAMS: Locals come out each summer to enjoy the Lake Jepawhit Extreme Slalom and Hyperlite Wakeboard tournaments. Andy Mapple and Chris Parrish have been seen here. You’re invited to fly in also. Just use the airstrip that runs along the side of the lake. “Jeff keeps his 1956 J-3 Cub on tundra tires and floats in the hangar by the strip,” Patti Smith says. “Next to barefooting, he also loves to do barrel rolls in the air.” FUN AND GAMES: To get families and kids more involved, the Smiths built an aquatic play area on the lake’s east side, complete with water trampoline, aqua bobber and a device called “The Blob.” “A person jumps off a tower onto a big pillow that catapults another person onto the lake,” says Patti. “The whole area’s been a great success, giving kids something to do while mom and dad are out competing.” LAKE O’ LANDMARKS: One particular pole on the lake was refurbished from the Mackinac Bridge built in 1957, the world’s longest freestanding bridge. “We display an American flag on this pole,” says Patti. “The flag was flown from a helicopter in Iraq two years ago.” SKIING THERE: Sorry, Silver Ski Lake Club members only. But any experienced skier looking for a test drive should contact Jeff or Patti at their shop, Silver Spray Sports. Call 810-629-6370 or visit silverspraysports.com — Jessica Apfelbaum

QUICKPASSES Congratulations to Billy Rossini and Jessica Stewart who got engaged on July 1 in the same spot where they met three and a half years ago — Lake Norman on a boat. Did Rossini get a case of the shakes before asking the big question? Here’s what he said: “I’ve performed for crowds of over 60,000 people without any nervousness, but when ‘our song’ came up and the moment neared, I truly thought I was going to pass out.” … And Billy’s not the only one scheduled for bliss. Cobe Mikacich and Tarah Benzel are set to get married on November 11. The couple met at Rhoni Barton and Chris Bischoff’s wedding in 2004. Shoot, who needs Match .com when you’ve got a slalom course … While some skiers are just entering their new lives together, one skiing veteran just welcomed its newest bundle of joy when Correct Craft completed production on its first boat from its new 216,000-square-foot facility in July. We hear the 2006 Air Nautique SV-211 is doing just fine and she’s cute as a button … If you happen to be in Orlando, Florida, for the Surf Expo on September 15–17, head to Downtown Disney for the finals of the U.S. Open Water Ski Championships. We hear Mickey might even do a set … Afterwards, take the short drive down to Winter Haven, Florida, for “Banana” George Blair’s “Blairfoot Bananza,” October 7–8 … For you skiers on the left coast, there’s an INT All Division Event out in Bakersfield, California, October 11–15 and the 2nd U.S. Open Championships of Water Ski Racing in San Diego, October 13–15. And yes, we’re surprised also; it’s only the second time this event has been held … And finally, a shout out from us here at WaterSki to all the skiers, wakeboarders, pro riders, event organizers, manufacturers and all other water-sports enthusiasts who made 2006 such a rocking year. We had fun and hope you did also. Here’s to an even better 2007! W I N T E R

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2007 Gear Preview As the season winds down at ski sites around the country, it’s just getting started in the industry’s R&D departments. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in the works for 2007:

GOODE 9800 ($1,090) The newest tournament ski from Goode maintains the speed of its predecessor, the 9700, and adds some more stability at shortline thanks to a widened fore-body. The bevels have also been redesigned to increase the ski’s predictability.

STRAIGHT LINE TOWER 436 SERIES HANDLE ($79.99) This new 13-inch handle was developed with the help of Straight Line team skier Chris Parrish. It features 436 anti-bushing that’s small and sleek, which will help you maximize your control at the end of the rope. The gray and white swirl rubber bar matches the Tower 436 Series gloves.

CONNELLY DRAFT BINDINGS (FRONT $185, REAR $175) Connelly’s new Draft system is designed for increased lateral support and stability with a molded lycra-lined toe rubber and a neoprene-lined heel rubber with Achilles pads. Patent pending Hinge Tech technology provides easy-on, easy-off comfort with just the switch of a lever.

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SEA-DOO WAKE (SEE DEALER FOR PRICE) Designed specifically for hell raising and water sports, the Sea-Doo Wake features a 215 HP Rotax 4-TEC engine, retractable tow pylon and removable board racks (perfect for an impromptu wakeskating or slaloming set), along with a new Flow Thru design for a more aerodynamic, gasfriendly ride.

O’NEILL THE PSYCHO II WETSUIT ($369-$409) Made from 100 percent Ultraflex XDS Superstretch for the best possible fit, and featuring O’Neill’s exclusive Double Fluid Seam Weld and patented Zen Zip closure system, the Psycho II provides warmth in even the coldest conditions.

RADAR MPD ($890) The lightweight all-carbon MPD (Mapple Performance Design) is the newest ski from Herb O’Brien’s latest endeavor, Radar. O’Brien teamed up with Andy Mapple and drew on their collective knowledge of technical design components and materials to produce this high performer with nimble speed and angle.

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Core

My Turn With Mandy Nightingale BY TRENT FINLAYSON

“I AM NOT A SHORTBOARDER.” While the name may be officially changing, it is still trick skiing to Mandy. “I’ve been a trick skier for 20 years.” Nightingale feels there are other far more proactive steps that can be taken to heighten the status of the event. Lately she has been conducting trick clinics, teaching other skiers her own aggressive approach to the sport. “Simply changing the name in an attempt to align ourselves with wakeboarding may not be the most effective way to attract new athletes.” “I SLALOM AND JUMP TOO.” Mandy has been plagued with the same question over the last few seasons: “You’re just a tricker, right?” While it’s her trick scores that have been gaining her international notoriety recently, she is also an accomplished three-eventer. “That question really fires me up. But it may be a good thing; it is making me train harder in the other two events. I want to be known as one of the best overall skiers in the world.” “I KNEW I COULD BREAK THE WORLD RECORD THIS YEAR.” Nightingale posted 8,740 points earlier this summer at a record event in Destin, Florida, eclipsing Tawn Larsen-Hahn’s long-standing world record. “I spent most of the winter training with Russell Gay. He really pushed me to learn some new tricks and get my mobe dialed in. With his help, I was confident I had a shot at setting a world record.” “I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO STEP IT UP.” Mandy knows she is not the only female tricker making a real charge this season. “A bunch of the girls are really pushing themselves, and helping to progress the sport in the process. Clem Lucine and Regina [Jaquess] are both on top of things 28

right now. And with Rhoni [Barton-Bischoff] now injury free, I think she could be back in top form soon enough as well.” “THEY ARE DOING WAY HARDER TRICKS THAN I DID AT THEIR AGE.” Mandy is very impressed by the group of young stars rising through the ranks behind her. She is routinely meeting skiers like Danyelle Bennett, Whitney McClintock and Michale Briant on the starting dock and on the podium at pro events worldwide. “These young girls are amazing. They are incredibly consistent, and their mental toughness is amazing given their age. Whitney has a mobe, Michale is working out her reverse twist (flip) and front flip, and Danyelle is so smooth and fast through her runs. The future of the sport looks really strong.” “I CAN STILL DRIVE THE LANE.” During a four-year hiatus from skiing, Mandy played Division 1 collegiate basketball. As her team’s leading scorer, she led the University of Colorado all the way to the NCAA “elite eight.” Following her collegiate basketball career, Nightingale was swiftly drafted into the WNBA. “I have always played basketball, and I still love it. My boyfriend is 6foot-3 and a pretty decent player, but I can still dust off an old move or two if I need to drive past him.” “I’M JUST GETTING STARTED.” As the current world champion, U.S. Open champion, and world-record holder, Nightingale is not taking a whole lot of time to reflect. “I have quite a few goals set for the next 12 months. I would love to defend my World Championship title and make it a three-peat. I really want to surpass the 9,000 mark and break my world record. I mostly want to keep focusing on making the finals at all the World Cup and pro events.”

PHOTOS MERIDITH KOHUT

If

you follow professional water skiing, you have undoubtedly heard of Mandy Nightingale. Her inexorable march to the top of the trick-skiing world has been paved with titles, wins and records. With a world record recently added to her resume, Mandy safely stands as the most dominant female trick skier in professional skiing. Now as Nightingale turns her attention toward slalom and jump, she intends to make her mark in the overall arena as well.

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Core

The Great Divide Four pros from four disciplines speak out on themselves and their colleagues, lending insight into what makes their lifestyles and their chosen professions so unique BY TRENT FINLAYSON TRICK SKIER:

JUMPER:

Keith St. Onge

Nick Parsons

Clementine Lucine

Scot Ellis

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TIM WALKER

SLALOM SKIER:

TIM WALKER

BAREFOOTER:

Which is the hardest watersports discipline?

Barefooting of course; since we are just on our feet, we have to be really technical and precise with all our movements.

I’d say trick skiing, no doubt. It requires the most balance and agility.

Tricks, no doubt. You have to have great patience and be prepared to spend a lot of time on the water.

Jumping has to be the hardest. It is the only event where there are no simple falls; there are only crashes. If you make a mistake in jumping, you pay in a big way every time.

If you had to switch disciplines, which would you pick up?

Wakeboarding for sure; the laid-back atmosphere is really appealing, plus the contests seem way more relaxed than ours.

If I weren’t a slalomer, I’d be a jumper. It is so adrenaline pumping, it seems like a lot of fun.

If I had to stop tricking, I would focus exclusively on slalom. I love the sensation of it; however, the adrenaline of jumping in tournaments is really appealing to me as well.

I’d have to pick wakeboarding if I was forced to quit jumping. Wakeboarding right now reminds of where the ski scene was in the late ’80s. There are a bunch of different pro events, and the prize money is strong.

Which pro from another discipline would you like to be for a day?

Parks Bonifay. That guy is a legend; the best wakeboarder there has ever been. He has the best sponsors in the industry and has achieved an incomparable level of fame.

Definitely one of those wakeboard guys. They seem to get all the ladies.

I would want to be Freddy Krueger or Jaret Llewellyn. I would love to leave the dock as the top seed and go out and take the win like those two seem to do every weekend.

Parrish, just so I could be 6-foot-5 for a day.

Who is the biggest partier in water sports?

I’d have to go with Scot Ellis on this one. He always seems to be down for a good time.

The wakeboarders seem to party pretty hard, but I think I’d have to say jumper Ryan Fitts can go the hardest.

The wakeboarders hands down. I’m pretty sure I saw a few of them drinking by 10 a.m. at the World Cup event in China.

It is hard to narrow it down to one person. I’ve seen a bunch of different skiers barely catch their Monday morning flight after a big tournament. But I’d have to go with Jodi Fisher, or any of the English skiers for that matter. Those boys can throw down.

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Core

The Toughest Event Is it tricks, jump or slalom? Trent Finlayson dives into the touchiest subject in the sport

jump PHOTOS THIS PAGE: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, BILLDOSTER.COM, COURTESY KARYN EADE, COURTESY DANE PUXTY, CHRIS SULLIVAN

It’s Gut-Check Time

THE COACH Of water skiing’s three classic disciplines, jumping is clearly the most nerveracking. According to Matt Rini of Rini’s Ski School in Clermont, Florida, courage will become the ultimate factor in determining the level of success an athlete will achieve. “The learning curve in jumping is certainly a lot steeper compared to the other events,” Rini explains. “You can get to a high level of competition relatively quickly, but then it sharply tapers off. To reach the highest level in this event takes a really unique individual.” THE ATHLETE With a career best of 218 feet, Australian 32

National Team member Dane Puxty knows a thing or two about the rigors of jumping. “There are certain aspects of jumping,” he explains, “that just aren’t present in the other two events. The level of commitment required to have even a safe jump, let alone a far one is intense. There is a very fine line that separates being in control and crashing, and we are forced to find that edge every time we hit the ramp. A mistake in jumping always has the potential for very serious disaster.”

THE TRAINER Jumping has an exceptionally grueling physical component. A rebuilt ACL seems to be as commonplace with jumpers as their sling or helmet. Karyn Eade, Human Performance Lab Coordinator at the USA National Training Center, points out the particular requirements and hazards. “Knees and hips, that’s where the most common injuries are occurring with these athletes,” she says. “Jumpers do not need to focus on building pure strength as much as trickers or slalomers do; developing explosive power is the key to their success.” W I N T E R

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PHOTOS THIS PAGE: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, BOB CORSON, COURTESY KARYN EADE, BOB CORSON, CHRIS SULLIVAN

tricks The 60-Minute Set

THE COACH Time on the water is the theme in trick skiing. With its particularly sluggish learning curve, tricks are often the most frustrating to master. The varying layers that make up shortboarding take hours upon hours to learn. Matt Rini explains that tricking is made up of multiple disciplines encompassed within the single event. “You need to master flips, ski lines and toe tricks,” he says. “The crazy thing is the components have very little in common.” THE ATHLETE Having tricked well beyond 11,000 points, Aliaksei Zharnasek can confirm the difficulty of tricking. “To be good at this event, you W W W . W A T E R S K I M A G . C O M

have to be prepared to spend a lot of time,” he says. “Every day you have to be out on the water practicing the tricks and sequences that you already have dialed. Plus you have to continually be working on new tricks and runs if you have any hope of remaining competitive.” Zharnasek says the physical demands of trick skiing also set it apart from the other events. “Trickers have to keep really fit. It places demand on the entire body. After a 20-second pass, I am fully winded, much more

so than after a single pass in slalom or after one jump.” THE TRAINER Further proof that tricks may be the most demanding event lies within the tricker’s physique. Karyn Eade points out the impressive level of fitness these skiers must maintain. “Tricking requires true agility and balance,” she says. “It calls for more reactionary reflexive movement; therefore it requires the greatest overall whole body strength. Trickers obviously are not immune to injuries, but there is not a single trend of injury common to most shortboarders.” 33

Core

slalom In It for the Long Haul

THE FINAL WORD ith such contrasting technical and mental skills and off-water conditioning required for each event, how can we expect to answer the question of which is the toughest? We turn to the person with a truly unique perspective: the overall skier. Jimmy Siemers is the most prolific three-event skier in the world. After defending his overall crown at the 2005 World Championships, he is the top-ranked overall skier on the planet. He has slalomed into 39½ off, jumped just shy of 240 feet, and tricked into the high 11,000s. If anyone can shed light upon this query, it is surely Siemers. “This is a pretty tough question. Each event is difficult in its own way. I have a definite height disadvantage when it comes to slalom, but still, I have to say tricks is the hardest event to master.” Ranked among the top five on the world trick list, Siemers has spent a good portion of his life atop his trick ski. “For me to remain competitive in overall, I need to be tricking two or three sets a day, compared to slaloming and jumping just once. The time I spend working on new tricks and runs is incomparable to the time I spend on the other two events. Plus trick requires more natural talent. Balance and agility are vital, and these things can’t be taught.” There it is, a solid answer to the seemingly unanswerable question. But perhaps trying to compare the three events at face value is an invalid quest. Because whether you spend your water time chasing buoys, pulling flips, or flying through the air, one thing is certain: Your feats are nothing short of amazing.

THE COACH Three buoys are all that separates number two from number 22 on the men’s slalom world ranking list. Three additional turns that can mean the difference between a professional earning a comfortable living for himself and an athlete needing a second source of income to make ends meet. Matt Rini explains how these small gains add to the intensity of this event. “The depth of talent is what makes slalom so difficult,” he says. “There are so many people just ripping, it really is the most competitive discipline.” THE ATHLETE While Marcus Brown may make 39½ off look easy, he will be the first to attest to the arduous nature of slalom. “Slalom puts the whole body to the test,” he says. “The amount of force we are applying to ourselves is incomparable — even the jumpers would agree with that.” Brown says slalom’s relentless tim34

ing requirements also increase its difficulty. “We have to get to seven precise marks within a single pass, one for the entrance gate turn-in and the six buoys. As the line shortens, the rhythm and timing window shrinks to a point where we have to be absolutely perfect by 41 off.” THE TRAINER Karyn Eade uses a completely different game plan for helping her athletes construct a perfect slalom body. “Unlike the other two disciplines, slalom skiing combines a pseudo-isometric position [i.e. a static position without muscle concentration] with slight hip and leg movements,” she explains. “Therefore slalomers must concentrate on building strength to maintain a fixed position as opposed to true [range of motion] strength. Core strength is incredibly important for these athletes, not only to help maintain their skiing position, but to help avoid the lowerback injuries that are so prevalent.”

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PHOTOS THIS PAGE: CLOCKWISE FROM TOP, TOM KING, NATALIE ANGLEY, COURTESY KARYN EADE, THOMAS GUSTAFSON, CHRIS SULLIVAN

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Jodi Fisher not only takes care of his

RAVI JAIN

sponsors with strategically placed stickers for great photo ops at all angles, but he also proves himself worthy on the water by winning big titles like his most recent at the IWSF World Cup stop in Dubna, Russia.

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RAVI JAIN

SETS

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Launching off a six-foot ramp at close to 70 mph in broad daylight is one thing, but flip off the lights and you’re in an entirely different element. Photographer Ravi Jain brilliantly captures the flying energy of Ryan Green at the always entertaining London Night Jump tournament.

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SETS

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If slalom turns could talk, this particular rip of Will

Asher’s would be screaming, “You only wish you could carve like me. I’m the best turn known to slalom skiing. EAT my spray!”

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SETS

No need for 3-D glasses when BILLDOSTER.COM

viewing this shot. Photographer Bill Doster puts Daniel Watkins right in your grill during a Tigé team photo shoot on Lake Travis in Austin, Texas.

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It’s a fact. Show skiing produces great barefooters. A former member of

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Wisconsin’s Badger Land Show ski team, Brian Heatherington showcases his footing talent on a butter morning on Lake Rochelle in Winter Haven, Florida.

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The Path to

Grea

From a public lake in Italy to a college in the U.S. to a run this past summer into 43 off, Thomas Degasperi has come a long way — and he’s still far from finished BY

he gasps suck in the hot July air on the shore. A guy only hard-core slalom fans have heard of is looking to join the most elite club in the sport. The boat is speeding through the entry gates at 36 mph. His tow line is black, meaning there’s an impossible 43 feet off the length. He torpedoes toward 1 ball, fights to turn his ski faster than instantly, stretches out his left hand so far that his fingertips remain on the handle only by sheer force of will. He rounds it.

TAU B ER

By the time he crosses the wake, there’s not enough steam to get on the far side of 2 ball, something only worldrecord holder Chris Parrish has ever done. Still, jaws are dropping as the gasps become cheers. He punches his left fist into the air in triumph – a millisecond before the extreme shortness of the line yanks on his hand and slams him unceremoniously into the water. This is Thomas Degasperi, previously known as “that tall Italian skier who’s pretty good” or, to the female students

on the University of Louisiana-Monroe campus, “that tall Italian skier who’s pretty cute.” Thanks to that run this past summer at the Ski West Pro tournament outside Paris, the 25-year-old is an unofficial member of the “1 at 43 Off” Club, which in the record books includes stars Chris Parrish, Andy Mapple, Jamie Beauchesne and Jeff Rodgers. He’s “unofficial,” though, because his score came in a runoff, which isn’t measured under record-capable standards. Still, Degasperi’s is now a name that everyone should know, especially since that one run likely wasn’t an isolated event, but a sign of more to come.

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THOMAS GUSTAFSON

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TODD RISTORCELLI

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Thomas Degasperi kicks back on Italy’s Caldonazzo Lake between scoring sets (left) and collecting winner’s checks (above).

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HOW HE GOT INTO 43 OFF Thomas Degasperi’s Italian coach, Andrea Alessi, encouraged him to adopt the one-handed gate. Degasperi also switched skis, from the Goode 9600 to the 9700. “Trying the one-handed gate and the ski at the same time was superconfusing,” he says, laughing now. “I went to the Masters and I fell. I went to the Slalom Shootout in Orlando and I fell.” He went back to the 9600 and back to Italy after the school year. That’s when it all came together. “The onehanded gate was helping me get wider on 1 ball and carry more speed through a gate,” he says.

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“People are looking at me with different eyes,” Degasperi says a few weeks later, his Italian accent softened after four years at an American college. “They expect more from me now.” He’s ready to deliver. Degasperi’s whole life has led him to this brink of fame, ever since he got on the water at his dad’s ski school on Caldonazzo Lake in northern Italy. It was just like any public lake in America — well, except for the view of the Alps, the 11th-century castle of the counts von Trapp and the town rule that his dad’s Correct Crafts were and are the only boats allowed on the deep lake. His dad, Marco, retired in his mid-30s from teaching physics and dedicated himself to skiing, running the school, competing and passing on that love to Thomas, who started skiing when he was 5. In his age group, he won a national title at 10 and the European championship at 14. Yet in those years, longtime European instructor Thomas Gustafson, who photographed Degasperi for this issue, remembers a young skier who was a little “stubby.” “I would never have thought this kid would become one of the best slalom skiers in the world,” Gustafson says. “He was running around, bothering my skiers on the starting dock. I was like, ‘Get away!’ Today, though, you can’t help but like him.” Degasperi grew up, in every sense. “When I was 15,” he says, “I started taking it more seriously and got better and better — and then it becomes your life.” His dad taught him about the greatness of such skiers as Andy Mapple and Wade Cox. From age 15 to age 17, Degasperi improved his world junior ranking from 46th to fourth. He was enjoying success throughout Italy and Europe as he got taller, culminating in a fourth place in slalom at the 2001 World Championships, held in his home country. Degasperi wanted to build on that by

THOMAS GUSTAFSON (5)

Degasperi’s parents run the family ski school in northern Italy.

skiing in the winter, something that would require him to leave his dad’s ski school — and the home cooking at his mom Traudi’s restaurant. He called up the McCormick Ski School outside Tampa, Florida, to see if he could practice there and help drive boats. In the meantime, he had become a lock recruit for ULM, skiing’s most decorated college program. Fellow Italian Fred Minnelli was already on Monroe’s team and really wanted Degasperi to join. In Degasperi’s fourth month at McCormick’s, he signed with ULM. That was the easy part. The hard part was actually going there. After a summer spent back in Italy with his family, he was feeling comfortable. He could walk into bars and cafes, and people would know who he was. “I was thinking, I have W I N T E R

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“People are looking at me with different eyes. They expect more from me.”

to leave my family, all my friends. I have to start over in another country,” Degasperi says. “My English was not so good, and I was kind of insecure.” Any fears were unfounded. “He fit in within a couple days that first year,” says Regina Jaquess, a fellow star skier who joined the ULM team the same time Degasperi did, in the fall of 2002. “He blended in great with the girls on campus — this suave Italian guy who was good-looking and tall.” That height, 6-foot-3½, also helped him in skiing as he tore up the water at ULM’s practice site, the Bayou DeSiard, which runs through the middle of campus. That October, Degasperi earned a second-place finish in men’s slalom at the 2002 collegiate nationals, helping ULM to its 17th national W W W . W A T E R S K I M A G . C O M

title. By the time his birthday came in January, he had new friends to toast his 22nd year. “He’s a very jolly guy,” Jaquess says. But rather than build on his accomplishments, Degasperi spent three months of 2003 on the sidelines as he recovered from a neck injury. Determined to come back stronger, he hit the weights, helped along by the friend he calls “Muscle Mate,” Ryan Dodd, the Canadian overall skier who started at ULM in the fall of 2003. “He got on the right track,” Dodd says. “He does his own thing in the gym. He pays attention to eating balanced meals. Since I’ve been at school, I think he’s dropped almost 20 pounds and gotten stronger.” Also during the past three years, Degasperi has worked on preparing “how do you

say, psycho-, psycholo-” — psychologically. “Yes, psychologically, mentally,” he says after his only English stumble in this entire conversation. “I used to get really nervous before a tournament. Now I try to be calm and be aggressive and not think about the crowd, the music, the other competitors.” As Degasperi retooled, ULM won another national title in 2004. And on the strength of his own top finishes, mostly at European tournaments, and the 3 at 41 off 47

THOMAS GUSTAFSON (3)

“I’m happy that I proved what I can do. In front of everybody, I ran 41. Finally I’m starting to get that confidence in myself with big tournaments. I know I can do it.” run he could pull out on occasion, Degasperi’s world ranking climbed to fifth. Dodd saw he was going all out in his final year at ULM: “Up until this past year, he’d run 39 in the odd tournament. In practice, our lake is rolly, one of the toughest lakes to slalom anywhere, but Thomas would be running 4 at 41 — like the second week of training last fall.” At the 2005 collegiate nationals, Degasperi claimed the slalom crown. But this past spring came the final tweaks that elevated his skiing (see “How He Got Into 43 Off”). In June, France’s Eurolac ski site hosted the Lena Cup tournament. Degasperi had a run of 5½ at 41 off, besting not just the 12 other European competitors but every other score so far this year. Two weeks later at the Ski West Pro in France, big names like Chris Parrish, 48

Drew Ross, Wade Cox and Will Asher were running into 41 off in the first two rounds. When the smoke cleared after the final round, there was a first-place tie at 3 at 41 off among Jason Paredes of the United States, Britain’s Glenn Campbell and, yes, Thomas Degasperi. In the runoff, Degasperi was first off the dock and powered to that score heard round the world: 1 at 43 off. After that, no one else made it out of 39. Rather than being universally celebrated, though, Degasperi heard grumblings, especially from the message board on skifly.com, that his scores at Eurolac and Ski West weren’t fully legit. “I’m happy that I proved what I can do. In front of everybody, I ran 41,” he says. “Finally I’m starting to get that confidence in myself with big tournaments. I know I can do it.” The week after Ski West, he went to the Malibu Open Europe,

also in France, and won with 2 at 41 off. That capped a blistering four weeks. This fall, Degasperi will actually be back at ULM for a last semester toward his marketing degree, though his sports eligibility has been used up. In 2007, he’ll go to Australia for the Moomba Masters, to New Zealand with skier Steve Cockeram, then to Florida to ski until summer, when he’ll return to Italy. The buzz around Degasperi will follow him wherever he goes from now on. Can he break the world record? Is he really one of the best skiers ever? “That might make me a little more nervous,” he says, “but I’m sure going to work on it.” W I N T E R

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Caldonazzo Lake: big water, big Alps, big dreams.

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The Connection A water-ski expedition through five French ski clubs reveals that the love of skiing is universal B Y

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here’s nothing quite like skiing right out of my own backyard on Lake Hiawassee in Orlando, Florida. Within minutes of waking up each morning, I can literally be in my boat in less than 66 steps (82 when I’m walking with my two-year-old daughter, Ella). So when I awoke to the sound of children’s laughter on a July morning this past summer, it felt much like a typical wakeup call in the Ristorcelli household. But I was far from home – 4,500 miles from home to be exact — in Nemours, France (one hour south of Paris).

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The Ski Club de Bordeaux’s lake was just one of France’s many great sites — and sights.

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It’s strange to wake up and not know exactly where you’re at, but I guess the labors of travel will do that to you from time to time. As I opened the door of my sleeping quarters at the lake to find the source of all the ruckus, four young girls were being chased around by a tall, lanky teenage boy who was geared up for a ski set. Their laughter resonated off the banks of the beautiful man-made two-lake ski site of Club Nautique du Gatinais, host of the French national championships held this past August. The moment took me back to my early days of skiing at Bill Peterson’s Ski School — hanging out at the lake for hours on end without a care in the world. While skiing at my home is a convenience that I’ll never take for granted, the feeling of carving turns in unfamiliar water with scenic backdrops is undeniably refreshing. France, of all the places on the planet inhabited by hard-core water skiers, has always intrigued me most. The country is known for producing some of the greatest skiers in the world. On an international level, former and current champions like Patrice Martin, Pierre Carmin, Clementine Lucine, 52

Nicolas Le Forestier and Geraldine Jamin, have represented their country well. I’ve always heard amazing things about the lakes in France. With back-to-back pro events at Ski West and Lacanau, the chance to compete against the best European skiers in the world was a huge enticement. Another intriguing aspect of the water-ski scene in France is the many clubs that offer a social aspect of the sport that we can all learn from. Think about it — when passionate skiers come together on the same playground, that’s a party waiting to happen. I guess it’s not uncommon to witness women lying around topless at ski tournaments in France. The naked sunbathers at the Ski West Pro appeared entirely too comfortable to be doing it on a dare from friends. Fortunately, this laid-back atmosphere was status quo for the entire tournament weekend — compliments of Ski West owner and head coach Pierre Carmin. The scruffy, laid-back three-time European, a champion skier in all three events, knows how to have a good time. When he’s not coaching future champions at his ski school in Garennes-sur Eure (one hour west of Paris), you’ll find him puffing on Marlboro Red cigarettes and sipping on rosé wine while mingling with guests at the bar of his clubhouse. It is this lighthearted demeanor that has allowed Pierre to be a successful coach of some of France’s elite skiers and wakeboarders. Pierre was instrumental in junior world champion Nancy Chardin’s early ski career, and he has also worked extensively with pro wakeboarding star Rodo Vinh-Tung. “I’m happy because I’ve been able to give my students the knowledge to succeed. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach

Pierre Carmin (right and middle) is the guru of Ski West. At Aqu’Aventure, Amber Franc (below), Marie Robineau and Julien Raimundo (both far right) are up-and-comers. TODD RISTORCELLI

STEVE COCKERAM

The scene at Ski West and the girls of Gatinais (below).

some very talented people,” he told me in between rounds of the first-ever pro event hosted at his site. If Amber Franc’s rapid progression in the slalom course is any indication of the coaching prowess coming out of the Aqu’Aventure ski club and school, I’d say the instructors are on top of their game. The 14-year-old tournament skier, who runs into 38 off with only five years of slalom-course tenure, feels right at home at the three-lake site in Gravon. And she should — her uncle, former French national jump record holder Gilles Cambray, is the owner, and her father Eric is club president. If there’s one thing I learned from my virgin voyage to France, it’s that water skiing is truly a family sport. Coincidence or not, it seemed that every young skier from France that I met had at least one parent who was really into skiing and in many cases a former champion. Gilles purchased the 33-acre ski site in 1995 and has since witnessed a broad range of skiing talent enjoying his lakes. W I N T E R

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“I’m happy because I’ve been able to give my students the knowledge to succeed. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach some very talented people.” Pierre Carmin

“We like working with beginners as much as high-end skiers,” he explained when I asked about the average skill level of his clientele. “People who were just getting up on two skis a few years ago are now tournament skiers. It’s really amazing to see their progression.” The summer-camp-like setting and forgiving water at Aqu’Aventure have not only helped many students and club members reach their skiing goals, but the atmosphere has also proved invaluable for W W W . W A T E R S K I M A G . C O M

its coaches. Julien Raimundo, a French under-21 slalom champion has coached for Gilles for two years and describes his place of work as near perfect. “I love it here,” he said. “There are lots of slalom skiers, and it’s very, very easy to ski here compared to my home lake in Montbeliard. Jean Baptist Faisy ran 3 at 41 off on our tournament lake last year, and it’s where a lot of PBs are set.” My time at Aqu’Aventure was short, but long enough to enjoy a quick set. The water

was amazingly slow, which always makes my shorter line lengths feel just a bit easier. I ended my experience at Aqu’Aventure with a true taste of French cuisine, a hearty lunch that consisted of a wonderful chicken and vegetable casserole, fresh salad, croissants, and a nice glass of merlot wine. The next stop on my very own Tour de France was Lacanau for the French Malibu Open … if only I had a map to get there. I didn’t think I would ever make it to Lacanau in my rental car from downtown Bordeaux. The normal one-hour commute was turning into three and I despise getting lost. No, I’m not the typical male who’s too stubborn to pull over and ask for directions. 53

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Geraldine Jamin and Kyle Eade (below) in the French Malibu Open at Lacanau.

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“At Lacanau, you can enjoy a lot of different sports. Surfing, windsurfing, biking, golf, horseback riding — there’s so many things to do.”

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wind blowing off the Atlantic. Long setups at both ends of the lake give skiers plenty of time to prepare for a pass in the slalom course. If you’re a die-hard skier and the rest of the family doesn’t quite exude the same passion for ripping turns, don’t fret because Lacanau offers something for everyone. The active lifestyle is one of the main reasons why the Jamin family fell in love with the city and started the Lacanau Ski Club after they dug their first lake in 1983. “At Lacanau, you can enjoy a lot of different sports,” explained Geraldine Jamin, one of the top French women’s slalom skiers and coach at her family ski school,

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I actually did on four separate occasions, but with no luck — my French is pathetic — and my faith in getting to Lacanau before the tournament’s opening round was at an all-time low. I was tired and extremely desperate when signs of hope appeared in the form of French Malibu Open billboards promoting the tournament weekend. I was finally on the right track. My travel mishap was easy to shrug off when I eventually arrived at the Lacanau Ski Club. The site in southwest France is a skier’s dream. Thousands of pine trees line the shores surrounding this supreme facility’s two man-made lakes, buffering the

Geraldine Jamin

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“Surfing, windsurfing, biking, golf, horseback riding — there’s so many things to do.” Geraldine was absolutely right. When they weren’t competing in the French Malibu Open, skiers were cruising the cozy beach town on mountain bikes within minutes of the lakes, shopping in the dozens of surf and clothing venues, and enjoying the ocean view from a relaxed restaurant setting overlooking Lacanau beach. And if you can muster up enough energy at the end of an active day, the nightlife at Lacanua beach is known to go off. The Jamin family is synonymous with high-end skiing in France’s inner-water ski circles. In addition to running a world-class water-ski facility, her parents are also accomplished skiers, legendary back in the day. Her mother Sylvia won the Worlds in women’s slalom in 1973 and her father, Jean-Michel, was a two-time European slalom champion. Geraldine herself even married into skiing; her husband, pro skier Christophe Duverger, also helps manage the school. The entire staff of the Lacanau Ski Club loves the lifestyle and competitiveness of the sport, making all the pros in

STEVE COCKERAM

Lacanau as seen from the sky, on the shore and at the ocean.

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Julien Raimundo drinks up Bordeaux’s glass.

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that you immediately feel happy to have met. The tall and cheery Frenchman greeted me with open arms and welcomed me to his place of escape. Even with the French/ English language barrier between us, I could tell the guy was all about having fun. “Water is for skiing and wine is for drinking,” he exclaimed after his set for British lens-man Ravi Jain. I had to agree. Thierry, a commercial realtor and land de-

SITES TO SKI Club Nautique du Gatinais Nemours, France Phone: 011.33.1.60.86.80.19 Web: s-n-c-g.com

Lacanau Ski Club Lacanau, France Phone: 011.33.5.56.03.09.01 Web: sports-service.fr

Ski Club de Bordeaux Baurech, France Phone: 011.33.5.56.21.35.30

Aqu’Aventure Gravon, France Phone: 011.33.1.64.31.27.59 Web: skiaquaventure.com

Ski West Garennes-sur Eure, France Phone: 011.33.2.32.26.32.25 Web: skiwest.fr

RAVI JAIN (3)

town feel extremely welcome. I quickly got a notion that French pro skier Julien Beaufils must have been a racecar driver in a former life. Weaving in and out of traffic in a practically go-cart-sized car on bicycle-path-sized roads was a little hairy, but I had to stay close. I was trailing the driving madman from Lacanau to Thierry Malhomme’s water-ski haven located about 20 minutes east of downtown Bordeaux in Baurech. Julien has coached at Thierry’s school for the last three years and absolutely loves his home training grounds. “It’s always like this … it’s always perfect to ski here,” he explained upon our arrival, “even when it’s windy, you can still produce good scores.” From a visual standpoint, the Ski Club de Bordeaux is spectacular. The natural beauty of the site is practically undisturbed by commercial development. Rolling hills surrounding the lake are consumed with vibrant foliage and thousands of wind-blocking trees. As I gazed into the distance, an old church and dozens of wineries that produce some of France’s finest indulgences caught my eye. From a quaint log-cabin-like clubhouse that sits right on the lake, I stared down the pancake-flat slalom course. I was in heaven. The water, a transparent aqua blue, was begging for my approval. Unfortunately, my back-breaking, lean-lock turn in the semifinal round of the French Malibu Open kept me at bay. French men’s senior record holder Thierry Malhomme is one of those guys

veloper, discovered the picturesque lake that came to be his own five years ago when he was looking for a place to ski close to his office in the city of Bordeaux. “To be a water skier in France is very complicated,” he said. “There’s not that many lakes, the roads are very small for trailering a boat, and the costs of owning a boat is very expensive.” Ski clubs like Thierry’s throughout France provide a more economical outlet for people to enjoy the sport. The Ski Club de Bordeaux has 120 club members, many of whom ski during the week to break up the monotony of a 9 to 5 job. “Here you have a boat, a driver, a coach. During the workweek you can ski in a relatively short time and then get back to work,” explained Thierry.

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“To be a water skier in France is very complicated. There’s not that many lakes, the roads are very small for trailering a boat, and the cost of owning a boat is very expensive.”

I can relate. My early morning sets before work are priceless. It’s a ritual that makes my 30-minute, I-4 rush-hour drive to the office much more tolerable. The day spent with Thierry and Julien and a few other skiers in their tight-knit group of club members was the perfect ending to my French water-ski adventure. As the sun dissolved into the horizon, I reminisced about the new friends I had met, the great sites I skied, and the universal stoke for skiing that is shared among skiers from all parts of the world. As Thierry offered me a bottle of one of his favorite Bordeaux wines to take back to Orlando, I had to borrow his favorite line. “Of course,” I said, “Water is for skiing and wine is for drinking.”

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Thierry Malhomme

Thierry Malhomme, France’s best senior skier, calls Bordeaux home.

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Skiers Changing Everything From the gear you use to the places you live to the way you ski, these innovators are pushing it all further B Y

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THE TIRELESS GLOBETROTTER

Des Burke-Kennedy WHAT HE’S DOING: Translating the sport for crowds from Ireland to China

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WILL SHILLING

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THE DOGGED COMPETITOR

WHAT HE’S DOING: Finding and rewarding the top 34 mph skier, a.k.a. the Big Dawg

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reg Davis’ competitive streak is as obvious as a tow rope. So in 2003 when he realized he didn’t know who the world’s best slalom skier at 34 mph was, he had to find the answer. A year later, the Big Dawg tournament was born — a battleground where skiers age 35 and up can wage war. “At the Big Dawg, the best score doesn’t always win,” he says of the head-to-head format. “It’s about beating the guy that you’re competing against. And it’s really, really exciting.” This year has been the best yet, with a full-fledged series of four tournaments across the country building to the $10,000 Big Dawg Championship at the end of September. Ten companies have lined up to back the series along with title sponsor Correct Craft, which is hosting the finale at its new Orlando headquarters. But Davis, 59, is far from finished. “My personal vision is to get TV

coverage,” he says. “But if we’re going to take it to the next level, we have to have more than just amateur athletes. I’ve thought about the possibility of pulling 36 mph skiers into it and female pros. We’d have the best slalom skiers.” And those are just his plans for the Big Dawg. There’s always the possibility for another tournament series with a dual-sport format that incorporates Davis’ other love, motorcycle racing. “There’s a lot of crossover between young people who ride dirt bikes and water skiing and wakeboarding,” he says. “It’s the same type of adrenaline rush.” Davis says that he’ll consider whatever idea will bring water skiing back into the public eye. “I guess my competitive personality is what gives me satisfaction in accomplishing something different,” he says. Because like any contender, Davis loves to be the first one to the punch. COURTESY GREG DAVIS

COURTESY BOB CORSON

ven in a country of 1.3 billion people, it takes work to drum up a crowd. Luckily, Des Burke-Kennedy, the marketing chairman of the Water Ski World Cup, is very good at his job of showcasing pro skiers. Event sites for 2006 include China, Qatar, Russia and Ireland. “We could bring Freddy Krueger or Jaret Llewellyn to many parts of the world without a marketing program,” he says, “and we would have six skiers show up to watch them.” Instead, the opening ceremonies of the World Cup’s China stop this past June reached more than 14 million people on Beijing TV. At the Russia stop in July, about 30,000 spectators gathered on a permanent grandstand built especially for the tournament. All in a day’s work for 63-yearold Burke-Kennedy, who has traveled countless miles in support of skiing. “If you can get into a downtown location with a great sound system, have very high quality on the water and manage it properly,” he says, “I don’t think you’ll find any place in the world where people won’t stand up and cheer as you get into the closing moments of the finals.” The secret may be location, location, location, but certainly having a spokesman as enthusiastic as Burke-Kennedy doesn’t hurt either. “I used to organize an event called the Paddy’s Ski Jump Classic in Ireland, which at the time was the biggest such event in the world,” says Burke-Kennedy, who is also president of the Irish Water Ski Federation as well as a frequent TV commentator. “That gave me an insight into the real potential if we present our sport properly to the right audiences.” Of course, he would watch skiing anywhere, anytime. “When you grow up in a sport, if your heart is in it, it’s very hard to get away from it,” he says. “This is just a lovely way to stay deeply involved.”

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THE COMMUNITY ARCHITECT

Karl DeLooff WHAT HE’S DOING: Building an all-inclusive family ski haven with six lakes

with 10 to 20 houses, but he teamed up with a partner in the construction business to do something grander. “It’s not about buying property or lake access,” he says. “It’s having that critical mass of enough people and activities that the community feeds on itself and has its own culture.” DeLooff is betting big on Placid Waters. Most lots are priced at $300,000, and the hope is for that property to double in value in five years. The first homes should start going up early next year. His family is living on site already, and DeLooff is spending every waking moment on the project — when he’s not at his day job or overseeing his Boarditup.com online shop or shuttling his two kids to ski-show practice or coordinating state INT tournaments. He’ll rest when Placid Waters is done, but not for long. DeLooff is dreaming of another all-out blueprint: “Think of a water skier’s Disneyland.”

THE CUSTOM SHAPER

Ron Goodman

RACHEL BAYNE

WHAT HE’S DOING: Transforming the jump event two personalized skis at a time

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he huge swath of Michigan dirt doesn’t look like much now, but try to see it how Karl DeLooff does. The depression over there? That’s a bay taking shape for one of the six ski lakes. The flat patches? Picture 60 new homes, every one on the water. This corner will have the soccer field. Those are the spots for the community center, banquet hall, pool, pro shop, jogging trail. When it’s all done, in about 2009, this will be Placid Waters. “I wanted it to be the absolute pinnacle of what anybody has ever done before,” DeLooff says. “It’s designed to be a calling card for the entire water-skiing community, to try to promote the sport as a high-level athletic activity for the entire family.” That may sound like a real-estate agent’s line of hype, but the 47-year-old DeLooff is just an environmental engineer who has daydreamed about Placid Waters since ninth grade. Sure, he’s seen the typical ski lakes

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on Goodman learned early on in his ski-building career that the crazier people think you are, the better your idea probably is. That’s why in the midst of naysayers who call him foolish for specializing in hard-to-make, custom-built jump skis, he not only continues to pursue the enterprise that changed the face of jumping in the mid-’90s, but also continues to evolve it. This summer, Goodman introduced the first all-composite jumpers, designed for durability and vibration control by employing a new high-pressure curing process. But the 43-year-old ski maker from Washington is no stranger to storming unconquered ground. Back in 1993 when he started telling people at existing ski companies that his hefty, 6-foot-4-inch, 225-pound frame demanded longer skis, the response he got was less than supportive. “They thought I was absolutely nuts,” he says. “So I just said, ‘Well, I’ll do it myself.’” After

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THE HULL SHAPER

Danny Gasper WHAT HE’S DOING: Engineering the perfect three-event wake

a year of trial and error, Goodman had his first pair of 85-inch jumpers, a length modest by today’s standards. These days, he builds about 150 pairs of skis a year. And though every pair is tailor-made, he’s still not quite satisfied. So next year, Goodman will infuse an unprecedented level of personalization into his products by limiting the number of skis he builds and zeroing in on his customers. “We’re setting up a camp where a few people can come, and we literally build them skis on the spot,” he says. “They’ll have all sorts of variations to try, and every rocker and flex and side cut you can possibly imagine. Then we’ll fit them to their style and coach them for the rest of the week.” If the idea of a businessman decreasing production to increase customer service sounds crazy, that’s because it is — just the way Ron Goodman likes it.

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he phone rings a lot in Danny Gasper’s office at the headquarters of Malibu Boats in Merced, California, but these days he’s barely got a moment to say hello before he’s once again calling out directions for improved speed control and hull refinements. It’s a habit that’s understandable considering Gasper is the head of research and development for one of the biggest inboard boat manufacturers in the world, and he’s currently putting the finishing touches on his greatest ambition yet. “It’s been my life’s goal to create an ultimate slalom boat,” he says. “I think I’ve achieved it with the ’07.” The boat he’s talking about is, of course, the newest version of Malibu’s flagship three-event hull, the Response LXi. Gasper says that in addition to a noticeably flatter slalom wake, the LXi’s brand new hull also boasts exceptional handling and tracking abilities. But don’t expect to find out too much about the intricacies of the new model just yet. Gasper is quick to point out that it’s still too early to tell what kind of impact his latest design will have on the sport. “I’ll have to put some more time on it and really see and feel how it works,” he says. But rest assured, if a man like Gasper says a hull is the fulfillment of his life’s goal, you can bet it’s going to be something special. The 44-year-old grew up slalom skiing in Merced, California, and watched Malibu take shape before his water-skiloving eyes. So in 1988, just six years after the company was founded, Gasper picked up the phone. “I just called and asked for a job and went to work,” he says. The rest — from the evolution of the closed-bow Response into the open-bow Response LX, all the way to the latest edition of the Response LXi, and of course Gasper’s never-ending focus on all things R&D — is history.

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THE VISIONARY WEBCASTER

Tom Grey WHAT HE’S DOING: Streaming video to ski fans whenever, wherever

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you’ve never seen a pro water-ski event — because you don’t live near a tournament site or you don’t have time to travel, or none of your 700 cable channels offers ski coverage — Tom Grey would like to remedy that. No, he’s not planning on traveling the world with a portable DVD player and hours of exclusive footage of Thomas Degasperi’s latest performance. But close. “Webcasting is the future of technology on the Internet,” says the 26-year-old co-founder of the UK-based company Webcast-TV. “It’s being able to personalize what you want to watch, when you want to watch it. Hopefully, water skiing can be a part of that.” Grey, who says the only goal he’s ever pursued is melding a career with his passion for water skiing, is banking on what the future will bring. “We’re trying to do as much as we can this year to get people excited about it,” he says. But already, the vision of Grey and his partners Tony Cise, David Grey and Mike Ferraro has brought events such as WaterSki’s Pro Slalom Shootout to thousands of viewers all over the world. If all goes according to plan, Webcast-TV will go way beyond just letting you watch water-ski tournaments in real time. “The whole idea behind it is that we are using our Web skills to create an interactive experience for the viewer online,” he says. That includes the ability to bid on the gear that the pros are actually using at the tournament, chat with the announcers, ask questions of the athletes and slow down that last record-breaking pass in case you missed it. “Little bits of it have already happened,” Grey says. “But we’re still waiting for an event where we’re able to go to town and do everything we can do.” We’d bet thousands of pro-eventhungry fans around the world are, too.

THE INDEPENDENT TESTER

John Horton WHAT HE’S DOING: Bringing fresh objectivity to analysis of skis

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were going to be like. But there is no best ski. In the tests, there was a fastest ski, most stable ski, most predictable ski, but not one best product for every athlete.” He’s hoping to enhance the tests for 2007 and go deeper into the numbers. In the meantime, Horton will be skiing the lakes near his home in Bakersfield, where he’s a project manager for Chevron when he’s not coaching threeevent, running CarbonFins.com or working on a new flex tester. “I’m intrigued by the equipment, the skis, the fins, the bindings, how we can better understand the intricacies,” he says. “I think a lot of skiers pull a ski out of the box and maybe it’s good for them and maybe it’s not. I’m trying to get a better grasp of what’s going on.” THOMAS GUSTAFSON

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ocket fuel is actually not as dangerous as you might think. John Horton used to make it in his kitchen, back in the ’90s when knee injuries forced him out of skiing and into amateur rocketry. “Turns out it won’t blow up on you,” he says. Testing skis, though — now that’s volatile. Get a shaky mix of analysis, objectivity, reliability and info, and it can explode in your face. But the 37-year-old Horton, who grew up watching ski R&D tests on his dad Jack’s Horton Lakes, decided last winter to try to pull together an independent ski test. Six months later, after 12 skiers tested eight skis over three days, the tabulated scores appeared in WaterSki and on waterskitests.com. “I think without ski tests, the average skier is purely stuck with marketing,” Horton says. “The math-based results cut through preconceptions of what the skis

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THE MAVERICK THINKER

Herb O’Brien WHAT HE’S DOING: Inventing a new company with new innovations — yet again line of skis, to debut this September. In his teens, he took a band saw to his stock Wally Burrs to narrow them. At 20, he introduced the modern ski design, complete with concave bottom and soft rocker. At 46, he developed the landmark Hyperlite board that spearheaded wakeboarding’s popularity. Now at 62, he’s launching his third company after the selfnamed O’Brien and the self-initialed HO. The latest thoughts include special radiuses on the high-end MPD ski and

a new binding that’s between a hard shell and a soft boot. “Andy Mapple came up with that,” O’Brien says, deflecting credit as much as possible. “I’ve just been lucky to be around good people who have a lot of good ideas.” Those people include Square One business partners Brian Gardner and O’Brien’s son Paul, who left HO with O’Brien last December. Herb was on a fishing trip in Cabo San Lucas when they called him to say they should start another company. “I didn’t have to think more than a second.” BRYAN MYSS

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2:30 a.m. on the sleepy shores of Radar Lake, and yet another light bulb is beaming over Herb O’Brien’s head. He types up an e-mail about how that latest prototype ski could be tweaked even further, then sends it to longtime colleague Eddie Roberts. When the official day starts at Square One — O’Brien’s new company based in a huge workshop on this Washington lake just steps from his house — the famous innovator will see how the idea plays out in another full day of R&D. O’Brien cannot stop thinking, which bodes well for Square One’s new Radar

THE “WEST COAST” GURU

Mike Suyderhoud TERRY WINTER

MARCUS BROWN

WHAT HE’S DOING: Teaching thousands of skiers — and counting — how to slalom happier

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ike Suyderhoud has an especially analytical mind, but at the moment he’s stumped on a math problem: To how many people has he taught the “West Coast” slalom technique? “Wow, I don’t know,” he says from his office in Redding, California. “Say I work with 20 people a week for 30 weeks a year. That’s 600. Multiply that by 10 years of clinics. Add in ski school, and I’d say more than 10,000.” Suyderhoud the instructor is best known for teaching two people: pro skiers Marcus W W W . W A T E R S K I M A G . C O M

Brown and Terry Winter, both sub-6-foot California boys who have broken into the elite level. But the “West Coast” technique of moving your body across the course as it naturally swings and leans in concert with the acceleration has helped short guys, young kids, the AARP crowd, anyone who isn’t already smiling and slaloming. “People beating their heads against the wall say that there must be another way to do it,” says the 56-year-old Hall of Famer. While it’s called “West Coast,” the

technique that Suyderhoud formulated in 1993 in California is now practiced coast to coast. Outside his work with his Accufloat company, Suyderhoud has taught clinics everywhere from Florida to Maine. He’s also releasing a new instructional DVD, West Coast Slalom, the first in a series tailored for various levels of skiers. “I did a lot of evolving of it up until we were about to do the video,” he says. “I was sweating bullets. ‘West Coast’ has been a work in progress, but the results have been very good.” 63

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Make the Most of It 5 tips for skiing your PB before season’s end BY SETH STISHER

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this point in the season, you are probably starting to think, “Am I going to reach my goals this year?” Well, whether your goal is to run your first full pass, trick 6,000 points or jump 180 feet, you have to home in on your training techniques to accomplish your object. This is something you don’t hear much about when you go to ski school or when your backyard pro is coaching you. If you aren’t sure you have what it takes to ski that PB by season’s end, check out these five tips to make it happen.

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STAY FRESH. By this point in the season, we have all trained ourselves to death. Day in and day out of beating ourselves up on the water is starting to take its toll. The back has seen better days; that recurring ankle or knee injury is starting to scream at you; and the tendonitis in the elbows from your Vulcan death grip on the handle is making everyday life a little tender. Take a few days off before your next tournament or big ski outing. Let the body recuperate; get a massage; jump in the whirlpool; or do some stretching. You’ll be surprised how good some rest can be for your overall performance.

2 FIND THE KEYS. This late in the year, between the ski school you attended early in the season, your driver’s tips from his or her mirror view, and your wife asking you why you get more slack in the rope than your buddies, your brain is overwhelmed. Sit down and decide on the few major keys that have given you the most improvement over the past couple of months and focus on them until your peak season has passed. If you go to a ski school, be sure they understand that your goal is to hone some basic skills, not to have a whole new list of chores dumped on your plate. Save the big changes for your fall visit to your favorite ski coach. W I N T E R

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3 THINK RHYTHM. All athletic training

4 FOCUS AND REHEARSE. When the

requires you to try and execute moves that are foreign to your body. This leads to very robotic movements, which, although they will greatly benefit you down the road, can cause you to look pretty uncoordinated on the water. Do some sets where you take it easy and focus on the rhythm and flow of the movements at a slower pace than normal in order to regain some of your freeflowing athletic movements.

time comes to perform, to really go for that personal best whether it’s in a tournament or skiing with your buddies, focus on what it’s going to feel like and rehearse it on the shore before you go out there and give it your best shot. Close your eyes and visualize, or take your handle and walk your way through your run. Be sure your mind understands what it is going to feel like to succeed well before your ski touches the water.

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THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND. Forget losing. Go for it and give it every bit of yourself when you are on the water, as if it is your last ski ride on this earth. Failure is not an option. In fact, “failure” is not even in your vocabulary. Seth Stisher is the head instructor and co-owner of H2Osmosis Sports located at Trophy Lakes. He is sponsored by MasterCraft Boats, D3 Skis, Zeal Optics, Fogman Bindings and Team Buoy Creek. Reach him at h2osmosis.com or 866.213.7993.

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Ski Paradise

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Extend your season in water-ski utopia

There’s not much you can do to stop Jack Frost’s impending descent, but if you’d like to avoid him for a week or two, Gordon Rathbun has just the place for you to do it. For 15 years, his ski school and resort, Ski Paradise in Acapulco, Mexico, has been the destination of choice for snowbirds tacking on some time — and margaritas — to their summers. But if you’re still not convinced, here are five reasons to skip out on the ice and snow this year and book a trip to Paradise.

1. NEW DIGS. This year Rathbun relocated to a brand new eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom villa. Although the previous accommodations were nothing to sneeze at, 66

the new luxury villa — replete with a rooftop movie theater for weekly water-ski video screenings — is even better. “[Rathbun] took all the stuff that needed changing and incorporated it into the villa,” Jason Paredes says. “I’m not saying the other place wasn’t nice, but this is really stepping it up.”

2. ROTATING COACHES. Few schools can boast that their coaching staffs change weekly, but when you’re setup is Paradise, it can’t be too hard to recruit ski greats to lend their services for a week or two. “[Rathbun’s] been building up a good database of guest coaches,” Marcus Brown says. “He has a lot of regulars like Andy Mapple and Kris LaPoint and Greg Badal. A lot or most of the guys going down there

are some of the best coaches around. And he’s trying to get more of the young guys down there as well, because he realizes we’re on the cutting edge.”

3. NON-INTIMIDATING ENVIRONMENT. If you’ve never skied the course or aren’t into shortline yet, skiing with the likes of Andy Mapple and Kris LaPoint might intimidate you. But Rathbun prides himself on offering a universal experience. “You are getting really good coaching,” Jason Paredes says. “And people can be intimidated by that, but it’s catered toward everybody. It’s very user-friendly.” Natalie Hammrick agrees. “His strategy of having guest coaches keeps the atmosphere lively and personable every single W I N T E R

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week,” she says. “Experiencing Acapulco is a must for every level of skier.”

CONDITIONS. Placed strategically on a hilltop overlooking the coastline and Acapulco Bay, the villa at Ski Paradise certainly lives up to its utopian name — and that’s just where you sleep. The real reason to visit is the heavenly skiing conditions spread across two separate courses. “At Gordon’s you get really good water,” Marcus Brown says. “There are two courses, which are just amazing. I stayed for two weeks when I went and never once was it too windy to ski.” W W W . W A T E R S K I M A G . C O M

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5. LIFE-LONG FRIENDS. You never know whom you’re going to meet at Ski Paradise. And thanks to the social atmosphere and the like-minded clientele, it could be that one of the people you meet will become your new favorite ski buddy. “I coach several weeks a year at Gordon’s place,” says Seth Stisher, “and I have never experienced

a week where the group as a whole didn’t end up being a tight-knit group of friends by the end of the week. You can’t force people to become friends, but Ski Paradise definitely offers the opportunity.” For additional information and reservations, e-mail [email protected], or call 408-7309929 (California). 67

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Staying on Course Max Strother of Skier to Skier offers solutions for four of the most common slalom-course problems PROBLEM: Replacing buoys is eating into precious ski time. SOLUTION: Expedite repairs. We make everything identical, so when we bring out a new ball we can bring it out with the latex tubing and a clip hooked to it. And we keep those in the boat. That way when we do have to make a trade out, it’s just a matter of cutting the remains from the subbuoy and clipping the new buoy in. There’s no tying of pieces out on the lake.

PROBLEM: Even with world-class driving, times are crazy. SOLUTION: Maintain the magnets. Timing systems are designed so that magnets all point the same way, either all north up or all south up. So if, for example, the three-ball magnet is set differently from all the other balls in the course, you can very easily move the trigger point of the three-

ball time about four feet. And that would put an absolutely perfect in-tolerance time out of tolerance. PROBLEM: Scores are improving, but that’s because the course is shrinking. SOLUTION: Float the arms. The PVC arms have a tendency to sag down in the middle between the balls and the boat guides, and when they sag, the slalom course gets a whole lot shorter and a lot easier. To a skier it seems great, but unfortunately you show up at a tournament and it doesn’t feel so good anymore. This can easily be fixed by putting a support buoy midway on the arm so it doesn’t bow. For all of your slalom-course needs, check out skiertoskier.com or call 877.603.8277.

THOMAS GUSTAFSON

PROBLEM: Weekend Wallys speed through the lake and take the course with them. SOLUTION: Cut your losses. I highly recommend that you put a fuse in the link somewhere. In other words, make sure there’s a sheer-away

point in the system. If you use rope without a fuse and a Wally gets ahold of one of your balls and he starts winding the ball and the rope up on the propeller, he could break an arm off your course, and that’s a major repair. If you’re using a bottom-anchor course, have sub-buoys right below prop level and keep your magnets down there so the buoy or the boat guide gets sheared away while the rest stays safe to be used again.

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Technical Introspective Ireland World Cup slalom champ Drew Ross breaks down his turn

I think of keeping my head up: This helps me maintain a level and balanced upper body, and allows me to move outside the rope and through the turn.

My turn has started with a good outward arc because I left the second wake with speed on my approach to number two.

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I focus on my right hip leading toward the centerline and in the direction of the next buoy. This helps maintain speed and stops me from exerting too much load on the rope. If my right hip drops behind, my right shoulder will follow and the ski will bite.

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Moving toward the wakes, my thought is to “slide” the hips in my desired direction of travel; this helps me continue to open, and keeps me balanced and light on the rope as I restore any speed that may have been lost through the turn.

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New Ski on the Block Fischer consultant Kurt Steinwald tells us about the new stick BY THOMAS GUSTAFSON

HOW DID THIS NEW SKI COME ABOUT? I’ve run a slalom lake outside Vienna [Austria] since 1993. My goal has always been to get more European companies interested in water skiing. Out of several high-quality carbon engineering companies, Fischer is the perfect one. They enjoy supporting competitive sports with their carbon composite technology. We showed them what is good and what could be better with existing highend slalom skis, and they immediately liked the idea of developing a carbon tournament slalom water ski. HOW DOES A SNOW-SKI MANUFACTURER ALL OF A SUDDEN DESIGN A WORLD-CLASS SLALOM SKI? They started their two-year development phase by analyzing problems that existing skis had, especially on carbon or part-carbon skis that broke or differed from ski to ski. To find the right shape and flexes, Fischer worked with skiers, coaches and designers. The main input from Fischer is the production method, the computer designed flexes and the low-friction texture on the bottom. This special texture is already in the mold; there is no paint between carbon and water. On the top you see the manufactured carbon under transparent paint, similar to Formula 1 car parts. DESCRIBE THE SIZES AND FLEXES. Sizes are 1625, 1675 and 1725 mm, but 70

they are close to 64, 66 and 68 inches. The yellow line is stiffer but still a soft to medium ski compared to other products. Blue is the soft ski, softer and lighter than anything available. This was only possible with the carbon and manufacturing methods used. What people feel is a very fast but still very forgiving ski. WHY HAS PRODUCTION SEEMED SLOW SO FAR? They started production with a limited capacity. The focus is on creating a leading product rather than making fast money. Even in the case of a great success within the small market of top slalom skis, it will still be a tiny share of Fischer’s revenue within carbon composite engineering. Skis will be available in the United States both [factory direct and from distributors], but distribution will be limited to special dealers with the capability of giving the right advice to skiers. WHAT DO YOU THINK FISCHER’S ROLE WILL BE IN THE INDUSTRY? A new, European player that supports tournaments, ski sites and young talent. As a new partner in the industry, Fischer could bring alpine-ski and water-ski federations closer together, which will help to get more media presence. They will also build a successful team of pros, with wide support throughout the slalom world rather than just a few big names. For more information of Fischer skis, check out fischerskis.com. W I N T E R

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PHOTOS: KURT STEINWALD, THOMAS GUSTAFSON; SKI, COURTESY FISCHER

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ith over 80 years experience manufacturing world-class snow skis and engineering high-end carbon for many other sports products as well as the Porsche GT, Fischer is now making water skis. So, why would the largest snow-ski manufacturer in the world want to be involved in the water-ski industry? Kurt Steinwald, a Fischer consultant, answered this question along with a few others during his visit to my ski school in Italy.

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Stay Tuned and Toned Use the trampoline to maintain and build on everything you accomplished this season BY KYLE SCHMIDT TAKEOFFS

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uring the season you spend each session repeating tricks to engrave them into your muscle memory and drive your progression. But when the offseason arrives and cold weather has driven you out of the water, you face a major dilemma. Everything you learned during the season will dwindle away and by the start of the next season, you’ll have to relearn tricks and rebuild your muscles and stamina. A trampoline and trampboard are great tools to help bridge the gap between seasons. Trampoline training not only helps you to maintain your progression and fitness but also to push your bag of tricks to the next level, so you’re ready to progress on the water when the next season starts. On the 72

trampoline you can repeat a trick over and over so you maintain what each move feels like. It also helps you build a comfort level that gives you the courage and awareness to add a grab or an additional rotation. TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS When training on the trampoline, it’s important to correctly mimic the takeoff and landing edging positions to make sure you’re not cheating on your tricks. Still, many riders stand parallel or even open to the rope’s point of attachment on the trampoline for toeside takeoffs. This open position makes spins and flips much easier on the trampoline, but it just won’t feel the same as the twisted position you’re in when edging W I N T E R

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($299; GURUTRAMP BOARDS.COM) World-champion wakeboard coach Mike Ferraro and the rest of the team at Guru spent more than two years making the new Levitator and Mirage trampboards as perfect as possible. They designed and redesigned the materials and exhaustively tested the boards on riders like Phillip Soven and Dallas Friday to make sure they felt as much like a real wakeboard as possible. The result is boards made from a patentpending memory foam that bends on impact yet almost immediately returns to its original shape. That way, riders get the maximum boot from the tramp but feel like they’re learning spins and grabs with a real wakeboard.

LANDINGS toward and up the wake for a toeside trick. It’s best to jump on the tramp in the same twisted position you’d be in on the water. This will help you build better habits and consistency as you transition back and forth between training on land and on water. In addition to sound takeoffs, you also want to anticipate proper landing positions. Don’t just land on the tramp; edge out of the trick. Focus also on falling against the rope in the same direction you would to edge out of a trick for a stable landing on the water. FLIPS Most every flip you can perform on the water can be mimicked on a trampoline. When flipping, the rope is your axis, and W W W . W A T E R S K I M A G . C O M

it’s important to keep that axis as tight as possible. If you’re doing a trick related to a side flip like a heelside back roll, the rope should stay directly in front of your hips. If your hands and the handle move all over the place as you flip, your axis becomes big and less efficient. Minimizing the movement of the handle will make your flips much smoother and more controlled. Keep in mind though that for some tricks the boat’s pull plays a major roll in helping you flip on the water. For example, a heelside roll to revert on the trampoline doesn’t feel anything like a heelside roll to revert on the water. In the water, you edge away from the boat, and the line tension plays a major roll in pivoting your body around for the land73

ONBOARD FOUR STEPS TO FAST TRAMP PROGRESSION FLIPS FEET FIRST. Learn each flip or spin on just your feet first without the handle or trampboard. This teaches you how to use your body to initiate your rotations. STRAP UP. Next, add the trampboard but leave out the handle. With the board on your feet, the trick will be a little harder because of the additional swing weight, but this will help you build strength for the water. GET A GRIP. Now remove the trampboard and dial in the trick with the handle. Having the handle in your hands will give you control and will teach you how to manipulate your body in the air just by pulling or moving the handle in different directions. ALL TOGETHER NOW. Last, learn each trick with both the trampboard and the handle. This will get you totally prepared to try new tricks on the water.

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SPINS

because there’s no line tension from the boat.

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ing. On the tramp, many riders just relate a heelside roll to revert to a cartwheel-style flip with a 180 or a side flip with a 180, but the trampoline sensation just isn’t the same 74

LAYOUT TRICKS Layout-style tricks, or any move related to a toeside or heelside Raley, can be learned more easily and safely on a trampoline. When riders first try these tricks on the water, they often take extremely hard falls by catching their front edge. This happens because they aren’t used to letting the board move behind them, and don’t have the strength to pull it back in. A trampoline Raley allows riders to execute the layout motion repeatedly, which helps build core muscle strength for when you are executing the move on water.

SPINS On the water, you can spin two different ways: on-axis and off-axis. On the trampoline, you need to use different techniques to execute the two styles. For off-axis spins, let your body first drift out much like a Raley, then pull to initiate rotation. Drifting sets the axis, and how hard you pull determines how fast you spin. For on-axis spins, try to keep your axis perfectly straight. To do so, don’t initiate your pull until the peak of your jump. For more detailed video instruction, watch The Book Wakeboard Instructional Series. W I N T E R

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The Waiting Is Over Keith St. Onge’s world barefoot slalom record is approved

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his father Eugene, Keith had only five days to familiarize himself with the Raven tow boat used for the tournament. “I had to relearn the wake on the Raven,” he says. “It’s an outboard and has smaller wakes than we have here in the States. I mostly had to work on timing, learning how wide the wake is, where the crest ends, because if you put your foot down early the judges will downgrade the cross. You need to make sure your crossings are extremely clean.” Keith’s first run tallied 21.1, and his second was 20.7; he ended with 20.6. The competition was filmed and the tapes sent all across the world to the judges in England, America, Canada, Australia — the entire world committee — for verification. It was a full two and a half months later that Keith learned his record had been validated. But for Keith, the wait was worth it — now he’s not the only one who knows he broke the long-standing record.

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fter claiming to break the record five times only to have it stripped away, Keith St. Onge finally has more than claims now — this past year he officially broke the world barefoot slalom record with a score of 20.6 at the Gauteng North Barefoot Championships in Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa. The previous record of 20.5 was set by Brian Fuchs 12 years ago. The competition works as follows: Athletes try to cross the wake on one foot from crest to crest as many times as they can in 15 seconds. They do this twice, one run skiing forward and one run skiing backward. For each wake crossing successfully completed on one foot, a full point is awarded. If the athlete touches down on two feet during the wake crossing, a half point is awarded. “Slalom has always been a strong event for me,” says Onge, “so I knew I had a good shot.” Traveling to Africa to train with Heinrich Sam and

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KEITH ST. ONGE’S FIVE EDGING TIPS 1. It’s all in the handle. Ninety percent of the pull needs to be on the arm in the direction you’re going: If you’re going left, 90 percent of the pull should be on the left hand.

2. The bottom of the lifted foot needs to face the direction you want to go.

3. You want an extremely low stance. The lower you are, the stronger you are — maintain a low center of gravity.

4. Obviously, the foot on the water needs to turn in the direction you want to go.

5. Usually your ankle is underneath your knee, but to get speed throughout the crossing — and through the wake — drive your skiing foot in front of your knee for quickness.

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Buying a used boat? First check out these tips from Bubba Beck

If

you’re interested in buying a used ski boat, now is the time to do it. It is the end of the season and people are usually willing to cut their prices to avoid having to winterize, store and keep insurance on a boat all winter long. Plus, you will be less likely to let the call of peak season influence your decision. Prepare by doing your homework and narrowing down what you want in a ski boat. If you know you want a 1990-95 Sport Nautique with tandem trailer, for example, you won’t waste time looking at something that doesn’t meet your needs. Next, look up the value on the boat of interest as a starting point to get a feel for the price range. Look in both the NADA value guides (nadaguides.com) and the classifieds to get a good idea of the actual market value. When you’re ready to shop, bring along this checklist to help you inspect each boat thoroughly:

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• Overall interior condition • Carpet condition • Fiberglass blister (cosmetic but expensive to fix) • Tightness on the lag bolts from engine mounts (Loose lag bolts mean stringer has started to rot) • Engine oil (look for signs of water) • Belts, hoses, leaks around engine • Run engine and check engine temp, oil pressure, alternator output, and for water pump leaks and any unusual engine noise or excess smoke • Trailer • Running gear (shaft, strut and rudder) • Lake-test the boat (check for excessive water coming into bilge) If you like what you see and you’re ready to talk price, start out with the magical phrase: “What do you have to have for it?” Remember, sometimes what the seller “has to have” is less than what you were going to offer.

RED FLAGS TITLE A lower asking price doesn’t make up for a title problem. It can be a nightmare to straighten out. Once the burden shifts to you, if you don’t get a clear title, you cannot register the boat and thus cannot legally use it. TRANSMISSION OIL It should look dark red. If it looks pinkish, like Pepto-Bismol, then there is water in the transmission. ROTTING STRINGERS Soft spots in the floor mean you have a floor that is rotting, and it may extend to the stringers. Note: Most ski boats built after 1992 solved this problem by going to all-fiberglass composite floors and stringers.

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shops & online retailers

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FREEINFORMATION SIMPLY MAIL THE ATTACHED READER RESPONSE CARD, FAX TOLL-FREE TO 888.847.6035, OR VISIT WWW.WATERSKIMAG.COM FOR DIRECT ACCESS TO EACH ADVERTISERS WEBSITE AND FREE INFORMATION.

BOATS

23. Monster Tower LLC – A state-of-the-art tower that fits

1.

24. Perfect Pass – PerfectPass is the recognized world leader in

almost any boat with a single design. See page 82

Centurion – World Championship Towboats. Innovative! Unmatched! Reliable! See pages 6, 7

2.

Malibu – We build the worlds best boats, for the best value and

speed control systems for the pleasure boat industry. See page 12

904. All in Marine Equipment/Accessories

we have fun doing it. See pages 2, 3

3.

MasterCraft – We strive to design and build the world’s high-

4. 5.

Sea Doo PWC – Leave everything else behind. See page 19 SkiNautique by Correct Craft – The boat company that

est quality, best performing sports luxury boats. See back cover.

launched an industry. See page 23

6.

Tige Boats – A new generation of inboard that delivers superior multi-sport versatility, world-class performance, and an outstanding ride. See page 35

900. All in Boats

MISCELLANEOUS 25. LSF Development Corp – The Ultimate Private Lake Community. See page 84

26. Progressive Insurance – Boat Insurance – For low rates, money-saving discounts and incredibly comprehensive coverage, check us out today. See page 25

27. Recreational Development – A Community That Fits Your Lifestyle! See page 84

28. RipnSix – The watersports apparel company created by waters-

ENGINES

ports enthusiasts, for watersports enthusiasts. See page 85

29. The Reserve at Pine Lake, ROI Group – Florida 7.

Indmar – The proven leader in the advancement of inboard

8.

PleasureCraft Marine Engines – See page 11

power technology. See page 31

Water-Ski & Equestrian Community. See page 84

909. All in Miscellaneous

SKI/WAKEBOARD SCHOOLS/CAMPS MAIL ORDER/RETAIL 30. Coble Waterski School and Wakeboard Camp– 9. Elbert’s – Propellers, struts, rudders, etc. See page 81 10. HO Ski Shop – Price. Service. Free stuff. Clearouts and current gear at the best prices. Guaranteed! See page 91

11. Miami Ski Nautique – We ship worldwide! See page 71 12. Performance Ski & Surf – Riders serving riders since 1989. See page 81

13. Wakeside – Improve your ride. See page 80 906. All in Mail Order/Retail

One of the world’s finest and most complete water ski training facilities. See page 86

31. Drew Ross Personalized Training – World renowned training center in Orlando FL. See page 86

32. H2Osmosis – Slalom, Trick, Jump or Wakeboard…Come Train with us! See page 75

33. LL Recreation – Train with Lucky Lowe…World Master and National Champion. See page 86

34. McCormick Ski School – Learn to waterski in slalom, trick, jump, barefoot & wakeboarding. Located in Seffner, Florida. See page 86

MARINE EQUIPMENT/ACCESSORIES

35. Ron Scarpa Watersports – Since 1980, working to perfect and promote the art of barefoot skiing. See page 87

36. Ski Paradise – The ultimate Waterskiing Vacation! See 14. Babes Boat Care Products – Professional maintenance products designed specifically for everyday use by the most discriminating water sport enthusiast. See page 14

15. Big Air Pylons Inc. – New tower style, Same BIG Air! See page 89

page 87

37. Swiss Ski School – Not just a Ski School, but a complete sports complex! See page 86

907. All in Ski/Wakeboard Schools/Camps

16. Boat Bling – Established in 2004 by boat fanatics for boat fanatics – 100% buy-back guarantee! See page 82

17. Boater’s World – The Powerboat Specialists. Your source for Cruising, Fishing and Water Sports. Boating Made Better! See page 15

18. Butt Buoy – Stand out above the rest…no If’s, And’s or BUTT’s! See page 82

19. The Canvas Shoppe – Ski boat covers. See page 86 20. Delta Propeller – Your complete online source for Boat Propeller Sales, Performance Enhancement, and Boat Propeller Repair. See page 86

21. Domed Numbers – Custom Drip Molded Boat Registration Numbers. See page 86

WATERSPORTS EQUIPMENT 38. HO Sports – A watersports innovator in skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, bindings, vests, tubes and accessories. See pages 4, 5

39. Insta-Slalom – The Ultimate Portable Slalom Course! See page 85

40. Masterline USA – Producers of high-quality water ski accessories for more than 15 years. See page 14

903. All in Watersports Equipment

22. Johnson Propeller Co. – High quality well manufactured propellers that deliver peak performance as well as dependability. See page 75

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marketplace C ALIFORNIA EN DO’S WATER SKI & WAKEBOAR D WER KS. Specializing in waterski, wakeboard, tournament, race & recreational equipment at discount prices in Long Beach since 1972. Call 866-434-1816, www.endoswaterskiwerks.com. HAM M ER’S SKI & MAR I N E. North Bay’s Best! Nautique, Centurion, Sanger! Fairfield at 680 & 80, 707-864-4007, Petzluma at 101 & 116, 707-763-7066. www.hammerski.com. SOUTH ER N CALI FOR N IA WATERSPORTS. Murrieta - Boards, skis, ropes, tubes, clothing, accessories, demos and lessons. 951-304-3434, www.southerncaliforniawatersports.com.

COLORADO TOM MY’S S L ALOM S HO P. Waterski, wakeboarding, boating and accessories. Malibu Boats, HO, O’Neill, Hyperlite, Liquid Force, Billabong. (800) 592-SKIS or (303) 4553091. www.GetTommys.com.

CONNECTICUT ASB OATS . com - Moomba/Supra, HO/Hyperlite, Connelly/CWB, O’Neill, Titan, Skylon, Roswell, Barefoot International. Call today, we ship anywhere! 888-426-skier. I N L A N D I N B OAR D S . Connecticut’s premier MasterCraft dealership. Factory trained service, inboard parts department & Pro Shop. www.InlandInboards.com, (860) 354-3363.

FLORIDA

F ORT E’S I N BOAR D CO N N EC TI O N . Your Family connection! What is a perfect day of family boating? Wakeboarding, kneeboarding? Two ski, slalom? Gentle cruise with family and friends? ENJOY IT ALL with Tigé multisport boats! Call toll free 1-888-517-3178 or www.inboardconnection.com. H U STON MOTORS - N AU TI Q U ES. Central and Tampa Florida’s Ski/Air Nautique Specialists. New and used boats, sales and service. Factory trained service technicians. We know water-skiing! Lake Wales, FL - (863) 528-5919, Tampa (813) 299-2756. Ask for Richard Kramer. L AKE A R E A WATE RS P O R TS - N AU T I QU ES. Over 30 years experience ski and wakeboard boats. New Nautiques, boat restorations, pro-shop, docks & boat lifts. www. lakeareawatersports.com - Melrose, FL. 866-272-6931. M I A M I SKI N AUTIQU E . Your one stop pro shop for skis, boards & equipment. We ship worldwide. 3828 NW 2nd Ave., Miami, FL, (305) 438-9464. shop online at miamiskinautique.com.

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marketplace P ER FOR MAN C E S KI & SU R F. World’s Leading Water-ski Pro Shop! Slalom & Three Event Specialists! We ship wordwide. Ph: (407) 859-7544, www.PerfSki.com. 8086 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809. 24 HOUR ORDER FAX: (407) 857-4700.

GEORGIA AT L A NTA I N BOAR D AN D TH E C U TT I NG ED GE WAKE S HO P. Hyperlite, Liquid Force, HO, Straightline, Jet Pilot and more. Located in Buford, GA. 770-614-0244, atlantainboard.com.

ILLINOIS E X TR EM E P OWE R S P OR TS. Midwest inboard connection. Nautiques, Supra/Moomba Pro-Shop. Ship anywhere. Greenville, IL 877-EXPOWER extremepowersports.com.

LOUISIANA B EN N ET TS BOAT & S KI. Call Bennetts for all your watersports needs - 1-800-8697297! A full service pro shop and school www.skibennetts.com.

MA RYL AND P ER FOR MAN C E BOATS , I N C . Tri-states largest SUPRA-MOOMBA dealer. 2nd location on Lake Anna, VA (540) 895-9616, Hagerstown, MD (301) 582-4127.

MASSACHUSSETTS

MICHIG AN T H E EDGE . Inboard boat specialists featuring Malibu Boats. Large selection of used inboards. Service for any make ski boat. Our Pro Shop has a huge stock of wakeboards, water-skis & everything you need to have a great summer on the water. Skateboards & Snowboards too. We ship UPS. Check out our Kalamazoo location at 9009 Portage Rd., Portage, MI 49002 - (269) 327-1000 or our Grand Rapids store at 4040 West River Drive, Comstock Park, MI 49321 - (616) 784-7300. www.edgeski.com.

MISSOURI A STATE AM I N D WATE R SP O R TS. Featuring Tigé inboards. Ski/Wakeboard Pro shop. Inboard sales/service. St. Louis, MO. (314) 731-3795, www.stateamind.com

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marketplace SKI ERS WHAR F EXTR EM E2. Nautiques/ Tigé Inboards new and used sales & Service. Ski/ Wakeboard Pro shop Huge Selection all Brands. 816-224-5545 ryan@skierswharfextreme2 com or www.skierswharfextreme2.com. SKI SHACK (SKI ER’S WHAR F). Missouri’s Water Sports Headquarters! Malibu & Chaparral Boats. Wakeboards, Skis, Tubes, Ropes & More! Sales, Rentals, Demos! 5539 S. Campbell, Springfield - 417-882-8480; Floating Stores on Table Rock at Indian Point - 417-338-8481 & Kimberling City - 417-739-BOAT. www.theskishack.com.

MONTANA AQUA VELOCIT Y. Private Lake with clinics, schools, tournaments, pro shop. American Skier / Elan. www.aqua-velocity.com, 406-495-9313.

NEW JE R SEY SU R F & OF FSHOR E. TEAM SOS! The northeast’s largest wakeboard pro shop! Three-time Dealer of the Year. Top Sales & Service for Nautiques in the Northeast. 1-800-442-6754 or Fax:732-892-8367, www.soswakeboard.com, Email: [email protected].

WISCONSIN

LEG AL ASSISTANCE

SP R EAD EAGLE MAR I N E. Supra/Moomba certified service department, towers, props. Connelly, Gator, Liquid Force, accessories, ski schools. (715) 696-3292, www.spreadeaglemarine.com.

C ANADA HYP ER-ACTIVE WATERSPORTS. THE SHOP THAT RIDES! CALGARY, AB (403) 2883286, 877-338-8966, EDMONTON (780) 4544600-www.hyperactivewatersports.com. MAR TI N M OTO R S P O R TS . 17104-118 Ave Edmonton, Alberta. Canada’s largest selection of new and used MasterCraft boats. We love trade in’s! 780-452-2790. We are always open at www.martineq.com.

C L ASSIFIEDS

ONLINE R ETAILER S

ACCESSORIES

V IS IT STAT E A M I N D Water Sports online @ w w w. stateamind.com - (314) 731-3795. w w w. faceplantwatertoys.com - Towables, ski tubes, lounges and cabanas. Great Prices, large selection, free shipping!

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R E AL ESTATE

AD I RON DAC K M AR I N E. Nautiques/Tigé. HO, Hyperlite, Liquid Force. Sales, service, ski shop. www.adirondackmarine.net, (518) 668-2658, Lake George ISL AN D WATERSPORTS. Long Island’s premiere MasterCraft Dealer. Full service Wakeboard/ Water-ski pro shop. Factory trained inboard tech’s. 631-331-7216, www.teamiws.com.

OHI O VA N D E VE R E N AUTIQ U E. Northern Ohio’s exclusive Ski/Air Nautique dealer. Large selection of New/Used boats! Full service available! Akron, Ohio, 800-696-0023, [email protected].

PENNSYLVANIA LIGHTHOUSE HAR BOR MAR I NA. Nautiques, new & used. Monterey family boats with towers. Ski & wakeboard pro shop - Hyperlite, HO, O’Brien. We ship worldwide. Sales & service. Northeastern PA’s largest watersports dealer! www.lighthouseharbor.com, 570-857-0220.

SOUTH C A R OLINA JC SPORTS. Malibu, Ski Centurion. New & Used; waterskis, wakeboards, accessories. www.skijcsports.com, (864) 882-4212. Waterski lessons.

EZ- SL ALO M P E R M A N E N T & P O R TA B LE SL A LO M CO U R S ES . Discriminating skier? Don’t buy advertising, do the homework! Visit www.ez-slalom.com to discover why more pros, clubs and families now choose EZ-Slalom. Superior engineering, superior value! 800-216-4461. EZ-Slalom!

BOATS FOR SALE ASBOATS . com - Moomba/Supra, HO/Hyperlite, Connelly/CWB, O’Neill, Titan, Skylon, Roswell, Barefoot International. Call today, we ship anywhere! 888-426-skier. B U Y I N G O R S E L L I N G ? Introducing Boat Buyers and Sellers Online! Open 24 hours a day! w w w. waterskiboat.com

JEWELRY

TEX AS TSR. Cable lake Slider Park, Lessons, MasterCraft boats, private lake, Sk8park, Motocross tracks, Rockwall, Huge Board shop! Acres of Beaches, Coconutz Bar & Grill! Camp TSR, ages 6-17. Action Sports, insane fun! www.texasskiranch.com, 830-627-2843.

VIRGINIA SOU T H E R N S KI BOATS. Ski Boats is all we do! MB Sports, Gekko & Epic tow boats in stock. Check us out at www. SouthernSkiBoats.com, 866-740-7427. 88

250 0 ’ P R IVAT E S K I L A K E M E M B E RS H I P S . Bakersfield area, 95 miles N of LA. 2 memberships available. (818) 384-3820 or www.SouthLakeSkiRanch.com. A B E A UTI F U L N E W L A K E F R O NT HOM E on pristine Lake Price (ski lake with slalom course), Orlando, FL. Boat dock permitted. Gated community. 4/3 with 3car garage, 2600sf, screen pool. $2500+/mo. Purchase option. Stefanos Stamos, 407-341-3333.

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marketplace A SK I ER’S DR E AM. Central Florida: Live and play at Jack Travers’ beautiful Sunset Landing, home of International Tournament Skiing. Completely Furnished Lakefront 3BR/ 2BA Villa. $350,000, includes Home Warranty and Ski Club Membership. Steve @ (207) 776-9052, [email protected]. AU ST I N, TE X AS H OM E For sale on Aquaplex twin tournament lakes. Close to downtown & airport. 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 4 car garage. Adjacent 1/2 acre ski lot available for sale to home buyer. Virtual tour: www.thateteam.com. (512) 632-8272, [email protected]. C A LI FOR N IA - P R IVATE WATER SKI L AKES F OR SALE . Mecca, CA. 2 lakes, 3 courses, 70 acres on 2 parcels (various purchasing options), approximately 30 minutes from Palm Desert. Contact Debbie Funderburk (agent) 619-980-1517, dfunderburk@ cox.net. C H I CAGO, 30 minutes to city center. Water-ski in your front yard, 4 bedroom, 5 bath, water on two sides, 4,000 square feet, on Point in Wolf Lake. 265’ +/- shoreline, ski, windsurf, fish - $925,000. (219) 659-3030, [email protected]. C L ER M ONT, F LOR I DA . Meticulously maintained ¾ acre heated pool /spa home overlooking 7th tee in Swiss Fairways. Internationally known Swiss Ski School on Site. Furnishings & Golf Cart included with purchase. Doreen Landi-Realtor 352-636-0362. DA L L AS AR E A. Lakes at Timber Cove on beautiful Lake Granbury. Waterfront lots on private ski lake from $49,900. Great choices still available. Contact Gordon Hall at (817) 326-1223 or www.LakesAtTimberCove.com. An LSF Development Corp. project. G EORGI A. 1 hour North of Atlanta located in the North Georgia Mountains. Two lots left in gated waterski community. Site of 2006 Southern Regional Waterski Competition. From $79,000-$99,000! Call AJ at Re/Max Creekside, (770) 853-5280. M I N N ESOTA S KI L AKES. Private gated communities, one 45 min NE and one 45 min SE of the Twin Cities, awesome neighborhoods, Grant 651-245-7325. M I R ROR L AKE WATE R- SKI CO M M U N IT Y. 30 minutes from Charlotte. Exclusive gated water-ski community. Hurry, only 12 waterfront lots available. Build with your builder, on your schedule. 2+ acre lots. 30+ acres of natural common space plus recreational use of 25+ acre lake. $10,000 will hold your lot. Roads are going in now. 704607-7514 P R IVATE GATED WATER SKI COM M U N IT Y. Macon, Georgia area. Slalom, jump, community boat, horses ok, waterfront & acreage lots available. Bill at www.southernwaters.info, (478) 335-5566.

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SW C H I C AGO A R E A LOT O N P R IVAT E SKI L AKE! . 71 acre cul-de-sac lot, gently slopes to 240” of shoreline. Build your dream home. $159,900, Doug Geissler, Agent, Spring Realty - (815) 735-2585.

SCHOOLS

SW I SS SKI SC H O O L O N S IT E ! Luxurious 3Bed, 3Bath, Pool Home overlooking Golf Course. Minutes from Orlando and Disney. Call Colleen Brost, EXIT Real Estate Results (352) 250-9539. U LTI MATE S K I L A K E . Southwest Florida. Lots 1.6- 5.5 acres. 200 +/- lakefront feet. Visit www.RuthAnnMcBride.com. Only 3 lots remaining $425,000 & $600,000. RuthAnn McBride, Realtor 239-841-1200. WATER SKI ER’S DR EAM HOM E ON 5P R IVATE L AKES WITH 4 SL ALOM COU RSES. 3BR/2.5BA 2100 square feet in Milton, FL. This 2005 custom waterfront home offers an open floor plan with many desirable features. Priced at $279,000. MLS#307862 - www. treymanderson.com. Call 850-932-7177 or email [email protected]. WATER SKI L A K E . Private and secluded 17-acre lake w/residence on 58 wooded acres. Centrally located 2 miles off I-71 between Cleveland and Columbus. First Class waterskiing, fishing, and aesthetics! See at www.weskialot.com. $1.8m - Inquire at [email protected]

B OW L A K E WAT E R S P O R TS B & B. Bellingham, WA. Come hang out at the NW premier watersports lake. All levels welcome. Many options from daily drop-ins to waterski weekends and multi day stays. Bow Lake has it all. www.waterskiranch.com, 1-877-7542287, 206-396-5379. Wiley’s North Pro Shop OPEN NOW! C A N C U N WAT E R S K I. Mastercraft, Perfect Pass, 3 Slalom Courses, Great Training, Hotel Packages, We’re Open!! 1-800-697-1517, Waterskicancun.com.

SKIS

GO O D E S K IS . Are you looking for a highperformance, carbon-fiber water ski? And low prices? Call 888-259-6753 x 1246.

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END OF THE LINE HAS THE SUCCESS GONE TO HIS HEAD? 2006 Barefoot Nationals overall champ and world-record holder Keith St. Onge at Lake Rochelle in Winter Haven, Florida. Photo: BillDoster.com

WaterSki (ISSN 08837813) is published 8 times per year: January/February, March, April, May, June, July, August/September, and Winter, by World Publications LLC, 460 N. Orlando Avenue, Suite 200, Winter Park, FL 32789. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without the express written permission of WaterSki magazine. Periodicals-class postage paid at Winter Park, FL, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $19.97 for one year (8 issues). Add $8 per year plus GST for delivery to Canada and $20 per year for delivery to other foreign countries. All payments in U.S. funds only. For subscription address changes and adjustments write to WaterSki magazine, PO Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235, or call 800-879-0495. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to WaterSki magazine, PO Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235. DISCLAIMER: The athletics and activities described and illustrated herein are performed by trained athletes and could result in serious bodily injury, including disability or death; do not attempt them without proper supervision, training and safety equipment. World Publications LLC is not responsible for injuries sustained by readers or failure of equipment depicted or illustrated herein.

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