Monday, September 7, 2009

Labor Day Ski Trip 2009

It was an awesome morning on the lake as there was absolutely no wind. There were plenty of fisherman on the lake again, in fact when we pulled out at 10:30am there were boat trailers parked in the overflow parking which is something I've never seen before in nearly 7 years of skiing Lake Waco.

We got on the water at 8am, yes it was late but I let Jenny sleep in a little for the holiday. It was Jenny's turn to go first and she really abused that glassy water. I wish I could film and drive at the same time because she really looks great on slalom. She skied for two longs runs before taking a break. Then I slalomed. My turns are getting better on the right side, so much so that I can feel the ski slipping out because I'm skiing above the level of the ski. Now that we are debt free I'm saving for a true advanced/competition level ski so that by next season I'll be finally on a ski that matches my ability. Anyways, I made several good passes before getting tired enough for my form to start slipping.

So Jenny went out again to try backwards skiing again. She had the takeoff position correct this time but just couldn't get the timing on the pullout. She decided to just ride two for a while and had fun doing so. She ran thru all the "tricks" of riding two and really looks smooth and easy. I then went out again on backwards slalom. It took me a few pulls to get the timing on the pullout right again but got up on about the fourth pull and rode away with ease. I was able to cross both wakes under control and am feeling much more comfortable on the ski. I had one really good bust when I put too much pressure on my front foot and it threw me backwards.

We then stopped and sat for a few minutes for rest and snacking. Jenny didn't feel like another run so I decided to attempt to pull out on slalom with the "wrong" foot forward. I'm usually a right foot forward but thought I should try to be "ambidextrous". First pull I tried with both feet in and wow was that weird. Didn't get out so I decided to try with one foot in and one out. That was even worse, apparently I don't have the same balance on my left foot which probably explains why I'm a right foot forward slalom skier. One last try with both feet in was successful. Skied for a while and it brought me back to the days of just learning to slalom, constantly focused on which foot I was putting pressure on. Crossed the wake several times but it was slow and easy.

By this time we were out by the dam and decided to head back to the house. We started off across the lake and then I decided to ride two back instead of just wasting gas driving. I gave a skiers salute to several house boats on the lake and just had fun squatting, stomping feet, jumping and zipping across the wakes.

Summer's over which means fewer boaters on the water from now until spring. Now the shorty wetsuits are going in the boat for the rest of September and then the full length wetsuits for October thru March.


2.5 hours skiing, 2 skiers, 7 skis used, 3 ropes used

'Til next time,
Jerry

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