World's Video Coverage

Just checked - they removed the video coverage. Guessing whoever put it up there will make a video for worlds, which they are titled to do.

So here's a few photos to give you an idea on the water conditions:

Here's John Doherty Driving, Mike King sitting backwards, Cameron King Skiing, and Todd Haig is in the background.


Howard Hoggins driving (this is actually the first time I've seen Sudden Force leave the water - at Pittsburg - it always plows through everything). Andy Anderson is skiing and he's looking great - been watching him_super cool guy. Need to look up who's observing.



Here's Scott Wendt's Nordic, pulling Sam Frey. Another really cool guy. What I love about ski racing and a number of top skiers - they love to ski and they don't have attitude, though they are really good at what they do.

SGettmann said:

Thought you guys would be interested in today video coverage that Robbie put together and is showing frome the World Water Ski racing Championships in Belgium.

Check out www.skirace.net and click on the video window. Very rough conditions - Boats in the air, skiers in the air. US team members are holding their own on the world circuit. Todd and Cameron and kicking ass. It's great to see these guys that go flying by me in the marathons tearing it up. I'm sure many of these guys will come back better skiers from the experience.

Very good video coverage...and by the way, the local circle/marathon races have historically not been this rough or crazy.

Sean

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Hey SGettmann,

Did you ski in the Catalina race this year?? If not, why not? Didn't see any posts from you, and I know you've been bit by the bug..

I'm assuming it would be a money thing.. Is Catalina big bucks to race in?? I know the leaders have huge dollar rigs, but I'd assume a competitive recreational skier could do it "on the cheap" (relatively speaking), and have a great weekend..

Not trying to insult or stir any pots. Just real curious. Hope it's not too much of a thread jack, but it is race related..

Thanks,

RT

Hi RT - good question. Catalina is my dream to do. Was thinking of going down and doing it, but didn't have a driver lined up. My regular driver was over in World's. But the key thing is that I think another season of ski racing experience will be good for me in getting me to that level. I moved up to the marathon's this year - which I'm handling, but Catalina is a race that is a different level. I need more experience. And I need to make trips down to Long Beach to make practice runs. So next year, I have my sights on Catalina.

I think of Catalina as being similar to Ironman. It's one of those events that require experience and preparation. This season, I just started getting my starts down, and still pretty tweaked after 50 minutes of skiing at 55-60 mph. I have been having a blast though getting my practice runs in on a short rope and Maha 360 - endurance has already greatly improved, though have a LONG ways to go to be anywhere near the big boys that are over in Belgium.

Funny about the money thing - I choose to save money by living in a crack pad, and ride my bike to work, so that I can put fuel in the truck and boat to head to the delta and ClearLake to get practice runs in with my friends. I figure the investment I make so that I can ski provides exponential return on my recreational happiness. Seriously, I get great satisfaction skiing for an hour, then dropping off and floating next to the boat as my friends jump in to cool off.

Sean

rightytighty said:

Hey SGettmann,

Did you ski in the Catalina race this year?? If not, why not? Didn't see any posts from you, and I know you've been bit by the bug..

I'm assuming it would be a money thing.. Is Catalina big bucks to race in?? I know the leaders have huge dollar rigs, but I'd assume a competitive recreational skier could do it "on the cheap" (relatively speaking), and have a great weekend..

Not trying to insult or stir any pots. Just real curious. Hope it's not too much of a thread jack, but it is race related..

Thanks,

RT

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