2024 Waterski Season Update

Last season was all about getting up to tournament speed (58km/h or 36mph). This season was all about learning shorter rope lengths. Between mid-April to late-July, I had kept the boat at 52km/h (32mph) and kept shortening the rope. I was running 14.25m (28’ off) damn near consistently and getting 2@ or 4@ 13m (32’ off) over and over again. After returning in late August, I started increasing the boat speed to see if it would translate. I was reminded just how much 18.25m (15’ off) sucks at 58km/h. By the end of the season, my set was 18.25m at 52km/h, then 18.25m at 55km/h, then 16m at 55km/h, then a few attempts at 16m at 58km/h before trying 14.25m at 55km/h.

Completing around 100 sets this season, my PB’s were:

52km/h (32mph)
4 @ 13m (32’ off)

55km/h (34mph)
5 @ 14.25m (28’ off)

58km/h (36mph)
6 @ 16m (22’ off)

I think I can drop 52km/h next year and just start at 55km/h. I’m undecided if I’ll speed up to 58km/h at 16m or at 14.25m. I find 58km/h really fun, as if that’s the speed the ski wants to be at.

I did ski in the Fall Classic tournament but, out of the 3 rounds, my best score was 5 @ 18.25m at 58km/h. So really not great. I probably should have spent more than 4 sets speeding up the boat beyond 52km/h ahead of the tournament.

At the end of September, I took a trip down to Bell Acqua outside of Sacramento. It’s an beautiful site and surrounded by an amazing community of skiers. I was there for 5 days and definitely could have stayed longer.

I’m already looking forward to next season.