World record tow boat?

[swc5150]

This may stir up a hornet's nest, but that's not my intention. The 200 and CP have bragging rights as the world record slalom holder. On that particular day, on that particular lake, do you think Chris would've broken the record behind a 196, or does the 200 really offer a significant improvement?

[MARK-S]

It would have went down behind a Moomba

I was there in both May and June when the record was set and was in the boat as the video for most of the attempts . He was on fire and I only saw him miss 41 a few times. (all at 6 ball)
The 200 and the 196 both track on a rail and the driver has lots of hours behind both.
It comes down to the driver, not the boat. The boat helps the driver which will help the skier, but if the skier is smooth like Parrish, you could have used a moomba.
Chad Scott is a top notch driver that now holds both of the OM and OW records.

[swc5150]

Thanks Mark, that pretty much what I assumed.

[DanielC]

So apparently, if I get Chad Scott to drive a Moomba, and if I am having a good day, I can run 41 off, behind it, at least sometimes?

I am pretty sure Chris Parrish would run deeper into shortline, behind a Bayliner I/O, on a 2x6, with bindings and a fin screwed to it, than I could behind a Ski Nautique 200, with my slalom ski. Even with Chad driving me.

I think it is like this. Sometimes the right things just happen. Almost any of the top level slalom skiers could set a new world record on any given "magical" day. It could happen behind any one of several different companies boats. It might be "luck". It might be practice, and preparation, combining on that one perfect windless day, or time of day. But the "world record" title happens to a boat, just because that is the boat that happened to be on the front of the towline, when it happened.

Probably a much more useful piece of information is this. How many different skiers have made personal bests behind what hull? At least measuring that should give enough data to make a statistically valid example.

[swc5150]

Probably a much more useful piece of information is this. How many different skiers have made personal bests behind what hull? At least measuring that should give enough data to make a statistically valid example.

I remember back in the early 90's, when MC dominated the record books, CC advertised that a "milk truck" could pull the world record - it was the boat they trained behind that mattered.

[MARK-S]

Not even on your best day and you can even use the 200.

CP is the only person I have seen (in person) run 41 and I have seen him do it behind a few differant boats. He is a freak of nature and makes it look like most 38s. I have seen lots of other skiers try 41 and it looks like it is an impossible line. Driver, site and conditions have everything to do with it but most of the shortline boats out there could pull a record.

[SNMike]

CP is the only person I have seen (in person) run 41 and I have seen him do it behind a few differant boats. He is a freak of nature and makes it look like most 38s. I have seen lots of other skiers try 41 and it looks like it is an impossible line. Driver, site and conditions have everything to do with it but most of the shortline boats out there could pull a record.

Oh yeah?!?! What about THIS boat, and THIS driver pal?!?!?? >;-)

[MarkSkelton]

Hahaha. ROLL TIDE!!

[ClemsonDave]

Oh yeah?!?! What about THIS boat, and THIS driver pal?!?!?? >;-)

Looks like they compromised on that one....

[swc5150]

Is that a Prostar 3 1/2?

[teamenzo]

basic question

Love to open water ski, but no real experience with the course. With all due respect, what impact does the driver have running through the course. Do they steer thru the course to advantage the skier or is it the ability to hold a straight line? Thanks in advance for the education.

[swc5150]

I'm probably not the guy to answer, but back in the day, it took a skilled driver to track straight and hold speed at the same time. They used to feed the throttle to hold speed for a legal time through the course. I'd imagine GPS took some of the skill out of it, but now you need to be technically aware to calibrate those systems. I'm a course skier, but have no interest in skiing tournaments, so someone else will likely have a much better explanation. With GPS speed control, my girlfriend does just as good of a job pulling me as my buddy who's a 20 year tournament vet. I did learn how to hold a boat to a dock using just the throttle and swim platform from the great Jack Walker!

[DanielC]

There is a tolerance of deviation from side to side that a boat moves going through a course. If this is excessive, it could disqualify the run, just like pulling too slow.
Before speed control, the driver could also "work" the throttle, to give a skier an advantage. If the boat was slightly slow, in one part, the time could be made up in another part.

I am guessing that if you are skiing extreme short line, even having the boat off center a 1/2 inch could greatly affect the success of making a ball.

[swc5150]

That's great point on extreme shortline... something I'll never have to worry about :-(

[SNMike]

Is that a Prostar 3 1/2?

That's a BAMA Ski & Troll! It's stamped on the side.........."MADE IN A HURRY!"

Mikey