skiing in the north?

[chief351]

Anyone in the northern US or Canada still skiing? I had to pack it in at the end of September due to being unable to get time off from work in October. In hindsight with the crazy warm temps in October I could have skied until the 15th or 20th. Maybe next year.

I don't have a drysuit yet, anyone use one? Do people like or dislike them to slalom with?

Chief

[spuddy]

I agree with you this Oct has been great but I have not been out in about a month, had the boat away in late Sept and like you should have kept it out a little longer but you know how the weather is in Ontario next year at this time it could snow!

[MARK-S]

I am just south of Minneapolis and still have the balls in. I skied on monday night. Air 67f and water about 50f. I use a drysiut and a cooler full of very hot water. I will keep looking at the 10 day forcast and go from there.

[SGY]

Although not as far north, here in Denver, we skied on Sunday--air 70f water 52f. Pulled the course yesterday due to the dreary 10 day forecast. Don't mind the drysuit. Well worth it. I've been in the drysuit since second week of October.

[Hollywood]

Still skiing, boat is out on the lift but watching the over night lows. Dry suit last 2 weekends.

[CradGen2]

Not to rub it in, but I use to live in the north. Pittsburgh. Moved to Knoxville a couple years ago. Still skiing and don't even need any kind of suit. I'm going to have to move back north soon, so I will be back in the same NAUTIQUE (boat)

[Fast351]

I was out in Minneapolis last night. Shorty wet suit (elbows/knees), water temp was 51, air about 65.

It was brisk

The heater works pretty well at warming your feet back up, but a couple hours is all we could do. I took a ski and a wakeboard run. I was trying some weak side stuff that I've landed a few times this year, but not 100% on. After falling a couple times I decided to stick to stuff I knew I could land.

[Daryl]

we skied on the weekend, will likely ski tomorrow (November 1) water is cold, boat is in the garage so it doesn't freeze

Put Brandon Manitoba Canada into google maps to see where we are.

maybe this link will work

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF...d3337daccf2d59

[MARK-S]

Daryl,
I was up by Estevan, sask last week and it was 77f . I was out bird hunting and wished I was skiing.

[Daryl]

skied last week and got my best run of the year - finally a full pass @ 28 (then 2 @32), I'll try and see if I can get a water temp tomorrow (no sensor in boat) and report back.

High for tomorrow is 7C (44f) - i'm guessing water temp is around the 4 or 5C range (40f)

I think we are taking our course out tomorrow as well (bummer) - our main killer now is we have no daylight left to ski!

[chief351]

Wow !! Some hardcores - I like it!!! That is encouraging for next year. I didn't get my boat until August this year and only enjoyed it till late September however now I wish it was still in the water.

Daryl are you wearing a dry suit? When I winterized the boat I realized it had a shower in it. How good are these "hot showers" do they make this late season skiing enjoyable?

Any preferable brands for drysuits?

Chief

[Daryl]

i have a ronny dry suit (they aren't made anymore) - it is in good shape. I stated wearing it this year around the first weekend in October.... Prior to that, I wear a Gooru GBS top from O'Neill and it is awesome.

The hot water shower is a must in the real cold water - a heater will never warm you up

put warm water inside the wetsuits and hit the warm water again when you get on the swim platform... makes all the difference in the world. In the dry suit it gets your feet and hands warm when you come out of the water.

Three things you can't do without in the cold - a shower, a gooru top, and a driver that gets back to you in a HURRY.

[chief351]

Daryl thanks for the quick response. I will check those tops out. Where do you get your equipment from?

Off Topic - Mark S. I was out duck hunting on Monday, got real cold after sunset. Only came out with one duck but the dog completed her first water retrieve which was amazing. Fired up the digi camera and of course the batteries were dead - my fault for not changing them. Suxx

Chief

[Daryl]

I buy most my stuff at sportsman marine in winnipeg, I usually figure out what I want and they order it in.

[MARK-S]

Chief,
congrats on the first retrive. Its great to watch them progress. I have 2 water spaniels that are 6 now and I can still remember both of their first flush and retrive. I have not hunted over water in some time for ducks as we field hunt over decoys. Maybe cc needs to make a Camo coloerd 196 so you can get a set in on the bluebird days while out duck hunting. Get yourself a drysuit and you can ski all year if yiu have open water. I use a Oneil Fluid and love it. Lots of people love the Assult which is a tight bottom and baggy top.