SKI-RACING???

[DANS66STEVENS]

Ok what is a SKI-RACE???? I have seen you guys talk about ski racing. Is it some maniac pulling you behind a boat as fast it will go till your arms fall off? Yes im from the east coast and never have heard of such a thing.Please fill me in.....Thanks

[superdave013]

You're pretty much right. But they have a special rope that they hold behind their butt. That way all of the pulling is done with thier legs, not the arms. I have an old ski race boat and I think they are one of the best set-ups for every day lake us. They can run hard in the roughest water as the boats are thick and heavy. Mine has two 40 gal gas tanks so it can go for the long haul too. My boat is just about like this one but has had a back seat added.
http://wsphotofews.excite.com/004/JH/d1/Jj/lF97285.jpg
Here are a couple more ski race boats. Look close and you can see about 4 other ropes in between the 2 boats. The black boat is driven by the owner of Schiada Boats.
http://wsphotofews.excite.com/004/6B/RB/gj/lu23317.jpg
Here is a skier holding the rope wrapped Aussi style.
http://www.topshot-topgun.com/GRAPHICS/LEA.JPG
Now just when you think it does not get any sicker than that. The grand daddy ski race is the Long Beach to Catalina Island and back. It is 62 miles in open ocean and this years winning time was 51 min and some change! The fast guys (and gals) are being pulled behind big offshore boats!

[schiada96]

dragboats on speedvision now

[DANS66STEVENS]

looks pretty cool. The poor guy must get wore out...Hell we ski for twenty minutes and take a break!!LOL

[hottrodder]

Ski racing is pretty cool and most of the people that compete in it are even more cool. Check out National Water Ski Racing Association (http://www.nwsra.net)My old room mate is really involved in it as a wrench and another close friend does the catalina race every year. This year (thanks in no small part to a 3 hour start delay) the boat seperated at the rubrail where the deck and hull are bonded. The boat is a 30+ year old v-drive Spectra that's been used pretty hard. The split was showing daylight from the inside so they opted the better part of valor and turned around before getting to the island. Two years I got to ride as Observer in the same boat entered in Formula 1. We finished second in class at 1:21.something. Last years winner was the previous years a local guy from Long Beach, Todd Haig. His winning time was just one minute off the Mens Open record of 52.03.
http://www.hottrodd.com/images/boats/moonshine/LtPrfl2.jpg
http://www.hottrodd.com/images/boats/moonshine/3datspeed.jpg
[This message has been edited by hottrodder (edited November 13, 2001).]

[burtandnancy]

I think I talked to you before regarding your Schiada. I used to SKI RACE them for years and years. The two most impressive 21' boats are the Schiada and Hallett 210. Todays state of the art is Hallett with a number 6 speedmaster, dry sumped, turbo 400 auto with 1st gear locked out (park left in). A Gary Teague turbo motor in either 500, 540 or 572 cu in dyno'd at 1550 to 1600 hp. They will pull your skier from zero to 100 faster than you will believe. These are marathon motors, no grenades, lots of races. For the Catalina you need at least a 39 foot offshore boat with at least 1600 to 2000 hp, and an incredible skier.
The worlds finals were just held last week at Lake Mead, NV. The aussies were unreal, one radar'd at 114 down the straight. Next race is New Years day to Catalina (unsanctioned tho). This sport only exists west of the Colorado river and the rest of the world.

[spectras only]

I remember the days ,when Mike Avila raced those enduros,does anyone know if he's driving his new boat at races at all ,that was featured in Hot Boat a while ego and fetured in hot boat cove?
[This message has been edited by spectras only (edited November 12, 2001).]

[CrazyHippy]

That Lamborghini powered boat sounded sooo wicked. The turbos were damn fast too, just didn't have the same sound to them. Weren't to many supercharged boats for some reason.
At Parker i was close enough to hear the ski glide across the water as the drivers got back into the throttle at the starting line turn.
AWESOME
BJH