Slalom Week

Welcome to slalom week. No this is not your fin adjusting, binding moving, techy talking week of holier than thou slalom. This is two best friends reuniting for some serious one on one slalom. Nic Walton and I have been waterski buds since the fall of 2004 when Nic first joined the SDSU Waterski Team. We were so hardcore in college that we would beat the dawn patrol at San Diego’s Mission Bay course. One of us sitting in the water and the other behind the wheel, as soon as it was light enough for the driver to see half of the slalom course we would hit it. Getting at least one set each before anyone else even showed up to the course.

Currently living in Oregon, Nic belongs to a brand new waterski club that skis on a brand new dream lake out on a country farm. The conditions are near perfect everyday and the weather this time of year hovers in the triple digits. This is a slalom only lake (no jump). There will be nobody using the lake for the next 4 days so we will be taking advantage of this golden opportunity. Updates to come daily.

Qualified & Not Going.

I just found out that I am qualified to ski at the USA Nationals in jump. I won’t be making the trip to Florida. Instead I will be going to my family lake for two weeks of boating and relaxation with friends and family.

Test Results

The Waterski Magazine Trick Tests are complete and what a successful productive day I had out at the Lee Family Lake in northern sacramento. I finished my testing in one full day. Eric Lee brought me into the testing to represent the collegiate demographic and give feedback to the collegiate community. That being said, I feel like I learned a lot about the way trick skis perform for different skiing styles and ability levels. See my report card at the bottom of this post.

*All of these skis are used by the top 10 trick skiers in the world. They are all exceptional record setting ski designs. You just have to find the ski that is a best fit for you at your skiing style and ability level.

Quantum: I would recommend this ski to any college level skier (if you can afford it that is). PROS: It turns the smoothest of any trick ski and has by far the softest landings. Very controlable ski that feels balanced under your feet (I believe it is a bit wider than most skis). CONS: It does not edge very hard compared to the other skis. For bigger wake tricks it is limiting.

D3: In my opinion the best all around ski. Good advanced to pro level trick ski. Most well rounded ski on the market. It does have an attractive price for the collegiate skier. PROS: Works as both a toes and hands ski, very responsively to turns, strong edge for big wake tricks. CONS: Not as forgiving on the landings.

Goodman: Most high performance hand ski on the market. If you are not a pro level tricker you are in for one hell of an aggressive ride. This thing edges and attacks the wake like you wouldn’t believe. You want air? You got it.

Trick Tests this week.

The first ever trick ski tests will be starting early this week in the Sacramento area. Waterski Magazine will be on hand to document the action. I am not sure exactly what my role will be on the test team but as I understand we will be taking a look at the top 4 trick ski companies for analysis (Goodman, D3, Goode, & Quantum). I have been riding a D3 for 4 years now and I am very comfortable on it as a 1,000 pt. + tricker. However, I do prefer the Goodman for wake tricks. I think that the D3 is the best all around trick ski for hand and toe tricks but I have called it quits on the toe pass. Now that I am strictly a hand pass tricker I want to switch over to a new Goodman trick.

I am sure I’ll have all the latest trick ski gossip coming this week. Stay tuned.

Walton adds new practice PB!

A day before walking in his college graduation ceremony, SIMR team athlete, Nic Walton runs the yellow section and earns his green belt. Skiing into the green section (13.00 meters/ 32 off) for his first time was very exciting for all his hard work this season and he is just getting started. He almost didn’t ski due to back pains but a new practice pb of 1 @ 13.00/58k was worth it. Nic graduates tomorrow from the Southern Oregon University with a degree in Communications and Dean’s List Honors.

Walton’s training pays off with big PB.

Our boy Nic Walton currently resides in Medford, Oregon where the Rogue Waterskiers Club constructed a new slalom pond in November of 06′. After only taking two sets ALL of last year, Walton has quietly been skiing between 3 and 4 days per week this spring and it payed off big time this past weekend at his lake’s first ever slalom tournament, Double Trouble.

Going into the tournament his pb (personal best) was 1.00 @ 16.00 meters. On day one he posted a 3.00 @ 14.25 meters. Don’t mistake this for an early season peak. He has steadily been climbing to this mark and for the last few weeks been getting into 28 off more often than not. Congratulations Nic!

New SIMR waterski t-shirts & tanks!

The new “Skiing Is My Religion” t-shirts and tank tops are available for order. They will be for sale at the Rogue Valley Slalom Tournament in Medford Oregon this weekend as well as on tour with me in California the month of June.

Stereo Ski Demos

The Stereo Skis twintip wakeskis have arrived! I met up with CEO’s Kristian & Jens in Berkeley today on their California sales tour. We discussed the west coast response so far and it sounds like most dealers wanted the skis immediately seeing as the weather is warming up. I will have a demo pair on tour with me all summer. If you would like to set up a demo day with your club or group of friends, contact me @ cclarkski@mac.com.

Tour Dates 2008!

Check out the updated tour dates for 2008. Keep checking back as there I will attending a few exciting new events this year. C Clark Ski School is now open for summer bookings. First come first serve of course.

Trick Ski Tests 2008

Lake Merry in Marysville CA will be host to the first ever trick ski test.

We plan to test D3, Goodman, Goode and Quantum. We will use a format similar to the ski tests for Waterski magazine where skis will be evaluated on a number of parameters. The skis will be ranked on the following dichotomous scales: stable-vs-responsive, tracking-vs-turning and air magnitude-vs-air attitude (note that there are no “bad” numbers – each end of the scale is “good”). Additionally physical parameters will be measured and a subjective feel from the individuals will be recorded. Skiers will use their own binding setup.

If spectators would like to attend there are motels in Marysville or you may camp on site. There will be barbecues and parties but bring any special food you need. There is a trick tournament in nearby Pleasant Oak on the weekend if you would like to do that as well.