Dec 27, 2006

Smarty Pants


+

=
The NCWSA Academic All-Stars

Gaze on in wonder as these wonderful products of higher education make like Stephen Hawking himself on the waters of our wonderful country and in the Classrooms of the prestigious halls of many an institution.
"This year has brought with it a new set of awards. One of these new awards is the NCWSA Academic All-Star Team. This team is intended to honor those skiers that excel not only on the water, but also excel in the classroom.

The following skiers met the tough standards set for academic performance. Qualification is based on cumulative grade point average, and only upperclassmen are eligible. Congratulations to these outstanding representatives of the NCWSA."

Wielding a pen and protractor not unlike a set of jumpers.

Links:
NCWSA Academic All-Stars (ncwsa.com)

Dec 26, 2006

ehh..not bad.


How come every time I come around...

The greatest website name ever, gives us the two things.
  1. One of the sweetest barefoot videos ever.
  2. A geocities layout.
Whats great about this video, is that:
  1. It doesn't make you want to poke your eyes out with dental floss
  2. They are girls that make every guy not named Keith St. Onge and some others look like total chumps.
  3. Makes you wish you had a lake like that
Links:
Some cows (Rad Video)

Dec 22, 2006

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!


What up Playa?

Merry Christmas from the folks at the Creaky Rowboat!!

Hope everyone has a happy and festive holiday season and thank you for coming by our little site here over the course of the last seven or so months.

If you like our site, send it to your friends and family, spread the love!!

We try to have fun and keep things relativity light hearted and funny here and if you read various other sites and message boards it seems that many people seem are quick to rip on our sport, bitch about rules and tear people down instead of build them up

However, the majority of people who take part in this sport are awesome people and simply enjoy the camaraderie of skiing, the thrill of the pull and the lifestyle that comes with it.

You guys fall into that realm, because anyone who reads this is awesome.

So, thanks for stopping by. Even though we moved out of the boathouse into our rowboat, we will always have a full cooler of beer and stories to tell.

Enjoy the holidays. See you next year.

Holiday Cheer


A bit premature with the taking a break non-sense. Found a sweet video of barefoot wipeouts. So when you are feeling all fat and sassy from Christmas day cheer, paddle up to the rowboat and watch this. Its 45 or so seconds of cheese metal and wicked wipeouts, bad graphics and a few people who don't really add to the plot.

Special mention for the crash at 9 seconds in. I have never seen anyone crash going over a barefoot jump like that ever.

Epic!

Dec 18, 2006

St. Onge is Imagining and Achieving.


THUG LIFE!

Not sure why he is featured on their website, seeing as Water Skiing isn't an Olympic sport, but Keith St. Onge, he of the extreme barefoot prowess, is given some prominent love on the US Olympic website.

We are all for as much pub as anyone in the Waterski world can get, and to come off so well, very humble and smart, makes it all the better.

Here is a quick passage from the article that I think is really nice.
"But in 2002, St. Onge, competing in a world competition, should have easily won the overall gold medal. A few small mistakes was all it took, and a heartbroken St. Onge turned to friend Patrick Wehner.

After listening to a dejected St. Onge crying on his shoulder, Wehner handed him a small, laminated card.

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” Those were the words printed on the card.

St. Onge knew these words were true, as he was essentially living his dream, but he had bigger dreams, and he was ready to rise to greatness in the world of barefoot water skiing.

“I brought this card everywhere with me,” St. Onge said. “I always looked at it, always pulled it out, always read it.

“I’m gonna pass it on to the next person that needs it just as much as I needed it back then,” he said."
YO!! The CRB could use some love!!

Thinking about this some more, the Rowboat has been seriously lacking in our love given to Barefooters. That makes us sad.

KSO and Scarpa? Come on, CRB...get with it!!

Links:
Keith the Olympian (USOlympicteam.com)

Dec 14, 2006

A Very Creaky Xmas - Trick Ski Edition


I am Nicolas Le Forestier, I can waste any wakeboarder around.

Lets play a little game here, sort of a question and answer thing.

Q: Why are Trick Skis easier to find online?
A: No idea.

Q: Thanks for that CRB, well said.
A: Affirmative.

Q: Care to expound?
A: Would love to. But, the answer lies within young grasshopper. Search deep in your soul for the answers that you seek. True enlightenment comes from the acceptance of the unknown swirling winds of the sub-conscious.

Q: Go to hell.
A: Boo-YA.

So, lets think...in the hierarchy of the waterski world, lets assume or guess that the popularity of the different disciplines is as such:
  1. Wakeboard
  2. Collegiate
  3. Slalom
  4. Trick
  5. Barefoot
  6. Jump
  7. Show
  8. Hydro
  9. Ski Race
  10. Knee Board
Now granted, collegiate and show takes into account all these different aspects, but, just an in general. Meaning, you can show ski and slalom but, you aren't really a slalomer, or ski for a collegiate team but not be into jumping.

Anyways, take a look at the rough rankings and that may explain the easier availability of Trick Ski's online vs. Jumpers.

It is our belief that Trick Skiing is going to make a hell of a push towards the top of the waterski world. CRB believes that it combines the wow factor of Wakeboarding while providing a more intricate skill-set that the hard core skiers identify with.

Nothing against the wakeboard world, thats the mighty empire in the waterski world, and with one of our favorites, Dallas Friday, heading up the sport they are going to be strong.

But, there is room to grow for the trick ski people as well, especially if people like Siemers and Le Forestier continue to blow peoples minds!

Plus, from a superficial standpoint, people look better trick skiing then they do jumping or slaloming. For example:

For the guys, Ms. Danyelle Bennett


For the girls Mr. Jimmy Siemers


Jimmy's picture isn't great, but, you get the idea. Jumping you have a helmet on and a big wetsuit and normally have some goofy expression on your face, of course you get that in trick skiing too. But, lets be honest guys, girls look better wearing their trick ski get-up vs. jump stuff. Girls, ditto. Would you rather see Jimmy there wearing what he is wearing or with a wetsuit and helmet and sling?

Just human nature pilgrims, SEX SELLS!! Get your shop on!


Quantum Carbon Trick Ski - $575
Available Online: Masterlineusa.com

Sort of the new guy on the block. Designed and produced, I guess, by Russell Gay. He of the unfortunate last name and owner of the very nifty mini-Overton's type online store, Masterline. Also making ropes and handles and bags and the like. Pretty cool stuff all around actually.
"This ski is 100% carbon fiber layup for a stiff, light and very strong ski. The balsa core is very light but is stronger than foam and offers more resistance to heel and handle dings."
Well, thats good right? No one wants dings. Points for neat look, cool name, easy purchase availability. Points deducted for price (I know, everyone is getting screwed here) and weird symbol, like the guy/girl sticker you see at bathrooms in bars when you can't read anymore and just look for the person wearing pants or a dress. But, in this case its the weird boy symbol.

CRB Ranking: B

Reflex Futif - Unknown
Available Online: Reflex World

This is the ski that Nick Le Forestier skis on. Thats should be good enough for all of us.

This is actually a pretty cool looking ski, but if you look at their website and their other skis available, you know that this was the only one the escaped the hands of some criminally insane graphic designer. I don't know what the fascination is with zebra stripes and what not, but, good god man...even though you are French doesn't give you an excuse for that!!

We kid!! Le Forestier is the man, we love him here, and here is an interesting note on the Furtif.
"The grey finish of the "furtif" is a special paint that allows the best gliding. This paint can be lightly sanded before each event to obtain a perfect mat finish."
Interesting. But, not near as cool as this.
"La couleur grise du "Furtif" est une peinture spéciale pour la glisse. Cette peinture peut être légèrement poncée avant chaque compétition pour obtenir un finish parfait."
Holla!!

Points for cool design, neat name, Le Forestier skis on them and general mystery of being French. Points off for lack of price and weird language on their site!!

CRB Ranking: A

O'Brien HC Trick Ski - $599
Available Online: Performance Ski and Surf

Wow, is that a loud looking ski. It seems that O'Brien is the Wal-Mart of waterskis. Meaning, they are loud and stand out in a crowd. Probably do everything that they are supposed to do, but don't really inspire any love or sense of communion with the company and ski.

That could be entirely crap as far as I know, especially because this ski is one of the most expensive around, with the only one more expensive is the Goode trick.

The green graphics scream late 80's to me.

CRB Ranking: B-



Connelly HC Trick - $539
Available Online: Performance Ski and Surf


Now that is a col looking trick ski. Simple graphics...or, no graphics, just a black top with yellow trim and the company name on the bottom. O'Brien may want to take a look at this ski or the Goode ski and you can see what looks good vs. what looks cheap and silly.

Again, as noted in the jump post, Connelly seems to be the "mass" market ski. They are a pretty safe choice and never really seem to disappointed.

I don't think anyone has ever said anything negative about Connelly skis of any kind, their Slalom skis are pretty good I guess, not as nice as the D3's or Goode or HO's but, solid none the less. Regardless, they seem to do everything right.

Points for nice looking ski, ease of purchase and general confidence in product. Points deducted for...umm...lack of hydrofoil?

CRB Ranking: A



D3 Custom X - $575
Available Online: D3


Turns out the O'Brien and D3 graphics guys had a long night out at the local watering hole, probaly knocked back about 20 Zima's and maybe a few shots of Goldschlager, then met up with a couple of girls wearing leg warmers and ripped sweatshirts falling off the shoulder, they danced for a bit to the soothing sounds of Firehouse and Cinderella then hopped on their scooters for a trip back to the design studio for some after hours.

From their they proceeded to make out in and around and on the desk that has the photoshop open. Must have hit the mouse or something and maybe the warp function and the paint fill icon, and this was the result...for both.

Skis are great though.

Points for solid design and lots of pro people seem to like them, points off for weird, if not uninspired, graphics.

CRB Ranking: B+


Goode Trick Ski - $690
Available Online: Goode.com


One of the few current models that the CRB has skied on recently, so, the opinion being espoused is very slanted.

But, this is the best trick ski there is. It looks cool, skis amazing and comes from a company where the owner is actually a very talented skier in his own right.

The thing weighs next to nothing, tracks awesome but doesn't feel like you can't turn or get lift off the wake.

Then...there is the price.

$690.

That is just amazing. Amazing. There are no other descriptive words to describe it. That is just an astounding price for a 42 inch piece of Carbon.

Points for being the best ski around, cool looks, and admittedly being our favorite ski. Points deducted for insane cost.

CRB Ranking: A-

Thats a tough ranking, I really love that ski and really would love to have one of my own. But, the cost is so outrageous that it simply can't take the top spot in good faith.

There is no way that I would ever pay that much for a trick ski, ever. But, since this is Christmas time, fell free fellow CRB people to send one our way via the UPS.

Final list:
Connelly HC Trick - A
Reflex Furtif - A
Goode Trick Ski - A-
D3 Custom X - B+
Quantum Carbon - B
O'Brien HC - B-

We ended up with a tie between Connelly and Reflex. We need a tie-breaker.

Suggestions?

Links:
Performance Ski and Surf (www.perfski.com)
D3 (D3skis.com)
Masterline (Masterlineusa.com)
Goode (Goode.com)
Reflex (Reflexworld.com)

Dec 13, 2006

A Very Creaky Xmas


Let me just reach into my sac...

This is a busy time of year for everyone, what with Christmas shopping, drinking and picking out the perfect holiday themed sweater to put on your dog. You twisted psycho.


Yeah, laugh it up now you bastard, I know where you sleep!!

Everyone has gone through it before, the disappointed look on your unsuspecting gift receiver as they unwrap your feeble attempt at gift giving. Cross that with the shame you will feel as you watch your supposedly inferior siblings / family members / friends impress one another with their amazingly original and highly intriguing gifts that seem to fit perfect.

You note this of course as your all-wooden connect-4 erector set kit from the QVC lies in a pile on the floor like your cloths on the floor after a night of booze, cigarettes and bar skanks.

However!!

Never fear as the CRB is here to save you with some last minute gift ideas for that special waterski type on your list, or for yourself or for your favorite blog host...which is of course, this one.

NERD!!!

So, anyways, you find yourself struggling for a last minute gift for that waterski friend and you don't know what or where or how to get that perfect gift. Its simple my friend, a pair of jumpers. New or Used it doesn't matter. What self-respecting skier would look at a pair of jumpers and say, "yea, well, I was really hoping for a blender"

Actually, if your friend said that you would be legally allowed to beat them to death with that jump ski and dump their body....then take their boyfriend/girlfriend our for a nice steak and gratuitous sex.


Cue porn music...bow chica bow wow!!

That never happens though because anyone who is cool enough to be a member of the Creaky Clan already has awesomely cool friends who would never prefer a blender of a pair of jump skis. Even simply for the straight economic aspect. I mean, a new pair of Air Neville's is borderline 3 grand. F-that noise, just sell them and buy about 20 blenders.

So, here is our rundown of jump skis out there that we are aware of, along with availability to purchase and our patented CRB ranking.



D3 Nightmare - $2300
Available online: Performance Ski and Surf

These are pretty cool looking skis, and from everything I have heard pretty awesome to ski on as well. Of special note, Freddy Krueger skis on these and is pretty awesome. So, this would be a fine choice for your waterski friend.

History lesson: most people have at least a cursory attachment to D3, as many people who are over the age of 26 or so were alive and kicking during the Kidder heyday. With Sammy Duvall and Carl Roberge kicking butt and looking badass, as well as bring waterskiing to heights that it hasn't reached since.

But then Kidder went on sabatical and then came back as KD, which is fine and good but not Kidder and then went away again. Dennis Kidder got his Mojo back and is kicking ass now with D3.

Remember when Sammy's 202 foot jump was just SICK! I remember talk that the physics of ever going over 220 were debated and it was determined that no human could ever go farther. Sammy said somewhere or maybe it was urban legend, but, somewhere I remember he would routinly fly another 20 some feet in practice.

Landing 220-225's on 72 inch jumpers. 72 INCHES!!

We all know the story, he went a bit farther, polishing off his amazing career with the world record (220 feet) and retired just before these monster planks made their way to the scene. There were some other guys out there who flew, John Swanson, Bruce Neville, but no one to take the torch that Sammy carried. Maybe its Jimmy Siemers, but right now, in jumping, its Freddy Krueger. D3's big boy, carrying the Dennis Kidder mantle of Jump Dominance forward.

But he isn't what Sammy was, no one is, but no one else has ever been closer.

Points for cool design, cool name, Dennis Kidder, Freddy and world records. Points off for not being Kidder and cost.

CRB Ranking: B+



Stokes Jump Skis - Unknown Price
Available online: N/A

Don't really know much about these at all, matter of fact nothing, other then June Fladborg skis on them and is pretty good. Searching the entire reaches of the web the only mention of these skis anywhere is on her webpage that mentions them as a sponser and gives a link to their site and it goes to one of those stupid squatter sites thats a bunch of crap.

So, points deducted for extreme web confusion and frustration, but bonus points awarded for mystery and having a rad name.

CRB Ranking: B-


Goodman Stiffy Longboards - Unknown Price
Available Online: N/A

This one is the most frustrating for me. These are probably my all time favorite waterskis. I have never skied on them and only seen them in person once, and that was along time ago at a ski school, if the memory serves correct it was the first year or at least beginning stages of this company, the beginning stages of the long board jumping era.

They undeniably the coolest looking skis around. There is alot to be said for not cluttering up or overly graphic-ing a set of planks. Plus, look at the pictures above and even the beat up and worn out pair (taken from skifly.com) look awesome. In fact, I think that they are cooler then the new ones.

Also, this is the company (in my mind anyways) that signified in retrospect the yin-yang world that is pro waterskiing. Making skis that launched people farther then ever, making them stronger and lighter and better looking, but, ultimatly making some of the stars that built the sport fade away to quick and their records seem less impressive. Like Nirvana and Pearl Jam in the early 1990's, but, instead of making Sammy and Carl fade it was Poison and Warrant. So, thats a bad analagy. Sammy and Carl rule, while Poison and Warrant are crappy bands.

So, points deducted again for web frustration and confusion but mega points for cool factor, mystery and having one of the CRB's favorite skiers, Danyelle Bennett, ski on them and for dragging our sport to new heights...for better or worse.

CRB Rank: A



O'Brien Air Neville Pro - $2,999
Available Online: Performance Ski and Surf

The second picture is from the Skifly store and goes to illustrate how uncool the current skis are. This is a shame, because, from what we know at the CRB O'Brien no longer makes shorty skis so this is all they got.

The Performance website says:
"These skis feature aerodynamic Neville tips, hand milled aluminum fins and custom carbon fiber and graphite laminates sandwiching a honeycomb core."
So, they got that going for them, which is nice. I guess. Points for having Neville attached to it and for being, until recent, one of the lone remaining companies to make shorties. Points off for insane cost, lame looks and general "whatever" vibe.

CRB Ranking: C



Connelly LS 300 and HC 300 - $2,899, $2,699 w/ stokes tips and $1,199 for the shorties
Available online: Performance Ski and Surf

What could be considered the lone "Mass" market jump skis. With the sad decline of Kidder/KD and HO not making jumpers anymore and Carbonworx going weird, this is pretty much it if you are looking for jumpers and don't really know where to go.

More specifically, since this is the only company that we know of that makes "normal" size jumpers, odds are you would be looking for a pair of these...the HC 300's. Unless you are a decent to above average jumper and don't show ski and have access to nice jump conditions, then you can look longer and gravitate towards the longer boards.

Not a bad business model really, like General Motors from back in the day. You would start off your life driving a small Chevy, move up to a Buick or Oldsmobile then eventually a Caddy. Same here, you start with a pair of shorties and then get good and move up.

Plus, they are a well known and I guess respected brand, plus its a pretty cool name. Like O'Neil or Goodman or...umm...maybe D3, if that makes sense. HO is a pretty lame name, so is Jobe, and Billabong and Intensity.

Anyways, points for smart business model, pretty neat skis, pretty neat name. Points deducted for expensive shorties....Thats it. Huh. Well, they shouldn't get to comfortable in the shorties market, as I heard that there may be another small company brewing out there in the world.

CRB Ranking: A-

So, after the exhaustive search, here are our final rankings, listed numerically...err...in order.
  1. Goodman Stiffy Longboards (A)
  2. Connelly HC 300 and LS 300 (A-)
  3. D3 Nightmare (B+)
  4. Stokes Jumpers (B-)
  5. O'Brien Air Neville Pro (C)
Happy shopping friends, and happy holidays from the Rowboat.

Links:
Performance Ski and Surf (www.perfski.com)
June Fladborg (www.junefladborg.dk/us/index.htm)
Skibay (skifly.com)

Dec 3, 2006

So, a wake 180 really isn't that impressive huh?


Up, Up and Away!


While we anxiously await video or photo proof of Freddy Krueger's world record (pending) its worth noting that Mr. Nicolas Le Forestier himself, while being a disgustingly good trick skiier, isn't afraid to show proof on his own website. This is a youtubed version of his 12,400 point world record run from 2005.



Of note, Le Forestier also has a bunch of other videos of some really cool tricks on his site. Plus some photo goodness of his knee surgery.

Going along with the world record theme of this post, you can look here for a list of current world record holders in the main three event categories, including Skifly.

Pretty impressive stuff. It would be sweet to track down videos from these various runs. If possible.


Pumping in crazy trick ski skill

Here is the list of current world record holders (for those to lazy to click on the link below!). Actually, click here for a very complete list.

IWSF Mens:
Jump: Freddy Krueger (240 feet)
Trick: Nicolas Le Forestier (12,400 Points)
Slalom: Chris Parrish (1.5 at 43 off)
Ski Fly: Jaret Llewellyn (299 feet)

IWSF Women:
Jump: Elena Milakova (186 feet)
Trick: Mandy Nightingale (8,740 Points)
Slalom: Kristi Overton - Johnson (1 at 41 off)
Ski Fly: Elena Milakova (228 Feet)

NCWSA Men:
Jump: Ryan Fitts (193 Feet)
Trick: Jimmy Siemers (6,820 Points)
Slalom: Will Asher (3.5 at 41 off)

NCWSA Women:
Jump: Regina Jaquess (152 Feet)
Trick: Regina Jaquess (4,440 Points)
Slalom: Regina Jaquess (2 at 39.5 off)

Search around and take a look, I can't find Wakeboard records and I don't feel like figuring out how to convert meters to feet for Barefoot. Maybe later on.

Links:
Nicolas Le Forestier (nicolasleforestier.com)
World Records (usawaterski.org)

Dec 1, 2006

Lakeside Hooters!


Mom, I am really, really, really hungry all of a sudden

On one of Rykerts recent posts, he mused about the reducing the risk of pelvic injury during serious waterski crashes if you piss in your wetsuit.

Or something like that. Look, our man Rykert and his Lake are much smarter about medical stuff then we are...so, we will let him explain what he means. Or, cut and paste.
"While orienting as an orthopedic nurse, I learned this tidbit form an expert on pelvic fractures. Basically, having an empty bladder, at the moment of a pelvic fracture, reduced the chance of internal injury because of the bladder's reduced size in its nondistended state. That means less bladder to hit with a chunk of misplaced pelvis. Less bladder space means less displacement of colon, and other assorted anatomical injury risks when the pelvic cavity isn't crowded by the remnants of your last 7 red bulls. Speaking of colons,the famous PJD is not a bad idea either. Don't be full of crap unless you are bragging about your best distance to the ditzy, yet busty waitress at your nearest lakeside Hooter's."
Lakeside Hooters? Well played!

Then Rykert gets wistful.
"Note: I wish I had the Rowboat's research team working for me. If that were the case, I would have have pictures of someone peeing, empty red bull cans, a jumper, a hooters girl, and a bottle of milk of magnesia to go with my little announcement."
Have at em dude, reasonable rates as well!!


Pictures of Lakeside Hooters coming right up sir!

Links:
Not Just for Warmth (lakerykert.blogspot.com)

Nov 30, 2006

Holy Christ


Scarlett letter my ass.

We are MORONS! Damn comment moderation. Clicked some button and there are like a billion comments left that were supposed to be moderated and we screwed it up. So for everyone who commented on anything in the past and it didn't show up, we say sorry. We are stupid. They are there now. Much love, even the costume basket was here and we missed it.

Its fixed now.

/hiding head in shame

-CRB.

*Note - its unclear if it should be on or off. Guessing off. That way things should just show up, right?*

Pop Quiz Hotshot



Of note, someone went back to our June or July archives and commented on our post with Regina and Mandy and pointed out that I made a mistake with one of the pictures.

So Mr. Smarty Jones we tracked this video down in the youtube. Who is this?

Nov 25, 2006

Pack the bags!


I'm Sailing!! I'm SAILING!

So, here is the deal. We need some money here at the CRB. Not much, just a little change out of your pocket...maybe...ten grand a person should probably cover our needs.

You see, we came across this little skiing oasis project in the Charlotte Observer and decide its time to get our move on. Whats the haps? Well, in the lovely community of Charlotte, North Carolina someone wiser then us is building a waterski community, called Mirror Lake, and its time for you freeloaders to pay up!!

Just kidding. If you are reading this you already rule and are living in the top 1% of all the world.

BUT, a guy named Bob MacLeod is building a 3 million dollar gated waterski community somewhere on the outskirts of Charlotte.
"With 29 lots on 2 or more acres each, and only 10 of them available on the lake, home sites are scarce. And they don't come cheap, ranging from a little more than $100,000 to $350,000."
DOPE!!

Our main man is a developer and tried this idea earlier in some communist county in North Carolina and was re-buffed by a bunch of inbred-redneck know nothing goons. Undeterred he gave a big Vick finger to that ignorant bunch and went off to greener pastures, and better lakes, in Catawba county.


Not pleased with your fucking pansy ass attitude

Thankfully the Catawba county crew is much more refined and interested in something other then a Deliverance rock opera and a Skynard tribute band at "The Pigs Balls" tavern.

Whatever that means.

But, here is how the deal goes down.

"To maintain placid conditions, only lakefront homeowners will be allowed to use the water for skiing. But MacLeod and Lee believe that just as golf course communities attract nongolfers, Mirror Lake will appeal to buyers simply looking for luxury homes on large lots.

The development will have about 30 acres of common open space, and all residents will be able to use the lake for recreation such as canoeing, paddleboating and fishing."

Thats the ticket boys and girls. None of those morons riding around in circles in Bayliners screwing things up or bleeding heart morons worrying about noise or fish or whatever the hell else people complain about in regards to water skiing.

Dammit!! This is America, and water skiing is done in America!!

And the CRB crew is all about that. Lord knows is hard enough to take a set at normal human hours and not be bombarded by those rogue boat rollers from Skip and his bass boat or David the Junior Vice-President of B.S at Powers Booth Inc taking out a client in his freaking "Suck My Wake" 4-Winns!!


Yo, John Candy is ON the Hook!!

The revolution will not be television people, as nothing relating to waterskiing really is, but we can make a change from a grassroots level. Waterskiing is a sport of the people, for the people and by the people...with money...and boats...and dispposable income...but DAMNIT, this needs to happen!!

Pony up the dough and purchase a lot, build your dream house. The CRB crew will be by in the evening with a bottle of wine and a basket of goodies to welcome you to the neighborhood. We will be the house just down the street near the 500 foot ball, the house with a 67 GTO in the driveway and a beer fridge on the dock.

Holla!

*Side note, I goggled the phrase "the great outdoors movie" to try and find a picture of the boat used in the movie with poor results. PORN!! What the hell? More pictures of dudes and chicks in compromising positions then you can shake stick at!! Amazing. Try it, but its not safe for work.*

**Side note 2, if you look at the time stamp it says it was posted on Saturday, well, someone, who we won't mention, forgot to hit the publish button and instead hit the save as draft button. Which is good because it was crap on saturday.**

Links:
Waterski lake (Charlotte Observer)

Nov 21, 2006

At least god is watching


Bros before Ho's

We have been waiting for what seems like forever for a video or at least SOME visual evidence of Freddy Kruegers 243 foot jump two weeks ago at some tournament no one has ever heard of.

One would think that people would be all over this, websites, sponsors, waterski organizations, slalom magazines, Someone!!

We get updates immediately if some kid hits a 1080 on a wakeboard and for gods sake there is a freaking magazine dedicated to wake skating!

But, one of the immortal waterskiiers of our generation and for that matter in the history of the sport is basically relegated to some sort of back page shit, right next to this weeks odds of beer league softball and an off-season transaction report for the XFL.

The hell?

It took two weeks for Mastercraft, his sponsor, to even acknowledge that fact on their website and basically all it said was how freaking great some motor was.
"In the winner’s circle with Freddy was his MasterCraft ProStar 197, nicknamed “The Nightmare”. Krueger trained with this boat all year and was confident “The Nightmare” was key to breaking the world record. “When I met with the guys at MasterCraft, the goal was simple,” says Krueger. “We wanted a boat that could pull the new world record. We looked at a few options but ultimately we decided to take a production boat and test some up-and-coming technology that can now be found in the 2007 ProStar line, like the LY6 engine, new tranny ratio and prop setup. The result was a great jump boat for me and a better ProStar for our owners.”
Hopefully they don't mass produce that boat, because Lenny your fat neighbor will probaly bust out a 175 on a single wake! Off the Chain!!

Its really frustrating, you want to get some knowledge and see whats up in our sport and with the best jumper around and you end up calling this guy:


Yo! Ease off the rogaine!!

Of course you could hit up SkyFly.com and catch the awesome rules nazis!!

But thats no fun, so we leave you with another great post from the best poster on that board, along with supercharged and various others, here is our boy Camillo.
Fred is the best jumper in the world.
He has been for quite a while.
Sincere congratulations to him and his training/support group.

You can admire him or you can make an ass out of yourself letting jealousy and envy bring out the worst in you.

The troops at McCormicks let every jumper pick what boat they wanted to jump behind. Fred picked his boat.

Rhoni picked her boat, etc.

The point of a tournament is to have ultimate conditions so we can truly see the potential of every skier. Mc Cormick's went one step further and allowed jumpers to pick their boat of choice. You should have been there.
Sweet tourney.
Cheers
Camilo Espinel
PS: He went sooooooo high it was nuts


You can't always get what you wan, but if you try sometimes, you just might get what you need.

Links:
News (mastercraft.com)

Nov 14, 2006

Peter North was not impressed.


My balestra resulted in an unfortunate corps-a-corps

Because we are as childish as you can possibly be, AND because Russel Gay is saddled with a last name that screams for some kind of joke we bring you this from planetwaterski.com. Maybe the editor of that site should pick their words a bit more carefully next time.
"5th November 2006 McCormicks

It looks like Freddy Kreuger has saved it to the very end to set the longest distance ever with a reported 74.1m (243 feet) at McCormick's. Full details when it is confirmed. If approved this distance will be a new World Record.

30th October 2006 McCormicks

Alough not confirmed, reports show that Freddy Krueger went 70.7m (232ft) and Russel Gay just beat off Alikasei for the best score of the weekend with 11 590 points"
What the hell kind of competition is this?!?! and what sort of point system is that!!??

Links:
Planet Waterski (planetwaterski.com)

Nov 12, 2006

Hope College to the Rescue?


This is so depressing

Take a gander at this recent post on the Ncwsa.com webstite:
"In spite of several requests, no team has agreed to step up and bid to host the 2007 NCWSA Nationals. Anyone who's participated lately, knows how big an undertaking this really is. Two years ago, the board extended the bidding cycle to 2 years to make sure the host had ample time to properly prepare and raise sponsorships. We are now under one year and we'll be down to 9 months after the winter board meeting.

Once again, if any team is interested in hosting the 2007 event, please contact Phil Chase or your Regional Chairman immediately.

Bids on the 2008 Nationals and All-Stars are due by the NCWSA Board meeting, on January 26th."
Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock....


Its not fair!! There was time now!

I can think of two solutions to this potential problem.

1) Hope College comes to the rescue!! With the obvious and undeniable destruction of the collegiate waterski season next year from the Hope College Wrecking Crew, its only right that they step up and host the 2007 Nationals at the amazing Hope College Waterski Multi-plex.

If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you get moving and take a peek. Its a dynamic site with plasma televisions and 3 seperate lakes all enclosed in a huge golf dome that allows for year round skiing as well as a state of the art training room, locker rooms, work out facility and full bar.

I heard the Holland, Michigan government spent upwards of 20 million dollars and donated 3 new playstation3's to the site.

2) Remember the fiasco over the World University Championship? That site in Plover, WI (easy to find, look for a lake by the highway next to to a strip mall and a corn field) that was supposed to host last years Worlds?

Well, they screwed the sheep right through the fence and couldn't install the Cabella's and/or waterski magazine course in time. So, they did the right thing. Work harder and get everything ready in time? NO...they just pulled a France and quit.


Tee-Hee!!
What better way to make it up to the Waterski world then step up and host the 2007 Nationals?

The way I see it, they owe it to the Collegiate waterski world to host this puppy, just take a look at the proposed site, if it is indeed complete.

STEP UP TO THE PLATE!!

Links:
2007 Nationals in Jeoprady? (NCWSA.com)

Nov 11, 2006

Then I just kind of sit on my butt


I can totally fix that little lady

As promised the folks at Alliance posted the video interview with Dallas about her injury and subsequent recovery.

Its interesting to watch, and she sheds some serious light on the "water in the lungs" aspect. Turns out it wasn't water at all, but some sort of fat cell issue that screwed things up.
"(I) went into surgery, thinking I was waking up in two hours. Then I had what was called a fat embolysm, which is, I guess, fat cells that go through your bone...err, not your bone, but your blood and clogs up your lungs, and thats when my lung collapsed and I was in some type of coma for 8 days"
Wow. I hate it when that happens. So, some crap went from her leg into her lungs and made it collapse right? Is that the gist of that?

But, here at the rowboat, we seek to delve deeper into the story then most. Lets get our learn on.

What is a Fat Embolism? Taken from emedicine.com:
Two theories about the syndrome exist. First, the mechanical theory states that large fat droplets are released into the venous system. These droplets are deposited in the pulmonary capillary beds and travel through arteriovenous shunts to the brain. Microvascular lodging of droplets produces local ischemia and inflammation, with concomitant release of inflammatory mediators, platelet aggregation, and vasoactive amines. Second, the biochemical theory states that hormonal changes caused by trauma and/or sepsis induce systemic release of free fatty acids as chylomicrons. Acute-phase reactants, such as C-reactive proteins, cause chylomicrons to coalesce and create the physiologic reactions described above. The biochemical theory helps explain nontraumatic forms of fat embolism syndrome.
Right, that makes perfect sense, eh?

No it doesn't at all, so we turn to the wiki man for some help. From Wikipedia:
"A fat embolism is a type of embolism that is often (but not always) caused by physical trauma."

I guess thats what it looks like, so says this website.

A more detailed case can be found here, or maybe less detailed, but taken from the website uhrad.com, which is some sort of medical teaching website, explains the case of a 21-year old who got in a car crash, broke his leg and had this problem. So, it turns out that this is all on the up and up, so to speak. The following is copied straight from their site.
Clinical History: This is a 21 year old male s/p motor vehicle accident with multiple longbone fractures and sudden onset of shortness of breath of unexplained etiology.

Findings: Plain film of the chest demonstrates widespread interstitial prominence suggesting interstitial edema.

Diagnosis: Fat embolism.

Discussion: Fat embolism is an often unrecognized sequella of any condition or event that disrupts the marrow. The most common cause is traumatic fragmentation of bone marrow with its subsequent entry into the venous system.

The clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolus include both pulmonary and nonpulmonary findings. The pulmonary symptoms usually appear one to two days after the initial injury and generally include dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and pleural pain. Central nervous system and skin and manifestations may or may not occur concomitantly. The patient may develop confusion, stupor, delirium, and coma. In addition a skin rash (petechiae) often develops (characteristically on the patient’s chest).

The radiologic appearance is consistent with that of adult respiratory distress syndrome, including widespread airspace consolidation with a predominant peripheral distribution. In addition, the lung bases are often involved to a greater extent than with other causes of pulmonary edema.

OK, so, we got that covered, its an embolism caused by physical trauma. I would guess a snapped femur and nine spiral fractures and torn ligaments would qualify as trauma. However, lets look deeper and figure out what the hell an embolism is, also from the Wikipedia:

In medicine, an embolism occurs when an object (the embolus, plural emboli) migrates from one part of the body (through circulation) and cause(s) a blockage (occlusion) of a blood vessel in another part of the body.

This can be contrasted with a "thrombus" which is the formation of a clot within a blood vessel, rather than being carried from elsewhere.

Blood clots form the most common embolic material by far: other possible embolic materials include fat globules (a fat embolism), air bubbles (an air embolism), septic emboli (containing pus and bacteria), or amniotic fluid.

Emboli often have more serious consequences when they occur in the so-called "end-circulation": areas of the body that have no redundant blood supply, such as the brain, heart, and lungs.


Yep, just like we thought. Some fat cells migrated their way into her lungs, clogged up the works and shut it down. Yikes. Of course, our main man Rykert is in the medical field so perhaps he could shed some light on this as well.


Hmm, someone needs to learn how to drive. That truck does NOT go there.

Links:
Dallas Video: (Alliance Wakeboard)
Fat Embolism: (Wiki)
Case One Hundred Thirty Four - Fat Embolism (uhrad.com)

Nov 9, 2006

They build them strong in Texas


I am bent in an awkward position

Because as you may have figured, the CRB crew is a bit of a honk for the stylings of one Dallas Friday. Here is a quick link from the people over at Alliance Wake.

Looks as though they will have a video of their interview with her soon. so...like...check it out or something.

Links:
Dallas (Alliance Wake)

Nov 6, 2006

Called out and responded

Krueger Sets Pending World Jumping Record

U.S. water ski athlete Freddy Krueger set a pending Men's world jumping record of 243 feet (74.2 meters) on Sunday at the McCormick Record No. 5 tournament in Seffner, Fla. If approved by the International Water Ski Federation's Technical Committee, the distance will eclipse Krueger's current world record of 240 feet (73.0 meters), which was set in October 2005.

That is on the front of USAWaterski.org. We totally called them out yesterday and look, they came correct. Standing up like men and reporting the facts. Just like us.

Boo-YA!!

Waterski Magazine? Still cowering in a corner. Afraid of the Rowboats vengeance.

Links:
Frontpage Freddy (usawaterski.org)

Nov 5, 2006

Nightmare on some lake...somewhere...I guess

We posted this awhile ago and most likely you all have seen it, but in the wake of Freddy breaking his own record of 240 with a 243 its time to take another look.



As this is being written there is no mention of this in any of the places you would hope to see some dap given. Usawaterski.org? no. Waterski Magazine? no. Planetwaterski? no. theguyonthecorner.com? no.

Where else can you look for info like this?

Unknown. WTF?

It doesn't help that when you google his name you get 900 pages of the other Freddy.

Of course, its not the most prudent thing in the world to take some random message board comment as gospel, especially considering the ass-backwards way in which it seems waterski stuff seems to happen, you would think that someone..ANYONE...involved in more then a cursory way would jump all over this.

Please, if anyone comes across anything regarding this, video, picture, article, please post the link in the comments section. Someone out there should be promoting this sport, beyond the sick fascination of Waterski Mag with slalom. Which really doesn't promote the sport as much as hawk their advertisers product and that damn Edged in Water video.

Links:
Skifly (skifly.com)

Nov 2, 2006

I killed a drifter to get an erection


"NO, I will leave you IN!!"

Its just to damn easy.
"Ahh, San Diego. Founded in the late 1800s by the Germans, its name means, a 2006 NCWSA Division 2 Title."
San Diego, as far as the CRB crew is concerned is forever shamed with the whale vagina reference from Anchorman. There is no getting around it anymore. Its stuck in my head the same way that Kelly Clarkson or the Batman theme get lodged in their and won't release their death grip on the collective minds of the many minions that float in our boat.

Not that there isn't like a million other things about San Diego that are awesome. Surfing, girls, the Chargers cool light blue uniforms and of course the awesome weather.


I eat steroids like you for breakfas....shit....LOL!!

Add to that list above the San Diego State water ski tribe. Get it, the Aztecs, an Indian tribe?

But maybe its just me, but take a look at the top placing schools from division 2 and something seems amiss does it not?
San Diego State
Marquette Warriors
Cal State
University of Kansas
Cal Poly
Michigan Wolverines
University of North Carolina
Georgia
Louisiana Tech
Marquette?

24 hours of eating burritos and playing Halo thats some shit right there.

Evidently the boys and girls in the megalopolis's of Milwaukee were tired of the "Team Midwest" crew having all the fun and decided to pull a B&E and get in on that.

So the crew stormed the proceedings and nabbed the number 2 spot leaving Cal State to settle for the best team that got beat by a team that hasn't been around for more then 5 years or so.

Aren't these the same guys who were so hard up for a ski boat that they tied off some ropes to a barge and cruised the mighty Lake Michigan behind a ferry?



Shit, word spread of this unexpected upheaval and even the most insane person in all of the association had to raise up of his non-existent couch and give out a bit of love.


Marquette? Tru Warriors Indeed!

Thats right playa. Don't give me that Golden Eagle crap anyways. And while we are at it, in the world that we are living in where a fucking collegiate nick name is somehow all of a sudden a hot-topic (yo I see you lemming style mall shoppers) the CRB crew says fuck that.

Aztec?
Warrior?
Seminole?
Fighting Sioux?

Thats nothing. So what?

I got more of a problem with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim via LA. Shit, I got a problem with the freaking Houston Texans, while were at it I got a problem with the freaking LA Lakers and the New Orlean Saints and the Atlanta Thrashers and the Minnesota Wild.

Those SUCK...and the Utah Jazz?

New Orleans Jazz, just switch, be the Utah Saints. You are freaking Mormon or some shit anyways aren't you?


Ride or Die

Oh, sorry, its a racist nickname or it carries racist connotations. Oh, do tell oh speaker of the light infused truth cocktail.

You want to know whats racist in the CRB crew's handbook that we hand out to all the pledges?

His name is Robert Paulson, His name is Robert Paulson, His name is Robert Paulson!!

or.


One love

Yo, someone I know STRONGLY DISAGREES.


I do not concur with your assessment that honky can't fly

From gods mouth to your ear pilgrim.

Division 2 standings.

Mens Waterski Mag:
1 Brian Kinney Chico
2 Ricky Krulicki Chico
3 Christian Scharosch Kansas

Note: I have decided to never call slalom by that name ever again. Quite simply, its taken on a life of its own in Waterski Magazine. Plus, the same three dudes won all the awards which makes coming up with something funny after each rundown REALLY hard.

Mens Shortboard:
1 Brian Kinney Chico
2 Christian Scharosch Kansas
3 Ricky Krulicki Chico

For real, what gives? Did no one else ski? Its the same three people. This is like going to a singles bar and their are three hot girls there and like 400 guys. You never even stand a chance. Of course in this case, the three hot girls are Brian, Christian and Ricky, which coincidently sounds like a Poison cover band from the late ninety's.


Damn, that one on the left is HOT!


Think about it...ON STAGE....ONE NIGHT ONLY....YOU KNOW THE MUSIC, YOUR GIRLFRIEND HAD A ONE NIGHT STAND WITH THE LEAD SINGER OF THE REAL BAND......PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR "TALKIN' DIRTY"

Mens Jump:
1 Brian Kinney Chico
2 Chris Carr Kansas
3 Christian Scharosch Kansas

Blah, blah, blah same three guys aga....wait! YES. Chris Carr comes correct bitches. YO RICKY, where you at now!!

oh, there you are in fifth place. What? Why aren't you in the top three here huh? Are you not good enough at jumping?

But for real, how good are these three guys, there are nine spots available on the CRB leaderboard and these guys took eight of them. Well played.

And Chris...much love.

Womens Waterski Mag:
1 Hanna Edeback UNC
2 Erin O'Neil Georgia State or something
3 Amy Bing Kansas

An important note here from these girls. If you look at the official record or whatever it is from NCWSA.com, it lists the majority of people's Majors. Hanna is in medicine, Erin is Marketing and Amy is in fashion design.

Thats a pretty strong three-some company going on there. Hanna can fix you when you get broken. Amy will design the new waterski apparel and wetsuits and what-not while Erin takes the reigns and markets that shit.

Bam. I said it here first, these three will take down O'Neil and Phat Farm by themselves.

Womens Shortboard:
1 Julie Jahnke Tru Warrior
2 Lindsey Ward Michigan
3 Amy Bing Kansas

Our first spotting of the Ron Artest sponsored Marquette Tru Warriors.


Yo, a little butter, maybe some sour cream and I got your hook up dog.

Julie Jahnke, pronounced how?, took first place honors in the short board/trick ski/freaking difficult division. She scored a 1510 to earn this place. While its no Clementine performance, it is good enough to capture the D2 title. I heard from a small Idaho Potato that she was going to throw a tantrum to whirlybird combo but the line wasn't that no-stretch shit.

Womens Jump:
1t Amy Bing Kansas
1t Marcy Holtz Tru Warrior
3 Julie Jahnke Tru Warrior

There is our girl Amy on top. Those Jayhawks must be some mighty fierce creatures to fight off two Tru Warriors.

OH SNAP!! No she didn't, thats right!! Tru-Warriors don't sleep, they don't eat and they better not catch you creeping. And, they DAMN sure won't let you take home the Jump title.

Notice, you didn't see any Aztecs here in the top spots. Hey, still water runs deep. and wide. and they take that shit by storm. No one person carrying the torch and a bunch of losers and hangers on picking up the pieces like a Bill Wennington riding on Jordan's coattails from back in the day.


or is that Luc Longley?

Nope, thats a true team win and thats how its done boys and girls. Congrats to San Diego, Marquette, Cal Poly as well as the D1 teams that we did already.

Also, to all the other teams and people and whatever that made the trek this year.

The CRB crew invites each and everyone of you in the collegiate world to open your CRB approved cooler and enjoy about 10 beers on us. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that you have already done that.

Well, have another. Well played everyone.

Links:
Scoresheet (ncwsa.com)

Its to Dang Cold!

Enjoy this weather you hot piece of ass! Dispatch from the CRB weather desk Guess what???  ITS COLDER THEN A WELL DIGGERS ASS OUT THERE KIDS...