2014 Catalina Ski Race Connections

[Eli]

I've skied it 12 times and there is no better training that time on a ski.


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Do you mean actually ski time? How much ski time/miles would you recommend to get fully prepared? How many ocean training hours vs lake?


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[obnoxious001]

Do you mean actually ski time? How much ski time/miles would you recommend to get fully prepared? How many ocean training hours vs lake?


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I've had a few people ask me to help them find drivers, boats, skiers, observers and navigators. I've been able to make a few connections, but now I am going to utilize the big bad website world of BOATING!

Currently, I am trying to help friends find the following: I will update this post as necessary 4/30/14.

1. Skier from Catalina to Long Beach, we have one going out need one to come back.
2. Boat, driver and navigator preferably a 36-42 foot V bottom for a very experienced skier.

Thank you for your help and if you need/want to make a ski race connection, please feel free to post here or PM me and I will do it for you. This is a great event!

The top skiers make many, many trips on the actual course to the island and back, probably more with training boats, short skis and short ropes instead of spending the money it takes to run the race boat every time. Lake skiing is nothing like skiing in the ocean, both physically and mentally. Besides the the obvious physical conditioning and endurance, it requires constant mental alertness during the entire race, since waves and rollers come from all directions, and in all sizes. If the weather is clear and you can see the island when you start, it seems like it takes forever to get there. If it's foggy, you keep wondering if you are on the right course, and when will you ever spot the darn island.

I have driven and observed in the race a bunch of times, and have driven and observed in many, many more practice runs, including one time when we found the boat filling with water about 20 miles out, and the bilge pump would not work when switched on, and of course no phone or radios, or even a proper bailing bucket. I have also skied to the island a couple of times on training runs.

One of the best deals in connecting teams may be to contact someone from the Long Beach Boat and Ski Club that puts on the race. Another suggestion might be to at least mention the skier's average or best time if you don't feel it's appropriate to put his or her name, but in many cases the name would help. Who is looking to split the run, my skier from last year might be happier only going half the distance?

[Eli]

The top skiers make many, many trips on the actual course to the island and back, probably more with training boats, short skis and short ropes instead of spending the money it takes to run the race boat every time. Lake skiing is nothing like skiing in the ocean, both physically and mentally. Besides the the obvious physical conditioning and endurance, it requires constant mental alertness during the entire race, since waves and rollers come from all directions, and in all sizes. If the weather is clear and you can see the island when you start, it seems like it takes forever to get there. If it's foggy, you keep wondering if you are on the right course, and when will you ever spot the darn island.

I have driven and observed in the race a bunch of times, and have driven and observed in many, many more practice runs, including one time when we found the boat filling with water about 20 miles out, and the bilge pump would not work when switched on, and of course no phone or radios, or even a proper bailing bucket. I have also skied to the island a couple of times on training runs.

One of the best deals in connecting teams may be to contact someone from the Long Beach Boat and Ski Club that puts on the race. Another suggestion might be to at least mention the skier's average or best time if you don't feel it's appropriate to put his or her name, but in many cases the name would help. Who is looking to split the run, my skier from last year might be happier only going half the distance?

Lots of great information.

Bobby Rojas is driving and JT wants to ski to Catalina.

Brian Samaniego is looking for the boat, driver, navigator.


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[tpltrbl303]

Do you mean actually ski time? How much ski time/miles would you recommend to get fully prepared? How many ocean training hours vs lake?


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By the time of the race each year I'd have 4-5 runs to the island and back, behind my schiada 20. As well as skiing every day( it helped to work at a ski school all summer) and I raced the entire sanction season in both circles and marathons.

Needless to say I was still beat up and tired.


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[TheKeysLife]

If I hear anything i will let you know!!

[Eli]

If I hear anything i will let you know!!

Thank you!


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[hpboats83]

I've often thought about trying to tow people behind my boat but it worries me too much that a skier might have a bad accident for some reason and whether it was my fault or not I would know that somebody was hurt/killed behind my boat.

[obnoxious001]

I've often thought about trying to tow people behind my boat but it worries me too much that a skier might have a bad accident for some reason and whether it was my fault or not I would know that somebody was hurt/killed behind my boat.

This is not the type of race where skiers get killed. The top (read that the fastest) skiers will usually only go with drivers they know, or are referred to if they are coming from out of the country. Usually you might start off pulling someone who won't be going as fast as your boat will run, and if the skier has a good observer in the boat, communications will keep the driver at a speed the skier is comfortable with.

If you are really interested in running the race, you will want to connect up with a skier (or skiers depending on class) and do one or two practice runs in advance so you can learn what all goes on. I have been watching and later participating in the race since I was a kid. I have driven and observed for a number of skiers. It's an interesting experience, conditions vary so much from one trip to another. You may see various forms of marine life, have to deal with Catalina Express boat wakes,, sometimes huge ships, fishermen in the horseshoe kelp beds area, etc. Last year I had another race boat cut across my bow twice, when I was following a direct path to the turn boat, and then again after his skier fell he came past again on the way back from the island,, true rookie moves, but the observer(who I knew) in the boat should have known better, especially with me waving him off.

[hpboats83]

This is not the type of race where skiers get killed. The top (read that the fastest) skiers will usually only go with drivers they know, or are referred to if they are coming from out of the country. Usually you might start off pulling someone who won't be going as fast as your boat will run, and if the skier has a good observer in the boat, communications will keep the driver at a speed the skier is comfortable with.

If you are really interested in running the race, you will want to connect up with a skier (or skiers depending on class) and do one or two practice runs in advance so you can learn what all goes on. I have been watching and later participating in the race since I was a kid. I have driven and observed for a number of skiers. It's an interesting experience, conditions vary so much from one trip to another. You may see various forms of marine life, have to deal with Catalina Express boat wakes,, sometimes huge ships, fishermen in the horseshoe kelp beds area, etc. Last year I had another race boat cut across my bow twice, when I was following a direct path to the turn boat, and then again after his skier fell he came past again on the way back from the island,, true rookie moves, but the observer(who I knew) in the boat should have known better, especially with me waving him off.

Makes me just think of the accident that the Herbst boys had on lake Mead.

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[BadFish]

Still looking for a second skier to ski back from Catalina in the over and back class.
Thanks