WATERSKI Magazine
2002-12-13 15:00:00 | 29 views | 0 Comments

SLALOM SKIING ROYALTY

A spotlight glance at three ultimate slalom skiers and their
boats.

 

           Wow,
they make 39.5 off look easy, don’t they? At least
that’s what the photos and videos let us pretend. While we
know that Chris Parrish, Wade Cox and Andy Mapple have worked
technically their entire lifetimes to become champions, the good
news is that they have helped develop better equipment along the
way for the rest of us who dream of carving turns like they do. Of
course, we usually associate “better equipment” with
water skis themselves. But according to these three, it’s not
just about the skis. Frankly, they think true shortline slalom
success would be impossible without their boats. Luckily for us,
Parrish, Coxy and Mapple made it a priority to spend the day with
WaterSki showing off their boats and revealing a few secrets about
how their boats enhance their skiing.

               

CHRIS PARRISH ON THE MALIBU RESPONSE LX

Specs

Length: 20’ 0”

Beam: 90”

Seating Capacity: 8

Fuel Capacity: 90 gal.

 

WaterSki: What accessories do you have to style out your
Malibu Response LX?

Parrish: First, I always order the flight-control tower
so I can have Malibu’s wakeboard team rider Gerry Nunn over
for some friendly rivalry. The wedge is a must so I can invite my
buddies over and do something different for a change. My
13-year-old sister, Anna, and all her friends love to wakeboard as
well. A day on the lake just isn’t complete without
Malibu’s kicking stereo system blaring my favorite country
and alternative tunes. I never order a boat without a Bimini top,
either. And finally, I like the open bow so I have extra room for
my friends to ride up front, or so I can quickly throw my boat
cover up there when I’m in a mad dash to grab a quick
set.

 

 What two features on your boat have specifically
improved your skiing and how?

There is no delay in Malibu’s steering, which allows a
driver at any ability level to respond right away. When I’m
skiing well, I can load up the boat so much sooner out of the
turns. If my driver can respond instantaneously to my pull, it
ensures that he or she will be in the right spot at the right time
when I get over to the next buoy. I hate it when I can pull a boat
all around and the driver ends up correcting too late. The end
result for me is a really slack line or one that’s super
tight because the boat’s too far away from me. With my
Malibu, this just doesn’t happen.

The hull has soft, smooth wakes, but what makes them really
great is the fact that there is no dip off the second side. Without
having to be jolted or moved around on my ski, I can keep my
direction out and away off the second wake longer. For my skiing, a
good release out and away from the buoy can mean the difference
between running or missing the pass.

 

What single feature, not pertaining to your skiing, impresses
you the most?

Because we ride in boats all day long, I personally appreciate
how quiet the Malibu is. Without noise and vibration in the boat, I
don’t get headaches, I can chat with my friends without
busting a vocal cord and my Hank Junior CD plays crystal-clear.

 

WADE COX ON THE MASTERCRAFT PROSTAR 190 PRO TOURNAMENT TEAM
EDITION.

Specs

Length: 19’ 8”

Beam: 91”

Seating Capacity: 10

Fuel Capacity: 28 gal.

 

WaterSki: What accessories do you have to style out your
MasterCraft ProStar 190 Tournament Team Edition?

Cox: I have to have a tower now. In fact, I had the first
production micro-tower on my 2001, which proved to be the most
impressive item I’ve ever had on a boat. Everyone who came to
ski or ride with me loved it. The tower is actually a great feature
when it comes to teaching skiers who have trouble making deep water
starts or when your barefoot or wakeboard buddies stop by. My
Bimini is attached to the tower, which allows it to be far sturdier
due to the 2-inch aluminum MasterCraft uses. Even at 36 mph and a
lot of wind, the Bimini never flaps around, which definitely cuts
down on noise when you are riding in the boat.

 

What two features on your boat have specifically improved
your skiing and how?

I’d have to say drivability first. With high-tech throttle
and steering cables and a tunable rudder, this boat is the best I
have ever driven. Now, I feel more comfortable than ever with
anyone jumping into the driver’s seat and giving me a tow.
It’s not just set up this way for me, either. Every
MasterCraft that will pull in a tournament this year will be the
exact same boat from the exact same mold. Essentially, the boat we
have engineered for the Pro Tour will be at all local tournaments
as well.

           Everyone
always talks about spray and wake. No one discusses the table [from
spray to spray]. I think this is really important. The MasterCraft
table is really smooth with little turbulence or bumpiness. I want
the transition into the green water [outside table] to be really
smooth, too. I like to stand in a specific  spot to pull out
for the gates. If I have to move around to find smooth water, the
table isn’t good enough.

 

What single feature, not pertaining to your skiing, impresses
you the most about your boat?

The sweet lines of the boat. I never get sick of checking out my
MasterCraft. It’s blowin’ up! I know this isn’t
exactly a feature, but this is the coolest-looking ski boat
ever.

 

ANDY MAPPLE ON THE CORRECT CRAFT SKI NAUTIQUE.

 Specs

Length: 19’ 6”

Beam: 91”

Seating Capacity: 8

Fuel Capacity: 35 gal.

 

WaterSki: What accessories do you have to style out your Ski
Nautique?

Mapple: I have the Perfect Pass Digital Pro that is used
in all tournaments. My system is set up for slalom, trick, jump and
wakeboard, so it does it all. I also have to have a heater because
I hate being cold. Most people think this is ironic knowing that I
live in Florida but come from England. However, I’ll still
stress that it is a definite must for me.

 

What two features on your boat have specifically improved
your skiing and how?

Correct Craft’s new TSC squared hull has eliminated the
rooster tail. With no rooster tail and no trough, I can actually
keep my ski in contact with the water through the wakes now. We all
know that the boat is stronger than we are. However, if I can keep
as much of my ski in the water as possible when crossing the wakes,
I’ll be much stronger and ski more powerfully behind the
boat.

Ski Nautique’s tracking offers the ultimate in
consistency. Because I know the boat is not wavering through the
course, the driver won’t be getting off that centerline. When
the driver and boat path are consistent every day, I become a more
consistent skier every day.

 

What single feature, not pertaining to your skiing, impresses
you the most?

I like the interior room and space. The Ski Nautique is
comfortable to sit in, even when I’ve got lots of friends out
with me. I never worry about tripping over everyone’s skis
and equipment because there is loads of storage space to keep all
the stuff out of the way. I can actually get up in the boat and
give a few pointers and move around freely.