Bob was the greatest at the time, but he was skiing behind 240 horsepower boats with manual throttle. Nate skis behind 355 HP boats with Zero-Off cruise control and much better tracking. The boat does not give AT ALL. In those days I was a 32 - 35 off skier at the same speed and even I could "muscle" the boat around. Bob was about my size but infinitely stronger and more talented on the ski and could slow the boat down with his pull. That DOES NOT happen with modern boats. If you try to muscle the boat through the wake or hammer it at the finish of the turn, it will respond and sling you to the moon. I still have a 1989 Mastercraft ProStar 190 that I keep for fun. A few years ago I was forced to use it for slalom practice for about six weeks. When I went back to a modern boat with Zero-Off, it took me two sets to run my opening pass. Enormous difference. I'm sure Bob and the others could have adjusted to it eventually, but bouy count would have dropped.
Everybody has this huge cut to get around the buoy and then their is a gap between the rope being tight and keeping it on edge across the wake. Nate is the only one who comes around the buoy with the rope tight and on edge. That's why he's the best!
Not the ski…he could probably run 38 (11.25m) riding a 2x4. He is an incredibly talented skier, but modern skis have helped the “good” skiers get even better.
