Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

[Technical Support]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

Sat sunny and 90, 8-10 MPH winds all morning and afternoon, isolated storms 7-9.


Sun same, little hotter.

[Technical Support]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

Tenative schedule for the radar runs:


Working around the main schedule, I can do radar runs around 6 on Sat and 3:30 Sun.

I will do them as long as my laptop batteries hold out (about 2 hours) and as long as people want to get radared.

You will get as many runs as you like, and if you have an email address I'll send you all your charts and data Monday. This is free, unlike some other events! :D

You can start anyway you like, although I suggest a normal water start - why use holders for an inflated number you'll never see racing your buddies! The easiest way to start is to clear out your carbs to get ready, come across the gun at idle then turn 90 deg. facing directly away and go! You will be wearing my radar cup on your back for best signal, and can go as far as a 1/4 mile to build your speed. NO RUNS back towards shore, NO runs where traffic is present - and just use your head!

Feel free to do multiple runs, tune your carbs, whatever. But if there is someone else waiting behind you, please pass the radar cup to them and get back in line. Runs only take a couple minutes each, so you will be able to get as many as you wish very quickly.

If you have some parts you want to test, or want to see what you really got for your money - do some swapping and test against the gun!

Free SBT T-shirts to the top-speed, best 0-50 and best 0-60 winners!

See you all in the morning!

[Technical Support]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

A big THANK YOU to TJ, Todd and everyone else for this weekend! My GF and I both agree it was best time we've had on our skis!

Sat's weather could have been a little kinder in the morning, but it was fine all afternoon! Sun had minor spotty rain - unfortunately deciding to rain on us while the radar was setup causing a hasty packup! We got a few people in. The conditions were far less than perfect for good runs - the best GPR was only 48.5 to give you a clue. But anyway, it was fun!

The scenery was absolutely gorgeous...calm water in back bays, mangrove trails you have to see for yourself...AWESOME 4-5' rollers 1/4 mile out from the pass - OMG perfect jumping, and it was endless!

The trails were not what I expected, mostly because they are hard to describe. Think of it this way - it ranged from a 50' wide river through mangroves, to a 6' path cut through, with just enough room for your ski and your head IF you duck! Now picture 65 people single file snaking through miles of it! Speeds go from 5mph with sharp 180 deg turns to sweepers you could do 60+ around. The snake would stop after a couple miles at larger 'pools' in the woods to catch everyone up. Simply an awesome ride! To anyone going next year - there are two tours - a 'fast' and a 'slow'. If you have a 4-stroke, either is great. If you have a thirsty large two stroke...fill up before the 'fast' - you'll need every drop! The 'slow' tour only gobbled 1/2 my GP1200 tank - and I think it was a much more interesting tour anyway - more tight places, more of a backwoods, less river.

Turnout was fantastic! I counted over 85 skis total on Sat, most of which joined us on the tours. Well over 100 people of all ages and some of the nicest people I've ever met! Tj, Todd, Todd, Tom, everyone else - very nice meeting and seeing you all again!

Big props to:

Sea & Shore Power Sport
18924 Sakera Rd, Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 863-2333

for brining the demo 3D! It was the first time I had ridden it - very interesting! I watched as 20 people rode it, raning from experienced stand-up riders to recreational cruisers/first time stand-up riders take a stab at it. Not only was it easy, but FUN! I rode cart mode and it was a really fun ride! In fact, the onle thing EVERYONE had in common was the huge grin plastered on thier face coming back, and most said - 'where do I pick one up?'

The rooms - what can I say - they are apartments, not rooms. Perfect - an absolute STEAL for the money! We are definitely going back for a weekend again. Great drinks, food, pool, beach for the skis, parking, everything, really...perfect!

Again, thanks to everyone, you did an amazing job and I hope there is a next year we can attend again!

[Technical Support]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

Here are some pics:

[Technical Support]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

more:

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Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

more

[TJS]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

First things first, I would like to thank all of you again who did attend our little ski fest, SwFSSF, and hope everyone did have as great a time as I did. Todd, thanks to you for leading the pack and keeping the traffic moving. You Da King!!! I didn’t have a whole lot of time to relax trying to socialize with everyone but I tried. I never got to eat lunch let alone inhale a bagel for breakfast.
It’s Monday night and I am still recovering from the remarkable weekend of skiing and socializing. The weather held out for us with just one major downpour that did not last very long. As Todd instructed, we just kept on going. Luckily there was no thunder or lightning with the heavy wind and rain.
Our group had about 55 rooms at the resort and there were quite a few people who stayed at other local places. Victor and his group from Tampa tried to find a room but with no luck. Luckily they were only a few hours away from home. Next year reserve early, you can always cancel without a penalty. Oh no, did I say next year???? Already! We will be shooting for all of the rooms at the resort. There are only 80 or so, I think we can doo-it! By then we will have more local experience guides so we will do smaller groups both days. We had a handful of locals join in, about 10 to 15. I didn’t want to publicize it locally so the Water police would be setting up and waiting for us on our runs.
Beth McGuire, of Titusville, FL, who just recently joined the “SPACE COAST JET RIDERS” club, was the winner of the three day two night vacation stay at Lovers Key Resort. Congratulations Beth!!! As I mentioned, let me know when you will be coming over, if our schedule permits, we will give you a personal tour of the area.

Friday morning’s 10 mile ride through the Gulf of Mexico up to Sanibel Island was just a little wavy but we made it without a hitch. As we were departing for the next leg of our excursion we noticed a storm with lightning bolts dancing way off in the distance. I guess we were just to fast for it since it never caught up with us. Good thing, I get a tad nervous looking for the right trail when there is thunder close by.
The general consensus of those polled was to forge on with our original course so off we went around the tip of Fort Myers Beach, Estero Island, and through a few canals to the top of Hurricane Bay where we ventured into “The Maze” of mangrove trails where it is really easy to get lost. We only hit two dead ends before choosing the right path to freedom. Todd was not with us that day.
After winding in and out of the trails and around some beautiful Islands we made it out into Estero Bay where we could soar with great speed through the open water while making our way back to the resort, Lovers Key. Well just as the building came into sight a little blue light was there a little ways in front of the pack to greet us. So he thought! Now remember in the beginning of the ride I did instruct all of those on the speed zones and proper channel speeds. I also did happen to mention that if a sheriff was encountered that you had to decide what to do. Well beings that I was the very last one in the pack and the furthest from the Blue light, I choose to act like I did not see it and curve off to the left at a great ach. Wouldn’t you know it; the whole group finally did watch what I was doing and they followed. Amazingly enough the non-pwc with the fancy blue beacon perched on top, did the same thing. That was nice of him/her to take up the rear and keep beacon on so I could see where the end of the line was. Well, when he started bucking the line and aiming for us in the front positions, I checked the screen on my GPS and steered the group through some Islands to safety. It looked like he was trying to zip around an island to cut us off. He was not to be seen for a while. Maybe he had gotten another call, or did the “extreme low tide/shallow monster” grab his prop and had its way with it!???
He did cruse by the resort a little while later looking quite a bit at all of the 70 some skis beached and anchored there. That was the last we saw of the water police until Sunday afternoon. No tickets were written and no one was hurt. Minor scrapes and small cuts were seen on a few. We call those mangrove badges though. If you get one you are in the club, feel special! Thanks to those who did have your first aid kits. I’m glad that they were not needed.
Speaking of tickets and going fast, thanks to Bryan Glen of SBT, (www.sbtontheweb.com) for bringing the radar gun to do a few speed runs for the group.
There were only a few skis (3-4) that were towed in, mine being one of them. My daughter was zooming along on our 2000 xp and the crank decided that it had enough. We will be doo-ing a burial at sea in the near future.
Griff, thanks again for the clamps, I did find them in my dry bag. Thanks to the people who hung in the back to make sure that we didn’t leave anyone behind. Lou, always dependable!
It’s 8:30 and I got to go to bed. I was really dragging at work today. Next year I will take off Monday also.

More babbling tomorrow!

Thank you, every one, TJ (heading for my hot tub and then bed!!!!!!)

[TJS]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

Pictures are up at "www.sun1.net", look for the links. About 300+ shots.

[porsch964]

Re: Southwest Florida Summer Ski Fest

TJ /Todd
Job well done Thank you for the hospitality

From the Odessa (Tampa group)
See you next year.