GOODE SKI TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER

Covington, LA - Last month marked the end of the tournament season for many skiers. Dave and Dawn Goode traveled to Ski Ranch, located in Covington, LA, to compete and watch some of the World's best skiers. Top weekend scores include GOODE Team members, Chris Parrish (GOODE 9900SL), running ½ buoy at 43' off/ 9.75m behind the new Correct Craft Ski Nautique 200, just 1 buoy from his World Record of 1-1/2 buoys at 43' off/9.75m; Thomas Degasperi (GOODE 9900SL-MID) and Nick Parsons (GOODE 9900SL-MID) running 3 buoys @ 41' off/10.25m in several rounds; Co-World Record

Holder, Regina Jaquess (GOODE 9900SL), running ½ buoy at 41'off/10.25m, just ½ buoy off of her World Record of 1 buoy @ 41'off/10.25m; Co-World Record Holder, Karina Nowlan (GOODE 9900SL) running 5 buoys @ 39-1/2' off/10.75m; Chad Scott (GOODE 9900SL-MID) running 1 buoy @ 41'off/10.25m and Steve Raphael (GOODE 9900SL-WIDE RIDE) tying the Men's 6 National Record of 2 buoys @ 39-1/2' off/10.75m.

Skiers circled around Dave Goode after he received an ankle fracture in the first round of Sunday's event.

"It was 41 degrees Fahrenheit at 7:30 am when the tournament started.", said Dave Goode. "I skied about 9:00 am and it was still very cold. I was wearing a wool hat while skiing to help keep from getting an 'ice-cream headache'. I did not get a good start at 38' off and came into 2 buoy narrow and ran right over it. The buoy sent my ski airborne for a few feet and then the ski bit as it hit the water in a series - 3 times; almost like skipping. My Single Boot RTP PowerShell binding did not release as all of the forces were a downward force (like jumping off of a second story balcony). There is not currently a boot system designed that will allow you to release through the bottom of the ski.", Goode continues.

"In 1975, my left ankle became partially fused after 3 surgeries to try to repair it from a snow skiing incident. Since then, I have broken it twice and sprained it once in rubber boots by hitting buoys water skiing. Enough is enough!", Goode continues.

"I find it ironic, that with the development of the GOODE PowerBuoys, we had already identified the dangers of hitting a traditional air-inflated buoy and have developed several prototypes of safer buoys. I personally know many skiers who have broken their ankles in a similar fashion. On GOODE Ski Lake, I keep the buoys very low in the water for practice to help prevent such an accident. However, for tournaments, the buoys must meet AWSA specs, so up they go.", Goode continues.

"I told Dawn, 'At age 54, I am too old to have this happen, again. I am committed to find or develop a safer buoy and I will NEVER ski around another traditional air-inflated buoy again, in my life.'", Goode said.
"I just finished the best tournament season of my life with an unfortunate ending. I'll have several months of rehab and then, hopefully, my life-long "glass" ankle will give me a few more years of water ski enjoyment.", concludes Goode.

Dave Goode is encouraging anyone with ideas on how to make a safer water ski buoy to contact him directly at dave@goode.com.

You are also encouraged to complete the following on-line survey of your experiences with water ski related injuries and, more specifically, water ski buoy related injuries. Click HERE to take the survey.