Retirement

[chrisheile]

For those of you who don't know me, I'm the one who started all of this with the facebook group.   Sorry I haven't been around much.  I was injured about this time last year.   Anyway, I'm about 80% convinced that I'm going to retire from waterskiing so it is very likely that there will be a 2002 American Skier Pro with about 140 hours for sale in PA.  Please keep this in mind as you are talking to people.  I will let you all know for sure in the very near future.   

I love nothing more than ripping through the course but right now I'm doing pretty well and want to keep it that way. 

[Joel]

Damn!  I only know you on here & FB but am still VERY saddened to hear this news       Having back issues is no laughing matter (I have issues myself) and ya gotta do what ya gotta do...  I had to give up golf entirely     If you decide to hang up the skis I hope you remain a member here, visit often and you have an open invitation to join us on KY Lake.  We actually do quite a bit of socializing, BSing, tech-talk, eating good food & drinking cold beer (off the water of course) and generally just having a great time   

Let us know what you finally decide to do - I'll keep my eyes open for anyone looking for a top quality ski boat - it is a gorgeous boat!   

Joel

[RonT]

Chris I can relate, did the lower back surgery in '79, recovered, went back to skiing (including the occasional barefoot run) until I broke it again in a boating accident in '99. Doctors told me then that with the lower back damage I have & the disc degeneration I have  if I  go back to skiing and boat driving  they would give me 5-10 years before they would need to fuse 4-5 vertebrae together.  I opted to hang up the skiis and driving to extend the time I have with the mobility I still have. Its been 13 years since and I can still walk without pain and socialize with friends, raised my boys & hide my limitations from most. My passion is still alive with boat design and repair, I just do it a little slower. Take care of yourself & your family first, the boating will in time will find it's way back into your life in one way or another!

[kjerchinger]

chris,
 I dont know you, but a a ski enthusiest, I would consider this very sad news.
have you ever heard of teh Goode Power Vest ? I am not one that is long on words with my fingers, so I just recomend you google this vest.
it is designed to relieve the unbelievable strain that can be put on the lower back from short line Slalom.
if I remember, they are quite costly, maybe you culd find a location to demo one to see if it would be helpful.
  go on give it a try ! B4 you are 100% sure !

  Keith

[chrisheile]

Thanks Keith.   I was pretty sore today and was coming back to the site to list my boat.   

[Midskier]

wow, this sucks, Chris very sorry to hear the news, keep your head high, on the bright side there are several out there that could use your coaching
endurance footing has done it's toll on me but so far by each spring I've been able to recover enough to plow through another season.

send me your boat info and I'll post it on MidwestAmericanSkier.com

Dan T

[chrisheile]

Thanks Dan.  I sent you a message.  You're right.  I spent a lot of time last year facing backwards and watching my one of my best friends ski.   We made a lot of progress.  I think he'll make his first successful pass through the course sometime this year.

[phil]

And you might want to put it in the "For Sale" section here on the site. By that I mean the gallery. Just upload your pics of your boat into the gallery and be sure to place them in the "for sale" gallery. You can also add descriptions etc..