Originally posted by Apet-Sure Great image! Thanks for posting. I would imagine it's quite challenging to get a boat to go exactly 44.5mph.
Thank you!
In previous years they had other means to ensure as close to perfect speeds as possible. Today they have GPS throttle/RPM/speed controls that are good down to 1/10th of 1mph. 44.5mph is not the set speed, but rather the max you can elect to jump at. If you opt to go 42mph that's fine.
A long time ago they had several ways to measure speed and boat track. I am not sure if these are still in use today or not, but there is some form or another of tech that is used. One of which was having lasers at various points perpendicular to the boat path. As each laser was broken by the boat it would register start/stop times. Also they would have a small plate mounted on the boat and would have essentially laser survey equipment looking straight at the nose of the boat at that plate and that would tell if the boat deviated from it's course by six inches or more.
Keep in mind that kind of precision is not required in most aspects of skiing. In traditional slalom skiing (with skis) if there is a world record broken (must be in a sanctioned tournament) if the boat deviates in path or speed (more than the rules allow) the record will be denied. With barefooting you obviously want the boat to go straight but it's not that critical if it deviates to the right or left a little bit.
If the skier in a tournament feels like something isn't right they can check on things to verify and give a re-ride if needed. If there is some kind of conditions that impede the skier they can opt for a re-ride which the tournament judges have to decide yes or no.
With all forms of waterskiing having a good driver is paramount. Back in the heyday of waterskiing a lot of the pro tour boat drivers would get paid a couple hundred thousand bucks per year to drive at professional events. That's not happening these days (pay wise) but there is a massive technological advantage now.
Skiers can opt for whatever kind of pull profile they want and once underway a GPS control systems take over and accounts for all sorts of variables to get things as close to perfect as possible. It's kind of like cruise control on your car only a little (or a lot) more precise and a lot more versatile.
Keep in mind, reiterating, different types of skiing have different requirements. If the boat is a foot to the right or left in barefooting it doesn't matter. In traditional slalom (with skis) it matters a whole lot.
To the average skier on up to very advanced skiers those new systems deliver rides that are definitely good enough.