Interview With World Champion Thomas Degasperi

On Tuesday afternoon I had the pleasure to interview two time world champion Thomas Degasperi. The following is a recording of our conversation.

Bryce Eaton: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as a pro water skier?

Thomas Degasperi: Uhh. Probably winning my first world title and the second one.

BE: What was the hardest thing you had to overcome to be at the level you are at today?

TD: Probably competing against everybody else.

BE: How'd you get to the level you are at today?

TD: Being dedicated and a lot of work.

BE: What was the thing that motivated you the most?

TD: Passion for the sport. Traveling. Being competitive. Everything I do I do it right.

BE: At what point in competition are you the most nervous?

TD: Before the tournament.

BE: Who was your hero growing up?

TD: My dad.

BE: When your not skiing how do you train?

TD: I do weights, I do cardio I do crossfit a little bit.

BE: Obviously where I live I can't ski year round. What's some things skiers who want to improve can do in winter?

TD: Well when I lived in Italy I couldn't ski year round because it was cold. So I played volleyball. I played soccer. So do whatever you like. Stay active.

BE: As far as actually skiing goes what's the best thing to practice to improve?

TD: Never settle. Win every title I can win. Work harder and harder.

BE: If you did not become a professional water skier what did you want to become?

TD: CIA Agent or FBI something like that.

BE: What's your favorite boat you've ever skied behind?

TD: Malibu Txi.

Be: What's your favorite ski you've ever used?

TD: Goode.

BE: Any final advice?

TD: Do whatever you do and if you like what you do your doing it the happy way. I always work hard. I always do what I love, which is water skiing. So whatever you do, do it with your heart and be happy.

Wanna learn more about Thomas Degasperi?? Check out the following links.
http://www.malibuboats.com/pro-team/skiers/thomas-degasperi.html
http://thomasdegasperi.com/
Or follow him on Instagram
@thomasdegasperi
instagram.com/thomasdegasperi

Thomas Degasperi and Me April 2014

T-Gas In Action April 2014

A Complete Skier's Travel Log of Me

1) Lake Cumberland (Jamestown, Kentucky)

This has been my spot to ski and tube since I was a few weeks old. This is the worlds largest man-made lake with thousands of miles of forest covered shoreline. This lake is also known as the "Houseboat Capital of the World," due to the countless yachts scattered across the lake.

The downside of all of this is that it gets crowded during the day.  If you want to ski on smooth water here, you must be on the water by about 8:30 am (sounds crazy to get up that early in vacation, I know). Getting up this early allows you to get water that I compare to glass. The only other people that are on the lake this early are bass fishers, who stay on the shore. The other option, if you don't like to get up early, is at about 6 pm til sunset. At this point in the day, most people have pulled in to a dock to eat some dinner and call it a day. However, not everyone does this, so you will still get some boat traffic, unlike in the morning where there is none.

Now, as far as where to ski on the lake, you have many options. The place I ski is around State Dock Island and down Greasy Creek. If you aren't anywhere near these areas, my best advice is to explore some of the longer coves and find an area you like.

Lake Cumberland September 2013

2) Lake Mirage (New Haven, Indiana)

I've skied at this lake once a year for the past two years (with INT League since this is a private lake). Located right off of interstate 465 and made as a strip pit, this little lake is great for skiers. This lake is equipped with one recreation dock, one tournament dock, and a turn around island on one end. Waves on this lake dissipate almost instantly due to, the size of it.The lake is a little bit wide, but this is okay because it works out better for wake boarders.

Lake Mirage August 2014

Lake Mirage August 2014

3) Lake Sharp- Thomas Degasperi Ski School (Orlando, Florida)

Lake Sharp has been one of my favorite places I've skied for many reasons. One reason was the lake it's self. Finding the lake was difficult at first, because the entrance is hidden behind brand new condos, but once you find the lake it's like your deep in the Everglades all alone. The bank is covered in cat tails and trees. Waves are nonexistent on this lake, even though it's very wide with a course and jump ramp with room to spare. The next reason I loved this lake was the boat. When I was there in March it was a 2014 Response Txi (one of my favorite boats I've skied behind). The horsepower of this boat was unlike any other, pulling you out of the water in seconds. But wait there's more, every year there will be a new Txi due to Thomas Degasperi's sponsorship with Malibu Boats. The final reason this is an outstanding lake is Coach T-Gas. In just two hours of working with him he completely changed my skiing, not to mention the overall friendliness and hospitality. Thomas Degasperi is a two time world champion who has had a winning reputation since the age of eight. Just watch out for the occasional alligator or snake!

2014 Response Txi

T-Gas Ski School

Me At T-Gas Ski School

4) Pleasant Shores (Van Wert, Ohio)

Pleasant Shores is summed up as the slalom skiers paradise. Fully setup for tournaments with judges towers and a PA system along the shoreline of the lake. The lake is very shallow and lined with rocks, so once again waves are not present here. Also, on both ends there is turn around islands. For my taste being an amateur tournament skier these islands are very tight and very difficult. On one of my first times going around these islands I ended up in the rocks at the base of the island because I lost control of the ski coming around the corner right after the takeoff. Oh and did I mention the two story water slide on the lake?

Pleasant Shores July 2014

5) Sunsite Lake (Dayton, Ohio)

I only skied on this lake once last year, but the thing that stands out to me was the cleanliness of this lake. The color of this water is bluer than most parts of the ocean. This lake is located right across the highway from the University of Dayton. This lake is a wide for ideal water skiing and leaves some waves behind. However, it's still better than public lakes and functions well for tournaments.

Sunsite Lake July 2013

6) Morse Lake (Noblesville, Indiana)

I live near Morse and have only skied on it once. The one time I did I had a terrible time trying to find smooth water. It was a Monday morning and no one was on the lake but still could find nothing. Your best bet is just to find some straight shoreline and just work your way around the lake. Also this is the dirtiest water I've skied in. The visibility might be a few inches but it's still water, and sometimes you gotta make do with what you have.

2014 HO Attack Review

As I previously wrote, I recently purchased a 2014 HO CX, and the boots I chose to pair it with was a pair of double high wrap 2014 HO Attacks. Overall I've been very happy with the boots.

The first thing you will notice when you put these boots on is the comfort. If I was able, I would unscrew these boots from the ski and wear them to school everyday. The base of the boot is constructed to cushion under your foot, similar to how memory foam works. As far as the sides of the boots go they are very smooth textured, so it doesn't stick to your skin.

Next up is the functionality of these boots. The ease of putting on and taking off these boots is incredible. To put the boots on just loosen them, pull the tongue forward and slip your foot in. Next tighten the two sets of laces. One around the base of your foot and the next around your ankle (which provides great support). Then finally snap the lace on the button to the back of the boot, this keeps the lacing away while from your toes while you're skiing. To remove your foot the only thing you need to do is unbutton the laces from the back and then slip your foot out.

Finally I have one complaint about these boots, and it's more of a personal thing than a mistake in the boot design. I laced the boots up in the water no problem and they felt tight. Then once I started skiing my feet felt loose in the boots. Now this problem can be one of two things. The first thing it could be is, I bought the boots a little bigger so they would last longer. The other thing that could cause this is that resting in the boots and skiing in these boots creates different feelings, so if you lace the boots while resting they will feel different skiing. Overall though these boots are great, and if you are in the market for some new boots definitely consider the HO Attacks.

Button Snaps For The Laces

Front and Back Boots

Front Boot

Front Boot

2014 HO CX Review

August 12th, 2014

I walk into the local skiing shop, Skiers Edge, looking for anything to catch my eye. Maybe a ski, maybe a wakeboard, or maybe even a new jacket. I was drawn to the slalom ski section, looking for a ski of my own so my dad and I won't have to share his O'Brien Siege any longer. The first one I tried on was the 2014 HO CX with an Attack boot and rear toe plate. Fit like a glove and one month later I returned to purchase my own.

The first thing you will notice about the CX is the color scheme. The black, neon, and royal blue matches the ski's character perfectly and looks amazing while doing it.

Upon further examination I noticed the "crossover ski" sticker. I was a bit skeptical  at first about how a ski could perform like a syndicate and a free-ride, but after purchasing this ski and skiing on it for a month, I'm here to tell you HO has perfected the crossover ski. This ski isn't for Will Asher or Marcus Brown, but somehow for both.

First off, for the Will Asher type of guy, I haven't run this ski through the course yet, but I can already tell it will excel. Coming from skiing on an old Siege (don't get me wrong, it's a great ski) I was blown away by the speed and smoothness of the CX It's very easy to roll and put on it's edge, but be warned, once you do there is no going back. You are slingshotted back to the wake. This is due to the speed skin bottom, all new in 2014. Let me tell you, it does work. The speed skin is basically a cross-stitched pattern of carbon fiber on the bottom of the CX, which is super slippery. Utilizing this speed skin technology, you will reach new rope lengths to your ski game.

Now that the Will Asher type of skier is covered, onto Marcus Brown. You might be thinking, okay Bryce, that's great, I can run new personal bests on it, but how do I go out and freeski with some buddies on a Saturday morning. The CX accomplishes this, by utilizing the shape of a Free Ride behind the back boot, giving you the stability you need to tackle any lake. For example, Lake Cumberland (where I ski) is becoming more and more crowded, forcing skiers deeper and deeper into back coves. Eventually even the back coves are swarming with jet skis, like gnats. Unfortuanatley this causes the water to be all churned up and rough to ski. This is where the idea of a Free Ride comes in, or in this case the CX crossover. You might think because it performs like a Syndicate this little chop is going to prevent you from really digging in. The opposite is true. Flat or smooth this ski handles it all. Not only does it handle the chop, it handles the wake much better. Let's be honest, not all of us can afford $60,000 Ski Natiques, Pro-Stars, and Responses, but that doesn't mean you can't ski. I ski behind a 2002 Chaparral, which you might know this boat isn't the ideal choice for water skiers, but from the first cut and coming across the wake I noticed something. The pressure on my knees was significantly reduced and the feeling of crossing a wake was significantly reduced. Overall I was able to ski a lot longer and harder due to easier turning and less pressure on my knees.

Think the CX is the choice for you? I know I definitely recommend it to anyone. The one disclaimer is this is a higher leveled ski. If you are just learning the sport do not go out and buy this ski. I have discovered the takeoffs to be a bit more difficult than the Siege (or other skis) and the CX has a very loose feeling on the water. Now for higher leveled skiers this is great, but for beginners this is not a good feeling to start with. However if you are starting to run tournaments, free ski still, and have a good grasp of the sport this is the ski for you.

The CX In Its Case

The CX

Another View of the CX

Close Up Showing Speed Skin

Bottom of the CX

Close Up of Label and Sticker

Another View of the CX

The CX In Its Case

The CX

Another View of The CX In Its Case