PlanetWaterSki: Top level jumping this year has hit the roof with 220+ needed for most finals. How does this affect your body??? Specifically with your ankle Scot??? Scot: It takes its toll on your body,,,,,if you go to the dock after each round you will see jumpers with ice bags, Avil, their own doctors... The only thing that has helped me stay in the game is the Gym. Working out has protected my body from a lot of injuries. My ankle is fine. As long as I have duct tape. My ankle has gotten as good as it will get. People always ask if I have a bad ankle. Well, if paralysis falls under "a bad ankle" then I guess I have one. If I didn't have the tape I couldn't even get my foot in the binder! PlanetWaterSki: Ski flying took off big when it started, but we don't see many events now. How do you see it progressing??? Scot: Ski flying in bad sites killed us!!! On the good side. Ski fly has help traditional jump more than ever. Since ski fly not only has the record has gone up but the level of jumps have been incredible. How has ski fly helped? 1. Better boats 2. Longer ramp. Final proved a lower incline of the ramp is better. 3. Ropes 4. Feeling of longer jumps. Even though we haven't gone 240' in traditional jump I know what it feels like. We are getting closer and closer 5. Changed our technique on riding are skis 6. Increased the 2nd segment to help the boat times and jump fly further The Masters will still have skifly and when we go 300' maybe that will be the shot in the arm to get it back on track. In the beginning ski fly was a little extreme. We were only going 240 250...Now it has gotten to extreme for the best of us...300+ Now that is a bit to crazy PlanetWaterSki: These days we are see new thinner jump ropes and narrow handles. What is the benefit in this???? Scot: AERODYNAMICS!!!!! Also brought on by skifly PlanetWaterSki: I heard that you have done a bit of snow ski jumping, is that true ??? Jump positions in the air have obviously developed from their style. Scot: Jump positions in snow ski came from water ski. Early 80's waterskiers "V" their skis snow skiers did not Yes, I did do some snow ski jumps. LOVED IT I thought it was very easy. You can take a water skier and get him to go 100' on snow in a day. A snow skier to water and go 100' in a day........For get about it!! PlanetWaterSki: How do you stay motivated???? Scot: By getting my butt whipped at tournaments. Like every jumper on the dock. Not one of us wants to lose!!! I don't care how far i go some how i am going to find a way to go further. That's how skifly came about. I know there is a way to go further....I just have to find it Pretty soon we will go 240' off 6' ramp. The next thing is 250' PlanetWaterSki: How did it feel jumping over 200 feet in the dark at the Honda Jump Event??? I rode in the boat with Vince before and you can't see anything up the top end!!! Scot: Night jump is great. You can't see too much. The ramp is light but the water is black. This is where practice comes in. You don't jump 200 feet you have to feel your way to 200 If you don't trust your body and what it is doing.....then stay on the dock