The 2012 Modified Nationals were held at the Greensport Marina in Rainbow City, Alabama on August 10 and 11.  This was a race I had been looking forward to for over two years since the last time we raced there in 2010.  The lake is gorgeous, and the pits area and launching bank are outstanding.  Just perfect for outboard racing!  An added bonus for me is that the race site is little more than a 3.5 hour drive, a “backyard race” comparatively speaking.  I had also committed to my friend Jeff Carter to come early and offer whatever help he needed to get things setup.

Unfortunately for me, the race was a “bust” this year.  The bust came the Sunday afternoon before race week when I was in the slalom course at my home lake.  If you are familiar with tournament ski boats, you know they are basically an aquatic tractor, designed for one purpose: to provide a steady consistent pull through the course.  When driven by an experienced driver, the track and speed of the boat never vary, even when the skiier is in a full hard cut from buoy to buoy.  Well, there I was running a good pass at 32 off.  I has just rounded buoy 4 and starting to cut for number 5, when just a small amount slack line went instantly tight as my ski speed slowed to match the boat speed.  In that split instant, I got yanked forward and it felt like my lower back and left leg had been hit by a bolt of lightning.  Needless to say, that ended my skiing for the day.  What I didn’t realize until Monday morning was that it also ended several other planned activities, one of them being the trip to Rainbow City.  Even though the truck and trailer were pretty much already loaded and ready to go, I have unable to sit for longer than about 20 minutes at a time before my hip and leg go into a major cramp.  There was no way of making the drive to the race site in our tow vehicle.

The disappointment of not being there and seeing my racing friends is beginning to ease a little now.  Sorry I couldn’t make it, Jeff.  Based on the Hydroracer reports and photos from the local paper, it looked like you a great race!

Other than bad skiing technique, I’m not sure why the injury occurred and my plans got changed.  I only know that I continue to trust in the Lord in all things to work them out according to his higher purpose.

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

See you in 2013, Jeff!