Great job with the constructive objective discussion folks

Ok..I know I said I wouldnt respond , but feel I must.  Qouting Wikipedia here.  (paraphrasing actually).  Patent first submitted Dec 1 1964. He sued them(ford) in 1978, Ford case went to trial in 1990.  there were two trials.Ford lost then agreed to settle for 10 million dollars. He then sued Chrysler (in 1992) and after spending 10 million in legal fees was awarded 30 million in 1995.  Hmmm maybe I cant add but 1995-1964 =  31 yrs actually,from time of patent filing to time of final settlement.  Now if you are talking time of suit til settlement 1995-1978=17yrs.  So depends what we are talking about.  I was talking about from time of inventions patent, I guess you were talking from time of suit (sort of).  As for the age thing.. I was being facetious.

As for your banning , it is not because I disagree with you.  Rather it is because I think your interaction with most people on here is confrontational and really has no bearing to the general world of waterskiing.  As for your supposed caring for the safety of skiers, I dont see that.  I just see someone trying to take credit for others accomplishments.  If I am wrong then file your suits and prove it.  But I really dont think many want to hear about it.  I read most posts to get info on technique and new equipment in slalom skiing that is available to try.  The only reason I responded to your post was that I have met Dave Goode and found him to be a genuine guy who seemed truly interested in furthering waterskiing as a sport.  Sure he makes a living at it , but he also seemed to genuinely care about the sport, and certainly enjoys it.  He is also a very accomplished slalom skier, currently ranked 5th in the nation for Men 5.   He has certainly been involved in many new developments besides the bubble bouy that have furthered the sport (not the least of which is his constant attempts to make skis better, glow in the dark bouys, and the powervest, and now the bubble bouy).  As for TW, name one thing you have actually introduced into the sport?  Not patented, but actually introduced?  I am sorry but prior to this post I never heard of you.  Do you even ski?  Cant find you listed on the AWSA website?  Are you a member of AWSA?  Not trying to be confrontational here, but feel if you are gonna make the statements you are making, you need to show your qualifications to make such statements.  But truly dont really think your "pending lawsuits" are what the forums are designed to address.  Just my thoughts. 

I guess i did have alot more to say?  LOL.

Uhhmmm" oh ya a safer bouy for us very few water skiers to stay safer with while enjoying what we love to do. Just my two cents.

Step 5.1.1.3: Deep breath in deep breath out. Repeat step 5.1.1.3 until you are feeling some sort of chill (relax) factor.
MC

First of all I said what contributions have you actually made?  Have you actually produced and sold your "handle" system or is it just like the bouy system.  Just because you think hmmmm that would be cool if.... but never do aything about making it happen doesnt give you the right to claim it as your own.  Like I said , if you are correct , then prove it.  Give us the patent numbers for the systems.  File your suits.  If you are telling the truth I will be the first to apologize.  But again, I dont think the forum is for this type of discussion. 

As for what I have ACTUALLY done for the sport.  Well lets see....I belong to the AWSA and pay dues each yr that go to further activities related to waterskiing disciplines of all types.  I am a tournament skier so my participation alone goes to further the sport.  You cant have a sport without athletes.  Also a portion of that money for my entry fee goes to the AWSA which again goes to promoting the sport of watrerskiing. I am rated as a driver, and as a safety
by the AWSA.  So i am able to help out with our clubs tournaments , of which we have 4-5 each summer.  (Keep in mind our "club" has only 7 members right now...so pretty good participation for a very small club).

So while I may not have invented any new Ski systems or devices (then waited for someone else to produce and market them), I feel I have done my little part for the SPORT of waterskiing.  But then again, I have not made any claims that I have done all that much for the sport. So I am not sure why I need to defend my "contributions" to the sport. 

I am still wondering if TW really even skis?

ok Shane.  You are right. Point taken and thanks for reminding me what this is supposed to be about.  No more arguments from me. 

david38off wrote:

First of all I said what contributions have you actually made?  Have you actually produced and sold your "handle" system or is it just like the buoy system.  [...]

If you are telling the truth I will be the first to apologize.

Let me be the first to apologize, "david38off", I thought I'd been more clear than that.

So yes, since May 2008 I've actually produced and sold HUNDREDS of our patent-pending ARM-GUARD™ system - which is currently being used by skiers throughout the US, and in many foreign countries.  Before I released the ARM-GUARD™ system there was no commercially available handle safety system anywhere in existence, and now there is a second legitimate manufacturer (US GEAR) and an unauthorized knock-off on the market -  so it's reasonable to say that I single-handedly developed that aspect of the sport.

Also, beginning in the early 2000's I developed and began promoting the concept of partially filling the skier buoys with water - for which I suffered personal attacks from anonymous posters (like you) for several years.  Now, after some intelligent forum members decided to actually try the concept, it's being used at MANY ski sites and has undoubtedly saved many ankles.  Again, prior to my contribution [water "filled" buoys] the only thing being done about skier/buoy impact injuries was a lot of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

I also created and published an easy, cheap modification to a garden sprayer for adding the water to skier buoys.  Along the way I put in a good deal of time developing an actual "safety buoy", which is currently patent-pending.

Unfortunately, while I am "in a ski club" (like you), there are no organized tournaments in my state.  So I'm not really able to make the major contribution that you do by competing in tournaments - since the nearest tournament is a $650 plane ticket away (or a five-day drive).  But I still try to do my part for the sport...

TW

Last edited by Thomas Wayne (Fri, May 28, 2010 3:10 PM)

are we done yet?

Last edited by StevenHaines (Fri, May 28, 2010 4:01 PM)

next segment of MarcusBrown.TV?