What was the wind like? With a stiff tail wind, it's pretty tough to get the ski to engage. But you can safely bet on fatigue. Instead of staying balanced and driving through the turn, you fall back a to the corner.

Are you stiffening up and straightening your legs at the apex of the turn?

This exact question came up for Chet Raley the last time I was at his site, and his response was very interesting.  He said the most common reason we "wheelie" at the apex of the turn is because we sense that we have too much speed, and we abort our original turn "plan" while we try to slow the ski down.  The solution he suggests is to mentally overcome that gut feeling and stay in your original turn path until the boat picks you back up.

If you think about another common "wheelie" moment you might come to the conclusion that Chet could be right about this.  Everyone who has ever skied a slalom course has, at one time or another, pulled out a little too hard (or too long) for the gates, and has subsequently tried to "put on the brakes" by rocking back onto the extreme tail and plowing water to slow down.  In fact, if you've skied the course enough years this erroneous response may come almost like second nature - I know it does for me some days.

So Chet's recommended fix for this error [in the turn] is to stay focused on skiing through the finish of your turn without taking any drastic measures trying to slow down (read: wheelie).  If you can successfully do that, here's what may happen:

1) you might blow out the tail - this, however is not really following through your original turn, but instead is a variation of the "wheelie" response; or

2) you might ski smoothly back toward the wake, only to have the handle yanked out of your hands by a big slack hit; or

3) the boat might pick you back up smoothly around the spray line and you might get one of the best turns of your life...

A number of years ago WaterSki magazine ran a brief article about learning to counter in the turn by letting go of the handle (outbound, with speed) and counter-rotating HARD until you skied to a stop.  The only difference here is that you might have to let go of the handle if you encounter a mile of slack.  I personally think you should try to find out.

Remember, according to Raley your wheelie probably has nothing to do with fin tuning, and everything to do with what's going on between your ears. 

TW

This now makes a lot of sense.  Thanks guys. I was getting frustrated since it has happend both of the times I was out last (and twice in my last set alone)!  Good to know what to focus on.

There are some good responses to your question. I would also question your wing angle. Do a search for wing angle and see if you can get some information already posted. Search thewaterskiforum also. Seven degrees might be a little shy of what you need. Personally, I like to be at factory setting and work on me first, then ski settings second.

Oh, I did not know. I'm learning. One problem for me is I forget faster than I learn.

I told a guest skier yesterday that even though I don’t get as many buoys now, as I did in the past, I am so excited to have the freedom to ski.

I thank everyone that has fought for us to enjoy our freedom, especially the ones that fought and gave up theirs. It is truly hard to wrap my head around the blessings that are so easily overlooked in our day to day lives.

2GoFaster is right, 7 is the stock settings for 34 mph.  Just to report back...I've been skiing more than normal (for me) this week and have applied the recommendations provided on this thread.  TW's description of what is causing it was spot on.  I've noticed that when I come in real hot to a turn I can sometimes try to put on the brakes by putting pressure on the tail and abandoning my original turn plan.  However, being cognizant of that has kept me from making the mistake the last few sets.  Thanks again.