Ski Suggestions

[mparker2997]

Recreational skiers behind 2012 LSV. Would like something a little more aggressive (fun) in the turns and cuts through the wake a little better. I think the ski I have is more for beginners wanting to ride at slower speeds.

Currently sking on a HO Burner. It is easy to get up, easy to ride but it doesn't seem to turn smoothly. I have convinced myself that I do not like the V bottom.

BTW....I don't anticipate doing anything but continuing to ski on rec level.

180 lbs
5' 9"

Would appreciate any suggestions on good ski. Also, is there any online options to try them out prior to purchase?

[Boatdrinks797]

There is no doubt a more aggressive ski would help you. I ski pretty hard (on my ski) and there has been a few occasions where I have been out with friends and jumped on their beginner ski and it felt like it was my first time up and couldn't even think of trying to lay it over for a big cut. I'm still skiing on a 15 year old HO Mach TRX and can push a lot of water around with it. I haven't kept up on all the new slalom equipment to give you any advice, but I'm sure your local salesman can help. You definitely get what you pay for and aggressive ski's do not compare with entry level equipment if you want to further your skills.

[BensonWdby]

Any entry level tournament oreinted ski would probably be good. I am not familliar with all the new models. I recently bought an HOA2 - moving from a Radar Annex. I made the move to compensate for a defect in my style that was getting amplified by theh Annex - My fault - not the ski. You might want to look at the HO Triumph.

As far as try-then-buy. Many local shops will probably allow you to buy a ski - take it out and ski a few times. If unhappy trade it in for a different ski until you find what you like. The flexibility and convenience of this local shop may outweigh the 100 - 200 you might save on line. Also - I think D3 or Goode used to have a 100% satisfation guarantee - and would keep sending you skis until you got one yo liked. But you are going to spend a lot more for them.

[mparker2997]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking of the HO Mach 1 or the HO Triumph also.

[Mikey]

The triumph would be a nice step up. Thats my old ski which is a very compitent ski and can be pushed far enough especially if your gonna be skiing behind an LSV. If you ever decide to step up to course skiing it will still suffice more so than your boat for this purpose.

Nothing against the LSV,but you are gonna be dealing with a fairly large wake at the best. There are MANY skis that would suit your needs, As mentioned most places will let you buy/demo or upgrade if you don't like. Except for Goode.

Goode is a very high end brand and even then they have a very strict return policy/warranty. Due to this our local ski shop has decided this brand is not worth the trouble of carrying. They have or will get any other brand out there.Politics i guess?? Ask around.. There are so many new brands ,versions out there now its kinda mind boggling,Other option is if you get the chance to demo friends skis etc, i definetely recommend this.

I've tried a Burner and a charger which are both fun skis but the Triumph is the next step up. I currently ski a 69 Monza and its old but more than sufficient for what i want...

[iwaterskihard]

MP - Get rid of the Burner. Any ski with a good concave and true engineered edges will put you at a different level. Lots of good advice here but another thing you might want to consider is purchasing a used ski from someone who has upgraded.

Lots of skiers (myself included) upgrade our ski's as we progress with our own skiing. As much as I don't want to sound like a salesman for myself I will give you a prime example: I upgraded my ski this last spring to a new ski & model. I purchased my old ski (blank) for $900 new just three years ago. I only ski'd on it for 2 years as it sat in the rafters of my garage all last summer. I want only $300 for it and whoever buys it will be getting a VERY good ski in VERY good condintion that will allow them to improve their skiing a whole lot. I haven't advertised it on here but my point is there are many good ski's out there for a whole lot less than a new one. I have another older HO that I'd be happy to get $100for. Top that off with some bidings from e-bay or your local watersports shop that is blowing out last years stock or older stock at next to nothing prices and whola......you have a good/great ski for you and your ability that is in GREAT shape, will suit your needs for years, and costs next to nothing compared to new skis & bindings.

You also ski behind a boat that will always have a fairly large wake compared to any Direct Drive boat Moomba or otherwise. THAT ALONE will be one of your largest obstacles in really improving your skiing. Tossing up a big spray and throwing down a few good cuts is certainly going to be possible but not consistantly and I personally shutter at the thought of hitting your first wake in a stacked position at 22 off going 50+ miles an hour!!!! LOL

There are many choices and selections available and all are different. Just about all of the top brands are damned good skis no matter who you go with. New or used? But they are also all different. A 66" HO is going to ski different than a 66" Radar or 66" Connelly. You will have to adjust your skiing to the ski or spend hours with a professional getting the settings on the ski and fin changed to make it just right? It happens EVERY TIME you get a new ski. I know myself it's tough jumping onto someone else's ski and accomplishing what I do on my own ski. It takes some time to adjust.

I hope you have good luck finding something? New or used there are so many options out there it can be mond boggling.

Here's hoping that some of what we have said and posted helps you out?

Oh and do us a favor...........when you do buy a ski please come back to this post and let the gang know what you purchased and how much you like skiing on your new/next to new ride!!! :)

[PatL]

I would also add the Connelly Concept to the list of skis to look at...its affordable and available in several different lengths. I have a 66" which I keep going back to after trying several other makes of skis. I've found this to be a very stable ski with excellent rough water performance. I tried the Radar Senate for a while but found it a much rougher ride across the wakes. The Concept slices through the wakes nicely which would probably be a good thing if skiing behind an LSV

[BensonWdby]

I agree with the Concept. I skied on one for many years. Very stable for me.

[Lynn Syndrom]

For Christmas I bought myself a 2012 HO Triumph (69") with double basis boots. I had been skiing on a HO CDX (68") with double Approach boots.
I had been trying several other skis over the last year and was stuck somewhere between a competition ski and a entry level ski. THe Triumph seemed like the right thing and I could not pass up the price. I found the ski at SunandSki in Nashville, TN while I was down there for some training. Passed on it at first but then ended up buying it off the store website a few weeks later. Store price was $640.00 on sale for $560.00 then it was listed on the website at $375.00 with free delivery. Like I said...could not pass up the deal.

[kaneboats]

Is the Triumph a double concave or am I thinking of a different HO? Maybe Magnum? My brother has one of them and I hated the double concave but he likes how it breaks up the chop. He lives coastal where it's always windy.

[Mikey]

Triumph is single concave. I believe Burneror charger is double.

[mparker2997]

Burner is definitely double concave. I think the entire comp freeride group is double concave. I want to stay away from this design on my next ski.

iwaterskihard,
Let me know what you have. I don't mind buying something used. Just PM me. Otherwise, I may seriously consider the Triumph. Also, a friend is bringing me his Connelly (not sure which model but it's a single concave) and said he would trade me even if I like it. He wants a ski but his kids mostly wakeboard and nobody ever rides it. I'll keep you guys posted.

Any other suggestions?

[jwpowerslake]

I agree with the Concept. I skied on one for many years. Very stable for me.

I echo that. I have been skiing on a Concept for the last 4 years and love it. One important point is to be sure to get good quality bindings and get a full binding for the back foot as well. Having a full double binding made a world of difference in control for me vs. a toe plate on the back foot. Just for fun, I checked overtons and they have one on sale for only $399, which is a great price.

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?pdesc=Connelly-Concept-Slalom-Water-Ski-With-Double-Stoker-Plates&i=16877&aID=600A3&merchID=4006

Good luck, can't go wrong with this ski at that price.

[mparker2997]

Friend brought me a Connelly FX to try in the spring. Anybody familiar with this ski?

[BensonWdby]

So here is what I can tell you on that ski.
I have always been a Connelly fan - does not mean much since I am not that great of a skier.
I brought my 9 year old Conelly Concept down to Ski Paradise and they highly recommended I change skis if planned to ski the course. I had been hitting it pretty hard at (open water at home) shortline on the Concept - but skiing all wrong - felt good though.

They put me on an HO Monza - and I liked that - had some success - easy adjustment. I think you could pick up a used one on ebay pretty cheap. - Get the correct size.

I asked the pros at SP about the F1 and they all warned me off of it based on my style. I am not aggressive enough. Jamie B. skis it but I think he could probably ski a 2 x 4.

A friend who skis similar to me and about the same age got an F1 and was never comfortable on it. After several years of frustration he finally dialed back to an F1X and seems to be very happy with that.

But you should try the F1 - I would if I had ever had the chance (actually did but the binding was too big so bailed)

In my opinion most of us are not good enough skiers to tell the difference between most good skis and really good skis. So the best ski in the world is really the last one you had a really good set on. If you had two good sets - buy it if it is reasonably priced.

I went from my Concept to a Radar Annex - because I got a good deal on the Annex. I thought it was helping me, but my coach pointed out this year that it may actually be hindering me. So I upgraded to an HO A2 and seemed to ski better. Not sure how much is mental - but I could actually detect the difference once he pointed out what was going on.

Good luck and have fun.
Dave

[tarheelskier]

Everything Dave said above is true about the F1, it's a pro-level ski, but I believe the FX ( not making by that name anymore) is a wide-body shaped ski. Given everything else you have said above, don't think you are going to be interested in that ride.

[mparker2997]

Everything Dave said above is true about the F1, it's a pro-level ski, but I believe the FX ( not making by that name anymore) is a wide-body shaped ski. Given everything else you have said above, don't think you are going to be interested in that ride.

That's what I thought when I saw it. It is a wide ski. The only thing I do like about the design is that it does "not" have the V concave.....but it is still a very wide ski. May be an improvement over the burner but probably not what I am looking for long term. Still thinking Triumph at this point or something a step up from that but used.

[Mikey]

Just to give you a heads up .The triumph is considered a midwide ski. Not Wideride ,yet not Skinny like the hardcore skis either. Does make for a little easier starts and is still a fairly agressive ski. Really only rated to ski 28,to 32 mph i believe although i ski mine at 34mph and no problems,I could actually ski it slower,but i like the speed. This ski is apparentely a fairly common ski used in one of the Semipro ,amatuer waterski series. Sorry can't think of the name...

[kaneboats]

Triumph is single concave. I believe Burneror charger is double.

I actually saw the ski I was talking about over the weekend when I was down to the coast. He has a Charger and it's definitely the double concave-- would not recommend this to anyone serious. I didn't like it at all.

[travnews]

A Radar Theory would be another great choice. I have a Radar Strada, Radar's high end ski, for when I'm in the course. And I still love to free-ski on my Theory when I get to the open water and the conditions aren't perfect. If your just free-skiing and you have no intentions of getting into the course, you're going to want a fiberglass ski or a blended ski, over a full carbon ski. The fiberglass ski will be damper and give you a smoother ride. The Triumph would also be a good choice. A new Triumph is around $470 and the theory is around $330. The triumph is an oversized version of the cofficient x, HO's mid-level ski. While the Theory is a wider version of the Strada, Radar's high-end ski. Both ski's are great options for what you are wanting. You could also look at the Radar Senate as well, not the Senate C as that is a carbon ski. The Senate is for speeds up to 34mph while the theory is up to 32mph. If you can, find a local dealer that will let you demo ski's and just see what you like best.

Also, when you get your new ski take the wing off the fin. You really don't need it unless your a 36mph skier or a short-line 34mph skier.

[Matt Glenn]

Go to ski-it-again and pick up a used ski in good shape. You more then likely will keep on buying / upgrading your self so you might want to save some money. My choice would be a RADAR ! even there top end ski is very user friendly. I would pic up a used Seante Carbon. The carbon skis make a huge diff , lighter and flex better. Just my 2 cents

[Matt Glenn]

And I would disagree with the wing removal . I would not take it off. Goggle some info on it and maybe take it to a pro shop and let them set it up for you.

[rca]

I'm pretty new to the world of slalom skiing and I live my radar. My wife was on the ski team in college, which was a while back, and she lives her Radar too. She didn't ski for maybe 15 years then picked it back up a few years ago when we finally bought a boat. We both have the P-6 from Radar. Easy to ski on and lots of people have learned on it. It's definitely a ski to learn on buy I give high praise to Radar.

[maxpower220]

Once you purchase a ski, you can go to the manufacturers website and get the "factory" set up numbers. A little time and you can set it up yourself. The wing it there for a reason, as a beginner you won't know its there.

[skiyaker]

I think what you do with the wing depends on your goal as a skier. If you're skiing recreationally in open water it won't make much difference either way. Take it off- try it out, if you don't like it then put it back on. If you get into buoys at least try it with the wing off. My experience was that my skiing improved once I removed the wing skiing in the 30-32 mph range. There was a good article about ski design a while back in waterski mag- Bob Lapoint touches on the wing issue.
http://waterskimag.com/uncategorized/2012/10/08/the-king-of-rd-bob-lapoint-shares-his-knowledge-of-ski-design/

[iwaterskihard]

I think what you do with the wing depends on your goal as a skier. If you're skiing recreationally in open water it won't make much difference either way. Take it off- try it out, if you don't like it then put it back on. If you get into buoys at least try it with the wing off. My experience was that my skiing improved once I removed the wing skiing in the 30-32 mph range. There was a good article about ski design a while back in waterski mag- Bob Lapoint touches on the wing issue.
http://waterskimag.com/uncategorized/2012/10/08/the-king-of-rd-bob-lapoint-shares-his-knowledge-of-ski-design/

The fin does make a BIG difference. Where you are right here is - it depends what kind of skiing you want to do?

I have added a couple tid bits on this topic as it's gone along and well; hell why not add another? :)

I ski an HO highend carbon ski. I started skiing it with the fins off until I got used to it. Then and please pay attention closely here: THEN I SPENT A DAY WITH TRENT FINLAYSON!!!! And you have no idea what I learned in that day?

Buy or purchase any ski you want too if your plan is to be an open water skier. Get out there ski at 32-34 @ 15 off, lay er down and send up a big spray ripping it back and forth from one side to another. If this is what you want to do you really don't need the fin.

Want to start skiing the course then really see what that fin does?

The answer is really VERY VERY simple for you and any other skier questioning the fin on this site? Factory settings for the fins are 8 degrees with the big fin being all the way out. (If you don't know what you're doing with a set of calipers to adjust the main fin- DON'T TOUCH IT!!!!)

Any new ski purchased is set at factory settings. (Which almost everyone here should have and leave on their ski's). Take a pencil and trace the angle or line of your cheater fin along the top on both sides. Then using a standard Phillips screw driver take it off. The pencil lines will not go away (trust me they won't) and ski your ski with out the fins.

Try it and give it a real honest effort. I say this because Trent completely changed my approach to skiing last Dec when I spent my day with him.

He did put the fins back on my ski as I wasn't using them. Did they make a difference? YES! But they only made a difference based on the skiing I was doing.

If you're chasing bouys - SPRAY DOESN'T MATTER!

Want to shove up a big white wash wall - loose the fins and get the speed going into your turn!

I ski both open water and bouys. Difference for me is I don't give a rats a** how high my spray is anymore. Technique and form for me are way more important - it could mea the difference between that one extra bouy or not?

I will be spending a couple more days end of next month with Trent working on my body positioning in hopes of being able to take another chunck off the line this summer. Being from Canada this is hard as skiing in Dec & Mar isn't doing a lot for me until I can get in the water in May and put what I have learned to use.

What I am saying is - figure out what you really want form a ski? SIA has many many options for you rom pro to average joe. Only you know what you will want to do? When you know that it should help you figure out what you want to buy? Connelley, HO, Radar, etc............they al make a ski fo ryou..............just figure out what one you want?

[ian ashton]

+1 for RadaR! I ski a 65" Senate and love it!