• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Tuesday, 14 May 2013 21:55
• Written by Horton

The D3 Quest is an all-new ski for 2013. The development process of the Quest may have started with the D3 X7 but the final product is a completely different ski.

In a field of super aggressive, fire breathing slalom skis the Quest is the most predictable and refined high end slalom ski tested to date. As opposed to being the most radical, the Quest has the right amount of the speed, angle, stability and aggression. Not radical does not mean pedestrian. In this case, it is quite the contrary. The Quest is a world class short line slalom ski.

As with many design attributes such as stability, too much or too little can make skiing more challenging. The Quest is stable enough off the wakes to allow the skier to feel comfortable and confident, but is not over stable at the expense of aggressive turns. The Quest offers a very tactile feel underfoot. In combination with other attributes this stability makes the skier feel comfortable and able stay more centered over the ski.

“Off Side” turns are dependable and consistent. Compared to other skis in the same class the Quest is perhaps less sensitive to weight distribution. Because of the ski’s basic stability the Quest makes it easier for the skier to be in better position through the turn (*). The arc from apex to hookup is crisp but not abrupt. If the skier is patient with their free hand at the end of the turn the Quest will arc far back inside the ball line for even more angle. The basic attitude of the ski is not overly tip down but is consistent.

“On Side” turns are practically indistinguishable from “Off Side” turns. Skiers who are not  as centered going into their “On Side” will find that the Quest is quite tolerant to this technique flaw. (*) If needed the “On Side” turns can be pushed fast and hard with only a little tip rise as a consequence.

Because the finish of the turn is calm, the amount of angle the Quest establishes can be deceiving. The one thing this ski does in extreme is create angle, but it does so without making the skier feel out of control.

The overall balance of the ski means that skiers will find it easier to be centered and to be stacked from the hook up to the wakes.  

From the wakes to the ball seems to be the one segment where the Quest is especially sensitive to fin and binding settings. With the right settings the Quest draws a very wide and early path to the ball. The ski is surprisingly tolerant to technical errors by the skier *. With the fin a little too far back and /or the bindings too far forward the skier will be faced with the odd experience of being very early and narrow at the ball.

Quirks: In comparison to other skis, the Quest is very sensitive to binding and fin settings but forgiving to skier indiscretions.

*Insert the obligatory “all skis work better if you ski with good technique”

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Saturday, 11 May 2013 19:45
• Written by Horton

http://rwstinc.com/

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Sunday, 07 April 2013 09:51
• Written by Horton

Below is a video review of the Trailer Valet Multifunction Trailer Tongue Jack. It took about 15 minutes to install the Trailer Valet to the trailer. If I had read the instructions it would have taken less than 5 minutes. For maneuvering a trailer in tight spaces or moving a trailer a short distance without a vehicle with a tow hitch the Trailer Valet the perfect solution.  

 http://trailervalet.com/

Below is the an official (and more accurate) video about the Trailer Valet

Read more: Trailer Valet Multifunction Trailer Tongue Jack

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Sunday, 24 March 2013 10:46
• Written by Horton

The Wakeye camera mount is in my opinion the Cadillac of camera mounts. The build quality of the carbon fiber and aluminum mount far exceeds expectations. The system accommodates GoPro, iPhones and traditional video cameras. For more details see http://www.wakeye.com/

All I really care about is what does the video look like? Below is some footage I shot yesterday. I think the quality of the video is excellent. My skiing could use some work. 

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Monday, 25 February 2013 17:20
• Written by Horton

The goal of a pylon video mount is to film a skier as smoothly and accurately as possible – hands free. A photographer with some experience and attention to detail will always do a better job. Since you cannot always depend on your boat crew to know the difference between video camera and a ham sandwich, a pylon mounted video mount comes in pretty handy. Also, if you want your observer to watch you ski, you do not want them looking through a camera.

The more accurately the mount tracks the skier, the more the camera can be zoomed in without the skier moving out of the frame at the ball.

To fairly compare the mounts ability to track the skier, I used a camera with zoom fixed at 120 degrees. This is too wide of an angle for skiing analysis but allows for a fair comparison of the mounts. As you will see, each mount delivers relatively consistent results in terms of tracking the skier.

The typical problems with a pylon video mounts is not staying centered on the skier at the ball and excessive camera shake after the ball. Both of the units in the below video handle camera shake extremely well and tracked the skiers consistently. At approximately 4 times the cost, the Wakeye is more accurate at tracking the skier. The Ski-Doc mount is inexpensive, simple and gets the job done. Which mount is best? You will have to decide for yourself.

There are many more feature differences not addressed here. Visit the two web sites for more information http://theskidoc.com/ & http://www.wakeye.com/

The first skier is @Rico shot with the Ski-Doc Camera Mount. The second skier is @CharlieSkiWest shot with the Wakeye.
NOTE: The numbers on the video do not represent an angle or anything other than a reference point.

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Sunday, 17 February 2013 10:47
• Written by Horton

Read More

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Sunday, 10 February 2013 12:15
• Written by Horton

I tried out the Ski-Doc Camera Mount yesterday for the first time. Once I found the right amount of zoom it works like a charm. I think the video speaks for itself.

 http://theskidoc.com/

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Saturday, 09 February 2013 09:43
• Written by Horton

The Blacktec 2 suit from Camaro is the warmest and the most comfortable wetsuit that I have ever skied in. I was very surprised to find out that the Blacktec is not a replacement for the well-known "Modetec Titanium". Instead, it is actually a less expensive alternative. Visit Camaro.at

I asked Thomas Roiser of Camaro to shed some light on the technology behind the Blacktec. He told me the following information:

For the Blacktec, we "...started our development on this suit by developing a new material (we build the material ourselves from mother sheets as opposed to other manufacturers who buy standard material and then build it into a suit). We slice out of a very soft mother sheet of neoprene and leave the cell structure open instead of using a regular smooth skin material. This allows us to keep 100 % of the natural stretch of the base neoprene (any lining or covering of the surface that closes the cells, reduces stretch). We then line it very carefully with an inner liner taking utmost care that as little of the stretch is lost but at the same time reducing it to an amount where the material cannot be overstretched."

The major difference between the Blacktec and Titanium suits is that the Titanium is thinner and is glued but not stitched. The Titanium suit uses Camaro's proprietary seamless bonding process that includes gluing the suit first and then heat sealing it with a specially developed 5-layer tape. The Blacktec is a little thicker than the Titanium suit it can be glued and blind stitched. This provides a durable water tight seam and makes the suit more economical.

http://www.camaro.at/index_e.php

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Monday, 05 November 2012 19:02
• Written by Horton

Every few years a new ski design comes out that surpasses the hype. Before anyone heard the name NANO ONE the rumor mill was buzzing about some new ski from Goode. More intriguing was the feedback from skiers who were not previously on a Goode ski. As the ski made its way into the hands of more and more skiers it became clear that this was something new and perhaps something special.

As a ski reviewer I sincerely attempt to be as unbiased as I can. Considering that I equaled my personal best the first time I rode the NANO ONE makes being unbiased harder. To make this review more challenging, the NANO ONE breaks with design convention and defies accepted attribute descriptions.
The NANO ONE comes in a 65.25” ski for skiers from 110 pounds to 190 pounds and a 66.75” ski for bigger skiers. The shape of the ski is the result of Nick Parsons searching for a design that would support his 6’4 and 205 pound frame but turn like a short ski.

The general feel
The NANO ONE is supremely forgiving and stable. This amount of predictability and stability in a ski usually means that there has been a compromise and some performance has been sacrificed. In this case that is not true. At a skier’s hardest passes, when the most mistakes are made, is where the NANO ONE comes to life and allows the skier to round a few more balls.

The Definition of Speed
My two definitions of a fast ski are “a ski that achieves width with less than optimal rope tension from the second wake out” and “a ski that requires less physical strength and effort to get from side to side”. Generally speaking fast skis tend to be finicky at the apex of the turn and are less stable approaching the ball.
Slower skis are often described as having a more stable and tactile feel approaching the ball. Especially at 34mph, slower skis require better management of rope tension to achieve width and more strength to get from side to side.
The NANO ONE does not really fit into these constraints. Like a fast ski, it achieves ample width without perfect rope tension and it is does not require a lot of physical strength to get from side to ski. Approaching the ball and through the turn it feels like a slow ski. At this point the NANO ONE feels surprisingly stable under foot and nearly always carves a tight radius without perfect inputs from the skier.

Toe Side (Off Side) Turn
Weight distribution into the offside turn on the NANO ONE is less critical than on other ultra-high end skis. This ski tracks rather than slides from the apex to the hook up giving the skier confidence that the tail will not break loose. It can be pushed and ridden aggressively but with patient technique it provides very calm tight arcs.
Perhaps most importantly, the NANO ONE maintains a constant tip height around the ball. Turns blend to leans with very little disruption in the transition (wheelie or flare). This allows the ski to carry speed around the ball and back to the inside. With more speed on hand at the end of the turn, less needs to be generated to get to the next ball.

Heel Side (On Side) Turn
Even more so than on the Off Side the NANO ONE is completely dependable on the On Side. Turn radii on the On Side are short and result in ample angle. At harder passes when things get frantic this ski will allow you to move aggressively to the inside and crank off a 90 degree turn if needed.
As with Off Side the NANO ONE’s ride attitude is constant in and out of the ball and results in smooth transitions from turn to pull. To state it another way, this ski rarely stalls at the end of the turn. It simply keeps moving in the direction it is pointed.

From Ball to Second Wake
With less disruptive transitions between turn and lean, the distance from the ball to the second wake is covered quickly and calmly. Cross course angle and speed at the first wake seem to be automatic.

From Second Wake to Ball
This is where the magic of the NANO ONE become especially apparent. Ease of width, a feeling of stability and forgiveness are not generally found in the same slalom ski. This ski not only gets out wide without perfect rope management skills but it gives the skier a stable platform to stand on.
Because of the ski’s user friendliness approaching the ball, skiers are less apt to make mistakes and the mistakes that are made are less likely to be fatal.

Quirks and Notes
I find that I need a wider and more aggressive gate on the NANO ONE than on other skis.
If there was a BallOfSpray Ski of the Year Award it would clearly go to the Goode NANO ONE for 2012.
For more on the design philosophy of the NANO ONE see http://www.ballofspray.com/component/content/article/35-ballofspray-water-ski-news/1490-goode-nano-one

• Category: General Reviews
• Published on Monday, 08 October 2012 21:21
• Written by Horton

The Jobe brand has existed for over 30 years. At one time or another, world records have been set on Jobe skis and world titles have been contested. The brand has gone through a number of changes since the glory days of the 1600 or Carbon V slalom skis. Today, Jobe has re-entered the US high end slalom ski market with the Rogue.

The hallmark of the Rogue is its forgiveness and stability. This is a ski that is well suited to a very wide range of skiers.  Until the rope gets shorter than the width of the course, the Rogue is hard to beat.  The basic shape of the ski makes it ride high on the water.  The moderate flex of the ski makes it turn fast and predictably.

Technical skiing will make any ski perform better. Most ultra high end skis have a small performance envelope.   In contrast, the Rogue is amazingly tolerant of imperfect skiing.

Off Side turns are as dependable as any ski on the market. The Rogue turns best with the skier’s weight centered or forward, but it can be pushed from the tail. When it is necessary to change direction in a hurry, the Rogue complies and exits the turn calmly and with plenty of angle.

On Side turns on the Rogue are practically automatic and are simply a joy. The ski flows out and back with as much or as little intensity is needed. The ski does not seem to care how much or how little front foot pressure is applied.  Angle at exit of On Side is never an issue.

Edge changes and the path out to the ball line on both sides are stable and smooth. Width is easily achieved without unusual amounts of effort.

These forgiving attributes do come at a price. When it comes time to go for one more ball with reckless abandon the Rogue seems be missing some cross course speed. Ninety degree turns followed by hair on fire wake crossings seem to overwhelm the ski at the limit. The counter point to this is that the Rogue may get you farther down the rope before things get frantic.  

For me, if I exit 2 ball on my hardest pass (38 off) in good position, I expect to run the pass. On the Rogue, I exited 2 ball in good position more often than normal, but then I ran the pass less often than I expected. It is a trade off. Do you want a ski that will give your more chances or the ski that helps you seal the deal when you get it right?

As a general purpose slalom ski, the Rogue can hold its own against any ski on the industry today.  For skiers just starting to shorten the rope up to 35 off, the forgiving behavior of the Rogue perhaps overshadows its short comings.

Final note:  The fit and finish of the ski is excellent with one exception:  the inserts on the test ski that Jobe sent to me were all crooked. Jobe informed me that this was a known issue and would be fixed on future skis.