• Published on Saturday, 09 February 2013 09:43

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

Read more: Camaro Blacktec Review

• Published on Friday, 08 February 2013 07:28

Pacific Slalom is the official sponsor of the February Oahu Water Ski Club tournament. Steve Cesnauskas and Matt Brown are off to Hawai'i starting off with a demo day at Keehi Lagoon on Friday, February 8th from 8AM -12PM. Syndicate is the official manufacturer sponsor with the new Syndicate A3 available for demos. Take a ride on the Goode Nano One and the D3 Quest, also available for demos. Eagle vests and Masterline ropes & handles will be for sale and be sure to check out the custom Fin Fiddler® Tuning Table. Get your ski dialed in with this ultra slick all-in-one portable unit available for purchase through Pacific Slalom.

The tournament will be held the following day on Saturday, February 9th. If you are visiting the islands, participating in the tournament and would like to demo or check out the new 2013 gear, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call/text at 858.353.2915.

The next sponsored event will be held at Paradise Lakes on June 1st in Arvin, California. Goode Waterski will be the official manufacturer sponsor. Stay tuned for pre-tournament announcements that are tbd including demo sessions and a pro coaching clinic with Nick Parsons.

Pacific Slalom will be setting up lakeside waterski retail booths at numerous waterski events throughout the year. Demo days and pro coaching clinics are posted on the website, so check out pacificslalom.com for event announcements.

Thank you for all the support. We look forward to seeing you soon at a lake near you.

Team Pacific Slalom - Your Most Versatile Lakeside Waterski Dealer

Read more: Pacific Slalom and Syndicate are headed to the Hawaiian islands for the first western region...

• Published on Wednesday, 06 February 2013 16:58

Orlando, FLA (February 4, 2013) – Nautique announces the 54^th Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament will be held May 24-26, 2013 at the beautiful Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia located about an hour southwest of Atlanta during the Memorial Day Weekend. Returning as chief judges for the 54^th Masters is Lisa Steiner the Chief Judge of 3-event waterskiing and Rob Corum as the Chief Judge of wakeboarding and wakeskating.

“Continuing in the one of the greatest traditions in all sports, I am once again humbled to be given the opportunity to be Chief the best team of officials at the 2013 Masters.  Year after year, the Masters is the ultimate watersport event in the world. The venue at Callaway Gardens provides the perfect setting for both elite competitor and spectators.  Nautique provides the expertise and ultimate experience.  I am honored to be a part of the tradition,” stated Lisa Steiner.

Rob Corum commented, “As a World Wakeboard Association official, the Masters is one of the most fun contests to be a part of. The level of riding is held at the highest standard possible and every detail of the riding matters. It's awesome to be given the opportunity to be a part of it; I can't wait for the 54^th Masters.”

Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 54^th Masters via on-line until May 15th. Masters fans will have an opportunity to purchase special discounted pavilion tickets for the Masters till February 7^th.  Daily pavilion tickets will be offered at 50% below onsite gate pricing for a limited time. Join us for the awards banquet on Sunday evening honoring the Masters champions. Banquet tickets are available in advance for individual purchase or in convenient packages.

Read more: NAUTIQUE ANNOUNCES SPECIAL TICKET PRICING FOR THE 54TH MASTERS WATER SKI & WAKEBOARD TOURNAMENT®...

• Published on Wednesday, 06 February 2013 16:56

Get Goode on the water … and the snow!  Visit www.goode.com to purchase a new NANO ONE and get $1,000 off a pair of Goode Carbon Series snow skis (regularly priced at $1,090 – $1,290). Use Coupon Code 2013WX2K at checkout to receive your $1,000.00 discount. Offer expires on February 28, 2013. Limit one per customer. Offer is subject to in stock snow ski availability.

• Published on Tuesday, 05 February 2013 17:41

We listened to skiers in our Quest to produce the best slalom-course specific ski in our history. Ride the result of our passion for perfection and start your own Quest for more buoys today. The best way to describe the Quest is to take you through our design process and the questions and subsequent answers that shaped this ski. 

Q – “I don’t necessarily like fast skis but I need a ski that delivers good course width and is stable in and out of the turn.”

~ To provide an effortless ride, better cast-out to the buoy and eliminate tip-rise the Quest has additional width in the last 17” of the tail. This has also resulted in additional inside-radius side-cut aiding the skis ability to stay tip down while turning.

Q – “I would like a ski that has the same turn dynamics on both my toe (off) and heel (on)-side turns.”

~ The entire bevel assembly on the Quest has been redesigned from tip to tail. The bevels in the front are large and buttery soft like the X7 and taper back to more defined bevels in the tail. The Quest features a perfect hydrodynamic design allowing water to flow uninterrupted over the bevels giving the Quest an overall feeling of stability and consistency previously unattainable. The Quest delivers the most complete turns you have ever experienced on both sides.

Q – “I would like my ski to be easy to ride. I tend to ride the tail and struggle keeping front foot pressure. I would like to be able to feel the front of the ski with less effort.”  

~ A primary design goal for the Quest project was to let the skier effortlessly pressure the tip while approaching the turn. The Quest is the first D3 design to feature a shallower concave up in the fore-body of the ski. This combined with the large, soft  bevels  gives the Quest the most easily accessible tip of any ski designed today.

Q – “I want a ski that is consistent. Not a Jekyll and Hyde where one day it’s great and the next day I miss passes."

~ The Quest eliminates the misconception of a sweet-spot in ski design. The presence of a sweet-spot presumes there are some not-so-sweet spots to ride within the design. A great slalom design should create the feeling that the skier is riding the middle of the ski. Movement to the front or the back should not drastically affect how the ski rides thru the water. This is apparent the first time you ride the new Quest. The front of the ski is easily accessible and the turns are completed without pesky tip-rise.

Q – “I am looking for a ski where I don’t struggle to change edges and I don’t get lean-locked out of the turns.”

~The intersection of the concave and lowest bevel on the Quest has been re-created resulting in a small flat-area. This flat area placed under the length of the front foot gives the new Quest effortless edge-changes and improves the skis stability as you transition from a pulling edge and swing the ski under you to the turning edge.

Read more: All new from D3 Skis… the Quest

• Published on Monday, 04 February 2013 18:58

Counter-rotating into the turn is an important part of many skiers' thought processes as they approach their apex. It helps maintain outward direction and skeletal alignment as you near the buoy. The need to actively counter-rotate as you reach the turn however may be a sign of an earlier problem. Ideally, a counter-rotated position is a simple result, not an action.

Where you want to be...
Counter-rotation simply means you have your hips facing to the outside of the turn, and your reach is being directed slightly in front of you (picture Will Asher 1,3,5.) This position however, is the simple result of maintaining your alignment as you leave the second wake. Losing your alignment as you leave the wake will cause you to 'unwind,' open up to the buoy, and take a line that is inside the ideal, widest path possible. Now you will be forced to counter-rotate as a Band-Aid in an attempt to keep a tight line and manage your less-than-optimal path into the turn.

How to get there...
As you leave the second wake, ensure your trailing side remains aligned (concentrate on your trailing elbow's relation to your hip.) This will keep your hips facing outward and keep you on your outward path longer. Maintain your skeletal alignment (shoulders over hips) as your move from cutting edge to turning edge to prevent your upper body from tipping to the inside prematurely. Now, your hips are facing to the outside of the turn and your trailing side is aligned. You are counter-rotated, without counter-rotating.

A long, drawn out counter-rotation is only necessary, and for that matter, only possible if your hips have opened-up and your handle has come to
the inside through your edge change. Instead, focus on holding your position through the transition to your apex. The result will be counter-rotation as a result of a positive outward direction.

Read more: Counter-Rotation by Trent Finlayson

• Published on Monday, 04 February 2013 18:03

Forever Young with Brooks

• Published on Saturday, 02 February 2013 12:02

• Published on Wednesday, 30 January 2013 19:23

Last week Jobe launched the "Jobe's Next Tee Designer” competition. This contest challenges creative folk from everywhere around the world to design their very own T-shirt graphic. The design can be for both men and women’s T-shirts.

At the end of this contest, one person will be crowned 'Jobe's Next Tee Designer' and win:
- a Jobe prize packet;
- your own custom-designed T-Shirt;
- your custom design to be displayed in the globally distributed Jobe catalog;
- your custom design to be included in the 2014 Jobe collection;
- your own T-shirt sold in sports and retail shops across the world;
- …lots and lots of LOVE ;)

So let your creative mind run wild and go to www.jobesports.com/tshirtdesigncontest  for more details! Don’t wait too long! The entries deadline for this contest is February 27.

Read more: Enter in the Jobe's Next Designer Tee contest!

• Published on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 20:30

Running now on Twitter, you can pick Radar's next skier to be featured in WaterSki magazine. Just hashtag #radarskis and hashtag your favorite Radar skier on Twitter and let the voting begin! Votes will be tallied at the end of the contest for the winner. You be the marketing director! Let us know who you want to see!

• Published on Monday, 28 January 2013 21:07

PTMEdge, just agreed to become a sponsor of the Ski Nautique Big Dawg World Tour, presented by O'Brien, consists of five qualifying events and a series final championship. PTMEdge 140 degree VR series mirror and a billet aluminum mount will be awarded to the winner of the event at each stop. The series, now in its eighth season, is open to slalom skiers 35 years of age or older who have not placed in the top 10 in a professional water ski tournament in the past three years.  Competing worldwide in 6 different events, the finals will be held in West Palm Beach, FL in August. The series final championship includes two rounds of 34 mph record-capable slalom action, followed by a heart pounding, bracketed, 16-skier, head-to-head finale. PTMEdge produces high definition panoramic mirrors utilizing prescription grade optics, and has a patent pending design mount allowing the boater to drive all day without adjusting the mirror or having to turn around. It maximizes safety and control fo the entire boating experience. Available at your local dealer or online atwww.ptmedge.com; like us on www.facebook.com/ptmedge/ to keep abreast of new product innovatios from PTMEdge.

• Published on Sunday, 27 January 2013 17:10

 http://www.mappleskis.com/

Read more: Chris Parrish on his new Mapple 6.0