STADLBAUR JOINS THE SYNDICATE!
Snoqualmie, WA (Dec. 5th, 2017) - Top Swiss pro skier and former NCWSA Collegiate National Champion Benjamin Stadlbaur has signed on to join HO Skis Syndicate Pro Ski Team.
Fresh off of a 3rd place finish at the 2017 Moomba Masters and a silver at the 2016 Malibu Open and European Championships, Stadlbaur has quickly risen up the pro ranks in his first 2 seasons skiing the professional circuit. He currently sits 12th on the Elite Pro Rankings list and 20th on the ISWF World Rankings list.
We’re stoked to welcome Mr. Stadlbaur to the team. His aggressive skiing style makes him a podium contender at even the toughest pro events. His competitive spirit seems to never overshadows his enthusiasm for skiing and ability to have fun. It’s a refreshing mixture and we’re thrilled to add him to the squad.
With his sights set on the top, Stadlbaur believes he has tools to get there. "From the very first set on the Syndicate PRO, I felt at home. I am able to push it as hard as I want and the ski is always there for me. It allows me to ski aggressively and attack the course. In the offside turn, the direction I can hold across the wakes is just as amazing as acceleration I get out of my onside. It is in my opinion the highest performing ski on the market! If you are serious about short line skiing, you should try it."
Stadlbaur added, “I am very excited to be joining the Syndicate team. They’re industry leaders on the research and development side of things as well as their skiers. It is HO Sports core values and team of people that has attracted me to the company in these past years but it is the new PRO ski that pulled the trigger and made me switch to join the Syndicate.”
Originally from Geneva, Switzerland; Benjamin now hails and trains from Swiss Waterski Resort in Clermont, Florida. Stadlbaur joins the likes of Will Asher, Jon Travers, Nick Adams, and many more diverse global talents to a Syndicate team like none other. With the backing support of revolutionary ski minds like Dave Wingerter, Bob LaPoint, Wade Cox, Marcus Brown to bolster his gear and technique, Benny is locked and loaded for an epic 2018. #staytuned #whodareswins
About the HO Skis Syndicate:
We are a collection of athletes, designers and engineers, comprised of inquisitive minds, colorful personalities and critical thinkers. We are known for our limitless imagination and continuous innovation of products & ideas. Established in the great Pacific Northwest in 1982, our deep-rooted expertise and collective love for life on the water keeps us leading the way in watersports equipment year after year. Our rich history of creating industry defining technologies and revolutionary gear is fueled by our passion to do what we love. For more information on the HO Syndicate, head to http://www.hosports.com/ and follow our line at facebook.com/hosports and @hoskis on Instagram.
Hobe Lake Ski Club
Hobe Lake Ski Club is a new private club dedicated to slalom water skiing, located in the heart of South Florida's Treasure Coast. On their own schedule, members enjoy the finest water ski environment available... a pristine natural setting with optimum conditions and the Ski Nautique 200 6.2L. Located at 5878 SE Bridge Road in beautiful Hobe Sound, Fla., more information can be found online at www.hobeski.com.
2018 Holiday Gift Guide
'Tis the season for the smell of buttery, sugar cookies to waft from the kitchen. 'Tis the season to cozy up to a crackling fire and binge on Elf and The Grinch. 'Tis the season to start dreaming about the real “most wonderful time of the year”…summer!
We know you are aching to be back in action, which is why we have curated a collection of 2018’s most popular presents for getting your crew ready to shred. These products are so good, you might even be tempted to keep them for yourself.
The perfect gift is one that brings everyone together at the lake…and we have gifts for the buoy chaser, the lake lover, the suppin’ yogi and even man’s best friend. We’ve been putting skis under trees for 52 years, and we’re not about to stop. :)
Check it out here: connellyskis.com/holidaygiftguide
2018 Syndicate Demo Program
The Syndicate Demo Program has been updated for 2018 to now include the all new Syndicate PRO and Syndicate Omni slalom skis. Now you can try Syndicate PRO, VTX & Omni skis and/or Syndicate Hardshell Boot for 2 weeks with no obligation! Every skier is different, so it's often difficult to know which ski will work for your unique style. With the Demo program, we'll ship a ski or boot directly to your door to try at your lake. No more guess-work, no more leaps of faith. Just solid testing and clear decision making to get you skiing to maximize your potential. Get started today at http://www.hosports.com/demo.
2018 San Gervasio Pro Am
D3 NRG Review
Intro:
The NRG represents a departure from D3’s reputation of conservative and incremental ski development. This ski looks different than previous D3s. The one thing that the NRG shares with all previous D3s is that it feels comfortable the first time you ride it.
General Feel:
The NRG turns smooth on both sides, makes ample speed to the wakes, and then slows down quickly approaching the next turn. From the gate pull out to the exit gates, the ski does nothing unfriendly or unexpected but getting the most out of this ski is a nuanced affair.
Ball to the wakes:
If mistakes are made at the ball, one of the NRG’s best attributes is that it allows the skier to regain position and repoint the ski across the lake.
Skiers who do not lean harder than necessary will generate enough speed to be wide and early at the next ball. Skiers who apply excess load heading into the first wake may find the path to the next ball to be not as fluid as it could be.
Wakes to the ball:
The NRG creates plenty of space in front of the ball and slows down quickly approaching apex. The ski is very stable both side to side and front to back making it easy for the skier to stand where they need to. As noted below in the On Side section, keeping the handle close to the skier’s center of mass after the second wake is the key to unlocking this skis full potential.
Off Side:
The Off Side turns on the NRG are absolutely phenomenal. The ski consistently carves a smooth tight arc under the line and heads for the other side of the course. Its stability in the pre-turn is especially apparent approaching Off Side.
When running wide and early it is recommended that the skier temper aggression at apex to avoid over turning.
When the skier is at their hardest pass and starts to scramble, the Off Side turns happen automatically. This one characteristic of the NRG will result in additional balls.
On Side:
On Side turns on the NRG can be almost as good as the Off Side turns but require the skier to maintain connection and outbound direction off the second wake. Skiers who release the handle (lose connection) too early after edge change will experience inconsistent On Side turns. This issue is more critical on the NRG than on any other ski tested to date.
Skiers whose technique emphasizes connection off the second wake will find that the On Side turns are as dependable as the Off Side turns. The NRG is remarkably tolerant to other technical mistakes approaching On Side.
Other Notes:
Is the NRG a fast ski or a slow ski? Impressions of the amount of work the ski requires are dependent on fin and binding settings. The NRG consistently gets wide enough even if the skier makes technical mistakes so I would call this ski “fast-ish”.
Another outstanding quality of this ski is how it preforms when the skier is desperately scrambling to run a pass. After a substantial mistake is made, if the skier can stay calm and just keep skiing they will round more additional balls than expected.
Skiers may have to adjust their gate pull out technique to avoid losing width before turn in. This is because the NRG slows down so effectively. This trait is not a bad thing, but it does require an adjustment.
Conclusions:
For a skier who maintains good connection off the second wake and can resist being too heavy on the line, the NRG draws a very smooth path through the course. For a skier who struggles with connection, the NRG still offers nearly magical Off Side turns but inconsistent On Side turns.
Settings:
Over 35 rides I tried 6 or 7 different settings. The below two worked best for me on the 67" ski.
Poscente
2.454
6.913
.815
30"
7°
Crawford / Bush
2.463
6.950
.750
29 9/16
8°
Buoys, BBQ and Beer
Buoys, BBQ, and Beer is back...and this time you’re invited! It’s going down Sunday, December 10th at 1:00 PM and the rules are simple. Every skier gets 6 passes to impress our panel of judges. A champion is crowned in each of four fun categories: smoothest pass, hardest crash, scrappiest completed pass, and best performance! So grab your swerve stick and come on down to the most fun ski event you’ve never skied in. We are asking for a minimum $25 donation for entry to help support a good friend and great ambassador to the sport, Mark Boender. Mark has developed a Pancreatic disease and is in need of our help and support. All entries and money donated will go to Mark and the fight to cure his disease, so feel free to donate as much as you like. Your donation will get you a ski ride, sweet t-shirt, delicious BBQ, and cold beer provided by our friends at Big Storm Brewing. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to sign up. Stoked to see you there!