Elite Blog

[AdamCord]

Just a heads up (shameless plug), we have a Blog up on the Elite site now, so check it out as we travel around the greater Florida area and pass out the first Elite Demo skis!

 

www.obrienelite.com

[Horton]

looks great. I added it to the BallOfSpray RSS news feeds.

[RichardDoane]

When are the Elite Demo skis going to be available in Seattle ?

[AdamCord]

After this week skis will be available through

 

Performance in Orlando

McCormicks in Tampa

Swiss in Clermont

Miami Ski Nautique

Chet's in Boca Raton

Drew's in Orlando

 

We will be adding more soon, so check back to the website to see the other locations

 

Thanks,

Adam

obrienelite.com

[psurrette]

We just updated the blog with a video from Andy giving a clinic on the ski.....

[Horton]

Pete,

That is Very Cool!

Everybody, take a look at this www.obrieneliteblog.com

 

[DaveD]

Listening to Andy's description of the RTM process, it makes me wonder why all of the high end ski aren't made in the RTM process. 

[Horton]

The tooling is cost a lot... it is the way of the future. Fisher is (was?) RTM

[Thomas Wayne]

 

It's actually cool to hear Andy actually talk about how the ski was actually designed, and how the process of RTM molding is actually accomplished, but as I actually listened to Andy's presentation I was actually thinking that the O'Brien PR team ought to actually consider actually scripting videos like this one so that the presentation would actually seem more professional.  Then Andy would actually sound like the educated man that he actually is.  As it currently stands it was actually a little bit painful to actually listen to after a while.  That's my two cents worth... um, actually.

 

TW

[RichardDoane]

I had the chance to meet Adam today, and ski on a 67 Elite - both are very cool.

[slalomdude]

Richard,

Well, come on then lets hear your review

 

[RichardDoane]

_{Adam brought out a ski that he actually considered a blem, in that it had some very minor pitting on the bottom, but way up towards the front where it doesn't even touch the water while skiing.  He's evidentally a perfectionist, because it looked just fine to me.  It has very well done inserts for bindings, and will fit all the major manufacturer's hole patterns.  I mounted my RS-1 Plate & Boots on it easily, and set the plate one hole forward.  I skied on it in the stock fin position, and after a warm-up pass down the lake, it was a spin back into the course and I was able to comfortably run a -22.  It seemed to like -28 better, and I was able to run that and then -32.  At -35 I made a couple of blunders, ending up in the middle of the course without the handle.  43' air and 40' water aren't the best testing conditions, and after 4 passes my hands were losing grip.  I tried another -35 and got to the four ball, but screwed up by not getting my vision up - "look down, fall down" is what the coach would have said.  By then my fingers were frozen, but I did run a -28 back to the dock.  I had an awesome feeling on- side turn, and with a little more fin (maybe 6.885 instead of the 6.850 stock setting)  the off-side would've felt the same.  It was an easy deep water starting ski, and held an edge well.  Very quick from side to side, and it never felt squirley or skittish, and never seemed to hunt for an edge.  I think a 68" would be better for my style, and 6'/185# size.  I'd bet that with 3 sets, and some minor fin tweaking, I could ski it right up to my PB.  It is a well made ski, and it was very interesting to hear Adam tell of all the trials and tribulations that they've worked through to bring it to production.  As for graphics it sported none, except for an Elite badge, and a serial # tag.  You'd have to keep it out of the sun, because the carbon fiber showing everywhere would catch the mid-day heat.  I had been bugging Adam for the past month or so to join us at the lake, and it was very nice of him to come out and bring a ski to demo.  Once the weather warms up, it'd be nice to ski a 68 and have the time to set it up and see how well I could do on it.}

[thager]

Skied a 67" Elite at Drews on Friday morning set to stock settings. Wind was out of the north at 15 gusting to 20. Roughest I've ever seen at Drews in 10 years. I ran some very easy 28's and some 32's in at least 10" chop. I know I would not have run 22 off on my Radar RS-1 in that. The Elite felt as fast as my RS-1 across course but had the stability of the original Sixam 1.0. Turns were exceptional on both sides. I am 6foot 190 lbs. Tournament PB is 3.5@35off 34mph PPC Men IV. Even though I bought an RS-1 last fall I would buy this ski if I could afford the divorce!!!!!!

 

[thager]

Sorry, that was Monday morning the 16th.

[AdamCord]

Brent-

The 2 Point is gone for 2009, but it lives on in the Siege. The Siege is a poly core soft fiberglass layup that comes out of the same mold as the 2 Point. This ski is targeted more at wide ride and lower speed skiers.