MattP's 2013 Connelly Prophecy Review

[MattP]

The 2013 Prophecy is different than the Prophecy's of the past. This year the Prophecy is being produced with a PVC foam core where it had a polyurethane core previously. This has made the ski lighter and combined with the carbon layup has made the ski more responsive.  

 

When starting this review I had 25 practice sets and 2 tournament sets under my belt for the season on my previous ski. With an all time PB in practice with 4@35 and a tournament PB of 3.5@32. I matched my tournament PB on the 1st set while on the Prophacy and got within 2 buoys of my all time PB on the 2nd set. My personal best in a tournament is on this ski with scores of 5.5@32. I skied over 35 practice sets and 7 rounds in tournaments so far on the Prophecy. 

 

 

The settings I ended up using were older Connelly F1 settings Stock for 65" 6.770 2.500 .830 8° 28.125. My setup: 6.773 2. 2.497 .830 8° 28.125 I also tried @JoelHowley's settings 6.823 2.529 .743 (.750+75°F) 8° 28.125. Joel's settings got me excited about the ski off the bat. His settings worked well for me for the first few sets, but when the time came to settle in and ski they were not consistent enough for me. I would like to give them another try though. The older F1 settings really tamed the ski down. I did not ski the Prophecy at the stock or factory settings that came with the ski. 

 

General Feel

The Prophecy is a stable ski. In the pull out and glide this ski does not seem to have the dragging or hunting for an edge feeling like some other skis do. I don't feel as though I need to pull long to get across the course either. To me it does not seem like this ski takes a lot of work to ride. The ski does most of the work for you given you have a solid technique base. 

 

Off Side/On Side Turn

The turns on the Prophecy are even from side to side. The Prophecy like most skis turns best with a balanced stance, but you can still turn with your weight farther back and not be punished coming into the next turn. I never had the feeling of the Prophecy wanting to over turn or that the ski did not want to finish either turn. The ski maintained a constant speed in and out of the turns.

 

From the Ball to Wake

Out of the finish of the turn the Prophecy goes where it is pointed and holds its angle cross course. This allows the Prophecy to create some serious space before the next buoy. I feel like I am getting across course fast but in control of the ski. This feeling of early comes from the speed maintained in the turn and the acceleration out of the turn. If you are perfectly balanced this ski will really hold its edge and angle you created off the ball and will hold its direction. If you are not perfectly balanced out of the turn you may experience some tip rise on this ski but it is easy to get the ski back on edge and continue through the course.

 

Second Wake to Ball

I did find that I needed to focus more on handle control and hanging on to the handle longer coming into the turn to keep the ski moving out with the line after the second wake. I also had to focus on controlling my reach more with this ski as well. If I reached early and fast that the ski would start to shut down and I would not have enough speed to finish the turn. I felt that if I was coming into the turn late, fast or a combination of both that I was able to comfortably control the ski and complete the pass or make it farther down course than I would have on other skis. The Prophecy carries its angle and direction until you want to change edges to start your turn. The edge change does not happen automatically but it is easy to initiate, but when you change edges the ski moves seamlessly from cutting to carving edge.

 

Conclusion

The Prophecy has a very long sweet spot. If you come into the turn a little unbalanced with your weight on your back foot don't worry this ski has the ability to still stay with you and get you cross course and keep you in the pass. This will allow you to correct yourself at the next buoy and use the skis acceleration to make up after an inefficient turn. This ski holds it angle and maintains an consistent speed throughout the course. With good handle control and patience this ski will get you into your hardest passes more consistently with ease.
The Prophecy is good choice for someone who is not as technically sound because it will teach one very quickly how to ride the ski more efficiently without punishing the skier to harshly, but it is also a great ski for the technical skier who is looking for a stable ski that is consistent and predictable from turn to turn.

[Horton]

Great photography

[Mike]

great report @MattP what were the stock settings your Connelly came with? ditto the nice pic's

[MattP]

@Mike

These are the settings that came with the ski

 

Connelly Factory Settings

6.860 2.494 .770 7°

 

Jamie's Recommend Settings

65" 6.850 2.495 .740 (+75° .745)

66" 6.850 2.500 .750 (+75° .755)

67" 6.840 2.510 .745 (+75° .750)

68" 6.845 2.515 .740 (+75° .745)

 

Jamie Beauchesne's Personal Settings

67" 6.823 2.529 .743 (+75° .750) 9°

 

[Skoot1123]

@mattp - great write up! All of these glowing reviews of skis makes it hard to choose what ski is right for you. So many ski's - so little time (and endurance!)!

[MattP]

Photo credits go to @Horton. I think I still owe him coffee for getting up that early for the photoshoot.

 

@skoot1123

Thanks. Writing a review is much harder than it sounds. I respect what @Horton does 10xs more than I already did.

[JacStocks]

I LOVE mine, it's super forgiving and fun to ski on. It is also really consistent in warm and cold water which I appreciate in Washington.

[swerveit]

great review, question is: worth upgrading from the 2012?

[gator1]

I upgraded from 12 to 13. IMO it is worth it.

[Texas6]

Not to give @Horton a big head, but that actually is a very cool early morning pic

[MattP]

@swerveit I can't comment on the 12 as I did not ski that one but @gator1 says its a better ski as does @joelhowley

 

@texas6 yeah it's a cool shot. He knows it too. He has the big hair might as well get his head to the same size.

[Texas6]

@MattP, did you ski away from that one? Looks like you may have been crushed a bit there..curious

[MattP]

@texas6 I skied away from it.

[Horton]

@texas6 That is how @mattp skis

[MattP]

@horton not all the time

[MattP]

On a side note I just tied my all time practice PB on the Prophecy today.

[gator1]

I beat my post-Achilles PB last Monday on it. Can't wait till Horton gets the fin figured out

[MattP]

@Skibug

Here are the settings where I am at right now. The length is close to

@Dirt's and depth & DFT is @Horton's which is a variation of @joelhowley

I wound up here after wrestling with the fin clamp for way longer than I should have. I finally gave in and just skied. These turned out to be really good for me. I switched from my previous settings that are in my review just to try something different. I will try and get some video my next time out and post it.

 

65"

6.853

2.5235

.7535 slot

8°

29.125

[skibug]

I will be riding a 2013 in a couple of weeks. I will start with my current 2012 numbers

 

6.840

2.514

0.744

7 degree

 

I also have another fin I will set up which were my old 2012 numbers

 

6.835

2.497

.776

7 degrees

 

The funny thing is I skied virtually the same buoy count on both of these sets of numbers; but the current numbers feel better, smoother, and I feel have more potential to get me deeper.

 

For the record, I rode JB personal numbers....they did not work for me at ALL!!!

 

I am convinced that any numbers the pros post do not work for a hack like me.

 

[MattP]

The Prophecy took me to 2@38 and right inside 3 ball today. It was my first time running 35 and first crack at 38. Upped my practice PB by 4 buoys!

[webbdawg99]

Congrats @MattP! That's a huge accomplishment!

[skibug]

@MattP, awesome!! I definitely can't wait to ride the 2013.

[Chef23]

Congrats I am still waiting to run 35 for the first time. That is really cool.

[Horton]

was only a matter of time

[MattP]

@webbdawg99 @Skibug @OB @Chef23 @Horton Thanks y'all!

 

[rfa]

Does Connelly have a 2013 size/weight chart for the prophecy? can't seem to find it. If not, any advice on 65 or 66 for a 140-145lb guy? Thank you!

[MattP]

@rfa What speed do you ski at?

I am 155 on a 65" @36mph, though I think I could go up to a 66 and still be good. @JoelHowley told me it may work better than the 65 for me.

[rfa]

@MattP Thank you! I'm a "newly minted" M6 so I ski at 34mph...28/32 off...see 35 on rare good days...you have 10-15 lbs on me but also ski at 36...so at my lower speed i may be ok also with either a 65 or 66?

[MattP]

@rfa I think either would work for you. Give Connelly a call (425) 775-5416 and they will be able to tell you for sure.

[rfa]

@MattP Thank you! will do