Upgrade my 2005 HO Mach 1?

[jalama]

Looking for advice on a new ski. I have been skiing a 2005 68" HO Mach 1 for eight years. I am 5'11", 195 lbs, 45 yrs old. I typically ride at 32-34 mph pending water conditions. I've never tried the course but I do like to cut hard. I ski larger lakes and sometimes the CA delta. I have an '87 Sanger TX, so the wake is kinda hard and is best for me at 22 off in the 32-36 mph range. Any slower and the wake is a little big.

 

I have enjoyed the Mach 1 because it is stable for less than perfect water and doesn't mind going straght at times when I need to rest. I also like it because when the water is glass, I can lay it down and really cut hard. Seems to be a forgiving ski and good in many conditions. I would like to upgrade to a higher performance ski with a full concave so it's easier to hold an edge through the wake when I cut hard. I could be wrong or it could be my skiing and not the ski, but I feel like the Mach 1 doesn't really like the speed when I cut hard and carry my speed across the wake. I catch a little too much air and it wants to come off edge a bit. The Mach 1 also seems to like to ride the tail and I would like to improve my stance on the ski with more weight forward.

 

All that being said, I have read this forum for the past month and it appears one of the following skiis might be a good choice for me.

 

67 HO Triumph

67 Radar Theory

68 Radar Senate

 

I currently have double boot Venoms and plan to transfer those bindings to save money and maybe upgrade later.

 

Is the Mach 1 considered a wider ski at the front? I know the Triumph and Theory are wider skiis and I am concerned about going with a wide ski because of perfermance.

 

I friend of mine has a 68" Monza and I have skied it a number of times but I don't really like that ski and keep going back to my Mach 1. I don't have a problem getting up on it but it always wants to be on edge and doesn't seem very forgiving. What I like about it is the fact that when I cut hard, its performance over the wake is better than the Mach 1.

 

I guess that's enough information. Sorry for the long thread but wanted to give you guys all the info. What do you think will be the best ski of the three listed above? Maybe the Senate because it's only a little wider? How will these be different than my Mach 1? Much improved because of the new technology? I haven't found any shop in NorCal that demos so if you know if one, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[MJE]

If your skiing 32-34 mph, the Senate would be the best choice of the 3. The Triumph and Theory are better suited around 30-32 mph.

[jalama]

Thanks MJE. I forgot to mention I was also considering the HO Coef X. Is the Senate a more forgiving ski and better for open water? I am concerned the Coef X might be more suitable for the course and a bit too much like the Monza which I don't like.

[ral]

All full concave skis will tend to hunt/go to an edge compared to a tunnel ski like the Mach 1 - which by the way is an 80s model although remade afterwards. The Senate would be a great replacement.

[jalama]

Okay, I think I've narrowed it down to two skiis. Now I need to decide between the HO Coef X and the Radar Senate. I know the Senate is 2" wider than Strada. Is the Coef X wider than the A3 and S2? I like the fact that the Senate is just a little wider than their top of the line ski so I have a little more surface area in my turns. I like to carve because I don't run the course and having a little more flotation in my turns sounds good to me.

[jalama]

Sorry, I meant .2" wider.

[jimbrake]

@Jalama - nice handle. Are you a surfer?

[jalama]

@jimbrake - Yep. Went to college in San Luis Obispo and made many trips to surf Jalama. Love that wave. Now I ski way more than I surf.

[MJE]

I think'd you'd be fine on the Senate or the Co-X. Don't think you can go wrong either way.

[jimbrake]

@Jalama - cool. I've been to Jalama as well. Would like to surf Hazards sometime, too.

 

I just reread your post and saw that you have not been in a course. If you'd like to come out to Bell Acqua sometime, let me know. We'd be happy to give you a pull and help you get through the course.

Jim

[jalama]

@jimbrake - yeah, Hazards is a great wave when it's on. The right gets hollow.

 

I would love to try the course sometime. I will take you up on it. I just started using this forum. I will try to send you a pm. Thanks for the offer.

[jimbrake]

@Jalama - no worries. There aren't many like you out there (at least not that I can see in California) - free skiers that are into it, but that haven't had the chance to get on a course. I was in the same boat (no pun intended) back in the mid-'70s as a teen. Loved skiing, but couldn't get on a course. Well, I got on a course in '75 and haven't been back to open water since, really (although I'd love to do some free skiing actually). So, I enjoy getting "new" people involved. Helps to keep our sport going. Yeah, just PM me. My boys and I ski at least a couple evenings per week and both weekend days unless we are at a tournament.

[estrom]

Count me in as one of those free skiers. No course within reasonable distance, so strap it on ride the public water!

 

[Porkfight]

@jimbrake, everyone I ski with, including myself, is a @jalama-like skier. We've never been on a course, and would probably be humbled on our first attempt, but a portable course might be in our future for Lake Mead or Powell trips. At least it will if I have anything to do with it! My friends aren't quite as serious about it as I am.

 

Oddly, my girlfriend's dad has an`88 Sanger TX, It's the only "ski boat" I've ever been behind, but that thing only comes out one week per year to the Parker strip. Compared to my buddy's Yamaha AR230 full of kids, the Sanger has a glorious wake.

 

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of a`67 Senate-C on my doorstep this afternoon.

[jalama]

@jimbrake - PM sent. I typically ski Folsom year round. It's gonna go to 5mph soon though.

 

@Porkfight - I hear you. All my friends now have huge boats so they can wakesurf and I end up skiing them. My boat is really the only skiable boat left in the group. Hope you like your new ski.

[jimbrake]

@jalama - just sent you an email with details. I'm glad to hear there are free skiers out there on our public lakes. I spend a few days at Lake Almanor (near Mt. Lassen) in northern CA every summer with friends. Was there last weekend and saw one free skier in three days. Everyone else is wakeboard, wakesurf, knee ski or tubing. I probably am just not on public water enough to gauge what the free ski population is like. I live near Folsom Lake and whenever I'm there I see none skiers.

 

@Porkfight - isn't there a course/club on Elsinore?

 

@Estrom - you're invited, too.

[jalama]

@jimbrake - Thanks. Where to I grab PMs? Looked in my inbox and nothing is there.

 

I only see a few others skiing on Folsom and I am out there a lot. It's less than 1% at this point. I mostly go weekdays to try and get good water. Heading out right now actually. Should be good at glass off.

[Porkfight]

@jimbrake - There is. I was at Elsinore on Monday, actually, and looked into it. The whole inlet channel can be rented through California Skier but it seems geared towards events and such, according to the website. They don't list pricing. I need to call them. It would be great if they had an hourly rate or something.

[jimbrake]

@jalama - sent you an email at the address you gave me.

[Porkfight]

I just called, actually. It's only $40 per day but it's restricted to tournament style inboards. Cursed I/O sanger!

[estrom]

Thanks @jimbrake. I'll look you up the next time we're over that way. Your perception isn't that far off for the number of free skiers. Like @jalama says, I probably see one or two other skiers on the water during an entire day on the lake. It's like spotting a dinasaur!

[PBD]

@jalama if you're still in the area there is a club on Nacimento that has maintains a course google far west ski club

[jalama]

@PBD- thanks but I am no longer on the Central Coast. I miss it down there though.

[Mateo_Vargas]

@jalama NorCal MasterCraft carries both Radar & HO skis. I believe they offer a performance guarantee so if you don't think your 1st choice is working out you can bring it back and try another.

[jalama]

Okay I am down to two skiis... either the 67" HO Triumph or the 69" Coef X. My main concern now is which ski is going to be better holding an edge through my wake. I don't ski behind a buttery direct drive. I've got a Sanger TX which is an I/O with a fairly hard wake with a table. I am leaning towards the Coef X because I believe it's traditional shape will help cut(slice) through my wake. Is this a fair assumption? I ride 22 off at 32 mph typically. Free ski open water but plan to try the course soon. Intermediate/advanced level.