Radar Vapor - first few rides

[Horton]

First ride- interesting but odd

Second ride - ran a hair on fire 38 but things are not really clicking

Take out some length

Third ride - meh. whatever. Maybe better but not amazing.

move bindings forward 3/16th

Forth ride- Holy Sheep Dip! Now I get it. That is so much better. This thing is fun. Details to follow.

 

[rq0013]

you gotta say more than that

[Than_Bogan]

How did you know to try going forward?

[LeonL]

@ThanBogan, aren't you aware by now that @Horton knows all! Seriously, I've never met Horton face to face, but it's obvious that he has a feel for skis and has an innate ability to know what adjustments need to be made to make the ski perform properly.

[Zman]

@LeonL It always sounds great, but he simply makes it all up. He has a bunch of ski test write ups already done, then just grabs one after he rides a new stick. Give it a try, you could do it too!

[Horton]

@than_bogan

I have Matt Rini's cell phone#... that is how I figured it out

[Horton]

@leonl my rolodex beats my experience every time

[Horton]

@zman haa no

[Horton]

@ob was ZO and the boat crew was horrified

[rq0013]

@horton did you start at stock settings?

[markchilcutt]

@horton can you please share your settings for that 67?

[Horton]

@ob generally yes.

@markchilcutt I am not sure I have rightthe exact settings yet but I will remeasure and post mid week.

[markchilcutt]

Thanks @Horton. Any other updates about the ski for us?

[LOTW]

I am on a 66" @ 34mph. Reflex front and Strada rear. I was told to mount the front boot 29" from the tail but can only get it 29 1/2", maybe that's far enough ahead? The ski is great! I am right were I was with my Strada first pass. Seems like you can screw up a turn so bad that you think you are done but hold on and it will take you to the next ball.

[schafer]

@horton do you use the sequence plate for your strada bindings? Or individual plates?

[MattP]

@LOTW where are you measuring to on your reflex?

[Horton]

I always use sequence plates

[markchilcutt]

@Horton i moved bindings forward lastnight and the ski is money!! So using the sequence plate i am now in the center hole of the rear set of holes if that makes sense? 2.480 6.870 .755 9 deg i do not use slotted calipers and use the tips to measure lenght. With lastnights change my practice average went up by 2 bouys. Skied around 5 ball 3 or 4 times @35 off lastnight!!!

[Horton]

@markchilcutt

center hole never means nothing! if you're not measuring your bindings you're cheating yourself.

 

your fin #s are logical

 

( terrible grammar included for my old buddy Eddie)

[Horton]

@lotw

1/2 inch is a long long way

[webbdawg99]

I watched Tadd ski his first set on the Vapor the other night. He put the boots at Rini's settings which ended up center hole. However, he definitely appeared to be riding the tail and I dont think it was from his body position. I told him he probably needed to move the boots forward.....seems that others are experiencing the same thing.....

[Horton]

On the 67 I am pretty close to 30"

[markchilcutt]

Ok @Horton i was at 29.75. lastnight i added 3/16. Pretty safe to say i am now close to 29 and 7/8? loved it lastnight! some of my best skiing to date! Maybe not best bouy count but cleanest easiest skiing for sure!

[LOTW]

MATTP, very back of the Reflex hard shell, there is a little bit if a bulge there, to the tail. I also use Strada liners no the cheap sock that the Reflex came with. Am I too far forward or???

[webbdawg99]

@LOTW As long as you are measuring from the heel and NOT the lip that is used to secure the boot into the release......you should be doing it right. Measure from the part of the boot just below the "lip"

[Horton]

@lotw

if it works... ski it ... but it sound like your binding is forward

[KcSwerver]

@LOTW i have a reflex and i measure with a tapemueasure putting it to where it is touching the back of the shell and touching the underside of the release block. Consistent measurements all the time.

[ozski]

@Horton - getting towards the tail end of your season with a lot more passes under your belt it would be interesting to see you revisit some of the ski's you tested.

[Horton]

@ozski

yes but I can only ski so much. are you trying to kill me?

[ToddL]

@Horton - honestly I don't know how anyone can ski into -35/-38 off on a 5x / week basis and not just wear out their body... But I'm glad you sacrifice for our sport.

[Horton]

unfortunately my talent is changing skis not going around more balls

[Texas6]

@Horton, I for one sure appreciate the sacrifice on behalf of the Ballers and the slalom world at large, but I feel you would have rounded 2 ball at 43 had you spent any real time on a single ski. You get more skis and buoys than I do regardless

[Horton]

@I am as likely to round 2 @ 43 as you are to getting a date with Kate Upton

[Texas6]

That's fair actually

[estrom]

So you're saying there's a chance???

 

[BobE]

What are you hearing about Binding placement on 68 Vapor with D3 Bindings? I am at 30 1/4 and maybe would like it a bit further forward?

[A_B]

@Horton and Kate Upton, using your heaviest Texas accent: His chances are Slim and None, and Slim is out of town....

 

She doesn't like men to have longer hair than her. Now if it was @ShaneH......

[markchilcutt]

@BobE you can always try going further forward. I have no numbers for a 68

[Horton]

@bobe

My guess would be closer to 30

[TylerR]

@horton are you saying that @mattp and I have a chance with her?!

[JC McCavit]

@Horton - Do you still keep a spreadsheet of each ride when testing skis? If so, any chance you could make it viewable on the site?

[Deanoski]

I got to try the new vapor with Eddie over the labor day weekend. 6'1' 190lbs run -35 50%

 

huge thank you to Eddie, the guy rocks!

 

standard ski a 66 strada ( this season I did not work in AK on a fishing boat so I weight 10 lbs heavy this summer, hard to take off at 48yrs young)

 

skied a 67 vapor right down the line run back to back -35 with ZO. wide and early.( im thinking wow I need one of these.)

 

If you have not tried this ski yet you should get your hand on one. stable like my strada, low tip through all the passes, and fast as heck ball to ball

 

setting I used 6,860 2.480 75.5 9wing fb 29 3/4

 

The radar Love!!

 

Deano

 

 

[Horton]

the spreadsheet was too much to keep up with

[Texas6]

@Deanoski, does that 66" Strada feel small for you? I run a 66" at 175lbs and I feel like I'm living on the edge a bit. Love the ski but often wonder about a 67"

[A_B]

Kind of makes you wonder why Radar doesn't license Radar Love song... maybe too pricey.

Rossi skiing to this would be interesting video!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwqMKf7r7Xg

[Horton]

Hmmmm My gate is a mess (not the skis fault) I just can not get a good one ball right at 35 and at 38 it is terrible but once I get into the flow of the pass the Vapor and I are getting along just fine.

 

I rounded a 3 ball (off side) at 35 tonight where I could not believe how wide I was.

 

I am still screwing around with settings and my gate pull out. I think the deal is this ski glides more than the last ski I rode so my gate pull out timing is all screwed up.

 

I only have one more practice ride before Diablo. That is not a good thing. Gimmie another week on this thing and I think things will be much better.

[RichardDoane]

I loaned my pink 66 Vapor to a fellow skier at the Hilltop this past Sunday, he has been on a Silver Strada since 2010, he skied the 2nd and 3rd rounds on it and skied into -35 in both, his initial comment was how much better it turned in for the gate, it'll be interesting to see how he does on it this next weekend at the Last Blast

 

[markchilcutt]

@Horton i am feeling the same thing with gate glide!!! Also like your saying i have ran some of my best ever -32 passes on this ski! Me thinks with a little more time on her and things will be Golden!!

[SkiJay]

@Texas6 For the record, the 67" Vapor tapemeasures exactly the same length as the 66" A3.

[LOTW]

Interesting! I am 140lbs. 5'4" came off a 66" Strada and now on 66" Vapor as recommended by both Rini & J. Mac. They both said I should be fine and not go with the 65"