Time for a new ski?

[Malibuboats91]

Hey everyone, I currently am skiing on a 2008 HO System 8 and I'm considering upgrading. I ski at 36 mph and am a pretty aggressive skier. I do not ski in the course (I may be starting to) but I am a downhill ski racer so I love having a ski that I can ride/cut hard and fast on. I was at the local sporting goods store and they recommended that I get the Radar Lithium Vapor. I was also looking at the Syndicate A3 Radioactive. Both look amazing and I'm willing to spend the money but since I'm not in the course at all I'm not sure if it's the right fit for me. What do you guys think? Do you have any other recommendations?

[Wish]

38mph.....really?!?!?!? May I suggest just using your feet.

[Wish]

Sorry, that wasn't very nice. But I would start by slowing the boat down. System 8 was not the best ski but for free skiing I'm sure it's fine. If your serious about skiing the course, spend your money on the closest coach you can find. Worth the money and travel if necessary. You will get way more out of $1200 in lessons then $1200+ in a new stick. Also check Ski-It-Again and purchase a one or two yr old ski for half that price and use the rest of the doe for lessons.

[Brady]

@Wish you didn't recommend the one thing that would greatly assist a skier at that speed, a helmet! So, let me do it for you. @Malibuboats91, there are many skies that would work for you, especially if you are going to start skiing the course. In fact, there are a bunch of advertisers right here on this site that have phenomenal products! When you purchase, have them throw in a helmet so that you can keep coming back here for more abuse from a bunch of middle aged guys and a few beautiful ladies!

[Malibuboats91]

Haha that was my bad. I just asked my dad and I actually ski at 36ish at 15 off. I'm thinking about shortening up my rope to make the ski feel a little faster through the turns but I'm not sure if that's enough. I think my ski is rated at 34 and I don't like going that slow. I saw a few 2013 A3's for around $700 but don't know if I'm a fool for upgrading or not. Thanks for the replies thus far!

[Brady]

@Malibuboats91, your a good sport! Seriously, look on this site at the different skies being advertised. There are a lot of great skis that would serve you well.

[Malibuboats91]

@Brady‌ I will definitely look into that. I emailed a few people on ski it again a few days ago and haven't heard back. Miami Nautique has the 2013 A3 for $750, which seems to be a great price. So you think it would be a good move up to the A3 or Vapor? I'm really leaning toward the A3 but don't know if it's worth spending the money and whatnot.

[Malibuboats91]

I also found a brand new A3 on eBay for $599.

[GOODESkier]

@Malibuboats91‌ have you gotten to try a course? If not, you should do that first. It might change what you want to do on a ski, which would change what you should get. The part you are not going to like is the necessity to slow that boat speed down to learn the course........ WHICH is where that "different" ski comes into play. Just a thought, since I am guessing that once you skied a course or got some course time.......... you might get hooked!

[Horton]

@Malibuboats91 pretty much any new ski will be better than an old System 8. As @wish said you might want to get some coaching first. You will get more bang for your buck that way.

[Skoot1123]

My suggestion would be to get a lesson or two or three under your belt FIRST. Then after those lessons look at Ski-It-Again and find yourself a ski. I would vote for the A3 - I have a 2013 and love it.

[SkiJay]

@Malibuboats91 If you are going to be primarily open water skiing with some dabbling in the course, and don't yet have carved-in-granite technique, I'd say buy the ski you think is the coolest looking ski you have ever seen. The one you already know you want because it will make you feel like a stud carrying it down to the dock. It looks so sweet that you are hoping everyone here says it's the perfect ski for you. Well it is! That's the ski you should get.

 

All of the recent skis are excellent and they are all a meaningful step forward from the System 8, so you really can't choose wrong for where you are. This being the case, the one with the shape and colors that somehow make you glow with confidence is the right choice. Then make sure it has the factory recommended setup on the fin and bindings and ride it as much as you can.

[Malibuboats91]

Thank you everyone for the replies! I ended up getting a brand new 2013 A3 with the Apex front boot and adjustable rear toe plate. I found it for $750 and just couldn't pass up the deal. I figured I can sell it if I don't like it and break even or pull a profit.

[Horton]

@Malibuboats91 the first ride is going to be interesting .... a good change but a big change.

[ToddL]

I agree with @Horton. First ride, please consider the following:

1) joy ride it at first - no hard wake crossings no hard turns. Just feel how it rides and make subtle fluid movements. Consider practicing a lean to one side at a time and see how body position allows you to come up further on the boat.

2) New skis will feel faster with less effort. So, on your prior ski you may have had to "do" something to get it to go. This ski will just go.

3) New skis like to carve turns with the water breaking in front of the toes of the front foot. If you are a dig in, lean back, and push the ski around with the back foot type of skier, you may find that new skis will not perform at their best in that method. Read on...

4) Now is a perfect time to practice stack and still body position - the A3 really rewards a calm skier, one who doesn't push the ski to do something. Rather than try to surpass your prior most radical skiing best, just take this time to re-build a confident, stacked, calm yet strong body position.

5) This ski likes a hips over front foot posture. If your butt is out back, you may find this ski (and frankly all top skis) a bit squirrelly. Think hips over front foot, tall on the ski will a little front ankle bend. Shoulders should never be in the lead (in front of the hips). Think move hips where you want the ski to go, let the shoulders follow or chase the hips...

 

 

There are a lot of posts in this forum about how to get stacked, so I won't rehash all that here, but do know that getting stacked now is an investment that will pay 10X later.

 

[Horton]

@ToddL‌ Holy Crap don't scare the poor guy.

 

@Malibuboats91‌ It will be fine.

[GOODESkier]

@Horton‌

[GOODESkier]

@Horton and @Malibuboats91 I ski with my eyes closed cause it is so scary...............

[Malibuboats91]

@Horton‌ it's all good...I'm a bit of a daredevil so I'm looking forward to adjusting to the new ski.

[ToddL]

See... A daredevil... Have fun, @malibuboats91! After a set or two you'll be loving it.

[Malibuboats91]

So I tried the ski out last night. It's totally different from my system 8. I had a hard time getting it to turn. I also noticed there to be a lot of slack in the rope which didn't happen on my S8. I'll hopefully take it out again today and see. I spoke with my coach and he said that's not abnormal when switching to a ski like that since it will do the turn for you. Do you guys have any suggestions?

[GaryWilkinson]

A quick thing to try might be to 1, slow the boat down a couple of mph. If that new stick is sitting up and going fast, you're probably riding the tail a bit and that makes a ski slow-er to turn.

 

So slow the boat down for a few sets and really really work on technique, getting stacked, yet quiet in the turn. Some of the more knowledgeable fin-tech guys might have some suggestions on making sure your ski is set up well for your ability and skill level.

 

Congrats on the new board and shoot some video!

[Malibuboats91]

@GaryWilkinson‌ thanks for the quick reply! I definitely feel like I'm being pushed back because the ski is so damn fast! I was skiing at 36 mph last night so you think I should go down to 33 or 34ish? Also, what exactly do you mean by "stacked"? I'm kind of a noob haha

 

[GaryWilkinson]

"Stacked" or getting aligned is best described here in this article/thread by @Than_Bogan‌

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oDlyJi8MRdF9t8uQcEMCUEGsivhQ2tP7qOO6HfPgCDg/preview.

Have a look, it's the best advice thread in BoS.

[GaryWilkinson]

And yes go back to 34 and get into a course. When I free ski I tend to coast and glide a long time before turning because I've pulled too hard, too long. The course will give you some timing appreciation however frustrating out the first few times.

[Than_Bogan]

I've heard that Than Bogan guy has no idea what he's talking about...

[Malibuboats91]

What the hell is @Than_Bogan‌ talking about?

[Horton]

@Malibuboats91‌ pay no attention to @Than_Bogan‌ . He is drunk most of the time.

[Horton]

@Malibuboats91‌ try this link

 

http://www.ballofspray.com/component/content/article/35-ballofspray-water-ski-news/54-basic-relaxed-position

[Malibuboats91]

@Horton‌ I will look over those articles when I get home. My internet doesn't work very well at our lake home. Thanks for the help!

[Glydon]

@Malibuboats91 did you rupture an ear drum yet ? J/K Kid have fun on that new stick and listen @Than_Bogan that guy knows his stuff!

[Malibuboats91]

@Glydon‌ haha unfortunately I could only use the ski once. There were whitecaps on my lake all weekend so i have to wait until this coming weekend :(

[skihard]

@Malibuboats91‌ I too went from an S8 to an A3. I did ski an A2 for a bit in between but the A2 frustrated me so much that I spent more course time n my S8 than my A2.

Listen to what the smart guys on this forum are telling you - seek out some good coaching. You may have gotten a great deal on your new ski but the simple fact you even asked about what stacked positioning means tells me you are a lot like I used to be.

You will learn how to adjust your skiing on that new ski but unless you get some coaching you will never become a better skier or a skier who will use that ski to it's potential.

Good coaching will help you learn what all these good guys on here already know. There's a reason they are as good as they are - coaching and practice.

I truly love my A3 and the guys I ski with even commented on my body positioning and how much better I am skiing on it from my first run. If you know how to stack the ski will do everything for you!

Good luck I'm still learning too but seeing major improvements with working on proper fundamentals!!!

[Malibuboats91]

@skihard‌ I appreciate that! My cousin was actually a ski coach and we ski together from time to time. I'm actually working for him this summer, so I'm sure we will be getting out quite a bit. If that doesn't work I'm more than willing to pay for some coaching.

[Malibuboats91]

I took it back out and it felt a lot better. I was able to get a good rhythm going. I can't believe how much quicker this ski is in comparison to my System 8. The only issue I had was the line getting slack on my off side. I will have to work on that. Thanks everyone!