2017 HO Course Collection - HO VTX and Syndicate Series

[Horton]

[art90notch]

That VTX is a wild looking beast. Interested to ride one after having owned the VTR. Dave said the VTX is confidence inspiring, that is something that I have always looked for in whatever I was doing. Did quite a bit of riding on road courses on a motorcycle and that was always the feel I was looking for. Didn't always want the fastest feeling setup or bike, but something smooth and confidence inspiring I could concentrate on my riding... Just like my skiing.. Awesome stuff!

[Horton]

I heard months ago that this ski would be crazy looking but I did not think it would be this crazy looking. I can hardly wait to try it.

[Stevie Boy]

Boring Video , Same Old , sorry but it doesn,t inspire me , am I being harsh ?

[ISP6ball]

I love the look. Hopefully it skis as good as it looks!

[Wish]

Good luck putting dual lock on it if that's your boot system of choice. Other then that..cool ski.

[ALPJr]

New boots too

[Wish]

Looks like it has inserts for all other brands of boots.

[rockdog]

I really like the look of this ski. Interesting given others are going the bright route of late eg GT, Vapor.

[fox197]

I'm pumped for this years HO release. Already put a deposit on a vtx with the ski shop I go thru down under. Can't wait.

[wtrskior]

Skiers look like they're turning 90deg at the buoy... very interesting, looking forward to trying it. Finally HO has come around to building a soft boot with removable liner, FINALLY. great job HO

[bigtex2011]

cool video.. look forward to seeing them in action.

[aussiemc]

Interesting that they have gone the same way as another brand, with a deep riding / automatic turning ski. Even the tail design is similar.

[Ilivetoski]

Personally I like the graphics on my 16 black VTR better... Also, they say it rides deeper in the water which I'm pretty sure will normally mean slower. In all likelihood I will probably give one a go next year but when I'm skiing good the VTR is hard to beat for me

[ozski]

I like the way they have setup the spine for mounting the boots, very clever. Will be really interested in how this new ski performs in the hands of the average guys like myself. The value of stability in a high end ski always seems to take a back seat to the speed conversation. Personally the reference to stability gets my attention. Interesting comment by Asher about taking the pull out past the wakes as well, I don't think he meant just ride the line out...

[LakeOneSkier]

I'm confused (perhaps from too many barefoot falls last night?)... does the VTX replace the V-Type R in the line up?

 

Is the VTR (old v-Type R?) now the women's line or is this a new ski too?

 

As for the 'new boots too' comment, are they new? They look like the 2016 vMax boots I bought last month.

[thrix]

@LakeOneSkier legit questions, but getting clear answers ... unlikely. A marketing warm soup.

[Chef23]

@LakeOneSkier skier I believe they are keeping the VTR and the VTX similar to the old A2/S2 days or D3 still having the Arc and Quest.

[OldboyII]

@LakeOneSkier the new boot has removable liner, as they say

[Horton]

I know there is something new. I am waiting for the press release before I say anything.

 

@savaiusini

[savaiusini]

VTR is still a very relevant shape and stays in the line. We'll be offering the VTR in a Women's graphic and layup as well.

 

VTX is a completely different shape and feel. We've had great success with having two Syndicate skis in the line over the years, so we've moved that direction again for 2017. It just took a couple years in development. When you see one in person and get a chance to ride it, you'll understand why.

 

As far as new boots, we 'pre-launched' the Syndicate Hardshell system at Nationals this week. It is a collaboration with the guys at Reflex, using their release mechanism, but redesigning the boot/plate interface.

[ALPJr]

By 'new boots too' I was referring to the releasable liner boot WA was wearing in the Superlite CX video thread. The Syndicate Hardshell sounds very cool.

[fox197]

@savaiusini the syndicate hard shell wouldn't happen to be similar or a rebrand of the new edge bindings that JT has released???

[savaiusini]

@ALPJr Yes, for 2017, vMax gets a removable liner. This is the same heat moldable liner we are offering with the Syndicate Hardshell.

 

@fox197 We co-developed what you see on the Edge product. JT was instrumental in this process. Ours is identical to Edge, but with Syndicate badging.

[ALPJr]

@savaiusini any pic's of the Hardshell ?

[OldboyII]

It is really an industry milestone when one of majors offers releasable hardshell

[svxwilson]

@savaiusini Hopefully you guys run the same $50 demo program next summer. I will be trying both the Syndicate skis with the new bindings if you do before I buy. Will be my first Syndicate equip upgrading from your Superlight crossover equip.

 

 

[mmosley899]

@ALPJr last photo in the Boise or Bust thread of boots.

[fox197]

these ones @mmosley899

[ALPJr]

Nice looking tight and clean foot bed on the plate. Are the lace holes in the production models - laces an option?

[mmosley899]

@fox197 Yes that one. Basically a Reflex style release system. Very nice looking setup. @ALPJr it is used as an aggressive skate boot, which has laces. This is a pre-release model, so final production models may not have the lace holes.

[ScarletArrow]

I saw the binding and ski up at Nationals and spoke with Bob - a couple of observations...

 

The front toe strap seems legit (my biggest concern). Has some kind of plastic coating.

 

The heel cup on the Reflex has been expanded to cradle the entire boot. On the plus side there would seem to be a lot of stability, on the downside I don't know if the "boot cup" will fit any other shell.

 

I know there was some chatter elsewhere about the durability of 3D printing... all I can say is that it passed the look test from me. Didn't seem flimsy.

 

The "boot cup" can fit on a normal Reflex plate (as shown above) so it can be used on any ski, or it can be removed from the plate and mounted directly to the VTX ski for even greater contact (I thought this was brilliant).

 

Buckles are new and improved.

 

I'll say the VTX just looks and feels different than other ski I've seen. Bob said they went back to the A1 concepts as a starting point.

 

Very tempting to plunk down a chunk of change to try it, but 2 with kids in 3 events and one more coming up... equipment purchases for myself have to be weighed carefully. :+

[skiboyny]

This is good news perhaps (going back to the a-1 concepts) They really seem to have lost their way!

 

[ALPJr]

@savaiusini direct connect for the Hardshell ?

[savaiusini]

@ALPJr yes, the boots will be available in either a standard plate or a direct connect version.

@mmosley899 the boots at the Nationals were in fact final production models. Lace holes are in the Edge version too, from what I've seen.