jwakes Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 Hey anyone have a suggestion on combo skis for my little guys? They are 7 years old and can get up long line on those radar jr skis that have the bar for the tips and a tie for the tails. They can also take the bar off and get up, but the tie for the tails takes a screw driver to un hook and I haven’t tried that....Should I unscrew that thing that keeps the tails together or is there a better way to go? Or just keep blasting them around without the front bar? My kids only weigh about 50lbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ReallyGottaSki Posted August 1, 2019 Baller Share Posted August 1, 2019 I believe things go both safer and more controlled when both are on or both are off, but no creative combination of either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PeterAK Posted August 1, 2019 Members Share Posted August 1, 2019 Yes, just unscrew and disconnect the strap at the back and remove the bar in the front. Good idea to keep a screwdriver in the boat anyway. :smile: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted August 1, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted August 1, 2019 Are the combos traditional shape or wide? If wide, take the bar off and go, even when they get ready to slalom. If they are narrow, something like these is the best option https://www.overtons.com/obrien-jr.-vortex-combo-waterskis-322164.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvr7s0Yji4wIVBI9bCh27IgnaEAQYAyABEgJUqvD_BwE If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buski Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 @Bruce_Butterfield aside from keeping them on two skis longer, what's your rough ballpark for size/ability to move from a vortex slalom to a more traditional 63-65 ski? (tra,lyric,d3,etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted August 1, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted August 1, 2019 The wide kid singles are good for slalom up to a max around 22-23mph where they loose stability and start to have problems turning. I would go ahead and make the transition when a kid starts to run 18-20. If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Hallpass Posted August 1, 2019 Baller Share Posted August 1, 2019 Saw a set of used Vortex that Bruce references for $30 on facebook market in Sacramento, CA area. FWIW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwakes Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share Posted August 4, 2019 Ok- ya those O’Brien look nice- the radar combos I have are traditional and no tow plate. So... will those work for my 50lb kids? They are much larger skis... also... as an aside- anyone have rec on how and when to teach jr to slalom. They want to do it... they can go in and out of the wakes (11mph) but it seems a little early?? Just seeing what the best progression is. I never learned to drop- just got up.. so I’m more along that line of thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted August 5, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted August 5, 2019 Have them rum the full course on 2 skiis long line. You can start at 10mph and increase in 1 mph increments until they are running at least 5 full passes. Once they get into the high teens on 2, then slalom will be a snap. If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller quinne Posted August 5, 2019 Baller Share Posted August 5, 2019 @jwakes my 7 year old learned on the fat O-brien's. (Actually she learned last year on a pair of cheap wooden ones I found on amazon, but she hated them.) So this year I bought her the O-brien's and she popped right up. Against my better advice she immediately went to slalom after getting up a few times on two. I tried to reason with her on all of the common sense around first taking the bar off and learning to go outside the wake. Her response was something like this "Mama, I am a slalom skier. I'm going to slalom." I thought ok girl, we'll see. She got up slalom third try, deep water on a long line. They're ready when when they say they're ready! My daughter is about 50lbs too. Use one of the trainer slalom ropes that has the V. Also, have them stand on land and practice with you pulling them up by hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller mwfillmore Posted August 5, 2019 Baller Share Posted August 5, 2019 The fat O’Brien vortex with the fin... we use these. https://www.ebay.com/i/282861791501?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=282861791501&targetid=484978871504&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9013386&poi=&campaignid=1497793369&mkgroupid=60383707400&rlsatarget=pla-484978871504&abcId=1139456&merchantid=6296724&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7_aIrPbs4wIVB7vsCh09GwUfEAQYByABEgI5FfD_BwE And they work like a charm. Skiers in the pic from left to rt are ages 6, 5, 4, 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller mwfillmore Posted August 5, 2019 Baller Share Posted August 5, 2019 Also, I unhooked one of the back webbing hooks. Then Just used a stainless carabiner so I didn’t have to screw it back in.... My son went from getting up for the first time this May, to getting up on a slalom for the first time yesterday. I’m sure other skis will work great... but I’ve had great luck with the O’Brien’s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwakes Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 That’s good stuff! I have them going 28 off right now- would u recommend putting them back farther? 15off to try to run some buoys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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