Big guy - Trick Ski

[zskibum]

Hey all. I love slalom skiing but over the past couple of years my 12 year old son has grown to love 3 event. I’d love to learn to trick with him. I’m a 230 lb fairly uncoordinated guy, but with enough practice I could prob pull off a few tricks so I could compete at the same tournaments he does. I’ve see a lot of different size trick skis. What size and set up would you all recommend? I’m current slaloming on a reflex binding so I could easily use that binding set up. Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

For your size and being "fairly uncoordinated", you are a prime candidate for the 54" Goode:

http://store.goode.com/goode-mk1-trick-ski/

 

Your life will be much easier and more fun than on a traditional 44".

[jjackkrash]

@zskibum, I'm in the same boat and had a similar thread going a few weeks ago. I got on the biggest ski Radar makes (43") and I gotta go 19-20 mph or its real mushy; I'm 200 lbs. right now. I have that big 54" Goode on order as well and really hope its all that. I am also hoping it gets here before it gets too cold.

[klindy]

I really want to try the 54” Goode too. I’m on a 44” D3 at 19.5 to 20 mph and do ok but want to try something bigger. I really wish there was a proportionate 48-50” solution.

[storm34]

Signing up to this thread as I've emailed Goodman and Goode about their big trick skies but haven't received any response. Looking forward to reading your review!

[Bruce_Butterfield]

Here's an old thread on the big trick skis. May still have some entertainment value:

 

https://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/18648/dave-goode-rocks

[Chet]

I totally agree with Bruce the 54 is a blast. It’s easy to ride and you will learn fast on it. I call it ski boarding. One of my students did a T7 on it so anything is possible. If I could start from scratch I’d probably make it a 50 but I think it has a fun factor that’s hard to beat for any one wanting to play without all the difficulty.

[jpattigr]

@brooks I think Radar should build and fill this void! a single model 50" trick ski in a basic construction for new trick skiers and bigger folks also. I would buy in a heartbeat, would be a fun extra tool in the boat to play with also. Target a $499 PP with construction like a Union level ski?? Once we get good, graduate to a Graviton? There is a market!

[zskibum]

Thanks for the feedback. Loved the old thread! I have an old ironing board - maybe I should try that. Lol. Any thoughts on the Goodman vs the Goode. I am also inspired by the comment “ Your life will be much easier and more fun than on a traditional 44". With skiing Ill always take the easier and more fun way!! Also should i go with a rubber boot or get a second reflex plate? Thanks all!

[dchristman]

@zskibum the big trick ski deserves to become a new event... https://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/19254/usawsws-announces-new-wake-disciplines-and-divisions

[storm34]

@zskibum FWIW I've been trying to buy a Goodman trick for nearly 3 years now. Got as far as sending my credit card info and still nothing.

 

Not trying to say anything negative here as I know Ron is busy and has limitations to his operation but just a fore warning. BUT....If you have more success than me please order two! I'll even pay you a handling fee!

[Hallpass]

The Goode shipped within 10 days after I bought it. FWIW. Only two things I don't like. 1) I Stink. 2) I keep bashing my rear ankle on the ski's sharp edges, which of course is wholly related to number 1.

 

 

 

[Sethro]

My friend decided his Goode 54” tricker was too big and he’s got some knee problems that the bigger ski was apparently aggravating. He only used it twice, and I bought it from him...can’t wait to try it. I’m 6’5” 230ish lbs so it should be just about right. ?

 

Here it is next to my 1998 44” O’Brien

 

 

[jjackkrash]

My Goode 54" came in last night! Hopefully I get to try it out this weekend.

[Ed_Johnson]

Really looking forward to you Guy's reviewing the 54" Goode..Thanks !!!

 

[jjackkrash]

Gonna give this a whirl this weekend!

 

 

 

[Sethro]

I tried mine out this evening. I really, really like it. I’m not a great trick skier, but I’m confident I’ll improve with this ski. Compared to my old 44” O’Brien, this ski is crazy stable and supportive. Stepping off the platform I immediately noticed I sank at about half the rate I usually do.

 

It’s going to take some getting used to as it’s definitely more “slippery” than my old ski. I’m assuming the hard edge might have something to do with it. Mostly on my reverse stuff it simply slid out from underneath me a few times. Wake to wake jumps are effortless with amazingly better height. I can only do a TB, TF, TWB, TWF, TS but I didn’t have a release person so I didn’t try any of those. But the added stability and support I feel makes me think those will also be easier. Hopefully!

 

I ended up slowing the boat from 19.8 mph where I’ve skied for the last 15 years and ultimately settling in at 17.8 mph with 3’ less rope. I also broke the cardinal rule by using a new binding on a new ski. That was a noticeable difference too.

 

I know everybody likes pics:

 

 

[Sethro]

Something I forgot to touch on was the overall effort to simply ski is much less. Thinking back I went 8 or 9 miles and didn’t stop because I was fatigued. Deep water starts are night and day less effort, and I didn’t consider the start on my old ski demanding in the least.

[dchristman]

It is lighter and more maneuverable than my old iBoard

 

[disland]

@Sethro , why a shorter rope, seems to me with that big ski and going slower you would go to a longer rope?

[jjackkrash]

Welp. I'm still a crappy tricker but I had a lot of fun. And, wow, is it easy to get out of the hole with my back foot in. I would normally need back foot out to get up on a trick ski.

[Sethro]

@disland Slowing down widens the wake and table, so to remain in about the same spot I'm used to in the table means a shorter rope.

[disland]

@Sethro need more feedback, have you had a few more sets?

[Sethro]

I went out again last night, but after a couple sets of slalom. I again didn't have a tripper so no toe trick attempts. Sorry, nothing really more to add at this point other than it's a keeper. I spent last night just riding around doing surface spins and jumps continuing to get acclimated to the ski. It definitely spins much easier (surface stuff) than my old ski.

 

My old school 160 pound friend on a 43" ski was joking how silly such a big ski is, and I told him he's clearly never tricked on a "normal" sized tricker at 235ish pounds. I finally feel like everybody else looks having a proportionately sized trick ski.

[sheskis7]

A friend is checking this out, does anyone have anymore feed back on this.

 

[disland]

I bought one, I will do a review

 

[H2Oski17]

If anyone is selling a 43 or 44in trick ski... I’m in the market. Left foot fwd. I’m strongly in the slalom camp but want to pick up tricking as my daughter started tricking in her college ski club.

[Sethro]

I was able to go again Sunday, and ended up slowing down even more to 17.5 mph and still plenty fast enough to be comfortable. I also shortened the rope another 3 feet, though this was behind my buddy's 2012 TXi instead of my 1998 Echelon, so that's yet another variable. My limited toe turns were fine, but I did notice it tracked a little differently then I'm used to with the rope on my foot, so that'll take some getting used to. Could be the binding placement, but I'm running out of warm water to change things up too much.

[storm34]

Any chance you guys could provide a measurement on the ski's width? We're planning a ski trip to FL in February and wondering if the 54' trick will fit in a Dakine 190cm ski bag.

[Hallpass]

@storm34 Goode is 15" wide

 

[disland]

OK, I am 6 sets in to this ski. For reference I am 190lbs and trick 1250 points. I want more. First sets were in cold texas then one here in Florida. The ski does not make tricking easier. It does let you go slower. I had to experiment with speed, binding placement and rope length. I need to take a lesson to get it dialed in.

 

I am now tricking at 14mph, and I shortened the rope 6 feet off. I still cant make all my tricks yet but getting closer. I am going to stick with it because the falls at 14mph are so much more forgiving than at 18.5 mph on my 44" ski. I am optimistic I will trick more often and try more new tricks with this ski.

 

I will report back after I get more sets in.

[unksskis]

@disland sounds like you'll be ready to flip come spring

[disland]

@unksskis unfortunately all my flips are in the jump event

[klindy]

@disland for a while you were pretty good at them too! ?

[Bruce_Butterfield]

But @disland never got more than half credit since he was always landing on his head :D

[klindy]

@Bruce_Butterfield Sadly I learned the flip the same way.

[Bruce_Butterfield]

Santa was Goode this year!

 

[klindy]

@Bruce_Butterfield sweet!!! I’ll get a flight booked to DFW in the spring!! ?

[Oldutskier]

Santa brought me one as well!

 

This is going to get interesting. I have never tricked before, but wanted a ski that my daughter can drive. This will be fun!

[buechsr]

Another one here! Looking forward to getting it wet this weekend!

[Swjskidoc]

So I have a Goode monster. Bought a wakeboard bag for it.

Key points, Slowed speed by 2mph. It’s wide and stable flat but harder to get on edge with a very good, wire cinch down type binding. I would lean, ski wants to stay flat. Added a reflex hard shell binding and no ski goes where I turn it. No new tricks added yet but can do all I could on my 1980 kidder redline.

 

[disland]

At the risk of looking like a wally I am hoping I can help others.

 

So when I bought this ski I got the Goode RTP plate. I spent all kinds of time making sure the front binder was exactly where it was supposed to be. I didnt think much about the back binder and just mounted it up thinking "they must have it in the right place right?'

 

well after struggling with this thing for a couple months I went to Chets for a lesson. I told him I was having trouble getting my back foot all the way into the binder. He told me to look at maybe customizing it to get it to fit.

 

So I went home and compared the new one against my old 44" ski. I measured the rubber and the size was the same, but when I tried them side by side it was clear that on the new ski my back foot was off center to starboard by at least an inch.

 

Well that explains a lot I thought. So I had to take it completely apart. The good news is these RTP plates have lots of holes so I was able to do some measuring and figured out what holes to use. I ended up moving the rubber piece an inch forward on the plate and about an extra hole on each side for added width.

 

Skied it this morning and it was a completely different ski. I imediately was able to do replicate my complete run from last summer and now I can start working on new tricks

 

 

[klindy]

@disland I did EXACTLY the same thing to the RTP (mine is Wileys but they are the same) for my D3 trick ski. On the narrower/normal trick ski width, my foot literally hung off the edge of the ski and in the water. I've skied on the RTP this way for more than a year now, and no problems.

[dchristman]

Ditto, but I cut down the rubber and bars too:

 

[Bruce_Butterfield]

Yeah its just a little bigger than a normal trick :D

 

[klindy]

@Bruce_Butterfield You'll finally be able to get enough air to do a flip!

[Bruce_Butterfield]

No flips for this old dog!

[Sethro]

 

One of my buddies that initially scoffed at such a big trick ski. As you can see, it’s proportionally about the size I should be on ?

[dchristman]

When are we going to see some video of you giants doing something on those big boards?

[jaymac]

I have read through all the 54" GOODE MK1 trick threads I could find, but still haven't reached a conclusion if this is a good fit. 6' 2" and 210 lbs are you able to do toe tricks with this ski or it more of a fun wake jumper with basic handle tricks? Use to be a mid 5k tricker 30 years ago. I'm leaning towards a normal 44" with rubber boots at the moment. Not sure about all this hardshell stuff. I recently picked up a 90's 42" Connelly off Craigslist and it has given me the itch. Not a ride bad ride but feels a bit small for an old fat guy.