Baller_ swbca Posted March 5, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted March 5, 2023 Have combo skis gone past a branded plank designed by the marketing department. We have 30 to 70 year old women guests who grew up skiing but haven't skied for a long time. Are there Combo skies that benefit from new boot and ski technology to make Combos versatile and skiable for skiers who would want to get back on a single ski on the first day ? We had a 20 year male guest - a fairly good skier - try to ski on an old combo slalom we found in our garage and all he could do was fall when he tried to ski like he could at home. In addition to the ski, quality of bindings is a big part . . we don't need 3" of length adjustment with hardware interfering with the rear foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted March 5, 2023 Administrators Share Posted March 5, 2023 The radar combo skis are kind of amazing. 1 Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes ★ Baller Video Coaching System Become a Supporting Member or make a One-time Donation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted March 6, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted March 6, 2023 Look for the wide shaped skis. I have a pair of O’Brien vortex that are great for beginners or seasoned citizens that haven’t skiied in awhile. Other manufacturers make similar versions but they are a huge improvement over the combos of yesteryear. 1 If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 03RLXi Posted March 6, 2023 Baller Share Posted March 6, 2023 Just go straight to an HO Hovercraft. No need for combos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ swbca Posted March 7, 2023 Author Baller_ Share Posted March 7, 2023 @Bruce_Butterfield @Horton If we had some combo skis they would be for women under 130lbs and with size 6-8 w shoe. In your opinions >>> Are the wide skis suitable - - are the bindings good for that size foot ? Do the wide-front skis turn better on 1 ski. . . the old wood combos don't turn if you are used to any real slalom ski. These Vortex page I saw had all the vortex skis at 65.5" Would that be good for 130 lb ladies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Broussard Posted March 7, 2023 Baller Share Posted March 7, 2023 HO's Freeride Combos look really promising, but I have never been on a pair. Hosports 2023 Freeride Combos 1 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Bruce_Butterfield Posted March 7, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted March 7, 2023 (edited) @swbcaI would definitely go with the Vortex for occasional skiers. Way easier to get up, very stable and allow you to go slower. The bindings on any type of combo will suck. There really isn't a good way (at least what I've seen) to have a wide range of adjustability outside of the ancient design of sliding heel cup. Neither of these will "turn" well if used as a slalom, but the wider ski will turn much better than an old wood combo and be more controllable. If your guest is a young, in-shape, experienced slalomer they will want a real slalom ski. Edited March 7, 2023 by Bruce_Butterfield 1 If it was easy, they would call it Wakeboarding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted March 13, 2023 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2023 @Bruce_Butterfieldsome years ago I had a guest ski with an adjustable high wrap of sorts. The heel was static, the footbed went forward and back and then there were neoprene wraps that came up around the ankle that secured with velcro. Can't remember who made 'em. It was a better than half-ass solution for an adjustable binding. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ lpskier Posted March 13, 2023 Baller_ Share Posted March 13, 2023 @6ballsMaharaja made an adjustable binding like that for its slalom skis back when we all skied on wood. I’m not sure, but I’ll bet that was a KLP innovation. Lpskier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ swbca Posted March 13, 2023 Author Baller_ Share Posted March 13, 2023 @Bruce_Butterfield@6balls Bindings are the problem on the current combos. The user reviews have many complaints. My 14 year daughter used to ski in my size 12 full wrap double bindings with no problem, but with combos we need something that is comfortable and makes it easy to drop one ski. I saw that radar has inexpensive replacement parts that could maybe be used to make a fixed size binding that is comforatable for women of any foot size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 2Valve Posted March 13, 2023 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2023 + for the Vortex combos. My daughter skis on these all the time. And super easy to kick off one when she wants to slalom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Garn Posted March 13, 2023 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2023 I agree with the comment to just completely skip the combos and go with HOs Hovercraft. It is just as easy to get up on, if not easier, than a combo pair. And you don't have to worry about doing the splits like a combo pair sometimes cause. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ALPJr Posted March 13, 2023 Baller Share Posted March 13, 2023 We had good luck with HO Blast combos and the stock bindings were pretty good for combos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldmanskier Posted March 14, 2023 Baller Share Posted March 14, 2023 Ditto on the HO Blast combo's. They are not super floaty like some combo's so the back of the skies stay down in the water for deep water starts. I found in teaching someone to ski that half the battle was them being able to control the skies in the water which allowed them to get comfortable before getting them up. I also found these skies are good for teaching someone to come up on one ski. After my hip replacement I was having a hard time coming up on my slalom. Just for grins I tried the HO Blast one ski that had the rear toe. I came up very easy and it tracks very straight. It does not try to go side to side like a competition slalom which allows you to get balanced over it easier. Tom Smothers (oldmanskier) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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