2024 Radar Vapor Review - first rides

[Horton]

I mounted up the pretty new Radar this week & I took my first real rides on it today. This review is going to be fun. The ski is unique. I think I am going to like it a lot.

The darn thing is FAST and when I say fast I mean low effort everywhere. It is not overly fast at apex but it is super fast through centerline or at least that is my first impression. 

With the settings I am starting with, OnSide turns are ridiculous.   

It is hard not to get super excited when a ski feels great for the first few rides.  

Say tuned.

[tjm]

What settings did you start with 

[Horton]

67

2.480

6.945

.750

9

29 7/8th

[jjackkrash]

So you are running more fin surface area than either stock setting.  Is that normal for you or did you get a tip on setup?  

[Horton]

@jjackkrash I got these numbers from somebody who already had some experience on the ski. I not saying those numbers are ideal but I did like them better than the stock long shallow. You never know after some time on the ski I might migrate back to the stock long shallow. I'm just getting started.

[KRoundy]

Not to get too personal here, but about what do you weigh these days? Thinking about the 67" ski length.

[Horton]

@KRoundy

182 this morning 

[KRoundy]

@Horton OK. Thx.

[whitem71]

@Horton be good to get your thoughts on how it compares to the outgoing model. When I got the 22 it instantly felt a little slower/ smoother /longer than my previous Vapor, a 2017, which was a rocket ship so was slightly disappointed.

If it’s a mega upgrade I’m going to have an expensive dilemma 🙄

[UWSkier]

1 hour ago, whitem71 said:

@Horton be good to get your thoughts on how it compares to the outgoing model. When I got the 22 it instantly felt a little slower/ smoother /longer than my previous Vapor, a 2017, which was a rocket ship so was slightly disappointed.

If it’s a mega upgrade I’m going to have an expensive dilemma 🙄

friend of mine is riding the 2024 and finding it noticeably faster side to side than the 22/23 shape.

[Mastercrafter]

I also feel that the 2024 ski builds width and space before the buoy easier than my 2022. Not sure if it’s really faster, or just more efficient and easier to get there. Vapors feel super fast already compared to everything else I’ve tried. 

[Horton]

Last few weeks have been a blur of tournaments and travel. Not the best way to get dialed on a new ski.

Anyway, I have 3 rides so far this week at home behind my normal boat and things are clicking. I am nowhere near knowing the exact details of the final review but the ski is really good. Everything is easy. I have dropped the extra 32 I normally before shortening the line because 32 and 35 are so darn effortless. ( Instead of starting at 28, I almost always run two 32s and then shorten ) 

 

[Jaypro]

that looked pretty effortless, @Horton, nice skiing

 

[Bdecker]

Looks great, are you still at the same fin setting?  I’ve been taking out tip and seem to be somewhere between long/shallow and short/deep.   Curious if you’ve made changes 

[Horton]

I am a version of Short Deep now. I know some skiers that LOVE the long shallow but it just does not work with my Off Side.

[C5Quest]

Just got mine,  first ride tomorrow 

starting with stock long/shallow

Edited September 1, 2023 by C5Quest

[C5Quest]

Wow this thing wants to turn!  Got a quick set in today.  Stock L/S shallow settings.   May try S/D but started where recommended.   More reports later but right up to my average of mid -32 .  Less effort in turns and fast across course.  

Edited September 1, 2023 by C5Quest

[Horton]

try for 67

2.500

6.860

.755

29 7/8

[Mastercrafter]

I switched to S/D and really like it so far. Definitely worth a try, whether going with factory numbers or Hortons. 

[C5Quest]

@Horton I have a 66.  Can I use those numbers except go .750 DFT?

[Horton]

yeppers 

[C5Quest]

 Looking at the numbers for a 67 you moved Bf 1/8.   Going to try 29 3/8

Edited September 2, 2023 by C5Quest

[Mateo_Vargas]

@Horton Short & Deep? I always thought you were a Short & Cheap kinda guy. I liked those numbers today.

[teammalibu]

Mine showed up yesterday hope to ride it soon! If I get a good score first round today I may boot it up for round 2.

[Horton]

it seems like the ski is sensitive to boot placement. I've been exploring, forwards and backwards a 10th of an inch at a time. I'm not very far from stock but a little bit makes a big difference.

[Ali]

@Horton what are you feeling different with the boot movement front and back?

[Horton]

@Ali i was tweaking the amount of tail slide before apex. Binding forward means less slide and slightly less angle.

[C5Quest]

I moved back to Bf 29 3/8s on my 66.  still experimenting.  Was on L/S settings,  just switched to S/Dish. Haven't ridden it yet but will give it a go tomorrow.  Are you still split in the middle @Horton? I'll try the S/D with 29 1/4 next.  It's an interesting ride for sure.  

[Horton]

There are some issues with the skiing but darn the ski makes space

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[slowlerner]

@Horton I’ve been on a 24 Vapor PB 67” for about a month now. I was on an NRG R2 before this and felt like that ski made some serious angle but would just stall at the finish of the turn, kind of like a hockey stop. I love the way the Vapor moves through turns without losing much speed. Here’s my question. I’m running pretty close to the factory S/D settings (Bf 29.75”) and getting a lot of hop at my 22off opener, especially behind the Nautique. I often find myself on the tail on my onside. Obviously I have room to improve my stance/alignment. But I’m curious about trying the factory L/S settings since that would put my Bf at 30”, thinking that may get me over the ski a little more. I’m just not much of a tweaker so I figured I’d get your opinion before making a change.

 

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

@slowlerner feel free to PM me some video and I'll help you get dialed. 

[Horton]

@slowlerner

Send video to @ColeGiacopuzzi he is a Radar factory team skier.  I ran my Vapor with settings he gave me. 

[lkb]

@ColeGiacopuzzi would you happen to know where a tfactor should be on a 66”? I’m currently using a radar hardshell at 29 1/4 (the stock short deep settings). 
My problem is I don’t know how my actual heel position will compare with the tfactor

 

and maybe I should try the long deep settings I saw on here somewhere anyway. Appreciate the input.  

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

@lkb I would put it at 29 1/4 and see how it feels and then make an adjustment from there. Not worth guessing where to put it. 
 

I’d do the boot change first for a while so you can adjust to that and aren’t changing a whole bunch of things at once. then give those settings a try down the road 👍🏽

[morfoot]

 Just throwing up another positive review of the 24' Vapor.  Been riding a 2015 Graphite Vapor since 2017 and started skiing the course (public Lake) 4 years ago at age 53 with a PB of 2 @ 28' at 30 mph. I've learned a lot and have become a much better skier but yearn to ski the course at 32-34 as I free ski at those speeds at 28' but as we all know when you're in the course you skiing "really well" is for not when those pink balls are out. Been a BOS member for a couple years and have learned a lot here from just digging into the forums. 

 Learned that I probably needed to upgrade a 2015 ski to a newer ski as technology has greatly improved and that ski's start breaking down. Wanted to stick with RADAR as the I loved the Vapor I was on and the CS out of Seattle has been nothing short of Fantastic. After reading the reviews by Horton and others I wanted to upgrade to a 24' but was gonna wait till the 25's came out to get a better deal on a 24' as I don't do tournaments and didn't really see the need to upgrade in a hurry. Well, the guys at Performance had some 24' Vapor Pro Build Demos on sale which I was itching to pull the trigger on but wasn't sure if a Pro build was too much ski for me. Reached out to @ColeGiacopuzzi for advice and he not only responded quickly but told me that he didn't think it was too much ski for my ability, I would absolutely love the ski as compared to a 2015 but that I was on the bubble as far as length and that I should also consider a Senate.  Called Performance and talked with Bill about it and he pretty much said the same thing Cole said. That was enough for me, so I bought one. Bill was great and set the fin up to Factory settings and shipped it Fed-Ex right away. Great and superb service.

When it arrived, my wife thought it was an empty box as it was so light. Have only skied on it for about 2 weeks and all I can say is WOW!!! This thing is a HUGE difference than my old Vapor. This ski WANTS to turn, and it doesn't like NOT being on edge. Maybe it's my form, or boat speed but it fish tales a little when you're riding flat. I'm still getting the ski figured out, but it has supercharged my love for the sport, and I get super excited when I go out to ski. 

 Thanks @Horton, Cole, and Bill @ Performance skis for the reviews and advice.  I've already stepped up to 32'mph and have gotten 5 at 22'off. Still have at least 3 months of skiing left here in Ga so my goal is to take down 28' and start flirting with 32'.  This ski is the bomb. Rossi....thanks for building such a great ski. I know I'll never be able to ski to its design but the smile on my face after a set couldn't be knocked off my face with a crowbar. 

[skierjp]

@Horton what bindings are you using? 

[Horton]

I always use some version of a Reflex system. 

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

@morfoot The 24 is lights out. So Stoked you're loving it! Reach out anytime for help with settings, etc.