Slalom Skis for Heavier Guys

[Pierre Umbah]

Hi All

Im currently on an old 69" D3 and its certainly time for a new ski. However D3 only goes to 68" and although ive heard of the surface area debate I need convincing. 

Or does anyone have a particular recommendation for a larger performance ski. 

Im 105kg (230lb) and ski into 32/35 at 34mph. 

Regards

Dave

[Horton]

Radar Senate is basically a Vapor but 2/10" wider. Is a very good ski.

[mikegile]

+1 for the senate

[Pierre Umbah]

Is that the Senate Pro? There appears to be few models. 

[skialex]

Go for the senate pro, at your level I would get the high end one which is the pro

[KRoundy]

Definitely go for the Senate Pro. They make the Lithium in a 71" model but a quick check of the Radar web site says "coming soon". I've been at your weight and speeds and a 69" Senate Pro would be a really good choice. The 71" has a lot of support, carries speed easily and feels very stable, but if you are skiing that deep into shortline I think a 69" might be the ticket.

[jjackkrash]

There is also a 69.5 Vapor option.  Buy Ya, Senate Pro.  

Vapor

69.5"

393.33 SQ”

7.217”

32-36 MPH / 52-58 KPH

COURSE

200+ lbs / 90+ kg

Senate Pro

69"

402.41 SQ"

7.37"

34 MPH

COURSE

180 – 220 lbs / 82 – 100 kg

[Zman]

I have always wondered how much time (if any) the ski makers spend on water testing of 69 inch or longer skis. Or, do they just scale up and assume they work just like the shorter skis?

Do they have 230 lb high level testers?

[KRoundy]

@Zman That is a really good question. 

[Horton]

@Zman I don't have firsthand knowledge but I've been around the Radar guys enough to know they didn't just widen the ski and put it to market.

[PatM]

My ski partner is a 6-4 230lb 32off 34mph skier.  He skis on a 69" Senate pro.  He's tried sizing down to a 68" but the larger skis work a lot better for him.  His favorite ski was the 2016 Vapor 69"

[LK_skier]

68 DV8 with a flipper of a tail block? I’m 250 and 6-4. Just equaled my pb on it after 3 sets. 

[thager]

I wondered how long it would be until someone did that . Bravo!!

[ETskier]

Just my personal experience,  but at 34mph and your weight and line length, go with any traditional width but longer, as you currently have. You may be just looking for some more giddyup.  Find a 69 if you can. Some of of this depends on bindings.  Hard shells or hybrids can accommodate a little bit wider skis. Rubber bindings work better with traditional  or narrower width skis. Try both the 68 and 69 Senate. The Vapor is available in 69. 

[jjackkrash]

Senates come in 67 and 69.  If they had a 68 I'd probably be on one.  

[KRoundy]

@LK_skier Wow. Where did you get that? What else did you do to that setup? That DFT is off the charts. And @Horton I was not accusing Radar of something weird - I was more curious if there are heavy testing skiers. Or maybe you could put on weighted vests (would they float? hmmm...) and try things out.

I'm very interested in this topic. In my experience weight makes a huge difference when skiing. When I was in the mid 200s the 71" Senate Lithium was amazing. I could get up so much more easily and it was a Senate so I was able to progress. Made my first full pass on that ski. Now I'm moving pretty close to 200 lbs, on a 69" Senate and I love it. The less I weigh, the better I ski. 

Not sure what I'm trying to say...

[lpskier]

@thager That tail, and similar renditions, have been around for over two ski seasons. Some very good NY skiers use them. Jason Peckham 3D prints them. 

[thager]

@lpskier Cool! First I've seen of it. I thought it must be 3D. I remember when (somebody)? tested the swappable tail pieces ski. I made a comment about a piece like that to add surface area but was poo-pooed  in so many words.....

[BGrow76]

Give the 68" HO Syndicate Omega Max a look/try, very surprised no one has mentioned it.

[34mph]

Goode wide ride Xtr cc is a step above the radar senate pro ! 

[UWSkier]

On 12/16/2023 at 9:54 AM, 34mph said:

Goode wide ride Xtr cc is a step above the radar senate pro ! 

Not for big guys.  66" max won't cut it.

[UWSkier]

On 12/12/2023 at 5:18 PM, Pierre Umbah said:

Hi All

Im currently on an old 69" D3 and its certainly time for a new ski. However D3 only goes to 68" and although ive heard of the surface area debate I need convincing. 

Or does anyone have a particular recommendation for a larger performance ski. 

Im 105kg (230lb) and ski into 32/35 at 34mph. 

Regards

Dave

I'm 250lbs on a 69" Senate Pro, previously on a 71" Lithium.  Have skied into 32 at 34 MPH on the 69 and it can go much farther than my limited skills have the ability to take it.  The 71 is great too but I had a hard time shutting it down into the buoy if I was scrambling.

[UWSkier]

On 12/14/2023 at 5:59 PM, LK_skier said:

68 DV8 with a flipper of a tail block? I’m 250 and 6-4. Just equaled my pb on it after 3 sets. 

Saw @JoelHowley promoting something similar this morning on the 'gram.  Wonder how one needs to adjust fin to compensate for all that extra tail.

[skibrain]

If you flip the flipper over, it would sure push the tip town.  You could market it… call it the Connelly Hook. 

[Horton]

@UWSkier Connelly does make an extra long tail for the kid-size skis. The exact fin settings are not super critical at slow speeds. 

As for the crazy tail above I have more questions than answers....

[bhs]

On 12/18/2023 at 4:02 PM, UWSkier said:

Not for big guys.  66" max won't cut it.

I don't know. Joe McCreary placed second at nationals awhile back on a 66" and he was 220-225. 

Steve Raphael won multiple championships on a wide ride. Not sure how big he was at the time but I am sure someone here can tell us.

[jjackkrash]

Do these weight recommendations make sense in light of the surface area of the skis?

2024 Vapor Pro:

68"376.54 SQ”7.061”32-36 MPH / 52-58 KPHCOURSE180-220 lbs / 82-100 kg

69.5"393.33 SQ”7.217”32-36 MPH / 52-58 KPHCOURSE200+ lbs / 90+ kg

***

Senate Pro:

67"379.42 SQ"7.16”34 MPHCOURSE160 – 200 lbs / 73 – 91 kg

69"402.41 SQ"7.37"34 MPHCOURSE 180 – 220 lbs / 82 – 100 kg

 

I'd like to try a Senate but I am right at 200 usually don't like being on that end of the weight range but the 69 seems pretty damn big compared to my 68" vapor.

 

 

[UWSkier]

Go 67.  I'm 250 on a 69 and it's plenty of ski.  I ski with a guy who's about your size on a 67 and he loves it.

[Adam Caldwell]

@Zman  Yes,  several my testers in Charleston are 200+.   So far I have yet to measure a ski wider then a Denali under foot.   I build a ski last summer that was officially too big for the 28off-38off 220lbers.   

If you need a point of reference, at 17 inches from the tail on the Large C95 measures in at 5.25" wide.  Compare that to what your riding now and I think you would be surprised.

 

[jjackkrash]

21 minutes ago, UWSkier said:

Go 67.  I'm 250 on a 69 and it's plenty of ski.  I ski with a guy who's about your size on a 67 and he loves it.

I am trying to head to sub 190 this year, but damn it's hard for me to stay that light.  I was 223 on Jan 1 and now I'm just cracking sub 200 (which is lighter than usual for this time of year).  A 67 would sure give me some incentive though.

[thager]

We need Scot Chipman! 😂

[Horton]

@thager oh I'm sure he's here somewhere.

[DonT]

16 hours ago, Horton said:

@thager oh I'm sure he's here somewhere.

I'm surprised @thager didn't get a panda for that

[BSBELL]

I’m 6ft 215lbs and Travis at Boarding School put me on a 69” Senate Pro for almost 2 days. It’s a great ski!

Might have to look into one for myself

[Mick04]

I’m 6’3”, 230(ish). 69.5 Vapor for 34/32off or better; 69 Senate 34/28off and slower/longer. I have both and tried many others. Not too many options out there  for bigger guys, but these two are good options.

[LK_skier]

On 12/19/2023 at 9:11 AM, UWSkier said:

Saw @JoelHowley promoting something similar this morning on the 'gram.  Wonder how one needs to adjust fin to compensate for all that extra tail.

That was something different to change from a 65 to 66.  I didn't adjust the fin or anything - just went and skied it - took a couple of sets to adjust - essentially it was like skiing on a new ski.  It does tend to make blowing the tail out easier - I tend to do it a bit in rough conditions on my offside.  Although I think I could adjust for that if I wanted too.