KRoundy

Congrats. Those photos are awesome.

Could you perhaps call somebody at Radar and talk through your questions? I'd think that at 200 lbs you'd like a 69" ski better at your age. I'm 48 and unfortunately heavier than you, so I got a 71" Senate. I was struggling on a very old 68" ski until I got this new Senate and I could not be happier. The ski is quick, stable and a blast to ski. I'm working to lose weight to get down to your weight, and plan to be on my Senate down to that weight. We will see how that works. Anyhow - my point is with the distance from Seattle you should talk to somebody at Radar for some advice before you buy something either too large or too small.

Another vote for an HO Freeride. And we would LOVE to see some photographic evidence. Where does this event take place? Somebody with an inboard needs to come give you guys a tow after laboring behind a 75HP motor over the decades. CONGRATS to keeping an awesome tradition alive!

What do you mean by "pay attention" on the deep water start? Congrats at getting back out there. It's been a long recovery.

Sure wish we could watch waterskiing on ESPN today... That is really cool. Thank you so much for posting.

Very cool! What a great idea.

1. That is really cool. I can't wait to check those out at my local shop. 2. The out-takes at the end had me laughing out loud. Good stuff. 3. Sure hope we see a return of the "Gear Reviews" that includes water skis soon! I miss that (I know it was due to injury - hope that you are 100 again).

There are videos about the new Lithium Senate. It is in the product line! :)

I though anything Denali was crazy or a joke / hoax and was just avoiding that whole Denali Log thing (I read through it once and was amused). However: This is awesome and very helpful. Thanks!

Oh yes, mine too. The books ships from Canada. Mine arrived 8 business days after it shipped.

Got mine on Wednesday. A great book and resource. Before the next ski season I'm going to be measuring my fin, buying some angle guides and a fin protector, and then hitting the water with confidence I can make adjustments and know what will happen and why. Thank you, Jay!!!!

I think the reason things have stayed the same for so long is inferred in the story above. Hydrodynamic forces can be incredibly powerful. The current shape is essentially the most surface area that humans and our equipment can handle. Anything larger would just tear stuff apart and anything smaller will turn the slalom ski into a weird-looking trick ski. SkiJay makes a great comment too about the adaptability of the design. (Still hopeful that my book comes soon, I can't wait for it to appear in my mailbox!)

Purchased mine. Watching the mailbox with anticipation.

What did you ski back in the 80's? I have a VERY similar story to yours. Skied a lot, did some course work back in the 80's and then kids and life got in the way. Back then I found out that high-end water skis suited me the best, even if I wasn't a pro. When I got back into skiing in the last two years I at first skied on my trusty old Kidder. But I was heavier and was drowning the ski. So I got a larger ski and found out just how far water skis had come. I got a Radar Senate Lithium and am VERY happy with the purchase. I have to be ready for that ski because it wants to fly, but once I did a few passes I found that I love it. Very happy with the Senate. I'd also recommend you at least get a Graphite if you were used to high-end skis in the 80's. It is so fun to lean in hard and fly across the wakes. The ski is stable and very confidence-inspiring. And if you really get back into skiing it can run the course. There is a video of Horton running a Senate through the course on this site somewhere.

Just to add to my comments about the 71" Lithium Senate - I was skiing on an old 68" ski previously (It was/is a Kidder Redline - roughly 1992 vintage). I was drowning while trying to ski that 68" ski, but am amazed at the difference with the Radar. Easier to get up (double-boot), less sinking / drag, much more speed to and through the wakes. I feel that the turns are not quite as quick, but I'm still getting used to the way the ski operates. I found that if I concentrate on my form and keep my weight forward the ski is AMAZING. So fast, so quick, so stable and so much fun. I'm very glad that I got the 71" ski and glad that I got the Lithium. I wanted a Graphite - but my shop was out of the 2015's and I was offered a screaming deal on the last 71" 2015 Lithium Senate in the store. I bit the bullet, promised my wife a nice Christmas present, and spent the coin for the Lithium. And it was absolutely the right decision.

I am a pretty big guy (a little heavier than you currently but working on that - and I am 6'-1", and I'm in my upper 40's) and ski on a 2015 Lithium Senate - but I'm not as good as you. Of course, Horton was running into some pretty deepline stuff on the Senate before the injury. There are videos somewhere. The Lithium Senate is a great ski that runs fast and has great acceleration (at least it does to me). I got the 71", but it sound like you think that would be too much? I figure that ski will work for me until / if I get down to below 220, maybe even to 210, going 32 / 34 MPH.