svxwilson

After 2 PBs today we pulled them. End of my first season. Cant wait for next year.

Skied last weekend water 51, Air 60. Again the wife and myself were toasty warm. Loving my suit, this was my second trip out with it and love it.

Wetsuits do make you weigh more and they make you float more changing your bouyancy and knee and feet positioning. I always dislike the way they feel. My recent purchase of a Camaro Blacktec suit is waaaayyyy better than the O'Neills I had always used just a tip. To help getting out of the water I would focus on keeping your knees as tight into your body as possible (max bend) and keeping your arms and shoulders relaxed(elbows straight the whole way out of the water), some people do better closing their eyes and letting their head and neck tuck forward with the shoulders at the same time as the launch. Individual coaching will get you further than anything. Get some vids or pics so we can give you accurate suggestions. Could be several things compounding the frustrations you are experiencing. The offside turn is the most difficult and will always be for most people.

Skied Sunday 60-70 Air and 55 Water. I was toasty warm and mostly dry in my Camaro Blacktec, best news was that my wife agreed that she was nice and warm as well.

I ended up going with the Camaro, got a suit for the wife and I for the price of one dry suit. Dry suit may be a eventual item but I think the Camaro will see more use. Big Thanks to everyone for all the different suggestions and opinions.

Purchased my first 2 Camaro Blacktec suits from Robby the other day. I tried it on and cant wait to give it a try in the water. I am comfortable with no suit into the high 50's, the wife on the other hand is not as warm as me so she will be the real test. First impressions are right in line with what everyone has said. One of the most comfortable suits I have tried and you loose very little mobility. So far I am impressed.

@OldboyII, can you elaborate on some suggestions for undersuit layers.

Trying to extend my/our season. At what temps do you use your Camaro Blacktec equipment at? I am interested in what you feel is to cold, and at that point do you call it quits or do you switch to a actual drysuit. Until my last thread "What is your favorite drysuit" I didn't realize the potential of just a better wetsuit than what I have ($70-100 O'Neill). My close second consideration is the O'Neill Assault Hrbrid, but for the cost of the Camaro I could buy hers and mine compared to the O'Neill. I am very interested in the Blacktec 2.0 Full for both my wife and myself. But any info would be great to see info for other Blacktec offerings such as the Spring 1.5. The BOS community rocks! Thank you for your input in advance.

@DanE how tall are you and what is your weight? I found a Large and a XL on ski it again. The guy who owns the XL called me back and said he is 6'4" and 225lbs which makes me think maybe the XL is on the large side for me.......

Just a update, I am leaning towards the O'Neill Assault Hybrid. I called O'Neill and apparently it is not discontinued they have it hidden on their website in the ski vests. I have found a few different fit charts, debating on L or XL. I am 6' 200lbs, 34-36 waist and it looks just like skis i am right in the middle of the 2 sizes. Any suggestions there? I am built like a T-rex (thanks to soccer) very large legs and ankles and in comparison smaller upper body.

I am finding myself in the market for a dry suit and have very little knowledge. I see the O'Neil Attack Hybrid was a good semi cost friendly option but now its discontinued after some research. I have found sone random places still have them in stock. Is that my best option? What do you like and why? Thanks for your input.

Have a 2014 TX Superlight and I would recommend it. No experience with a Katana for comparison. I have been skiing it for 2 years. This last year I have been learning to ski the course with it. I started at 25 MPH and am now up to 28-30. I don't know if Radar has a demo program but HO does and earlier this summer it was only $50 to try a new ski and it included shipping both ways.

I am 195lbs and have been curious to try my same ski (69"TX superlight) but in a 67" or a CX version. @savaiusini What are your thoughts for individuals who are on the weight edge of 2 sizes or is really close to it?

Thank you for the input. I think I am going to hold off on a purchase and just focus on my skiing. Sounds like I have some progress to make before I get a new stick. Gives me more modivation to get to 32mph. Hopefully HO is going to be doing the same demo program next summer too. Who else has a good demo program I should be aware of? How about changing fin and binding settings? I ride factory fin settings or whatever it came set as I have never changed it. I did move my boots one bolt hole forward shortly after I got it. @ScottScott yeah the TX is the same shape as the CX just a wider version. I believe HO rated it at 28-32mph and the CX 30-34mph.

Hello, I have been skiing the course this summer for the first time and have been skiing it at slower speeds to get the timing down and to learn (24-28mph) with the lake masters. I have been making consistent progress every time I can make it out through their instruction. I weigh 190-200lb and have been skiing with a 69" 2014 HO TX Superlight. I feel the ski has been great to learn on (especially at the slower pace) and to Free Ski on. Will my ski hold me back when I get to the 30mph+ level? 2 things I have been considering #1 a new ski and if so #2 what length as I am very close to the 67-69" barrier. Being a multi ski HO owner I have been considering the CX Superlight, V Type R, the new VTX and VTR and am not sure if I should go to the 67,68, or 69 (cx only). Or should I just keep riding my TX? Other skis i should consider? The lake owner/instructor has a 68" Connolly GT he said he would let me ride if I wanted to try it out. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks, Aaron

My trainer has been pulling me full length at 26 in a full size course. This last weekend things started to come together and I hit all 6 more than I have ever before. His rule of thumb is if you can't do it slow you can't do it fast. I was hesitant towards his method but it definitely worked for me. I would suggest slowing it down and letting the line out and ski the whole course.

@savaiusini Hopefully you guys run the same $50 demo program next summer. I will be trying both the Syndicate skis with the new bindings if you do before I buy. Will be my first Syndicate equip upgrading from your Superlight crossover equip.

Thanks everyone for the input, I am one who does not get discouraged easily. I understand my goal is a lofty one and chances are slim to hit it. I would be happy with a 15off at 32 as well. I typically get 3-4 full sets in every trip up. Which leaves me sore but I have been noticing the skiing slow has made me a lot stronger as it is significantly more tiring than the faster speeds. My trainers rule of thumb is that if I can't ski it slow I won't do any better fast. So I have been waiting for his approval to speed it up at the private lake. @skinut Nail on the head Tom is my coach and Gordons is my venue and yes I think he is awesome! @paco, when I am at the private lake I have the good fortune of skiing behind a 2016 Nautique. How much does a the PP with zbox cost as a upgrade for me 91 Brendella that would be really cool to have for open lake skiing. And how involved it the install of said throttle control?

What year is this 2014? I just noticed it doesn't have the middle binding screw hole.

Billings

Hello All, Thank you for having me. I have skied my whole life and have been a boat owner for the last 4 years (1991 Ski Brendella Super Comp). I love slalom skiing and have been self teaching myself to get better. The last few years I had felt like I had hit a wall on my progression in my open water skiing. I began to look for help and private lakes to ski on. I am new to the course was introduced to it at Bow Lake in Washington May 2015. I have since found a Private lake in Wyoming that is significantly closer to home in Montana. I have been making it down for roughly 1 day a week this summer and it's awesome. Been getting taught by the lake owner and it's just about all I think about anymore in my free thought time. Been skiing on a 2014 69" HO Superlight TX and I am 6' and 190-200lbs. It was a great step up from a 2007 HO Freeride which was the ski I learned to deep water start with behind a old 2 stroke Bayliner :). My goal by the end of this season is 15off and 36mph. Been training at 25mph and full length to learn the timing and get all 6 buoys. I have a lot to learn and understand that. Love it. Can't wait to learn from the input here. Thanks!