Kwoody51

@SlalomSteve if you are thinking of changing bindings best to just do it and adapt your skiing to new binding. If you are looking for a size large T factor I have a nearly new size large one for sale. Will also have a size large rear as well soon once my RTP comes in.

$220 shipped Used only a few times. Close to new as you can get!

As painful as it might be is now the time to rip the bandaid off and just update to a zero off boat? If you re-power likely won't get that $$$ back when/ if you sell it.

@gsmith795 2nd ski is a ‘15 radar vapor. Would guess that new radar is even lighter. Don’t run same boot setup so can’t do a direct comparison. There is a nice ‘19 Radar senate pro build on SIA for $650 OBO. Same year and model ski from a different seller sold last week for $600.

To level set expectation. You can be into a ski that was $1500 new for less than $500 if it’s a few years old. Selling your concept will mean it’s likely a $300 expense. The new ski will weight at ~2 lbs less vs your concept - see pic This is exactly what I have done. Would I drop $1500 on a brand new, top of the line ski - heck no. But a few hundred for a lightly used one - all day long!

Yes, do it! Check our ski it again for lots of great options for high end skis for a fraction of new. Like a ‘18 or newer top of the line ski can be found for $500-600 if you hunt like a hawk. The good deals go quick! I free ski as well and also came from a connelly concept to a ‘15 radar vapor. Just moved to a ‘18 vapor pro build. I can say I noticed a difference going from the connelly to my 1st vapor. Not sure I can say I have noticed as big of different going to the ‘18 vapor but it’s still fun.

@Dylan_wick Isn’t that the new flex tail feature?! Designed to help follow the contour of the curve and increase your ability to get into stacked position faster.

Ordered a new HRT but it was delivered in the wrong size (small vs STD, no way to make that fit!). Since the HRT I need is out of stock I'm going to give this RTP thing a shot. Might only get a few outings on it but may as well give it a go! I grew up riding a RTP and my biggest complaint was not being able to consistently secure my foot. When my foot was 'in' it felt awesome but if it wasn't I felt like my foot was always about to fall out. Guessing I likely had too small of RTP. Props to @mike_mapple at Perf ski for great customer service!

Sold...

Deposit was placed for the SSLXI on Tuesday and @bwoody will pick up tomorrow! Hoping to get in a ski tomorrow afternoon. Worried I'll like the wake better than my boat... :)

@ballsohard Makes sense. I thought maybe this was the case but didn’t know if you were also looking for an ability to move your heel around (if that’s a thing :))

Maybe a newb question but what does a move from HRT to RTP allow you to do? Totally get what boot to HRT does but feel like HRT to RTP seem more subtle. Not questioning your move, just trying to gain a better understanding.

I used Connelly stoker wrap bindings for years, tried Wiley’s high wraps and didn’t like the closed toe feel. T factors pop up on ski it again pretty often. Pick up a front and give it a try. I’m certain if you don’t like them you can resell on SIA if you don’t like it.

I run the T factor and like others have said it’s a little tight but has good support. I want to try the Vapors for the comfort but don’t think they will give me any performance.

Take a video and posting it here will get you some great feedback. I just did that a few days ago and I have TONS of feedback to incorporate :)

@ToddL - thanks for the advise on chilling out on the turns. You are correct that my focus has typically been on carving without thinking about anything else and I'm using a lot of energy there. I also used to get a TON of slack in the rope, like laying on the water slack and the waiting for the hit of the rope. Have gotten better about that :) I'll try to worry less about the turn and focus on the stance and wake crossing.

@Jmoski - thanks! Both points makes sense and I’m well aware of the double pull as well as how to fix it since it’s only happens on one side! Like idea of dry land measuring the rope angle. Was thinking this would be easiest way to do this.

Limited use by open water skier. $450 shipped without bindings. Check out listing on SIA for photos.

@klindy - thanks! I was just about to ask if there are drills or practice techniques I can do to help get the 'feel' of a good stack without having the wake crossing being a hurdle. Messaged received on NOT straight legs crossing the wake :)

@vtmecheng - this is the simple advice I need :) Feel like my mission next time out is going to be arms straight and legs straight. My brain can remember those 2 things... if I do them is a whole other story!

@skispray - thanks again, makes sense! Perhaps over simplifying it a bit - is a goal/ starting place to try to cross wakes with legs fully extended/ as straight as possible? I realize that you can pull your hips forward with bent legs but it's not super natural and if your legs are straight your hips are naturally forward. Just trying to get to as simple as starting point as possible to work on. Just recently, right before these videos, I have been trying to stand 'tall' on the ski and that helped the turns feel better and less load on my legs. But clearly not holding that 'tall' stance though the wake.

@skispray - thanks for all this feedback! You are correct my onside and offside are very different and I 'check up' on the offside as I've had some nasty OTF crashes coming across the wake when I've tried to hit it as hard as my onside as I've caught the tip 'jumping' over the wake. I think I need to shorten the rope to get to a flatter spot in the wake. In my head I thought if I can make this work with this giant hump then the rest will be easy! Making excuses but I feel like my hips are back, when crossing wakes, because I'm trying to squat/ prepare for the wake. Hips forward = taller on ski = less leg bend.

@mfjaegersr - my wife is typically my driver and I've given this feedback just a few times, sometimes not as politely as I should have :) I bite my tongue and take the pull I get vs trying to drive the boat from the end of the line ( I have a hand signal for 'straight') @robmollysilverlake - Yes!!!! My family has been going to Madsen's resort for 39 years and is where I learned to ski and have done most all my skiing. We are only there once a week, in middle of July. However my sister and brother in-law built a house/ cabin immediately west of Evertt's beach on the West side of the lake. They don't ski though....

Thanks for all the input!

Was able to get some video on vacation recently. Would welcome any feedback you might have as well as 'how' to implement feedback. From watching other videos, and mine, I feel like I need to improve stack across wake - not exactly sure how to do this but understand what 'good/ great' looks like and I'm no where close :) get more weight on front foot through turn/ not ride the tail so much - I used to be WAY worse, again would welcome guidance on how to improve more weight forward Let me know what else you might see but per @Horton other thread on coaching new skiers I don't want to be overwhelmed with too much to focus on too soon. Thus let me know the 'big' things to work on so I can try to fix those and then work down the list. I've been free skiing since I was a teenager but it was only once a week when access to a boat on vacation. ~5 years ago I got a proper-ish DD ski boat so ski more often but on public water and not as much as I'd like. I say proper-ish as it's a great family DD boat but as you see the hump is still pretty healthy, no where near like the '94 PS 205 I had before this! Boat is doing 32-34mph and I'm at 15' off.