disco83

Just to provide an update, I ended up getting a 2016 71" HO TX ski and couldn't be happier! I spoke to someone local who said that anything over AUD$1000 attracts a 10% customs fee and you will most likely cop a fine as well. Unsure if it was true or not, but I didn't want to find out. After I made sure I had the boot real tight, it was easy to get up on. 1st few attempts I kept falling to the right getting up. Once I was up I was able to do twice the distance as usual on the ski and I probably still could have kept going. Amazing how much of a difference the right size ski will make. Thanks very much to everyone for their assistance.

Thanks for all the advice, it's definitely giving me ideas on the size and type of ski. Problem now is that you get so much differing advice. 69 keeps getting recommened even though Radar sizing suggests the 71. What would be the downside to going a 71 over a 69? I just don't want to go too small, especially if buying from the US. Perfski, I will PM you.

Thanks for the advice Ryno, I will try and give him a buzz tomorrow. So far I was looking at the 2016 Senate 71' from wakehouse.com at US$549 + US$92 to Australia. Seems to be the cheapest I can see so far. They've also been very helpful over email.

Hi all, new to the forum. Been reading a few articles and finally decided to join to get some direct advice. I am currently skiing an early 2000's O'Brien Siege 68' with Targa boot - I think at the time the only better O'Brien skis were the World Team and Mapple, the Sixam hadn't been released. I am probably much heavier than I was when I first bought it, I am now an athletic 6"1, 114kg (251lbs). I am an open water skier, never tried course skiing, though I ski quite aggressively at around 36-40mph with a standard length rope. I have read that 40mph is probably too fast, but it seems quite comfortable for me, maybe because my ski has too much drag?? From what I have read, the 68 could be too small... I am looking to see if a new ski is a good idea or not. I do struggle getting out of the deep now, and have have recently switched to getting out with the rear foot dragging, rather than in the RTP. Though I much prefer beach starts where possible! Over the weekend I tried an O'Brien World Team Comp 70' which seemed much easier to get up on, though felt like I was skiing on ice once I was up. I have been looking at the Radar Senate Alloy 71' which In Australia, the 2017 model is AU$1250. Therefore looking at buying from the US and therefore considering the 2016 or 2017 model. Does anybody have any thoughts on whether this would be the appropriate ski for me or not? If it is, would I realistically see much improvement on the 2017 over 2016?