MEDDERX

My main ski buddy has a 2000 or so Bayliner Capri which is a stern drive. Aside from going faster and having less weight in the boat/extra weight up front are there any ways to improve the wake without doing anything drastic? We also recently connected with someone who has a 2017 Mastercraft XT20. From videos I have seen it looks like it can have a decent wake but both times I have gone out it was worse than the bayliner. I’ve tried to look up how to trim it for skiing but everything that shows up regards wakesurfing. Also any recommendations on how to suggest to the guy that it could use some improvement? I cant help but feel its rude when I myself dont even have a boat.

Here is a video, the beginning half on the river is from last year and the rest is from this year.

Thanks for all the responses! @robmollysilverlake At most I would be willing to spend $650 or so but thats if it was new (something like the carbon Omni?) but I would really prefer to spend less than that. The A2 is a X-demo and the shop is asking $350 for it, which I started leaning towards thinking is a bit much considering its from 2012 and being a demo probably has quite a few passes on it. I have kinda talked myself out of it. Like I said I have not skied on anything newer than 2000, probably closer to early 90’s, so I am concerned with how something as high end as a syndicate will handle. I just picked up a old HO vtx 9.8, mostly for the boot that was on it. But I tried it before I took it apart and the thing was stupid squirrly compared to my kidder. Basically my ignorance is beginning to assume that a high end ski like a syndicate, or even omni, is like a F1 car, but me not being a F1 driver am going to crash the thing in turn 1. I will see if I have enough footage to make a video so people can see my skill level and make a good ski recommendation. Sadly I’m not the type of person that can buy and sell until they find what they like, and there being no skis to demo does not help the matter.

As the title says I am looking at a HO Syndicate A2 65.5”. I’ve been skiing on a kidder Pro redline 66” ( this one https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/kidder-pro-redline-tour-series-66-150178398 ) the last few years and am interested in upgrading to something more modern since I have realized I like skiing and its not just a couple summer fad. I just open water ski since the corse we have is nearly a 7 mile boat ride away. Im 5’9” 135Lbs, have been going 28mph or so lately to try and work on my form more and dont get pristine water all that much. The boat is a bayliner stern drive so fairly sub par but I take what I can get. Occasionally get to go behind a prostar. I have never ridden a ski that was made before 2000, so I really have no idea what to expect or if I’m all wrong. The sizing seems pretty spot on with a 65.5 being for 120-160lbs and that I currently ski on the slow end.

So I managed to get a video, this was my first run in about a week so I tried to push myself a little much. My second run was too dark to video but I forced myself to slow down a bit and focus on not sitting back as well as not pulling past the wake and it did help quite a bit. https://youtube.com/watch?v=UC4ILkxMH1Q&feature=youtu.be

Thank you for the tips. Now that you mention it I think i am pulling past the wake and I know for a fact I am sitting back on the ski. Would moving the boots forward help with balancing it out? Sitting back is a bad habit I've always had snow skiing. @scorban2

Hi I just started skiing back in late May. I feel like I have began cutting across the wake at a good pace now but right at the time I want to start my turn the rope gets quite a lot of slack in it. Anyone have any ideas on why this may be happening? I usually ski 31-34mph and at full length though I've tried 15 off but it did not seem to make a difference with the slack, I will try to get a video the next time I go. Thanks