ghutch

Time to revive one of my all time favorite threads. Now with the new Radar boot out.. and I know its too early to tell...has the ski world achieved the optimal boot? Will definitely be interesting. @Horton will we see a review?

Well once again a tip of the hat to Denali and the Adams'... seems to be alot of that going on around these threads. Reread this thread again and the light bulb came on finally. Worked on just getting the ski out of angle, pointing down the lake and moving COM over the ski at CL on the same handle path. Much better, much slower, much more fun. I have struggled with 35 so much this year and have now run it last two times out with 2.5 @ 38 twice. I believe this has been the missing link for me. To the Adams'..thanks again and please do a Denali Summit again.

@Ed_Johnson I agree with you. Love my c-75. Could adjust it darn near anywhere and still run passes. Very easy to tune it and try new settings. I had a bit of a time with the 85. I find it a little more finicky to settings than the 75 but when you find them it will come alive.

I was working safety at this event and was in front of the jump when he came flying over. Really scary from that angle as it looked like he hit his head. He said he was lifting his ski to cut to the jump and caught a tip. (forgive me I'm not a jumper but thats what was explained to us). Looking at the video he's extremely lucky he slid over it on his back. Water ripped his helmet off before. Took our breath for a moment but he came up giving a thumbs up. Tough kid!

Cut it off and cut it down. Modify it like Caldwell suggests and let er rip. You wont regret it.

Planning on being there. Sounds like a great time.

Get your shoulders as far as possible away from the ski. Not the water... the ski. Used this advice from Caldwell and it really helps.

Theres only one way to find out

Talking with Caldwell this is territory that takes alot of work to figure out (35-38). The ski is doing things at shorter line than longer and different settings help with this. Its a matter of playing with your settings and being willing to try new things. The ski won't feel as good at 28-32 but will come alive around 35-38. I've felt this some with my skiing and its hard to wrap your head around. 28 pass-sucked...32 a little better...35 oohhh yeah! 38.... too excited. Man I love this sport!! Good luck

Congrats! What a super exciting time. Looking forward to the suggestions myself for some "maybe one day".....

Man I told you we should have went with a Denali!

@bko I use a Radar liner and the edges have stayed pretty good. It is mostly just the foam now. I did put duck tape around the edges but haven't skied with it yet to see how it will hold up. I also had a tear coming down the side and used some Goop to help stop that. I'm in the process of doing another one for a back up. If I figure out how to post pics I will do so.

Finally doing some skiing on the mods to the Reflex black shell. Flattened sole, trimmed upper and lower cuff (was extremely stiff before trimming), moved buckle lower over the big toe and modified Radar liner to use in it. Bottom cut out, grip tape on Reflex shell bottom, and cut alot of the foam away from tongue, sides and upper cuff area. Also put a bit of foam over the big toe to take up space there. My results so far is my 35 feeling way better and running more of them this early in the year. 1st 35 of the season should have run it but got excited at 4 ball it felt so easy. 2nd one lost the handle at 4 ball but again should have been run. 3rd time- money. Didn't take any time to get used to it. Got on it and ripped into 35. Still using a Radar for the rear boot. Bottom line- its awesome. If you're on the fence about doing any mods...what have you got to lose?

I installed Zbox on my 04 Malibu R LXI. Updated to single puck as well. It was sent to PP and they did it for me. Same letters and numbers as well as + setting. It can go in RPM mode, practice, jump, trick... all of it. I'm a M4 skier, 28-32-35 into 38. I ski alot of different boats- new Nautique, 1990 MC, 2016 MC, 2014 Centurion, 2015 Malibu. I usually ski my same number of buoys behind whatever it is. Upgrading was easy and (knock on wood), haven't had any issues. It runs great. Any other questions you have let me know. Hope this helps.

I agree its getting harder to find good water on public lakes. Even going @ 6am its hard. Fishermen are all over the place and won't sit still, then they pull out and the wallys are getting out for the day. I just accepted it and it wasn't that bad but last year was exceptionally frustrating mainly because I'm finally running 35 a little more and trying to work on 38. Hard to do with crap water. With covid I guess they were looking for something to do as well.

@pregom that is an incredible pass she completed, probably one of the most incredible passes ever run. I've wondered how many skiers, including men skiers, who could have completed that pass especially after the poor 1 ball turn... let alone the whole pass. I'm betting none. Hands down the best skier in the world!

@Horton I understand that... just trying to figure out how much it can misbehave and then get better. This is some fun stuff to figure out. Thx for both viewpoints.

@AdamCord so...if those early passes feel like that I'm guessing at 35-38 the ski should feel alot better? Its hard to want to go on to shorter line lengths when it feels so off at longer line. This is something a skier just has to learn over time?

@Horton your comment "To put it more simply - if I can not run my opening pass ( 32 off ) early and easy almost every time then something is wrong. That is the first place I will judge a ski and set up. It is not pass where the more minuscule issue arise but is a good starting place. When 32s are perfect I will work at 35 until it feels the way I want." Doesn't this depend on short line set up? 28-32 will not feel as good but then the ski will start to come alive at 35 and 38? I remember Cord stating one time if your earlier passes feel off thats how you know its setup for shortline. I know there are alot of other factors here going on but if the ski is set up for the earlier passes, short line will be difficult.

@swbca no. I did not replace the linkages or anything else. Just installed what I was sent by PP. No regrets doing it.

@swbca Here is my answer.. I am at that level also, hardest pass 38 off M4 skier. I installed SG Zbox on my 04 Response LXI. I ski behind all different boats from having just SG to SG with Zbox to the latest ZO. Really can't tell a whole lot of differences and generally run my same line lengths-passes-speed-and setting. I would think if you have guys who are very picky and can really feel a difference between the two systems then they might complain.

So.... anyone modifying the toe bar or have any other suggestions? I'd be willing to pay for the peace mind knowing it was right

My question is... what is everyone doing for the toe bar once the boot is flattened? I don't really have that warm fuzzy of security of a prerelease without it being machined down somehow and refitted. Just putting tape on it to fill the gap concerns me. Any solutions?

This has been one of my all time favorite threads and I think it needs to be revised with old man winter coming on. My question is.. who all has done some of these mods and skied better? I'm going to start the process and try it out over the winter.

Obviously a pretty decent one to get my 200 lbs through the course! Thx again buddy