Lobonator

I seem to always ski best when I'm the most relaxed and am not thinking about a million things to fix throughout my pass. Oddly enough, my best day on the course last summer was after having a couple cold ones on the dock after work before catching a tow!

I only have experience on the Senate. But I've heard great things about the Omni series from a bunch of people. Jmac and Brooks got me set up on a radar vapor last year, and I'm sold on radars same shape between models platform. Especially when youre just getting into the course (like myself) the difference between layup and core, is not going to make a massive difference how the ski feels and performs. BUT, the shape absolutely will. With radar, all skis share the sames shape as the top of the line vapor, but get incrementally wider to suit different conditions/speeds. The Senate will rip turns like a vapor, but will give you more support for learning and when going slower. Get a Senate!

Aside from what everybody else has said. I think she looks like she's in wakeboarding position, with her hips not squared up to the boat. Because her weight is not distributed over the ski in the direction of the ski, it's causing the ski to wobble until she falls.

@jcamp I'm gonna have to give that a try when I'm out on the water next. I think I'm probably reaching down towards the boat too much, resulting in my dropped shoulder

I do that all the time on my on side. I feel like I over reach with my handle and then it's all downhill from there. Anybody have any tips on improving this?

@Cnewbert I ended up doing the same thing essentially. Going from a friend's old HO CDX/my HO freeride to an 18 lithium vapor. Found the vapor to be super stable and easy to ski from 30mph to 36mph. I ski primarily open water, with a little bit of course riding sprinkled in here and there.

I wish there was a way to set it up in a similar way to how wakeboarders/wakerskaters have done. Would be awesome to be able to set up in spots where you can't get boats into. @BraceMaker what you've described makes the most sense to me. That's pretty much the only way I could imagine setting it up.

This idea popped into my head while I was driving today. Figured somebody here has at least had a similar idea. But is there/ has anyone tried to rig up a winch to pull a skier through the course?

I would take a look at a radar union. Same (awesome) shape as the vapor. But is wider and more forgiving. And covers a really wide performance envelope especially if you're gonna have other friends using the ski too. I'm sure the omni is a great option too as others have mentioned.

Downhill mountain biking and backcountry skiing. Have managed to dislocate my shoulder doing all three sports now! Somebody top that!

Skied tonight on some glass calm water at water temp 44 degrees. Air was 41(5 celsius). Hanging up the ski for the season after that one!

Grab a vapor! The customer support is unbelievable. Brooks and the team will help you get set up!

@lpskier pretty safe to say my hands were a little shaky after getting out of the water. Here's a shot of me and JMac back on the dock after. Notice the difference in our attire.

Freeskied (not very well) at 47 degrees today. The 22mph wind made it a very brisk and uneventful rip behind the biat. But still got out!

@Jetsetr What type of handle are you using? My arms always kill after using a handle that has a softer foam for the grip. I tend to over squeeze those and burn my arms out compared to when using a harder habdle

@Zman I own the 18 lithium but have spent quite a few sets on the 18 pro as well. The main difference in construction is the pro has the PMI core vs the PVC in the lithium, and the pro has a different carbon. I'm just getting into the course, and was able to improve like crazy this summer on the lithium. Went from never skiing the course to running 15 off @ 34mph. At my level the biggest difference I felt was the pro accelerated a bit quicker across course and out of the turn.

@C5Quest I'll have to check my numbers, but I was having a similar issue. And I am pretty sure Andrew at McClintocks moved my boot back a touch to force me to get over the front. Might be something to look into if you're trying some different settings. I'll get back to you with my numbers.

I'm 6feet and 160 and have been loving my 66" lithium

To me it looks like you are pulling really hard against the boat to get your self up. Hence why as soon as the ski plains, he energy release and the ski is shooting out on you. About a month ago Jmac was towing me, and I kept blowing my start. He told me to angle my ski tip to about 1-2 o clock (I'm rff, so 10-11 for lff) haven't missed one since. Might be something to try, because when you get up your ski is already turning a little bit. This might help you direct the ski for when it planes.

Kinda comparing apples go oranges here because the shape is different. I'm 6' 155 lbs and I demoed both the 67" 17 lithium Senate and 66" 2018 vapor pro build back to back. I'm s freakier and am just learning the course, but felt way more stable on the vapor at 34mph than on the Senate. For some reason that shape felt so natural compared to the Senate (which is a fantastic ski) and I immediately skied better every pass. I haven't ridden any lower end course skis, but IMO a lot of the modern course skis are going to be plenty forgiving and will have significant performance advantaged down the line

Precursor: I am just learning the course, and am by no means a high level skier, but freeski on good water enough to warrant getting this ski. @tjm still haven't got the lithium in the course. But have been out freeskiing on it. Speed: I would argue that unless you are running pretty short line lengths at 36 the difference will be negligible. Lithium is still very quick cross wake Weight wise, I held both blanks at the same time and could not tell a difference. Turns: felt very similar, but the lithium was definitely a bit more forgiving of my sloppy technique. When I dropped my shoulder on the probuild, I got dumped hard on my face. Both are extremely stable In most people's hands I think the lithium is an absolute weapon. Most people would not be able to tell a significant difference, unless they are very skilled and experienced.

@skigirl00 I demoed both the vapor and the Senate a few weeks ago. Before demoing I was nearly 100% set on the lithium senate but ended up going with the lithium vapor. The vapor is so stable and balanced that it really made up for my sloppy technique. And I have been skiing it mainly open water the last few weeks and it's been great! Despite being categorized as a pure course ski, I think it is amazing for some aggressive open water.

The lithium Senate is definitely the best in that line for the 2018 model year. Things might change up when they switch the shape for the 2019 model year. Between the three you will notice more response and speed as you move up the line from allow to lithium. If you are skiing the course regularly, the lithium should be the only one you consider within the Senate line.

I was told all of the stuff will be available the week of Canadian nationals which is next week.

I think a early 2000s Malibu sportster lx, would be a perfect fit for what you're looking for. Its also known as one of the best barefoot boats as well if you have any interest in that. I see those at very reasonable prices quite often.