BOS illuminati (and @Horton :D )
Having just pulled the trigger on my X14 I'm now in the market for a ski as my friends Connelly HP lives in his boat and I need a ski of my own. I'm 5'10 ~190lbs (should be 170 by next season) and I'm looking for some reason at the Radar Katana, The HO Omni and the HO Evo Freeride. I've been skiing since I was 11 - on a single since I was 12. Deep water starts aren't an issue and we ski on a lake - no course for me. When my buddy is pulling me we ski at 30-32mph - not sure of the line length. I feel as if I'm an advanced beginner/intermediate type skier, I tend to attack the wake on edge (the HP is good at this) and try to make big sweeping carving type turns, I'm not running the imaginary course but rather trying throw big water and make pretty turns. I would say I've grown comfortable at that speed but I think I'd rather slow down when I'm behind my own tug just a smidge. I'd post a video but don't have any.
I'm chasing the most glorious set I ever ski'd from many years ago on a concave wooden ski behind an outboard on glass. The ski as I recall carved nice easy turns yet could get after it when it needed to. So my question is this: The HO Omni seems to be the best of both worlds, can run a little faster and a little slower and still be a hoot. The Katana is a little sportier than the butterknife. The Connelly is in the mix too but I'm leaning for some reason towards a more modern shaped ski for the obvious reason that ease of getup means more people can ski my ski, I don't need a speed fin, don't run a course and we ski on open water that's usually glassy but sometimes not so much.
Thoughts on the HO Evo Freeride? Sporty - carvy? can it run up to 30-32mph?
HO Omni -
Radar Katana???
Thanks in advance!
Peter
ps - @Horton - your reviews are awesome - I'm a suck up and was giving you extra props!