ScarletArrow

I can't add anything to the rubber vs. hardshell debate...the opinion I'm forming (based on reading everyone's comments...not from experience) is that hardshells are likely to increase comfort and performance...but they will also increase the chances for injury severity, not necessarily frequency.

I can give my own review of the Wiley's setup as I switched to them this year and have been very satisfied.

I've worn them on 2 skis...'06 Evidence and '07 Monza...fit on the ski itself has been fine, though I'm not sure why they need to use 3 different types of screws.

The craftsmanship appears to be solid...espcially in comparison to Animals and Approach...I'm not bashing HO, I like the Animal setup...but I've seen quite a few overlays rip in the few short years I've been skiing.

I have always considered myself a "both feet in" guy on falls...but I'm finding that both come out on the OTF (I've only had 2 memorable ones so far this season)...I'm finding that it hasn't really mattered so far.

At first, I was a little concerned with the sizing...I'm a size 10 shoe so I guess that makes me a tweaner for Wiley's sizing...I use a M front and L rear.

I guess this might be one disadvantage to not having laces like the Animals.

It took some time...mabye 20 sets and warmer weather/water, but the front has seemed to formed to my foot where there is no cramping on stiffness even after 7 - 10 passes.

I was a little concerned at first b/c I felt a L was too big for my front and the M was real snug...but Wiley's was real cooperative in working with me on the getting the correct size.

As for the rear boot...the M was intolerable (too narrow)...switched to a L and have been fine ever since.

Anthony

Well...I skied on it some more tonight and completed the course for the first time ever...15off at 28.6mph.

It was a no doubter...as soon as I completed the turn at each ball...I said to myself, "I've got this next one".

Now how much of that is the ski, and how much of that is my technique finally coming together after running 1-2 sets a day 3-5x a week?

Anthony

I understand it's hard to be the supreme ruler AND objective at the same time.

 Anthony

I'm on the '06...not sure if there is any difference between the years. 

I was a little shaky at first...plopped over on a couple of turns...it changes edge much more quickly / easily than my Evidence...needed a couple of passes of just wake crossings to get the feel of it.

It is very fast...so the fun factor increases...but like a new set of golf clubs, it doesn't solve any of my technique issues...even though I could consistently pick up an extra ball or two...if anything, my technique was a little worse in the 3 sets I used it b/c of the decreased reaction time.

I think the ski leaves the water on my wake crossing more than my Evidence...probably due to bad technique.

I haven't skied on too many different skis...so I thought this was as good as any to make a change to...plus my ski buddy kept tempting me, "if you're going to a racetrack, you might as well drive the fastest car there."

I finally stopped trying to point out the fallacies of his analogy...and that my progress isn't impeded by technology...and just give it a spin.

Now I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to go back.

Well I went against convential wisdom tried a different ski (Monza) of the season before completing the course.

 It was just too pretty sitting there all by itself.

They all rock.

(how do the quotes work anyway?) 

So I find the March issue of Waterskimag and see MS's mug and in bold, "The Radar rocks!".

 I laughed out loud...you should trademark that for future endorsement deals.

I've checked out skifly and it seems to be a wasteland...the whole Jesus thread and whatnot...I don't get it.

John, this is a great place.

Link

1 - J. Beauchense (F1)

2 - W. Cox (Monza)

3 - C. Rossi (Radar)

Hmmm...

The links page is mostly done. Are you guys using it?

Yes

 Everyone know that they can start thier own poll?

No

JCH - glad to see another Buckeye here!

Link

I wonder how pure the results are?

What's more surprising - the #1 vote (F1) 20 points ahead of #2 (Monza)...or 3 skis ahead of Goode...or the Radar barely making a showing?

Anthony

I am 32, married my highschool sweetheart and have 2 kids.

 Got into skiing as a kid...combos in junior high...taught myself to slalom on my dad's vintage O'Brien woody in high school...dad had and old 70's tri-hull...i loved that boat as a brother...skied only on public lakes.

Used to have a SeaWorld in NE Ohio...as a kid saw the waterski show and thought 3 things...1 - those inboard CC's are the coolest boats ever...2 - skiing at sea world would be an awesome job...3 - I want both.

 Boat my CC last year...started course skiing midway through the summer...full of a typical free skier's bad habits...try to ski the course 3-4 times a week.

 I'm keeping a ski log on fifteenoff.com - link as I work on my fundamentals and completing the course for the first time.

 My wife is very understanding about by new addiction, mainly b/c the family can participate...we camp at the lake and my daughter loves to ride in the boat...wife skis on 2 when the opportunity aries, she'll probably get up on slalom this year.

Anthony

Our course is set up with a dogleg to the right and the end of the course has a really tight turn around the island...so having a driver familiar with our particular course is crucial.

There is a marker bouy to indicate when to turn at the beginning of the dogleg, but when the boat slides it's easy to over/under turn and get shakey going into the 55's.

 I'll admit that I'm not as proficient w/ PP as I need to be, so I concentrate on giving a good start, making the dog leg turn with no correction, and taking a rock solid center line.

I hope to get a tutorial from a couple of guys at the lake this year who are more familiar with PP than I...our performance (my ski buddy and I) coming up the course is typically affected - re: course faces east/west and coming back up the course we are usually in a headwind.

 Anthony

A question was posed on the 15off forum wether or not to learn the course at a more normal boat speed (30 - 34 mph) or at a slower boat speed (26-28).

One argument says that skis aren't designed to work at that speed, so form could suffer...the other argument says excessive speed hurts form.

So, if someone is learning the course (15 - 22off) should they a) buy a top end ski, and b) should they ski at a slower speed until they can complete the pass?

I currently ski on an '06 O'Brien Evidence - which I purchased not knowing it would get a good reveiw in the recreational review.

However, my buddy managed to pick up an '06 Monza for dirt cheap (now sitting in my basement) and is trying to persuade me to make a change.

I'm currently 15off at 28mph and my response to him is that my form is the issue - not the ski.

What say you?

[edit] - sorry if this belongs in technique and theory category