mike55

whoops my bad...meant distance to rear heel is 29.5 (DTF? wow), should proof read my own stuff before posting.

this is from Performance Ski and Surfs site... We will be getting HO's newest Slalom the S-1 just after Memorial Day. A sister ski to HO's amazing A-1, the S-1 will change the way 34 mph skiers ski! Look for more information on this awesome new ski soon! Need new boots... Picked up a 66.25 A1 yesterday up at H.O. in Redmond. Supposedly a 'soft tail' flex. I have the flex numbers. Shoot me an email if interested. Don't really know that I could tell the difference but feel pretty dang cool knowing its hand picked by Cory up there! Anyway will compare this to a D3 I had to send back. Just a weird glitch as all product I have ever owned or seen from D3 has been awesomely finished. On the 66 09' RCX I received the front bindings holes were a bit cockeyed and off center to one side an 1/8th of an inch. Felt a little weird sniveling about it but the metal binding plate was almost touching the right edge of the ski with the left side obviously having more inward spacing than normal. New tops will be smooth without the indentations is my understanding. Looking forward to comparing the two. Whichever one suits me or fits my style better I will keep and sell the other. I'll ski the A1 first and there may not be a need to even ride the new RCX. On one other note the front Leverage Binding on the D3 has to be put in the furthest back hole (3rd) to have their own boot be at the specified 29.5" on the 66. Hum...no adjustment range left except back with their own Boot. Putting their D3 Leverage binding on the A1 with HO's specified DTF at 29.5 the mid hole of the D3 binding is perfect.

 from the conversation I had with Perf Ski and Surf, there was a possible sharper bevel difference up front too. My understanding from Darren Wiley is that they can make adjustments to rocker etc from ski to ski as they are being built. Paul Crawford is their main guy and spokesperson for Kidder. Their website homepage is under new construction for obvious new product release. Here is their number (916)714-9389 8am-5pm PST. I also understand from other forums that they have a new wide version ski being released called   the Z7. The new RCX has Red instead of yellow/green as an accent. I'm interested in that ski if the changes discussed sharper bevel etc have indeed been applied. Let me know if you investigate and find anything concrete out. Don't know if this modified rocker/flex version is the one Horton and company were able to review at h2o. This time of year is so amazing. People, especially myself are just giddy for the season to get rollin and try something new. Now if I could get the wife talked into moving to Florida or California again...Hummm Oh well I'll just be rippin pow at Crystal Mtn tomorrow. Guy's got to do something :)

bruce butterfield's archived article is the absolute "kiss" principle for a 15/22 off skier like myself. (keep it sesame street :) Loved it! Thanks John. Lots of great stuff here. Butterfield has an incredible teaching ability that I liken to the Drew Ross video. TW mentioned Deena Mapple. She is in that video. Even a blind squirrel like me finds a nut now and then. All you have to do is forage around these boards. A real library of good stuff. Especially after being away for a while. Went by the name rookie. Seems lame. Anyway great group here. Regards to all.

Just curios as I am ready to break the bank and buy a new ski. Rode a 66 08' RCX quite a bit down at Sunset Ski Ranch last summer. Doug and Robbie are super nice people.

very cool thanks...I'll record those. Let us know what your impressions are on the A1.

went one hole forward with my Animal Boot on a 67.5 that put me at 29 3/4. I'm not the skier most people are but I can tell you this. Been a a brand new 65.75 Goode 9800 SL LF. Put at least a dozen sets on the 98 and many many more on both a 66 and 67 RCX. The Nomad RCX in a 66 was a better turning ski than the 98 for me because #1 there is no G10 plate making it skittish and unpredictable and stiffer underfoot. You would be better just straight mounting (imo) to the Goode. Nomad RCX blows it away in predictability but the new A1 BLOWS them both away. Have to measure to get a base line but just put 3 sets on this 67.5 with stock fin settings. Offside is just stupid good. This A1 has made skiing fun again and now I finally feel like I have found a ski that encourages me to take things beyond 34/15.

just came in at Miami Ski Nautiques. Henrik or Kim the owners took good care of me. They can give you some insight. Sounds like the right size though. Mike...Lodi Ca.

Pickin up a 67.5 at 160-165 runnin just 34 at 15/22 with a front Animal...would you put this boot 1 hole forward or neutral?

things got a bit off topic...my bad. Just curious to hear from all the really good skiers about skis they should have kept. Or does progression in ski design possibly make this a non-question?

Thanks Brent and Ed. Lots of time on water and coaching in Florida are definately on the to do list. But are there any skis that you ever wished you would have kept? Sorry for getting more than a bit long winded with my diatribe. Thought this might be a fun or interesting topic. Didn't really intend for it to be about just me. Grateful for the replies, again thanks.

22 off at 34 is my PB when I went down to Sunset Ranch last spring. Used a borrowed ski there that I thought was too big and stiff for me. What do I know? Not much, except that I have spent a bunch of money trying different skis and selling the ones that I feel aren't me or compliment whatever 'style' skier I am. I'm used to being neutral to forward primarily because of a very extensive number of years and days on the slopes. I know I don't like 07 or before Monza's. The edge change seems erratic. The 07 MPD was scittish on the pull out and probably just too darned advanced for me. Have liked and disliked some Goodes. Should never have gotten rid of a 9400. Tried a yellow Fish and it was fast got me wide had a short balance point (66) and dropped into the turn a little hard on the first couple passes I tried. A 66 Nomad got me just as wide turned good and rode a little higher in the water like the Goode. I liked that.  A 1.1 soft version of the Sixam was fast through the turn got me there early and was stable. Got so wide on a Obrien 2 point that I was ignorant to believe I needed something more 'high end' because obviously the ski was just a little inferior to my rapidly improving ability. What a joke. Another ski I should of kept. So now in 2008 do I stay with this awesome sport and not give up on it in June or July after getting frustrated like I did on a Connelly F1 67 during a time my skiing started to go backwards? More will be revealed. Going with and staying with one ski for an entire summer should be hard on this rookie's addiction to different gear. An SS hopefully will fill the void and leave less of a void in my wallet should I finally stay with one ski an entire season. Shoot maybe my skiing will get consistant at 22/34 and I'll improve beyond that by adapting to what I'm so blessed to have.

apologize on the dbl post

John how about an update on your Fish/SS comparison ...What do you prefer?

 al, my bad you're right. must have been the slower boat speed that I started my first couple passes at on the fish that made it feel like it had more of a drop-in feel or bite. It smoothed out at the faster speed. a guy I met at Jodi's just got the orange and said he did not feel like it bit at the finish of the turn like the yellow.

al, its easy to get frustrated with this sport but somedays are so amazing! Its like a light turns on and things just come together. Seems like the expanses of time between those plateau's take forever. I'm still learning a bunch because at 53 years old I am a beginner (rookie) in the course. My pb is only 22/34 through the course just recently. Patience is my biggest problem not intensity. Hold on to that handle a little longer especially on your offside and let the boat pull it away from you. Just trust that the ski will come around and don't push with your heel. It will come around! Anyway don't mean to get off topic (ski break down) but I hope that helps al

Al, the 07' F1 Connelly drops into the turn like the Fisher because of sharper bevels that both skis share. They both seem to ride/feel a tad deeper. Just my take after skiing both. Again, not an expert.

I don't know a bunch about breakdown as I have never owned a ski long enough to experience that! That said, I wish many times I would have held onto my D3 Custom X (as well as a Sixam 1.1 etc etc). Not being an expert in the course or on the bevel subject for that manner, I've been on a bunch of different sticks that I just had to try that probably at the time were not the best thing for me. Having been on the Fish for just one set I can't comment fairly other than it drops into the turn Schweet ala the F1. The bevels on the D3 Custom X among other things made the ski feel like it rode high in the water but was a little more work for me. Softer bevels I don't know. Others here with with talent/knowledge can clue you in on that. I just know it was more forgiving plenty fast and fun. 'If it ain't broke'...sometimes I try to fix it anyway or accellerate my learning curve the wrong way.

left foot forward. Shell size is a #8 with a 27 mondo point liner. In good ol' U.S.A. speak thats like anywhere from 9 to 10 1/2. The liner is Reflex's new one. Its moldable. A bunch of times if you want. Oh yea would like 250 plus postage. Check out their web site. Reflexworld.com  Remi is awesome to do biz with and uses a rtp on his carbon monoplate system. He rides a 98. The F1 was fun! Do I mount the 98!!!???

John...had Darren Wiley build me what they call a 'pro-build' model with thicker rubber and its a bit higher. Is this what you have? I finally have my two skis showing up at the same time a 67 F1 and a 9800 tommorrow. Have a Reflex carbon plate (mono) that I put a rear toe slip on with their hardshell/silveretta release up front. Mounting the Wiley to the 98 with inserts. Get to ski the F1 today but putting my Animal up front on that with a connelly rear toe. Just FYI I'm not anywhere near your level and tore every thing there was to tear in my LLF ankle on a phantom a few years back in an Animal. It was OTF but the tip caught. You know the rest. So I guess freaky stuff happens on just about anything but it sounds like your a percentage player and think I'm going to follow my own gut on that too. The Wiley is glove like in the store and seems to have better steel with a more flexable base than the Animal. If anybody wants a 500.00 dollar Reflex system cheap for half price shoot me an email...       myskipals@comcast.net

thanks dawg...I'll start there.

Good stuff MS...digressed this week. PB for this 53 yr old is 22/34 while I was down at Sunset Ranch south of Sac a few weeks ago. Been waiting for a Goode to show up and have been having to use alot of different skis since my Nomad Rc got damaged in flight. Will be on a 07' 67" Connelly F1 this week while waiting on the 160 amp Goode to show. Any set up suggestions? Front Animal large (distance) on the F1? Stock fin settings? 158-164lbs. 5'10 3/4".

scary Brent, my mom use to say kitten kaboutal. Good idea though. does Mr Horton modify or offer any custom set ups for purchase?

Due to unforseen circumstances and a calamity of errors I'm switching skis. All self inflicted chaos...that said, need some ideas. Would like to go to either a Goode P-shell (velcro) and was hoping someone could recommend/email some ideas on a 'non-drill' approach for my H.O. rtp. Do I need an extra piece of Carbon for under the RTP? Want it super-sano. The alternative is to just order some brass inserts from Mcfeelys. Not opposed to going to something other than a P-shell. If I do this should I consider the new Reflex carbon plate system and their boot or the FM from Jager? Seems these are the only systems that make sense other than staying with my front Animal. Appreciate the ideas.

FYI...for comparison these are the numbers that were sent with my 07' RC 148/128/90/69...has anyone else been on both the new Nomad and the Fish for a comparison?ÂÂÂÂ