JAS

@Horton- I always look forward to your reviews and think you do an exceptional job of choosing words and message. I think you are right on target with individual variation in skiers and the above grid makes sense. Since everything is being measured by your skiing, it would help my interpretation if I had a clear picture of how you define your own skiing. Strengths, weaknesses, and overall style.

Eyes looking up and straight at camera, never down at ball

My S2 broke this summer. Although 4 months out of warranty HO replaced without question. I had new ski in less than a week and never missed a day skiing. Could not imagine better customer service. My guess a rather rare event.

@horton For you what quality of the S2 improved as bindings were moved back?

Seemed like people were moving in different directions with binding location and fin settings last year. Just interested in where everyone ended up. I'm skiing a 67.5 220 lbs

I'm on a S2 67.5 and have been skiing @ stock. Now that water has warmed from 54 to 80 I'm narrow on offside (early turn). Horton was riding considerably back during his review of the S2 and I'm going to head in that direction. My question is "what is the feel (characteristics) that you guys experience, when you jump on a ski, and immediately know the front binding needs to go back, or needs to go forward?

I'm 230 and riding a 67.5 reflex w/ rtp. 60 degree water, binding 1/8 forward and fin stock. Skis great! I tried binding back but didn't work for me. Obviously many factors but skier size may significantly contribute

A 20 second job with a Finamajig tool.

John do you typically run your bindings back on other skis?

Can't wait to see picture with speakers installed.

No worries, I'm enjoying the heck out of mine and just curious in your comments

So what's up? Just wondering

Horton what ski characteristics do you like better using the wing on the S-2? What angle?

In a recent WS article Bob said that at 34 and below, and in the 15-32 off range you should take your wing off. Do you think this the recommendation for the S-2 as well?

Was the pre-release from Reflex front binding or a velcro issue?

Schnitz's "x-Factor" and "Edge change like a Pro" discribe moving from a cutting to turning edge by, or near the second wake. Considering that the handle at this point is arcing forward in the direction of boat travel, and up until then the ski arcing away (on a cutting edge), What are ways to initiate this edge release and thus allowing the ski and handle arcs to match? It seems that controlling the ski arc is the challenge, and critical in maintaining a light load and optimal ski direction. It also seems to be an element in increasing difficulty in shorter line length passes. So what do you guys do?

Since Horton hasn't been on the S2 yet, interested in your impressions.

Ed, how would you compare the S2 with the Wide Ride? Forgiveness, quickness?, lack of effort? Also you have used a slot fin on many of your skis in the past. How would you describe the difference in the ride over the stock versions?

Surprising news, any word why Rossi did'nt make it?

Ed you were on WideRide before mid, how would you compare?

www.finamajig.com

Finamajig is a tool that records fin location by physical indexing and can be used for verification, relocation, or transfer of a specific settings. Its design allows use on any ski using a standard 5 hole fin pattern (Goode, D3, Radar, Connelly, HO, Horton's carbon fins, etc). Construction is of anodized aluminum with stainless steel adjustment screws and nylon index lugs. 3-Point on ski contact and tight fitting lugs provide an accurate and reproducible positioning of fins.There is only one place in space that a fin fits once recorded with Finamajig. Recording a fin position with Finamajig takes less than a minute and can be used to check fin for movement (travel, dropped ski) or can be used as a "home base" for during fin adjustment sessions. Being able to find home is always a good feeling. Because it's so easy to use it's possible to reset a fin position in the boat during the same ski set. Ski a few passes, adjust fin ski a few passes, return fin to original position and ski a few passes. Like any tool the usefulness is dependent on need and to a certain extent cleverness of user. It doesn't replace a caliper for initial setting, but instead offers an alternative to a caliper for recording fin position. Advantages are ease of use, reproducability, and elimination of challenges associated with use of caliper (positioning error, instrument error, and skill of operator). The paradigm becomes defining position by something physical instead of by measurement. It would be nice if each ski manufacture would provide a fixed jig of similar design for Stock Fin setting of ski. This could be used to allow reproducible set up of fin to stock specifications and also allow individuals to check calibration of their own caliper technique.

Over many years of skiing the only ankle injury I have sustained (avulsion fracture) was wearing a prettly loose front rubber w/ RTP. My opinion is that with rubber, in a twisting fall your front foot can get hung up half in/half out, and the release force very high or very SLOW. I switched to front Powershell w/RTP, maybe just my style or size, I had 5 premature releases at the wake and remember everyone of them. Since I have switched to Reflex front and Radar adjustable RTP. Best combo for me so far. No premature releases and when I have come out it has been "Snap!" and I'm loose. Just my experiences, so far so good.

Anyone ever think about this one? For example can't imagine that one binding position works equally well for size 9.5 vs size 13. Seems larger foot sizes might require front binding mounted closer to tail?

Ed, Only spent a few hours in Texas on layovers, but all of our friends that have transplanted from "The Lone Star State" are great! My name is Jay Schofield and I live in Salem Oregon. Ironic that you mentioned Schnitz as I took a lesson from him today in Vancouver WA. Thanks for you reply and info on ski setup. Felt so good out of the box that have left stock so far, if anything getting a little too agressive turn and thinking about moving front binding back an 1/8 or taking a little tip out of the fin. Will ski a few more sets before changing anything. Thanks Jay