TWB

I started wearing the Straightline palm pads a few years ago. They made a huge difference, especially when I was using the Masterline K-palm gloves, my hands would get torn-up. I don't ski without them now. I ordered four pair for this year and I'm about ready to start using the second pair.

I had an HO RTP with the lace last year. It blew out on the first set.

Let's see the video, I look forward to them. The good and the bad. If I have a good first set, I know I should just pack-up and go home, but I don't. I'm really liking the S2. I was back on the water today for the first time with a handle guard after nearly having my arm ripped-off two weeks ago.

My impression after riding the a 66.5 S2 for 6 sets and a 66.5 A2 for most of last year, is that the S2 is equally as stable, if not more stable, and requires less effort. I'm 185# and 10# heavier than last year. I can't believe the speed and width I'm getting from the S2. I did try a 67.5 S2 for one set, but found the 66.5 is plenty big for my weight.

@Than Bogan I free skied with them a couple times and did about 5 sets in the course. I stopped tightening the front bungee which eliminated the front foot cramping, but they cramp my lower calf near the top of the binding. I plan to do a few more sets on them soon because my Vector is falling apart after less than a year.

Thanks for the help everyone. I would have never thought to get a 66. If one comes up I might try it later this year. I did try new settings and had similar results. One set I might only make half of my passes and the next, I might run all of them (all 28's). I have two S2's to try right now. I skied the 67.5 first and it felt like a surf board. I'm taking a few days off (I have to go back to work) and when I come back, I'll try the 66.5.

@skidawg 185#. I'm 10# heavier than this time last year which doesn't help. Will try the new numbers tonight. I usually try to get the settings close and leave them alone and have never played too much with them, but maybe this ski is more sensitive than my past skis.

I've liked all the D3's I've had. The X5, RCX, Zst, but the Fusion is giving me fits. My RCX is very stable in the turns. The Fusion is a little quicker cross course, but I can't get consistent turns on either side. It's a 67 inch. Bindings are 30 1/8 and fin settings are 6.907/2.503/0.705. I tried to set it the same as my RCX but maybe that doesn't work on this ski. I'm getting frustrated, but may make a change or two before I give up on it.

@TSki I'm having back issues this year too. The past couple of years, I've done lot's of core training and had zero back pain. This year I didn't to any training, and I have back pain. Even back pain that feels like more of a nerve issue than a muscle issue is resolved with core exercises. I'm convinced my back pain is from a weak core.

@ShaneH Keep the updates coming. I'm looking for a comfortable binding with good lateral support. So far, the Power shells are the only hard shell I've been able to even come close to running a pass with. I wasn't able to even come close on the Reflex. I went from Animals, to a Vector, to T-Factors, back to the Vector. I liked the lateral support of the T-Factor combined with the ability easily move front and back, but they are very uncomfortable after about 4 passes. I might try the Strada's or Attack. I use a RTP, but I may still try the Exo's.

Does anyone using T-Factors have an issue with leg cramping? My calf starts to cramp after about 4 passes.

@KM That's funny. I have to slip a few bucks in my paypal every month so mine doesn't notice a large sum gone all at once, and have them shipped to a buddies house.

I skied at Palm Beach Water Sports two weeks ago. As I was approaching 3 ball a diving bird surfaced about a foot inside the ball. It happened so fast I didn't realize what it was until I had past it. Having only skied in Florida a handful of times, it scared the #@*? out of me.

@ski6jones I tried them for half a set last year and switched back because the season was almost over and I didn't have the time to figure them out. Just tried them again for the first time this year during a free-ski, so it's too soon to tell. They made my ski feel completely different. It completed the turn better (on-side, not off-side) and held angle through the wakes much better, but I also experienced bad cramping in my foot and calf. I'm sticking with them for a while.

I experienced the exact same issue on my T-Factor. The first couple of turns it felt like I couldn't rest my rear foot on the ski at all. It was like I was skiing on only my front foot. I thought it was from the slight forward angle of the binding. I think the Animals (in my case, a Radar Vector) allows me to stand more straight-legged, and the T-Factors force me to have a slight bend in my ankle. I had an ankle injury unrelated to skiing, and I'm very cautious about bending my rear ankle where it doesn't feel natural. I even went to a RTP. The adjustment period isn't going to be easy, but I saw signs that the T-Factor might be just what I need.

And his ski recommendations on the not a Strada thread are spot-on, at least for the skis that I've ridden in the past year (Strada, A2, Fusion).

$50/set (8passes)

Skied there today for the first time. I was a bit hesitant after all of the reviews above. Chip's a good guy and knows what he's doing (he gives good advice). Skied behind his Malibu LX w/pp. It was very windy with the wind out of the east at about 20mph and I had great water. The wind was not a factor at all. I was pleasantly surprised and will be back there tomorrow.

I'll be in West Palm on Thursday and Friday. I'll bring some 20's and beer if anyone would be gracious enough to give a guy from up-north a pull. I was there this past week too. The coaches in the area want the skiers to show-up in the morning, and my flights don't get in until early afternoon so I didn't even bring my ski.

My kids came home from school yesterday and ask me the question "what did you do today? Get on Balls of Spray?" I guess that means I'm a Baller or I need help.

I went from Animals to Vectors. I've never tried the Stradas but would like too. During long coaching sets, I have no issue with cramping in the Vectors like I did in the Animals. In fact, if I leave my back foot in my RTP it starts to cramp and my front foot in the Vector doesn't. I'm guessing the same would be true for the Stradas.

I agree with @Wish. I have 1997 TSC hull on my personal boat and a 2008 TSC3 on my club boat. I can't tell you what the difference is, but I think the slalom wake is better on the TSC. I also, think it's better than the TSC2. No Zero Off though, so it's mostly used for tubing :)

Never skied the white top. I've tried three top skis from different manufacturers in the last year. Each of them for at least two weeks, one of them for two months, and I keep going back to the RCX. I even skied two sets my new Fusion last week and have already swapped the bindings back to the RCX until I can ski it more regularly. I've always been able to get right back on the RCX and ski well on the first set.

I tore the HO Floating RTP (the one with laces) on the first set. It was unusable after the second.

@Wish It will be interesting to hear you perception of the S2 vs. the COxsl. I've never ridden either one and wanted to try the COxsl last summer, but never had the chance. The S2 is on the list of ski's to try this summer.