Garn

I wouldn't hesitate to grab that HO Carbon Omni.  You will absolutely love it!  It is fast, turns effortlessly, super low drag, a real game changer in my opinion.

I think the easiest higher-end skis to get up on are HO Omni's.  Whether the regular Omni or the Carbon Omni, they just pop up.  Not like the Hovercraft (you almost don't have to be moving to stand up on it), but still it just comes up out of the water.

I have learned from personal experience that a pro skier does not necessarily make him a pro ski coach.

That was just too good!

@owennibley I love my Omega Max.  I haven't tried any of the new Works models and I don't plan on because my Omega Max works so well for me.  I think it is an underrated ski.

Personally, I would recommend the Syndicate Omni.  It is fast, effortless to ski on, turns on a dime, easy to get width, super easy on the body due to having such low drag - an all around amazing ski.  I think it is a real game changer.

@water_skier1The idea is HO wanted to remove any extra layers from the ski.  They wanted just a barebone ski that did one thing - perform.  So they removed the graphic top and the speedskin bottom.  I believe on their website they even mention this.

Your double-handled rope had a male and female end so that you could attach them together in the middle of a run.

Why doesn't Asher have a score in the 2nd round?

I replace mine every year.  I know its overkill.  But it is cheap insurance.

On 6/9/2023 at 4:49 PM, ETskier said:

Whitney is close to Regina these days and may set a new record soon, but only behind her boat sponsor.  But, Regina will have to wait to be behind a Malibu to answer. 

I just don't believe this statement.  If Whitney or Regina, or any pro skier, male or female, is in a tournament, skiing in that "zone" where they are skiing to their ultimate ability, and they get in a position where they could possibly break the world record, that they just sandbag it because they aren't behind their sponsor's boat?  I call BS on that.  I just don't believe any pro skier would do that.  They may never be in that position again.  I just don't believe they would do that.

I'm a bit disappointed by this thread to be honest.  I started reading it because I wanted to see how the competition went because I wasn't able to watch it.  I wanted to hear how the rounds went and the scores, etc.  There was a little of that at first.  But most of this thread is just a rant on how bad the broadcast was.

I agree with the comment to just completely skip the combos and go with HOs Hovercraft.  It is just as easy to get up on, if not easier, than a combo pair.  And you don't have to worry about doing the splits like a combo pair sometimes cause.

There is also Jodi Fisher in Orlando close to Disney.  Great guy and great lake.

Hi Matteo, just thought I would tell you how much I really enjoyed your two episodes with Dave Wingerter.  His passion for the sport and for HO really comes through in your interview with him.  I really respect and love what he has done with HO since he has been with the company.  He is mainly the reason that HO is the company that it currently is today.  I don't know him personally, but he seems like a really nice guy  and some that anyone could go talk to.  I love how honest he is.  He definitely seems committed to building the best ski possible and growing the sport of waterskiing.  Anyway, thanks for that interview and your podcast.

The original Obrien World Team Comp.  It was the first "real" ski I ever owned.  We bought it around 1972 or so and I still have it.  I need to get it out and ski it.

HO all the way. Super warm, easy on - easy off, and more durable.

The Orlando Watersports Complex (not sure if its still called that now) used to have slalom cable skiing. I did it about 15 years or so ago. I thought it was a blast. It took me about 5 face plants before I figure out how to start (you go from zero to your skiing speed instantly!). The only thing that sucked was if you fell, depending on where you fell, you had a long walk back to the starting dock.

For me, did it replace skiing behind a boat? No. But it only costed me $25 for I think an hour of skiing. If somebody can't afford a ski boat, that's a great deal! And I had a great time. But....they don't do it anymore. I guess the demand wasn't there. It is now just wakeboarding.

I can't speak from experience on the Omni Wide, but I can speak from experience on the Omni. It is really an amazing ski. It's such an effortless ski to ski. It just pops out of the water. So little drag on your body. Easy to get width. Turns without thinking. Fast. So easy on your body to ski because of how little drag it has. I think it is one of the best skis out there now. I think its a game changer. I have a Syndicate Omni that I let people use who go skiing with me and don't have their own ski. I can't tell you how many times somebody, after skiing on my Omni, have immediately purchased one for themselves.

Starting this year, HO isn't making the Syndicate Omni anymore. But an HO dealer here in Utah, Taylor's Boats, still have a few in stock that they are selling for I believe $750. And they will ship it.

A friend of mine had his wakeye arm brake when a huge windstorm blew his cover off his boat. Does anyone know if he can get this part, or has one they might sell?

We had a Big Daddy for years to help newbies get up on or for big skiers. I skied it a few times. Didn't like it. Squirrely, didn't want to turn. Like somebody above said, "difficult/clumsy" to ski on.

We got a Hovercraft a few years back. Night and day difference. First, its so easy to get up on that you almost don't even have to be moving. We have eliminated combo skis and put beginners straight on the Hovercraft. But the magic of the ski is what happens once you're up. It turns, jumps, carves - it is fun and easy. We ski it in the course and I've gotten up to 32 off on it (at slower speeds obviously). There is no comparison between the two skis.

I don't drink alcohol. But being the world's biggest Rush fan, this is tempting me!