hogexpress

I ski with 3 other guys and we all have rs1/strada bindings. The ones who are taking the liners out coming out of the ski and putting back in are showing noticeably more wear and tear than those of us who don't. Stitching seems to fray and material seems to thin. I do same as Richard/Scot/Roger.

I've been on a 65" Strada with sequence plate/RS-1 bindings for almost a year. I've been able to maintain my consistency and level of skiing more than any other ski.

45 (soon to be 46) and only getting better........at least in my own mind.

Thanks, I was being Mr. Mom. Hopefully will get to ski with OB on Sat. Will catch up with you next week when I get back.

Two, but one was just same ski different length - does that count?

For me, 'new' skies made more of difference at the longer line lengths -15-32 off b/c i think they did a good job of 'masking' my poor form by being more forgiving or easier to ski on. At the shorter lengths 35 and 38, coaching and adapting my style/form has been more productive. IMO you are forced to adapt to a more efficient style or form or pull or lean (however you like to think of it) in order to run those passes. A new ski is not going to do it for me.

I've been on single plate for almost a year. The universal plate is designed such that it flexes with the ski because the front and rear attach points are not 'binding' the plate down. The plate is 'floating' through the use of spacers. The only point that gets tightened down to the ski is the 2 center screws. Also seems to me that 6 screws (single uni. plate) vs. 8 screws (double plate) would allow for more flex.

Bud, For some reason wetjacket would not let me establish an account under my email address but my strada comments is on page 27 of the NEW RADAR STRADA REPORT thread. If you would like to relay my comments, thoughts, or your observations of my experiences on the 66 vs 65 go right ahead. Thanks. KeithÂ

Z7 is 65" and had pretty good success on it. 2.050 dpth 6.864 lngth (tips) .765 dft 8* Strada is a 66" and have been struggling to get my on-side to come around at the shorter line lengths. This is the reason i'm running so much tip and length. 2.510 dpth 6.900 lngth (tips) .755 dft Rode a 65" last week and it felt more true to my size (despite what radar sizing charts say). 65" carries alittle less speed into the turns and the ski comes around and finishes turn faster @ 35 and 38. I'm 5'10" and 160#'s and usually ski into 38 off @34 mph.  Our water temp is currently in low to mid 60's. Anyone else feel the strada sizing chart is alittle skewed?

Just spent a year on the Z7 and have been on the strada for about a month. Agree with Tadd in that the Strada carries more speed through the turn. This is what i like most about the ski. For me it seems to be just as forgiving as the Z7 maybe even more so. Strada also seems faster across back of boat. For whatever reason my off-side comes very easy with the Strada and I'm still trying to figure my on-side. KeithÂ

You can pump the air out if you want to. We have found it sinks just as easily to just open the valve and let the water pressure compress the bladder. The only time we 'pump' is if we have some water in the lines and want to purge the water out of the lines.  The pump is a reversible diaphram pump so you can pump or blow. I believe Wally does sell a conversion kit to adapt to an existing course. Â

We've had a submersible course for almost 10 years. Started with Accu-sink and now have had the Wally Sinker for 4 or 5 years. Wally is a vast improvement over Accu-sink. Our course is in SC and we use it year round. Course is in 10-20 feet of water depending on where the lake level is. Ours bottom is a mud/clay/silt bottom. Never had to use a scuba rig to fix anything but have discussed it before. Only problems we have had with ours is that we occasionally have to replace an air bladder. The bladders develope leaks in the same place over time. We carry a few extras in our boats for when it happens. Wally doesn't condone the use of compressed air tanks to raise the course but we use them along with the pump to raise and lower the course. My 11 gal compressed tank (120psi) will raise the course in about 5-8 mins. The pump takes 10-14 mins. Pump used to be faster so probably need to rebuild diaphram. Obviously the depth will directly affect the raise times. It's the best solution for a public lake that doesn't allow permanent courses. We've got a good deal of experience with these courses so let me know if you've got further questions.  Â

War Damn Eagle!

I have been on the z7 for about a year and had very good success with it. i am a 34 mph skier. i agree with all the above comments as far as forgiving, easy to ride, customer service etc. i am now on my 5th set with the strada and so far like it better than the z7. here's why - the ski carries speed thru the turn and out of the turn with ease. for me that translates into the ski always staying in front of me throughout the turn which directly helps me maintain body position out of the turn.  the ski carries speed thoughout the whole course with ease and to me feels more efficient.  as far as the comment about feeling 'floaty' i can see where the ski can be described like that. i felt that feeling when i first got on the ski but it was not a negative. it just felt to me the strada skis alittle higher on the water than the z7.  bottom line - i have nothing negative to say about the z7 (am keeping it for now just in case). strada is slightly faster, more efficient which helps my lower back. ie easier to maintain body position.  '

check out the kodak playsport. just went thru that 'process' of researching video cameras. the playsport is waterproof. it autoloads onto any computer and it shoots stills. have had mine for about 2 months and think its great. keith

I'm on a Z7 and have noticed D3 drills their fins for all 3 wing positions LaPoint talks about. At shorter line lengths on my off side i have trouble keeping the ski out in front at the finish of the turns. Has anyone tried this aft wing position?

clemsondave, thanks for the info. we will confirm which prop is on the boat. spoke w/ pp this morning. there is nothing in the chip/module that would impact the pull other than kx and having correct engine selected. engine selection apparently doesn't even affect the pull - as it just determines where on the engine the rpm is picked up by the tach.

just remembered this boat came out of fla and belong to scot ellis maybe or some other jumper (it had jump stickers on the side). so would there be a unique pp chip for jumping and do ski jump boats get set up with a different prop?  will find out which prop is on the boat and i will call perfect pass today.  thanks

can anyone recommend a prop for a sn196 w/ zr6?  or what are others using who have this motor?

i never ski as well behind a buddy's '07 SN w/ Zr6. the feeling is that i never really get 'free' from the boat and the boat is back on you so fast coming out of the turns that it is hard to get a smooth controlled finish. we have played with the kx factor and it is set @ kx-, but does not seem to do much good.  any other suggestions to dial this beast back? maybe a prop change?  how many hp does it take to pull a skier anyway - my trusty little 5.0l seems to do a great job. keith

ok, i now have tried the 65' and 66' z7. i have enjoyed skiing both. i'm 160# and 34 mph skier. the 65' worked great with boots in center (29.0). did not like 1 hole back. the 66' worked great with 1 hole back (29.25), not great with boots in center (29.75). i agree with the comment that this ski is sensitive to binding/fin changes. i was able to tell on both skis if i was in the 'sweet' spot depending on the binding placement. the ski wants to initiate the turn and finish the turn in the sweet spot.  otherwise your kind of pushing the ski around.  i'm still playing with the fin but today .765dft, 6.830, and 2.500 felt good. wing @ 7 deg. this was the 66'.  keithÂÂ

gmc, 'drama free' - that's a great description (esp in ref to my 9800). am going to try 1 hole back this afternoon. i've been up to .76 dft but am now back @ .735 which seems to work alittle better for me. i'm 160#'s @ 34mph.

hey jim, they have both ridden it. it's too small for mark. jim likes it. i think he's circling the bait. probably only a matter of time. sorta like going to 'look' at puppies.

after about 6 -7 sets on the z7 i have found it be stable and forgiving just as everyone has mentioned. compared to my old 9800 the general feeling is i have more ski/stability underneath me. i've been able to pay more attention and maintain form/technique on the z7. edge changing earlier and casting out much better. the ski finishes turns nicer even if i tend to rush the finish a bit. is anyone running 1 hole back with dft .725-.710 with any success? 34mph/160#'s left foot forward.ÂÂ

yes, that's what the holes in my wiley plate measure out to be.