Tuney

Tadd over at h2oproshop <http://www.h2oproshop.com> hooked me up with some killer Christmas presents for my brothers. If you are looking for something for yourself or someone else make sure to check his shop out. These don't say Baller on them but they are pretty cool.. right? http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1238.snc4/157072_10150111885515767_596445766_8107912_5926609_n.jpg

63.5... I am lean enough to ride that.

I ski in cold water - in fact it doesn't really get much warmer than high 70's for the hot parts of the year. My take on it is I am affected by the cold far more than the ski is.. mentally and physically. But my idea of cold is water in the 50's and air at a similar temp. I'm not as loose and I really don't want to fall - so my skiing isn't as good. So really I can't really blame the ski's performance or be a reliable judge of how it is affected.

I started on a 66" when I was 8 or so and rode the same ski for many years. I don't think the size of the ski was much of an issue but the boot and the toe plate were too far apart for me so my back leg was always up on the ball of the foot. If you end up going with a larger ski be sure to accommodate her smaller stance.

I'm impressed, yeah the toe side was a little wild - but it worked

My lake has over 2" of ice on it.

Instead of the big BallOfSpray print on the back you could put something like "I'm a Baller" across the shoulders? Just throwing ideas around.

I'd probably buy a new remote. Sports center is great, but if there isn't a good game on it is only great in half an hour doses.

Are you in the east or the west MS? Our water was high 40's/low 50's the last few weeks in Sask.

I use a Jobe wetsuit(shorty style), I was skiing in high 40's water this past weekend and I had no problems at all - I felt comfortable. It was still cold though... I think I paid around $45 on sale at costco a couple years ago... they run around $75 new I think. I'm very happy with this suit.

How do you best utilize free skiing to benefit you in the course? Shouldone free ski at the same line length and speed as they would be in the course? Do you have a routine you follow before time on the water?

For baggy suits, I've been reading and a lot of people talk about Eagle for the front entry, O'neill boost for the neoprene neck seal, and Wiley's/Adrenaline if th budget is tight. Then there are the hybrid suits - which I would be more interested in if I lived near a shop and could get a more accurate idea of size... but I've only researched the baggy ones.

65 Senate or 66 Strada. I think those skis can handle more weight than the chart indicates. Until you are breaking 180 I wouldn't look for a 67.

I put coke in my bourbon and ice/drambuie in my scotch - oops.

I'm Michael Bullock,I am a University student, 23 years old and I've been skiing since I was around 7. I got into slalom accidentally when one of my skis fell off the same year and I never went back to two skis. I have never tricked or jumped, I do have a wakeboard that I noodle around on once or twice a year but it's usually just slalom for me. I keep my boat at the dock at my parents cabin on Emma Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. There is no course on the lake so I have always free skied. Surprisingly there have been two slalom courses that I didn't know about on another public lake that is a 2 minute trailer drive - the lakes are connected by a channel which you can't boat through. So I hope to hit the course up at least once a week next year. I've never skied a tournament although I am definitely interested maybe after I start going around buoys next year it'll happen.

I started as an 7-8 year old on a 66. The issue I had was the rtp was mounted too far back - and a ski from that era didn't really have adjustable bindings... I found myself standing on the ball of my rear foot. Looking back I wish I had a smaller ski(or at least a better binding position). In your case I don't think you'll have any of those issues. The ski will ride in the water nicely.

Ham wallace knows what's up. I dont get to ski tournaments... I'd love to but I am just around to make turns at this point in my life. Have some fun while you're out there. Â PS. I'l drink with you eric.Â

I'd love too but 3 feet of ice throws a hitch into the idea. I agree, some time off is great, I just wish it wasn;t 7 months in my case. This weekend will be my last - water was 50 last weekend.

Um what? Some ski shop is overcharging for that Strada - you'd save a ton of money ordering from the USA at that price. Irks me a little bit how Canadian shops throw a huge markup on their gear... we have a few places around my part of the country like that too.... I like to support local businesses but if they are trying to rip you off it's hard. PS, at you're level I'd still take a hard look at a 34mph ski like the senate as opposed to one of the high end skis.

I don't like to spread false information so I'd consider this as more ofa heads up than fact and something that should be looked into if you'reconsidering importing goods. Anything that was not manufactured in the USA or Mexico is subject to customs/duty when shipped to Canada. Well, for the most part... for example when buying a car I believe 55% of it must be made in the USA for it to qualify (Mercedes builds cars in the USA). That way US companies couldn't have an entire guitar built in China and then put stings on it and call it made in America. So I believe skis made in Asia by a US companies would be charged duty. As far as I know. One thing about the taxes... I remember hearing that you might be able to apply for an exemption to get the taxes back if you can provide proofthat you've returned the item. But it has been awhile since I've lookedinto that so you would need to confirm.

Tadd @ H2o will do a ride before you buy with Canadians - the shop is super helpful and good to deal with... keep in mind that when the ski ships across the border there will be taxes and you wont get those back. Not sure how taxes work on a ski going back into the USA but I imagine you'll have to pay those too. Also be sure the ski is made in USA otherwise you get those ugly import duties.

Well you are looking at some of the elite sticks there..really nice skis. However, based on what you've said I'd think about going with something a little wider. It will help you out in the course at the slower speeds. Think about the radar senate, if you want to save a little more the connelly V might be a place to look. By spending less now you can upgrade with less guilt in a couple years when you are a better skier. If you are dead set on a 36mph ski the radar Vice is a good place to look - high performance, lower price.

I like the pink. There is just enough of it that it makes a nice accent but it doesn't overwhelm the boat.

John, this review sounds an awful lot like your Strada review. Do you think maybe skis are just getting to that point in their evolution where the elite (pun intended) sticks are just "balanced" and don't have the nuances that they may have in the past? Makes a person wonder what the next big step might be.

I don't know... but I am not sure it isn't a reason to ditch tourney skiing until you've tried it a couple times. Is there a ski club near by with a ZO boat that you could ski at once a week or however often?