Sethro

@Stevie Boy I say the same thing when referring to my 98 Malibu Echelon. Come to think of it, my buddy down the river says the same of his 84 Stars and Stripes. We kind of think as the 200 as fancy or super expensive. :#

You beat me to it. I was hoping someone would explain that as well. So given the same 225lb weight, could a 5’11 skier want a shorter ski than the 6’5” skier?

Got some skiing done in northern IL last weekend, but this weekend appears to have some accumulating snow chances. Geez.

I remember this discussion years ago about the cab forwardness of a 196 vs the seemingly long-nosed ProStar and Response counterparts. I recall measuring base of the windshield to point of the bow and there was only a couple of inches difference. Granted, the windshield/dash could have had differences putting the seat of the 196 further forward. But from an aesthetic point of view, it was essentially an illusion. I'm curious to know the 200 vs 196 measurement...@jhughes don't you own both so you could measure for us?

Having had a lift for the first 20 years or so of boat ownership, I've now had a track system with a boathouse for the last 5. One could not pay me (ok maybe an irrational amount) to go back to using a lift. What kind of depth are you talking about 10,20,30 feet from shore?

The problem I see with being on dry land is I assume you would still want a dock along the side of the track. The dock would be sticking out in the tight turn space just like a lift.

@Mitzysman one more variable to consider is if you are skiing in a current or not. I dislike using any GPS speed control in a current. At least on the river I ski, it's a pain in the butt. RPM mode for slalom works great for me. If there is a vastly different crew weight than normal, I'll typically have the driver get up to 34.2ish adding 25 rpm at a time while I'm just going straight behind the boat. Then add 75-100 rpm or so for when I start pulling and it's close enough for me. So essentially I'm going a little too fast when I'm not "working" behind the boat.

Just use RPM mode with your 6.5ng and add/subtract RPM as needed according to crew weight. Going strictly by memory, paddlewheel based functions were only good up to about 23 mph or so.

It's been as early as the first week of February, but usually consecutive days skiing don't start till early March here in Northern IL.

I've never felt the need to drill new holes for bindings. I'm not sure I follow why you are adjusted to the extreme and have no other options? As for boot choice, I would think an open toe would need to be considered. I have a Vapor binding for my size 13 foot, but think a 14 would be pretty snug??? Do you have a narrow or wide foot?

So is there a 4XL for 6'5" 220? My 2XL Eagle fits perfectly, but I'm disappointed that the stitching blew apart for the lower back/center flotation piece after only a season and half.

Mine is similar to the above, however there is no plate. I have artificial discs, but my own bone “shavings” were used to somehow pack in there. The shavings were recovered from drilling holes in my vertebrae to install essentially lag screws as the fusing mechanism between the vertebrae. That’s how I remember it anyway.

I had it done back in 2012 around the first of July and was cleared to ski in early October later that year. Three of my ski buddies have since had the surgery in the October/November time frame, and were cleared to ski by the first of May. I'm beginning to think skiing might have something to do with need for the surgery in the first place... :)

I'm 6'5" and always find myself slouching to get my field of vision under the windshield frame of most boats I drive. I've never driven a 200, but 196's I've driven make that uncomfortable as I can't extend my legs to allow the slouching. Does the 200 have limited leg room like the 196?

Yesterday was a treat in my Illinois neck of the woods....mid 50's and miles of glass on the river to tear up. Probably the most comfortable of the few times I have left to ski. Bummer.

No kidding? I’m afraid to ask how much, but I will. What size do you think is suitable for 6’5” 220lbs? I typically ski 19.6 but it’d be great to be able to slow down.

Being a big guy, I'd like to hear more about this big trick ski. I'd like to purchase a new ski, but I'm not sold on the 44" Aira or 43.5" Graviton being big enough for 6'5" 220ish.

@scorban2 looks like you had great water. There used to be a slalom course just upriver from Lowell Park at about the 2 o'clock position in your photo. I'd bet the anchors are still there.

I'm at the same point you are. Last time out in the course, I got my typical 3 at -35 then decided to slow the boat down to 32mph and fairly easily made a few passes at -35....but it taught me that I need to get WIDE enough to make a -35 pass no matter the speed. The first pass at 32 mph I caught myself at 1 and 2 ball not carrying the handle out far enough and also not fully extending the reach. These were things I knew I needed to do, but to be able to feel it at 32 mph where I seemingly had some time to think really helped out. Though tired, I sped back up to 34mph and made 4 and just kissed the inside of 5(celebrating thinking I was going to run it) as I flattened out for a moment coming out of the turn at 4 ball.

We've always called it "slalom chop" and I much prefer that over glass for course skiing. However, free skiing on miles of river glass is where it's at

We were able to get them drop shipped from the factory through an online retailer. Nobody has them yet as apparently they were just put into production last week.

He'd place at nationals or be close in trick I'm pretty sure. Slalom is not his strong point, but he skis well. Believe me, I've tried to talk him into a higher end binding...but he loves the Stoker and refuses to change.

Thanks. I'll give them a call. They only had the red ones on their site.

My next door neighbor wants to buy some new Connelly Stoker bindings. Yes, he insists he wants Stoker bindings. I see the Connelly website says they make 2018 Stoker bindings, but I can't find any for sale anywhere. There are some 2017 in a red/yellow color that won't look right on the Graviton trick ski and Senate slalom ski he just purchased. Does anyway have any idea where to buy a new Stoker binding? I'll call Connelly in the morning to see if they can shed some light.

Hey @UWSkier is the XXL long enough for 6'5"