travnews

I'm 190 lbs and set mine around 6; Reflex states right in the instructions not to go over 6 for slalom, anything over 6 is ment for high level trick skiers. I measure from the tail of the ski to where the cleat meets the boot.

http://reflexworld.com/2010SITE/web/images/instructions/user_manual_reflex12_25_01_2012.pdf

i bought my wife that same ski, she loves it.

I think that black boat is fine for free-skiing.

I would recommend you go pay $30 or whatever it is, and see if you have any interest in learning the course. This website has so many members because people are obsessed with skiing in the course, not because they are recreational open-water skiers. Not that there is anything wrong with free-skiing, but to me the challenge of the course is why I am obsessed with the sport. Go attempt the course and then decide if the wakeboard boat will work, because if you get into the course you will kick yourself in the butt for buying a wakeboard boat.

I personally think that black boat is a direct-drive, because the motor enclosure is right behind the drivers seat. But even if I am right, if the hull was designed for wakeboarding it will probably throw big wakes. Length and weight will also change the wake.

@taelan28

If you have plans on skiing in the course, speed control will be a must. Black is frowned upon because it is so hard to keep clean, and it gets hotter than hell. Don't look for a v-drive, you want a direct-drive. With a v-drive the prop is under the boat with the motor in the back of the boat. A direct-drive the prop is underneath and the motor is located in the center of the boat.

I'll say it once again, if you plan on free-skiing only the black boat will be fine. If you want to learn the course take some time to look for a boat in your price range that will fit the needs of the course, i.e. speed control, and it's a ski boat not a wakeboard boat. You'll be happier in the long run. Take your time, if you rush a boat purchase there is a good chance you will have regrets.

I agree with OB.

http://www.passo.co.kr/home/main/popup.php?on_path=boat&on_page=goods_image&idx=17293&no=1

http://www.passo.co.kr/home/main/popup.php?on_path=boat&on_page=goods_image&idx=18264&no=2

http://www.passo.co.kr/home/main/popup.php?on_path=boat&on_page=goods_image&idx=17181&no=3

http://www.passo.co.kr/home/main/popup.php?on_path=boat&on_page=goods_image&idx=15571&no=4

If you plan on learning to ski the course, aim for a boat more like these. Some of them might be over your budget but I'm not sure. They might not look as cool, and lack a nice stereo; but they will make up for it when you ski behind them.

If you plan to just continue free-skiing, that black boat will be fine.

"The 2012 Radar Strada Water Ski is one of the most exciting and user friendly skis Radar has ever created. The Strada features the same shape, and side- to-side speed, that gives you those extra few inches between the buoys. The Radar Strada has a new 45 degree torsional carbon lay-up that makes the ski sturdier at the end of a turn, and is now more aggressive off the second wake. The Strada returns with its signature 4 stage rocker, that gives the speed and balance that skiers crave. Also, the deep channeled tip contours remove excess mass in the tip. Another feature that the Strada offers is the Dual bevel configuration which creates a quick turning on-side, and level riding off-side. Sitting atop of the World Pro rankings as the Men and Women's #1 Ski in 2011, the 2012 Radar Strada does not disappoint!"

I got the quote from above on radars website under: strada, info.

Same shape, just a different carbon lay-up and more mass removed from the tip (the groves on the top of the ski).

I have a 2010 strada and love it, although it might be worth spending more money for the 2012. Just depends on how much you want to spend.

I think pro's do a lot for the sport. Look at Marcus Brown and the amount of time he spends with the face to face tour. Or Chris Rossi and his help with Radar, and the many other pro's helping test skis to help implement high standards in the quality of the products. The pro's are not being compensated like they deserve, but there is not a large audience like other high paying sports.

@Taelan28, These guys deserve free skis; what do you do for the sport? Why would you deserve a free ski?

I'll take one,

sent you a pm.

The 2010 and the 2011 are the same ski, just different graphics. I think the 2012 is the same mold also, but the carbon was layed a different way. I'm not sure, please correct me if I am wrong.

So if you want to save money, look for a 2010 strada.

Go with the strada bindings over the vectors if you are the only one using the ski.

You can do a System Reset by pressing and holding the ON/OFF & MENU keys

together as you power-up the system (turning ignition ON or to ACC).

You do the reset after you turn the key on.

If you purchase the wake version of stargazer, with a simple reset and you can choose the 3 event version. The only difference is you don't have a magnet sensor, which you don't need if you purchase a z-box.

So you can still get the three event for the same price as the wake, just without the magnet sensor.

I originaly had the wake version on my boat and did not like it, so I reprogrammed to 3 event and like it a lot better. You can also run the 3 event without a timer, I did buy one later though.

@ OB that's what I was trying to say. Completely agree.

I'm not trying to compare snow to water. I'm just saying more people understand downhill snow skiing. Not a lot of people understand our sport, I think that stops interest in our sport. If someone watching doesn't understand what's going on i.e: shorting the rope, the gates . . . ect or if they don't understand how hard it is, they will have no interest in watching. That's all I was trying to say.