Billbert

@skihard we are on Isle lake, just west of Edmonton. So technically middle Alberta is probably a better description.

Northern Alberta. Short season but pretty!

Thanks for all the comments guys. Not much closer to a decision but I have all winter to think about it. After considering @Chris Rossi comments above the vapor is edging ahead. I do this for fun and the vapor does sound like it would be a blast to play with, especially having the senate to fall back on if need be. Thanks again!

AHHHHH too many voices of reason to ignore. I should probably stick with the senate. @Wayne flat out nailed it with the forgiving and less effort comment. I probably wont be able to resist the lithium version, assuming I can find one (dealers around here aren't as keen on stocking them as they figure most folks willing to shell out extra for them will likely just bump up to the vapor). Still have to decide on the length. My weight has always seamed to put me at the transition between a 67 and 69, I have always gone with the 69 and have always been happy with the decision yet part of me always thinks maybe a 67 when it comes time to refresh the ski.

Currently on a 2014 Senate looking at 2017 models. I found that the lithium felt identical to the alloy until you started to push it. Easy and forgiving. Once you started to get a bit aggressive it seamed much faster, more acceleration and wide noticeably easier and with less effort than the alloy. The lithium I rode was a 2016 model and I swapped my boots over. They were set up as close to identical as you could get and rode back to back. I was hoping not to notice much of a difference.....so much for that, here I am contemplating my next ski.

Thinking about a new ski. Currently on a 69 Alloy Senate. Love the ski, it's mix of stability and speed are a good match for me and my hack level skiing. Tried a friend's lithium senate and couldn't believe the difference. Now I am thinking of an upgrade. I am 95% open water, 15 off, 32 to 34. mph. Wondering if I should bother with another senate or just start looking for a lithium vapor. Is there much of a jump between the two for a guy that will never reach eithers full potential but has enough change in his pocket not to care? Also wondering about lengths. I am about 205 and was considering dropping down to the 67 senate or a 68 vapor. What are your thoughts on this. Part of me wants a change part of me wants to stay within my comfort range and just move up to a lithium build 69 senate. Thanks!

I have no helpful advise but I am going to try a few of the tips above to try and clean up my skiing a bit. Looks like you are a close neighbour. We are on Isle Lake, just across the highway from Seba. I'm impressed you got out Saturday, it was ugly out, we didn't even pull the cover off the boat.

I picked up an adjustable resistor and soldered a plug and wire onto it. I swap out the temp sensor on the intake manifold with it and I can very quickly simulate a number of heat cycles to quickly clear codes in a matter of minutes rather than days. Plug the stock sensor back in and all is good. I'm way too cheep to pay for the Diacomm.

Same Here. I'm a 9 to 9 1/2 shoe size. ( 9 profile felt way to tight, 10 fits perfect. I have not noticed it opening up in any way after three seasons in it. I would probably go with the 12.

@Horton I apologize for use of the "E" word. It was not intended to conjure images of monocles and top hats but rather to reflect on the often seen opinion that because slalom skiing is difficult and does require more restricted water conditions all other activities found on public waters should take the back seat to the superior sport of water skiing. The point I attempted and failed to make was that if we as water skiers (and I use the term loosely when applied to my self in comparison to others who participate in this forum) are unable to look upon an emerging sport such as wake surfing with an open mind how do we expect to grow our own. Please note that I am not defending wake surfing from the issues of shore erosion, irresponsible operators etc. These issues apply to almost all activities found on public waters weather its a tube, PWC or some twit fishing from his canoe in the middle of the slalom course. Its up to all of us who use the public water ways to keep an open mind and respect each other. I too have a tremendous amount of capital invested from our summer home on the lake to our boat, lift, dock etc and I am protective of my investment, but there is no place in my mind where I believe I have more of a right to the water than the guy who drops in at the public launch. But ours is a public lake.....I am certain my perspective would be different if my investment was centred around a private lake. A large part of the appeal to this forum is the interaction with competitive high level tournament skiers. Many of you ski at a level I can only dream of and aspire to be at. You are truly elite athletes, your input is enjoyed and respected. For the most part many of you make us lowly recreational skiers feel at home here and it is appreciated.

I too received one....but I wakesurf so actually enjoyed flipping through it briefly. We ski primarily and wakesurf in rougher water or when the boat is too crowded to ski. Reading this thread some of the elitist comments perhaps shed some light on why our sport is dying. The learning curve for wakesurfing is substantially less than that of salom skiing but as with all sports to do it well takes talent, fitness and practice. Comparing it to tubing or stating that anyone can do it is the equivalent of comparing short line skiing to dragging behind the boat on one stick at 75feet thinking about crossing the wake. All I am saying is keep an open mind, there is no better time than time on the water. I don't think many private lake owners have anything to worry about....you generally need a good 15-20 feet of water minimum for a good wave to develop and I am guessing most of your ski lakes are too shallow for that. Public water is another thing, but public water brings all kinds of other challenges with it as well. Flip through the magazine, maybe learn something, broaden your horizons and move on.

@Chef23 your comments above likely provide direct evidence to the age of my hockey helmet. The R seams so light to me.....one way or another it doesn't matter, the LAX helmet provides enough piece of mind to ski without fear of injury.....to my face at least. I was aware of the recall, thanks. You are correct in your assumption I was not worried about it as I figure the extra padding will not provide any moe protection from taking a ski to the face.

@Chef23 I actually started with a hockey helmet and cage. I was worried about issues with bucketing and decided to add the neck brace to the mix. To work effectively with the neck brace the helmet requires a good chin bar. I thought about MX or BMX full face helmets and rejected them due to weight. Stumbled upon the Cascade R LAX helmet. Its lighter than my old hockey helmet, the lining is closed foam so it doesn't absorb or retain water, the chin bar works with the neck brace and the lines of sight are reasonable. I admit helmets are not for everyone, have my doubts that they would prevent concussions from contact with the water but after taking a ski to the head twice in two years (first was minor, some stitches and a tooth) I decided that if I am going to continue in this sport I would wear a lid. Not sure they could put my face back together a second time and don't want to find out.

I wear one. Full face LAX helmet and a motocross neck brace in case the water catches it. I took the tip of the ski to my face in an OTF, Several fractures of the face, blew out my orbital cavity and almost lost an eye. Two surgeries and a month in the hospital are my reminder to put it on before I get in the water.

@blagrata I'm a toe plate guy so I went with a profile up front and a ARTP in the back. The profile took a couple of sets to get used to coming from a wrap but I really like it now. I have a vector on my "boat ski"....or the loaner and its comfy too but I really prefer the profile.

@blagrata I switched from a 69 F1X to a 67 Senate last spring. I could not believe how much better the senate suites me than the F1X did. Never missed the 2" in length and find it easier to come out of the water on the senate....all in all it feels a lot more stable. I am about your size and ski at 32 mph most days. You wont regret moveing to the senate from the F1X

@oldjeep I tried the Radar ExtEnd Handle last summer. Ours survived about three sets before one of the plastic side pieces tore in two and dumped one of my ski buddy's violently during a hard cut. Messed up his hand pretty bad as the jagged edges ripped through his hands. I promptly returned the remnants for a vapour handle and haven't looked back. Mine may have been the abnormality but I would recommend careful inspection of yours before each use.

I looked at the garth helmets. Good noggin protection, poor face protection. I had my ski bust up my face last year (several fractures to RHS orbit and blew out the orbit floor) so I was looking for a bit more protection than they offered. I looked at BMX helmets, kyaking helmets, jump helmets and ended up with a LAX field helmet. Nice and light, nothing in the liner to go funky in the water and good line of sight through the cage. took a little getting used to but I don't notice it any more. I also wear a motocross style neck brace as well for added protection if the helmet were to dig in in a crash. The thread bellow is the result of me asking the same question last year. http://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/8384/any-helmet-recommendations-for-slalom

@Jordan‌ Thanks! Never thought to look there. I appreciate it.

@I5boi I'm sure they are good, especially at my ability level. Just staring at a snow bank and thought it might be interesting to check where it is all set at compared to where its supposed to be set at. Thanks for your input!

Just got the new toy home. I'm having difficulty finding binding and fin settings for a 2014 69" Senate. Trying the profile boot this year. If anyone can help me track down this info it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

The link listed above "http://www.ballofspray.com/forum#/discussion/8384/any-helmet-recommendations-for-slalom" links to the discussion on this I started last year. My wreck may have been a freak accident but I will never ski again without my helmet and neck brace. Not sure the face could be repaired again if it were to take another hit like it did last spring. The new sub-dermal hardware has taken some getting used to and injuries of this kind are known to mess with your vision.....this has been no exception for me and its been a long road back to normal....with a ways to go yet. Personal preference really....I never would have thought I would come so close to loosing an eye skiing, could have been worse. I'm sold on wearing a helmet skiing and believe the neck brace limits the danger of an induced neck injury. This picture helps me remember why the helmet is important to me. Screen shot of a cat scan of my face after the first of two surgeries depicting the installation of some of my titanium plates. Helps to remember there is more out there to hit your head on skiing than the water. Bring on spring, I for one am ready to hit the lake again!

My biggest concern about wearing a helmet is my neck. That's the reason behind the neck brace...in conjunction with a helmet they are know to provide good protection for the neck. The Atlas brace is a nice design, fairly light and the padding does not absorb water. The Cascade R helmet is actually a pretty good fit for me. Its lighter, fits better than the kayak helmets I found and offers full chin and face protection. I looked at the Gath helmets but really wanted more protection than the visor offered. The sight lines of the Cascade helmet are exceptional, the liner does not absorb water and after a couple of sets I really was hard pressed to know it was there. The solution may not be for everyone but I for one am happy to be skiing again.