Had the opportunity to ski both the E-1 and the E-2 at the Mapple Training Center on Friday. First and foremost, enough cannot be said about the positive overall experience. Andy M. is without question the ultimate guru when it comes to ski design, set-up, understanding the physics of skiing and coaching. He is also one heck of a nice guy. His son Michael, is also part of the Team, and is a really nice guy and a heck of a boat driver as well.
Have been skiing the AM-33 for the past 2.5 years. I did try the 6.0 and found the AM-33 slightly faster but not quite as forgiving and consistent as the 6.0. However, the slight increase in speed one gains with the AM-33, one gives up in durability. The ski is hollow and is more easily damaged by handle pops etc. That said, it has been the best ski I have skied........until now. The new T series BLOWS IT AWAY.
Began the set with the T-2. The ski established more angle at the buoy than you can fathom...then just maintains it and keeps going cross course with the angle that was established at the ball. The space and angle generated is nothing short of amazing. A few changes were made during the set including moving the binders back. This made the on-side turn the shortest radius turn I have ever made, but is did lose some acceleration. Andy said as much and thought we should move them forward as they were. At this point, this ski was srill faster and better than my current AM-33....and I LOVE my AM-33. I was ready to take the T-2 home.
Andy then suggested while I was on site, just try the T-1. The T-1 is more of a conventional width ski as compared to the T-2 which is slightly wider and shorter.
The first pass on the T-1, stock settings, was REVOLUTIONARY for me. While both the T-2 and the T-1 generate more angle than any ski I have skied, this ski, for my style did seem to be faster than the T-2. Andy did his magic and made a few adjustments, and all I can say is WOW. The ski, again, for my style is CRAZY fast, turns with a smaller radius turn and keeps more cross course angle than ANY ski I have ridden.
I took the T-1 to my course and skied it today. Felt really relaxed and the more I pushed the ski, ( Andy did say to "turn the ski"), the more I pushed the ski, the faster and more responsive it got. People in the boat observed the ski, compared to my AM-33, had MUCH more ski in the water and all they could say was "must be nice to be sitting there WAITING for the buoy". My first set on the ski I ran the widest, earliest 38 I have ever run.
I have always been more narrow to my 2,4 side (right foot forward) and as a result, never had a great on-side turn. With this ski, so much more angle is established, the 2-4 turn is smoothed out considerably and then I am SOOOO early to the 3-5 side.
I will be skiing the 68.5 inch later this week. All the above was on the 66.5 (think these are the correct lengths, but not certain). Will post the results of that session.
Bottom line, not certain how it works, but I am glad I am one! This ski is truly REVOLUTIONARY. Andy described the difference in the two skis as follows: when in trouble, if you try to catch up at the buoy with a turn, the T-2 is your ski. If you try to catch up behind the boat, the T-1 is your ski. Both skis are the best I have skied, but the T-1 worked for me.
These are AMAZING skis. Already lovin' my T-1!
MWN