farangset

To Sergio Moutatlet: cit. "(...) Knew one french brand called Sim's (wood skis very well made)" Well done, Chap! I never guessed someone would cite this brand - especially in a U.S. based site. Yes Sim's did wooden skis at first (like everyone) ; I did my debuts on a combo pair, got quickly trained to release one and then tried the slight 'V-hull' monoski aimed as a transition ski toward the wide tunnel one. All those debut/transition skis were bearing the same half white/half red decor and varnished bottom. They were easy, good quality basic trainers. But did you know Sim's did also very technologically advanced tricks? We had at the same time (which seems a bit strange regarding the conservative techs used in the previously said skis) a pair of NIDALIGHTs. There were made of a forged sole of hard (aircraft grade) aluminum embossed in one piece with the four sides, 3 stabilisation strakes on each tip. Note those skis were not flat but noticeably curved from front to back and even convex from side to side. The core was a honeycomb structure of aluminum, certainly milled to adapt to the curved sole. Top was a hard melamine 'flag' decor, proudly divided in the 3 blue-white-red national colors and the black eagle stylised head signing all Sim's products. Of course, those tricks were quite heavy - but totally unbreakable. Wake jumps, steps attempts with relevant knockings let them unharmed for years - untill they got stolen in our boat. Strange ending, since the Reflex comp wraps adapted lately with the former holes all around were not looking as a matching choice - but that was OK for all the family enjoying double-tricks tours sometimes. I will find & post some pix one of these days. Another dead brand no one can know - myself knowing only from a school comrade who belonged somehow to the founders family: the Roque & Lahuppe skis. Dating from the very early days (1925s / 30s) and based on the french Riviera. Remember that if the debate about where water skiing was really born tends in favor of the USA, the early development belongs to France, especially the mediterranean coast. Then US took over, with favorable environment in Florida and California among other states. As a proud Savoie born skier, used to enjoy the Aix lake since childhood, I would like to believe the old story here about alpine skiers using their snow stuff to experience something different behind a boat on Annecy lake as early as in the 192O's, but that does not make a lot of sense regarding lifting surface of vintage winter skis, plus the low performance of available boats of that time. However, there is a funny experience available around here that few other locations can offer: ski in the morning at 3,500m AMSL on a glacier -either in Tignes or Deux-Alpes, not speaking of Mont-Blanc available rides- and water ski the same day afternoon at 231m AMSL on my lake! (aviators check LFLB small Intl airport, at the very South of lake...). That's something to do once in a while Regards,