slalom line vs. wake line

[94PS190]

What's the difference between a slalom line and a wake line? Are they different handles with the same mainline?

[erkoehler]

Slalom lines have some "stretch" where wakeboard lines are NON-stretch.

[94PS190]

Why would you want a slalom line to stretch?

[#47of100TeamMC]

Why would you want a slalom line to stretch?

You want it to stretch a little to soak up some of the tug from the boat after you finish your turn around the ball. Helps you get wide for the next ball with a sling shot effect.

[cdstukey]

You want it to stretch a little to soak up some of the tug from the boat after you finish your turn around the ball. Helps you get wide for the next ball with a sling shot effect.

Forgive me for asking but,why would that be bad for wakeboarding?

[Leroy]

When you cut on the wakeboard you want a hard cut with the most acceleration you can get before hitting the wake, with a ski rope when you cut the rope stretches reducing your acceleration.

Forgive me for asking but,why would that be bad for wakeboarding?

[88 PS190]

Slalom ropes begin life with some stretch to them, hence you stretch them a bit first if you want them to be in tolerence on length.
If you've skied with a line for awhile you will notice it becomes stretched out and if you measure it you will find its longer than it started out. Skiing with an old line will often hurt your shoulders more than a new line for that reason.

Wakelines while low/no stretch also hold less water in the line and are lighter in weight.

The sections and lengths also vary. slalom lines tend to be made up of segments for 15' off 22' off 28' off and so on. The number of sections depends on the intended use, tournament lines often have sections to 41 or 43' off as well as some with a switch section, and a handle section. These line sections are specific lengths for slalom skiing.

Wakeboarders often want even longer lines than a full length slalom line. But have sections that allow them to be run shorter for learning riders (shorter = narrower wakes many riders who have advanced further prefer to be on a long line for cleaner wakes)

Handles are also different, wake handles are wider, some have another handle for wrapped tricks. they have spongy grips for use with barehands they are very light sometimes in hollow carbon or similar materials. Slalom handles are not as wide, the grips are really meant for use with gloves and have a thinner but more durable grip surface. If you slalom and use a foam grip like a wake handle you will find the foam separates rather quickly from the handle. The bar in a slalom handle is aluminum and still on occastion you may bend or break the bar.