View Full Version : Some advice for old slalom dude
Age Fighter
07-11-2009, 12:48 PM
Need some tips -- along with the fountain of youth.
Almost 50- -- athletic for that age and about 6-3, 215 pounds. First slalomed 3 summers ago. Got tired of deep water start attempts so have done a lot of drop skiing. I ski at a solid intermediate level --and I like about 32-33 mph. Very inconsistent at deep water starts however. Poor at that for some reason.
I alternate between one of those 80 inch retro Maja skis -- and an O Brien Seige 69. The Seige exhausts me -- but I tried a couple of the big shaped skis before that and hated them. Having a hard time finding anything between the Seige class and the under 30 mph class skis. I like the Maja but it is a niche ski and I'm not sure if I can progress on it.
Any ideas?
flipper
07-11-2009, 01:26 PM
Go to your local shop. Most places that sell skis will rent them to you. Keep renting different ones until you find what you like. The one by me will add up the money spent on rentals, and put it toward your purchase price so you are not out any money. Get advise here, but try it out before you buy. What works for some may not for others.
Age Fighter
07-11-2009, 02:13 PM
Go to your local shop. Most places that sell skis will rent them to you. Keep renting different ones until you find what you like. The one by me will add up the money spent on rentals, and put it toward your purchase price so you are not out any money. Get advise here, but try it out before you buy. What works for some may not for others.
I love the advice flipper, but there are no such "shops" in our area. It's Dick's Sporting Goods or one of the two Overton's physical locations I believe -- or ebay or Craig's List.
André
07-11-2009, 06:17 PM
H2Osmosis in N.C. have a "try before you buy" program and can ship you about any kind of ski for you to try before you buy.
Fees are very minimal and ,of course you have to send the skis back in top shape.
Seth Stisher can tell you what kind of ski will suit your style according to your budget.
I'm sure they got some good deals on demos too!
Radar Senate,Connelly Prophecy or those new D3 Z7 or Goode Wide ride could fit you good...
Good luck!
Age Fighter
07-11-2009, 08:47 PM
Andre -- thanks a ton. Someone who can get me started in the right direction with a try before you buy policy is exactly what I need. I will check them out. Thanks again....
Jorski
07-13-2009, 12:47 PM
I would take a look at the Goode 9900 Wide Ride.
This is NOT a fat guys ski. It is a true competition ski (designed and ridden by Nick Parsons).
It has received very strong reviews, and would help you in the specific areas that you mention.
Read about it here:
http://www.schnitzskis.com/goodeskis.html
and here:
http://www.waterskireview.h2osmosis.com/?page_id=293
and here...lots of discussion on pages 3 and 4:
http://www.thewaterskiforum.com/forum.html
mikeyg
07-13-2009, 01:12 PM
My buddy has the Connelly Outlaw and likes it a lot. He too was having a hard time with the deep water start and now it's no problem. He is just over 6 ft. and about 220lbs. I ride an HO System 8 and rode his outlaw yesterday and I gotta say it was a world of a difference getting up. I just popped right up. Nothing like my System 8. I thought the ski rode smooth and i was able to make a real nice run with it. I would reccommend this ski - Nice price point too!! we got ours from wileys with the double wiley boots.
Here is a link to a review on the ski:
http://www.aquaskier.com/reviews/connelly_outlaw.htm
Granite_33
07-13-2009, 02:11 PM
OK...you have a couple years on me, but........
I ski a 70" HO CDX. Never had a problem popping out of the water on that. Bought it from Wiley's.
6'0" - 225lbs.
I would be more curious to understand if you are having problems with the initial pull, or if you are dragging too long. My wife hammers it and within 5-7 seconds, I am up and ready to go. (strictly water ski talkin here:D)
I ski at about 34-35mph.
I theorize that at that speed, your weight, and the Obrien combo are making it tough on you, given that the more aggressive ones are designed to run at closer to slalom speeds.
Good luck with it......
pkskier
07-13-2009, 05:04 PM
I will be 50 in October and I ski on an O'brien Seige at 36 mph, at your speed it will wear you out. Just pick your speed up a little and you should be fine. I know HO makes a big ski that is easier on the body but is still shape like a conventional slalom ski. By the way I am 6-2, 210 lbs. you can get it done on the Seige.
Jorski
07-14-2009, 03:28 PM
You could also try one of those new goode ski vests that are supposed to take the load off of your arms and hands ??
http://www.goode.com/images/pv-features.gif
http://www.goode.com/waterpv.htm
http://www.teamgeritol.com/
M-Funf
07-14-2009, 04:10 PM
You could also try one of those new goode ski vests that are supposed to take the load off of your arms and hands ??
http://www.goode.com/images/pv-features.gif
http://www.goode.com/waterpv.htm
That is one EXPENSIVE vest!!!!!!!!!! I could spend a lot of money at the gym for that...8p
Age Fighter
07-14-2009, 11:09 PM
Goode products are a tad pricey, ain't they. Then again, if I tried the new vest while skiing on the Wide Ride, I might not be able to go back.....
Granite_33
07-15-2009, 12:23 PM
Friend of mine had a major wreck last wednesday...........while on his Goode..
Ski came off his feet.......
Ski went flying.........
Boots came off the ski......
Boots sank..........
I am sure the velcro is commercial grade..........but...whoa......I don't think this should have happened......
Thats a spendy accident.......
chudson
07-15-2009, 01:46 PM
Need some tips -- along with the fountain of youth.
Almost 50- -- athletic for that age and about 6-3, 215 pounds. First slalomed 3 summers ago. Got tired of deep water start attempts so have done a lot of drop skiing. I ski at a solid intermediate level --and I like about 32-33 mph. Very inconsistent at deep water starts however. Poor at that for some reason.
I alternate between one of those 80 inch retro Maja skis -- and an O Brien Seige 69. The Seige exhausts me -- but I tried a couple of the big shaped skis before that and hated them. Having a hard time finding anything between the Seige class and the under 30 mph class skis. I like the Maja but it is a niche ski and I'm not sure if I can progress on it.
Any ideas?
Do you start with both feet in the bindings or do you drag a leg? No expert here purely a novice, but I've always drug a leg when coming out of the water. The first ski I bought with a rear boot like to drown me, I finely got up just wasn't used to it so I replaced the boot with a rear toe plate and was back to coming up fine.:twocents: Goodluck!!! By the way I ski on a Connely HP like this one (stole the picture from ebay) old school I know but it works better than spending $1000 plus.
49316