SLALOM: What ski are you using???

[TEAL98]

Ok, so everybody knows I'm the outspoken village idiot on here:D and to be perfectly honest, I'm trying to (DARE I ADMIT) learn how to slalom. Ok, I admit it, I've mastered the double-ski technique (like anybody can), but I'm trying to work on getting up on one in the spring. I want to know what everybody is skiing on, so I can decide on which ski would best suit my needs. Also, since I have the '98, I won't be doing any less than 22 off it seems, so maybe to keep that in mind as well, with the advice:confused: Thanks guys, let 'em roll in

~Jon

[Skipper]

You are too much. You just "mastered the double-ski technique" and want to slalom. But you won't be "doing any less than 22 off". I have not smiled all day, until now. I applaud your efforts to slalom.

I suspect you should use a shaped ski. It will be easier to control than a hard core slalom. Connelly and HO both have several shaped skis to choose from.

Personally, I use a D3 Nomad 67" with Wiley bindings.

You have an awesome slalom boat. Have fun.

[D3skier]

You are too much. You just "mastered the double-ski technique" and want to slalom. But you won't be "doing any less than 22 off". I have not smiled all day, until now. I applaud your efforts to slalom.

I suspect you should use a shaped ski. It will be easier to control than a hard core slalom. Connelly and HO both have several shaped skis to choose from.

Personally, I use a D3 Nomad 67" with Wiley bindings.

You have an awesome slalom boat. Have fun.

I second the Skipper's response.

I personally use a D3 Z7 66" with Radar RS-1 boots

[DooSPX]

I have a HO Vengeance. I like it. no wing and some slight fin adjustment and the ski is fast, predicable and stable. It should be ran at 32mph+ though. its WAY to slow at less than 30.
also, I would never tell someone to run slalom on a full line. 15 off is a great place to start, learn and sometimes stay for a long time.
also, get yourself a learner handle, its a ski robe handle that has a long V that you put the ski tip between, it helps keep the ski from wanting to go of the the side when you are learning.

[deereman]

i use an HO. not really a hardcore slalom ski but its wide, shaped, and very stable and easy to get up on with some practice. i first started skiing about halfway through summer, starting on 2, and by the end of summer, i was getting up on 1 and getting in to some pretty decent cutting by the end of summer. could be way better if the boat had a working transmission the whole summer.:mad: i think the best way is to drag your'e other foot behind you instead of in front or in the boot, but im just a novice. theres way better expert opinions on here than me.:)

[H20skeefreek]

Ok, so everybody knows I'm the outspoken village idiot on here:D and to be perfectly honest, I'm trying to (DARE I ADMIT) learn how to slalom. Ok, I admit it, I've mastered the double-ski technique (like anybody can), but I'm trying to work on getting up on one in the spring. I want to know what everybody is skiing on, so I can decide on which ski would best suit my needs. Also, since I have the '98, I won't be doing any less than 22 off it seems, so maybe to keep that in mind as well, with the advice:confused: Thanks guys, let 'em roll in

~Jon
quite the comedian aren't we?

[JohnnyB]

If you've never ridden a slalom before, the best place to start might be the slalom that came with your combos. Reason being that most mid-level or better slalom skis will "hunt" for an edge as you ski. The first few times on a slalom, you'll be skiing pretty flat as you get the hang of it? What kind of combo skis are you skiing?

I learned to slalom with one of the skis from a pair of AMF Voit Woody skis. I then moved on to a ski from a pair of Connely combos....it had a concave bottom and would hold an edge better. I'll have to see if I can find some pics of me skiing this ski.....shortly thereafter, I bought a Jobe Honeycomb. This was in the mid 80s when we were skiing behind a 1971 tri-hull and officiating soccer games to buy ski gear.

[ski_king]

I recommend a Obrien Syncro.
Great ski from a beginner into shortline.

I currently have a Obrien Mapple, but prefer the Syncro I bought for thr kids.

[TEAL98]

Wow, right on, thanks for all the input fellas. The skiis I have now were handed down to me, they're O'Brien Performer Combos, silver base with red and yellow striping design with fins in the back. The bottom of the skis are flat black and good lord, they've got to be atleast 20 years old, maybe almost 30?? My old man had a '72 sidewinder jetboat that he bought in the mid 70s and began to ski behind along with my uncles, so they've got to be from around that era I would think. The reason I was contemplating the range of being further than 22 off was because of the '98s having the "spray problem". My uncle up in Chicago, thats gone through MCs like I go through boxers, said you don't wanna ski anywhere near 22 off or you're gunna be cussing. My boat does have the "inserts" on the bottom near the transom though, which Danny from the dealer said MC provided to correct the spray problem. But hey I'm still at a novice level, I'm still learning. Thanks for all the input, keep it coming:)

[Wacko]

I ski on a SWEET HO Turbo from about 1988. It is really cool with Neon Pink Graphics.

In all seriousness it actually skis really well. I am going to have to break down and upgrade pretty soon now that I seem to be getting back into slalom skiing more with my old age.

[h2oskifreak]

Spray is the least of your concerns. Practice and ski with somebody better than you that can give hints. Time on the water is the most important right now, along with speed (will vary with the ski and your weight). Be and stay in shape to avoid injury. Video yourself and develop good habits from the beginning. I suggest as others have 15 off and forget about rope length for years most likely. Forget the course, free ski, get comfortable with crossing the wakes with good body position and stay with the board. Many people here with all levels of skiing and all willing to help.

[LaRue]

for a few decades my brother and i used the Conelly Concept exclusively. I now use the HO Burner. A bit wider but for my recreational purposes, i have been extremly happy. Stable, turns easy, and since i do not get quite as tired on this wider ski, provides for longer runs. In fact, i would say at age 44, i probably had my best and most enjoyable year skiing. I would encourage you to learn by lifting up one ski from your doubles and once you graduate completely to slalom skiing, go and buy a slalom ski that you can grow into, in other words, one that will provide years of use. Don't be afraid to spend a bit more up front for a bit better ski and boots.

[JLeuck64]

Also, since I have the '98, I won't be doing any less than 22 off it seems

I have a 98 also...
You need to set your sights a little higher. 34MPH boat speed and rope length at 32OFF, the wakes are pure BUTTER!

Once you have taught yourself how to keep the ski on edge while cutting through the wakes start playing around with shortening the rope and adjusting the boat speed. Every tourny boat I have ever skied behind has a sweet spot and it is just in front of the rooster tail. Sure, some hulls make more spray than others but us free skiers are always seeking the glass waters and I have noticed that keeps hull spray to a minimum anyways...

Pick up a copy of Gordon Rathbun's DVD to watch this winter, you will learn good basics from it.

Search for slalom skiing to watch on YouTube.
HTH

[cdstukey]

We have a 66" Kidder slalom that we keep in our boat for people that are learning to slalom on. It's a wide/shaped ski with a front plate binding and rear toe plate. Having the rear toe lets skiers keep their foot out while getting ready and thus be a little more stable while waiting in the water. My wife couldn't get up on anything else until she tried that ski. Don't worry about out growing the ski, a good learning ski is always a good thing to have around, even if you have moved on to something with a little more performance. That being said you don't need to break the bank on one either, we picked ours up used for 50 bucks with the bindings at a ski swap sale.

[Jesus_Freak]

...Forget the course, free ski, get comfortable with crossing the wakes with good body position...

Absolutely! Dont mess with the course or rope length until your body position is nailed.

I ski an '08 Nomad with Approach bindings.

[CruisinGA]

My very novice $.02- I found learning by dropping a ski was better for me. Kept me from wearing out too fast trying deep water starts and gave me more time on the ski early on. I was also learning behind either a jet ski or a '96 Monterrey I/0, so there wasn't much pull available to get my 200+lbs up on one.

Good luck and have fun!

[Muttley]

It took me a full year to master deep water starts! I wouldn't worry about an aggressive top of the line slalom just yet. You might want to try something like a used mid level ski for a while. Get your body position down. Realistically you'll be at 15 off and not nailing the course for a quite while yet.

I bought a Connelly Concept and skied that for a year. I wouldn't recommend it because it was pretty skittish for a beginner, but it gave me a start. Then at the end of that season I was able to demo about 4-5 skis in the same day. I went with the Kidder 5000, but it was almost identical to the HO.

[Kevin 89MC]

I share pretty much the same advice here. I agree that you should be doing all your skiing at 15 off. Long line is too long once you start carving, and 22 off will get you into a rooster tail on most boats that is no fun to go through.

I've taught a fair amount of people to ski, and the best I've found is to get up on the combos and drop a ski. Ski on the combo slalom until you're very comfortable with that, then try to get up on one ski. Start with the combo slalom, but if that doesn't work, try a shaped ski. They are much easier to get up on, but I find they are not good for carving turns. I'd recommend getting up with both feet in, but it is harder to balance that way. One foot out is much easier as far as balance, but I've found it can torque the back a bit. Once you get comfortable on getting up on one and carving turns, then you can upgrade your ski. There are some great mid-line skis out there, but they all do ski somewhat differently, so demo a few. I find the KD/D3 skis to be very forgiving and easy to learn on, but plenty of others I know do not like them at all. I'd also stay away from high end slalom for now, as they do not like to be flat, they will constantly be "hunting" to get on edge. Once you start carving turns, though, they become fun skis to be on. Soon you'll be chasing bouys in the course!

As far as boats, don't let anyone kid you, your '98 is an awesome boat. My bro in law has one, and we spend a lot of time with it in the course. Wakes are awesome. My partner skis 28-35 off at 36 mph, and has no complaints about that wake. I'm a mid-line skier, and I will probably never "out-ski" that boat. Heck, I have a '89 ProStar that is plenty for me, but spray does creep in around 32-35 off, as my partner will attest.

A 2nd recommendation for Gordon Rathbun's "12 slalom drills", it's a great learning tool once you get comfortable on a slalom.

Keep at it, slalom skiing is a rush!

Good luck,
Kevin

[starman205]

Keep at it, slalom skiing is a rush!

Good luck,
Kevin[/QUOTE]

AND Addictive :D

[cordark615]

Just my 2 cents, but 10 years ago i tried for a half of a summer to get up on 1, then i got with a friend with a boom, made it a 110% easier. If you can find someone with a boom they can teach you alot quicker.

[daverbeck]

I second the vote for an Obrien Synchro. It is easy to get up on, stable, predictable and holds great in the turns.

I am considering a HO Triumph as I understand they turn a little quicker and I am hoping to make it through the course while I can still ski (turned 55 this year).

[DooSPX]

Teal, with the inserts on your 98, you do not have to worry about spray. you will not have a problem intill your DEEP into the line. The only issue you will have at -22 is the rooster tail.

[JohnE]

Try one of those wide shaped ski's if you can borrow one. I don't think I'd buy one cause you'll only use it a few times. But Shep had one at csm last year and Monte had never even tried slalom. He got up first try. It's so bouyant it's easy. Use that a few times to get the feel and then use the single Performer is my advice. You don't need a dedicated slalom ski until you've ski'd well a few dozen times on that combo.

[shepherd]

If you've never tried getting up on one ski before, the best equipment you can buy are a wide shaped slalom ski and a "deep V" trainer slalom handle/rope. Monte had both of those, and the deep V handle was probably the key. I know a few other beginners who never would have got up without one.

Learning by dropping a ski might help you "get on" one ski quicker, but it won't help you learn how to "get up on" one ski.

[TEAL98]

Advice definately taken into heart! Thanks for all the input guys, looks like I'll be doing some ebayin' a soon after christmas to see if I can find me a wide ski. Damnit, is it spring yet?

[trunderw]

HO Triumph (2007) but not a bad ski. My wife's parents think it's a bit unstable when skiing straight but in and out of turns (even slight ones) it's like butter...seriously
congrats on mastering the doubles
It prefers to ride straight but most of my friends like it a lot too!
...actually if you'd like to try the HO I can let you sometime early this season...holla

[ccowell]

I'm just getting into slaloming but have friends that have skied forever and are "teaching" me how to ski. One of my buddies gave me a Icon ski, has anyone every heard of these? Was he correct in telling me that it is a connelly ski?

I learned to get up by taking Woody Harrelson's advice "nut up or shut up". I found that I just had to get drug through the water a few times and find out what not to do before I figured out what to do. As a side not it helps clear out the sinuses