Ski Suggestion HO Prefer

[DBrown2]

Well its time to get serious again, I was semi retired until 3 years ago, then I bought my own PS190... My old HO Mach 1 90's model, with the square cube color building blocks on it... Well last year I struggled to get up.. I broke two ropes trying... One was a sucky rope, the other was a decent rope. By struggle it wasnt the boat... at PS190 Powerslot Trans and a 351 that will jerk your freaking arms off...

I kept battling the season with the Ski, just because it has lots of sentimental value since the person that bought it for me, taught me how to ski when I was 5.. and he passed away shortly after giving me the ski.

That said I looked tonight and its a 65" ski... from researching at 5.10 165 I should be sking a 67 or really a 68...

My question would a ski that much shorter cause so much struggle getting up? I felt like it was taking to much energy to get out of the water...

Second question... What HO ski should I go with... I am just a rec skier.

[3event]

Yes, a ski too short might make it tougher to get up. From what I've heard/read you might want to look at the HO Triumph. Depends on your needs / goals. I ride a System 8, but it I wouldn't say it's easy to launch. The shaped Triumph should make it more forgiving and still enjoyable. I'm keeping the old skis to hang in the rec room when I finish it - there will always be stories to tell about them. I have some of my Dad's old skis as well kept for that purpose. Good luck !

[LaRue]

i would suggest looking at the HO Burner. If you don't envision yourself skiing a course, this would be a great 67" recreational ski. A bit wider than traditional slalom but for your purposes, i think you would like it. Still cuts well, responsive and easy to get up and quite forgiving. http://www.hosports.com/product/307248/31446/_/Burner_wLevel_Boot_Options

[H20skeefreek]

Maybe the RadaR Annex? I started on an HO Charger, great ski. I don't think the ski length is the issue. You probably should be on a 66" or 67", but it's close enough that it should matter. I'd concentrate on your startup position and make sure you are getting a gradual pullup from the boat, not drag race start.

[DBrown2]

Ding Ding H20 Freek... I got air on take off... right over the front of the ski... I was letting my father in law drive which has never pulled a skier, but of course as with most father in laws... He assured me he knew exactly how to pull me out of the water... Needless to say after getting launched 6 times in a row.. I thought it was me, so I gave up.. It was tuff to swallow... since I have been on a Slalom sking for 28 years... I thought man, this wakeboarding has screwed up my sking... But it sounds like driver issues.

Back to ski suggestions... Keep them coming... I have a few PM me to possible meet and demo some ski's.

[shepherd]

A 165 lb. skier shouldn't be breaking "good" ski ropes, no matter how heavy the driver is slamming the throttle.

Also, at 185-190 lbs I'm on a 67" ski. My ski buddy weighs 165 and rides 65" - 66" skis. So, I wouldn't think your ski is too short unless your skiing at slow speeds.

Why do you need to get an HO ski? Got an HO t-shirt you really like to wear, or HO decals on your boat like I had? :D

[DBrown2]

No particular reason HO other than that is what my Dad skied, and I have always skied... So its brand loyality I guess. As for breaking "good" ropes, I think your right depends on your definition.

D3 seems to be the ticket for most.

So shepherd why do you ask... I assume you have moved on from HO?

[shepherd]

Actually, it was just a coincidence that the boat had the HO stickers on it when I bought it and I was skiing an HO Extreme at the time. Since then I've owned a KD, a couple other HOs, and a D3. I always thought those decals looked cool on my boat, though. I think you should try as many skis as you can and pick the one that suits you best regardless of brand.

As for breaking ropes, yeah, I've broke a few that I thought looked good but I guess age weakened them. Now I replace my rope and handle every year or two.

[h2oskifreak]

I don't get the rope breaking either 66-67' ski in my opinion. Don't go high end like the Monza, it's more ski than it sounds you need. Try several brands if you can. Regarding getting up, are you helpng? or just leaning back fighting it? I'm 175 6'1 and never broke a rope coming out of the water in 25 years. I've broken several in my pull, but never "out of the hole".

[sk8salomon]

at first when you said "semi-retired" i pictured a dude in his late 50's wanting to upgrade his 30 year old ski. lol. you meant retired from sking i assume, doh! seriously, i've got a few used skis we can setup with different bindings and see what feels best. you can come down to chatt or i can meet you at the big lake, whichever is easiest. what is your ski budget?

[sk8salomon]

Why do you need to get an HO ski? Got an HO t-shirt you really like to wear, or HO decals on your boat like I had? :D

that was my favorite HO sticker back in the day. i guess also because we "stole" the design a bit...

[DBrown2]

So we can move past the rope breaks, lets assume they where 10 years old, at the bottom of the lake, dry rotted, and I should have never used them.

Sean, I am taking you up on the offer, thanks for the PM.

As for my budget, doesnt matter really... I am one of those guys, that never buys cheaps, but buys expensive and then gets hung up on why I have to use for 20 years. But to answer the question realistic I would love to find something up to 250 but willing to drop as much as 600 maybe a few more.

On ski it again... You can pickup about any ski you want for 750.00

[dstone124]

my recommendation would be a wide ride to start with. The comp / freeride series by HO would be in that line, such as the burner that someone has already suggested. Beyond that, ski size should be based on how much you weigh vs. how fast you plan to ski. if you're in that 165-170lb range and ski around 30-32 mph you should be on a longer ski (67") If you progress into 34-36mph you could start looking shorter as you get more aggressive.
Good point regarding ski-it-agian, but I would'nt drop the money on a porche if I never intended on leaving town for some roads to let it run!

[DBrown2]

Trust me the ski will get a work out :)

[mccobmd]

If you want an HO for sure would look at the triumph 67 or 69, good blend of easy to get up on and ability to progress. I moslty wakeboard but when I ski it is on connely pilot, very easy to get up on, turns well enough for free skiing. Won't take you into the course or even prep you for it.

[cdstukey]

+1 on the triumph, it is a nice ski with a little extra width. I'm 180# and ski my 67" up to 32mph. Any faster and it seems to not hold so well in turns, but it is a nice open water or slower course ski. If the water is good and I'm skiing 34mph I'm most likely on the D3.

[DBrown2]

Well finally dug out the other HO... its a VTX 9.8... but its the same length...

Any thoughts on that ski?

[sk8salomon]

Well finally dug out the other HO... its a VTX 9.8... but its the same length...

Any thoughts on that ski?

it looks like you have a few decent skis to work with. all depends on what YOU want to do. that ski is 15 years old, will it ski ok? probably fine to practice deep water starts, carve some turns and bascially do what you want it to do. there are much better mid~wide body slalom skis like these guys have mentioned that will help out with getting up. all depends on your wallet and what sking you want to do. if you'd rather spend $ on gas and what's in your cooler, i'd keep the skis and learn to ride them. like lance says, "it's not about the bike"...more about the cycler or something like that? two years ago i saw a guy run 39-1/2 off in a tournament on a HO PowerStix...that thing is like 15 years old!

[DBrown2]

Thanks for thoughts... I was unsure of the age of the HO VTX... it came with the 92 PS190 I had.. All in all I am ready for the season. I told the wife last night, I am not wakeboarding again, till I get my ski legs back under me... Like I have said its tuff after 28 years of doing this to admit, I couldnt get up... So I am blaming the Father in law... then second my bad shoulder... :)

As for Budget, I think its time to upgrade and get a more modern ski... I know snow sking I did that last year weant from my old 205 K2's, into some modern cut ski's, and 2 day out... I was like why did they ever make those old things... This is it...

So it sounds like I need to meet up with a few of you that have PM... and lets get to sking

[Kevin 89MC]

it looks like you have a few decent skis to work with. all depends on what YOU want to do. that ski is 15 years old, will it ski ok? probably fine to practice deep water starts, carve some turns and bascially do what you want it to do. there are much better mid~wide body slalom skis like these guys have mentioned that will help out with getting up. all depends on your wallet and what sking you want to do. if you'd rather spend $ on gas and what's in your cooler, i'd keep the skis and learn to ride them. like lance says, "it's not about the bike"...more about the cycler or something like that? two years ago i saw a guy run 39-1/2 off in a tournament on a HO PowerStix...that thing is like 15 years old!

Ha! I think I remember the PowerStix. Had a dial right on top the ski that you could adjust the stiffenss with, right? I demo'd one once, thought it was pretty cool, it did definitely change how the ski reacted. That was in about 1997 or so. Ended up getting a KD7000, but the HO was a close second.
Cool to hear of someone still tearing it up on the old skis...

[DBrown2]

Bump for season.. I'm up and loving it.. Anyone got a nice 3-4 year old ski for sale I'm a 9-9.5 shoe. Just a single boot please.

[east tx skier]

I have an original O'Brien Sixam 1.0 67". Has some cosmetic marks on the bottom, but got a clean bill of health from O'Brien about 2 years ago. Blank with fin and a fun rocket to ride.