AirChair..Sky Ski ??? [Archive]

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bigmac

07-09-2005, 12:26 PM

I've been skiing for many years, but a bad knee has pretty much put a crimp on that. I'm intrigued by AirChair/SkySki.

Anybody with experience? What's the learning curve like? I perceive some potential danger from sitting on a 65 lb bladed board and strapping yourself in...how dangerous is it? Looks like a blast...is it?

juju151

07-09-2005, 01:05 PM

Sorry, I don't have any personal experience with them yet...but there are a couple of guys on my lake that are giving it a try, and I always go out and watch them.

From what I've seen so far, it looks like it would be a good alternative thing to do and something great to do when the water is choppy since you're gliding above it.

And it looks like it wouldn't be too hard to learn to do, or to get up on anyway...but also from what I've seen, learning to do tricks and getting air isn't going to be nearly as easy as it would be on a wakeboard or kneeboard. The guys here aren't catching onto the air tricks very fast...but I'm keeping an eye on them to see how the progress.

I would already have one, but to me, the prices of them are highway robbery...if they ever come down in price to around $500-600 then I'll definitely buy one...but I'm not going to pay $1000+ for something that I'm not sure that I'm even going to like doing.

Oh and BTW...ATTENTION EVERYONE!!!

This is only my opinion, but...

DON'T BUY A SUMO TUBE!!!! THEY AREN'T WORTH IT AND AREN'T ANY FUN!!!!

I don't know if you've seen them, but it's like a tube that you wear and hold on to a ski rope...and they say that you can control them and jump them and all that. BULLKAKA!!! NO WAY!!! I wasted $80 on one of those, because it looked like it would be really fun, and the way they describe is totally misleading. One thing they don't tell you is that you MUST wear goggles when you are riding it because the water is spashing in your face most of the time.

The only thing that I can see it would be good for is to totally humiliate the drunk friend that comes over and annoys you on the weekends!!! :purplaugh

redmike

07-09-2005, 01:11 PM

The only thing that I can see it would be good for is to totally humiliate the drunk friend that comes over and annoys you on the weekends!!! :purplaugh[/QUOTE]
sounds like I need to go buy one...have a few of those "friends" :D

Utahfoiler

07-09-2005, 02:43 PM

Just go out and buy one. I guarantee that once you start flying it, you will never go back to anything else. The feeling is awesome.

I have just started to land inverts this year and that is a different feeling as well. The water conditions do not matter as much. The reason that I got a sky ski is because around here the water tends to get choppy, too many boats, not enough water.

If you think $1000+ is bad, I just spend $4000.00 for a new sky ski LE. Much better ride.

Jim@BAWS

07-09-2005, 07:15 PM

One of our Dealer Promo guys is Geno Yauchler. Awesome Rider !!!
Check out this website http://www.foilfreaks.com

There is a learning curve for the product. Lean WAY BACK. Not like
anything else you have ridden. Geno's high tech Airchair is similair
to SKYSKIS medium priced ski About $1500. If you need you infi
or want someone to talk to you direct let me know. Andrew Stolte is
a rep for Bay Area WaterSports in Tampa and reps SKYSKI.

Check out that website lots of info

GO FOR IT Lots os fun I am 250LBS and I am learning it

Jim @ Bay Area WaterSports in Tampa
(813) 996 2297

www.bayareawatersports.com

RobertT

07-09-2005, 08:00 PM

I bought one when I bought my boat. Its a ton of fun, not like anything else out there. Of all the different disciplines, I would say that it has the hardest learning curve, but is the easiest to use. You can buy them all day long used for under $600.00, but you might want to watch the potential for a bent foil.

Its really cheaper than a higher end wakeboard or ski.

Learning to keep your weight forward of center rather than behind center to resist the pull of the boat was the hardest thing. Very counter intuitive.

shepherd

07-09-2005, 11:32 PM

I tried a demo rental some years ago. It was cool, especially when you cut through chop and wakes without feeling a thing. It's not too hard to learn. Just have to remember that they are really touchy control-wise. Just a slight dip in handle height will send you sky-wards.

They are really easy on the body, easier than a wakeboard. I could ride one all day and not get tired. But... if you try to do any tricks/get air, the wipeouts seemed kind of harsh, maybe because of the extra weight of the chair strapped to your a$$. :cool:

Upper Michigan Prostar190

07-10-2005, 10:20 AM

Let me ask a dumb question.... How the heck do you get that sky ski strapped on? in the water? on the swim platform? do you need assistance?

Does it float on its own?? or sink?

I have read here that it weighs like 65 lbs... thats heavy!!

curious.....

Man, I really want to try one of these....I am thinking about buying a used one. Any advice???

thanks! :D

shepherd

07-10-2005, 11:40 AM

You strap it one when it's in the water. It may be heavy in air, but it's neutrally buoyant (actually, it floats) in water so you don't even feel the weight. So it's easy to strap on and get in position for the "launch."
One thing that made me a little nervous... you had to strap yourself in and, if you wiped out, you sometimes had to unstrap yourself pretty quick to avoid drowning (it was a long time ago, so maybe I'm exaggerating the danger here, but I don't think it automatically rights you heads up). So, make sure you know how to unstrap yourself quickly, while blind.

It's been several years since I've tried it, so maybe it's a little different now...

Upper Michigan Prostar190

07-10-2005, 11:57 AM

A video I saw online with Mike Murphy said that it automatically rights itself after a wipeout so your all ready to go again in lauch position.... the video actually showed that in action.

plus you have a PFD on too......

BG1772

07-10-2005, 12:01 PM

I highly recommend buying either a sky ski or an air chair. I prefer the sky ski, but you will have fun on either. You will never want to do any other type of "skiing" again. I'm joining the thread kind of late, but here are my responses to some of the questions.

Learning curve - they are not difficult to ride, but there is a learning curve because they ride completley different than any other type of ski. You have to lean back to get started, but as soon as it comes up "on plane" you need to lean forward (shoulders in front of hips) or it will keep climbing out of the water. When this happens the next thing that you will experience is your first breif bit of air and then your face headed straigt for the water. A deep V handle can assist in learning the deep water start.

Somebody mentioned emergency exits. Don't worry about that because of the foil (where all the weight is) is below you it acts like a keel fin on a sailboat. You could be knocked out and the board will right its slef and keep your head and shoulders above the water.

How to put it on? I perfer to put it on sitting on the swim platform, but you can do it either there or in the water.

I would highly recommend buying a helmet. I wear a Pro-Tec. I think it was about $60. When you start learning to jump you may have some wrecks that will rattle your brain pan. The other additional safety equipment that I would recommend are a set of CinchMax Foot Stays (www.cinchmax.com). In my opinion the most dangerous thing about riding a hydrofiol is if you wreck and the tip catches the water. With the heel straps that come with them, your feet will pop right out. Since you are strapped at your waist, there is the potential for the foil to come back around and hit you. The Foot Stays will never let this happen.

Sorry for the overly long post, but all in all I would HIGHLY reccommend hydrofoiling if you are interested.

If anybody is in the Columbus Ohio are and wants to lean to hydrofoil, let me know.

PendO

07-10-2005, 01:57 PM

My dad is 54 and learned to sky ski last year. Learning how to get up was the hardest thing for him, but every time we go up to the river he goes at least once, and he is actually getting pretty good at "flying" it.

He straps it on by placing the ski on the platform (on top of a towel). When he is in he just leans back and someone pushes him backwards into the water. The learing curve for him was longer than for my 22 y.o. brother. So long as you are securely strapped in the chances for injury are low, you need only to worry about getting hurt is when you wreck you don't stay strapped to the ski. When he gets in the water he usually tightens the strap that goes across his belt line a bit more, but he does not mess with the straps across his feet until he is done.

SkySkiSpokane

07-10-2005, 04:51 PM

All of the above I would agree with except the part about nearly drowning. It is next to impossible to stay or even get upside down when just sitting in the water. Try it, buy it, love it. There are a ton of riders on the hydrofoil list in the yahoo groups. I know there is someone in your area that can get you up and going.

Not to hijack this thread but where are you at on the river POSkier? We ski, foil, board at holiday shores two miles south of Blueslide.

shepherd

07-11-2005, 05:50 PM

Well it's good to know that they keep you in the upright position. Like I said, it's been a long time so I guess my concerns were wrong.

What's the difference between an "air chair" and a "sky ski"? Are they just different names for the same toy? I sure would like to try one again. Think I could buy one cheap on ebay???

AirJunky

07-11-2005, 06:49 PM

How did I miss this thread till now? ;) Been on the water for almost 14 yrs now, slalom at first, then wakeboard, and sold all my old toys back in like 1996 & have been into foils ever since. Air Chair at first, and Sky Ski since 1998. The innovation on the SS is far & above the best. Thicker seat pads, double locking belts, billet foils that have NEVER broken, Shock Tower that has 4" of suspension in it for those ugly landings, Sky Ski rocks... period. Go to an event & see for yourself what the majority of riders are on.
To answer some questions, they do float. And they float with the rider upright. I usually get into mine sitting on the swimstep or the dock, but you can also strap it on while in the water.
I compare it to snow skiing or riding a dirt bike or mt bike. The body position & the fact that you let the ski/bike do the work for you is similar.
Get on the Hydrofoil Yahoogroup (http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hydrofoil/) It's the single largest group of riders anywhere, on or off the net. Get on there & let the group know where your from. I guarentee that we can set you up with a test ride. Watch the group or Ebay for used skis. With all the new ones being sold, there are tons of riders upgrading.
Some orther sites to check out:
http://airjunky.com
http://www.foilfreaks.com
http://www.foiltime.com

Prostar19

07-11-2005, 07:31 PM

I have tried both and I like my Sky Ski much better than the Air Chair. The air Chair seemed harder to control and felt like it was dragging. My friend with the Air Chair tried my Sky Ski and was jumping higher and over rotating on his flips. So thats my 2 cents

Andyg

07-11-2005, 07:37 PM

How shallow of water can you run one in? The lake I ski on is about 4 ft deep and an all muck bottom. There is no worries of hitting anything but muck.

Prostar19

07-11-2005, 07:40 PM

From www.airchair.com

Always: Be aware of water levels. Never ride in water less than 8 feet of water, you may even choose to use a depth finder to help determine water depth.

I think Sky Ski said 5 feet but I could not find it. Never Less I would not ride in less than 5 feet of water

AirJunky

07-11-2005, 07:59 PM

I wouldn't ride in less than about 10' of water. Anything less & you run the risk of knifing the foil into the bottom & having it hold you there. The ski is about 6' tall from the bottom wing to the tip of the board. And the more advanced skis (Launch, LEX or V38) are taller!
Several years ago the guys at No Wake Lake in eastern WA were hounding me to go ride there. Knowing the lake is only like 6' deep I declined several times. One day John called me to ask if I knew anyone who could do some repair work on his foil......... yep, he was lookin for the bottom & found it.

SkySkiSpokane

07-12-2005, 12:06 AM

Welcome to the thread Bill!! Glad you could make it. ;) HEHE!!

AirJunky

07-12-2005, 01:43 AM

Hey Dave,
When you gonna cut out from the office for some riding?! ;) Hoping to hook up with you guys on Priest for the weekend.

Maybe you'll finally get on the SS Launch, huh! The thing is a wild ride!

SkySkiSpokane

07-12-2005, 01:48 AM

I am stoked to ride it! :headbang:
can't wait to go in the morning!! :woohoo:

tex

07-12-2005, 09:29 AM

I own one of each. My suggestion is to buy one and ride. I love the Sky Ski 10 time more than the AC but you need to find one and ride. There are people who way overthink these things. You find guys who drop 2-4k on one and they don't know how to ride well enough to jump. The plus side to this is that these knuckleheads are always wanting to move up on foils and this makes for a good market for used foils. I showski, jump, foot, do a little of everything, but if the lake does not have a jump, I'm riding my Sky Ski all day long! Go Ride!!!!!

privatelakerelic

07-26-2005, 10:38 PM

We quit foiling on our lake when we had a beginer porpoise and stick the nose into the muck. Now he is underwater, stapped in and had to have the contol to reach down and unhook himself without panicing. When he surface, I asked if he had kept contact with the foil, which he didn't and we spent 45 minutes bobing up and down trying to find the Sky Ski. I have not used my foil on my site in a long time because it is now to shallow. 6 feet minimum.

Jerseydave

07-27-2005, 09:06 PM

BriEOD

07-27-2005, 09:39 PM

stevo137

07-27-2005, 09:47 PM

Guys, after I saw the water show at Indiana Beach and talked to this guy it peaked my interest a bit but Mrs. thinks I'm crazy. (Well she knows I'm crazy anyway but she didn't like the idea).
I still wouldn't mind trying one sometime.

privatelakerelic

07-28-2005, 12:34 AM

I don't think so, even though I would pefer one with a shock tower, this one will work well for all the new flyers I am going to get hooked when Ski West Village finally gets their lake full. It will be 8 feet deep and I have a few friends at that site who can't wait and once we are on the water I expect to have a whole lot more. If you can find a used Air Chair or Ski Sky buy it don't even hesitate. They are difficult to find. I am 54 years old and never landed an invert ( it seem alien to go upside down) but I can get some incredible air and enjoy showing off whenever I can.

AirJunky

07-28-2005, 02:37 AM

You guys riding in 6' or 8' of water are crazy. When you throw the basic Air Chair or Sky Ski in the water by itself, it's rear wing is about 6' down. That means if & when you crash, you run a damn good chance of sticking the foil in the bottom in a lake of that depth. I can't tell you how many times I've had people tell me they did it.

10' minimum! Anything less & your rollin the dice with your life!

stevo137

07-28-2005, 09:55 AM

FrankSchwab

07-28-2005, 09:59 AM

6'? What kind of chair are you riding?

My Stealth Air Chair is maybe 3-1/2 feet from wing to deck. If the deck is below the surface while riding, you've crashed.

Foiler

07-28-2005, 10:43 AM

I've been riding a sky ski in about 8' of water for 5 years now. Not ideal conditions but it's that or nothing. The only time we've had a problem was during a drought when someone was learning to jump and would go in nose first. Most of the time (after you learn to ride) falls are across the water not so deep.

There are a few sky skis on ebay right now, also my LEX is probably going to be for sale next month.

.

AirJunky

07-28-2005, 11:13 AM

6'? What kind of chair are you riding?

My Stealth Air Chair is maybe 3-1/2 feet from wing to deck. If the deck is below the surface while riding, you've crashed.
Frank, stand your Stealth up on the back wing like it's floating in the water. Now measure to the tip of the board or the top of the seat down to the ground. Thats no 3-1/2 feet.
Your Stealth does not float with the deck level. The foil alone is 29" tall, plus the seat is like 14" tall. Now angle it like it's floating & it's close to 6' from the tip of the board to the tip of the back wing.
Maybe I should introduce a few guys who have stabbed the foil into the mud in 6' of water. Ask Murphy anytime & tell him I sent ya.

What am I riding? A B39...... so the foil is 39" tall. Floating upright, it's closer to 7'.

StevO, if you'd like to check one out sometime, I know a few guys in the IN/IL area who would gladly show you what it's all about.