AirChair..Sky Ski ???

[bigmac]

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]

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!!!

[redmike]

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!!! [/quote]
sounds like I need to go buy one...have a few of those "friends"

[Utahfoiler]

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]

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]

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]

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$$.

[Upper Michigan Prostar190]

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!

[shepherd]

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]

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......