1 hour ago, Mark5522 said:

A couple of people mentioned to me that you can slalom at 30, 32 and 34mph on a VTX and that I should just go and look at the YouTube videos. So I did.

You can see from the screen shots below that the skier is jumping the wake at those speeds because the wake lip acts as a ramp. If he was to try to cut and lean really hard and pull right through the second wake (as my wife does in tournament skiing) he would most likely trip. This is definitely a really, really bad slalom boat. 

PS Look how much he has to bend his knees to absorb the wake and he still gets airborne. 

 

 

Mark, I have another of the Big 3’s current slalom boat,  3 years old.  My kids are competitive 3 eventers.  When they were learning the course at slower speeds, I can assure you that they got as much air as much as what your photos show.  It’s a reality of physics, even behind a $100,000 dedicated slalom tractor.  If your wife was expecting a Vtx to ski anywhere near a Response, that is very unfortunate. It will not. Can it be much improved from the current set up, probably. Does that mean she should be happy?  Certainly not if she was expecting Response sized wakes.  That said, I can’t imagine that anyone would’ve said they would be remotely comparable.  

No, your wife, or me, nor my kids are anywhere close to Regina, but watch this video below starting at four minutes.  

haven't seen 130's, more like mid 140's for a decently optioned left over.  

Looks like Tommy's has taken all their listings off Boat Trader.  

4 minutes ago, mrothwell said:

Is it the Diamond Cut hull or the Wake hull??

Dont know about the new models, but my 07 VTX on Diamond hull skis almost as well as my '97 Echelon.  I can easily ski the course behind it, altho it does take a more skilled driver in the course than a direct drive.

It's the Diamond Cut hull

You have the suggestions here.  Smaller diameter, higher pitch prop.  Less weight, especially at the stern.  Maybe try 50 lbs up in the bow.  Bump the speed.  Shorten the line.  If none of that works, find an older crossover, or do as many others here have done over the years and have a dedicated ski tractor.

If your wife is THAT serious, you should consider the latter point anyways.  Zero Off in a VTX doesn't have the same feel as Zero Off will in a tournament direct drive.