Jump to content

Welcome to TheMalibuCrew!

As a guest, you are welcome to poke around and view the majority of the content that we have to offer, but in order to post, search, contact members, and get full use out of the website you will need to Register for an Account. It's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the TheMalibuCrew Family today!

Water Ski


WakingMeHappy

Recommended Posts

I have a couple of old (at least 10 years old) water skies but would like to get something a little better than what I have. My kids (teenage boys, 165 and 180 pounds) are enjoying slaloming but want to make to big rooster tail. What should I look for in a ski to allow a big spray?

Link to comment

Years ago you could buy a set of little tubes that bolted at an angle on your fin (in place of the wing) that would divert water into a big spray. Anyone remember these?

Link to comment
Years ago you could buy a set of little tubes that bolted at an angle on your fin (in place of the wing) that would divert water into a big spray. Anyone remember these?

Yep, had them on an old Cypress Gardens ski.

Link to comment
I have a couple of old (at least 10 years old) water skies but would like to get something a little better than what I have. My kids (teenage boys, 165 and 180 pounds) are enjoying slaloming but want to make to big rooster tail. What should I look for in a ski to allow a big spray?

You should find for them skis that help them learn to ski their best, and progress toward skiing properly. Learning the course is a great way to learn to ski properly. Then their "rooster tail" will become big without little tubes on the fin of the ski. The huge rooster tail that I believe you are referring to, is spray that is produced only when a properly executed high speed slalom turn is done. They should experiment with several sizes and brands of skis and work with experienced skiers. I found that ski size/rider is important as well, so they may need to have their own individual skis. It takes time, patience and practice, (and money), but the first time that their momentum propels them out and they feel the boat release them into a turn, it will be well worth it. The smile will be a mile wide, and so will be the spray.

I personally found the HO skis to be the most forgiving, yet have all the ability to take the skier to the next level. A HO Phantom or an older HO CDX1 would work nicely for this purpose. And I cannot over emphasize the importance of ski size and set-up.

Edited by brazosvet
Link to comment

i also found the o,brien world team comp to be an inexpensive decent all around ski and with the right turns and weight displacement you will get great results also is only around $200

Link to comment

Try a used Connely Concept. Inexpensive, very good ski, forgiving, works great for intermediate through semi-shortline skiers. It is the ski the owner of our club lake recommends (also ski school instructor) to most people who are accomplished free skiers to people who are running the course but haven't run 32 off yet.

Link to comment
i also found the o,brien world team comp to be an inexpensive decent all around ski and with the right turns and weight displacement you will get great results also is only around $200

Plus1.gif

The ski I learned on.

Link to comment

Todays tunnel concave ski designs don't really throw a big spray. On my old 1960's wooden slalom ski (an Alfredo Mendosa, cypress gardens), in which we would tapper the tail and round the bottom edges (for better hold in the course), the wall of water was impressive. When I finally gave up on the old Alfredo and could afford a new competition ski, that was the only thing I did not like about going to "the new" O'brien slalom skis. They were still made from wood back then by the way, along with the Mahara's, which were beyond what I could afford. Oh yea, didn't like the price too ($169 in 1969). But it was worth it to give up the spray for more Clorox bottles (bouys).

edit, Tell your boys if they want to see nice spray, to look for pictures of Joe Cash skiing back in the '50's and '60's.

Edited by electricjohn
Link to comment
i also found the o,brien world team comp to be an inexpensive decent all around ski and with the right turns and weight displacement you will get great results also is only around $200

Plus1.gif

The ski I learned on.

Same here on learning with the O'Brien World Team. I now have a KD7000 that I love and it too is about 10 years old. Having the right ski makes all the difference in the world and it usually is a personal thing that each skier develops comfort for. Try a lot of them if you plan to have for a long time and get to serious progression. The extra expense at the start will save money and provide better performance as they get better.

Link to comment

If your kids are getting into slalom skiing, you may want to look into some of the shaped skis that are out there. Easy deep water starts, usually priced reasonable (especially end of the year models) and they allow for progression into the course. With practice, they will start to throw that big wall of spray you see in all the magazines, or at least enough to impress their friends that don't ski. :)

For skis I don't think there is one brand that is any better than the other, it's more personal taste and riding style but at first you can't necessarily go wrong with any of them.

HO has the Comp Freeride series, as was mentioned the Connelley Concept and Obrien World Team are great starters and will serve your sons well for quite a while. Based on your sons weight, they might be able to share a ski if cost is an issue. As they get better they might each want their own, this is an addictive sport.

Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks for all the feedback. Maybe I can hunt down an old Cypress Garden ski. Who knows, that may even be what I learned on as a kid. Anyway, my sons aren’t real interested in running the course..... they just want to have fun and show off a huge spray for their friends.

Link to comment
Thanks for all the feedback. Maybe I can hunt down an old Cypress Garden ski.

i doubt it but good luck. bit of a collectors item these days and not really worth skiing anyway.

IMO the best newer more modern skis that have the best spray is the obrien mapple era of skis. you could always tell it was a mapple by the spray without seeing the ski. its the only ski in the past 10 years to do anything like it.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...