Need help finding a ski. I'm still pretty much a newb, & the hand-me-down isn't right

Okay, so back a LONG time ago in my 20's, I was able to finally get up on a Slalom ski for the first time. for the next handful of years, I'd get out on a slalom ski a few times a year. I wasn't ever really great at it, but I could typically deep water start on the 1st or 2nd pull. And I could cut around and enjoy being up on one ski. I never got to the point where I could cut a turn or anything like that. Just a recreational skier.

So fast forward to now and I'm 42 and have had my boat about a year and a half. I've only pulled a ski out a few times since I've owned the boat. The first time was a failure and I took a zillion pulls without success. I later found out that I was doing a lot wrong after re-educating myself on how to deep water start. After leaning my shoulders back and looking up at the horizon, I was able to get up again, and went for a good ride.

So, today, I throw the ski on again (it's a hand me down 69 Connley Legend) and after a few pulls, I'm up. Then down. Then up again and took a nice long ride. I felt like a total newb in that I was flat out not comfortable on the ski. I didn't feel like I had much if any control. About all I was comfortable doing was being pulled straight and crossing from the center to the outside of the wake a few times...

I have a 92 supra sunsport direct drive, so it's not the best slalom wake ever made, but it's certainly better than most v-drives.

I'm thinking that I would do better on a different ski. My guess is that the Connley is probably too aggressive for me and I need something that I can cruise around on and get to the point where I can cut it up a little. I need some stability and confidence from a ski. And something comfortable would be nice too.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--...907_170928.jpg

I hate an open back foot, so a full double highback is a must in my book. I've also seen the advances in bindings with laces and all, so I'd be HAPPY to get rid of the stuffing the foot into an old school binding as my foot cramps up!

Of course, my budget is basically nothing! So that doesn't help. But hey, it doesn't hurt to gather info and do a little research in case I can find something used that might do the trick.

For what it's worth, I'm 5'10 and 169 pounds and my feet are small--a men's size 7.

Anyway, I'd love any guidance you all could give. I'm great about searching out stuff on Ebay and CL, as long as I know what to look for...

Thanks, and here's a shot from this morning:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...07807_high.JPG

And for your viewing pleasure, here's a vid of my run today, looking like a big NEWB, complete with a nice crash at the end...

http://youtu.be/wD5trntbJhI

Trayson, that ski is way to big for you. You should be in the 66-67 range. I would look for a used ho freeride or a radar senate you can get them pretty cheAp. A good website to look for gear is ski it again. Also if you want rear boots to with the new hybrid boots like the basis or strada boots. They are very comfortable and still are rigid. A little tip would be to put more weight on the front foot when you cut you'll pick up a lot more ski and it won't wear you down as much.

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Originally Posted by Cusefan78

Trayson, that ski is way to big for you. You should be in the 66-67 range. I would look for a used ho freeride or a radar senate you can get them pretty cheAp. A good website to look for gear is ski it again. Also if you want rear boots to with the new hybrid boots like the basis or strada boots. They are very comfortable and still are rigid. A little tip would be to put more weight on the front foot when you cut you'll pick up a lot more ski and it won't wear you down as much.

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Thanks a bunch. knowing what size to look for and specific brands and models helps a lot.

What do you think of this?
http://www.waterskis.com/HO-Burner-P..._67_slalom.htm
I am a size 7 foot, so I'm at the bottom end of the binding range going from 7 to 11. And the ski says it's based off the Comp Free Ride. I really would prefer a full rear boot, but maybe that's something I could change later on?

This was one of the best prices I could find on an actual Freeride:
http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skii...m&postid=29394
But it's a blank ski and then I'm looking at having to get bindings too.

These bindings are reasonably priced and would be within striking distance. But they aren't really performance by any means, as they're "one size fits all". and again, not my ultimate preference on a rear slip...
http://shop.gettommys.com/adjustable-rtp-2014.html

What speed are you skiing at. If under 32 look at this. Comes with front and back boots. If you ski faster then 32 then this won't work. It's a great ski based on the same ski I ride. It's 1/2" wider and the ski is filled with a less stiff core.
http://www.wakehouse.com/products/ra...kage-blem.html. You should have picked up my ho I sold a few weeks ago. Would have been perfect for you.

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skii...m&postid=27860 with http://www.waterskis.com/mobile/prod..._a_7c5126_a_7c would be a killer setup.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cusefan78

What speed are you skiing at. If under 32 look at this. Comes with front and back boots. If you ski faster then 32 then this won't work. It's a great ski based on the same ski I ride. It's 1/2" wider and the ski is filled with a less stiff core.
http://www.wakehouse.com/products/ra...kage-blem.html. You should have picked up my ho I sold a few weeks ago. Would have been perfect for you.

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Haha. a few weeks ago I didn't have the slalom itch.

I don't see myself needing to ski all that fast. so it could be a possibility, except for the fact I don't have an extra $300 laying around burning a hole in my pocket!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cusefan78

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skii...m&postid=27860 with http://www.waterskis.com/mobile/prod..._a_7c5126_a_7c would be a killer setup.

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Definitely more than I'd be willing to spend. But I'd be able to meet up with him locally to get the ski since I'm just outside of Portland...

Well, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Radar theory package with double highboots.

I hope this will be the ski for me! I'll have it in time for the PNW Supra/Moomba Jam on Jam on Labor Day weekend...

http://www.wakehouse.com/products/ra...kage-blem.html

http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server14...0.1280.jpg?c=2

You'll love the ski. Do you need fin and binding settings for it. Think I have them For that ski.

Edit that ski doesn't come with an adjustable block. Only thing I would check is the wing on it. I would try to get it around 9 degrees and adjust from there. Bindings I wouldnt know cause I run a 66. But I'm running my ski 28 3/4 I would guess a 67" would be around 29 1/4 29 1/2 area. Enjoy.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z...s800/fedex.png

FedEx truck is coming to my house today!

Look what fedex dropped off today!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9...827_165317.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7...827_165328.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U...827_165336.jpg

Can you take a picture of the bottom of the ski? I am curious if it is concave edge to edge or if there is a little bit of rail. Thanks a bunch

Looks great.

Pretty sure there's a rail

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wulphie

Can you take a picture of the bottom of the ski? I am curious if it is concave edge to edge or if there is a little bit of rail. Thanks a bunch

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...828_075526.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9...828_075514.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5...828_075502.jpg

Thanks, perfect pics. Looks like it has a little more rail than the Senate that my buddy uses, maybe 3/8" compared to 1/4" on the senate. I would like to try that ski.

I am using my friends old triumph now and I think its ok to learn but I want to try a narrower ski before I buy a new one.

For now I am definitely the weak point in my skiing haha

Go with a theory. If you're just free skiing it won't beat you up as much. The senate was the little sister to the strada. The difference is the strada needs to go faster and due to having a stiffer core. I'm seriously thinking of getting the new vapor And if I do my strada will be for sale. Probably won't happen to the fall or winter but I'm getting the itch

I only free skied the first 2 times I tried a slalom ski and it wasn't much fun. Then my buddy pulled me through 1/2 course (down one side between the drive buoys and turn buys) that helped me a lot because then I had some thing to aim for and turn around. After that I just started trying to ski the full course. It helps so much to have a point to aim for and turn around as opposed to just ridding around. I know my problem right now is I don't edge hard enough into the wake and then I have to edge a little late to make the buoy, once I get to the buoy I am going way to fast. I need to edge hard all the way into the wake so I can coast more to the buoy and not go blowing past it haha.

It is a lot of fun figuring all this stuff out though!

Yeah that my problem. It's the curse of free skiing. I'm constantly trying to remind myself to get stacked and hands down.

Okay, so took the new ski to the NW Moomba/Supra jam! took a few pulls to get up the first day, but once I was up it felt SOOO much better than that stupid oversized/too agressive hand-me-down.

THe bindings were great. decent to get in and out of and comfy with plenty of arch support. I've never had arch support in a ski!

It was a lot more forgiving and while I am totally a newbie, I was able to play with it and had a lot of fun.

Day #2 I got up on my first pull (my wife was SOOO happy) and skied until my arms were cooked.

Day #3, I got up on my 2nd pull (the first one I broke the rope where we'd tied a knot in it). Again, skied until my grip was toast.

I tried to get the hang of the opposing palms for my grip. felt SO weird after 18 years of wakeboarding with both palms down.

Getting a lot more confident with getting up. and never crashed on the ski. Just enjoyed it until I was tired and then threw the rope. I took some video that I'll get up later.

The ski came setup with the bindings already, so that was nice. I skied at 28 on day #1 and 28.5 on day #2. Not sure what speed will be best for me, so I just tried something that hopefully wasn't too slow.

Also, I put the rope at 55' but from the rear eye. (actually it was probably a few inches less than 55' since the rope had previously snapped and there was a knot in it.

Slalom wake on the boat (I think this was 28?)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H...830_080359.jpg

What I woke up to this morning:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...901_093205.jpg

Glad the ski worked out for you. Enjoy

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Originally Posted by Cusefan78

Glad the ski worked out for you. Enjoy

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Getting a new ski is actually making me think twice about being as anxious to get into a v-drive... Maybe if I do a bit more skiing, it'll make sense to keep my DD sunsport longer...

I pulled the trigger on that ski to.

It is funny, I haven't filled fat sacs since my buddy got me on his plank haha.

My friends keep trying to convince me to keep my slalom boat for running the course and I guess I could but I really want to build a new building to keep the boat indoors. Man I would need a big building for 2 boats plus my other stuff haha.

Right now I am working on a deal to trade a friend for his classic nova, that way we can still ski behind it.