New boat slalom ski question

[jhall1203]

Hello all, will be picking up my new to me 97 Ski Nautique closed bow with the GT-40 engine from dealership this coming Friday morning. I am 42 and began skiing at 8 years old. I am 6'1" 230 lbs now and have not been on slalom since my early twenties. Since then we have had an I/O that did not have enough motor to get me out from deep water starts. I have been out of the ski loop since the early nineties when it comes to new products. My two sons have been learning on a combo set I had from back in the day. I have been shopping around and am leaning toward a Connelly "Outlaw" 69 inch as my new ski. I had originally leaned toward the "Big Daddy" but upon seeing the ski it looked like a surfboard to me, just way too much surface area for my liking. Any info or suggestions from the members would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks in advnace..Jon

[NCH2oSki]

You should have no problem getting out of the water with your new to you Ski Nautique. If you don't have a spare prop, pick up an acme 422 and keep your old one as a spare, it will be a nice upgrade, in terms of pull, tracking and nicer wake.

You should also consider a Radar Theory, or HO Triumph, look at their suggestions for size/weight and speed.

[jhall1203]

Thank you for the info, will take a look at those skis.

[HS]

I demo'd four skis about 4-5 years ago and liked the Connelly F1x best.

Wanted to like the sixAM or Monza but I'm just not as good as I thought!

[jhall1203]

I hear you. I am just gonna be happy getting up and making some cuts the first few times I get out on the water , I figure I won't be able to get out of the bed the day after as it is. No misconception on my ablilities on my part. I won't be going for any course records...lol Just looking for a ski that will handle my size in the 26 to 32 or so mph range, I am looking forward to feeling the pull of a real tow boat though.

[Bimmerboyz]

42 is nothing, My Grandpa is 63 and still makes turns.

[jsta281]

I'm 43 rode the Connelly concept for years, still a good ski. I now ride the 2010 prophecy pretty much everyone said it would be too much ski, I love it.

[NCH2oSki]

The super wide skis are easy to get up on, but most will ride like a tank, and you will tire of them fairly quickly. The connelly f1x is also worth considering, as is the Obrien Syncro (totally forgot about this one, but its a great ski!). BTW guys I'm almost 48 yo, and would ski every day of the week if I had time and someone to drive/ski with. There is nothing like it!

[Davidpsalt]

Beware of the "pulled hamstring"!!!! Like you I grew up slalom skiing - my brothers taught me how to ski at age 8. In one day I got up on two and after lunch they had me picking up one ski and convinced me that skiing on one ski is easier than skiing on two. Needless to say by days end they had me skiing on one and I have never skied on two since.

Fast forward - career moving me to Atlanta, wife, kids etc. all pull me away from the water and years later my wife and I have bought a cabin on a lake in N. Georgia and I am back skiing again. I am right at 6'3" and weigh 225 but a far cry from the 6'1/6'2" and 200 back in my day ... first try out a couple years ago - deep water start on a 67" ski (my buddy had nothing longer" and I pulled my hamstring bad - black and blue the next day. Needless to say, my advice is put the ego in the back pocket and when getting back into your groove get up on two and drop one until you build up your skiing strength. A hamstring pull takes forever to heal cause you're always using it.

I am now skiing on an HO Triumph (Old school fake wood look) and love it. Just upgraded my boat from a 1978 Southwind (identical to what I grew up on) to a 2008 Ski Nautique 206 with factory tower - night and day - love it. My summer plans are to ski every chance I can and work on my form behind a real tow boat!!! Who knows - I hope to get in better shape, lose some pounds and possibly upgade my ski to a Radar ... we will see how the summer goes!

Oh - I am 53 and skiing has motivated me to get back down to 210 lbs or less and ski til I am 70. Hopefully even longer!

[DanielC]

Best piece of advise on this thread so far, comes from Davidpsalt.

[Willandbill]

Got all you guys beat. 59 yrs old, cancer survivor (3 yrs), artificial hip (ski with RTP). Came out 1st pull on sat with my new SN200 with a novice driver. Used a big daddy type fat ski @ 28-30. Need a "cheater" handle, but was comfy at 15 off. Noticed a small difference in wake from my previous 99 SN196. Liking the 200 a lot more, I need to edge a little more down the center. Gonna try my 67" Concept next weekend and see what happens. Yes, to stiff to ski Sunday. Go slow, it will all come back.

[HS]

Will, what's a cheater handle?

[gdenkman]

HS, He may be talking about a handle that allows you to place the ski tip in between the handle lines when deep water starting vs. placing the ski on one side or the other of the line.

[Willandbill]

100% correct gdenkman, my wife and 13yr old son like to call it my "Binky" rope, as in a child's pacifier. Early in the season it helps me get used to getting up again after long winter lay-off. What the heck, it works! Forget pride, enjoy life.

[jpattigr]

Jhall

Congrats on the boat and getting back to the skiing lifestyle!! I did the same thing just over ten years ago and have been so happy about it! I weigh about the same as you and you need to remember that getting ski advice from someone 50 lbs lighter does not work!! The Outlaw is an awesome ski and can even go in the course, HO Triumph is very good also, Radar P6. I have skied all these skis and many more from all brands. For your size stick to one of these and they will take you a long way in your skiing!! One suggestion, upgrade the boots on any of these skis, the stock boots are poor and better boots are safer and much more comfortable. I personally like the Radar Vector boots right, easy to get on and off, and super support and comfort. Get some Masterline Clincher gloves so that you can hold on long and have fun!!