Which ski?

[madmax2]

Hi I am 42 yrs old 6'1" 191lb skiing a 68" HO CDX-1 which has been great for free skiing. I am now trying to get into the course and struggling on the CDX as it doesn't seem to like to be back at 29mph. I am looking at two second hand skiis a Radar Senate C 69" and an Obrien Synchro 69". Is the Senate going to be too much for me? Any advice please.http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif 

[h2odawg79]

I am 6'  195-200lbs. and  I went through simular circumstances and looked into all the wider ski's, So that I could effectively slow down and work on the tech. and maybe try my hand in the INT... In my search I found very lttle love for the Synchro and have found an overwhelming positive response for the Sen. "C"...  Assuming that you are wanting to slow down temporarly and Build course tech. timing and rhythm and then slowly progress to 30, 32, or 34mph, the Senate will be there for you. (Because of the INT. measurement rules I ended up with a 67" & 69" Radar Theory instead.) But, IMHO, Bang for the Buck, the Sen. "C" is the Best ski on the market in every category up to 34mph...

 

Good Luck! 

[kona]

I struggled with the which ski question this year also. When it came down to it I went with the Radar Senate. Most of time on the water is free skiing and not always in perfect conditions. I am 49 yrs old, 5' 10" just under 200 lbs and ski at 32 t0 34 mph depending on conditions. The Senate is a great ski for my ability right now. I did not go with the Senate C just because I wanted something a little more stable or a little more dampened in rough water. Every thing I read on the Senate C was great but carbon would be a little less forgiving. I set the bindings and fin to stock numbers and couldn't be happier right now. I would go with the Senate it is a great ski. I don't know how it would feel at 29 mph but at 32 I love it.

[Horton]

I love the Obrien Synchro but the 69 would be way too big for what you are doing. If you go with the Synchro you want to go undersize. 

The Senate is a great ski for what you are doing and I recomend it highly. 

[stone88]

Try the sixam SS as well. I was skiing at 32mph towards the end of last season (best pass 2 @ 34mph) and tried the sixam, D3 custom X and normal senate. I beat my PB after 2 sets on the sixam SS. I bought it and I ran 3 @ 16m (22 off I think) @ 36mph last weekend. I have gone up 13 buoys in 2 months of skiing coming off an HO Triumph! I'm 6ft and 170lbs and skiing the 67.5" I found the sixam worked for me at 28mph and just keeps getting better. If at all possible, try before you buy!

[madmax2]

Thanks for the help. I think I will try the senate C as I do want to progress further into the course once I get my tech sorted. I am skiing on a tournament lake so rough water is not really a consideration and when I go to open water I can go back to my CDX for free skiing. I would love to try before I buy but I am in New Zealand and a standard Senate is $NZ1600 with boot and RTP so roughly twice the price of the US. Thanks again. 

[bxroads]

I started slalom skiing last year and chose the Synchro with the factory issue Targa bindings.  It was great for a beginner.  Last week I bought a Strada front boot (use rtp) and Senate C.  The Strada boots came in several days before the Senate C so I put them on the Synchro.  It really brought the ski alive, I was pleasantly surprised.  Today I skied the Senate C for the first time.  I was a little anxious because all I've ever skied was the massive Synchro, the Senate C appears half its size and feels half as light.  To my surprise I popped right up on it and got comfortable quick (with the exception of the massive amounts of water I took in through my nose on the start.  The big Synchro didn't do that).  I didn't fall once (probably wasn't skiing hard enough).  I didn't get in the course, just free skied at 30 mph but I have no doubt it is much more course capable.   Everything about the ski felt better to me.  It felt like going from a SUV to a Corvette.  The only advantage that the Synchro has is stability, but the Senate C is plenty stable.

 Knowing what I know now, I was late switching to the more performance oriented Strada boot and the Senate C.   If you are comfortable on a ski of any kind, I say go with the Senate C without a doubt, don't be scared of it. 

As a beginner I've been skiing with the philosophy of making six turns at the balls and eventially they will come.  With the Synchro I was only up to 3 balls at 30mph.  I have no doubt that all six will soon come with the Senate C and Strada boot. 

FWIW, I am 37 years old , 5'8" 195 lbs and the 67" Senate C felt fine to me at 30 mph.   Why did I start this so late in life?

 

[Than_Bogan]

Better late than never. :)

[madmax2]

Thank you to everyone for your help. I picked up my new Senate C today with Strada boot and RTP. I still have a couple of months before we start skiing here but I am looking forward to trying the new ski. I put it beside my 68" CDX-1 and was surprised to find no difference in width at the widest point but when I compared them side by side the back of the senate is noticeably wider. I will let you know how I get on when ski it. Cheershttp://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif

[kona]

Nice to hear. In a couple months I will be back on the snow, I cant wait.

[jipster43]

I'm with you Scot. I'm ready to move to Florida for couple of winters!

 

JP :)