Best Ski For ZO?

[Skihack]

Thanks Brent

Course that went over my head. While they say that ZO does not affect the lighter skiers, I am finding that is not true in our case. My daughter skis in G2 at 32 mph and weighs 120 lbs. She runs 28 off 98 percent of the time in practice behind a 98 SN with Stargazer. Her PB is 4 1/2 at 28 off at the Nat's. It's not just the number of buoys she runs, but she looks like a completely different skier behind all of the boats with ZO. It may be the Acme props or it just may be the more powerful engines. I tend to believe it has more to do with the ZO as I had exclusive use of a 343HP Ski Nautique. I turned the ZO off and drove by hand. All of my times were 17.90 to 17.98 and she didn't miss a single 28 off the whole week. So, I am not going to whine about ZO, but I am going to select the ski that will do what my daughter wants it to do with the additional focus on how this particular ski will interact with ZO. I have already experimented with some wide tail skis that seem to interact with ZO better. However, consistency and predictablilty is somewhat of a problem. It just seems to me with the wider forebody and narrow tail designs it will be difficult to keep the tip down.

[Skihack]

It appears to me that the Strada and the A1 interact with ZO best. But that it just my observation. There are alot of Goodes out there dominating. You couldn't get my daughter off her Goode but that is changing. She has struggled all summer trying to get good finishes out of her turns to no avail. Try to get some help from Dave Goode and he just wants a deposit and send her a new ski. A very heavy deposit might I add. Definitely lost a future Goode custmomer right off there.

[Roger]

The winner of G2 at the Nationals can't tell the difference between ZO and PP. She trains behind PP Classic on a standard Goode (not mid or wide).

[Skihack]

A Goode 9900? Is it a 64.25? What boat does she train behind? Does she use the switch?

[Skihack]

Skimech

Andy was telling us yesterday while dropped at the end of the course during his set, that with speed control the only place you have a chance to make up ground is between the finish of the turn to the 1st wake,that's it!

[Horton]

I split this out from the O'Brien Quattro thread

[Roger]

Skimech,

She skis on a 9900, 64.25. The boat is a 2006 SN 196 with PP Classic. She does not use the switch. When she skis ZO, she uses A3. Hope this helps. If you need her PP setting(s), let me know.

 

[Horton]

I do not believe there is any difference for lighter skiers. You have to pull in the boat to find the delta

[Roger]

In my experience as a driver, the complaints about ZO seem to start around the 170lbs point with some exceptions to both sides of that number.

As a skier weighing between 175 and 185 in season, I have run two 35 off passes since ZO came out. One in practice and one in a tournament all the while practicing behind my 2002 SN with PP Classic.

A couple of months ago, I bought a 2009 SN with ZO. Sunday, I ran my 10th ZO 35 since purchasing that boat. I'm currently at about 175lbs which helps, but skiing every set behind ZO has obviously been the missing element.

 

[Horton]

I think that ZO in a CC is not the same as ZO in a Boo or MC.

I can not complain about ZO / CC. The other 2 brands take 1/2 a pass from me.

[Roger]

While I agree that ZO feels a bit different between the three boats, so did PP (IMO).

[Skihack]

Thanks Roger. You said what I wanted and did not want to hear. Since you got your newer SN you have run more 35 offs. That is what I suspect that most tournament skiers need. Time with ZO. Now, I just don't won't to fork out the money. But, with the time and money that goes into practicing and preparing for tournaments, it makes no sense not to upgrade.

[Roger]

It is a sad reality and one reason I didn't agree with USA-Waterski allowing ZO exclusivity at tournaments. They have said they have no control over what the boat companies do in terms of speed control, but they do have control over what year boats can be used in tournaments and chose not to help us out.

After more than 3 years of trying to make due with PP in my 2002 and not being able to upgrade due to having the Ford motor, I upgraded a couple of years earlier than planned.

[Jody_Seal]

Its funny that some one would ask about best ski to work with a speed control. What about ropes? Is it prefreable to have a rope with no elongation? or should the rope have a little more elongation? Seems that a rope could play into this equation as well as a ski.

[Horton]

Jody,

Did you or did you not tell me you do not always ski with 55s? Get all the balls before you worry about rope stretch

[Jody_Seal]

55's??? -------We Dont need no stinkin 55"s!!!

[Skihack]

It seems awfully odd that some of the high end skis, such as the  wide ride, Strada 55, and even the regular Strada, and the X7 have added some width to the forebody and tail in some cases. These designs appear to be driven by ZO. It has even been said that the SN200 was designed to "tame" the ZO. I do not know about that, but I do know that a lot of people seem to ski better behind it. If you read the first paragraph in the ski technology link of the radarskis.com site it mentions cruise control as being a catalyst for ski design. I am just repeating what I've read, and these boys at Radar know what they're doing. They build awesome skis.

[GAJ0004]

Here are my observations about ZeroOFF. I am used to skiing behind PPSG. My best is 3@35 off 34MPH(set a new PB two weeks ago). Behind a Master Craft, the B-2 setting felt just like PPSG. The key to skiing with ZeroOff is to keep your skiing as smooth as possible. Try not to "hook" your turns. If you keep a smooth rythm the pull will feel solid, but not to the point where it will want to pull you out of position. If you do any sudden jerky movements it will bite you.. I hate a stretchy slalom rope. I would make a rope out of polyethelyne if I could(trick and barefoot rope material). I really concentrate in exaggerating letting the ski finish the turn before you pull across the wakes. My strategy is to minimize the RPM swing. The harder and longer you pul, the more the boat will counter against you. My boat is a 1994 Nautque with PPSG 240HP 1:1 tranny. The pull from my boat feels the same as PPSG behind a Master Craft. It is firm, but not ripping your arms off. B2 on ZeroOff on a 2010 MC felt slightly softer, but still firm. On some ropes I feel like I am hanging on to a bungee. I hate that feeling when I am pulling across the wakes. Speaking of ropes, has anyone tried the Performance Ski and Surf brand of ropes? I am using Straight Line right now, but all 4 of them will need to be replaced after this year. Straight Line are not as durable as they used to be. I like Masterline, but slightly more than I want to pay for a slalom line. I figure most of you guys on here can out ski me since I ski in the great white north(Pennsylvania).  If you don't get a lot of time behind ZO, start at 15 off if you normally start at 22off as an example. Let me know what you think..    

[Ed_Johnson]

GAJ0004,

I swiched to the Masterline Pro Edition. Same one they use on the Pro-Tour. At first it felt like a steel cable compared to the stretch I got from Brenda's Ropes. You visually see it is much thicker and should outlast other brands. I am use to it now and like the instant acceleration it gives me instead of waiting for the stretch. Try it with C-3 for the ride of your life.

Ski Well,   ED

 

[GAJ0004]

Ed,

I have had good luck with Masterline trick ropes. My slalom ropes are used so much that they lose their bungee effect after a month which I prefer. I really like Masterline. I rotate two trick ropes, and 4 slalom ropes. I have not ruled out getting the Masterline slalom ropes. I just bought two Straight Line Shadow handles 1.02'' diameter. They work pretty well. Since I ski with half finger gloves they are very comfortable for me. If I could get the materials I would make my own slalom, trick, and barefoot ropes. I know how to splice ropes with and without a splicing fid depending on the kind of rope. I will probably buy the ropes during the off season. I will be buying a truck load of equipment, new kneeboard, new barefoot suit, two more slalom handles, and four ropes. The ropes that Performance Ski and Surf sells uses clear resin on some of strands of the rope which makes it more slippery, and the absence of the dye is supposed to make is stronger. They say they tested them at Jack Travers' and Chet Raley's ski school. I am seeing more of those Masterline ropes all the time.

 

Gary

[Drago]

Ropes seem to effect big guys more. I like Masterline, but if I'm going somewhere that has In=tow, I have an in-tow that I practice with that week. Not sure ski models matter all that much, but set-up might. Again, just my experience, but I have an 06 X5 and have had the best season of my life [last year...powdered my ankle in June] behind ZO. Gotta keep speed/Momentum [capital M] through the turn.