block Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 The AMski website is up and active. It is not finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Wish Posted April 9, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 9, 2012 So is that all there is to making a ski? A mold, some press board and a vacuum bag? Looks like they're made in a garage. Not questioning the master builders/skiers in that garage, just thought Id see some high tech equipment that I couldn't find in my garage. I need to take a tour of a ski making facility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted April 9, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 9, 2012 Wish, keep in mind that there is a difference in prototyping and production building. But there's nothing really high tech about the majority of composite molding and pressing in the ski industry. It's pretty low tech. Now, when you get into production like RTM or what Warp did with forcing the curing in an autoclave, then things get more complex. But I bet that represents probably less than 1% of watersports composites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted April 9, 2012 Administrators Share Posted April 9, 2012 Curing composite is not super high tech. Knowing how to get a ski to work and make 100 skis that ski the same is voodoo. I have been in ski factorys and it is not a super sexy process. Anyone can make a ski at home just like you can build a hot rod at home. I am not saying that it will be worth a crap to ski on but you can do it. Support BallOfSpray by supporting the companies that support BallOfSpray California Ski Ranch ★ Connelly ★ Denali ★ Goode ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ MasterLine ★ PerfSki ★ Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MattP Posted April 9, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 9, 2012 ask @eleeski about home made skis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briandawsonskis Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 I once watched a guy make a ski from balsa wood, fiberglass from a hardware store and some bootleg graphite from Kidder while waiting on ski rides. The 66"ACME produced a tournament best score of 2 @ 35 36 mph by Marc Shaw on the bayou at U of L. I never skied on it but did R and D the first and only ACME fin bracket. I will never be the test pilot dummy for Horton again. The fin block would let the fin go at the wakes and send you flying without warning. This caused you to get bucked 40' and Horton to double over laughing for 10 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted April 9, 2012 Administrators Share Posted April 9, 2012 Never happened Support BallOfSpray by supporting the companies that support BallOfSpray California Ski Ranch ★ Connelly ★ Denali ★ Goode ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ MasterLine ★ PerfSki ★ Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted April 9, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted April 9, 2012 Got an E-mail back from Andy this morning about when skis will be ready for release. Sounds like they are close to getting a few out to us mere mortals. Want to get Stephen to try one as he has all way's skied real well on AM designs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted April 9, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 9, 2012 Ski building is an art. Messy but an art. Experience helps. Technology only helps a bit. Fancy manufacturing equipment even less. Marketing hype may be counterproductive. Skier endorsements... "Anyone can make a ski at home" - not really. But a fancy fab plant is not necessary. A competent and experienced designer is most needed (Andy!). Horton has built skis. Note that he no longer rides them. GIGO. Where is the website? Is a website necessary for a good ski? Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller RichardDoane Posted April 9, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 9, 2012 Eric in his ski making facilityhttp://static-cl1.vanilladev.com/ballofspray.vanillaforums.com/uploads/FileUpload/b5/7375228ad0ccadf612f75b9affbe7c.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MattP Posted April 9, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 9, 2012 Where is the website? Is a website necessary for a good ski? @eleeski no, but one that works well, easy to navigate, and has info is a plus for sure. I can make you one for your ski.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted April 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2012 OK, saw the website. I like the rounded shape of the tip. Looks like he's copying my designs! I like how the calipers are used as a straightedge. I'm always a little leery of fancy metal molds. It is very hard to change such a mold. It looks like Andy has a quite adaptable mold. His skis could end up being pretty good. How many more buoys or points will the website get me? Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted April 10, 2012 Administrators Share Posted April 10, 2012 Hey that web site is not done yet. They asked that i remove the links. Sorry. Support BallOfSpray by supporting the companies that support BallOfSpray California Ski Ranch ★ Connelly ★ Denali ★ Goode ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ MasterLine ★ PerfSki ★ Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JC McCavit Posted April 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2012 Thanks for the update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jipster43 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 I still refuse to believe such a company exists until I've read Horton's review. Which begs the question - what are you currently skiing @Horton ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted April 10, 2012 Administrators Share Posted April 10, 2012 Not skiing much. The last month has been all work and no play. I plan to ride a AM in a few weeks. Support BallOfSpray by supporting the companies that support BallOfSpray California Ski Ranch ★ Connelly ★ Denali ★ Goode ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ MasterLine ★ PerfSki ★ Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skihack Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 Years back, Kris Lapoint cut a ski right down the center and fused two "half skis" together. This was to help his off side turn. It amazes me that the ski didn't break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller MattP Posted April 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2012 @skimech Something like this? http://static-cl1.vanilladev.com/ballofspray.vanillaforums.com/uploads/FileUpload/8e/61027c3b9758ecb5c48dc28d7c956a.jpeg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted April 10, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted April 10, 2012 It is funny how a lot of us covet our skis and treat them better then our best girl. Yet their are a number of top end skiers that utilize them like a tool. bash them around, grind on them, cut-em down the middle and then un ceremoniously throw them in the trash after about 10 sets. I once watched A Pro Jumper pull a brand new set of Obrian Jumpers fresh off the UPS truck, set them up between a pick-nick table and a chair and then stand at the top of the table and jump full force "against" the rocker and watch them rebound. If their was not any crunching nor noises he would then mount them up and go jump 220 plus on them. I have in the shop a Mapple that Kris split and glued back together. Never tried it, It scared me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef23 Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 @Jody Seal I don't think the pros are paying $1,000 plus for their skis. They can afford to treat them like tools. I take care of anything I spend $1,000 on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted April 10, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted April 10, 2012 Exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted April 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2012 Jody, I saw Carl Roberge take a brand new KD7000 out of the box, stick the tail in the bumper of his truck, and bend it til it almost broke. Then he put his bindings on it and went and skied. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted April 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2012 What is the value in a cosmetically perfect expensive ski if a little messy grinding gives you more buoys? A ski is a tool. That pristine old wood Obrien or Maha belongs on a wall as art. Use that 40 grit on the ski - unless it has fish scales or wallboard texture already. Pros? Who is a pro? Free skis? Does even @Horton get free skis? Maybe @Dirt does - but that's different. Loads in skis are primarily longitudinal. Side to side loads are reasonably small. It doesn't take too much support to keep a ski from splitting lengthwise. When I was a kid I had an old wood ski that split down the length. A couple of steel brackets across the ski and I was able to keep skiing (water did squirt through the crack in a very entertaining manner). Of course, the crack did convince my parents to buy me a new ski - "that can't be safe! We really need a new ski!" @Jody might be safer on a whole ski however! Would @ShaneH be better with a whole girl? (Sorry Shane, I hope it wasn't too inappropriate to pick on you.) Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted April 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2012 LMAO, Eric! No offense taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skihack Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 After paying 1300 just last August for a Fusion and the daughter outgrowing it over the winter, I may just cut it down the middle and glue it back together. Tried to get the shop to trade another demo for it. They wouldn't do it. Guess it was stupid to buy a $1000 plus ski for a growing kid:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Wish Posted April 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 10, 2012 Ski $1300, boots $300, seeing your daughter enjoy, grow, share and advance in a sport you have a passion about....priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntx Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 @skimech That's why ski it again is such a great deal. Don't buy high end new skis until the growth spurts are done. Its even worse if they 3 event. Buy good second hand skis for half price or less with no loss in performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller A_B Posted April 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 11, 2012 I attached a picture of a KD7000 that Kris modified for me years ago. He added width to the ski in the tail section, tapering it down to nothing in just ahead of the back boot, with the theory of keeping the tip down and being faster on top of the water. It worked and I skied on it for a while and then I just moved to a 9100 and stayed on that for many years. Looking at the split and epoxy on the KD, it still looks ready to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Wish Posted April 21, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 21, 2012 Where did it go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryno Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 @Brent Glad I watched that before you removed it... Very cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 It's on the front page now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted April 21, 2012 Administrators Share Posted April 21, 2012 Support BallOfSpray by supporting the companies that support BallOfSpray California Ski Ranch ★ Connelly ★ Denali ★ Goode ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ MasterLine ★ PerfSki ★ Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted April 21, 2012 Baller Share Posted April 21, 2012 That video is hysterical! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbirch Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 Funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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