mike55

yep...I just purchased a Radar fixed RTP in size large. I modified it by moving the toe strap or stirrup one set of holes forward. The reason being a size 9 to 9 1/2 wider front paw with higher instep. This allows my toes to be close enough without climbing up on the Strada front boot. Also allows the higher instep to be gloved in more securely without spittin back.  So the Radar footpad is fine being very much like one on a D3 rtp. The H.O. older footpad from about 5 seasons ago was nice. The best toe plate footpad imho I have floating around the garage is a Connelly. If you've seen those aluminum colored looking plates thats it. You have to go even bigger with their stirrup's as they are mounted more narrowly on their plates. Makes it interesting and limits your choices when those rear hole patterns on skis are not stadardized. If you want Andre' I'll shoot a picture of my new Strada ski with the Boot and RTP and post it for ya. Regards.

Thanks for the mounting info Richard. Got your whisper from the other thread. Helps. The question I asked Richard was mounting distance for a Strada boot as I just ordered a 67. Duh, found plenty of info on page 8 of the other thread. Man thats a long thread :) Looks like Mad is running his boot forward a bit. I'll start at 29.5 for the colder water here.ÂÂ

Richard, lookin at ordering up a couple pair of the 'Lock' gloves through Active Water Sports. Been wearing medium Talon's although they seem a bit small even when wet and definately a non liner size. Snow ski gloves on the lrg 10/11 side. These 'Locks' runnin small on size?

thanks for the link...good stuff. Once had a really good skier tell me that we are all working on the same things just at different speeds and line lengths. Marcus is an awesome teacher. Reminds me of Drew in that they both make the physical mechanics easier to understand for a hack like me. Efficiency of motion, now if I can just keep that handle in...

the new Radar handles look sharp but I went with Brenda and ordered a .98 12" and a new rope with 'tweener loops' for myself. She is awesome to deal with.

Getting back in the water after a long hiatus. Seems like it wouldn't matter much at my level, like dude just grab a handle and go ski. But even at my level not worrying about grip is a good thing imho. Handle I wish I still had was a Straightline Greptile with the Greptile gloves. Standard diameter was a 1.1 (seems big) but combined with those gloves really worked in these muddy cold NW waters. Would be interesting to see a vote of 12" vs 13" and the diameter if using round. Proponents of radius, elliptical and why. Maybe John will create a voting box so we can all see on this forum what's popular and working for folks in water ski land. On a side note: looks like Masterline has their own version of the Clincher glove. Never used them and know some swear by them.

I suck. Period. Different Lake with lots of clay sediment and colder water. My first pass was a beautiful thing then couldn't run a single pass on this awesome ski. Huge angle coming off two ball. Three times in the drink. Its like I had all kinds of time until I got around the bouy sideways. Way too much angle offside. .772 dft.ÂÂ

Scot took it out for just 1 set today and wow. Pleasantly suprised coming off the A1. It rides deep and secure, doesn't feel like it is going fast but it is and building angle. The only weirdness is with the sharper bevels on the pull out. If you go flat for more the a second after rising up it seeks an edge which isn't really a problem. Water was breaking mid front foot to heel according to my driver (no spotter). Front Animal boot is 29 1/8 to the plastic and 29 1/4 to the rubber above the plastic piece on the heel. Thats one hole forward. The driver suggested I go one more hole forward but at .772 DFT what do you think about just bringing the fin back a bit instead? My rear toe plate puts me a solid inch back but feels o.k. Wondering if one hole forward with the RTP is a better solution. Really it felt pretty good and I ran complete 34 mph passes off the dock backsiding some buoys. This ski rocks in a subtle way. Very secure, kind of stealth fast, and turns are as tight as you decide. Alot of ski in the water through the turns.  Don't think I'll climb back on an A1 anytime soon after riding the Prophecy. More people should try one of these. A friend on lake 3 where I skied today will have some Z7's soon from Paul Crawford. Looking forward to riding one.

Thanks Scott appreciate the heads up on the settings. What are you riding now or getting when the Prophecy goes away if you don't mind my asking?

just picked up a new Prophecy 67". Fin was way off from the factory as delivered. I'm in the course working on 22 off 34 mph (at 5'11" 165 lbs). I used tips not jaws and set the fin length as such: 6.759 length tips .772 this one always is tough for me. 2.51 depth wing at 7.5 the front top part of the fin is pokin through fin block a fair bit. Trying to copy a blend of good numbers or get close before I take it out and ride it Saturday. What are your thoughts on my settings? Thanks for any reply. Mike

how did it go Rod? It was good to talk to you the other day. Looks to me like different binding plates can put you in a slightly different spot. Example...an Animal will have a mid hole that puts you back a touch compared to a Wiley or...Where did you end up with your Radar setup from the tail? I didn't measure so I apologise but think MS is onto something with just a touch forward. Stock fin settings I haven't touched. You know its funny, I rode a 2nd or 3rd quality 66.25 A1 with nasty brown dots or stains in the base of the ski. Has great flex numbers. The top and everything else is perfect. Have not touched the fin. Just 1 hole forward and it just rips. I may buy that ugly duckling. Thinking you can ride 4 different A1's and they will all feel a bit different. Been waiting on an S1 but its like why? Will be interested in hearing more S1 chatter.

Rod...give me a buzz or shoot me your email and I'll try to help...Mike 253-549-6713

1st is a Connelly Concept soft enough to help me ski right. Trashed the base (brand new ski) my first day on a private ski lake around the turn island at Ski Park. It was marred so I sold it and bought way too much ski for myself. Dumb. 2nd was my first D3 a Custom X. and... 3rd was the first year Sixam 2 Point. Ran back to back 34 mph passes right out of the box but it just lacked the cool factor. After all the big dawgs were riding the 1 Point. Wow even dumber. The ever elusive Holy Grail of water skis. The journey continues.

lkb...over on "theWaterSkiForum" there are some fin numbers KB posted. Also a report on his head to head test with an A1.

e-ski said he used a larger rear boot when trying a double setup. Not being able to lift your rear heel a bit seems to have kept me from utilizing a rear boot. If you are going to double up starting with a larger rear imo is a good idea. This will give just enough lift. Its all personal preference and feel. I use a Wiley Pro Build front with a rear toe. I start with both feet in.  Takes way more patience than I have to adapt to a double setup. Using a rear toe seems to help me with my front ankle injury to get up on the front of the ski easier. An alternative would be if you are looking for more leverage/power you can have that with a single hard boot with rear toe plate like the 'E' series from Fluid Motion or the Reflex system. Injuries can happen on any system. Keep your knees into your chest and even pressure on both boots. Straighten your arms and bring shoulders back lowering handle toward hips/waist as you come up on plane.