Patrick

I love my 08 LXi. I started at 28 mph last year and the wake was never the reason I missed a pass, up to 34 now. Others in my club ski from 26-30 and mine is one of the favorites. There's space when I need it, at least as much as the others you're considering so that shouldn't be a problem.

@bfreeski I also had basically the exact same injury. The chip on my medial malleolus was completely separated but not displaced, so didn't require surgery. I was on crutches for maybe 6 weeks, walking boot for roughly the same after that, then rehab. I injured it in mid-June. By maybe late Sep or early Oct I was playing volleyball in a brace but not near full speed. I did a few weeks just on the ground before I started adding in jumping. Strength and confidence built up slowly from then on. Today it's recovered in the sense that it doesn't limit me in any way, but still feels swollen from time to time, aches, etc. No real 'pain' but definitely feels different than the other foot.

Broken ankle on a mid level lace up binding & rtp. Was new to anything but cottage skiing on adjustable bindings. In retrospect I probably had the bungee too tight but didn't know any better at the time. Strada's at least come with a card that says the tension shouldn't be above 35 lbs (but who has a tension gauge?) most others don't come with anything. Maybe it's common sense to most of us now to run those loose, but it's not to people new to skiing that think it should be on there pretty tight. Was on strada's for a while after that. No major injuries but had a number of partial releases even with them loose. One really tweaked the ankle. It was short of a sprain so not that bad, but decided to to stop gambling on them and just bit the bullet and moved to reflex. Pretty happy so far but know it's not perfect either.

@ScarletArrow how is the switch going? I ski almost the same, not through 22 yet though. LFF and recently had a couple partial releases which make me think maybe I should try to get one now to get used to over the end of this season and beginning of next. Did you go R-style for the rear?

If you plan on going to Coble's again you can pretty much demo anything in the shop. Might be tough to hold out that long though :)

I wear 13s and this was my first season in the course. I have the 13-14 strada's and am totally happy with them. I can sit in them all day, and they're easy on/easy off. I was lucky and never really had to test the release, but I tested them on land and they seemed fine. I run them pretty lose and they were easy to transition to coming from some rubbers (which cramped me like yours do). With the 13-14 shells I think there are some limitations in setup spacing but I haven't felt like it's been a problem (or maybe just don't know what I'm missing). I got them on closeout last year; there's a guy selling 2012's for $156 on ski-it-again which is pretty good.

Pretty much new. I ordered it and canceled after a couple weeks, but it still showed up. I figured I'd keep it and rotate it in, but I'm looking to get a few other things so I'm going to sell it. Only wet once. 13mm front & 20mm flotation in the back. Normally 168+ shipping. How about 140 shipped.

How tough should the seals on a Wiley suit be to get on/off? I got an XL for height but I'm pretty tall and skinny, I don't really have any trouble putting my hands in or my head through the neck seal. The only seal that's tough to get on is the ankle. The neck is tight but not really even close to feeling constricting. I used it for the first time and it was pretty dry but I did get a bit of water in that got my shirt wet; I think from the neck. I didn't take any falls. Is that just normal or is the seal probably a bit too big?

@Than http://proshop.cobleskischool.com/Neilpryde-Mens-Drysuit-NP-Mdrysuit.htm

If you need a v-drive it's a VTX, not a VLX. And I believe it still comes in two hulls, the cut diamond and the 'wake' hull. You want one with the cut diamond. They are supposed to be about as good as you can get in a v-drive, but I've never demo'd one. The 2013's (if he's thinking new) are coming with a removable center pylon I believe. Here's 31 mph on one (random youtube video).

There were a number of these hanging up in the shop at Coble's. Don't know anything about them but you could give them a call. http://proshop.cobleskischool.com/Neilpryde-Mens-Drysuit-NP-Mdrysuit.htm

I just use a shaker siphon, something like: http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-FloTool-10801-Shaker-Anti-Static/dp/B000EH0ORI/ref=pd_sbs_sg_1 Doesn't matter what kind of tank it is, get the siphon flowing and relax.

@TNh20skier I was looking for the same things and settled on a Response LXi. I don't have much personal experience but seemed like the longer line wake of the 3 was worst on the 206 from what I could find, plus they were harder to find and seemed to be more expensive for what you got. The 197s are nice, but are a little smaller and the wife wasn't a fan of the step over to the bow (and the 7 capacity plate since she likes to take out other families on more social days). The RLXi seemed to be the largest of the 3 without being too big a boat, has true walkthrough and was pretty good reputation wise for longer line. If you do more than ski, having the wedge as an option is nicer than having to mess with ballast in my opinion. This may be a bit wally, but the RLXi is the only one with a rear tow point standard (not supposed to use the nautique lifting rings), so you could use that on more casual days with kids and still use the back seat (if you don't get/want a tower). The 07+ has a bit more freeboard, is a little nicer ride in rough water, and is less likely to dip the bow with people sitting up there compared to the 03-06. The earlier model goes back to 03, so it could fit a pretty wide budget range.

Abbreviated version of Horton's: Serious Skiers. Serious People.

@MrB http://www.h2oproshop.com/2011-radar-strada-boot-closeout.html