Buying a Waterski

Now that you have graduated from two water skis and now feel ready to move on to single skiing there are a couple of factors you need to consider when buying a water ski. The first factors you need to consider before getting out on the water is your ability, your weight and the speed you will be skiing. Once you have narrowed down the size of ski that best suites you, it’s then time to take a closer look at the different features of a ski and determine what you want to get out of it. These features include style, rocker, flex, bevel, fin system, bottom design and the bindings.

Water Ski Skill Level

Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first ski or professional looking for your next comp ski Wilderness Sea ‘n’ Ski can match a ski to your ability. Manufacturers make water-skis to suit all levels of ability and will help to pick out a ski suited to your capabilities.

Waterski Size Guidelines

The size of ski needed varies depending on many different factors but the simplest guideline for the best size ski for you is determined by your weight and the speed at which you ski. Please use the table below as guideline for your size options. Please note that measurements by ski manufacturers are in inches.

Weight of Skier
(Kgs)
Ski Length
(Inches)

35 - 40

61 - 64

45 - 55

63 - 66

50 - 65

64 - 66

60 - 75

65 - 68

70 - 85

66 - 70

 

Waterski Styles

When looking at waterskis one thing you will notice is there are different styles of waterski. When choosing a waterski you must consider the style of the ski and what that style is suited for. The four main styles of waterski are:

  • Traditional - Is the favourite among the average/good skier as it is more of an all round ski because it is not too aggressive but can maintain an edge through the water and turn easier.
  • Competition - These are the more high performance ski which are normally narrower throughout the ski. They provide a lot of speed control through the turns and across the wake which is ideal for the slalom course. These skis suit the more advanced/expert slalom skiers
  • Shaped - These are a mix between the wide and traditional skis. They are normally wider around the front boot then a traditional ski but narrower on the tail then the wide skis. The are great for beginners and experienced skiers as it provides more stability then a traditional ski.
  • Wide body - These skis are wider around the front foot and normally keep width all throughout the tail. These are ideal for beginners and larger people as it provides stability on the water as well as making deep water starts easier.

Rocker

The rocker refers to the curve of the ski from nose to tail. For years manufacturers have been experimenting with rocker to define the difference in performance. The general rule is the more rocker a ski has sharper it will turn but have to much rocker and the ski will loose acceleration out of the turn. Skis over the last couple of years have started to move towards a 3 stage and 5 stage rocker system for the more advanced skis. This provides wider variety in ski performance and allows a more specified type of ski for each individual.

Flex

Flex or “stiffness” refers to how much the ski will bend when put through a turn. Flex and rocker go hand in hand eg. if you have a ski with a big rocker and a lot of flex it will turn very sharp but lose acceleration out of the turn. So when looking at the flex of the ski you will also need to account for the amount of rocker it has.

Bevel

The term bevel refers to the difference in depth of the ski from the edge to the middle of the bottom of the ski. The depth of bevel also directly relates to bottom design. The more beginner skis tend to have a sharper edged bevel where as the higher performance skis will have more of a round bevel. The slightest difference in the depth of bevel can have a big effect on how high the ski sits on the water or how deep it carves when turning.

Waterski Fin System

The difference in the fins in the single skis only really differ if they are adjustable or non-adjustable. Adjustable fins are recommended for any level of skier as it allows for alterations depending on the skier preference as well as experimenting what works for you. The depth of the fin in the water will determine the amount of drag or “traction” the ski has in the water. This added with a keel or “brake” will allow for a lot of room for alterations.

Bottom Designs

The bottom design of waterskis can vary greatly depending on the desired level of performance. For beginners a waterskis bottom design will normally be designed for stability, with this in mind the type of design suited for this is normally known as a “double concave” or “v tunnel”. This tunnel design provides a raised edge throughout the middle of the ski providing a line of traction throughout the water which will reduce aggressive turns but increase stability especially when cruising in a straight line. The more advanced skis will be known as “edge to edge” bottom designs as tunnel on the bottom runs from one edge of the ski to the other. This makes the ski more aggressive when turning but less stable in a straight line.