Water ski ropes and handles

Connelly 2027 handles and ropes compared

All these ropes are 75 ft (22.9 m) long and float, handle included.

One-piece or multi-section rope?

For recreational skiing, a one-piece rope is enough. In slalom, you shorten the rope as you improve: the loops of a multi-section mainline come off one by one. The shortenings are given in feet taken off the starting 75 ft (“15 off”, “22 off”…):

The handle: shape and grip

A slalom handle is usually 12″ (30 cm): wide enough for two hands, short enough to keep your arms close to your body. A tacky rubber grip holds even when wet; an EVA grip is gentler on the hands. The elliptical grip of the TORQ Course tires the forearms less. Easy-Up handles are designed to make deep-water starts easier. A pre-stretched rope keeps a constant pull, with no elastic effect.

Care

Rinse the rope in fresh water, dry it in the shade and store it coiled: the Connelly rope winder stops it tangling. For wakeboarding and wakesurfing, see wakeboard ropes and surf ropes.