Water skis and equipment

Which equipment for your level?

Combo skis or slalom ski?

Combo skis are a pair of wide skis: very stable, they get you out of the water easily and let you find your feet behind the boat. Almost every skier starts here. A slalom ski is ridden with one foot behind the other on a single, narrower ski: it turns, accelerates and lets you slalom round the buoys. Most skiers move on to it after a few successful sessions on combos; some combo skis, such as the Eclypse, have one ski fitted with a rear toe plate so you can make the switch by dropping the other ski.

Choosing a slalom ski size

Length is chosen from the rider weight and the boat’s speed. On the Connelly 2027 models: the 65″ (165 cm) suits riders up to 73 to 82 kg depending on the model, the 67″ (170 cm) 73 to 100 kg, and the 69″ (175 cm) above 91 to 100 kg. Between two sizes, take the longer one if you are a beginner or ski slowly, the shorter one if you want a livelier ride. The full chart, model by model, is on the slalom skis page.

Bindings: double bindings or a rear toe plate?

The front binding holds your lead foot. At the back there are two options: a second binding, for the support and precision slalom calls for, or a rear toe plate (RTP) that lets the foot come out more easily in a fall, simpler for beginners. See the water ski bindings, or the packages that combine a slalom ski and bindings at a fixed price.

Rope and handle

A water ski rope is 75 ft (22.9 m) long, handle included. A one-piece rope is enough for recreational skiing; a multi-section slalom mainline can be shortened for running the buoys. Compare them in water ski ropes and handles.

Safety and regulations

In France, the person being towed wears a vest or buoyancy aid of at least 50 N, and the driver has a second person on board to watch them. Skiing takes place in the zones and channels set aside for it; on a lake, a prefectural order sets the zones and times. See our lifejackets and buoyancy aids.

The boat matters as much as the ski: our guide how to choose a boat for water skiing covers hulls and wakes.

Why buy from Motor Boat 74

The Water Universe shop belongs to Motor Boat 74, a boat dealer in Saint-Jorioz on Lake Annecy: we ride what we sell, and we can advise you on +33 4 57 57 27 27. A product in stock can be collected from the shop within 24 h; the rest are ordered from the manufacturer.