The Best Water Skis for Fun and Thrills on the Water

Buying Guide: Water Skis

Water skiing is such a beautiful sport with numerous benefits and perks. It’s a leisure activity that also provides a great workout, allowing you to burn calories. Many people find that water skiing has a calming effect and helps them relieve stress. As someone who loves the sport and is always learning and growing, you quickly realize that there are different styles and shapes of skis. Choosing the right water ski can be a daunting task due to the numerous models available in the market. To help you pick the best one, we’ve put together a guide outlining the things to consider when shopping for a ski.

Things You Should Consider When Choosing a Water Ski

When you are looking to find a ski that suits your needs, there are certain things you’ll need to consider to make the best choice. They are the following:

Material

Water skis are made from different kinds of materials. These materials are chosen because of their various pros and cons. Some skis are made from fiberglass or some other form of carbon composite. These materials are used because they make your water skis flexible and lightweight.

You have to ensure you choose a material that is more suited to your own needs. Beginner skis are usually heavier and they are that way for a reason. Some people choose aluminum skis for their durability and reliability. The material you choose in the end would be based upon multiple factors, so choose wisely.

Water ski length 

When you are on the market for water skis, it is important to consider the length that will match your weight range. If you weigh between 90 to 150 pounds, for example, you need to buy water skis that fall between 64 to 66 inches. These things go hand in hand so you need to be sure you get the right fit for your size. If you fall between 150 and 200 pounds, you should consider a ski length between 66 and 69 inches. If you get a great pair of skis that check all the required boxes, hang on to them, they may not be easily replaced.

Size and speed

A ski’s skiing speed determines how deep it can sit in the water. If you like skiing at low speeds, you will be better suited to skis with wide surface areas. You can also choose a narrow-sized ski because it does not take a lot of effort to sit on top of the water.

Edge angles

Water ski edges are curved at varying angles. These angles are needed for making turns and maintaining control of the water ski. Water skis with a broader edge angle are usually recommended for beginners and intermediate-level skiers to stay stable on the water surface. Smaller edge-angle water skis work out well for professional skiers as improved control compensates for reduced stability. 

Fins and bindings

A lot of water skis are fitted with bottom side fins that assist in providing more stability and traction on the water. These come in different shapes and sizes. You should choose a water ski with adjustable bindings that can provide enough stability for everyone.

Which Water Skis Best Suit My Experience Level?

Depending on your level of experience as a skier, there will be a water ski that’s more suited for you. To improve your general skiing experience, you should try to be very accurate in discerning which of these levels you fall into. 

First-timers

There is nothing to be ashamed of, a pair of double skis are the best option for first-timers. Double skis ensure that your first time on the water is comfortable and give you enough room to understand the basics.

Beginner skiier

This category is for the true rookies. Those who are taking off the training wheels, have got their legs under them and are aiming to improve as fast as possible. Usually, if you fall under this category, you’ll be skiing at slower speeds (about 26 to 28 miles per hour) and be in the process of improving on your deep water starts and first turns.

Combo water skis are a great place to start for beginners. They are wider and offer more surface area. They are easy to learn on (getting up out of the water and moving around) and allow you to easily progress to a single ski. 

Combo skis are very effective and come in a range of sizes to suit juniors through to adults. Beginners who have mastered the combo skis are ready to progress to the intermediate level and start looking for a good slalom ski.

Intermediate skier

Most intermediate skiers are open to all sorts of skiing. They’ll try to ski at faster speeds mostly sticking to open water, while still skiing for the fun of it.

In skiing, your progression in skill level is usually equal to the progression of your ski technology. To enjoy a more responsive ride with features that suit their needs, an intermediate skier may choose a slalom ski. An intermediate skier who chooses a slalom ski will enjoy a more responsive ride but will need to consider their weight, ability, boat speed, and also the frequency of their skiing.

Skiing is meant to be fun. To preserve the fun bit, an intermediate skier may also choose the wider series which eases up getting out of the water and accommodates slow boat speeds. These let the skier cruise and enjoy their skiing more. 

Advanced skier

At this level, skiers are very confident in their ability as they have mastered deep water starts and are more confident crossing wakes. They typically look for water that is smooth or flat. Occasionally, advanced skiers will take to the course, and ski on shorter rope lengths and faster speeds.

To provide the adequate power and control the advanced skier needs, their slalom skis have a narrow tail and a concave bottom which helps to pull the ski down into the water. The kinds of materials used for these skis are chosen for their strength and responsiveness to allow the advanced skier the control to turn harder and increase their speed across the wake. 

Course skier

If you are a course skier reading this, you are most probably not reading for information, but more for the love of water skiing. Course skiers are experts on the water, and spend their time chasing buoys and short line rides at competition speeds of 34 to 36 miles per hour.

Some General Tips

Choosing the right water ski is a crucial step that should be taken with adequate knowledge. Usually, picking the right water ski will result in more fun and an easier time on the water. For beginners, longer skis work better as they will be easier to get up on – they are bulkier and slower. Intermediate skiers and seasoned veterans will be better suited to shorter skis, they will be quicker on the water but more difficult to control. 

When choosing combo skis, your choice should be based on the intended rider’s weight. Generally, combo skis that come as a pair with universal bindings will fit a wide range of skiers.