Stretchy slalom lines

[88 PS190]

Reading further into this thread, I have noticed (as many times in the past) folks talk about line-off loops and what works best for their wake for the comfortable spot...the best spot to avoid a hump in the wake or the flat spot, etc. Each to their own. Line-off loops have absolutely nothing to do with that aspect aside from a coincidence.
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Yes so I 100% think if someone is not actively competing in the course (and maybe even if they are) that the "line off loops" may not be the best or correct place to ski behind a boat. Several brands sell ropes with in between loops.

https://www.masterlineusa.com/produc...pe-extra-loops

• Additional loops at: 18.5', 25', 30' and 33.5' off.

There are two ways to view this, having a rope with those "in between" loops is relatively meaningless to competition, it might help you get that next pass if it helps blend the steps - but a much more important use is that if you don't ski tournaments you can find what length is "best" for your boat and speed - which is BTW prop dependent and load dependent.

The '22 hump is because on a boat of this specific length and size going "ski" speeds the prop disturbed water reaches the surface right there at '22 off give or take. But on some boats 25' or 23' or 21' might be really good.

And as I will point out, if this is the difference between skiing 15, or 22, then I have no issue having people ski 25'.

Personally I take a brand new rope and disassemble the rope and put all the really short ones, the 43, 41, 39, 38, loops in front of the long ones. So I can spread load between the loops. Makes the 15' loop last a whole lot longer than when 90% of my skiers use only the red loop. Instead I can have them be at 15'17'18 et.c Cheaper than masterline.

[waterlogged882]

Reading further into this thread, I have noticed (as many times in the past) folks talk about line-off loops and what works best for their wake for the comfortable spot...the best spot to avoid a hump in the wake or the flat spot, etc. Each to their own. Line-off loops have absolutely nothing to do with that aspect aside from a coincidence. That and the anchor line length. Have done that too.

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[cm02WS6]

Is the increased wrap-ability really that much better that you force everyone to ski -15?

The only thing me or anyone on my boat has ever used the 15' sections for was as an occasional anchor line extension. If anyone ever needs it I have it. Thanks for the concern though.

[Huckelfin]

Technically, you can use this to shorten the rope without loops:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q00um-OkxmY

i got tired of the loops tangling up my wakeboard rope, so I bought some dyneema rope and spliced a loop at the ends at my max rope length. I marked some shorter distances and just use that knot for shorter ropes.

Yeah I mean technically I'm sure you can do this or that, but my point is why not just get a standard rope, is it really that hard to coil up?

[bcd]

Technically, you can use this to shorten the rope without loops:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q00um-OkxmY

i got tired of the loops tangling up my wakeboard rope, so I bought some dyneema rope and spliced a loop at the ends at my max rope length. I marked some shorter distances and just use that knot for shorter ropes.

[Huckelfin]

This thread has been great and I've been emailing with Scott from S Lines. Very responsive, nice guy. I don't slalom anymore, but we're still using my old competition line from tournament training 15 years ago for recreational purposes. It looks good, but I've been thinking I should get something new. So, I'm going to get a custom 55' line because I run everyone at 15 off. The line will have only one loop instead of 8, so it will be easier to wrap up without all the extra loops.

Is the increased wrap-ability really that much better that you force everyone to ski -15?

[88 PS190]

The line will have only one loop instead of 8, so it will be easier to wrap up without all the extra loops.

Personally I'd see about him making you a line with a bunch of loops at like 2' increments around 15 off. Depending on the boat I've found that quite a few have much better wakes at say 17 off or 19 off than they do at 15 off. Again depending on the speed.

[cm02WS6]

This thread has been great and I've been emailing with Scott from S Lines. Very responsive, nice guy. I don't slalom anymore, but we're still using my old competition line from tournament training 15 years ago for recreational purposes. It looks good, but I've been thinking I should get something new. So, I'm going to get a custom 55' line because I run everyone at 15 off. The line will have only one loop instead of 8, so it will be easier to wrap up without all the extra loops.

[88 PS190]

Check ballofspray forum. Lots of discussion recently regarding ropes as another manufacturer just entered the game "S-lines" that advertises different rope stretch spec. Some actual pros and regular people on that forum seem to like them. I haven't tried any my self but I'm pretty happy someone is introducing some competition to overpriced MasterLine, even though that is what I use.

They're good, skied one last week absolutely no problems with them and coming in at a good price.

[d2jp]

Pre-stretched means it will conform to AWSA specs during and after skiing. These rope still have “some” give or stretch to them when skiing. Hard to go wrong with Masterline. Made in the USA and great quality. I’m skiing Masterline’s Optimized 2.0 and it def has some give. Although the price on that rope is now insane. Masterline’s 5-section 13M rope is a great value for $70 and also has some give to it. I skied HO’s knotless Syndicate mainline and thought it lost it’s stretch fairly early in its life, and felt pretty firm…not to my liking. My buddy skis it though and loves it. I typically replace my slalom rope every season.

[PeterAK]

A good quality rope is the way to go. Any slalom rope will have the give you are looking for, but not more (like you'll find in the cheapies). This is what I have been using for a couple years, and at $100 it's a good value. https://www.masterlineusa.com/collec...-w-13-team-hdl

[88 PS190]

Stretchy is probably not the correct way to view them. There is clearly give in a slalom rope try slaloming with a wakeboard spectra line and you'll see some give is a good thing. But they aren't in any way bungie cords.

I think the better way to think about it is that if you take brand new rope and make it "the right length" for a slalom rope and then ski it a few times it stretches out to a certain length and then settles in. That's what "pre-stretched" means. The company has built the rope then put a few cycles onto it and checked that it measures correctly. Both ropes after say 50 skiers are going to be functionally the same "stretch"

Now then there is how the rope fiber undergoes elastic deformation under skiing conditions and a lot of that has to do with the quality of the fiber used and the lay of the rope's braid.

I would wager the "prestretched" top level ski lines have more give to them then the non-prestretched basic cheap ski ropes. So don't let the term throw you off the higher end ropes should feel better on your body than the lower end non-stretched rope.

[edwin]

We've used In Tow ski ropes and handles for many, many years. Brenda makes a heck of product...highly recommend. http://www.intowonline.com or https://jlbmfg.com for all her items

[Huckelfin]

Check ballofspray forum. Lots of discussion recently regarding ropes as another manufacturer just entered the game "S-lines" that advertises different rope stretch spec. Some actual pros and regular people on that forum seem to like them. I haven't tried any my self but I'm pretty happy someone is introducing some competition to overpriced MasterLine, even though that is what I use.

[waterlogged882]

Maybe not specific to your inquiry about stretchy....I venture to say a rope from Walmart, Overtons, etc. (or similar) will meet your criteria. Possibly any rope that is not AWSA approved will get you in the ballpark. I use nothing but AWSA approved lines. Not that I am beyond a stretchy line, but AWSA sets the benchmark for a good line. Anything else is....well...stretchy.

Good ropes are not cheap and cheap ropes are not good. Masterline makes a good rope, in particular on their longer barefoot lines.

And since you did not ask...one thing I have learned not to do with a rope is to twist it from pulling back and forth to line up a skier or pick up a skier. I ask my skiers (and me as well) to pull out to the driver's side of the boat when done with a run. The boat turns into the skier simultaneously, rope in the skier's hand. The two meet, no twists. Course skiing is a little different for pickups.


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