| Because
there are so many variables, buying water skis as a gift can
be fairly tricky. Make sure you find out everything you need
to know before you put your money down.
Do your research before you go shopping to find out exactly
what your water skier wants and needs. Find out the power
of the person's boat, their weight, what type of skiing they
like, and how skilled of a skier they are.
Look in water-skiing magazines, check out
some online water-skiing sites, and ask people who water ski
about classic and new skis.
Keep an eye on prices while doing your research
to get an idea of your budget. The price of water skis can
range from $100 to $250 or more.
Find a store that specializes in water skiing.
There are very few purely water-ski stores, but some sporting
goods stores specialize more than others. There are many online
water-ski dealers, which work well if you know exactly what
you want.
Ask to speak to the most knowledgable sales
person about water skis. Don't be afraid to wait till this
person is available.
Relay your information from step one to the
sales representative.
Keep your receipts and find out about return
and refund policies before you buy.
Here are a few general size and weight guidelines:
People 30-80 lbs. need skis 52 inches long and 5-6 inches
wide; people 70-170 lbs. need skis 66 inches long and 6-7
inches wide; people 170 lbs. and heavier need skis 68-72 inches
long and 6-8 inches wide. Again, these guidelines are only
general. Use whatever feels best.
Realize that different skis are used for slalom,
jumping, and freestyle skiing. There are also special skis
for learning and skis for learning tricks.
There are also ways to to have skis improved,
such as adding new bindings. New foam-lined vinyl bindings
can really improve the comfort of an old water ski and you
can get a pair of top-of-the-line bindings for well under
$100.
Look into other options if you can't seem
to find the right water skis. These may include wetsuits,
ski ropes, gloves, helmets, life vests or water-skiing magazine
subscriptions. If your skier already has plenty of skis, there
are plenty of other things to tow behind a boat. Look into
wake boards, innertubes, and rafts.
Make sure your skier has life vests. Everyone
in the ski boat should wear a life vest at all times.
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to buy a boat? | History
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Suppliers
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Ski| Malibu
Boats| Buying
a Used Boat| Guide
to Buy a Water-ski Boat| Drive
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Buying
a Water Skis as a Gift| Jump
on Water Skis |
