Buying Water Ski Rope

Choosing the right water ski rope is important. You should take into consideration what you are going to do with it. Are you going to compete as a professional water skier or just water ski for recreation purposes? If you are just water skiing for fun, then you will not have to spend so much on the ropes. So do not go out and get expensive equipment unless you really have to. You can spend the money you save on other equipment, including your boat!

So what other factors should you consider when purchasing water ski rope? Here are a few things to bear in mind.

Correct length: recreational ski rope should be 75 ft, with handles included. Competition ones are also 75 feet, handles and pigtails make up 5 feet of the total length. The ropes must be certified by the American Water Ski Association. These water ski ropes have loops at certain points to enable the user to shorten the rope according to various skill levels. They have different colors for each loop. There are 10 loops with the shortest rope length being black and 33 feet long. In actual fact you will on average only need 5 loops but the tournament ropes are usually made with a standard of 10 loops.

Durability: there is a lot of wear and tear on water ski ropes which is why competition ones are much more sturdy and durable. Recreation ones are made differently and are lighter.

Removable first section: Does the rope have a removable first section? The first 15 feet are usually removable as competitive water skiers do not need a full length. This makes the rope less cumbersome to pack away when not in use. It is also more convenient for the user as they do not have to adjust the extra length.

Combos: water ski ropes can come with or without handles. You may prefer handles from one company and ropes from another. If this is the case then you have the option to buy them separately. However you can also buy a combo rope that has handles that will cost you a little less than buying separately.

Handles: there are 2 sorts of handles; straight and elliptical. It is purely a matter of personal choice which ones you prefer. Length and diameter may also sway your choice and you may like open sided handles or closed ones. All these factors will help you to decide which handles are best for you.