24 replies to this topic

[driley]

Anyone have any experience or input on this ski?

http://www.teamhoc.com/monoski.htm

[qman]

WOW, amazing looking machine and there chairs look interesting also.

[driley]

I spoke with the owner of the company today. It is a very interesting ski and I hope to give one a try. I'll report back if I do.

[outkastsl]

wow, definately an interesting design. definitely let us know how it goes if you try it.

[qman]

i wonder if this is what tyler walker skied in vancouver,

although, he skis awesome, it is pretty different for a para,

look forward to seeing some footage of paras skiing them also.

[twisted_ophelia]

A friend of mine is getting one. He knows the guy that makes them and I dont think he's gotten his to try yet but I'll keep you guys posted on his opinion when he gets it. Friend is also SCI. I personally love the Revolution Pro Comp but when I saw the HOC I thought it looked pretty awesome. From what I understand and what my friend told me, it is for more advanced monoskiers, NOT for beginners or even intermediates.

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 09 May 2010 - 09:15 PM.

[driley]

twisted_ophelia, on May 9 2010, 02:14 PM, said:

A friend of mine is getting one. He knows the guy that makes them and I dont think he's gotten his to try yet but I'll keep you guys posted on his opinion when he gets it. Friend is also SCI. I personally love the Revolution Pro Comp but when I saw the HOC I thought it looked pretty awesome. From what I understand and what my friend told me, it is for more advanced monoskiers, NOT for beginners or even intermediates.

I agree. The company owner told me the ski was aimed at advanced/competitive skiers. I still want to give it a try. I've been skiing less than ten times and it feels like I am progressing quickly. Practice, practice, practice.... I would consider myself an intermediate level skier now. During the first lesson I had doubts I could even learn to ski. So I am very happy with my progress.

[twisted_ophelia]

driley, on May 9 2010, 08:50 PM, said:

twisted_ophelia, on May 9 2010, 02:14 PM, said:

A friend of mine is getting one. He knows the guy that makes them and I dont think he's gotten his to try yet but I'll keep you guys posted on his opinion when he gets it. Friend is also SCI. I personally love the Revolution Pro Comp but when I saw the HOC I thought it looked pretty awesome. From what I understand and what my friend told me, it is for more advanced monoskiers, NOT for beginners or even intermediates.

I agree. The company owner told me the ski was aimed at advanced/competitive skiers. I still want to give it a try. I've been skiing less than ten times and it feels like I am progressing quickly. Practice, practice, practice.... I would consider myself an intermediate level skier now. During the first lesson I had doubts I could even learn to ski. So I am very happy with my progress.

Not to discourage but I will just repeat the advice I was given by my friend who is getting the HOC ski when I talked to him about it. He knows I am using/ordering the RPC and has skied with me while I'm using it and when he showed me the HOC, I, of course, saw how awesome and cool it is and he said pretty much that getting a ski you are not currently ready for is a bad idea and that I will just be disappointed. I was a skier before my accident and am also happy with progress I've been making but it's like buying a Corvette for your first car. It may look cool and but when you start denting and scratching the car because you're still learning, you'll probably regret buying that Corvette. LOL. I don't know if that makes sense but put ego aside (not saying you have a big ego), and wait til you are ready to buy a HOC. That's what I did. Ths aforementioned friend is a ski instructor with DSES btw. So he knows what he is talking about. There is a HUGE difference between "intermediate" and "advanced/competitive". Wait a couple seasons, improve, ski Cornice up in Mammoth (hehe) and then go from there. The friend who uses the HOC (or who will be using it, I should say) is a highly experienced skier who backcountries and does big mountain stuff. That's the type of skier the HOC is made for. You'll get there no doubt but while learning, don't make your life more difficult, you know? That's the advice I was basically given and I'm sticking to it :-)

Edited by twisted_ophelia, 10 May 2010 - 04:45 AM.

[driley]

twisted_ophelia, on May 9 2010, 09:45 PM, said:

driley, on May 9 2010, 08:50 PM, said:

twisted_ophelia, on May 9 2010, 02:14 PM, said:

A friend of mine is getting one. He knows the guy that makes them and I dont think he's gotten his to try yet but I'll keep you guys posted on his opinion when he gets it. Friend is also SCI. I personally love the Revolution Pro Comp but when I saw the HOC I thought it looked pretty awesome. From what I understand and what my friend told me, it is for more advanced monoskiers, NOT for beginners or even intermediates.

I agree. The company owner told me the ski was aimed at advanced/competitive skiers. I still want to give it a try. I've been skiing less than ten times and it feels like I am progressing quickly. Practice, practice, practice.... I would consider myself an intermediate level skier now. During the first lesson I had doubts I could even learn to ski. So I am very happy with my progress.

Not to discourage but I will just repeat the advice I was given by my friend who is getting the HOC ski when I talked to him about it. He knows I am using/ordering the RPC and has skied with me while I'm using it and when he showed me the HOC, I, of course, saw how awesome and cool it is and he said pretty much that getting a ski you are not currently ready for is a bad idea and that I will just be disappointed. I was a skier before my accident and am also happy with progress I've been making but it's like buying a Corvette for your first car. It may look cool and but when you start denting and scratching the car because you're still learning, you'll probably regret buying that Corvette. LOL. I don't know if that makes sense but put ego aside (not saying you have a big ego), and wait til you are ready to buy a HOC. That's what I did. Ths aforementioned friend is a ski instructor with DSES btw. So he knows what he is talking about. There is a HUGE difference between "intermediate" and "advanced/competitive". Wait a couple seasons, improve, ski Cornice up in Mammoth (hehe) and then go from there. The friend who uses the HOC (or who will be using it, I should say) is a highly experienced skier who backcountries and does big mountain stuff. That's the type of skier the HOC is made for. You'll get there no doubt but while learning, don't make your life more difficult, you know? That's the advice I was basically given and I'm sticking to it :-)

I completely agree with what you are saying. I am just going to give it a try and will not get one unless I feel comfortable with my ability to ride it. If I can't work out a demo, then I will most likely get a Praschberger for my first ski. I will be trying a Prasch this weekend.

I am confident in my ability to get down Cornice in Mammoth. Gravity always wins!!! Of course, my poor body will likely be all broken up.

BTW, you know me from Facebook and Twitter

[qman]

hey driley, whats your twitter and fb names

[driley]

qman, on May 10 2010, 02:32 PM, said:

hey driley, whats your twitter and fb names

Here is a link to my not too often used twitter account http://twitter.com/my395

From there anyone should be able to find me on Facebook.

[twisted_ophelia]

devin, qman is on my FB, you can find him there!

[twisted_ophelia]

driley, on May 10 2010, 08:42 AM, said:

I completely agree with what you are saying. I am just going to give it a try and will not get one unless I feel comfortable with my ability to ride it. If I can't work out a demo, then I will most likely get a Praschberger for my first ski. I will be trying a Prasch this weekend.

I am confident in my ability to get down Cornice in Mammoth. Gravity always wins!!! Of course, my poor body will likely be all broken up.

BTW, you know me from Facebook and Twitter

LMAO! That cracked me up! Yeah, true, we can ALL get down Cornice. But in one piece? Questionable! Have you ridden the gondola up to the top yet? That's got some insanely beautiful views of the mountain and mountains around it.

[driley]

twisted_ophelia, on May 10 2010, 09:04 PM, said:

LMAO! That cracked me up! Yeah, true, we can ALL get down Cornice. But in one piece? Questionable! Have you ridden the gondola up to the top yet? That's got some insanely beautiful views of the mountain and mountains around it.

I have only been to the top once and that was in the summer. The views are incredible. As fun as skiing is, I must admit that the views are part of what pushes me higher and higher up the mountain.

[twisted_ophelia]

driley, on May 11 2010, 12:31 AM, said:

twisted_ophelia, on May 10 2010, 09:04 PM, said:

LMAO! That cracked me up! Yeah, true, we can ALL get down Cornice. But in one piece? Questionable! Have you ridden the gondola up to the top yet? That's got some insanely beautiful views of the mountain and mountains around it.

I have only been to the top once and that was in the summer. The views are incredible. As fun as skiing is, I must admit that the views are part of what pushes me higher and higher up the mountain.

Agreed. Did you check out my pics of the mountains in my Mammoth album on FB? The one from this year, not last year. Seeing some of those mountains (not even the ones on Mammoth Mountain, but the other ones like around Convict Lake and Mcgee Creek) was insanely beautiful. They looked so pristine and perfect, I just want to even lay in the snow and make a snow angel hahaha

[kev670]

I'm glad to see my ski generating some discussion here! I'm a mechanical engineer/T4 para and I hooked up with Steve at HOC a couple years ago to design a monoski with flat out the best suspension in the industry. I believe we have acheived that! Let me say however that going into this I was not an avid skier, having only been on a monoski a few times before, and when we went to test the first prototype, I was able to hop in it, load, unload, and ski down the mountain like I had been doing it all my life. Yes, our design goal was aimed at the top performing athletes, but the ski works well for everbody. The biggest thing is, it is so different from what people are used to, that it can take a little while to get a feel for it. For me, not having much of a reference from other skis, I was able to get used to it very quickly. If anybody has any technical or other questions about it let me know!

Kevin

Edited by kev670, 16 May 2010 - 05:15 PM.

[wheeels]

Hey kev670,

Two questions
1) How much does it weigh?
2) Where can I test one out?

[driley]

kev670, on May 16 2010, 09:30 AM, said:

I'm glad to see my ski generating some discussion here! I'm a mechanical engineer/T4 para and I hooked up with Steve at HOC a couple years ago to design a monoski with flat out the best suspension in the industry. I believe we have acheived that! Let me say however that going into this I was not an avid skier, having only been on a monoski a few times before, and when we went to test the first prototype, I was able to hop in it, load, unload, and ski down the mountain like I had been doing it all my life. Yes, our design goal was aimed at the top performing athletes, but the ski works well for everbody. The biggest thing is, it is so different from what people are used to, that it can take a little while to get a feel for it. For me, not having much of a reference from other skis, I was able to get used to it very quickly. If anybody has any technical or other questions about it let me know!

Kevin

Kevin,

It looks like you have done a great job on the new ski. All the design decisions make complete sense to me.

All the videos of Tyler Walker highlight the suspension and it looks like it shines in this regards. Any videos of paras using the ski? Just wondering what it looks like to have the bucket moving with the footrest remaining stable.

As an incomplete T10 that weighs about 200lbs, my real concern is being able to pick myself up from a fall with the HOC, as it sits rather high.

[kev670]

wheeels, on May 16 2010, 04:41 PM, said:

Hey kev670,

Two questions
1) How much does it weigh?
2) Where can I test one out?

It weighs about 28lb. You'll have to ask Steve when you can demo one. I think he said he'll be up at Mt. Hood in June with a couple skis for the US team to demo. Give him a call, contact info is on the website www.teamhoc.com

[kev670]

driley, on May 17 2010, 08:21 PM, said:

kev670, on May 16 2010, 09:30 AM, said:

I'm glad to see my ski generating some discussion here! I'm a mechanical engineer/T4 para and I hooked up with Steve at HOC a couple years ago to design a monoski with flat out the best suspension in the industry. I believe we have acheived that! Let me say however that going into this I was not an avid skier, having only been on a monoski a few times before, and when we went to test the first prototype, I was able to hop in it, load, unload, and ski down the mountain like I had been doing it all my life. Yes, our design goal was aimed at the top performing athletes, but the ski works well for everbody. The biggest thing is, it is so different from what people are used to, that it can take a little while to get a feel for it. For me, not having much of a reference from other skis, I was able to get used to it very quickly. If anybody has any technical or other questions about it let me know!

Kevin

Kevin,

It looks like you have done a great job on the new ski. All the design decisions make complete sense to me.

All the videos of Tyler Walker highlight the suspension and it looks like it shines in this regards. Any videos of paras using the ski? Just wondering what it looks like to have the bucket moving with the footrest remaining stable.

As an incomplete T10 that weighs about 200lbs, my real concern is being able to pick myself up from a fall with the HOC, as it sits rather high.

Thanks for the compliment! I'm not sure if there are any videos available of paras skiing it. I'll bring that up to Steve, it would be a good idea to show how your legs move with the suspension. It was a major concern of ours when designing it if it was going to be acceptable to have that movement. It is because of this that we don't have straps over the top of the thighs, only at the hips. Of the paras we've had ski it, no one has complained or even mentioned anything about it. In my experience, it's not an issue but I've never really pushed it hard enough to get a lot of movement out of the suspension. The height of it has been an issue for some people, however. This is the compromise we had to make though to have 8" of progressive suspension travel, and no lift system. Our first production run of skis sat about 17" from the bottom of the bucket to the bottom of the "boot", unloaded. For the next production run (available now) I have revised the frame to lower the height down 1.5". However, to do this we had to flip the shock over so the reservoir faces down, which of course now makes it more difficult to adjust. Just another compromise to have the best suspension around (-: We have also developed a binding that will allow a further 1" reduction in height, for a total unloaded height of about 14.5". This should help a lot, but no matter what it's not going to be easy to get up after a fall.

[driley]

kev670, on May 18 2010, 01:49 PM, said:

Thanks for the compliment! I'm not sure if there are any videos available of paras skiing it. I'll bring that up to Steve, it would be a good idea to show how your legs move with the suspension. It was a major concern of ours when designing it if it was going to be acceptable to have that movement. It is because of this that we don't have straps over the top of the thighs, only at the hips. Of the paras we've had ski it, no one has complained or even mentioned anything about it. In my experience, it's not an issue but I've never really pushed it hard enough to get a lot of movement out of the suspension. The height of it has been an issue for some people, however. This is the compromise we had to make though to have 8" of progressive suspension travel, and no lift system. Our first production run of skis sat about 17" from the bottom of the bucket to the bottom of the "boot", unloaded. For the next production run (available now) I have revised the frame to lower the height down 1.5". However, to do this we had to flip the shock over so the reservoir faces down, which of course now makes it more difficult to adjust. Just another compromise to have the best suspension around (-: We have also developed a binding that will allow a further 1" reduction in height, for a total unloaded height of about 14.5". This should help a lot, but no matter what it's not going to be easy to get up after a fall.

I would say getting the seat down to 14.5 is pretty good. Compromises have to be made.

Motocross bikes have a very tall seat height. No getting around this while still having the required suspension for the job. There are other off-road motorcycles that are designed for less competitive riders, women etc. These bike have less suspension travel and lower seat heights.

The mono ski market may not be big enough. But if your ski sales take off, you could consider a "scaled" down version for less experienced or aggressive riders. Just a suggestion.

[outkastsl]

kevin, this is a great design. I hope i can demo one soon.

Devin, hit me up on fb...you can find me by my email: stevelau92@yahoo.com

[T bone]

Howdee Partners…
Just got the HOC outriggers and the new monoski!!!! Been skiing for 48 years and had the Pro Comp wired in 1.5hrs. So I called Steve, checked out the ski and now all I need is snow!!!! Am always out growing my rehab stuff so looking forward to the challenge of the HOC steed!!!!

[outkastsl]

That's AWESOME Tbone. Where in California are you? I'm in the Bay Area and drive up to Tahoe for the snow.

[Stunub]

T bone, on 30 August 2010 - 07:00 PM, said:

Howdee Partners…
Just got the HOC outriggers and the new monoski!!!! Been skiing for 48 years and had the Pro Comp wired in 1.5hrs. So I called Steve, checked out the ski and now all I need is snow!!!! Am always out growing my rehab stuff so looking forward to the challenge of the HOC steed!!!!

Hey T Bone, what do you think of the outriggers?