[charliechalk]

I'm going to be moving out to the States in a couple of weeks and plan to spend the month of February sit-skiing in Colorado. Before getting there I want to get hold of a sit ski. I'm not too fussed if it is new or second hand; I just want one that fits me properly and will be suitable for me to start getting some seriously good speed up for some downhill racing.

I have only just learnt to sit-ski but have apparently made very rapid progress and am keen to see if I can take this fantastic sport on to a higher level...

So... are there any particular makes of sit-ski that stand out? How long to they take to be made from new? How much do they cost?

Any thoughts, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Tim13]

One of the guys in a SCI support group i sporadically attend vacationed in Winter Park, Colorado and learned to ski (sit ski obviously) I'd guess they are available as rentals at major resorts and will most likely have a bunch of models you can try out.

sitski dot com and spokesnmotion dot com are sites you should check out.

This post has been edited by Tim13: 08 January 2008 - 02:35 AM

[russ1]

I was lucky and got mine second hand but you need to find one that fits properly and they don't become available very often unless you're in the loop (again I was lucky and just happened to see it advertised in SIA magazine which is very unusual). Most UK/European skiers use Praschburgers or Tessiers as they're made in Europe and are the skis of choice of most of the top european racers.

You've probably left it too late to order a new one now but may be worth contacting them. The US skiers tend to use US manufactured skis (no surprise there then). New skis start at about £1400 (Mogul Master) - Rise to over £2k for a Praschburger/Tessier race standard mono ski and get to about £3k for a Tessier Dual ski IIRC (prices include bindings, outriggers, ski).

There's a good list of the main manufacturers here

If you're going to ski with an adaptive program your best bet is to use their skis, try a few, talk to the instructors and find out what suits your ability and injury level best. With your low level you can probably pretty much choose from all of them.

If you're intending to ski independently then you may be able to hire off the programs anyway.

I'll be in Winter Park (Colorado) in February with a group of 10 SCI skiers :-) Can't come quick enough.

[Tired of hurting]

[quote][quote name='russ1' date='Jan 8 2008, 04:38 PM' post='49333']
I was lucky and got mine second hand but you need to find one that fits properly and they don't become available very often unless you're in the loop (again I was lucky and just happened to see it advertised in SIA magazine which is very unusual). Most UK/European skiers use Praschburgers or Tessiers as they're made in Europe and are the skis of choice of most of the top european racers.

You've probably left it too late to order a new one now but may be worth contacting them. The US skiers tend to use US manufactured skis (no surprise there then). New skis start at about £1400 (Mogul Master) - Rise to over £2k for a Praschburger/Tessier race standard mono ski and get to about £3k for a Tessier Dual ski IIRC (prices include bindings, outriggers, ski).

There's a good list of the main manufacturers [url="http://sitski.com/pg2.htm"]here [/url]

If you're going to ski with an adaptive program your best bet is to use their skis, try a few, talk to the instructors and find out what suits your ability and injury level best. With your low level you can probably pretty much choose from all of them.

If you're intending to ski independently then you may be able to hire off the programs anyway.

I'll be in [url="http://www.nscd.org"]Winter Park [/url] (Colorado) in February with a group of 10 SCI skiers :-) Can't come quick enough.
[/quote]

I used to ski with my kids before injury. You go boy,let that cold wind blow through your hair. Smell the fresh cold breeze,and enjoy the beautiful sites.

[pawperso]

If you are in the UK or europe, get in touch with Praschberger and get info on a dealer close to you who can measure you up and get a ski ordered for you.

If you are in the US then you can still get a Prasch but getting a Grove will hopefully be quicker, they both cost around the same, £2000/$4000. I would really advise going with a prasch if you can, get it with the new racing shock and you wont have to upgrade anything.

Those are really the only two sitski's worth thinking about to be honest, especially if you are L1 incomplete. The tessier is a decent ski, but the shocks are crap if you are thinking of racing and generally I dont like them at all. Mogul masters are pretty crap too, decent enough to ski on but a lousy mechanism to load on chair lifts and not the strongest.

REALLY try and get your own ski as soon as possible, dont rely on hiring one from an adaptive center at all. Most centers will want to keep their ski's for the lessons they have booked already, and it will costs you too much anyway.
Plus the sitski's most ski schools have are pretty crap if you really want to improve your skiing, they will mainly be "Mountain Man" type designs with awful dual ski's on and a huge bucket that you wont fit in properly.

The bucket (seat) is the most important thing in a sitski, it is basically you ski boot and has to fit as well as a boot would, otherwise you will move in the bucket without having an effect on the direction of the ski, which aint good.

Basically get a prasch or a grove, if you can get hold of a Kevin Bramble rig then that is a great ski too, definitely dont get a tessier or a yeti.

[ScottFoster]

pawperso, on Jan 9 2008, 05:49 AM, said:

Basically get a prasch or a grove, if you can get hold of a Kevin Bramble rig then that is a great ski too, definitely dont get a tessier or a yeti.

Can you tell me why you wouldn't get a Yetti? That carrera shock on the Grove looks like junk and a number of reviews I've seen imply that they don't hold up like a works or penske shock would. What is it about the grove that makes you recommend it? Prasch speaks for itself.

Thanks
Scott

[qman]

i tried a couple, have ordered a praschberger but also found the Fredom Factory Rev Pro Comp to be pretty good. but i prefer the sitting position in the prasch and easier to chair load.

[twisted_ophelia]

Revolution Pro Comp from Freedom Factory. You'll pay through the ass for it though. Monoskis are expensive. I was given an old Shadow that is currently being reworked and I have to wait til ski season starts to try the thing out but I absolutely love the RPC.

http://www.freedomfactory.org

This post has been edited by twisted_ophelia: 05 August 2009 - 02:42 AM

[qman]

there is a RPC in NZ second hand for $3000nzd,

[chrislit]

pawperso, on Jan 9 2008, 06:49 AM, said:

If you are in the UK or europe, get in touch with Praschberger and get info on a dealer close to you who can measure you up and get a ski ordered for you.

If you are in the US then you can still get a Prasch but getting a Grove will hopefully be quicker, they both cost around the same, £2000/$4000. I would really advise going with a prasch if you can, get it with the new racing shock and you wont have to upgrade anything.

Those are really the only two sitski's worth thinking about to be honest, especially if you are L1 incomplete. The tessier is a decent ski, but the shocks are crap if you are thinking of racing and generally I dont like them at all. Mogul masters are pretty crap too, decent enough to ski on but a lousy mechanism to load on chair lifts and not the strongest.

REALLY try and get your own ski as soon as possible, dont rely on hiring one from an adaptive center at all. Most centers will want to keep their ski's for the lessons they have booked already, and it will costs you too much anyway.
Plus the sitski's most ski schools have are pretty crap if you really want to improve your skiing, they will mainly be "Mountain Man" type designs with awful dual ski's on and a huge bucket that you wont fit in properly.

The bucket (seat) is the most important thing in a sitski, it is basically you ski boot and has to fit as well as a boot would, otherwise you will move in the bucket without having an effect on the direction of the ski, which aint good.

Basically get a prasch or a grove, if you can get hold of a Kevin Bramble rig then that is a great ski too, definitely dont get a tessier or a yeti.

i build sit skis.(prash copy)

If any one wants , I can custom build a sitski for your size and needs.
I have been a volunteer sitski teacher for 2 years at Whistler.Adaptive group
I make all my own parts and can help out with affordable fun!!!
I can also assist in guiding and teaching the art of the rip!
Chris McDonald
treerider@live.com
604 815 1690

[qman]

be interested to know how much you can build them for.

The nissen skis look great but i havent been able to get any info on them,
there are a couple of the japanese team floating around town at the moment who are riding them and they look great.

[twisted_ophelia]

chrislit, on Aug 5 2009, 11:35 PM, said:

i build sit skis.(prash copy)

If any one wants , I can custom build a sitski for your size and needs.
I have been a volunteer sitski teacher for 2 years at Whistler.Adaptive group
I make all my own parts and can help out with affordable fun!!!
I can also assist in guiding and teaching the art of the rip!
Chris McDonald
treerider@live.com
604 815 1690

Hey Chris, I just sent you a private message on here cuz I'm definitely interested in knowing more about your monoskis. I was thinking I'd also like to ski Whistler this winter. The terrain in Ontario sucks--our best is Blue Mountain or Horseshoe Valley and it just doesn't compare to places like Whistler or Mammoth (where I skied last season).

[russ1]

qman, on Aug 6 2009, 06:50 AM, said:

be interested to know how much you can build them for.

The nissen skis look great but i havent been able to get any info on them,
there are a couple of the japanese team floating around town at the moment who are riding them and they look great.

Been talking to a friend who's skiing the olympics next year and has just bought a Nissen - The word is that the hot skis for next season are the Nissin and the Tessier Scarver - I skied a Skarver for a morning in March - was a big improvement on my aging praschburger. Will prob try to get one for next year.

This post has been edited by russ1: 06 August 2009 - 07:04 PM

[qman]

yeah but doesnt matter how good they are if you cant get them.

It is impossible to get even information on the Nissin let alone a price or delivery and the S Carver looks good but is nearly twice the cost of a prasch. They about about 4000 euro versus about 2400 euro for the prasch.

[Pete Anderson]

twisted_ophelia, on Aug 5 2009, 03:40 AM, said:

Revolution Pro Comp from Freedom Factory. You'll pay through the ass for it though. Monoskis are expensive. I was given an old Shadow that is currently being reworked and I have to wait til ski season starts to try the thing out but I absolutely love the RPC.

http://www.freedomfactory.org

I just got involved with sit skiing last season at Park City, using their Freedom Factory Mogul Master. I've skiied all my life, but two years ago I crashed my hangglider and I am paralyzed below my knees.

My question is this, what do you recommend for an aggressive sit skier that likes powder, bumps, racing, etc, and why? Its a lot of money to pluck down, but I'm going to pursue this being that I'm minutes away from the "Greatest Snow On Earth!"

Thanks!

Pete

[qman]

IMHO

1. Praschberger - tried and tested , still win bulk of top level, feet down seating position, skis really well,

2. tessier s carver and
nissin (read my comments above ) but otherwise look great.

3. KGB (brambles) bomb proof and well tested, not prefered for racing now. but probably good for freeride, feet up siting position.

4. Freedom Factory Rev pro comp. pretty good but not the best.

mogul master doesnt has a good reputation. know for being easily broken.

there are 2 styles, feet up and feet down positions. i prefer the prasch style (tessier and nissin are similar) as it keeps the centre of gravity lower. just makes more sense to me.

[russ1]

Pete Anderson, on Aug 7 2009, 06:09 AM, said:

twisted_ophelia, on Aug 5 2009, 03:40 AM, said:

Revolution Pro Comp from Freedom Factory. You'll pay through the ass for it though. Monoskis are expensive. I was given an old Shadow that is currently being reworked and I have to wait til ski season starts to try the thing out but I absolutely love the RPC.

http://www.freedomfactory.org

I just got involved with sit skiing last season at Park City, using their Freedom Factory Mogul Master. I've skiied all my life, but two years ago I crashed my hangglider and I am paralyzed below my knees.

My question is this, what do you recommend for an aggressive sit skier that likes powder, bumps, racing, etc, and why? Its a lot of money to pluck down, but I'm going to pursue this being that I'm minutes away from the "Greatest Snow On Earth!"

Thanks!

Pete

Low levels who are aggressive usually seem to do really well with the Bramble - Difficult to go wrong with it if it suits you.

qman, on Aug 7 2009, 08:49 AM, said:

IMHO

3. KGB (brambles) bomb proof and well tested, not prefered for racing now. but probably good for freeride, feet up siting position.

Fair few of the top racers still using these for downhill - other makes preferred for the more technical disciplines. Or at least that's the info I'm getting from peeps I know who are into the racing scene.

[twisted_ophelia]

Pete Anderson, on Aug 7 2009, 01:09 AM, said:

twisted_ophelia, on Aug 5 2009, 03:40 AM, said:

Revolution Pro Comp from Freedom Factory. You'll pay through the ass for it though. Monoskis are expensive. I was given an old Shadow that is currently being reworked and I have to wait til ski season starts to try the thing out but I absolutely love the RPC.

http://www.freedomfactory.org

I just got involved with sit skiing last season at Park City, using their Freedom Factory Mogul Master. I've skiied all my life, but two years ago I crashed my hangglider and I am paralyzed below my knees.

My question is this, what do you recommend for an aggressive sit skier that likes powder, bumps, racing, etc, and why? Its a lot of money to pluck down, but I'm going to pursue this being that I'm minutes away from the "Greatest Snow On Earth!"

Thanks!

Pete

A friend of mine is T10 and I believe he uses the Kevin Bramble one. He is a VERY aggressive skier and he was a pro snowboarder before he got hurt. He does huge jumps, all the black diamond runs in Mammoth (California) and other places around the world, and stuff like 180s. He also skis the pipe at Mammoth, goes full tilt. I believe his biggest jump was 70-something feet (and he's broken many many MANY skis in the process of trying various jumps, etc.). He is an AMAZING skier (and is also the person who has taught me everything I know so far about how to monoski and the one currently reworking my Shadow!). He also highly recommended the RPC from Freedom Factory. However, I have heard someone mention that the RPC is better suited to people who are smaller in stature. I don't know how true this is or not.

[qman]

The RPC is a very similar seating position to the brambles and is sort of straighter leg and higher feet. which doesnt really make sense to me.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=HdgCfxcT_IA

this video is all on the RPC which do ski pretty well (keep in mind this is only 9 or 10 days ever on a sit ski for me). i had my hands on a bramble but the seat was to small for me so i abandoned the idea after one run. but i was impressed with the build quality. you would be doing well to break it BUT it is heavy as S&^$.

i jumped in the prasch after a number of days on a RPC and was blown away. they ride soo much better IMHO. but i will admitt that part of it was the shock set up was better on the prasch.

in general i prefer the feet down position of the prasch (and tessier, nissin) over the brambles, rpc style.
it keeps your centre of gravity low which makes lots of things easier. including getting up when you fall over.
seating arrangement of the prasch held me in great with 3 straps where i had 5 on the RPC.

I have seen very good footage of great skiers on the RPC, brambles, tessier and the prasch. all ski great in the right hands.

also loading mechanisms vary alot. brambles doesnt have one. RPC does and is OK, prasch is the easiest to load on chairs but doesnt always drop out of the load position but easy fix.

PS i have also heard that it is a long delivery time for the brambles (maybe year) prasch delivery is 4 weeks from order.

Q

[qman]

ps i will add that the "fit" of the bucket and the setup of the shock and the ski mount position make a massive different to how a rig skis.

and with bindings get some marker 30s they are bomb proof. and you will probably break skis but they are not hard to come by in singles.

[Pete Anderson]

[quote name='qman' date='Aug 8 2009, 01:13 AM' post='122869']
The RPC is a very similar seating position to the brambles and is sort of straighter leg and higher feet. which doesnt really make sense to me.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=HdgCfxcT_IA

this video is all on the RPC which do ski pretty well (keep in mind this is only 9 or 10 days ever on a sit ski for me). i had my hands on a bramble but the seat was to small for me so i abandoned the idea after one run. but i was impressed with the build quality. you would be doing well to break it BUT it is heavy as S&^$.

I was really impressed watching your video, but why did you go around that huge jump...Chicken!

I got an e-mail from the Freedom Factory and they recommend the RPC SS model. That sounds like their latest and greatest. The Prash is one that seems to be highly recommended, but pricey.

I need to look into this further before I take the plunge.


Thanks guys/gal, for your input. If you have any additional comments, please post! Pete

This post has been edited by Pete Anderson: 08 August 2009 - 04:06 PM

[twisted_ophelia]

I actually have a pic of me and my friend who uses the Kevin Bramble out on the mountain, facing eachother and you can see the RPC I'm in and his KB for a direct comparison of the two (visually, anyway). Unfortunately, the pic is too big to post here because of the 200kb limit and I have no idea how to re-size the thing on my mac. Either way, I'm going to hold fast to my love of the RPC, though I have never used a Prasch. I think it just depends entirely on personal preference, body shape/size, and skiing style ie. how aggressive you are. Everyone is going to have a different opinion of each model and brand. I believe there are reviews of almost all monoskis currently on the market over on http://www.sitski.com, so that could also be of help to someone looking for one to try. I wouldn't suggest buying one without trying it out first though. Try and hit up a good adaptive ski program which has various types of monos in its arsenal (like DSES in Mammoth) and try a few out before making a big pricey decision.

This post has been edited by twisted_ophelia: 09 August 2009 - 03:47 AM

[Pete Anderson]

One attractive aspect of purchasing a mono from the Freedom Factory is that its here in the states, and if there's any issues or problems with it I don't have to deal with this in another continent.

I'm thinking more about the RPC SS model. The factory says its designed for the agressive skier with a shorter shock travel, and its more stiff than the original RPC. I know I bottomed out quite a bit last winter, but that was also on the Mogul Master rental. Rentals typically suck even though I don't have anything to compare it to.

Thanks for your response. I'll keep posting my investigation on this, and I'll probably post some other issues I'll likely have skiing this up coming winter.

Pete

[qman]

I just had another day on a prasch and compared to the RPC, the prasch is a ferrari. It carves turns off the edge sooo much better. there are some minor glitches with the unloading as it doesnt always drop out of load position coming off the chair. but otherwise is great.

I was laying it over to the point i hit the bucket on the snow a few times. great fun.

i am stoked that is what i have ordered and cant wait to get my own so i can set it up right as the shock on this one was to soft for me. i have also ordered the race version which is a bit higher.

[russ1]

qman, on Aug 9 2009, 08:58 AM, said:

there are some minor glitches with the unloading as it doesnt always drop out of load position coming off the chair.

Standard fix is a bit of string onto the knuckle which you pull up and secure off while on the lift to break the knuckle joint and make sure you come off in the ski position - the prasch is probably the best ski out there for loading IMO.
PM me when you get yours and I'll send you some photo's of how to attach the string, sounds a bit heath robinson but works really well.

[qman]

thanks for that, i will try it once mine arrives pretty soon.

[Pete Anderson]

Well I have the Freedom Factory order form and the Praschberger order form.

If I go with the Freedom Factory RPC-SS, it will cost me $3100 + 130 for shipping and handling.

If I go with the Prasch, it will cost $2935.00, plus $600 for VAT (value added tax), plus shipping.

Its a huge investment. Prasch is what most people recommend, but the RPC-SS is the latest and the greatest from Freedom Factory. Help!

[twisted_ophelia]

Pete Anderson, on Aug 26 2009, 12:40 AM, said:

Well I have the Freedom Factory order form and the Praschberger order form.

If I go with the Freedom Factory RPC-SS, it will cost me $3100 + 130 for shipping and handling.

If I go with the Prasch, it will cost $2935.00, plus $600 for VAT (value added tax), plus shipping.

Its a huge investment. Prasch is what most people recommend, but the RPC-SS is the latest and the greatest from Freedom Factory. Help!

Which is why you should try to find an adaptive ski program that has both of these monos in their arsenal and try them before you buy one. It's a BIG investment. It's really hard to recommend one or the other because everybody not only skis different but everyone is a different size, injury/ability level, etc., etc. Truth be told, I wouldn't buy either without having tried either of them. That's like buying a car without test driving it. You should at least try one of those models this winter before you commit to buying.

[Yasko]

twisted_ophelia, on Aug 25 2009, 10:30 PM, said:

Pete Anderson, on Aug 26 2009, 12:40 AM, said:

Well I have the Freedom Factory order form and the Praschberger order form.

If I go with the Freedom Factory RPC-SS, it will cost me $3100 + 130 for shipping and handling.

If I go with the Prasch, it will cost $2935.00, plus $600 for VAT (value added tax), plus shipping.

Its a huge investment. Prasch is what most people recommend, but the RPC-SS is the latest and the greatest from Freedom Factory. Help!

Which is why you should try to find an adaptive ski program that has both of these monos in their arsenal and try them before you buy one. It's a BIG investment. It's really hard to recommend one or the other because everybody not only skis different but everyone is a different size, injury/ability level, etc., etc. Truth be told, I wouldn't buy either without having tried either of them. That's like buying a car without test driving it. You should at least try one of those models this winter before you commit to buying.

Mimi is back! Yay
Where were you hiding girl?

[Pete Anderson]

Thanks for the advice. I know I should try them before I buy them. I've tried the old Freedom Factory Mogul Master. The remaining arsenal at Park City is pretty old too and outdated. I don't know of any other place to check it out...I'll keep ya posted!

Thanks!

Pete