Calling all AM hull experts. I need help choosing a freestyle hull

Lumberjack

Lumberjack

Location
Saskatchewan
question for AM hull experts. it's time to make the switch from my superjet to an AM hull for freestyle but I'm in Canada so i don't have the opportunity to test ride hulls unless I drive around 3000+ miles. keeping my 07 superjet around for cruising up and down the river. i need help narrowing down the right hull/ setup. budget of aprox 16-19k usd 175-180 pound rider 5 11" tall. never ride surf, stuck riding flat water. what's the best hull on the market for freestyle where I can still catch boats to hit wakes? only AM hull I've tried was a gen 3 BOB. I don't want to waste my money on a hull with issues. what do the experts have to say? what hull? what power plant? I don't need a ski with competition level power. I want to buy RTR. who's building the best quality RTR skis? Between work I dont have enough time to build a ski and I'd rather be out on the water.
thanks
 
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g-ski

g-ski

Location
painesville,ohio
I recommend the XFS. My 2013 XFR is suitable for flat or surf. Like most compromises, it's not the best for either. I have a PHP 898 at the moment, but it was still a blast with a big bore 701. I rode a XFS with a DASA 1000 that was a bit much for surf, but awesome for flat water. On the small chance you don't like the XFS, they are easy to resell.
 
Sanoman

Sanoman

AbouttoKrash
Location
NE Tenn
Get yourself to a freeride somewhere and try out some different skis otherwise your are pissing into the wind.Im not saying don't listen to others but in the end it is you that will be stuck with a ski you may not like. There have been a few members that have flown into a freeride just to try out hulls. The cost of transportation will be far less than having a ski you don't like.....
 
Lumberjack

Lumberjack

Location
Saskatchewan
Sanoman said:
Get yourself to a freeride somewhere and try out some different skis otherwise your are pissing into the wind.Im not saying don't listen to others but in the end it is you that will be stuck with a ski you may not like. There have been a few members that have flown into a freeride just to try out hulls. The cost of transportation will be far less than having a ski you don't like.....
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i agrre just tryng to narrow it down. whats the best one for the most test ride opportunitys?
 
Baja 252

Baja 252

Location
LOTO
Which brand is best? It's like a Ford/Chevy thing, everyone has an opinion.

Three years ago we were in your place, we wanted a ski to learn tricks on. Lots of reading, testing as many skis as we could around our home and flying to Havasu to ride everything else. The problem is we didn't have the skill to do any tricks so riding them was just a gut feeling of what we liked and comfortably thing on how it rode. In the end we bought an XFS. Beautiful high $$ ski, good resale, great quality and love the big wide tray for landing without sinking. But if you want to use it to "catch boats to hit wakes" especially in rough water it won't do that very well at all. Your SJ is the best for that.

A cousin has an strong 701 FR2. A nice used one is a good first aftermarket hull purchase IMO. It's fun and will do more tricks than an SJ and will chase boats just fine, but to flip it you have to have bigger power and then remove the trim tabs and switch to a short ride plate. Maybe in the ocean a 701 would flip, but never tried it, we live in the Midwest.
 
Ducky

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
I'm a bit biased, but I think it's hard to argue that for the money, a WDK RIP is probably the best value for strictly flatwater freestyle. It has championship plaques to back that up.

However, there are tons of great hulls!!! One of my main concerns in buying an AM hull would be durability. There are lots of them that look very awesome, but have cracking issues. Do your due diligence before you buy.

And I agree with a ton of people above about a phantom. Great ski, and great builder behind the ski!
 
Lumberjack

Lumberjack

Location
Saskatchewan
The Duckster said:
I'm a bit biased, but I think it's hard to argue that for the money, a WDK RIP is probably the best value for strictly flatwater freestyle. It has championship plaques to back that up.

However, there are tons of great hulls!!! One of my main concerns in buying an AM hull would be durability. There are lots of them that look very awesome, but have cracking issues. Do your due diligence before you buy.

And I agree with a ton of people above about a phantom. Great ski, and great builder behind the ski!
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thanks for your opinion! yea I'm pretty worried about that too. I think I've read about 300 build threads soo far. trying to stay educated.

I'll have to get in contact with California freestyle about what he can do for me in my price range.
 
Lumberjack

Lumberjack

Location
Saskatchewan
Baja 252 said:
Which brand is best? It's like a Ford/Chevy thing, everyone has an opinion.

Three years ago we were in your place, we wanted a ski to learn tricks on. Lots of reading, testing as many skis as we could around our home and flying to Havasu to ride everything else. The problem is we didn't have the skill to do any tricks so riding them was just a gut feeling of what we liked and comfortably thing on how it rode. In the end we bought an XFS. Beautiful high $$ ski, good resale, great quality and love the big wide tray for landing without sinking. But if you want to use it to "catch boats to hit wakes" especially in rough water it won't do that very well at all. Your SJ is the best for that.

A cousin has an strong 701 FR2. A nice used one is a good first aftermarket hull purchase IMO. It's fun and will do more tricks than an SJ and will chase boats just fine, but to flip it you have to have bigger power and then remove the trim tabs and switch to a short ride plate. Maybe in the ocean a 701 would flip, but never tried it, we live in the Midwest.
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i hear yea man! exactly true I don't have the skills to really push a freestyle boat yet and I'm stuck doing stabs, 180's etc off my own wake and the odd surf boat maybe 3 times a year and it's getting old fast on my SJ.

you can only burn up and don't the river soo many times until your like "damn I want to try new things my boat won't let me learn on flat water"

I don't want to waste the time/money trying to make my SJ something it isn't and would like to take my riding to the next level. even if I had the chance to ride a few hulls I truly don't think I'm skilled enough to know what would be best for me. besides being able to distinguish what I could catch a boat with.

I'm sure I would love the FR2 compared to my SJ. Riding an AM hull last week completely ruined my superjet for me.

thanks for your opinion! I'm trying to avoid making a mistake with my first AM hull
 
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