HO A1

HO Sports and water ski icon Bob LaPoint combined powers to make one of the most innovative skis of all time – the A1. The A1 compliments the skier who is focused on maintaining outbound direction off the second wake. It is designed to move from the apex back to centerline automatically, requiring very little effort from the skier. This is a ski that listens to the skier. The general consensus from reviewers is that the A1 responds amazingly well to what you want it do. “The ski never stops moving,” said tester PJ McMillan. “It has a nice carvy turn that feels like you’re on snow.”
There is nothing too complicated about the way that the A1 works, it just does. The ski turns quite easy so long as you lead into it with your hips and maintain some tip pressure. The speed is just right and you will want to carry that speed into the turn for a tighter radius.

Keys to the A1:

Skis best with more tip pressure in the turns.

The ski likes speed.

Solid in rough water.

Easy to make up time in the course.

The A1 has ears – responds well to skier input.

Words from the Mfg’er.
Dave Wingerter and Will Asher give their thoughts about the HO Syndicate Series A1.

Ski Theory:
The goal was simple; to create a super ski designed to redefine what skiers could run in the slalom course. The plan was to design a ski capable of creating progressive angle and maintaining outward direction off the 2nd wake, propelling the skier onto a wide and early line with unmatched velocity and stability.

The first words I want to hear out of a skiers mouth after riding the A1 are:
Wow! That is how skiing is supposed to feel! No more strict body mechanics to get your ski to perform. When your ski is designed correctly it compliments your skier style. Your ski works with you. All you have to do is ski. You don’t have to think and ski as robotically as we all have been trained over the past years. Shut off your mind and turn on your feel. The A1 has preturn feedback and provides a sense of security and other skis lack. It also opens a new dimension of angle in the slalom course by creating progressive angle and maintaining angle off the second wake where other skis flatten out and take all their speed down course at the buoy.

What “style” of skier do you think your ski fits the best? NOT style of SKIING, but style of SKIER.
The A1 is a super user friendly ski to ride; extremely stable, very predictable and allows for an effortless transition from existing skis. I would say the A1 compliments skiers whom are focused on maintaining outbound direction off the second wake because it is designed to move from the apex back to centerline automatically. The best feeling as a skier is to focus solely on maximizing space before the buoy and having 100% confidence that your ski is going to carve back to the wakes automatically for you. The A1 hybrid concave design allows the ski to achieve a steeper ski edge angle behind the boat allowing a more dynamic edge transition placing the skier at apex earlier than any ski in the world. When you land at apex with a high degree of edge angle all you have to do is ride the line back into the wakes. It is automatic.

Building Process:
The highlight of developing a ski, like the Syndicate A1, is working with the best minds in the industry to usher in the new era of scientific ski design. The Syndicate program is comprised of the best engineers, material scientists, designers and athletes. Bob LaPoint, Will Asher, Wade Cox, Marcus Brown, myself and all of the hard-working employees of HO Skis are driven out of shared passion for performance at the highest level. Our goal is lofty; to redefine the possibilities of water ski product design. We are skiers committed to skiers and are driven to create products that reveal your untapped water skiing potential.