Summer's fast approaching -- and chances are high you're ready to dive into a new watersport. Combo water skiing, perhaps? But what about the skis? Which set of skis are best? We're covering the best combo water skis for beginners!
What's In a Good Pair of Combo Skis
Before we start reviewing potential picks, it's important to know what specifications and features to look for -- these will make both getting up on the skis and riding with confidence a bit easier.
Ski Length Matters Most
The bigger the skis, the easier it will be to ride at slower speeds. That's because your skis act like an airplane wing, generating lift atop the water -- the bigger the wing, the more lift you achieve with less speed required.
We cover optimal combo water ski sizes in this beginner guide, but we'll keep things simple and just recommend certain sizes with each ski we review below.
"What About Ski Width?"
Leave the skinny skis to those with plenty of riding experience. As a beginner, you'll want a pair of wider skis. The skis we recommend below are all pretty wide, which provides good stability and plenty of lift.
The Best Combo Water Skis For Beginners
Other features, like the ski bottom shape, ski fins, and materials used to make combo skis, aren't so important for beginner riders -- you can read more about those things in our beginner guide to combo skis. Let's dive into our top picks for the best beginner skis.
O'Brien Celebrity: Best All-Around Choice
Sizing
- For riders weighing up to 120 lbs, grab the 58" pair.
- For riders weighing up to 180 pounds, grab the 64" pair.
- For riders weighing above 180 pounds, grab the 68" pair.
O'Brien Vortex: Best for Maximum Stability, Easy Starts
Scared of just getting up and riding? The Vortexes are the answer. These skis provide the most surface area of any combos, affording the easiest starts in the water, and providing the most stability for brand new riders.
Their increased surface area allows for the lowest tow speeds, making them a great choice for smaller boats and lakes, too. These skis also feature O'Brien's popular dual tunnel, which cuts through rough and choppy water, smoothing everything out.
Like the Celebrities, the Vortexes come with easy-on/-off X-7 bindings that provide the perfect fit, no matter your shoe size.
Sizing
- For adult riders up to 180 lbs, grab the 65.5" pair.
- For youth and small riders up to 140 lbs, grab the 54" pair.
Connelly Big Easy: Best for Big & Tall Riders
Need even more lift than the Vortex combos? The Big Easy's as, well, big and easy as it can get. These massive combo skis provide more than 600 square inches of surface area, making them ideal for big and tall riders who are just starting out.
To reduce drag and promote more responsiveness despite their large size, the 67" Big Easy skis feature Connelly's "Advanced Profile Technology," which incorporates a V-shaped bottom and high flex to improve responsiveness and tracking.
The Big Easy's pinch/slide bindings are also sized to accommodate larger feet, handling all U.S men's shoe sizes between 9 and 14.
Sizing
The Big Easy's designed for riders weighing 220 lbs or more, though a beginner rider weighing a bit less -- around 200 lbs -- will also benefit from investing in these skis (grab them here).
HO Blast: Best for Transitioning to Slalom
Already have some experience with towed watersports? Want to invest in combo skis that'll perform well with more advanced slalom riding? HO's Blast Combo Skis are the ticket. These narrower, sleeker skis provide plenty of responsiveness and turning ability thanks to a full-length V-bottom underside and hybrid rocker.
Coupled with a more pointed profile and narrower width, the Blasts are about as fast and maneuverable as any combo ski can be. Given their narrower width and less overall lift, the Blasts are still the best choice beginners because they can make use of the HO Trainer Bar (sold separately), which locks both skis one another just behind the tips, providing maximum stability when you're just starting out.
Sizing
- For riders up to 140 lbs, select the 59" skis (bindings are junior-sized).
- For riders up to 160 lbs, select the 63" skis.
- For riders over 160 lbs, select the 67" skis.
- Shop all HO Blast Ski sizes here.
Ready to Ride? Don't Forget Tow Speed & Rope!
Got your first pair of combo skis picked out? Don't forget -- you also need to select the ideal tow speed for your first runs on the water, and you need to make sure you're using the correct tow rope length.
