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Short answer: Our store pick and best seller is the Connelly Big Daddy. It gets you out of the water easily and still feels like a slalom ski. For the easiest possible starts at slow speeds, go the Connelly Big Easy. The HO Hovercraft is fun and feels effortless, and the KD Powercarve is a hybrid width ski, more responsive for skiers who want to progress. Want a little less width? See our beginner and intermediate slalom ski guide.
Our picks at a glance
| Ski | Best for | Sizes | Boot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connelly Big Daddy | Store pick and best seller, easy starts that still feel like slalom | One size | Shadow, 5–11, 9–14 |
| Connelly Big Easy | Ultra easy starts, slow speeds | One size | Shadow, 5–11, 9–14 |
| HO Hovercraft | Fun, easy to ride, feels effortless | 65", 67" | Stance, 4–8, 7–11, 10–15 |
| KD Powercarve | Hybrid width, more responsive | 65", 67", 69" | Axcess, 8–13 |
Every ski here comes as a package with a boot and a rear toe plate, so you can ride it out of the box.
Who a wide body slalom ski suits
A wide body ski carries a lot more surface area than a standard slalom ski. That extra width lifts you out of the water sooner, so deep water starts take less pull and less strength, and the ski stays stable once you're up. It also floats at slower boat speeds, which helps behind smaller boats.
They suit:
- Skiers getting up on one ski for the first time.
- Bigger and heavier skiers.
- Anyone coming back to skiing after a long break.
- Skiers who like to cruise at slower speeds.
The trade-off is response. A wide ski turns more slowly than a narrower one, so as you get better you may want to move to a hybrid width ski. Still learning on two skis? Start with our combo water skis guide.
The picks
Connelly Big Daddy with Shadow boot
Our store pick and best seller. Connelly built the Big Daddy for skiers over 100 kg, with 550 square inches of surface area for float and stability. It's narrow underfoot with a soft flex, so it's easy to control and still feels like a slalom ski once you're up. The Connelly Tracking System helps it hold a straight line off the wake. You can ski it at slower speeds.
The Shadow boot is lycra lined at the toe and heel, with a stretch panel in the toe and a soft EVA footbed.
From the shop floor: Our best seller and store pick. It gets you out of the water easily while still feeling like a slalom ski.
Size: One size · Surface area: 550 sq in · Boot: Shadow, 5–11, 9–14
Connelly Big Easy with Shadow boot
The easiest starts in this guide. The Big Easy has a huge 635 square inch platform with the same width edge to edge, so it gets you up with very little effort and stays stable at slow speeds. It's forgiving in rough water, and you can still load the tail and drive out of a turn as your technique improves. It comes with the same Shadow boot as the Big Daddy.
From the shop floor: Ultra easy starts, and you can ski it at slow speeds.
Size: One size · Surface area: 635 sq in · Boot: Shadow, 5–11, 9–14
HO Hovercraft with Stance boot
A fun, easy ride that feels effortless. The wide body lifts you out of the water with very little pull, and the extra surface area floats you through rough water. A forgiving flex still gives you real edge control through the turn, so it suits new slalom skiers and anyone coming back to the sport.
The Stance boot is built for comfort and adjusts at the top and bottom of the boot.
From the shop floor: Fun and easy to ride. It feels effortless.
Sizes: M 65", L 67" · Boot: Stance, 4–8, 7–11, 10–15
KD Powercarve with Axcess boot
A hybrid width ski, so it turns more responsively than the full wide bodies above and is the better one if you want to progress. It's still wide at the tip and tail for predictable starts, but the side cut makes it easy to work across the wake. A tunnel base and concave underfoot hold you through the turn, and the fin slot stops the tail washing out. Graphite construction keeps it light. It's the only ski here in three lengths, so you can size it properly to your weight.
The Axcess boot has a low cuff, a floating toe and a single lace.
From the shop floor: Hybrid width and more responsive.
Sizes: 65", 67", 69" · Boot: Axcess, 8–13
Want a little less width?
If you're up every time and want a ski that turns faster, the Powercarve isn't the only hybrid width option. These are still wide enough for easy starts but narrower than the Big Daddy, Big Easy and Hovercraft. The Connelly Outlaw, KD C6 and Radar Session (also in womens) are covered in our beginner and intermediate slalom ski guide, along with the social carvers to move on to next.
Getting the size right
The Big Daddy and Big Easy come in one size, so there's nothing to choose. For the Hovercraft and Powercarve, size on your weight first, then height and how fast you ski. Our slalom ski size calculator gives you a length, and the brand's own chart is on every product page. Boot sizes are on the slalom ski boot size guide.
Common questions
What is the best wide body slalom ski?
Our store pick and best seller is the Connelly Big Daddy. It gets you out of the water easily and still feels like a slalom ski. For the easiest starts at slow speeds, the Connelly Big Easy.
What is the best slalom ski for a heavy skier?
The Connelly Big Daddy, which Connelly designed for skiers over 100 kg, or the Connelly Big Easy, which has the biggest platform in this guide at 635 square inches.
Are wide body slalom skis good for beginners?
Yes. The extra surface area makes deep water starts much easier and keeps the ski stable once you're up. The trade-off is that they turn more slowly than a narrower ski.
Which wide body ski is best for progressing?
The KD Powercarve. It's a hybrid width ski, so it's more responsive than the full wide bodies. It also comes in three lengths, and its side cut makes it easy to work across the wake as you improve.
What size wide body slalom ski do I need?
The Big Daddy and Big Easy come in one size. For the Hovercraft and Powercarve, size on your weight first using the slalom ski size calculator.
Related guides
- Buyers Guide: Best Beginner & Intermediate Slalom Skis
- Buyers Guide: Best Combo Water Skis, if you're still on two skis
- Slalom ski size calculator
- Slalom ski boot size guide
- The Breakdown: Slalom Ski
- How to set up your slalom ski
- The Breakdown: Water ski ropes and handles
- Buyers Guide: Best Life Jackets
Or see the full slalom ski range.
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