Beginner & Intermediate Slalom Ski Buying Guide: Finding the Right Ski for Your Progression

If you’re just getting into slalom skiing—or you’re ready to level up from your first setup—the ski you choose can make a massive difference to your experience on the water. Stability, surface area, width, rocker profile and even tail technology all play a role in how easy a ski is to ride, how quickly you’ll progress, and how much fun you’ll have along the way.

In this guide, we break down the full range of beginner and intermediate slalom skis, from ultra-stable oversized skis to more aggressive hybrids. No matter your size, speed, or riding style, there’s a ski here that will suit you.

Oversized Skis: Maximum Lift & Easiest Starts

Models: HO Hovercraft (Men’s & Women’s), Connelly Big Easy

Oversized skis are the ultimate confidence-boosters. They offer huge surface area, carrying width all the way through to the tail, giving you effortless lift and stability.
Perfect for:

• First-time skiers

• Families sharing a ski

• Bigger skiers needing extra support

• Hot-dogging, wake jumping, and playful skiing

• Riding at slow boat speeds

The Hovercraft and Big Easy are extremely forgiving and make deep-water starts a breeze.

Wide Body Skis: Lift + More Traditional Turns

Models: KD Big Daddy, KD Power Carve, Connelly Outlaw

Wide body skis keep the surface area you need for easy starts, but with a more hourglass shape—wide tip and tail, narrower under the boot.

What this gives you:

• Excellent lift for starting

• A more agile, traditional slalom feel in the turn

• Predictable carving and smoother transitions

Big Daddy is a customer favourite for effortless skiing.
For a slightly more aggressive turn, the Power Carve and Outlaw narrow things up just enough to add responsiveness while staying forgiving.

Hybrid Width Skis: Faster, Smoother Turning Performance

Models: KD C6, Radar Session (Men’s & Women’s)

Hybrid width skis blend stability up front with straighter, more parallel lines through the middle and tail. This gives:

• Smooth, progressive turns

• Faster acceleration across the wakes

• More stability at higher speeds

The KD C6 continues the legacy of the popular P6, while the Radar Session series offers carbon fibre construction, all-terrain cores, and grip rails for exceptionally clean turns.

Social Carving Skis: Easy, Smooth, Predictable Ride

Models: KD Zenon, Connelly Concept, Connelly Aspect

These skis are ideal for relaxed carving, long sessions on the river, and riders who want something enjoyable and forgiving.

• KD Zenon: A value-packed women’s model based on the classic Radar Theory shape. Stable, predictable, and very easy to ride.

• Connelly Concept & Aspect: Known for their VTEC base, which reduces drag and makes turns feel effortless. Perfect for skiers wanting smooth arcs with minimal fatigue.

Radar Union (Men’s & Women’s): Wide, Grippy & Fast

The Union is a wider version of Radar’s beloved Senate. Ideal for skiers riding under 32 mph, it offers:

• A fuller edge-to-edge concave for more aggressive turning

• Excellent stability in the forebody

• Smooth tracking with plenty of glide

There’s a Union size for everyone, including a big 71” for larger riders.

HO Omni Range: The Most Versatile Progression Skis

Models: Kids, Girls, Boys, Ladies, Men’s

The HO Omni series covers the entire family, and it’s one of the best options for progressing skiers.

The standout feature is the Clean Edge tail:

• Reduces drag

• Adds lift

• Locks the ski onto edge for powerful yet predictable exits

• Helps learners focus on body position instead of fighting the ski

If you're linking turns, refining technique, or stepping up your speeds, the Omni is a game-changer.

KD Krypton & KD Neon: Balanced, Predictable & Affordable

The Krypton (men’s) and Neon (women’s) offer great value with:

• Compression-moulded construction

• A forgiving polyurethane core

• A water-breaking feature in the forebody for lower drag

• Consistent, predictable turns

They suit almost any skiing style and are extremely user-friendly.

Radar TRA, Lyric Alloy & Senate Alloy: Performance Progression Skis

These are the skis for ambitious riders pushing into the 30–34 mph range, carving deeper, and maybe testing out the slalom course.

• Radar TRA (Kids): A proper performance ski for young rippers.

• Lyric Alloy (Women’s): Available in multiple sizes; light, lively, and fast.

• Senate Alloy (Men’s): Completely redesigned for 2026—faster, more aggressive, but still forgiving thanks to its all-terrain core.

Perfect for intermediate skiers wanting something that will grow with them.

Connelly Bio V: Three Skis in One

A stand-out in this category thanks to its 3-in-1 tail system, giving you:

• A deep/aggressive tail

• A fast tail

• A hybrid tail

Switching tails literally changes how the ski skis—ideal if you want to experiment, progress, or tailor the feel to different conditions.

Add in the VTEC base, bio-friendly core, and hybrid width shape, and you’ve got one of the most versatile skis on the market.

KD Cobalt (Kids): The Highest-Performing Junior Ski

A scaled-down version of the KD Titanium, the Cobalt gives young skiers:

• A true high-end slalom shape

• A forgiving fiberglass construction

• The ability to carve hard and even attempt the course

Perfect for kids who are progressing fast and need a ski that won’t hold them back.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a casual cruiser, a family sharing one ski, or a progressing skier getting more technical, there’s a slalom ski that fits your speed, style, and goals.

If you’re unsure where to start or want personalised advice, drop into Water Skiers World in Brisbane, shoot us an email, give us a call, or message us on socials. And if you’re local, you can even book a demo and try a ski on the water!

Let us help you find the perfect ski for your best season yet.