Water Ski Handles
Wood core handles (Sport single & doubles) are made from select commercial hardwood (usually ash) and are strong and shock absorbent. They are covered with a specially blended EPDM textured material that is tear resistant and provides good grip. All wood core handles naturally float and are a great choice for casual skiers where cost is a consideration.
Aluminum core handles (all models except Sport) are made from specially formulated aircraft grade aluminum alloy that has been aged and hardened to the highest possible yield strengths possible. A stronger core bar allows us to decrease the diameter while maintaining strength which then allows a thicker "softer" rubber covering. The major disadvantage of aluminum core handles is that they are generally a bit heavier than wood and therefore do not float in all models. Most high-end tournament grade ski handles do not float. This is because of the relatively large amount of metal combined with the small overall diameter of the handle. Simply put, the handle is denser than water, therefore, it sinks. However, since the rope floats pretty well and the speed of the boat help keep the handle on or near the surface, it's usually not a problem for the boat driver to get the handle back to the skier. If handle flotation is important, then a small EVA float can be installed near the handle to provide this functionality.
Our rubber is again specially formulated from neoprene blends to provide that "just right" feel. Soft enough to be comfortable yet firm enough to provide good wear resistance. The semi-cured compound is molded on under heat and pressure to vulcanize, or permanently bond, to the aluminum tube. It cannot twist or tear off like simple extruded rubber as used in most other handles. Molding is significantly more expensive but it's features for water ski handles are well worth it.
Once molded, the rubber is machine ground to final size on special profile grinding lathes. This provides an accurate size handle whose surface has just enough texture to eliminate the slippery feel without feeling too rough. Most of our professional skiers prefer this slightly textured grip to heavily grooved handles for two reasons: A grooved handle actually reduces contact area and therefore has less "traction" with the hand and slips out more easily, and secondly, when a grooved handle is yanked from the hands (as in a fall), it is far more likely to tear callouses along the fingers as it's pulled away. If a handle is to be grooved, then the grooves should be configured radially as in our ARS Radial handle so that water dissipates through the channels but when pulled from the hands, they are less likely to injure.
Handle lengths
Handle diameter
Handle profile shapes
Camber bend
Protective endcaps
Brass eyelets
Corks
Dowels
Roping Styles
Conventional handle-to-rope attachment methods
ARS Anti-Roll System improvement
Yoke connection
Detachable handles
Vinyl wear sleeves
Braided Water Ski Rope
Braiding styles
Rope sizes
Other rope properties (elasticity, break strength, density)
Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Spectra
Spectra Fusion
Water Ski Line Lengths
Recreational ski lines
Slalom tournament ski lines
Tournament jump & tricks
Wakeboarding lines