How to Choose Your Radar Slalom Waterski in 2026
Your guide to the best waterskis in
Vernon, BC & the Okanagan.
Maximize your Okanagan summer with a new slalom ski! Whether you're skiing the course, enjoying calm mornings on Kalamalka Lake, or just getting back into the sport, the right ski can make all the difference.
One of the most common things we see at Attridge is skiers holding onto older gear for too long. The difference when upgrading to a modern Radar ski is immediate. For beginners and older skiers this can mean easier starts, smoother turns, and less strain on your body. For experienced skiers this can mean a ski that helps you hit a personal best on the course — or just maximize enjoyment on those calm mornings. Simply put, today's skis are designed to help you ski better, easier, and longer.
We specialize in Radar because they consistently deliver the best performance for the wide range of waterskiers in the Okanagan Valley.
01 — The Lineup
Radar's 2026 lineup is built around a clear progression — from a wide, confidence-building platform all the way up to a high-performance course ski with serious speed and snap.
Union — The All-Water Confidence Builder
The Union is the widest ski in the lineup. That extra width keeps you on top of the water easily at slower speeds, making it the most forgiving option for newer and intermediate skiers. If your boat is running at 28–30 MPH and you want a ski that rewards good habits without punishing small mistakes, the Union is your starting point.
- Best Speed Range: 28–30 MPH
- Best for: Beginners to intermediate free skiers
- Key Strength: Stays on top of the water and gives you a platform to build technique on
Lyric Alloy — Women's Performance
The Lyric Alloy runs on exactly the same proven Senate shape — zero geometry compromises. What changes is the flex: Radar has tuned the Lyric 15% softer to match the biomechanics of female skiers. The result is smooth, predictable performance across all conditions, whether you're running Kalamalka or Okanagan Lake, or threading the course.
- Best Speed Range: 29–32 MPH
- Best for: Intermediate to advanced female skiers stepping up their game
- Key Strength: Full Senate performance, tuned specifically for women
Senate Alloy — The All-Conditions Sweet Spot
The Senate Alloy is the ski we recommend most often in the shop. Its PU core and Paulownia wood stringers act like a suspension system — soaking up afternoon chop, smoothing out vibration, and keeping you stable even when Kalamalka Lake isn't cooperating. It's a "set it and forget it" ski that won't punish small balance errors, equally at home on a glassy morning run or a rough afternoon session.
- Best Speed Range: 29–32 MPH
- Best for: Intermediate to advanced skiers in variable conditions
- Key Strength: Consistency — dependable and forgiving in all conditions
Senate Graphite — High-Performance Course Ski
The Senate Graphite shares the same shape as the Alloy but what's happening inside is completely different. The full carbon fiber wrap makes the ski feel noticeably more alive — snappier and faster out of the turns, with real drive toward the wakes. Designed for the skier chasing a personal best, who skis regularly at higher speeds and wants a tournament-level feel.
- Best Speed Range: 31–34 MPH
- Best for: Advanced to expert skiers focused on the course
- Key Strength: Speed and acceleration — energetic, snappy, fast
02 — The Senate Shape
The Lyric Alloy, Senate Alloy, and Senate Graphite all share Radar's industry-leading Senate platform — the same proven geometry under every skier. What separates them is what's happening inside the ski, and that changes everything about how each one feels on the water.
- Are a female skier ready to move into performance equipment
- Want the full Senate shape with flex tuned to your biomechanics
- Ski open water and the course — it handles both equally well
- Value a ski that rewards your progression as your technique develops
- Value a smooth ride — wood stringers soak up vibration in rough afternoon conditions
- Want predictability — won't punish small balance errors
- Ski in variable conditions, glassy mornings through choppy afternoons
- Are building course technique and need a consistent platform
- Want more "zip" — pops out of turns with real drive toward the wakes
- Are chasing a personal best — tournament feel at reachable speeds
- Ski regularly at 31–34 MPH where carbon's energy really activates
- Want forgiving speed — PU core still gives you a moment to collect yourself
"All three run the same Senate shape — the Lyric just dials it in for women, the Alloy is the "go-to" for most skiers, and the Graphite rewards you for committing to every turn."
03 — Speed & Performance
One of the most overlooked factors when choosing a waterski is matching the ski to the speed you actually ski at. Every ski is optimized for a specific window — skiing outside it means leaving performance on the table.
| — | Union | Lyric Alloy | Senate Alloy | Senate Graphite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Speed | 28–30 MPH | 29–32 MPH | 29–32 MPH | 31–34 MPH |
| Why It Works | Wide shape stays on top at lower speeds | Softer flex engages efficiently for lighter skiers | Wood core stays stable even if boat speed varies | Needs speed to activate the carbon's snap |
| Conditions | All water types | All water types | Glassy to choppy | Best on calmer water |
| Course Ready? | Occasional | Yes | Yes | Yes — optimized |
04 — Quick-Pick
- Building confidence or skiing under 30 MPH? The Union keeps you on top of the water, forgives small mistakes, and lets you focus on having fun — not fighting your equipment.
- Female skier ready to step up performance? The Lyric Alloy gives you the full Senate platform with flex specifically tuned for how women generate edge pressure and speed.
- Skiing in variable conditions — sometimes glassy, sometimes choppy? The Senate Alloy handles whatever Kalamalka or Okanagan Lake throws at it and rewards consistent technique without demanding perfection.
- Chasing course scores and skiing 31+ MPH regularly? The Senate Graphite delivers more energy out of the turns and rewards aggressive, committed skiing.
"When in doubt, start with the Senate Alloy. It's not a compromise — it's genuinely the sweet spot of the lineup. Most skiers who come in looking at the Graphite leave perfectly happy on an Alloy once they understand what it actually does on the water."
