What's a mock lineup, and why are we doing it? These are my ramblings on each brand and what I think will happen for the upcoming season before we get range releases, along with inklings that I hear around the traps. What benefit are these? Not a lot, it's fun speculation to keep the waterski industry interesting and to see how accurate and tuned I am with the industry, which means I can also be wrong. Still, you will also find little notes about what I think should happen after over 15 years in the industry.
How is this going to work?
We will go through each major category for major brands and guesstimate what we think will change, from shapes to graphics to nothing at all!
But here's one for the skiers with HO Sports after their interesting new rebrand (RIP to one of the iconic industry logos)
If you don't want to read all my ramblings, we have a TL/DR section at the bottom!
HO Sports Overview
HO, whether it was a decision on their end or a directive from their conglomerate owner to cut waste, has cut things down over the last few years and gone back to basics in their line. This has cleaned things up and made it incredibly easy for the customer to determine which ski in the range is best suited for them. Even at the top end with the Works 01 and 02, there is a clear distinction between what type of skier each uses, and then the range flows down from there. With an update to the boot range a few years back, they leapfrogged most brands regarding comfort and fit. However, they have rested on their laurels since then and probably need to turn their attention to this aspect of their range to really tighten the screws and set themselves up for successful future years. As one of the companies that has always been at the forefront of the waterski industry, now is the time to double down on this aspect of quality over quantity and drive forward with this progression, and I believe that they know this and will keep the pace up.
HO Waterskis
As I mentioned in the overview, HO has truly tightened their range, making it incredibly simple to nail down what ski is best suited to you. From a shape perspective, they have distanced themselves from the continuous rocker stylings of the past decade and pivoted back to a 4-stage rockerline blended with modern features to help increase control and varying weight placement over the ski, depending on position.
So, where will things change or stay the same? The top end of most companies' ski ranges has shifted from 2-year cycles to single-year cycles with more minor adjustments year on year for skis, then a major overall design change around five years down the line. After the adjustments to the Works line last year, there has been great feedback from skis dominating word of mouth in the ski range. However, based on what we have just said, we should expect some more tweaks to the Mk.2 Works models, albeit on a smaller scale than last year. This means an update to the Sabre as well, while it will carry its updated construction, the Sabre will keep its shape in line with the Works 02.
From here down and into the mid-range, there aren't really any changes to expect beyond graphics. The Omni Ultra was new for last year, replacing the Carbon Omni with an updated core construction and a distinguishable graphic that set it apart from the standard Omni, and was a ski that everybody loved. The Omni, staying the same, is well overdue for a graphic change, as is the women's ski, which borrowed the earlier Omega Max graphic styling. This naturally flows down to the junior Omnis with one of last year's better kids' graphics. We'll see if they can replicate it, play it safe, and carry it over.
Finally, there are the Hovercraft models. When it comes to these types of ski, it can go either way, whether they get changed regularly or not. I think we will see something along the idea of how they went about the Omni Ultra in giving a unisex style ski, which unfortunately, would only leave one true ladies ski in the range, but I question whether it is worth it for HO to have this specific of a ski in a ladies graphic, rather than offering a Omni Womens in a wide. As for the shape, I think there is one more year before they start playing around with it and potentially bringing something else in as a point of difference to what has been a popular play around ski for several years.
HO Boots
If I were HO, this is where I would be putting my R&D money for this coming season. After leapfrogging Radar's boot range for a two-year period, Radar fought back, and after three years of much of the same out of HO, it's time to put in some fight. What I would like to see is a complete overhaul of the range. From a touch and finish perspective, they don't look the cleanest, but they are the easiest of the boots for entry. However, once on, they can be broad and roomy.
With this complete overhaul, and the boot designer in the same building as Hyperlite, I would be asking the question of what's next in ski boot development. Atop was a quick answer to the Boa range, but it isn't Boa and isn't incredibly necessary or time-saving from a pull lace. I expect them to still have a 3-tiered boot option, but move away from the Atop and have a better, better, best aspect to their range (think stance 110, 130, and 150, for example). This would allow them to continue encroaching into the higher-end market and provide an open-toe boot that suits a ski like a Works without pushing to a Hardshell. This would also include the classic 110 shape in a ladies' styling, while the remainder would be unisex.
If they were to do a full boot line overhaul, I expect a name change from the stance, while from a tech perspective, I hope that we see a tightened up fit and a bit more support tech in the boot.
HO Kneeboards
Rumours were going around over 12 months ago that HO may be shrinking this line to encompass only the plastic kneeboard options and the Joker, which, at the end of the day, is a majority of what customers in Aus and the world around chase. What does this mean for the Element and the Agent, which has its own cult following. Well, while the rumblings didn't do anything for this past summer, they don't seem to go away, and that isn't good news for the Element (Otherwise known as the Striker if you want to go back that far) and the Agent, as it could mean their demise. Why has this come about? The diversity in the Australian kneeboard market, which makes up a large amount of the worldwide market, has led to HO's dominance dropping, and while the Joker is still the board to have, there are now well over a dozen other options in the fibreglass market available and in competition.
So, what can we expect? The Proton, Neutron, Electron, and Joker will carry their shapes over but get a well-overdue graphic upgrade (the Joker may get two). The Joker will also most likely get a hook insert to align with the other fibreglass kneeboard options in the industry. This does mean that I expect the rumours to come true, and the Element and Agent will be gone.
HO Pricing
Over the past two years, HO has placed itself extremely competitively in the market compared to its competitors, and it shows in customer interest. The Omni's sitting at the lower end for a ski capable of being pushed into the 32mph range at AUD$ 1250, with boots sets it up for success within the existing market.
I don't expect any price changes here. I would love to see retail value decrease, but I don't think that will happen.
This doesn't mean, though, that it is devoid of critique. The waterski market as a whole has positioned itself, price-wise, as an almost elitist sport that isn't very accessible. This isn't just HO's problem; this is an industry-wide issue, but that's why it will be brought up with every brand price view. I would like pricing not necessarily reduced significantly, but at least create a ski package in the realm of a basement wakeboard package ($700-$900). It's a big ask, I know, but this is how we kickstart the waterski community and grow it for the future.
TL/DR
HO Waterskis
Works 01 - Minor change to bring around mk.3
Works 02 - Minor change to bring around mk.3
Sabre - Minor change to bring around mk.3
Omni Ultra - New shape and construction as of last year, just two new graphic updates
Omni - Same Ski, but well due for a graphic update
Hovercraft - One last shape carryover, new graphic
Omni Women's - Same Ski, but well due for a graphic update
Hovercraft Women's - Potentially integrated into a unisex version with the men's
Omni Kids - Same Ski, but well due for a graphic update for both boys and girls
HO Boots
Syndicate Hardshell - No Changes at all, complete carryover
Stance 130 Atop - Gone
Stance 130 - Gone
Stance 110 - Gone
Stance 110 Women's - Gone
I expect a complete overhaul inbound, with a new design, last and fit.
HO Kneeboards
Agent - Left on the cutting room floor, someone cue Andrea Bocelli
Joker - Same board, new graphic (Maybe two!) and a hook insert addition
Element - Left on the cutting room floor, someone cue Andrea Bocelli
Element LE - Left on the cutting room floor, someone cue Andrea Bocelli
Proton - Same board, updated colours
Neutron - Same board, updated colours
Electron - Same board, updated colours
HO Pricing
There are no expected major changes. Works models could increase by $50, while the rest will stay the same.