The Guide to Water Ski Ropes & Handles

Water skiing is an exhilarating sport that combines the thrill of speed with the beauty of gliding across the water. To fully enjoy this activity, it is essential to have the right equipment, including the proper water ski ropes and handles. In this guide, we will explore everything you need to know about these crucial components of water skiing.

Types of Water Ski Ropes

Water ski ropes come in various types, each designed for specific purposes. The most common types include:

Recreational Ropes

Recreational ski ropes are considered standard ropes, and they're used by most riders. Standard ski ropes measure 75 feet: 70 feet of single rope attaches to the handle's split rope, which measures 5 feet.

Standard ropes can also be adjusted in length, with some rope available in 8 to 10 sections to reduce the length as preferred by the rider.

Recreational rope is made to be stretchy. This reduces shock to the rider's arms from the force of the boat's pull. To provide extra stretch, recreational ropes are often made from polyethylene, also called PE, but some are made from polypropylene (often called "Poly P") that isn't pre-stretched.

Tournament Ropes

Tournament ropes are used almost exclusively by slalom skiers and professional riders. These ropes are shorter, measuring 60 feet -- the standard length for a slalom ski course.

Tournament ropes have less stretch, as they come pre-stretched to ensure consistent performance. These ropes are made from polypropylene.

Trick Ropes

Trick ropes are designed for performing tricks and jumps. They are shorter and have a smaller diameter, allowing for quick spins and rotations.

Trick ropes measure 45 to 50 feet, with up to 4 adjustable-length sections measuring between 1.5 and 3 feet provided to make the line even shorter. Trick ropes can be made from low-stretch PE or no-stretch Poly P.

Polypropylene vs Polyethylene Rope

Like we mentioned, polypropylene Ski Rope (often branded as "Spectra" or "Dyneema") is used for high-performance skiing, where minimal stretch is desired. These ropes provide more responsiveness and control, but they can fatigue the arms faster by introducing more shock from being pulled.

New skiers can even suffer injury from fast starts in the water while holding Poly P rope, so it's best to start off with stretchier line.

That's where polyethylene rope comes in. It's more forgiving and reduces shock and strain on the rider's arms. The tradeoff is less responsiveness and slower reactions when turning, but it's more than suitable even for advanced recreational skiers.

Picking a Water Ski Handle

Whether you're riding combo or slalom, your ski handle will consist of a handle bar measuring 11" to 13" in length and about 0.9" to 1.1" in diameter, with the handle rope forming a "Y" section that attaches to either end of the bar. Bars are covered with soft foam, or tacky rubber.

"Which handle material's better?"

Foam handles provide more comfort and are suitable for bare hands when skiing for recreation. Rubberized handle bars are typically reserved for slalom skiers looking for added grip and performance.