Ropes and Handles

Water ski rope for combo runs, slalom and long sessions

Every package is a complete water ski rope and handle, ready to ride straight out of the box. Control Arc and Control Team each pair a 13 inch handle with an 8 section mainline, and both cost CHF 84. With 10 sections and the Pro handle, the Control Pro Package comes in at CHF 139. For a first setup of your own, a ready-made waterski rope is the simplest route, because handle and line are already matched to each other.

On two skis, what you need most is a sturdy line that runs smoothly behind the boat at full length. Once you move from combo water skis to a single ski, your water ski rope simply comes along. The sections grow with your riding, season after season.

Shorten your line for the slalom course, one section at a time

In the slalom course, your water ski rope never stays at one length for long. After every completed pass the line moves one step shorter, counted in feet in competition: 15 off, 22 off, 28 off and so on. Every step forces a steeper angle into the buoy and makes the course noticeably harder. On combo skis, by contrast, most riders stay at full length.

A water ski tow rope with sections handles this adjustment without knots or tools. Since the sections are joined by fixed loops, you change the length on the dock in a few quick moves. An 8 section water ski rope is plenty for your first slalom seasons. Ten sections on the Control Pro allow finer steps further into the course.

That is why a slalom ski rope pays off even if you still ride at full length today. Which ski length suits your weight and boat speed is covered on our slalom water ski page. Not sure which step to start from? Send us your boat speed and last pass for a quick length estimate.

Choosing a 12 or 13 inch water ski handle

With a water ski handle, width is the first thing that decides how direct the pull feels. 13 inches, roughly 33 cm, give both hands room and stay forgiving on two skis. The Vapor Barlock is the narrowest option among the handles and water ski ropes for sale here, at 12 inches, which keeps your hands closer together. Advanced slalom skiers gain more compact and precise control from that narrower grip. In practice, beginners and combo riders almost always go for the wider version. Here is how our water ski ropes and handles compare on width, mainline and price:

Model	Handle width	Grip shape	Mainline	Price
Radar Control Arc Package	13 inch	Arc	8 sections	CHF 84
Radar Control Team Package	13 inch	Team	8 sections	CHF 84
Radar Control Pro Package	13 inch	Pro	10 sections	CHF 139
Radar Control Barlock Elliptical	13 inch	elliptical, BarLock	none	CHF 59
Radar Vapor Barlock	12 inch	BarLock	none	CHF 99

One of the two packages at CHF 84 is all you need to start out with your own gear. The elliptical waterski handle at CHF 59 is the most affordable way to a new grip feel, while the Vapor at CHF 99 is built for tight slalom turns. Both single handles come without a mainline. Your existing line stays in use and only the feel in your hands changes.

Arc or elliptical handle and what the grip shape changes

Arc or elliptical? On the same slalom rope, the two handles feel quite different. The Arc handle in its namesake package is designed for a comfortable grip and a precise connection to the line. That makes it a solid all-rounder for long sessions on the lake. The elliptical shape of the Control Barlock, on the other hand, follows the natural position of your hands. Which one suits you better usually becomes clear after two or three runs behind the boat.

BarLock is Radar's construction for reducing handle roll under load. In a hard turn around the buoy, the handle sits calmer in your hands and the feedback gets more direct. Paired with a snug waterski binding, every correction goes straight into the ski. On a relaxed combo run with a full-length water ski rope, the difference hardly matters.

Replacing the water ski rope you left on the dock

Almost every rider brings their own line onto the boat. That is exactly why it is the piece that goes missing most often. It stays behind on the dock, ends up in a friend's bag or disappears into the boot of the wrong car. Without a water ski rope of your own, you depend on whatever happens to be on board.

UV light and sand wear the braid down over time. Check your water ski rope regularly: frayed loops, faded colour and stiff spots are clear signs that it is time for a new one. A mainline with knots should be replaced rather than patched, since every knot weakens it noticeably. If a line snaps under load it whips back hard, so replacing it in time is also a matter of safety. Hang the mainline to dry in the shade after each session and it will last much longer.

A spare Radar ski rope in the boat locker saves your afternoon when the main line has gone missing. The Control Pro Package already sits above the CHF 100 threshold for free shipping, while smaller orders within Switzerland carry a flat CHF 10. Order a water ski rope right away or ask us first? Send us your level and your preferred handle width. We will recommend exactly the setup we would ride behind the boat ourselves.