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WATERSKI MagazineThe graphite Mapple Siege is the Ferrari of slalom skis, and if you've ever driven a high-performance sports car, you know that it's different from any other car you've driven. So is the Mapple Siege. From the leaning edge to the turning edge, this ski rolls into the pre-turn with less effort than any ski tested. It's also the co-world-record holder in the men's slalom event. New for 1999, you will notice the piezo vibration damper, which removes unwanted chatter and vibration from the ski. O'Brien also introduces torsion box construction, which keeps the ski laterally stiff and makes it easier to stay on edge. O'Brien replaced its traditional adjustable fin mount with more of a user-friendly fin system. Three removable shims adjust the fin blade height, and you can also make easy fore/aft fin adjustments.
Test Team Comments:
Doug: Ranked above average in terms of turning ability, acceleration, deceleration and angle generated out of the turn, but it took more effort to make my normal lean behind the boat. Tweak: stock settings.
Rhoni: Tweak: three shims, and I placed two pennies in the front of the fin to decrease tip depth. This allowed the ski not to roll over so hard in the pre-turn and to finish the turn in good position.
Brett: Requires little effort from the skier. Best suited for a back turning style and patience in the turn.
Tweak: stock settings.
Brandon: Awesome good-side turn. Rolls out great into my pre-turn. Tweak: decreased tip depth because it was finishing the turn a little hard on my off-side.
Todd: Rolls on edge more quickly than any ski tested. Not as user friendly as other skis tested. Good off-side turn. Tweak: added one shim from stock setting.
Specs: Lengths available (in.): 64, 66, 68 Factory fin setting (in.): depth – 2.525; length – 6.820; distance from tail – .73 Price range: $740-$800
