HO Sports’ new Coefficient X SuperLite ski ($820; hosports.com) features a major departure from the traditional concave bottom ski of the last 70 years — step concave technology. When a traditional ski moves through the water, it drags with it a layer of water molecules that stick to the bottom of the ski. In the science world, it is known as boundary layer theory. The Coefficient X SuperLite ski’s step concave bottom introduces a very small 
amount of turbulence into the concave, which interrupts the boundary layer, freeing the water molecules and thereby allowing the ski to move through the water with a decreased coefficient of drag. The result, according to HO Sports, is a more efficient ski shape that minimizes the amount of physical effort required by the skier.
Designed by Bob LaPoint, the Coefficient X SuperLite also employs a 7 percent smaller bevel than the HO Syndicate A1. This helps lift the ski out of the water for reduced drag and permits the proper amount of on-water slide that skiers need to dictate when, where and how aggressively they turn.
A significantly deeper concave, pintail geometry and a five-stage rocker give the Coefficient X SuperLite stability. Each of these design elements holds the ski to the water surface, so the step concave and smaller bevel design can dictate the line between carve and slide.
The Syndicate Team was so intrigued by the Coefficient X design, HO Sports decided to offer it in two different constructions. The SuperLite (SL) utilizes the polyvinylchloride foam core technology of the Syndicate Program skis and 90/10 carbon/fiberglass construction for the most advanced core technology available with just a touch of dampening. The standard Coefficient X is built out of the exact same molds as the SL, but has a more traditional 50/50 carbon/fiberglass construction and a polyurethane core. Each Coefficient X ski is handmade in the HO Sports factory in Redmond, Washington.
Report By Water Ski Mag