Wave skis are somewhat like surfboards; short, the Australian style 7ft. to 8 ft. and long, the California style 8 ft. to 11 ft. The easier to use California style was pioneered by Merve Larson in the late 1960's. He developed the tri-plane hull with hard (sharp) rails that would "hold an edge" and turn with out a fin. This style is often preferred by kayak paddlers who are used to that "slidey" feel you get with out a fin. This fin-less design is popular with some competitors because it allows them to do 360's and ride backwards. Mike Johnson maker of Mike Johnson Kayaks is a leading proponent of the tri-plane hull. Infinity skis are available in the tri-plane hull design. | 
Tri-plane hull
| The Infinity V-bottom can be ridden with a fin or with out a fin. It is excellent for beginners because the V- bottom makes the ski turn easily just by leaning. The V-bottom hull is like power steering on your car, it makes the ski bank easily up onto the rail and into the turn, but like the front alignment on your car, V-bottom must be applied exactly in the right place and in the right amount or it creates "over-steering". You turn a wave ski by leaning over, sinking the "inside" rail and banking like a water skier. However, the wider (more stable) the ski is, the harder it is to lean it over. The V-Bottom design allows a beginner to have a nice wide, stable ski that still turns easily. There are however, many excellent paddle surfers who ride the Infinity V-Bottom in a narrow, high performance version that rides quick and smooth. | 
Bottom of V-bottom ski
| The innovative Infinity Stinger design embellishes the banked turn effect even more with a cut away outline and concave that sharpens the turn and projects the ski out of the pocket with more power than any other design. The concave rail edge bites the water more, while the cutaway rail section releases the water more. The combination induces a more precise turn. |
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Top view of stinger
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Close up of rail, Stinger ski
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| The Infinity Stinger comes in two versions, the Stinger and the Mosquito. Both have the same outline, but the Stinger has a half round concave under the "stinger". |
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Stinger concave with ruller
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| The Mosquito has a V-bottom that extends from the wood stringer (center) out to the stinger. The bottom design of the Mosquito gives the effect of having the rail edge extend down below the bottom like a fin. |
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Mosquito V with ruler
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Top view of mosquito rail
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| When banked up on a rail, both designs turn with precision and power with out the need for wide set tri-fins. Tri fins work well for your bottom turn, but they often "catch" during a cut-back or top turn and they will "catch" and easily flip you over during a side slip. (a side slip is an important recovery or escape maneuver) The standard Stinger with concaves, bites the wave extremely well when turning, but will also flat slide (side slip) without "catching". The whole reason for the concaves in the Stinger and Mosquito is to avoid tri-fins.
The Mosquito, with the V-bottom, "dropped-rail" stinger delivers the most powerful, accelerating turn imaginable. This is because on each side of the ski there is a long concave which leads the water to exit at the rail cutaway. The concave efficiently combines with the cut away outline (stinger) to create a specific spot from which to carve a turn. The Mosquito will side slip fine with out catching an edge when you are in proper lateral trim, but you need to be an advanced paddle surfer with well developed edge control to ride it. An aggressive beginner can start with a Stinger model, but the Mosquito requires a more experienced rider. 
With the closing of Clark Foam, the supplier of urethane wave ski blanks, Infinity has moved over to high density styrofoam / epoxy construction. This has given Steve the opportunity to create custom ski blanks that are now thicker and can better accomodate the short Ausssie style wave skis. Infinity now offers a full line of short 7' to 8'6" skis in both the Stinger model or conventional tri fin models. The Infinity Tandem Ski. With out a doubt, my tandem ski has brought more pleasure to my surfing life than anything else I own. It's not just sharing thousands of waves with my wife, Barrie. It's also sharing the thrill of that first wave ever ridden with each new surfer that I take out. The ability to take a guy or girl out for "a first session" and instantly inject them into the most radical, high performance surfing with out having to go through years of learning is invaluable. 
This is Kelly Sambrano's first time on a wave ski, I think she likes it! The Infinity tandem skis are so stable that it is possible to surf nearly 100% wipe out free, yet with a powerful, foot actuated rudder they turn with quick precision. This hand made rudder system is stronger than any other kayak rudder and will not break in big surf. |
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Close up of rudder
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Rear view of tandem
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| It is hard to believe with out seeing or experiencing the bottom turns, cut backs, off-the lips and insanely hot maneuvers the tandem can do. If you have a wife, kids, or girl friend who are tired of watching you surf and want to join you in the water, then a tandem is the most fun way to share surfing with them. The tandems are custom built considering the leg length and weight of the crew. Tandems can be built big enough to carry a crew of about 460 lb., but normally for a guy and a girl it's around 350 lb. or two guys around 400 lb. You would want to get only as large a tandem as you need to keep it lighter and more maneuverable. | 
3 tandem team
Greg & Roya tandem ski stars
Greg and Roya in trim
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Wave Skis 