The Syndicate Program is always evolving, shaping skis for the world’s best is ongoing and luckily HO has a partner in Acapulco, Mexico that provides our team a great place to test ski shapes in the offseason, Gordon Rathbun’s Ski Paradise.  The following is Gordon’s account of a recent visit from Syndicate members Bob LaPoint and Greg Badal. 

In early December, 5 Time World Slalom Champion Bob LaPoint headed on down to my place here in Acapulco, Mexico for a little ski testing with National and Big Dawg slalom champion Greg Badal and Sr. Driver and skier Bob Hardeman.  They were joined by a few lucky Ski Paradise guests.  What started out as normal week, ended up as a fabulous  week full of laughter, great skiing stories from legend Bob LaPoint, some incredible skiing by Greg Badal and lots and lots of ski testing.

The art of how to design a ski will be never ending, but Bob LaPoint has discovered that different skiers like certain rockers and with all the testing, they (the HO Team) arrive at the ski that HO will offer straight from the factory or 'out of the box'.  For example, it was discovered that World Champion Will Asher likes a ski with the same amount of rocker that comes right from the factory (out of the box).  Will might have a ski that is slightly stiffer, but at least a customer knows that he is getting basically the same ski as Will Asher.  Bob discovered that Greg Badal likes more rocker and Gordon Rathbun likes the same rocker as Will Asher.  Bob has the ability to change some of the characteristics of a ski right at the ski site!  This is an incredible advantage and is a great way to find a ski that is right for you.

 
With the success of a great week behind them, Gordon, HO and Bob decided to do this again in April and offer another week, and fine tune HO skis for the guest like they have never done before.  This week will be April 23 - 30th.  Each guest would leave with an HO ski tuned to their liking personally by Bob LaPoint.  The price for the week would run approximately $3,900 per skiing guest depending on the ski selected.  Non skiers would pay the regular price for the week which would be from $1,900 to $2,400 depending on the room selected.

 
This week would be the exact same intensity (with regards to ski testing and fitting) as the top pro skiers get to experience.  For more information on how to sign up, go to www.skiparadise.com or email us at dirathbun@aol.com.