Radar Graphite Vapor Water Ski 2024

The Radar Graphite Vapor Water Ski 2024 blends elite-level shape design with a slightly more forgiving construction, making it the perfect ski for those who split their time between slalom course and open water sessions. Built on the legendary Vapor shape—trusted by pros and podium chasers around the world—this version uses a polyurethane core to create a slightly damper ride. This subtle change allows the ski to sit a little deeper in the water, which in turn delivers smoother, more progressive turns and improved stability without sacrificing edge precision or acceleration. Ideal for skiers running lines at 30–36 MPH, the Graphite Vapor delivers consistent performance, powerful edge hold, and a smoother ride that appeals to both competitive and crossover athletes.

Whether you're pushing deep into the slalom course or free skiing with speed and style, the Graphite Vapor’s construction makes it approachable yet potent. The polyurethane Aero Core offers controlled flex with a refined feel, while the Sigmatex carbon fiber wrap ensures consistent energy return and torsional strength. Bio Resin adds environmental responsibility without sacrificing bonding integrity, and the Race Base with Enduro Tip/Tail construction ensures low-drag performance and durability. This is the Vapor shape you know and love—built for flow, edge control, and power—with a little extra forgiveness baked in.

Key Features:

• AERO CORE – Forgiving and consistent response. The lightweight polyurethane foam delivers a damp, controlled feel through the turn, helping the ski settle deeper into the water for increased stability and smoother edge engagement—especially valuable in mixed or choppy conditions.
• SIGMATEX CARBON – Consistent flex every time. This premium carbon weave maintains structural integrity across the ski, ensuring predictable rebound and flex throughout every pass. It gives you dynamic energy return without unwanted chatter.
• BIO RESIN – Plant based and better. Radar’s plant-based resin system improves bond strength and vibration dampening while reducing environmental impact. It’s a sustainable material that performs under pressure.
• RACE BASE – Earlier lines and easier turns. Designed for high-end performance, the Race Base offers ultra-low drag and smooth glide across the wakes, enabling earlier edge engagement and effortless speed building.
• ENDURO TIP/TAIL – Built for speed. Reinforced tip and tail sections help the ski stay stable under load and carve with control, even at high speeds. These zones enhance durability and maintain tracking through aggressive arcs.
• RADAR LAB MADE – Thanks Herb. Hand-built at the Radar Lab and tested by Radar’s pro team, the Graphite Vapor is crafted with precision and passion, representing decades of design evolution and performance engineering.

From free skiing fun to serious course performance, the Radar Graphite Vapor Water Ski 2024 offers a balanced, smooth ride built for progression and power. Pair it with the Vector BOA binding for a responsive, foot-hugging setup—and discover why the Vapor shape continues to lead the industry.

Optional Binding: Vector BOA

Upgrade your ride with the Radar Vector BOA Binding—a perfect complement to the Graphite Vapor for skiers who want both comfort and performance in every set. Built on Radar’s innovative Feather Frame chassis, the Vector BOA keeps your foot securely in place while maximizing direct energy transfer to the ski. Whether you're navigating tight turns or carving at high speeds, this binding delivers the responsive feel serious skiers demand.

The BOA® Fit System allows you to fine-tune the fit with a simple twist of the dial, ensuring even tension across the boot for a snug, custom feel that lasts the entire set. The Vector BOA also features a dual-density footbed and asymmetrical design for optimal support and shock absorption, reducing fatigue and increasing control. Whether you're chasing PBs in the course or slashing glassy turns in open water, the Vector BOA enhances your performance with precision and comfort.

SKI TECH

Shape
The wide spot on the ski has moved forward and width has been added from the middle of the ski through the tip. This gives the ski a more tip to tail taper and more support through the front part of the ski. The increase in taper presents the ski with a slightly more tip-up riding attitude and allows the ski to pull through the turn in a more connected, powerful way. The result is less body movement needed to get tight radius turns. The new ski also has slightly less volume in the tail. By reducing this surface area, the tail of the ski is able to smear outward while also staying planted in the water. Ultimately, the updates in shape help it to ride much closer to the ideal line for any given speed and rope length.

Rocker
The tip rocker on the new Vapor starts just after the wide spot. This relieves tip pressure and increases forgiveness, allowing a skier to have a bigger platform to stand on coming into the turn. This also helps keep the ski keep moving outbound in the transition and makes the ski incredibly more predictable in the turns it creates. Moving back from the wide spot, the rocker lines are all new. These new lines create a ski with increased tail rocker which softens the way the ski rotates or carves through the turn. The result is a feeling of increased angle from a wider place with an instant acceleration.

Concave
The additional concave depth running throughout the bottom of the ski is one of the most noticeable differences in this new shape. This channels more water directionally from tip to tail, resulting in significantly more side-to-side drive and holding power. More drive and hold allow a skier to be faster as they near centerline which results in a more up-course path. Another result from an increased concave is increased pressure on the bevels, allowing the ski to feel extremely connected to the water. This gives a skier the freedom to control the path of the ski with more ease.

Bevels
The front of the ski carries a sharper, more angular bevel design to harness the increased water flow from the new concave design. This gives the skier more ability to feel how the water interacts with the tip of the ski to create sharper, more predictable turns. In the tail of the ski, the bevel is softened, allowing the water to wrap around the bevel easier. The tip of the ski pulls harder through the turn while at the same time, the tail is able to smear while staying planted in the water. This feathered approach makes the turns feel much more natural and less forced.

Thickness
Sidewall height carries constant to provide balance for the increased lift created by adding width. In an effort to keep the ski nimble, sidewall thickness is reduced to produce the connected, tight turning radius of the ski.

Edge Angle
The Vapor width allows the ski to achieve maximum edge angle both in the turn and while cutting. This width sets the precedent in our line as the pinnacle of performance both in the course and while free skiing.