By Jack Burden

The 2026 Ski Nautique has been out in the wild for barely a week, but it’s already generating real-world feedback from the world’s best. Pro slalom skier Cole McCormick took his first set behind the new model earlier this week — and while his analysis comes with the disclaimer of being a one-set impression, his verdict was clear: this boat skis very differently.

“The wakes are drastically better,” McCormick wrote in a detailed review posted to BallOfSpray. “And that’s coming from a guy who really, for the most part, doesn’t care how the wakes feel.”

According to Nautique, the 2026 model is the result of a complete hull redesign — a new blend of carbon fiber and fiberglass, reimagined lifting pads, and a reshaped HydroGate. The result is a lighter, more responsive boat that rides higher in the water, creates less displacement, and theoretically, produces flatter, more supportive wakes.

McCormick echoed that claim, highlighting one area in particular: “There is basically no trough at all at short line. This makes controlling load off the second wake after a heavy turn much easier. That’s probably the number one reason I lose runnable 41s.”

Another notable change is how the boat carries speed through the course — something McCormick says stood out immediately. “With the current boat, I would turn, feel a drop in RPM, then the boat would pick me up as I approached the first wake. With this new boat, it feels like there is almost no drop in speed. It’s a very odd feeling at first, but I suspect once I get used to it, it will be a big improvement at short line.”

That sensation isn’t accidental. Nautique says its Zero Off integration has been recalibrated to work in tandem with the new hull and prop setup, creating more consistent pull characteristics across the letter scale. According to Matt Rini, who walked through the new model in a recent video, “We’ve fine-tuned the feel at the end of the line. This gives the skier more adjustability in the pull… and keeps RPMs consistent across different conditions.”

McCormick noticed the effect immediately. Despite using the same Zero Off letter settings as before, the boat felt like it was pulling entirely differently. “I think there’s a good chance you will have to change your letter on this boat from the previous model,” he said.

While McCormick’s early review holds weight thanks to its independence, it also represents a very specific use case: shortline slalom at top speed. For most buyers, that’s not where they live. A far more important question — especially for the 30-to-34 mph, long-line crowd — is whether those benefits translate at lower speeds.

Team Nautique’s Charlie Ross believes they do. “At the high level, I think it’s a world record boat,” he said. “But even at longer line, the wake’s almost non-existent. It’s going to push the sport to new levels and make it easier for beginners to improve.”

Industry veteran Ski Dunlap echoed the sentiment with a grounded comparison: “You look at the wake at 36 [mph], and you look at the wake behind this boat at 30 [mph], and there’s almost no difference. How they ever figured out to get this boat up on top of the water at 30 mph with no rooster tail and just a flat table — it’s phenomenal.”

Following the boat’s announcement last week, we posed the question: Is this a true leap forward, or just a refined refresh?

The answer won’t come from promotional videos or contract-bound testimonials — it will come from ski rides. Across speeds, skill levels, and disciplines. Behind the wheel, off the dock, and at both ends of the rope.

Early indicators suggest that the 2026 Ski Nautique is far more than just an aesthetic overhaul. As McCormick summed it up: “I think this will be a major improvement across the board in slalom.”

But the real test begins now. As this boat makes its way into dealer demos and amateur hands, a more complete picture will emerge — one that includes the long rope, 32-mph crowd just as much as the pros skiing through 41 off.