O'Brien Celebrity 68" Combo Water Skis Review: stable family skis that make deep-water starts easier

I’ve been using the O'Brien Celebrity 68" combo water skis for a full summer now, with a mix of beginners and rusty skiers behind a mid-range inboard/outboard boat. I’m not a pro, just someone who grew up on cheap combo skis from the 90s and finally decided to upgrade to something a bit more modern. My main goal was simple: a set that’s easy for guests to get up on, but still fun when I want to push a bit and run them as a single ski.

Right away, the big thing I noticed is how forgiving these skis are during deep-water starts. People who struggled on my old narrow combos popped up much faster on these. The dual tunnel and wider body actually make a difference: the skis sit more stable in the water instead of wobbling and crossing over each other every two seconds. That’s huge when you’re trying to teach someone who is tense and burns out after two failed starts.

Over the season we’ve had a mix of riders: a 100 lb teenager, my wife around 140 lbs, and a couple of guys over 200 lbs. They all managed to use this same pair thanks to the adjustable bindings, which honestly are the main reason I picked this model. I was tired of swapping skis and messing with multiple sizes. With these, we just loosen or tighten a bit and go. It’s not instant, but it’s quick enough that people don’t get bored in the boat.

To be clear, these aren’t high-end slalom skis and they’re not meant for hardcore carving at 34 mph. But for family lake days, teaching beginners, and the occasional run on one ski, they hit the sweet spot. They’re not perfect and there are a few details that bug me, but overall they get the job done and made our ski days smoother and less frustrating.

In terms of value, these O’Brien Celebrity 68" combos sit in that middle zone: not bargain-bin cheap, not premium. For the price, you’re paying mainly for versatility and ease of use. One pair covers a big range of foot sizes (roughly women’s 7 up to men’s 13) and works for riders from around 100 lbs to well over 200 lbs. That means you don’t need two or three different sets on the boat, which saves both money and storage space.

Compared to the super cheap combos you see at warehouse clubs, these feel noticeably better in the water: more stable starts, smoother wake crossings, and a bit more control when turning. You’re also getting a fiberglass construction instead of flimsy plastic. On the flip side, if you’re a serious slalom skier, you’ll outgrow these pretty fast and end up buying a dedicated ski anyway, so in that case they’re more of a teaching/backup set than your main tool.

For a typical family or casual boater, I think the value is pretty solid. You get:

• Easy deep-water starts for beginners
• Bindings that fit most adults without swapping gear
• Enough performance to play around on one ski
• Decent durability over multiple seasons

If you’re on a tight budget and just want something that floats and pulls you behind the boat, there are cheaper options. If you want high-end performance, there are better (and more expensive) choices. For that middle group – people who go out most weekends in summer and want one reliable, easy-to-use pair for the whole crew – these hit a nice balance between cost and performance. I don’t feel like I overpaid for what I got.

Design-wise, these skis lean more towards practical than fancy. The shape is classic combo: a bit wider under the front foot, with a performance side cut that tapers in towards the middle and then out again. On the water, that translates to a ski that tracks straight when you want it to but will still roll on edge and turn without fighting you. Compared to my old narrow wood-core combos, these feel more planted and less twitchy, especially at slower speeds around 22–26 mph.

The dual tunnel on the bottom is the standout feature. Instead of a flat base, you have two channels running along the length. In practice, this helps the skis sit flatter in the water and reduces that skating feeling when a beginner is trying to stand up. When crossing the wake, the tunnels help the skis settle quickly instead of bouncing around. I noticed that people who usually panic at the wake crossings were more relaxed after a couple of passes.

Visually, the “Flag” color scheme is basically a big American flag graphic. If you like that look, you’ll be happy. If you’re not into loud patriotic graphics, it might feel a bit over the top. Personally, I don’t care much either way; from the boat you just see bright colors, which at least makes the skis easy to spot in the water. The finish holds up decently – after a summer of being thrown in and out of the boat, hitting the dock a few times, and being dragged across rough carpet, there are some scratches but nothing serious.

The only design gripe I have is that the top sheet can get slippery when wet, especially when you’re sitting on the ski in the water trying to adjust your feet. It’s not terrible, but I’ve had skis with a slightly more textured top that felt more secure. Also, the rear toe plate is pretty basic. It’s padded, yes, but don’t expect crazy adjustability or support there. For dropping a ski and riding slalom at casual speeds, it’s fine, but it’s clearly designed as an add-on, not a full second binding.

Comfort was a big test for me because we had a lot of different people using these skis. The X-7 adjustable bindings claim to fit US men’s 4.5 to 13, and based on our group, that’s realistic. We had: a woman’s size 7, a woman’s size 8, a men’s 9.5, and a men’s 12 all ride them. Everyone got in without major drama. For the smaller feet, we just cranked the bindings tighter and made sure the heel was snug. No one complained about serious rubbing or pain, even after multiple sets.

On the water, the bindings feel supportive enough without being locked-in stiff. For beginners, that’s good – they can wiggle their feet a bit and don’t panic about being trapped. When you fall, your feet come out cleanly most of the time, which is what you want for knees and ankles. I had one fall where one foot stayed in and one came out, but that’s happened to me on pretty much every ski I’ve owned, so I don’t blame this specific model for that.

The rear toe plate is fine for casual use. It’s padded, and for dropping a ski and riding a simple slalom line, it does the job. If you’re used to a proper slalom boot on your back foot, you’ll find it a bit loose and basic, but that’s expected on a combo ski. My heavier friend (200+ lbs) used the rear plate and said it felt stable enough, but he did mention that a bit more arch support would be nice for longer runs.

If I’m nitpicking, the entry and exit could be smoother. Getting into the bindings in the water takes a bit of wiggling, especially if the rubber is cold. Dunking them first helps a lot. Also, for people with very narrow feet, you’ll spend more time adjusting and tightening to avoid heel lift. Still, once you’re set up, they’re comfortable for normal recreational skiing. Not luxurious, not terrible – just solid, which is honestly what I expected and wanted for a shared family pair.

The skis are made from fiberglass, which is pretty standard at this price point. They’re not ultra-light carbon or anything like that, but they feel sturdy. When you tap them or flex them by hand, there’s no cheap hollow sound. On the water, they don’t chatter much, even when the lake gets a bit choppy in the afternoon. I’ve ridden cheaper foam-core skis that felt like they were slapping the surface constantly; these handle rougher water better and stay more predictable.

The bindings use typical waterski materials: a mix of rubber and synthetic straps with some plastic hardware. They’re not luxury-level boots, but they’re comfortable enough for 20–30 minute sets. The rubber has enough give that different foot shapes can get in without a fight. My wife, who usually complains about tight ski boots, managed to slide in after a quick dunk in the water to lubricate them, and she didn’t complain about pinching or hot spots after a few runs.

Over the season, the materials have held up better than I expected. No cracks, no peeling laminate, and the fins are still straight. The only wear I’ve noticed is some scuffing on the graphics and a slight stretching of the binding rubber, which is normal. The screws have stayed tight; I checked them a few times because I’m paranoid about losing fins, but nothing backed out. I didn’t baby these skis – they got tossed on the dock, stacked under wakeboards, and left in the sun more than they should have been.

One honest downside: the bindings do feel a bit stiffer to adjust than some higher-end systems. If you’re constantly switching between very small and very large feet, you’ll be fiddling with straps and tugging on rubber more than you might like. Also, the padding on the rear toe plate is just okay – not painful, but not luxurious either. Overall, though, for a fiberglass combo set aimed at beginners and intermediates, the material quality feels pretty solid and in line with the price.

Durability-wise, I’ve put these through what I’d call normal family abuse over a season: tossed on the dock, banged against the swim platform, kids stepping on them with sandy feet, and a few hard falls at speed. Structurally, they’ve held up well. No cracks, no delamination, and the fins are still straight and solid. The fiberglass construction seems to handle impacts better than the cheaper plastic skis I’ve had in the past, which tended to dent or warp around the edges.

The top graphics do show some scratches and scuffs, especially around the bindings and tips where they hit the dock or each other. For me, that’s cosmetic and I don’t really care, but if you’re super picky about looks, just know they won’t stay pristine for long. The bottom still looks good – a few light scratches from shallow areas, but nothing that affects how they ride. We don’t beach them on rocks or gravel, though; if you do that, any ski will get chewed up.

The bindings and rear toe plate have held up better than I expected. The rubber has stretched a bit but not to the point of getting sloppy. The stitching and hardware haven’t failed, and the adjustment holes are still intact. I always worry about plastic buckles or tabs snapping, and so far that hasn’t happened. I did a quick screw check a few times during the season and everything stayed tight, which is important if you don’t want to lose fins or have bindings shift.

Overall, I’d say durability is strong for the price range. They feel like they’ll easily handle multiple seasons of weekend use if you rinse them occasionally and don’t leave them baking in the sun 24/7. They’re not indestructible, and they will show normal wear, but nothing about them feels flimsy or disposable. For a shared family setup, that’s exactly what I was looking for.

On the performance side, these skis are built for stability and easy starts, and that’s exactly how they ride. For deep-water starts, especially with beginners, the wide front and dual tunnel base make a huge difference. The skis stay apart more naturally instead of crossing, and they don’t roll side to side as much. I had two people who previously couldn’t get up on my older, narrower combos finally manage to start and stay up on these within a couple of tries. That alone made them worth it for me.

At typical family speeds (22–28 mph), the skis track nicely. They don’t feel nervous, and crossing the wake is pretty calm. The tunnels help cut through the wash so you’re not bouncing around. When you lean to turn, the performance side cut kicks in: the skis roll onto edge and carve a smooth arc without feeling like they’re going to dive. They’re not razor-sharp like a dedicated slalom ski, but for cutting outside the wake, making big S-turns, and generally playing around, they’re plenty responsive.

Running them as a single ski works surprisingly well for a combo. I dropped one ski and rode the other at around 28–30 mph. It’s obviously not as quick edge-to-edge as a proper slalom ski, but for casual carving and some wake crossing, it’s fun. One of our lighter riders (around 100 lbs) also managed to drop a ski and run a short slalom line for the first time on these, which matches what I’d expect from a beginner/intermediate setup.

Where they show their limits is at higher speeds or more aggressive cuts. Once you push past about 30–32 mph and really crank the turns, you feel the width and the more forgiving flex. They start to feel a bit slower and less precise. If you’re a serious slalom skier, you’ll want a dedicated ski. But for recreational boating, teaching friends, and light progression, the performance is honestly pretty solid. They make skiing feel easier and less tiring, which keeps people wanting to go again instead of giving up after two runs.

Out of the box, you get two 68" fiberglass combo skis with X-7 adjustable bindings on the front and a padded rear toe plate on one ski, plus the usual fins already mounted. No rope, no handle, no extra hardware – it’s literally just the skis. They arrive fully assembled, so it’s basically cut the plastic, toss them in the boat, and you’re ready. I didn’t have to adjust the fins or mess with any tools before the first ride, which I appreciated.

The size is pretty standard for adult combos: 68 inches (about 176.5 cm) long and 20.3 cm wide. They’re rated for beginner to intermediate adults, and that lines up with how they feel on the water. The weight is around 9 kg for the pair, so they’re not feather-light, but you’re not carrying them very far anyway. On the dock they feel solid and not cheap or hollow like some bargain plastic sets you see at big-box stores.

The bindings are where a lot of the value is. The X-7 adjustable setup is designed to fit around US men’s size 4.5 to 13, and that’s not just a marketing number. In practice, we had people from women’s 7 up to men’s 12 ride these with no drama. You’ve got standard rubber/nylon adjustments on the top and heel, so you can snug them down, and they still release cleanly in a fall. I did a couple of hard edge catches just to see how they’d behave, and my feet came out without twisting my knees, which is what really matters.

One thing to keep in mind: these are combo skis aimed at versatility, not a specialized slalom stick. The box and labeling call out stability, easy starts, and a wide fit range, and that’s exactly what you get. If you’re expecting super-aggressive carving or competition-level performance, you’re looking at the wrong category. For a family or casual boat owner who wants one set that covers most adults, the overall package makes sense and feels thought through.