I have 1 with down hill and 2 with cross country and prefer the cross country.. It’s a matter of opinion I guess..
I also still have one with water skies that I built 30 years ago for my big old clam tub two person shanty ...
Pulls like a beast...
Less surface area the less friction..
My cross country’s have fish scale bottoms so it’s hard for it to slide backwards on any incline.. just my opinion.....