OK,
I'm not good w/ format, hopefully you don't mind (Phil) if I just ramble through the impressions of some of the skis I skied on at the Mt Rose shop demo...
First off, I want to comment on perspective, and this may tie in with the "ski review bias" thread.
the ski you normally ski on and how it is tuned is a key framework for reviews. Once you are used to something, others feel different and that may be bad, or sometimes good.
So, the first day, I skied skis that are similar in width and intended to purpose to what I normally ski, speaking of that,
my daily ski, Kastle fx95hp, 181, 5ft 11, 162lbs, good skier w/ lots of habits, some good, some bad. Ski at slow to moderate speeds, short to med round turns, mostly off piste in 3d snow, mostly in steeper terrain. That combo of skiing slow in difficult terrain is something that shapes my ski perceptions dramatically I believe.
So,
first:
Blizzard Brahma 180,
88mm ski, 19m shape I think.
This one was predictable with a good well proven shape. I have spent some time on this before, and liked that it held well on firm snow, but would also drift when asked. I felt that the torsional stiffness was higher then skis I like best at my weight and preferred speed.
it's for: skiers who like a torsionally stiffer ski, maybe heavier guys.
not for: those who like a ski that gives good feedback at moderate speeds.
Stockli SR 88, 177
88mm ski, 18m radius,
New layup, they changed wood to balsa and lighted it, it also felt a bit softer then last years in my 2 runs.
This one behaved better at my speeds, and once again, I liked the tip shape, width, and flex. compared to my kastle, I found the shape carvier, but not as compliant and playful off piste. I've heard people say the SR's ski short, but I think w/ the damp slow feel, I like them shorter. this 177 is much better for me then the 183, and 174 was too short.
for: those that like damp, solid, versatile.
not for: those that look for more feedback from the skis.
Fisher AM 86, 176
86mm ski, 16-17m radius,
Wow, I really like this one from the get go. Very shapely and fun, tip a bit stiffer then I like, but the overall feel was good. with all the shape, it was good on the groomed, and carved well. the tail bit me in the steep bumps in the Chutes at rose, partly as I"m accustomed to the super friendly shape of my kastle. So, tail got me, and I fell! tweaked the knee a bit. I don't like to fall... . But, I think this is a great ski, just best in moderate terrain.
for: those who like a super versatile shape and fun carvy all mtn ski with the ability to mix radii.
Not for: those who spend all their time in steeps or ski really fast.
Scott "the ski", 180
90mil ski, 18 m radius.
This ski was the best tuned of the test (besides my ski .
great hold due to tune but easy to drift and playful feeling. just a good all around ski, lacking the solidity of the metal skis, but more playful. Made in Sun Valley I think, and I can see it. Great cold snow, perfect. Rain layer CA snow, or E. Coast ice, not as secure.
That said, this was my favorite of the day after my kastle.
Who: people who want an super fun ski that does everything you ask, and tend to ski in places with friendly snow.
not for: east coast ice or big icy squaw bumps.
I finished the day on my ski, as my knee was bugging me after funky fall. I wanted predictable, honey badger ski, that would do whatever I wanted and not test my knees.
Kastle fx95hp, just perfect in steep terrain, predictable in chalky bumps, less exciting on groomer access runs.
Second day:
So, this one is really where that "perspective" thought comes in as we started on skinny carving type skis. Caviat, I don't own or ski this type of ski, so take that idea, along w/ how 90 something skis feel after skiing on hard snow oriented skis all morning...
Head Rally Titan:
170, 78mm ski, 15m radius I think,
this was a good ski, super fun in carved turns on moderate terrain, but it would allow me to "skivot" the top of turn readily, to get to the belly quicker and shorten the radius. Also let me ski "blended" turns and shape the upper and lower half of the turn.
for: someone who spends most of their time on piste, skiing shorter turns, but likes some versatility.
not: full speed demons or peeps who ski natural snow a lot.
Head Rally ? 72mm ski,
170 72mm, 13m ski.
this was too skinny, too shapely and I really didn't agree with it. attitudinal, no me gusta.
for: don't know
not; for me or anyone who likes a good ski
Stockli Laser SX, 170
70mm ski, 15.8m radius
Wow, this thing is solid! I was skeptical of the 70 something ski after the 2nd Head, but this one was great!
didn't like to be skidded much, but so solid and confidence inspiring I didn't feel I needed to blend carve/drift as much. Not a bump ski, but just a super solid fun hard snow/groomer ski.
for: closet racers and those that love that snow hugging, blow your hair back feel.
Not: the meek, or slow, or all mtn types.
Stockli Laser AX, 167
once again, these Lasers feel so solid! loved that feel. this one was much more versatile, with more forgiving width and tip, and fun in some bumps, and shaped turns as well. Still liked to carve more then drift, but more open to variety. If there was a length between this 67 and the 75, I would probably own this as my "northstar" ski (lots of groomers, moderate pitch, need ski to provide excitement as oppose to terrain").
for: frontside oriented good skiers looking for damp, solid inspiring feel with friendly side.
not: hum, slow timid, or mostly off piste skiers.
After these, we went back to mid fats, which was shocking.
Atomic vantage 90, 177,
90mil ski, 17m radius,
Yuck. felt like a french ski that didn't know what it wanted. Air y, dull, little feedback or info to driver.
Line supernatural 92,
180, 92mil ski, 18m radius.
I was hopeful, but this one was dull and not fun for me. Slippery and odd. May have been perspective, but I got on my 95 a couple runs later, and it held fine and behaved much better.
Nordica enforcer 93:
180, 93mil ski, 17ish radius.
Ah oh (pugski sacrilege), so, I have owned tons of nordica's and don't have a bias against them, and I know this site thinks these enforcers walk on water, but, No me gusta. felt like I was mounted 2cm forward with no tip, and a tail that argued with me.
who: could be awesome all mtn ski for the person that feels the mount point is right for them and likes that feel.
not: for someone used to more solid skis with more secure feeling tips and less punitive tails.
I wasn't in the mood to fight any of the last 3 uninspiring skis with my tweaky knee, so I went back and got my kastle to bring me out of my "too many odd skis" funk...
Then, on my 95, and tried to work through the funk... it took a day, but I'm back to happy on skis and with the path I take around the wonderful white playground.
Cheers,
Wade
I'm not good w/ format, hopefully you don't mind (Phil) if I just ramble through the impressions of some of the skis I skied on at the Mt Rose shop demo...
First off, I want to comment on perspective, and this may tie in with the "ski review bias" thread.
the ski you normally ski on and how it is tuned is a key framework for reviews. Once you are used to something, others feel different and that may be bad, or sometimes good.
So, the first day, I skied skis that are similar in width and intended to purpose to what I normally ski, speaking of that,
my daily ski, Kastle fx95hp, 181, 5ft 11, 162lbs, good skier w/ lots of habits, some good, some bad. Ski at slow to moderate speeds, short to med round turns, mostly off piste in 3d snow, mostly in steeper terrain. That combo of skiing slow in difficult terrain is something that shapes my ski perceptions dramatically I believe.
So,
first:
Blizzard Brahma 180,
88mm ski, 19m shape I think.
This one was predictable with a good well proven shape. I have spent some time on this before, and liked that it held well on firm snow, but would also drift when asked. I felt that the torsional stiffness was higher then skis I like best at my weight and preferred speed.
it's for: skiers who like a torsionally stiffer ski, maybe heavier guys.
not for: those who like a ski that gives good feedback at moderate speeds.
Stockli SR 88, 177
88mm ski, 18m radius,
New layup, they changed wood to balsa and lighted it, it also felt a bit softer then last years in my 2 runs.
This one behaved better at my speeds, and once again, I liked the tip shape, width, and flex. compared to my kastle, I found the shape carvier, but not as compliant and playful off piste. I've heard people say the SR's ski short, but I think w/ the damp slow feel, I like them shorter. this 177 is much better for me then the 183, and 174 was too short.
for: those that like damp, solid, versatile.
not for: those that look for more feedback from the skis.
Fisher AM 86, 176
86mm ski, 16-17m radius,
Wow, I really like this one from the get go. Very shapely and fun, tip a bit stiffer then I like, but the overall feel was good. with all the shape, it was good on the groomed, and carved well. the tail bit me in the steep bumps in the Chutes at rose, partly as I"m accustomed to the super friendly shape of my kastle. So, tail got me, and I fell! tweaked the knee a bit. I don't like to fall... . But, I think this is a great ski, just best in moderate terrain.
for: those who like a super versatile shape and fun carvy all mtn ski with the ability to mix radii.
Not for: those who spend all their time in steeps or ski really fast.
Scott "the ski", 180
90mil ski, 18 m radius.
This ski was the best tuned of the test (besides my ski .
great hold due to tune but easy to drift and playful feeling. just a good all around ski, lacking the solidity of the metal skis, but more playful. Made in Sun Valley I think, and I can see it. Great cold snow, perfect. Rain layer CA snow, or E. Coast ice, not as secure.
That said, this was my favorite of the day after my kastle.
Who: people who want an super fun ski that does everything you ask, and tend to ski in places with friendly snow.
not for: east coast ice or big icy squaw bumps.
I finished the day on my ski, as my knee was bugging me after funky fall. I wanted predictable, honey badger ski, that would do whatever I wanted and not test my knees.
Kastle fx95hp, just perfect in steep terrain, predictable in chalky bumps, less exciting on groomer access runs.
Second day:
So, this one is really where that "perspective" thought comes in as we started on skinny carving type skis. Caviat, I don't own or ski this type of ski, so take that idea, along w/ how 90 something skis feel after skiing on hard snow oriented skis all morning...
Head Rally Titan:
170, 78mm ski, 15m radius I think,
this was a good ski, super fun in carved turns on moderate terrain, but it would allow me to "skivot" the top of turn readily, to get to the belly quicker and shorten the radius. Also let me ski "blended" turns and shape the upper and lower half of the turn.
for: someone who spends most of their time on piste, skiing shorter turns, but likes some versatility.
not: full speed demons or peeps who ski natural snow a lot.
Head Rally ? 72mm ski,
170 72mm, 13m ski.
this was too skinny, too shapely and I really didn't agree with it. attitudinal, no me gusta.
for: don't know
not; for me or anyone who likes a good ski
Stockli Laser SX, 170
70mm ski, 15.8m radius
Wow, this thing is solid! I was skeptical of the 70 something ski after the 2nd Head, but this one was great!
didn't like to be skidded much, but so solid and confidence inspiring I didn't feel I needed to blend carve/drift as much. Not a bump ski, but just a super solid fun hard snow/groomer ski.
for: closet racers and those that love that snow hugging, blow your hair back feel.
Not: the meek, or slow, or all mtn types.
Stockli Laser AX, 167
once again, these Lasers feel so solid! loved that feel. this one was much more versatile, with more forgiving width and tip, and fun in some bumps, and shaped turns as well. Still liked to carve more then drift, but more open to variety. If there was a length between this 67 and the 75, I would probably own this as my "northstar" ski (lots of groomers, moderate pitch, need ski to provide excitement as oppose to terrain").
for: frontside oriented good skiers looking for damp, solid inspiring feel with friendly side.
not: hum, slow timid, or mostly off piste skiers.
After these, we went back to mid fats, which was shocking.
Atomic vantage 90, 177,
90mil ski, 17m radius,
Yuck. felt like a french ski that didn't know what it wanted. Air y, dull, little feedback or info to driver.
Line supernatural 92,
180, 92mil ski, 18m radius.
I was hopeful, but this one was dull and not fun for me. Slippery and odd. May have been perspective, but I got on my 95 a couple runs later, and it held fine and behaved much better.
Nordica enforcer 93:
180, 93mil ski, 17ish radius.
Ah oh (pugski sacrilege), so, I have owned tons of nordica's and don't have a bias against them, and I know this site thinks these enforcers walk on water, but, No me gusta. felt like I was mounted 2cm forward with no tip, and a tail that argued with me.
who: could be awesome all mtn ski for the person that feels the mount point is right for them and likes that feel.
not: for someone used to more solid skis with more secure feeling tips and less punitive tails.
I wasn't in the mood to fight any of the last 3 uninspiring skis with my tweaky knee, so I went back and got my kastle to bring me out of my "too many odd skis" funk...
Then, on my 95, and tried to work through the funk... it took a day, but I'm back to happy on skis and with the path I take around the wonderful white playground.
Cheers,
Wade