In the 70s to 80s, I worked in a few different sports/ski shops. One was a new store that did OK at first, but eventually failed. When it closed, the owner couldn't pay me for most of my hours that month - so he "paid" me with gear from the inventory that was left. At the time, we had a lot of Head and Rossignol models and some Vr17s. Already had VR17s (I truly thought the VRs were coolest skis ever), so I picked 3 pair of Head Yahoo 2s (one around 160, one around 180 and the lone longer pair in the 190s). I also took a pair of Head XRCs, which - at the time - were supposed to be a limited edition high performance ski using some sort of hollow channel core.
The XRCs seemed cool to me for their relative rarity and relatively high price. I didn't demo them earlier in the year, mainly because 1) couldn't afford them and 2) there was very little info on them (other than the standard Head marketing stuff). Anyway, each ski had a special sequential number. Can't remember the number on my set - I'd have to hike to the shed to check. I remember being pretty hopeful about the skis, but: they skied like logs. Might have been "the tune", but I do remember the skis seemed to have inferior torsional rigidity. In soft snow they did great. But poor edge hold on Sierra Cement.
I skied the mid-sized Yahoo 2s (180s) every once in a while for a couple seasons. I personally thought "Yahoo" was the most un-cool name Head could have ever come up with. Ironically, my buddies thought they looked cool - but that may have been the beer (or mushrooms) talking. They were very fun skis - especially in bumps and spring snow.
After languishing in the garage for a couple seasons, I took the longer (190s) Yahoo 2s out for a try. As i remember, the 190s seemed heavier than I expected, so I expected they'd be like boats. But, holy cow, they ripped. What a fun ski. Super stable, Loved to turn. I felt like an idiot for not jumping on them sooner.
However, if I was to select the coolest ski I've ever owned then I'd have to choose the pair of Rossignol Excess GS skis I got in the 90s. Such an awesome ski.
The XRCs seemed cool to me for their relative rarity and relatively high price. I didn't demo them earlier in the year, mainly because 1) couldn't afford them and 2) there was very little info on them (other than the standard Head marketing stuff). Anyway, each ski had a special sequential number. Can't remember the number on my set - I'd have to hike to the shed to check. I remember being pretty hopeful about the skis, but: they skied like logs. Might have been "the tune", but I do remember the skis seemed to have inferior torsional rigidity. In soft snow they did great. But poor edge hold on Sierra Cement.
I skied the mid-sized Yahoo 2s (180s) every once in a while for a couple seasons. I personally thought "Yahoo" was the most un-cool name Head could have ever come up with. Ironically, my buddies thought they looked cool - but that may have been the beer (or mushrooms) talking. They were very fun skis - especially in bumps and spring snow.
After languishing in the garage for a couple seasons, I took the longer (190s) Yahoo 2s out for a try. As i remember, the 190s seemed heavier than I expected, so I expected they'd be like boats. But, holy cow, they ripped. What a fun ski. Super stable, Loved to turn. I felt like an idiot for not jumping on them sooner.
However, if I was to select the coolest ski I've ever owned then I'd have to choose the pair of Rossignol Excess GS skis I got in the 90s. Such an awesome ski.
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