I am an advanced skier looking for a good carver biased one ski quiver for aggressively skiing mostly groomers that will also work decently on a powder covered groomer day after a storm or briefly skiing in trees (5% or less). I demoed a Stockli AR at the end of last season and fell in love with it...I have never skied better in my life and it was magical! I then promptly preordered the new 2023 version which will come in a few months but still have the option to get something different. I was coming off an intermediate Salomon ski that was below my ability (too soft). I am now wondering if I should have demoed some other skis since the bar was low on the ski I was coming from such that many skis may have seemed awesome. I know the Stockli AR will be great for me but maybe should have tried other all mountain carver biased skis like the Fischer RC One 86, Kendo 88 or SR 88. I did also demo the AX and while I liked it I felt the AR was more "snappy" for skiing aggressively and liked the idea of more versatility.
I am looking for comments on how the Fischer RC One 86 or the others would compare to the AR and whether you think it is worth demoing them or if I should just stick with the ski I loved and call it good. My biggest reservation is whether the AR will hold up OK on a groomer powder day as a OSQ. As a final issue, I am 5'9", 160 lbs and wondering if 170 is the best size for me which is what I ordered (I demoed the 168 and new version option is 170 or 175-wouldn't go less). Thanks much!
I am looking for comments on how the Fischer RC One 86 or the others would compare to the AR and whether you think it is worth demoing them or if I should just stick with the ski I loved and call it good. My biggest reservation is whether the AR will hold up OK on a groomer powder day as a OSQ. As a final issue, I am 5'9", 160 lbs and wondering if 170 is the best size for me which is what I ordered (I demoed the 168 and new version option is 170 or 175-wouldn't go less). Thanks much!