@Superbman asked for this one, and even though I really like both of these skis, is this really a viable Cage Match? The whole premise of the Cage Matches is that they are usually between two skis that are commonly compared; at first I thought these two would not be on the same radar, but the more I mulled it over, they really could be -- which says a lot about how good the V82 is. Not until next year would 70 out of 100 skiers put Liberty and Head in the same comparison. (I say "next year" because we are leading the way.)
Let's start with the old man, the leader in the clubhouse, the Head Monster 83. Well, this is the new Monster 83 --same name, same colors but a new shape and a new flex. Dare I say it's younger and more playful? Yes, I will say it. The new Monster 83 has a youthful feel and will actually crack a smile. The outgoing Monster was a bit stiffer and very serious; you could tell a "horse walks into a bar” joke and not even get a “heh” out of it. But in the same breath, if you took it onto some boilerplate, the Monster 83 was unfazed there, too.
I have been doing a bit too much cutting and pasting with the new Liberty VMT skis, saying the same thing over and over on why we started to get on them ... yadda yadda yadda … but in reality, that doesn’t mean anything and has no relevance as to how they ski. So why is the V82 worthy of being put into the ring with one of the reference skis in the class? Because Liberty is making a damn good ski. Where the VMT does differ from the traditional Monster in overall shape, the elongated tip design with a sidecut that runs past the running surface allows you to start whatever turn shape you want. The tail is flared nicely yet not squared off, so it not only finishes a turn but completes it. The vertical metal struts sandwiched in between the bamboo and poplar aren’t just marketing gimmicks.
Let's start with the old man, the leader in the clubhouse, the Head Monster 83. Well, this is the new Monster 83 --same name, same colors but a new shape and a new flex. Dare I say it's younger and more playful? Yes, I will say it. The new Monster 83 has a youthful feel and will actually crack a smile. The outgoing Monster was a bit stiffer and very serious; you could tell a "horse walks into a bar” joke and not even get a “heh” out of it. But in the same breath, if you took it onto some boilerplate, the Monster 83 was unfazed there, too.
I have been doing a bit too much cutting and pasting with the new Liberty VMT skis, saying the same thing over and over on why we started to get on them ... yadda yadda yadda … but in reality, that doesn’t mean anything and has no relevance as to how they ski. So why is the V82 worthy of being put into the ring with one of the reference skis in the class? Because Liberty is making a damn good ski. Where the VMT does differ from the traditional Monster in overall shape, the elongated tip design with a sidecut that runs past the running surface allows you to start whatever turn shape you want. The tail is flared nicely yet not squared off, so it not only finishes a turn but completes it. The vertical metal struts sandwiched in between the bamboo and poplar aren’t just marketing gimmicks.
- Why choose the Monster 83? You are a traditionalist. You know what works, and you stick with what works. Ain't nuthin' wrong with that.
- Why choose the VMT V82? You realize there is a whole new world out there, and these smaller companies are making more than big skis. Not only are their customers getting older and their needs are changing, so are the designers and so are their interests. You can capitalize from the changes.
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