Ran a lot of searches and I know who a lot of the heavy hitters are out there, but sometimes, the frame of reference for these recommendations is western packed powder and off-piste, versus my own frame of reference, which is Mid-Atlantic Ice Coast, and one to two weeks out west (for packed powder and off-piste) -- all on the same ski (my daily drivers).
I'm on a pair of aging MX88s (178s) with many seasons on them now, and I've got the bug. I'm 55 (legs aren't getting any stronger), 5'10", 190 lbs. I guess a Level 7 skier -- out West I ski any single black, and enjoy off-piste as well as high speed groomers, but in the PA Poconos (man-made granular at best, with ice hiding just below), I'm a Mach 10 skier on groomers (where I ski, that's about all there is). So as an example, this season, I've spent all of it at Camelback in the Poconos (or Elk), with an extended weekend in the Adirondacks (again, icy), but will finish out the season with a week in Banff in the good stuff. That's typical for most seasons though I usually get a second week in out West, but just not this season.
Scott (Dawgcatching), who sold me my MX88s, recommends the SR95. I'd been asking him about the SR88 (whenever I read a review that says "huge sweet spot," my 55 yo legs tingle), but he thinks, with their flex, while great off-piste, they're not a Mach 10 groomer ski (and I don't know how they'd be on ice or cruddy ice, ie, uneven, hard terrain) like my MX88s. Found a nice price on a pair of new SR88s ($699 w/o bindings, last season's model but new), so still pretty tempting... He likes the SR95s as a firmer ski. But, he's in Bend. I'm wondering if a 95 waist is too wide for Eastern hard-pack?
I don't see the MX89s talked about a lot like their forebears were -- I think I've heard from more than one person "too stiff." Is that true? I know the Lazer's are the flavor of the month, but I worry about those western trips and their performance off-piste.
I should add, I'm not necessarily married to Stockli.
I'm on a pair of aging MX88s (178s) with many seasons on them now, and I've got the bug. I'm 55 (legs aren't getting any stronger), 5'10", 190 lbs. I guess a Level 7 skier -- out West I ski any single black, and enjoy off-piste as well as high speed groomers, but in the PA Poconos (man-made granular at best, with ice hiding just below), I'm a Mach 10 skier on groomers (where I ski, that's about all there is). So as an example, this season, I've spent all of it at Camelback in the Poconos (or Elk), with an extended weekend in the Adirondacks (again, icy), but will finish out the season with a week in Banff in the good stuff. That's typical for most seasons though I usually get a second week in out West, but just not this season.
Scott (Dawgcatching), who sold me my MX88s, recommends the SR95. I'd been asking him about the SR88 (whenever I read a review that says "huge sweet spot," my 55 yo legs tingle), but he thinks, with their flex, while great off-piste, they're not a Mach 10 groomer ski (and I don't know how they'd be on ice or cruddy ice, ie, uneven, hard terrain) like my MX88s. Found a nice price on a pair of new SR88s ($699 w/o bindings, last season's model but new), so still pretty tempting... He likes the SR95s as a firmer ski. But, he's in Bend. I'm wondering if a 95 waist is too wide for Eastern hard-pack?
I don't see the MX89s talked about a lot like their forebears were -- I think I've heard from more than one person "too stiff." Is that true? I know the Lazer's are the flavor of the month, but I worry about those western trips and their performance off-piste.
I should add, I'm not necessarily married to Stockli.
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