Hi Everyone,
Classic request: I need help choosing which skis to test next.
I'm an intermediate but advancing skier. 6/3" 180. I basically spend all of my time on on the frontside of the mountain. About 75% of my time I spend on groomed runs, but find myself spending more and more time in ungroomed territory (bumps, trees, steeper runs) - with a desire to keep pushing. I'm not a particularly aggressive skier, 50 mph is really going fast for me.
I live on the east coast but bounce around for most of my skiing. I travel for work and have family in Utah so I have a lot of options to try out different places. This year I went to Mt. Tremblant, Big Sky, Squaw Alpine, Alta/Deer Valley. I am good for about 10 days a year and ski in whatever the conditions look like when I get there (only 2-3 will typically be on the east coast).
So far this year I've tried (lengths are all upper 170s - 180. Low for my height, but I don't have a lot of weight and don't go that fast so I tend to go a little short):
1. Salomon XDR 84:
Pros: I found them easy to ski and very maneuverable in bumps and quick turn situations
Cons: Not stable at speeds. The day I skied was warm, terrain was choppy, and they rattled a lot at speed and felt every bump. Avoiding them was better than powering through
2. Head Monster 83X:
Pros: Stable at speed. Good for carving on groomed runs
Cons: They were stiff for me in the tail and I felt like bad turns got punished. Tails didn't come out of turns easily. Not maneuverable in bumps and a little heavy feeling
3. Rossignol Exp Ti 88:
Pros: Lots of fun to ski on piste. Really stable at speed. Fun turning. Busted through the groomed runs
Cons: Felt a little stiff in bumps and not the easiest to smear with. Got a powder day with these and they didn't float well for me (Note that I have almost no powder day experience so my technique could be terrible)
4. Icelantic Pioneer 86:
Pros: Really maneuverable. Lots of fun skiing in bumps and snow that has been carved up. Worked well in loose snow and in powder. First ski I ever did with this much of a twin tip - that was fun
Cons: Not great at speed, a little bit of chatter. Didn't really want to carve
I had fun days in everything except the Head. I actually took that back and switched for the Icelantic, and had a much better time the rest of the trip. However, I wouldn't want to buy any of them, haven't found a true love yet.
Based on this I think I'm looking for partial twin tip, about 178 - 180 length, 86 - 92 width, metal not necessary but possible.
So - given these what else should I try? Looking for recommendations that aren't too obscure to find as demos too.
I have one more shot this year. If I find something I like I'll buy it over the summer. If not, I'm looking for good recommendations to try next winter.
Thanks!
Classic request: I need help choosing which skis to test next.
I'm an intermediate but advancing skier. 6/3" 180. I basically spend all of my time on on the frontside of the mountain. About 75% of my time I spend on groomed runs, but find myself spending more and more time in ungroomed territory (bumps, trees, steeper runs) - with a desire to keep pushing. I'm not a particularly aggressive skier, 50 mph is really going fast for me.
I live on the east coast but bounce around for most of my skiing. I travel for work and have family in Utah so I have a lot of options to try out different places. This year I went to Mt. Tremblant, Big Sky, Squaw Alpine, Alta/Deer Valley. I am good for about 10 days a year and ski in whatever the conditions look like when I get there (only 2-3 will typically be on the east coast).
So far this year I've tried (lengths are all upper 170s - 180. Low for my height, but I don't have a lot of weight and don't go that fast so I tend to go a little short):
1. Salomon XDR 84:
Pros: I found them easy to ski and very maneuverable in bumps and quick turn situations
Cons: Not stable at speeds. The day I skied was warm, terrain was choppy, and they rattled a lot at speed and felt every bump. Avoiding them was better than powering through
2. Head Monster 83X:
Pros: Stable at speed. Good for carving on groomed runs
Cons: They were stiff for me in the tail and I felt like bad turns got punished. Tails didn't come out of turns easily. Not maneuverable in bumps and a little heavy feeling
3. Rossignol Exp Ti 88:
Pros: Lots of fun to ski on piste. Really stable at speed. Fun turning. Busted through the groomed runs
Cons: Felt a little stiff in bumps and not the easiest to smear with. Got a powder day with these and they didn't float well for me (Note that I have almost no powder day experience so my technique could be terrible)
4. Icelantic Pioneer 86:
Pros: Really maneuverable. Lots of fun skiing in bumps and snow that has been carved up. Worked well in loose snow and in powder. First ski I ever did with this much of a twin tip - that was fun
Cons: Not great at speed, a little bit of chatter. Didn't really want to carve
I had fun days in everything except the Head. I actually took that back and switched for the Icelantic, and had a much better time the rest of the trip. However, I wouldn't want to buy any of them, haven't found a true love yet.
Based on this I think I'm looking for partial twin tip, about 178 - 180 length, 86 - 92 width, metal not necessary but possible.
So - given these what else should I try? Looking for recommendations that aren't too obscure to find as demos too.
I have one more shot this year. If I find something I like I'll buy it over the summer. If not, I'm looking for good recommendations to try next winter.
Thanks!