I need a DD for a 2 ski quiver...

Damn it - I never wanted to make one of these "which ski do I want" threads, but I'm getting sick of turning over my quiver every year to try and find that perfect balance. Also, since I moved to the Mid Atlantic, I travel a hell of a lot more than I used to for skiing (so a bit less skiing overall), and taking 3+ pairs of skis anywhere is not only impractical it's downright tiring and costly when I get on a plane. As my quiver grows fatter and I move more into touring there gets to be a ton of overlap...so I'm thinking I want to move to a 2 ski quiver only next year and see where that takes me. I have the 2nd half of this equation figured out with 195 praxis pows, easily my favorite ski I've ever purchased I use in anything new 6"+. What I'm looking for:

A do everything else ski to be mounted with dukes - touring, maching west coast chop to east coast boilerplate, but something that I can also throw around in tight trees, a generous sidecut, 110 - 120mm waist, 185cm - 192cm, probably tip rockered but it doesn't need to be. East Coast Guys I'd like to hear from you particularly.

Me: 6', 185, skis I liked: 180 moment Tahoe (just too short), 185 praxis powder, 187 praxis mtn freeride recurved. Skis I didn't like: 183 Gotama, Nordica Enforcer (for anything but maching the open).

I know I'm asking for a lot - the one thing I'm really willing to give up is complete east coast boilerplate performance. I have a pair of Atomic Thugs in a 192 right now that I haven't been on that might just be the answer, depending on cash I may just throw Dukes on them and that will be the end of it. What else should I be looking at? I'd like to put my money into the little guys if possible, so where does that leave me? 186 Lahasa or 192 Bro, Moment Ruby/Bibby, Praxis Big Mtn 110/20, Anything I'm missing? Am I retarded for thinking I can use Dukes on my everyday skis? :cussing:

186 Lhasas in carbon. light as fuck, 113 underfoot, sounds right. pricey but right. not a ton of sidecut though

Moment Rubys in 190.

Dukes are fucking awesome for every day skiing. I have two pair, I quite like the way they feel on the boot, and they're plenty buryl for most.

A better formulation of the duke question is, am I retarded for thinking I can use them for every day touring, then things get a little heavy, but I don't mind them at all. I have done plenty of day tours, sure there heavy, but if thats your only AT setup, then you don't know what your missing.

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Originally Posted by Sphinx15

Damn it - I never wanted to make one of these "which ski do I want" threads, but I'm getting sick of turning over my quiver every year to try and find that perfect balance. Also, since I moved to the Mid Atlantic, I travel a hell of a lot more than I used to for skiing (so a bit less skiing overall), and taking 3+ pairs of skis anywhere is not only impractical it's downright tiring and costly when I get on a plane. As my quiver grows fatter and I move more into touring there gets to be a ton of overlap...so I'm thinking I want to move to a 2 ski quiver only next year and see where that takes me. I have the 2nd half of this equation figured out with 195 praxis pows, easily my favorite ski I've ever purchased I use in anything new 6"+. What I'm looking for:

A do everything else ski to be mounted with dukes - touring, maching west coast chop to east coast boilerplate, but something that I can also throw around in tight trees, a generous sidecut, 110 - 120mm waist, 185cm - 192cm, probably tip rockered but it doesn't need to be. East Coast Guys I'd like to hear from you particularly.

Me: 6', 185, skis I liked: 180 moment Tahoe (just too short), 185 praxis powder, 187 praxis mtn freeride recurved. Skis I didn't like: 183 Gotama, Nordica Enforcer (for anything but maching the open).

I know I'm asking for a lot - the one thing I'm really willing to give up is complete east coast boilerplate performance. I have a pair of Atomic Thugs in a 192 right now that I haven't been on that might just be the answer, depending on cash I may just throw Dukes on them and that will be the end of it. What else should I be looking at? I'd like to put my money into the little guys if possible, so where does that leave me? 186 Lahasa or 192 Bro, Moment Ruby/Bibby, Praxis Big Mtn 110/20, Anything I'm missing? Am I retarded for thinking I can use Dukes on my everyday skis? :cussing:

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If you can swing the price. Lhasa `186 carbons. Although a warning, from what everyone says about them, you may never use another ski. Ever, again

If you want longer tahoes, I have a new pair of 188's drilled for dukes, but not mounted yet that I might be interested in getting rid of.

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Originally Posted by volklpowdermaniac

186 Lhasas in carbon. light as fuck, 113 underfoot, sounds right. pricey but right. not a ton of sidecut though

Moment Rubys in 190.

Dukes are fucking awesome for every day skiing. I have two pair, I quite like the way they feel on the boot, and they're plenty buryl for most.

If you can swing the price. Lhasa `186 carbons. Although a warning, from what everyone says about them, you may never use another ski. Ever, again

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Yeah - from all I've read they seem to be the ticket - wicked spendy though...I was actually kind of hoping that there might be something "better" (as in just as good but cheaper). I also don't like the idea of anything challenging my 195 pows as my go-to pow stick...

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Originally Posted by wwwllw

If you want longer tahoes, I have a new pair of 188's drilled for dukes, but not mounted yet that I might be interested in getting rid of.

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I would consider it but those are a bit too thin for what I'm looking for now. Awesome sticks though, I would love to get a pair of 188's but I don't have the $ lined up right now for Dukes + X skis. For the right price when I get rid of some of my gear I would think about picking them up from you for those boilerplate days...

If you ski tight trees, throw out the 190 Ruby in favor of the 190 Bibby (which I highly suggest, though I'm quite partial :D ).

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Originally Posted by Sphinx15

A do everything else ski to be mounted with dukes - touring, maching west coast chop to east coast boilerplate, but something that I can also throw around in tight trees, a generous sidecut, 110 - 120mm waist, 185cm - 192cm, probably tip rockered but it doesn't need to be.

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Not made by a little guy, and I wasn't wild about the ski (too much sidecut for my tastes in open terrain), but the 186 Rossi S6/Ravyn pretty much fits that description perfectly except for the tip rocker. Reasonably light, does everything well.

For small guys, I'd consider:
Lhasa 186
Moment Ruby 188/190
Praxis Pow RX 189
Praxis Big Mtn 191 (only comes as the 120 now, unless you buy the 110 from the killer deals page)
Folsom Giver 191 (Folsom is doing a sale in May for $700)
Folsom Lowrider 185

Many of the skis above I would not describe as having a "generous sidecut" though. The 190 Bibby might also fit the bill, since it sounds as if it's significantly different than the 186. I found the 186 to be too "jibby" - too soft and too rockered - to be a particularly versatile ski. Fun, but not an everyday ski.

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Originally Posted by NPG

If you ski tight trees, throw out the 190 Ruby in favor of the 190 Bibby (which I highly suggest, though I'm quite partial :D ).

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Yup - I read your "impartial" review of the 190 Bibby - They do sound pretty sweet. The ONLY thing I don't like about my Praxis Mtn. Freerides is the shorter running length on the real hardpack. They do very well in everything else, if only they were +10mm all the way around I would just be using those. How was the hardpack performance on those Bibby's specifically - you mentioned that you can get your racer steeze on, but I'm talking ice coast type stuff.

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Originally Posted by adrenalated

Not made by a little guy, and I wasn't wild about the ski (too much sidecut for my tastes in open terrain), but the 186 Rossi S6/Ravyn pretty much fits that description perfectly except for the tip rocker. Reasonably light, does everything well.

For small guys, I'd consider:
Lhasa 186
Moment Ruby 188/190
Praxis Pow RX 189
Praxis Big Mtn 191 (only comes as the 120 now, unless you buy the 110 from the killer deals page)
Folsom Giver 191 (Folsom is doing a sale in May for $700)
Folsom Lowrider 185

Many of the skis above I would not describe as having a "generous sidecut" though. The 190 Bibby might also fit the bill, since it sounds as if it's significantly different than the 186. I found the 186 to be too "jibby" - too soft and too rockered - to be a particularly versatile ski. Fun, but not an everyday ski.

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Yeah - the generous sidecut wish is really for railing the real hardpack which happens quite frequently when I just head north. I'm giving the Big Mtn. 110's on the killer deals page some serious consideration for sure. I don't think anyone has skied them yet. I never considered the Folsoms but damn those Giver's look like they really fit the bill.

Didn't experience any true icy conditions, but did get one dust-on-crust run that was fairly firm and slick underneath (at least for our standards). They held an edge when I needed them and I got down without worrying too much (though I didn't turn a whole lot). Definitely no Legend Pro and they got the job done better than the Lotus 120, but not as comfortable as the Ruby or Mothership.

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Originally Posted by NPG

Didn't experience any true icy conditions, but did get one dust-on-crust run that was fairly firm and slick underneath (at least for our standards). They held an edge when I needed them and I got down without worrying too much (though I didn't turn a whole lot). Definitely no Legend Pro and they got the job done better than the Lotus 120, but not as comfortable as the Ruby or Mothership.

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Got it, that's what I figured and I have about the same to report on the recurved freerides. They'll carve for sure but in thin spots I really want a longer EE. Not turning helps...

the one thing I'm really willing to give up is complete east coast boilerplate performance.

If that is the case and price is a issue I would say get the Bibby's. They weigh roughly 9.5lbs per pair (186) and are very well rounded. Coming from a racing background they carve great, rip the pow and are light. I am borrowing a pair right now, and regret not buying a pair. I am 5'10 180-190 and am trying to decide between the 186 and 190's for next year. I might even get both and use the 190's for the resort and the 186's for touring. The lack of camber dosn't throw you into the next turn, but you still get some pop. These and the Praxis would be sweet. I have the Praxis (unmounted) and Spats, but I could see skiing these on all, but the deepest days. They surf like the Spats and Pivot/Slash almost as well. The flat spot under foot makes stomping airs even easier than on the Spats as it gives you more room for error (fore/aft).

I was skiing with a friend who has the Lib Tech Nas Pow Recurve, and he mentioned that when they go under they tend to want to stay under. He still is highly impressed with Nas Pows and said he would pay money for them. (He's a ski tester) I not sure if the camber is the cause or what? From skiing the spats I have had to learn some new technique to really appericate the skis (spats). Using these skills and tradition technique with the Bibby's enables one to have a ton o fun.

I am sure there are other skis that will do this as well as the rocker/regular side technology is all over the place so get some.

How about a Katana in a 190?
Very good all-around ski...
Slightly heavy, but it has great feel.

I'd consider the Katana, durability issues and because I really didn't like the Gotama is what's keeping me from making that a contender.

Thanks for the insight Daryll - looks like another vote for Bibby's. I'd be going on next year's 190 though...

I also don't NEED tip rocker just seems like it might be the way to go here, those unmounted Thugs I have seem like they'd kill it in a lot of conditions, although I may be giving up some other places like crud performance without tip rocker...

I'm pretty sure the Katana skis very differently than gotama (metal in katana, none in goat).
Next year should see less durability issues (sidewall addressed this year 08/09), bases could still be an issue.
You'll also get some tip rocker as I understand.

You may want to consider a demo early next season.

not to confuse matters but it seems that the EHP in a 186 might be the hott ticket if Lhasas are too $$$$

Liberty Helix maybe...only 105 I believe, but that's a much better width for everyday than 115 or 120 IMO

Most of the skis mentioned are very "west" orientated.

I'd say a 186 Line Prophet 100 will be:
Ample width for under 6"'s.
Light enough to tour
Great edge grip for a ski that wide
Enough sidecut for railing groomers
Stiff enough to handle the chop.

Very versatile which is what you need with a 2 ski quiver and your other ski such a one trick pony.

In general I'd be looking at skis 90-100mm underfoot.
Volkl Bridge etc

Interesting, XtrPickels - I always figured I'd go wider for touring and just deal with the extra width on the east coast...maybe another road would be to just slap dukes on my mtn. freerides...

dive into credit card debt and get lhasas

If scott can get ON3P producing skis again I would suggest 186 Billy Goats. (measures similar to a 189, tip and tail rocker with taper, 115mm under foot, 22m? side cut).
I plan on remounting mine with dukes for summer touring, So far they ski everything pretty damn well as long as your not big on the whole switch skiing thing. I think I have put like 30 days on them so far and love them to death.