The Day After: Battle of the 108 Waist Skis

I'm looking to better fill a spot in my quiver. I have hardpack skis covered (Masterblasters), and I have powder skis MORE than covered (Cease and Desists, Lhasa Pow Fats, Kusalas + Steeple 116's I may or may not keep) for deep pow days.

What I'm missing is something to pull out the day after a big 1+ ft storm, or in smaller storms 6-8" or so, or even in the afternoon of big storm considering how fast things get tracked out these days. Something for cut up pow, chop, big soft moguls, finding powder stashes in trees, some soft groomers in there, etc. Most of my big skis are 190cm, so probably want to go down a bit to 181-185cm range for these. Sometimes I get tired of swinging around long/heavy skis in tight places and moguls. Currently, I have 182cm Praxis Quixotes in a Heavy/Carbon/Veneer build, which is an awesome ski, but I feel the 118mm waist is overkill for these conditions and ends up hurting their low tide variable performance in moguls, trees, and hardpack. Too much overlap with my longer pow skis. I wish I had gotten these in a -10mm build (if anyone wants to trade who has a skinny Q hit me up).

Looking for a playful charger that will support a forward stance is easy to swing around in tight places, and controllable going fast. I usually ski Palisades so needs to be fairly damp since we get a lot of crud and chop.

My short (long?) list of replacements is:

Moment Wildcat 108
Moment Deathwish 112
ON3P Woodsman 108
ON3P Jeffrey 108
Praxis MVP 108
Praxis Skiiny Quixote (if I can find one)
J skis Hotshot
Dynastar M-Free 108

I've had Jeffreys/Kartels way back and I really enjoyed them, although I mounted them -2cm from recommended, which may mean I should go with Woodsmans over the Jeff now? I've never tried Moment skis, so those interest me too, I think I'd lean towards Wildcat 108. The lighter weight would be nice over the ON3P's or J skis, but not sure how much extra deflection that would result in.

The M-Free 108 also intrigues me, I've seen it described as a "narrow billy goat." How's it do in chop and firmer variable?

Just curious if anyone has good A-B testing experience on any of these. Feel Free to PM me too if you have any of them for sale or trade haha.

While mine are the old 110 (187cm), I can vouch for MVPs. Very capable in all sorts of cut up shit, carves nicely on non-icy groomers, reasonably high speed limit.

I’ve been on mfree, mvp, Jeff 108 (older one), and deathwish tour. All great skis. It’ll come down to personal preference. Day after storm means lots of chop and tree skiing to me. For that I really value a heavy ski and the Jeffery 108 was the winner. That is until I met the fr110. Turns on a dime, fast through trees, mobs through chop, hit every little kicker, did I say turns on a dime?

Some of the other skis might do slightly better on groomers but the fr110 holds its own and that’s not my priority on the day after storm anyways.

I’m a neutral stance skier, so maybe you should look at the woodsman and r110. I think the BG guys have really liked the r110.

Also marshals return policy makes it no risk.


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With that list I'd say you could probably throw a dart and be happy.

I LOVE my Deathwishes but also just got mounted up a pair of Hotshots, can't wait to take em out. Feel like they're definitely different enough to have both. I sorta daily'd a pair of Metals for a few years which I loved too but always wished they were slightly longer, stiffer (if I had a nickel) and slightly more rear mounted so these are a no brainer for me. If you like the masterblasters they'd probably be a great pick too I'm guessing

Mfree is not quite narrow BG but close Its the best all mountain ski I’ve ever been on Very good and easy for all around skiing and trees Still love my BG [emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]]]]] for vert but [emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]]]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]]] is just easy


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Death by emoji


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Damn it
Bibby was too forward and sank tips but Mfree was fine and floats great
Still love BG for vert but if I had to buy one ski it might be Mfree


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Mpro 108

Could also maybe add katana 108?

I have a few of these that you could maybe try out at Palisades if you are interested and your bsl is in the adjustment range. K108, m-free 108, FR110

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TAFKALVS

Mpro 108

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^^ This. Mine are absolute crud busters on top of being a good powder ski. When I first got them, I took them out on a pow day and was really happy. Then the snow was chopped out and pure crud skiing and I came away more impressed with them for those conditions than even in the untracked. They're bulldozers and turn great in everything I've put them through.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GoldMember

^^ This. Mine are absolute crud busters on top of being a good powder ski. When I first got them, I took them out on a pow day and was really happy. Then the snow was chopped out and pure crud skiing and I came away more impressed with them for those conditions than even in the untracked. They're bulldozers and turn great in everything I've put them through.

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They have super great suspension and float above their width. I mounted my 192 +1 for a quicker feel. Mounted my 182s on the line.

At 220lbs I actually ski the 182 quite a bit. It’s a very fun ski at that length and plenty supportive. It’s fun to be on something so short and maneuverable that can still hit the gas when needed.

I am pretty in love with the Jeff 110 for this conditions. It floats really well in pow, smashes through the chop when it needs too and is decently maneuvrable, but I am on a 188 I believe. I would probably drop down to a 182ish if I was more in the trees on those days. The 108 felt the same to me when I was out on a friends set on Sunday.

Haven't skied anything else on the list but I gotta say there appears to be a lot of love in Whistler & Utah for the M-Free. Had so many people telling me how stoked they were about it when I asked in the lift line. Really want to get out on one.

I haven’t skied the Masterblaster but I picked up used Hot Shots off here this fall. Went short with 183 to accommodate moguls, trees and other tight spaces. Not light. But rocker and low camber make em quite pivoty. And can power through chop well.
Lots of good skis in this zip code but if you like J and the MBs, I think you’d like the hot shots.

I think you’re on the right path with the Wildcat 108. Pretty much exactly what you described wanting for those conditions. Get the 190, it skis smaller than the big cat and you ski close to their factory, so you can demo first.

One eight seven HL R one ten. Mount them neg eight and party on. If it’s soft at all it’s all I want to be on anymore, esp for your duty. They can take some forward pressure but you can come up neutral for party mode. They are super quick in trees yet can missile chop and open terrain. So far my favorite in this category and I’ve gone through a bunch.


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Black Crows Corvis is my playful charger. Long low rocker in the front and no camber makes it easy to pivot from a forward stance. Good in chop, soft moguls, trees. Not very floaty in pow for its size.


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M-Free 108 is what I'm using in this spot.

192 is the way to go (or whatever the new one is). They're loose enough that it doesn't feel like a 192 in tight places, but I appreciate the extra length and stability (and weight) when skiing crud or hauling on bumpy groomers. The 182 really doesn't have the same backbone and is ultra-loose. Fine for noodling in the trees, but I didn't like them anywhere I could open things up.

If you really don't want to go that long, the 186 Woodsman is a great ski. Damp, maybe a bit more versatile than the M-Free. I think it's more intuitive in the "I think it and it does it" way, where-as the M-Free feels more like a confidence inspiring tool that pushes me to better skiing.

M-Free 108 is what I'm using in this spot.

192 is the way to go (or whatever the new one is). They're loose enough that it doesn't feel like a 192 in tight places, but I appreciate the extra length and stability (and weight) when skiing crud or hauling on bumpy groomers. The 182 really doesn't have the same backbone and is ultra-loose. Fine for noodling in the trees, but I didn't like them anywhere I could open things up.

If you really don't want to go that long, the 186 Woodsman is a great ski. Damp, maybe a bit more versatile than the M-Free. I think it's more intuitive in the "I think it and it does it" way, where-as the M-Free feels more like a confidence inspiring tool that pushes me to better skiing.

I'm using a 191 Jeffrey 108 for almost every type of snow and they do very well in the conditions you're describing above. Also have a 190 Bibby for deeper days

The Jeffreys are heavy enough to quiet down the junky snow while also being easy to pivot and skid around in the trees

I’d go full rocker here honestly, but maybe that’s not your jam? So damn fun in these kind of conditions!

HL R105 is my current favorite for those conditions.

Honorable mention goes to ON3P Wren 110 Pro.

Both of those are more directional and less playful than the list you mentioned. Of the skis you mentioned I’ve only skied the Deathwish and while good for their weight, I’d never pick them for a crud buster over an ON3P or HL.

I’ve been on the same quest as you for the last 5-6 years, not really finding the right ski in this category.
HL R110s had already been mentioned. I only have one day on mine so far, but first impressions was a nice blend of loose, but stable - with great float.

If you want something sliiightly more traditional I think you might want to check out the release of new models in a week or so

Also on this hunt. I noticed a couple things during our last storm cycle skiing my Qs back to back with my Corvus.

1. The Asym of the of the Qs and overall design, make them respond best to the centered ankle roll approach discussed a lot in parrallel threads on reverse camber. They are incredible pow skis

2. Following my kids around who literally Huck off everything and mostly to flat I'm really noticing the harshness of reverse underfoot after a day of poor decision making.

As R curious as I am, I think the skinny Q might be amazing in this slot. Although at full custom prices its not an option for me. Hoping to demo the new Corvus in this slot, and keeping eyes peeled in gs for an mvp

The MVP is my favorite of this group. Does everything nicely. Especially standing up to chop.

So basically just pick a top sheet you think looks cool.