mounting position / ski length relationship

i recently had my 180 cmh 'slpoders mounted 1.5cms forward of the traditional binding position and i really dig the easier turn initiation and overall more aggresive feel of the ski. however in deep snow i notice an increased tendency for the tips to dive. my question is this: if i move to a longer ski - say 188-190 - and have the bindings center mounted, will i get a similar ride to my current set-up minus the tip diving? also how does the longer heel to tail distance affect my turn? any input is appreciated.

on a sidebar the explosive has been my ski of choice since '98, and i'm heartbroken it's going the way of the dinosaur. any suggestions as to a modern fat with similar stiffness and ride characteristics? (i'm not into going softer with a thinner waist so i think the mantra is out) thanks in advance.

Look north for a Capital Fat Free stiff flex in a 183 or 192. Also checkout the Dynastar Legend Pro, Stockli Stormrider DP or Blizzard Titan Pro. Also, I don't think the Mantra is THAT much softer than the Explosiv, and 1mm diff underfoot is nothing that anyone can feel. The Mantra will also float better due to the wider tip.
Don't have an opinion on your center mount question. Welcome JONG

Bros

</runs for cover from Particle :D>

Those skis are pretty stiff, if you mount really forward ie. center(+7.5), they will tip dive, alot.
but at 190 a +3.5 or so would probably still ride better than what you have now.
If you really like the forward mount feel maybe try a ski that's a tad softer. Gotoma or Vicious. You can mount those alot more forward because the tips will flex up when asked.

If you really want center mounted fat ski try maden or original sp centered they are supposedly sick.

funny i just mounted my original SPs, and i thought it was a nice ski for a center mount, but i didn't do it. it's a dedicated pow ski anyway.

I had Pocket Rockets which are very different from the skis you're talking about, but the mounting position question is something I've mulled over a lot.

The PR's were center-mounted 185's, which meant the tail was really long. I didn't have much tip dive problem in soft, deep, perfectly smooth snow, but as soon as it got a little choppy, they submarined. I skiied a friend's 189cm Seth Pistols mounted at the farthest back mark and found them much easier to ski and less prone to diving. I have a race background, so I tend to drive my weight forward and really muscle the forebody of the ski, so having a long tip doesn't bother me, but a long tail is a royal pain in the ass to bring around quickly in tight trees or chutes, moreso(for me at least) than simply flexing the front of the ski and turning.

I'm gonna be on a set of 187cm 4Frnt MSP's this year, and I mounted 1.3ish inches back of the marked Freeride line on them to try to eliminate the long tail issue as much as possible. I would say that center mounting is fine if you're gonna be landing switch in powder or skiing switch a lot, but other than that, go with a more traditional mounting point, maybe not as far back as the V-ex's though, but you already figured that out.

thanks all... those xtra stiff bros look quite sploder-like. glademaster thanks for the input on the long tail issue.. i'm not big on switch/park riding so the centre mount is looking like a no go

If you like the exploder 180 but want a little longer you may want to check out the Dynastar Legend Pro Rider in 186. Similar ski. A little more heavy and solid.

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Originally Posted by stomp

thanks all... those xtra stiff bros look quite sploder-like. glademaster thanks for the input on the long tail issue.. i'm not big on switch/park riding so the centre mount is looking like a no go

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PM atrain here. He's in Whistler on superstiff Bros if you want to fondle some.