Q for a friend - Apache Chief, Sweet Daddy, Troublemaker ?

i've got a friend who is an advanced intermediate who is looking for a new ski

5'10", 170 lbs, currently on a K2 Mach 175's (?)
carves well
likes to go fast on groomers
wants to ski powder better, needs more float

doesn't let conditions dictate when he skis...he skis when he can (20 days a year here at Bachy, plus days with his kids) and wants one pair of skis that can do it all....he might consider a big fatty pow ski later on for deep days if it comes to that, but for now, the 1 ski quiver


any suggestions for a good solid all mountain ski for my bud? the kid at the shop is telling him to look at Troublemakers or Public Enemys - i'm not so sure :rolleyes:


.ps - woodsy was right :)

Soft Bros?

Never been on the TM's but supposedly good.

Im roughly the same size and have been on the 179 PE's.
They were doable for me all mountain except in bumps, 174 should fit the bill nicely for him. Normal damp k2 feel, decent edgehold, good all around. The first two on the list are why I probably wouldnt buy the ski myself.

Might I also reccomend a 176 Mojo 90 mounted 1 or 2 cm back from the line.
Fantastic ski. I have mine on the line. Its super turny everywhere, which makes it a TON of fun in bumps and trees, but the tips have on occasion tried to dig a hole to japan. Also depending if he can demo it, or on his confidence level, I would also suggest a 186 Mojo on the line...its just that quick of a ski.

Also another off the wall idea, since Salomon Foils have been demos this year, he might be able to pickup a cheap setup the end of this season.
I know foam core sucks, but for people 170lbs and under, the foil was really fun all mountain. Downfall though was that its a noisy ski, softish tail that can be fun sometimes, foam core degredation, and ok pow performance due to the MASSIVE sidecut. Its perks are definitely there though. Superfun to carve, super light, and great all around. Most fun\playful ski I demo'd this year.
Edit: oh yea, 174 or larger

then theres always the standard karmas or mantra, and maybe even a fischer kehua.

anyway Ill stop now before I say anything else that will get me flamed or jong'ified.

if you can find a pair of nordica beast 177's, they'd be great for him (still carve, light and forgiving) and they should be pretty cheap. make sure you mount them about 2cm back though. kehua's look to be a very similar shape to the beasts if you can't find them.

fwiw, i rate the beast over the troublemaker.

Does he want a twin or were the PE and TM just suggestions?

I've always been partial to Dynastar legends. A 178 L8000 is pretty stable, light and manueverable. I wonder how things like the Volkl AC3/4 ski. I wouldn't get him something straight and soft... especially because he loves maching on the groomers... so in my mind that tosses out things that we normally suggest as a "powder" ski.

Legend 8000 is my call
I'm thinking 80-85waist with moderate sidecut. It'll be fun to carve, not too demanding for an adv Int, good for fresh snow. If he wants something for truly deep days then he can add something 95+.

i love my tms, im 5'11'' and 165lbs and they rip groomers, some powder, pipe, and park, ive even trained gs on them and they carve awesome, deffinatly reccomend the troubs

1 ski western quiver for a medium sized dood.

short bros
Stockli Stormrider DP 174
Volkl 169 or 177 Karma

butthatsjust me....

TroubleMakers are (great) skinny park skis. No float there.

No Ka Oi's in a 170 or 180 for $475 shipped could fill the bill. I'm still a huge fan of my 193's, they carve like mothers, bash through everything in sight and I've had them out in the deepest of days. 78 underfoot isn't exactly wide, but those are good skis.

The public enemy is a decent choice on a budget for doing those things.
I know alot of mags hate rossi's but a b3 or b4 might be good for him also. I was just at Bachy the last three days and I ripped the shit out of it on my old xxx's :wink:

I second the Karma's as well.

big troubles? totally under appreciated as a do everything ski but people are learning....

ulty guy, where do you play? flat ball is my 2nd favorite name for ultimate behind "wicked awesome"

183 Gotamas.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bryanthebold

183 Gotamas.

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a 1 ski quiver for a dude that like to rip around on the groomers & wants to learn powder better...not just ski powder all the time.
What part of 30m turn radius or 105mm waist didnt ring up?

If you're gonna suggest a ski, put some friggen thought into it

lazy ass mutha's:cussing:

The 168 gotamas I demoed skied better on the groom than my mad trix. Dont be so quick to judge them. Maybe Mantra or karma... I hear the sweet daddys suck.

I would just get the best carving ski with the greatest underfoot you can find. While that definitely is a bit of balance as carving skis are typically skinny.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XtrPickels

a 1 ski quiver for a dude that like to rip around on the groomers & wants to learn powder better...not just ski powder all the time.
What part of 30m turn radius or 105mm waist didnt ring up?

If you're gonna suggest a ski, put some friggen thought into it

lazy ass mutha's:cussing:

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What are you talking about?

Gotamas are fine on the groomers, hold an edge well, and are easy to carve. If he wants to ride powder better, then he might need something bigger than what he probally already has. Regardless of what the turn radius is or the waist, it will help challange him to move up higher, yet not kick his ass beyond belief. Just because the waist is big doesnt mean that it will be tough to ride on normal days.

Don't be afraid to go fat.

The MoJo 90 is as mentioned before a really sweet ski! It totally rips on groomers, it can really hold an edge! Very nice 1-quiver ski, i would def. consider buying it if i wouldn't have bought a pair of this years Scratch BC, which i also can recommend if he wants something a bit bigger and more stabile. Both are really good when it comes to groomers, though the MoJo is a bit lighter and got a smaller radius. But they do both got a good edge hold and are really fun piste-skis! I live in Sweden and the skiing here and the slopes are pretty much like the slopes in the east and i can ski all day long with my BC's and still let them rip without crying on the way home because of a lousy day... But if he got plans of buying something fatter later on, perhaps he should buy something smaller, like the MoJo 90. So my final vote goes to the MoJo!