Revival of the "all mountain ski"???

So I just put in 2 days at the WB - missed the storm by a few days, but that leads to my digression...

Up top you've got either cornice drops or narrow slide-ins, like West Cirque, or Jersey Bowl, then you've got the ski-out on the face 30-50deg... then you've got a traverse or cat-track, then a 2' stash in some tight trees, then an icy-ass runout down to the gonjula...

I was on b4's (185's), one buddy on 184 b3's, and another on AC-4's in the 177:eek:

The b4's were money in the trees, not bad in the tight entry slots, not good on the icy runout, and OK on everything else... my buddy on the AC-4's had a real easy time getting into the bowls, due to the short length, and that got me thinking about going a bit shorter... if I wasn't a puss - I'd just drop in and it wouldn't matter how long my skis are, but I'd love to hear from those on shorter-fatter sticks...

I'm thinking 179? SV, 179 stiff bro's, 183 Goats etc... Did you find that going a bit shorter is still OK for a more all-mountain ski? (I have tried the 175cm M:EX, but that wasn't my favorite ski for deeper/softer snow...)

90mm waist is a good all mt size (b4)

bit smaller = more turny = less float = less stability at speed / air

I was screwing around demoing a bunch of stuff on the w/e, including some experimenting with shorter/fatter skis.
Personally, I didn't find any advantages to the shorter (175ish) fat skis that weren't out-weighed by the loss of performance at speed and in crappy snow. I may lose my maggot status with this one, but I found the shorter metron-esque skis better all around than the short fatties.
What I learned: I'll be sticking with 185ish lengths for everyday.

I'm 6'1 185 lbs and ski the 186 cm Prophet 100s, which are most similar to the Gots. They're incredibly nimble in tight trees and steep chutes but stable when a particular line requires a 50-foot straight line followed by a speed check. I definitely wouldn't want to go shorter.

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Originally Posted by mntlion

90mm waist is a good all mt size (b4)

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I agree - I was just looking for something in this category - something 85-95mm underfoot for everyday "all mountain" use to compliment my 183 Gotamas.

I tested the 177 Movement Thunder, B4, B3, Mantra, im88, and Mojo 90 and ended up buying some 175 im88s.

Ac4 are good skis but most on here wont like the sidecut. I liked them but I have a volkl fetish.

I bought 179 K2 Public enemies to compliment my 183 gotamas..

I like my 185 sickbirds (same as the scratch BC) for all mountain. Does absolutely everything pretty darn good - but does nothing spectacular.

so that's 2 votes for something else to compliment the 183 goats... that is the ski I was thinking of for all-mountain!!! Ordinarily I would get the 190's, but for tight trees and chutes-and to be able to throw them around a little more I was thinking the 183's... I only go 165# so I don't really need a big, stable platform. Hopefully I'll get to try the Goats soon (Utah Demo thingy at the end of this month) but am I making a lateral move in going from 185 b4's to 183 Goats?!? They would be a bit stiffer and livelier I think, but what else? Honestly, I don't yet feel like the b4's are as "fun" as my old 185 PR's, but they are a bit more stable... (I have 100+ days on the PR's and 3 and 1/2 on the b4's so maybe that's a factor!)

thanks for the info!

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Originally Posted by jfost

so that's 2 votes for something else to compliment the 183 goats... that is the ski I was thinking of for all-mountain!!! Ordinarily I would get the 190's, but for tight trees and chutes-and to be able to throw them around a little more I was thinking the 183's... I only go 165# so I don't really need a big, stable platform. Hopefully I'll get to try the Goats soon (Utah Demo thingy at the end of this month) but am I making a lateral move in going from 185 b4's to 183 Goats?!? They would be a bit stiffer and livelier I think, but what else? Honestly, I don't yet feel like the b4's are as "fun" as my old 185 PR's, but they are a bit more stable... (I have 100+ days on the PR's and 3 and 1/2 on the b4's so maybe that's a factor!)

thanks for the info!

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First - there are a lot of people at Alta that don't ski anything but Gotamas, so that could definitely be considered an everyday ski out here. I personally just wanted something a little smaller for days where there's really no powder, just crud and bumps, but I'm still not skiing groomers. Gotamas work in that, they're just not ideal for that, if that makes sense.

I've never flexed them side by side, but are Gotamas stiffer than B4s? I skied the B4s and they seemed pretty similar to my Gotamas. (the old black ones). Anyway, I liked the B4, but it didn't make sense to me to add to the quiver with the Gotamas - too similar. If you want something bigger to add to the quiver with B4s, maybe a Nordica Blower or something? Mr.AG just got some of those and is liking them so far (and he's also liked 185 PRs). Side by side, the Blower seems very similar to my old Gotamas, just a bit bigger all around.

The Stockli TT is an absolutely amazing ski, but quite expensive. I've had a ball skiing it in all conditions. As far as similar skis go, I was also impressed by how easy the Nordica Enforcers are going from pow to groomers, though they may not be the best choice for charging through the cruddy stuff.

thank you guys very much for your thoughts... I hadn't even considered the Nordica's - I'll add those to my demo-day list if they are represented!

edit: Thanks for the poles AG, they are here at the local post office, I'm picking them up Wed. morning - no hurry for anything at Tahoe yet y'know!

I tried out a 186cm Nordica Jet Fuel today and want to nominate those as well. Damn do those things rip!

I still dig my AK Lawnchairs (88mm waist) for the turn and burn on everyday conditions.

really want to try the enforcer got to shop flex them yesterday and was impressed.

I'm looking for something to slot between my PE's and Powder Plus for when conditions require more then the PE but don't justify bringing out the heavy artillery

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Originally Posted by MrDirt

I tried out a 186cm Nordica Jet Fuel today and want to nominate those as well. Damn do those things rip!

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I have these in 178 they are some of the most fun I've had in a while. Just say no to bumps, but now I don't get bummed out at hardpack days. Those things on fresh cold cord in the morning, weefreakinhaw. Was at Loveland early season when they were doing a demo. After one run I knew I was buying them.

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Originally Posted by 72Twenty

I still dig my AK Lawnchairs (88mm waist) for the turn and burn on everyday conditions.

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I loved those yellow boards. I still rock the AK Enemy in a 188 (hybrid of original Enemy and Ak launchers) with the bat skulls on the tips. Still a fun ski in all conditions. They compliment the goats, but i do have a new pair of mantras. Lack of snow in Mammy has kept the mantras in the closet....

explosiv anyone?

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Originally Posted by mc_roon

explosiv anyone?

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hmmm, that's a thought. I was thinking those are prob. too stiff for me though. Remember, I'm coming off PR's and b4's!!!

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Originally Posted by flatlander#2

I have these in 178 they are some of the most fun I've had in a while. Just say no to bumps, but now I don't get bummed out at hardpack days. Those things on fresh cold cord in the morning, weefreakinhaw. Was at Loveland early season when they were doing a demo. After one run I knew I was buying them.

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They were okay for bumps for me... I just hauled ass and jumped over most of them.

Lib Tech Parillo, if you can find them