The Official Great Pacific Octopus Thread

i'm in the process of ordering my GPOs now. Keith is the man btw. It's weird getting emails from the owner of a ski company at 9:30 at night. I definitely owe him a beer. But since i feel guilty emailing him with tons of tiny questions i am going to turn to you fine shralpers.

Carbon or fiberglass which do you prefer/recommend?

About me:

190
6'2"

ski fast and pretty aggressively. Modest drops and cliffs 5-15 (maybe the odd 20+) I have been on Moment Bibby Pro 190s and would have gotten those again but for the fact they went and made them wider and softer.

Hugs

If I was touring I would get the carbons, but since I do not i got 192 glass for resort... That is my rational...

Thanks for the input. I was thinking that the carbon's might have a lower swing weight. But the all this talk of the fiberglass being better crud busters has me wondering. Plus you might be right about the weight savings only being a benefit to skinning.

Take a look at post 467

The standard layup is still plenty light and I've never felt that the swing weight of Keith's fiberglass skis was at all heavy. I prefer the glass for resort and carbon for touring.

Sent from my VS840 4G using TGR Forums

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Originally Posted by BaconLeonardo

Thanks for the input. I was thinking that the carbon's might have a lower swing weight. But the all this talk of the fiberglass being better crud busters has me wondering. Plus you might be right about the weight savings only being a benefit to skinning.

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Just to throw a curveball, I really like the Carbon, I feel a definite difference in energy compared to the all glass layup of my Concepts, and for me the weight savings, makes the 187 (borderline too much ski for me) just that much easier to through around at (5,10 160). Not sure how this will play out over the course of a good powder day, but I'm hoping it will keep legs fresher longer. No question crud performance will be higher with glass, but i'm on the carbon train with these skis. BTW mine are mounted for resort only.

thanks for all the input. Since these are going to be my resort skis I'm going with the straight fiberglass set up. Once i have a few days on them i'll write up a comparison to the 190 bibby pros.

Cheers,

Bacon

BTW, shout out to Keith at Praxis. Best customer support from an owner this side of pretty much any geographic feature you can name.

Couldn't resist. Pulled the trigger on some 187 Special Edition's with the Carbon Layup. This makes 4 pairs of Praxis skis in the family and I still don't have any powderboards or protests(though the gf does). I need to get my priorities straight and buy some more skis.

Here's to not having a job and buying Keith's stoke anyway :)

Short non-technical review from the misses.

Medium flex fiberglass 182's mounted at -1. She loves them mounted there but we got her new boots so now she'll be closer to the dimple. I don't think she'll mind or notice but we'll see. She's 5'9" 140 and a strong skier but a weekend warrior. We were out at Bridger for the opening of the Schlakenballs (sp.? :biggrin:) lift which had about a foot of new from earlier this week some of the snow had a weird crust which she didn't say gave her any problems. No tip dive and easy to carve on the couple of groomers we skied and the cut up snow from earlier. She had the gummy stone and an explanation of how to detune but didn't find them at all hooky on traverses or any terrain really. She said she could carve but still retained the smeary feeling of the Surface LL 2's she skied last season, which she liked but lacked a more traditional feel.

In short if anyone has any questions for her let me know and I'll ask her. In short these skis are perfect for her and exactly what she wanted. Thanks to Keith and Praxis yet again.

Friend of mine visits town and leaves a brand new unused pair of GPOs with skins at my house. I get the green light to use them.

Binding maxes out 3mm too short for my BSL. Possibly the only pair in the country.

Disappoint.
http://kirstyne.files.wordpress.com/.../depressed.jpg

Really cool shape though. Glad I got a chance to fondle them. Damn. hmmm...

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Originally Posted by neck beard

Friend of mine visits town and leaves a brand new unused pair of GPOs with skins at my house. I get the green light to use them.

Binding maxes out 3mm too short for my BSL.

Disappoint.

Really cool shape though. Damn. hmmm...

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Just jam your feet in a smaller pair of boots. It will be worth it! :D

Cruel world…

The hope is we get enough new snow tonight to risk taking out a new pair of GPOs in the morning :eek:
:biggrin:

So had major double orgasim today/tonight - got to ski my 193 Praxis MVP and received my limited edition 192 GPOs... for now and more to come, but the MVP was the absolute best get it done ski I have been on... It got after it, it was a fucking breeze to ski and did any turn shape I wanted and I mean any turn shape... I own Line 115s, 191 Katanas, 190 Gold Gotamas and 186 Viciks (including customs) and the MVPs to me have to be the best balanced probably quiver of one ski I have been on... Will do a full review once I get more time on them, but this ski Keith nailed...!

The special edition GPOs get mounted tomorrow and will get on them as soon as the weather/conditions allow, but expect huge things from them after my maiden voyage on the MVPs...

Thread drift...what stiffness are your MVPs? I got piste jibs this year for a park and bump ski and while I do like them a lot, I don't really feel like I need a ski that narrow...I would use the 193 MVP for the same purpose...

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Originally Posted by SupreChicken

Thread drift...what stiffness are your MVPs? I got piste jibs this year for a park and bump ski and while I do like them a lot, I don't really feel like I need a ski that narrow...I would use the 193 MVP for the same purpose...

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SC - I went stock med/stiff flex... I truly could not believe how fast edge to edge and than I could just lay them over and rip fast GS turns... The skis are perfectly balanced and have a huge sweet spot... I could ski them centered or press the tips and the ski performed flawlessly... I could not have asked for more... There were no bumps, but I know this ski would be a blast...

After being on the MVPs I am even more stoked to get on my limited GPOs... My 191 BillyGoats may be sitting on the wall quite a bit this season...

Is there anyone here who has a GPO who also has ridden the Protest, preferably the wider OG Protest, but either will do. I love my original Protests on pow days, but could potentially be looking for something a bit more versatile for leftover days, etc

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Originally Posted by Duffman

Is there anyone here who has a GPO who also has ridden the Protest, preferably the wider OG Protest, but either will do. I love my original Protests on pow days, but could potentially be looking for something a bit more versatile for leftover days, etc

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IMO the GPO and Protest would make for a fine 2 ski quiver where I live. I've skied both generations of Protest. Yeah - the GPO covers firm snow, crud, variable, etc more comfortably. No shock there. The skis seem to like to be skied in a similar style - which I guess is also no surprise as they were both designed with/for Tabke...

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Originally Posted by Undertow

So had major double orgasim today/tonight - got to ski my 193 Praxis MVP and received my limited edition 192 GPOs... for now and more to come, but the MVP was the absolute best get it done ski I have been on... It got after it, it was a fucking breeze to ski and did any turn shape I wanted and I mean any turn shape... I own Line 115s, 191 Katanas, 190 Gold Gotamas and 186 Viciks (including customs) and the MVPs to me have to be the best balanced probably quiver of one ski I have been on... Will do a full review once I get more time on them, but this ski Keith nailed...!

The special edition GPOs get mounted tomorrow and will get on them as soon as the weather/conditions allow, but expect huge things from them after my maiden voyage on the MVPs...

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Unless I missed it... What is your mount point for the MVPs?

Great question...I wanna know that, too

Has anybody ordered the GPO in a medium flex? Wouldn't that make it more Automatic'ally and playful?

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Originally Posted by steveski

Just jam your feet in a smaller pair of boots. It will be worth it! :D

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I found a shorter BSL and am in the game!

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Originally Posted by steveski

Unless I missed it... What is your mount point for the MVPs?

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I mounted on the line and to me it is money... It is perfectly balanced and am glad I listened to Keith about the mount point... I spent more time on the ski last night and if the GPO lives up to all the hype than I am certain the MVP and GPO will be a killer 2 ski quiver... Some major thinning could occur...

I should add that I am 6'4" and 207 lbs...

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Originally Posted by superdigg

Has anybody ordered the GPO in a medium flex? Wouldn't that make it more Automatic'ally and playful?

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Not sure how playful the automatic is cause I've never skied it. MY GPOs are medium+ flex. Solid feeling with nice pop, but not what would i call a stiff ski. However playful is not a word I would use to describe the GPO. Its super easy to ski and incredibly maneuverable but is very directional and want's to go fast down the fall line. I don't get the impression that softening the flex will change that, I thinks it more a geometry question.

^^^^^

Agree. Mine are medium stiff carbon. I am considering a stiff fiberglass mounted at -1 for inbounds and turning my current pair into a touring rig.

^^

Don't agree. I mounted mine at -1, not listening to the advice of the, ahem, ski maker, and I find the ski to be 'off balance', in the sense that this mounting point is LIMITING the ski and forcing it to be directional and driver.

After a few days of really relaxed and playful testing, in various snow conditions and a lot of piste skiing, I can literally feel that a forward mount, that is, ON THE DAMN DOT, is the way to mount this ski. As I have them, -1, I feel the tips AND tails are catching too much on the snow, giving me a feeling of 'directional' and 'driver', especially in switch and when I am ripping hard down steep crud, or groomers. After a sunset descent down a closed piste (and after a good cigarette, this is really the way to get to know your skis), I am convinced that this is a super playful ski, even at low speeds, and on hard snow.

As far as GPO and MVP quiver goes, that sounds pathetically weak! I can only recommend you get a pair of Protests. Protest is the ultimate powder tool… although next year I'll get some powboards when they go on sale, so maybe its a bit naive to say 'ultimate'...

For he who doesn't have a Protest, you might consider mounting the GPO behind the line, for powder purposes. But I am convinced that this is a LIMITATION on the GPO, and probably won't even help the ski in deeper snow. And if you like to ski in deep fluff, get a damn pair of Protests!

Moral of this story: don't drill twice like your old friend Ayas, listen to Kieth and not JONGer September/October TGR reviewers!

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Originally Posted by AyasFreeski

^^

Don't agree. I mounted mine at -1, not listening to the advice of the, ahem, ski maker, and I find the ski to be 'off balance', in the sense that this mounting point is LIMITING the ski and forcing it to be directional and driver.

After a few days of really relaxed and playful testing, in various snow conditions and a lot of piste skiing, I can literally feel that a forward mount, that is, ON THE DAMN DOT, is the way to mount this ski. As I have them, -1, I feel the tips AND tails are catching too much on the snow, giving me a feeling of 'directional' and 'driver', especially in switch and when I am ripping hard down steep crud, or groomers. After a sunset descent down a closed piste (and after a good cigarette, this is really the way to get to know your skis), I am convinced that this is a super playful ski, even at low speeds, and on hard snow.

As far as GPO and MVP quiver goes, that sounds pathetically weak! I can only recommend you get a pair of Protests. Protest is the ultimate powder tool… although next year I'll get some powboards when they go on sale, so maybe its a bit naive to say 'ultimate'...

For he who doesn't have a Protest, you might consider mounting the GPO behind the line, for powder purposes. But I am convinced that this is a LIMITATION on the GPO, and probably won't even help the ski in deeper snow. And if you like to ski in deep fluff, get a damn pair of Protests!

Moral of this story: don't drill twice like your old friend Ayas, listen to Kieth and not JONGer September/October TGR reviewers!

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Meh. Preferences I guess. I mounted at -2cm. Very glad I did. No way would I be happy with the ski mounted on the dimple.

First off, I don't ski switch. Ever. So Ayas and I may have different definitions of what "playful" means. To me, a "playful" ski is one that will pop, pivot, turn, and slarve effortlessly. Playful skis generally want to be skied with an upright, centered stance. A "driver" or charger ski is one that wants to rally directly down the fall line all the time, is damp and stable, and needs speed. These skis generally want to be skied with a forward stance with heavy tip pressure.

In my mind, the GPO is designed to be a compromise ski between these two mutually exclusive styles. A ski that is capable of fall line charging, yet can pivot, slarve, and smear when desired. There are many skis that do either end of the spectrum much better.

I think the GPO, mounted on the line, probably falls a bit towards the playful end of the spectrum (by my definition) more than the charger, compared to other skis that I'd consider part of this category (Automatic, Billy Goat, Squad 7, Bibby Pro, etc.). It's definitely closer to the Automatic than to the Billy Goat. I mounted mine at -2 because I dislike skis that are too pivoty and playful and wanted a bit more of a charger feel. The overall shape still provides plenty of playfulness, and the -2 mount is still fairly centered compared to most true "charger" skis (Wrenegade, RC112, Dictator, Seeker, etc.).

Ayas, did you detune your GPOs? I find all of Keith's skis, including the GPO, to be ridiculously sharp when they come out of the plastic. The stock tune is (I believe) 1/1; I've learned to always retune at 2/1 and very aggressively (like multiple passes with a file at a 45 degree angle) detune the tapered parts of the ski. Every time I don't do this or don't detune enough (as I did the first day on my GPOs) the tips and tails engage way too hard. If you haven't detuned, this is more likely your problem with the ski, not the mount point.

^^

Good stuff there. I've not skied any of the otter skis you mentioned. But having bought the Freeride and Protest (and Protest 163 fer me lady) last year, I know all about the razors that come in long boxes from Praxisland.

But yeah, did hit the tips and tails with the whetstone, but not nearly with any kind of ratio precision. Just enough to keep my fingers from bleeding. I usually let nature take care of those kinds of precision adjustments.

But honestly, I don't think that is really the problem I was having with the ski. I would describe myself and my style as both directional and charger. Last year I skied 130 days, only using the bottom section of the lowest piste twice a day for the sole purpose of getting back to the village (and getting the lift back up). So, to stoke myself, if the terrain ain't life-threateningly gnarly, I charge hard, brah.

Which is why I chime into this discussion with the observation that my (limited) days on the GPO surprised me. I was trying to charge the shit out of the ski, and even skiing in waaay shittier snow than I normally would for testing purposes, when I realized that the ski was perhaps designed to be a bit more 'easy' than I was perceiving it to be. That's when I started to play around a bit and really try to feel the ski and how it wanted to run. Which is why I am suggesting that others think long and hard before NOT mounting on the line.

FWIW, I haven't brought the bindings forward yet. I was going to do it when I get back up into the mountains next week. I'll give it a few more days in the position I'm in, but I'm almost one hundred percent certain that on the line is the right thing (for me) to do. I doubt I'll sacrifice any charging potential, and I'm sure I'll gain some really heady maneuverability.

As adrenalated mentioned above, the GPO is closer to the Automatic than to the Billy Goat. Those are skis I know only through research and TGR wisdom (and ski porno). He wanted a charger feel. I definitely got a charger feel at -1, but I also got the feeling that if I moved up the binding, the ski would become something else, a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force.

And I agree that there are skis that are designed to do one end of the spectrum or the other, and do their end better than the GPO. But the GPO ain't about one thing or another. It's about all things, freeriding, at a competition level. And anyways, I don't agree that those styles you were talking about have to be 'mutually exclusive' (as if Sage doesn't charge!). Adrenelated, have you tried mounting on the dot?

AyasFreeski: I like your turn of phrase and expression. Keep the styled opinions rolling. :)

I lined up the tails of some 182 GPOs mounted on the dimple next to my 184 Wailer RPs

I was surprised to see that the GPOs, despite being 3cm shorter, have a mount about 3cm ahead of the Wailers.

neckbeard: I found the same thing with respect to my S7's back in the day, and concur with your 182 GPO vs 184 wailer112rp comment. DPS wailer mount point is relatively back compared to Praxis (and other skis).

Ayas, you talked about how they are similar to the automatics. I picked up a pair of the 192 gpo stiffs...but HATED the automatics. They couldn't charge in crud at all. Hope this isn't the case with the gpo's.....

Right on, Ayas. Those are all good points and make a lot of sense.

I guess I agree that to ski the ski optimally, as designed, you'd mount on the dimple. I just feel that mounting 1 or 2cm back, while changing the character of the ski somewhat, doesn't make the ski "unbalanced." I still find that it serves it's intended purpose well, though perhaps shifting it's character a bit on the spectrum.

So if I wanted to change the character of the ski by changing the mount, why not buy a different ski? Easy - Praxis durability, generally lighter than other comparable skis, custom options, and price/value.

To clarify - when I said that charging and playful were mutually exclusive, I meant that the ski design elements that create each category of ski are generally opposites. Playful = softer, more rocker, more sidecut, more taper, etc; charger = stiffer, straighter, longer, etc. The skier's style can most definitely blend the two elements together, which is of course why skis like the GPO exist :)

I have not mounted on the line, and won't because for me, how I ski, and what I want the ski to do, -2cm is perfect. It seems that the consensus here is that anything from 0 to -2cm skis great, depending on how exactly you want the ski to feel.

Yeah my mount is at the dimple as well. And yeah charging to playful is a pretty subjective spectrum. For me, my experience is

Garbones--------------GPO------------------Concept


"a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force"

Ayas-that's some really nice writing

I agree the GPO is pretty incredible in that it does not require speed to be nimble, slarvy and quick. Its just I felt when I was taking it easy, making turns at slower speeds, the ski was just there. Doing anything I asked no doubt, but it was almost like they were looking up at me like 'um...yeah...you see the bottom of the mountain? Go there now, fast" Then they would really come alive and give you goose bumps. Lightning quick, and giving you confidence to just point it, knowing that nearly instant direction changes are possible. Where the Garbones crushed terrain, the GPOs seem almost to meld into it...fucking cool.

The Concept is for me is a more magical unicorn. "You want me to lay some trenches in some EC boilerplate? yeah sure no problem" "You want to ski sideways through this patch of pow? Done". "bushwacking mission? count me in" So for me a 'playful' ski. By no means would I say the GPO is limited to charging, I just feel like it definitely wants to get down to it's business of eating up vertical, and skiing fast. All in all really complementary skis that can much pretty do everything, but coming from different ends of the spectrum.

JJChit-yesterday I skied chopped up leftover refrozen crud piles on top of a pure ice base, as fast as I could. Humbling conditions to say the least, and the skis were by no means the limiting factor (187 medium+ carbon).

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Originally Posted by AyasFreeski

^^

Good stuff there. I've not skied any of the otter skis you mentioned. But having bought the Freeride and Protest (and Protest 163 fer me lady) last year, I know all about the razors that come in long boxes from Praxisland.

But yeah, did hit the tips and tails with the whetstone, but not nearly with any kind of ratio precision. Just enough to keep my fingers from bleeding. I usually let nature take care of those kinds of precision adjustments.

But honestly, I don't think that is really the problem I was having with the ski. I would describe myself and my style as both directional and charger. Last year I skied 130 days, only using the bottom section of the lowest piste twice a day for the sole purpose of getting back to the village (and getting the lift back up). So, to stoke myself, if the terrain ain't life-threateningly gnarly, I charge hard, brah.

Which is why I chime into this discussion with the observation that my (limited) days on the GPO surprised me. I was trying to charge the shit out of the ski, and even skiing in waaay shittier snow than I normally would for testing purposes, when I realized that the ski was perhaps designed to be a bit more 'easy' than I was perceiving it to be. That's when I started to play around a bit and really try to feel the ski and how it wanted to run. Which is why I am suggesting that others think long and hard before NOT mounting on the line.

FWIW, I haven't brought the bindings forward yet. I was going to do it when I get back up into the mountains next week. I'll give it a few more days in the position I'm in, but I'm almost one hundred percent certain that on the line is the right thing (for me) to do. I doubt I'll sacrifice any charging potential, and I'm sure I'll gain some really heady maneuverability.

As adrenalated mentioned above, the GPO is closer to the Automatic than to the Billy Goat. Those are skis I know only through research and TGR wisdom (and ski porno). He wanted a charger feel. I definitely got a charger feel at -1, but I also got the feeling that if I moved up the binding, the ski would become something else, a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force.

And I agree that there are skis that are designed to do one end of the spectrum or the other, and do their end better than the GPO. But the GPO ain't about one thing or another. It's about all things, freeriding, at a competition level. And anyways, I don't agree that those styles you were talking about have to be 'mutually exclusive' (as if Sage doesn't charge!). Adrenelated, have you tried mounting on the dot?

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There is no doubt that a pair of 196 Protests will be in my quiver... The GPO and MVP are perfect for where I ski and the places I travel to, but have been lusting for the Protest... Especially after reading Blisters review...

And my 192 GPOs were mounted on the line as Keith was pretty insistent mounting on the dimple when I exchanged emails... His response was shorter, but what you wrote matched his reason for the mount point and the design...

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I definitely got a charger feel at -1, but I also got the feeling that if I moved up the binding, the ski would become something else, a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force.

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Nice writing indeed. But with all due respect not sure what you are smoking brah :biggrin: I want some of that chit! Moving a mount 1mm one way or another aint going to change how a ski, skis very much. It certainly aint going to change the charater fo the ski for you. I own two pair of GPOs. One mounted on the line..one mounted at -2.5cm after much consideration for both. I am still waiting for more snow to take them out here. May be tomorrow. I'll eventually offer my impression of both mounts.

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Originally Posted by superdigg

Has anybody ordered the GPO in a medium flex? Wouldn't that make it more Automatic'ally and playful?

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This is all based on what I've seen from the misses medium flex and hand flexing it. I could ski it but me on a 182 would do a disservice to the ski. I hand flexed the automatic sitting around waiting for her to buy boots and since I don't give a shit about A tomic (fucking linking) it was a pretty weak attempt to waste time but I'd say the GPO is stiffer but not by much. The build quality with regards to the ski feeling solid was much better on the Praxis. The misses seems to like it and doesn't find it too hard to ski and had none of the hooky bullshit that I had with my MVP's last year.

We ski at Bridger so a lot of must turn here and not a lot of open it up and go fast but I'm not sure that she couldn't do that. If you want we'll be up at BS which is totally different terrain and I'll let you know. I can go flex an automatic sometime soon and actually pay attention.

I got a chance to take out my 192 GPO med/stiff today at Sierra at Tahoe, we had a very cold storm that started Friday night and ended Saturday night. Very cold as in 3 degrees at 8 am Saturday (skied my Protest) and Sunday am at Sugar Bowl. So the snow was four days old but still soft in places. I was really surprised how easily they turn in softish moguls and tracked powder. I ski with shin pressure and the GPO's seemed to pivot with the tails sliding around the bumps. Keith and I exchanged six or so emails about mounting points, he started at 2-3 cm behind the dimple but as we emailed it finally became the dimple. They work great for me there. I generally like skis with shorter turning radius but they were a bunch of fun and can rail turns. I also own 200 Powder Boards mounted first on the dimple then moved forward 2.5 cm. My 196 Protest are mounted at Drew's spot 104.5 cm from the tip. My 187 Concept is mounted back 1 cm due to my BSL of 345, that was Keith's suggestion.

My point is so far only my Ullr's and GPO are on the mark, all others are somewhere else.

My plan for the GPO was a day or two after a storm but now I think they will get more use, a really fun ski that has broad use not as narrow as I thought.

As Marshall pointed out, the midsole of the boot should be in the middle of the sidecut, not the middle of overall ski length

After three day's at Big Sky I'm of the Ayas frame of mind. I'll be heading to Lost Trail for powder Thursday we'll see how that influences my opinion.

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Originally Posted by AyasFreeski

^^

Don't agree. I mounted mine at -1, not listening to the advice of the, ahem, ski maker, and I find the ski to be 'off balance', in the sense that this mounting point is LIMITING the ski and forcing it to be directional and driver.

After a few days of really relaxed and playful testing, in various snow conditions and a lot of piste skiing, I can literally feel that a forward mount, that is, ON THE DAMN DOT, is the way to mount this ski. As I have them, -1, I feel the tips AND tails are catching too much on the snow, giving me a feeling of 'directional' and 'driver', especially in switch and when I am ripping hard down steep crud, or groomers. After a sunset descent down a closed piste (and after a good cigarette, this is really the way to get to know your skis), I am convinced that this is a super playful ski, even at low speeds, and on hard snow.

As far as GPO and MVP quiver goes, that sounds pathetically weak! I can only recommend you get a pair of Protests. Protest is the ultimate powder tool… although next year I'll get some powboards when they go on sale, so maybe its a bit naive to say 'ultimate'...

For he who doesn't have a Protest, you might consider mounting the GPO behind the line, for powder purposes. But I am convinced that this is a LIMITATION on the GPO, and probably won't even help the ski in deeper snow. And if you like to ski in deep fluff, get a damn pair of Protests!

Moral of this story: don't drill twice like your old friend Ayas, listen to Kieth and not JONGer September/October TGR reviewers!

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What's your height and weight? Your ski length, lay-up and flex? BSL?

Just so I could identify with all you... Cable Monkey Gapers... I went and rode the lift all afternoon and tested out the GPO with plenty of repetition (182, medium, carbon, slightly detuned, Radicals, dimple, orange Maestrales).

After the first 10 days of this season on PowBoards and Protests my first thought was "feels like I'm back on my Wailer 112s".

They felt like neutral skis that rode easy and well across everything I skied.

I wasn't going to pay for a ticket at a hill down valley with some stepper terrain, so I went to the local lame-hill and rode boring short runs off the gondola 4 minutes from my house. So my test terrain didn't really test the ski like it probably deserves...

Knee deep 6-12 hour old 7% rimed powder in 25 degree tightish trees: nimble, some tip dive but that means nothing to me, I don't care. Felt great but perhaps I'd like a little longer. Generally I'd ride my 185 112RPs in this situation over the GPO. But the 112 is the perfect ski for that easy tree dancing stuff.

Totally chopped powder and very soft bumps: fun! I like skiing heavily tracked pow, never get the chance usually. The skiing was fast and nimble and pretty stable. Getting small airs off chop, lifting off a few rollers, solid touchdowns. Good light fun, but then I didn't have my heavy pack on at all, so I felt pretty free as it was.

Soft groomers: carves just fine, though not as tight and railed at the RP112, which is not a complaint. I'd really like to ski them on a long steeper groomer to look for some tip chatter. It was hard to get speed, so all I can really say is they turn easy on low angle.

I'd say the 182 medium GPO is a pretty different ski to a stiffer longer GPO.

Based on today, if I was forced to own only one ski for the next 6 months of backcountry touring at all elevations, I'd be happy with a GPO. Though the real test is on funky windboard.