Being past my prime and with not great knees I have stockpiled some 186's, which to me seem like everything you guys say about the 196. I am 6"1' and ~170 ish and have often wondered if the 196's would give me more ability to charge through the dreaded mid day chop without getting over stoked and gimping myself. I almost don't want to know. The 186 has certainly not done me wrong yet, and still has a ridiculous top end which I have yet to reach at least. I do wonder though, does that big turn radius need the extra length to fully realize it's damping potential in the chop?
On the 186 it's hard to imagine the purpose (outside of tight arcs on a groomer), of a smaller sidecut radius daily driver. These things just pivot around so easily when you need them to without hooking up, it's a damn miracle to have that in a ski with such a high speed limit as well. So glad they made one more run of these, I just have that slight nagging doubt about whether I should have just sacked up and went 196...Or if that would have just resulted in a full on overstoke situation and subsequent untimely post in gimp central. I just can't quite wrap my mind around my own dried up, twiggy-ass carcass having that much more power and speed at my disposal.
Maybe if I were on meth, atop a glorious 2000' AK spine line, and with Michelle Parker cheering me on...But back down here on earth, maybe it would be best if I just never taste of that forbidden fruit.
