Praxis Protest..just how cool is it?

Stupid question of the week: what clamp for my 187 carbon Protests??

This will be a second touring rig with occasional resort use in addition to a 105 underfoot dedicated touring ski (190 Praxis BC). Inbounds skis are 180 Brahmas and 190 Bibbys.

Options:

1) Sollyfit with Plums... I just don't trust those Plum toes, so might replace the toes with Dynafit vertical toes. As a result, this is not a zero cost option. Currently mounted on my BCs, but could insert those for double duty. Then again, the Sollyfits would allow both alpine and tech binders to be used with only one mount.

2) Kingpin. Might be the best choice as the lighter weight (compared to Beasts) would make rotating these onto my BCs more palatable. The flat touring mode is also a plus. I could still insert for some alpine binders (but haven't looked at hole conflicts).

3) Beast 16. Heavyweight, best ride (according to the reviews).

Any insight from the masses?? Should I just go with the red ones?

I'd go beast 14's, should be great on resort and short tours, but only because you already have a dedicated BC rig (and they're red!)

If you hit the kiddy park rails on the way to the car, beast 16. If not, go 14. Benefit of kingpin is the no need for heel insert. G3 ion can/should also be on the radar. It's already such a big ski...I don't mind the extra grams on my beast/billy goat setup. Worth it at the top to feel locked in.

I would just use Ions (or Radical FTs) unless you really need > 12 DIN

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Originally Posted by adrenalated

Let's talk mount point on the Protests.

Just picked up a pair of 187s with the standard fiberglass layup and a stiffer than stock flex (right on the line between Med+ and Med/Stiff, according to Keith.

The dimple is at 8cm back from true center. I have a pretty traditional, tip driving style and tend to prefer my Praxis mounted a little back from where Keith recommends. For example, I love my GPOs at -2cm (so 9cm back from center) and wish I had mounted my last pair of Freerides at -1cm instead of on the line. I generally hate center mounted skis.

I seem to remember some talk that the dimple was once at -9cm and got moved forward to -8cm. So, I'm thinking of mounting at -1cm or -2cm from the dimple (or -9cm from true center).

Thoughts, especially from those that have time on GPOs as well?

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Trying to figure this out as well, would like to hear from people on the more current models.

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Originally Posted by EEC

Trying to figure this out as well, would like to hear from people on the more current models.

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FWIW I ended up going -1cm from dimple and they feel great.

I have I guess second gen protests. Originally I had bishops on em and I found that the sweet spot was fairly large. Moving the bindings around over the 3cm range had little noticeable difference on the soft snow performance. I'll have to look to figure out where my tech bindings are currently mounted but I'm thinking -1.5 and they are fine. Great skis.

In the process of mounting up some 187 carbon Protests with inserts for Beast 14 and Pivots. Back country on the deep deep days (GPO UL 187 for normal BC use) and deep-ish days for partial lift-serviced, hike-to (stepping up from a 186 Sickle).

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Originally Posted by Roundabout

In the process of mounting up some 187 carbon Protests with inserts for Beast 14 and Pivots. Back country on the deep deep days (GPO UL 187 for normal BC use) and deep-ish days for partial lift-serviced, hike-to (stepping up from a 186 Sickle).

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You've got the best days covered

Thanks! If I'm going to have a set of days covered, I want it to be those ones. After a mediocre season last year I'm hoping for a Field of Dreams type scenario this season: if you mount them, pow will come.

I mounted my 187 med/stiff layups on the dimple. Pretty stocky at 5'9" / 180lbs and have a forward stance - only great things to say about it at the dimple ... ski was incredible in deeper back country snow. Had a sweet afternoon riding around warm, drizzly pineapple express interior BC slush on them too ... Incredible versatility and will have them in the ski bag on any trip I reckon

Thanks for the feedback on mount points, thinking I will go with on the dimple.

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Originally Posted by EEC

Thanks for the feedback on mount points, thinking I will go with on the dimple.

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Good call

I want a pair of the 192's. Got some good trades for when someone try's them and wants to shift em.

Just bumping this thread because my love of the 196s continues.

Going to mount up my 196 and not liking how far forward the dimple is. I have a huge boot (345) so I usually default to -1 on most mounts. Definitely planning on going at least -2, has anyone gone -3 on 196 or am I crazy?

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Originally Posted by SWskier

Going to mount up my 196 and not liking how far forward the dimple is. I have a huge boot (345) so I usually default to -1 on most mounts. Definitely planning on going at least -2, has anyone gone -3 on 196 or am I crazy?

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I went on the line, but I only have a 317ish BSL. I think on the line is the only way to go on any ski, but if you usually mount a little bit back, stick with it!

To answer the thread's original question - really fucking cool!

Posting this in a couple places because it's worth folks seeing it.

FWIW I have gone back -1.5 from the line on my pair and holy shit - makes a huge difference. Still amazing and untouched but can actually be driven elsewhere. No tip dive or handle bar feeling. How cool is this ski? You couldn't pry these from my dead hands now.

Think I'll have to remount my 187s as well......I feel like I'm in a rocking chair. Especially in heavier snow. I've ended up skiing my 186 BGs instead as they float better and are more predictable. Maybe I'll sell the Protests and get a new pair of C&Ds. My 08/09s are dying.

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Originally Posted by TripleT

Posting this in a couple places because it's worth folks seeing it.

FWIW I have gone back -1.5 from the line on my pair and holy shit - makes a huge difference. Still amazing and untouched but can actually be driven elsewhere. No tip dive or handle bar feeling. How cool is this ski? You couldn't pry these from my dead hands now.

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I hear ya. My old 177's were at -1.5 and full charge anywhere with zero tip dive and no deflection in chop. Thought I'd mount the new 187's on the dimple but I think it takes away from being able to drive the tips. Going to go back to atleast -1. Still having fun pivoting them around the hill but I miss that intuitive feeling I had at -1.5

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Originally Posted by sf

Think I'll have to remount my 187s as well......I feel like I'm in a rocking chair. Especially in heavier snow. I've ended up skiing my 186 BGs instead as they float better and are more predictable. Maybe I'll sell the Protests and get a new pair of C&Ds. My 08/09s are dying.

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This is odd to me but in any case there's a pretty decent deal on a sweet pair of CnD's in the gear swap with FKS on em, sweet setup for sure, just a heads up

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Originally Posted by eskido

This is odd to me but in any case there's a pretty decent deal on a sweet pair of CnD's in the gear swap with FKS on em, sweet setup for sure, just a heads up

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Thanks, but as I'm in Norway that's not really an option.

Re: the skis.......I'm not sure what's going on. I'm trying to ski centered, but when I hit heavier cut up snow I get pushed back onto my heels, which I have to correct by pushing my weight forward......but the skis don't like that. It sort of overpowers them and gives me the feeling of going over the bars, In lighter, untouched snow they are great. I had the same feeling on a pair of 138s I had a few years ago. Never been a problem on C&Ds or two pairs of BGs.

Doubt it matters much but, I don't "try" to ski mine centered they just put me in that balance point, haven't experienced what your describing but I know they're not a ski to be over corrected, they just don't need to be. But FWIW a LOT of peeps here like em mounted back, -1.5 seems the consensus. Personally I dig em at the dimple but everyone's a bit different obviously when it comes to how you ski a ski, sounds like your right about moving back a bit

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Originally Posted by eskido

Doubt it matters much but, I don't "try" to ski mine centered they just put me in that balance point, haven't experienced what your describing but I know they're not a ski to be over corrected, they just don't need to be. But FWIW a LOT of peeps here like em mounted back, -1.5 seems the consensus. Personally I dig em at the dimple but everyone's a bit different obviously when it comes to how you ski a ski, sounds like your right about moving back a bit

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Yeah, I'll probably try moving back before next season. Need a few more days on them before deciding. And a day with proper blower.

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Originally Posted by sf

Yeah, I'll probably try moving back before next season. Need a few more days on them before deciding. And a day with proper blower.

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In my experience going back doesn't sacrifice any performance in deep untouched snow but you gain a lot in every other condition. So I'd guess waiting for blower will just tell you what you already know - they are stooopid fun in those conditions.

how many people in this thread are on the newer version Protest?
I have the original 188s (awesome) so I guess I'm just curious about how the subtle changes worked out.

i had buyers remorse for not going w/ the 192s initially but will never sell my med/stiff carbon 196's that i ordered this past summer. after ~10 days on them i cant really think of anything i would change. my 192 L138s have seen snow once this year as i genuinely prefer the protests in most 3D snow and terrain scenarios and they take the misery out of the high T on the way out and return trail back in.

6'1" 225lbs mounted -1 from dimple or -9 from true center iirc

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Originally Posted by N1CK.

how many people in this thread are on the newer version Protest?
I have the original 188s (awesome) so I guess I'm just curious about how the subtle changes worked out.

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I'm also very curious about the original vs. the current, 188 vs. 187...

Love my 188s, but might have to replace them, which I'm not happy about.

Bumping this due to picking up some 188 protest and was wondering what bevel guys are putting on the edges and how much gets detuned and how aggressive of a detune. I was thinking about doing a 1.5 base/ 2edge bevel and detune the living shit out of the taper sections with a file leaving only the small sidecut section under foot sharp. ??

I didn't put any bevel on my 187s but did the exact detune your talking about, ski like a dream

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Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

Bumping this due to picking up some 188 protest and was wondering what bevel guys are putting on the edges and how much gets detuned and how aggressive of a detune. I was thinking about doing a 1.5 base/ 2edge bevel and detune the living shit out of the taper sections with a file leaving only the small sidecut section under foot sharp. ??

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I just detuned contact points outwards, and not particularly aggressively.

Congratulations, and welcome aboard; they are magic slippers.

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Originally Posted by Island Bay

I just detuned contact points outwards, and not particularly aggressively.

Congratulations, and welcome aboard; they are magic slippers.

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Thought about starting there and ski them with a gummy in my pocket and detune more towards the sidecut if warranted.

I hope so, I have been wanting to own a pair for a long time and finally just said fuck it. Plus I got a great deal on them so it really was a no brainier.

First day in mine with 10" of fresh, patrol opened another chair that had not been touched so it was stupid deep. Such an effortless ski. Really bummed I hadn't jumped on the wagon sooner. Mounted at 102.5 from the tip. Silly fun ski. Zero hooking, make any turn shape you command. Command is to heavy a word, just think it and they do it.
Huuuge turns, fine, tighten them up to avoid tree tips, ok, throw sideways to dump speed, pffft.
Wind pack pow was crazy easy to ski as well. Groomers we're easy and as long as they were at all soft they would carve just fine.

2funky sees the light ... :cool:

Nice!! They just get moar better and moer bettr too

In more open terrain I could easily see myself on a 196.

I also expected a leaning curve, nope, nada. I did learn some of the subtle nuances of the ski though. For the most part though, it was totally intuitive.

Welcome to the club. I didn't see the light till last year but I will never sell my 196s

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Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

In more open terrain I could easily see myself on a 196.

I also expected a leaning curve, nope, nada. I did learn some of the subtle nuances of the ski though. For the most part though, it was totally intuitive.

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My thoughts as well, almost zero learning curve, stoopid intuitive in the soft. I def had a learning curve on the run outs, but honestly after a couple days on em I grew to enjoy the ride back to lift, not confidence inspiring but still fun. Once again I cannot understate how great of a touring stick these are on the way down, handles all type of BC snow very well. That why the chx sounded so awesome... still does, interesting how the Q will compare with those offset edges vs the rocker/shape profile of the Protest???

I got a pair of 177s last year for Xmas, as they were sitting in a nearby consignment shop (new!) and she got tired me ogling them. I was worried they'd be way too short (I'm 5'8", 140), but as a pow touring stick w/dynafits they are fucking perfect. Quick and deal with any 3D snow. Just a blast. Love them.

Praxis Protest - so easily surfed and pivoted that I don't even like fresh pow turns on my Bibbys anymore. **sigh**

A good problem to have.

Me wonders if the new Quixote surfs and pivots like the Protest, but with a big mountain feel.

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