^ this tracks… for me, anyway.
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^ this tracks… for me, anyway.
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first few runs on the comps today... unfortunately kids became ill so had to bail early...
I enjoyed the AM version and would ski them if I wanted to slow down a bit, but THESE are the droids. The maple metal sandwich is the shit. The cushion for the pushin. Quiet, powerful, precise. It's double the ski of the AM flavor. Strong vibes of im102/supermojo, which I spent probably 200 days on... but with an updated tip and carveable radius that makes it easier to ski and floatier while being stiffer. A modern shit-kicker.
lucknau, I think you're insane for skiing these without detuning. I did what I'd call a standard blend ~15cm in from the tail and ~20 from the tip, plus a couple diamond swipes along the whole length, and may do a touch more next time out, but was happy with how the skis behaved in a bunch of conditions. Chalk and cold buff to boot top pow to sun-baked-refrozen steeps to groom, all predictable and fast af. Could shut em down when needed and they were very much more manageable than I expected given the stiffness. No detune sounds scary.
Bravo Marshal, these are sweet.
Nice reviews doods!
I too am tweaking my detune Norse. Thanks for your detune points as mine was looking to be similar.
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... and I'll post some more thoughtful comments as I get more miles on these bad muthas. My hot take above is pretty useless.
- edited to clarify that it's my words - not Funky's - that are lame
I was hoping to ski them this weekend again but had to ski pow instead….Quote:
Originally Posted by Norseman
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Well, the 185 R120 Comp (2550g) and 180 R99 Comp (2200g) both arrived... Holy F they both turned out sweet.
Still waiting for 3 more boxes (more 188 R99, 182 R87, 175 R87)... and still battling with FedEx to figure out what is delivery timing. sigh.
Boycott Fedex Forever.
(edited for typo)
Assume that should be 182 R87, not 99?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal Olson
correct! good catch. will update.
Phew!Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal Olson
I haven't been through all 40+ pages of the Heritage Labs thread to find out, but can we get a direct flex comparison for the 188 R99 Comp? "Stiff" and "very stiff" only put it in a ball park, and I need ca. 2010 historical data because I'm old now. Are we talking B Squad or Titan Pro?
They're noticeably stiffer than the 184 OG LP that have an unknown number of days since new and also stiffer than the 192 LPR. In the hand, they feel as heavy as the LPR. These are going to rip.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZomblibulaX
Attachment 453439
I just got notice that the bindings were delivered today. The plan is to get them drilled and on the snow tomorrow.
If you’re a strong technical skier who likes to ski faster than most in all conditions then I would lean to the Comp. They ski weird crusty shit fuck better then the AM.Quote:
Originally Posted by GBB
Think head Monster 98 or im103. Been a while since I’ve skied those but these feel similar but not so one dimensional. Maybe a slightly more approachable tip? Maybe it’s the tail, can’t quite put my finger on it in just the one day on them is spring like conditions. Maybe it’s the shape. They want the fall line but can get loose with some rider input and make a little smaller turn shape if needed. Only skied the B squad one day a long long time ago so my memory is fuzzy, they were maybe slightly stiffer in the tip and tail. Hopefully marshal will chime in as he has been on the Monster series closest to this ski very recently. This are very similar to my head monster 82, 183 liquid metals in flex. Just a touch softer in the very tip.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZomblibulaX
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Day 2
Skied fast groomers and steep tree pow leftovers on repeat most of the day. Also some moguls and tree luge trails.
Tree pow was lovely, tracked out cold snow chutes were a blast. I wouldn’t be disappointed if I ended up somewhere with just these skis available and 12” of fresh snow.
Moguls were fine. Boots together, pretend it’s the 80s, and zipper down.
Tree luge was scary. I dunno…
Had a few high speed moments of extreme clarity today on the groom. Detuned the tips and tails as soon as I got home.
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yeah, my go to “modern” reference ski is the Head Monster. I would say the R99 comp is comparably stiff overall, just a little more round in flex distribution. Where the monster has extremely stiff shovels and relatively soft tails, the R99 is more balanced. the Legends are an inverse. Relatively softer tips and comparably stiff tails as the R99 Comp.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZomblibulaX
the R99 is decidedly a full notch softer than the Faction Thirteen, which if memory serves was similarly stiff to the Titan Pro - which was not a friendly ski at all, lol!
it’s been close to 15 years since I last owned a pair, so may be off a touch, but my guess is the R99 will give off Tanker vibes. Substantial, but friendly, fun, energetic and rewarding for a strong skier.
[emoji51][emoji16]Quote:
Originally Posted by lucknau
Attachment 453524
I feel like a kid on Christmas morning.
Quick review: no surprises. Damp, stable, strong. Easy to ski fast. Able to ski slow (am I skiing slow?)
I did a quick detune of the tips and tails last night when I mounted but I think I’ll go a little further on the tails before heading too far into the chunder and try to get some more wax in the bases. They were a little grabby down low in the refrozen granular.
Overall, I’m not sure I’ve ever skied on a pair of skis that were of such high quality. Thanks to Marshal for the effort and time that’s gone into this project.
Yeah, the Titan Pros had a punishing tail, but they were stupid quick and agile for a ski like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal Olson
Tanker comparison is good, I've been rallying mine for the last few weeks and love 'em. Good to see pics next to other skis, it's a long 188.
Good info in this thread, thanks all!
This ski must absolutely crush.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal Olson
At 185, I bet it skis a lot like the 190 lab, but with a proper long radius and balanced flex profile that doesn't lock you into a slalom turn.
Stoked to hear the reviews come in.
Agreed, anyone get on these yet? I’ve got to be honest I’m not sure exactly what these are for - powder? Chop? Obviously going very fast through whatever but how do you compare/decide between the comp 120 and the FL113? At 120 underfoot I normally think powder ski but the stiff build, flat tail, etc sort of point toward firmer conditions. Scratching my head a bit but also feel like I need them for some reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackattack
The Comp R99s are a great ski. I echo what Norseman and jackattack said earlier. The maple metal layup is awesome. The skis are damp, stable, strong and they can absolutely crush. I am a fan of these skis.
Can’t FKNA wait….. mine should be arriving this week!!!! Where are the collective mounting these? Thinking minus 9 at the moment.
I put mine on ze line and wouldn’t change them. I skied the shit outa mine Sunday/Monday in pow. They rule. Will throw up a full breakdown later.Quote:
Originally Posted by iriponsnow
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Minus 9 would be +2 of the line, fwiw
Easily the best ski in the this class that I've skied. Full stop.
I used to ski the Head Mojo 94 as my daily driver, and I have skied A TON of ~90 - 99mm waist skis and haven't found the magic I felt in the Heads. Until I skied the R99 Comp. It's like my Mojo 94 but with more tip float and a looser feel off edge.
Hard Groomers: check
Soft Groomers: check
Steep Hard Groomers: check check
Wind blown "race pow": check
Knee deep day old: check
1/2 melted/refrozen sun affect groomers: check
"Packed pow" moguls: check
Carved SL turns: yup
Carved GS turns: youbetcha
Short radius skidded turns: oh yeah
Slidey stivot long radius turns: you know it
Straghtline in crud: yeah buddy, go faster
Marshal, I'm sold on these skis. FKNA.
At the end of every run, my remark to 2Funky and Kopi_Red was... damn these skis FUCKING RIP
Mine are mounted on the line and I really like them there. The ski is pretty balanced at that mount point. The tail on the Comp R99s is the real deal.Quote:
Originally Posted by iriponsnow
While skiing boot top to knee deep pow I tried easing off the shin pressure as to ski in a more centered stance. That was an ill advised decision. Immediately the tail showed up and told me who was boss. After that I got back in the driver’s seat and it was all good.
Personally I’d be a little apprehensive about mounting too far forward. The tail of the ski could feel a little long and it could be a handful.
I'd venture to say irip has skied more skis out of the blossom factory than the rest of us postulating in this thread combined.
Didn’t think Blossom had this exact ski? Plus he also asked where others mounted them, no? Anyhow, irip, mount them at -9 and report back mang.
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Irip,
FOR THE 180CM:
- Line is -11.5 on the 180s
- Center of sidecut (ski waist) is -11
Going to -9 would be +2 of the sidecut. Which isn't terrible, the ski will pivot with less input, and on edge, the ski will want to carve down the fall line a little more vs. finishing the turn and come across the fall line (as it would around the line). However, very few people will need/want more tail on the comp... but you are a good candidate, haha.
Easy science experiment tho. And Always easy to move back if needed.
I should get your pair out today or tomorrow, FWIW.
Thankx, I have really been loving -9 of late, but I really appreciate the input.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2FUNKY
That's the spirit.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2FUNKY
Just to be clear / transparent, I have not skied any Blossom near this shape since the OG PM Gear Bro Model. Beyond stoked to see if this is a model update to that stick or id Marshal is a mad scientist- or both.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackattack
Thanks brother, I am a guy who appreciates a lotta junk in that trunk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshal Olson
Has anybody mounted up and skied the R120 Comp yet? Any recommendations on mount point from people who have been on-snow with this ski. I know the recommended mount point is -11 and "-1 for full directional feel or +1 for a more neutral pivoty ride," but I'm curious if anyone has 1st hand experience.
Spent last Sunday and Monday on the R99 in some very mixed conditions ranging from firm to knee deep pow.
My impressions:
Sunday, second half of the day at Schweitzer on them, well Kopi_Reds pair.
I went to a pretty serious detune on mine behind the bindings. 4 swipes with a red gummy entire length then smoothed the edge 6” up from tail. They release much better now and still lay RR tracks in the firm.
Conditions: 4-5’ wind packed pow, chopped pow, firm groomers, cut up groomers, mid shin chunder, mix of firm and soft bumps with excellent visibility.
Whooo boy! They smooth everything out. Press the tips and get sum. In deeper heavy chop at speed they want that 24m radius which feels so good. I was also able to bend the ski into smaller turns as needed. So damp and composed.
Bumps are no big deal now with the detune, snake through or smash them, your choice.
Boot top wind pow or chopped pow was laughable, just stand on them and freakin send it. So gratifying. The tip on these is rather genius as they never went to the bottom, hung up, hooked or got hingey. So planted and trustworthy.
Monday at Silver back on my pair with no crowds and pow ranging from boot top to knee deep. Granted I would normally bring other skis for this but I wanted to ski them in these conditions to see how they did. Boy did they surprise me, in a very good way.
The tips will bring you towards the surface when unweighted between turns and never send you to the bottom. You are definitely in the snow but not on bottom. They do plane up but want to carve pow instead of surf, understandably. They love tip pressure here and will punish you for bad form or trying to steer from the mid foot or god forbid the tail. I’m totally fine with that as I like to drive skis but when skis like the centered type stance I can go there as well.
Skied some steep firm chalk in the trees, make any turn you want, slide them then point it to a comfy ride out the bottom at speed.
I now see myself skiing this ski for a lot of the days that we get less than 6” or it is going to get chopped up quickly.
The ski does nothing you don’t tell it to and craves rider input. They will get loose easily with the detune, they are sharp af out of the wrapper. Damp, not overly so, composed, charge or don’t it’s cool, they looove to charge tho. I tried to find a fault but really can’t. For what they are designed for they absolutely kill it.
I’m in complete love with this ski and cannot wait to step into them again.
This ski is the perfect blend of the Monster 98/108, Legend Pro rider but with a better flex profile, tip splay and slight tail splay.
Bravo Marshal, bravo!
Edit to add that these skis will ski slower more moderate speeds happily and easily. They don’t need to go mach schnell all the time, though they will comply and reward it.
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Attachment 455351
Pondering mounts…..
Attachment 455352
They’re gonna make you sell the Bonafides
These were on my bench when I got back from some, sloppy lunch laps. Unfortunately there were no heel tracks in the box! I kinda need those, B!
Attachment 455426
Also, I’m really impressed with the build quality and the grind. Usually boutique brands are awful out of the wrapper, like not even skiable. These are freaking mint!
I'm wondering about that as well. Seems like these would probably address my only complaint with them (the small turning radius).Quote:
Originally Posted by jackattack
I am curious as this ski appears to be identical to the Blossom Pure 99. Same shape, dimensions, build etc. Would be very surprised if it were not the same mold. What is different? Flex, thickness of titanal etc? Blossom builds a fantastic ski so no question about great build quality.
Bruh, check the box for tracks and brakes! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by buttahflake
Thanks & see ya Friday!