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2Funky - so glad to read you post. We ski the same home mountain and I finally decided to see for myself "how cool is it?" and got some 196s off of Gear Swap. I have headed home or at least started having a lot less fun in those conditions you describe when it turns to shmoo. If you see the big Protests with trees top sheet give a shout out!
Just saying that these kind of days on the protest are worth every penny
Attachment 388552
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Drool…..
Those are the kinda days that make me regret not yet owning a WooTest.Quote:
Originally Posted by whyturn
Just go full Protest….Quote:
Originally Posted by doebedoe
I'm assuming all Protest owners have fairly large quivers, and I'm still trying to understand at what point the snow conditions will cause a person to grab their Protests over their ~115-wide skis. Like, when do people think the Protest will actually be the better tool for the job than their 115's?
It makes sense to me why people would like the Protests in lower-angle pow, trees, and schmoo, but I have a hard time believing they're gonna be better than my Bodacious or BMX 115 in the steeper stuff, particularly an hour into a pow day when that steep snow is getting real chopped up.
Nevertheless, this thread has made me far too curious to take anyone's word for it at this point. Got myself a pair of 4-flex 192's and can't wait to report back after a typical Snowbird pow-chop-day.
When I know my Protests will be better than my Lhasa Fats @117 under foot.
Crusts, heavy snow, new snow that has turned to rain. Huge dumps, heh. Spring slush. Bottom less, low angle pow.
The Lhasa slays pow as well just differently. Protests open up terrain differently, more playful, drift soooo nicely. Way more fun/quick in trees than Lhasa, though the new tail rocker did change that aspect of the Lhasa for the better.
Now chopped up hammered pow at a busy resort, Lhasa all day erry day.
Put me on top of a big steep line with a foot+ of new of fresh lines or with a few tracks and I’d be perfectly happy with either on my feet. They both would do it just fine but damn the Protest is so good in fresh or slightly tracked snow. But so is the Lhasa. They just feel different in a good way.
Adding my two cents to that ^^^ I've owned a few different iterations of the Lhasas and the OG Protests with Drew's topsheet. IMO, the Lhasas (and other Bros) come alive with speed. The more you commit, the more you get back. The Protests are more 'changed your mind? no problem!' That said, hardpack is a different story, and the Protest is definitely a quiver ski.
Got those for inbounds—should’ve specified for touring :)Quote:
Originally Posted by 2FUNKY
Fully agree. This is the third iteration of the Lhasa I’ve owned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Striker
Also adding that the stiffer 4 flex protest handles chop way better than the stock flex.
I feel like this is what's kept me from buying Protests. It's a ski I've known is special and epic since its release but have never felt like I had enough of those fully untracked days to justify them unless I got them primarily as a touring ski. Most pow days I'm lucky to get a couple runs where it's soft and untracked and the rest of the day is slamming chop and I'm happy to have the extra heft and versatility of my Bibbys. I'm also very unlikely to bring multiple pairs of skis to the hill and switch them out after a few runsQuote:
Originally Posted by 2FUNKY
I know I have to try them to understand it and mark my words I will have a pair at some point, but it's always been a hard sell despite knowing they're amazing
I'm in the exact same boat as you. Don't really tour. Race the crowds on powder days at Alta/Bird for most of my powder days each year. Get about 4 or 5 decently untracked runs on a powder day if I'm lucky. Then the rest of the day is skiing through some pretty choppy pow.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wes Mantooth
For example, this snow here is 11am-ish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYeZ6OhjuTY
I'm guessing Protest owners are still grabbing their 105-115's for these kind of conditions, not the Protests. If Protest owners are actually preferring their Protests for this kind of snow, then I'm shocked, in a good way.
Oh my, I’d protest the shit outa that soft fluffy chop happily. That’s where the stiffer 4 flex dominates over the stock flex. Lhasa would make quick work of it as well tho.
I've not had too many days with Mr. Funky on Protests but those that I have it doesn't seem like he's slowed down or hindered by Protests in anyway once it gets choppy.
If you can get an edge in, most specialty pow shapes are pretty fun in soft chop imho. And when you find that hidden pocket of 2-3 smeary pow turns you'll be glad you still are on them.
Ok ya'll I'm done asking questions about the Protests. I'll report back after I've given them a few days in these conditions. Never been on a particularly smeary ski before, so I'm pumped to get these out there and see how that feels.
Thank you all for the input!
I think you're going to find them much more versatile than you think.
Protests will be much more fun than your typical 115 waisted in ski in untracked snow that isn't pow. When everyone gives up on the South facing stuff you'll still be out there hooting. I had a day at Keystone last winter when I did exactly this. I met up with a buddy who skis there and we made some nice pow turns in the morning. He called it a day when everything was either skied out or turning to mush. I went and got my Protests (with tech bindings) from the car and spent a couple more hours skiing untracked heavy snow on a part of the mountain that I had to myself. Keystone isn't great, but this is one of the ways to make it pretty damn fun.
And they can make crusts ski a lot like pow. With all the float underfoot the tails release much more easily than a 5-point 115 waisted ski. Note the shattered chunks that are in and have slid down below my tracks, yet my turns are round and easy:
Attachment 388671
Or at a place like Wolf Creek where pockets of low angle pow in the tree can last a long time: Protests are just faster and more fun than a skinner "versatile" pow ski. They let you carry speed over little flat and uphill sections when you're milking the mountain for every last fresh turn.
And Protests are as fun as anything in soft chop.
Feel like I haven't seen much (anything?) from kid woo.. anyone know him? He ok?Quote:
Originally Posted by doebedoe
He’s alive.Quote:
Originally Posted by JayPowHound
they’re too short at 179 but I have a nice custom pair in wood veneer, 3 flex, drilled once for ATK 145s and I have a pair of those as well (the red BD ones; the gold ones pictured are on my 180 Solis which I will be buried with). they didn’t manage firm well enough for me to be all that comfortable on them. stupid fun in soft stuff though.Quote:
Originally Posted by doebedoe
if you’re interested, I’d let the skis or the kit go super cheap. I skied them ~30 days or so? they’re in 9/10 shape, no core shots. just squirrelly on packed down hiking trail exits / unexpected firm in couloirs, and I love the Solis too much to want to ski anything else anymore. I can’t remember the exact weight but pretty light, in the 1600g range iirc (I can weigh them if anyone cares)
Attachment 388687
Attachment 388688
I can dig up more pics or whatever if anyone’s keen. very cheap for established mags ($200 skis / 350 for the kit?)
Thank god those are too short for me cause that's a killer offer. Someone want to offer the same thing in a 186-190...LMK :).
Agreed!Quote:
Originally Posted by doebedoe
yeah they ski short too with all that rocker. 189 (or 188, whatever the next size up is) would be the sweet spot for me, and I ski shorter skis on average. but for a shorter person it’s a great quiver pow ski…
Sending PM...Quote:
Originally Posted by mall walker
What BSL are they mounted for? Very interested!Quote:
Originally Posted by mall walker
Likely going to pick up mallwalker's wootests as my new touring rig.
Have been skiing a pair of 184 Steeple 102s that I like the shape of, but I have decided are too long and heavy for my touring needs.
Am I right in thinking that the wootests will keep a lot of what I like in that shape, in a shorter/lighter package? My main concerns are no hookiness in weird snow, and easy slarves/pivots. I just want to be able to deal with weird BC snow.
Not overly concerned with hard snow performance. Even when I tour in the spring, I generally run into more hot pow and schmoo than I do true hard snow in the BC... so I think these woo's could fit the bill.
I wonder how my daughter would do on these? She's 5'6" 120 and her current quiver is 172 105 HP, 168 Yvette 112 and 166 Sheeva. She rips.
If she likes the 105 HP, look for the BMX 115. A much better all ski. I sold my Protests because I almost always grabbed my BMX 115s instead. I should of grabbed my BMX 115s for Japan instead of my Protests.Quote:
Originally Posted by schindlerpiste
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
mallwalker & snowaddict.
I have a pair of stock 187s that have only been skied three days. I found them too long for my short stature. BSL is 301. They've got Griffons mounted. LMK if interested
Quote:
Originally Posted by snowaddict91
Protest or wootest?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gate11
ProtestsQuote:
Originally Posted by snowaddict91
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...RhOXM0NXJDb2tR
mounted at 297 and now set for 302 (Helio 180s with the adjustment plate)Quote:
Originally Posted by CovertM
Thanks, I've already got a pair of 187s.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gate11
those look great Gate11. will you plan to replace with a 177, or are you trying something else?
I had a long email thread with Keith about it, and replaced them with 182 Qs...Hopefully inaugurating them in Revelstoke in 6 weeks!Quote:
Originally Posted by N1CK.
I live in Hawaii (which yes, has plenty of upside) -- we have zero ski shops. As a result, I end up buying on faith & research, which has worked roughly 50% of the time. I love love love my Praxis Backcountry skis (after lightly detuning tips and tails). However, even on a Cat Ski day, the Protests never clicked with me and I'm pretty sure it was length and weight.
Just saw this...Are they still available?Quote:
Originally Posted by mall walker
Thanks!
sorry - lord thomas got the woos for mrs thomas
Looking for a new pow ski for Tahoe area. Since pow days get sunbaked all too quickly, it sounds like this could be a good option to enjoy less than ideal conditions for resort or backcountry. I'm considering for a resort/sled ski. 5'11" 200lb. Currently on 190 Bibby. Would 187 be adequate or would I regret not bumping to 192? Thinking 187 to shave some weight for the uphill.
Almost same specs as you and own both 188 and 192’s. You will be fine on either one, go 4 flex tho.Quote:
Originally Posted by KM14
As someone who skis the 184 bibby / 187 Protest -- I think anyone who prefers the 190 Bibby will be better served by the 192 protest.Quote:
Originally Posted by KM14
Shave weight on your binders.