You would like them. They are an awesome whistler ski for someone your size.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bamski
They are heavy but you can still ski them pretty lazy.
Animas are also way too pricey for what they are.
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You would like them. They are an awesome whistler ski for someone your size.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bamski
They are heavy but you can still ski them pretty lazy.
Animas are also way too pricey for what they are.
Day 2 on the Black Ops. Whistler got a few cm overnight so I was able to get them in up to around half a foot of fresh and a bunch of chop. I continue to be amazed by how stable they are while also being so easy to ski. You barely have to adjust your technique between skiing a groomer vs. pow vs. a big bowl of chop. Just tilt them on edge, let them run, and throw them sideways to scrub speed if/when needed. It helps to stay a bit more centered on the ski and pointed down the fall line when skiing through chop, but it's incredible how they seem to smooth out rough snow. Landing drops feels also less jarring compared with other skis I've been on - you're in the air, and then suddenly you're skiing again without having noticed an impact.
I feel like I should include some caveats along with the stoke, so I'll note that it did take a run or two to adjust to the swing weight, having started the day on tired legs. They also need a little speed to really shine, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend them if you ski a lot of trees, bumps or mellow terrain (e.g. they might not be my first choice for Whistler on a day when the alpine wasn't expected to open). And I'm on the smaller side (5'8, 165) so they might not have the same magical blend of stability and intuitiveness for someone larger.
What’s your BSL? Beers for demos? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Jongle
Bamski FWIW my resort quiver is primarily the Enforcer 104 (185cm) and Black Ops 118 (186cm). I think they are perfect combo and love them both.
Agree with others the black ops love speed. The faster you go the more fun they are. I don’t find the weight an issue in PNW trees. As long as you are a relatively physically strong skier, you’ll be fine.
Only have ~5 days on mine so far. Never thought I’d find a ski I liked more than the OG Bibbys (before they went and made them light) but the black ops might be it.
I’m 30, 6” 165 lbs.
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285. And sure, if we’re both up on the same day you’d be welcome to take them for a couple of laps. Feel free to shoot me a PM.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bamski
This makes me happy. My trusty old bibby's are getting retired. Black ops are sitting on my bench waiting for me to get around to mounting them (motivation is low since it apparently doesn't fucking snow here anymore).Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Skier206
I see you're at -2 on the black ops. Where were you on the bibby?
I was on the recommended line for the Bibby’s and I thought that was spot on. If I remember correctly the Bibby’s are -6cm and Black Ops are -2.2 so even -2cm from there is still -4.2.Quote:
Originally Posted by toast2266
Unless you spin a lot or ride switch I don’t see why you would want them at the line.
The review blister did on the ski is pretty spot on imho and they discuss mount point.
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Right on, thanks. I'm mostly just back and forth on mounting at -2 (which plenty of people in here seem to like) and -3 (which is discussed a bit on the blister thread, and would be a bit closer to the bibby mount point).
I should probably stop over thinking this. -2.5 is the likely outcome.
Measure out -5cm from true center and drillQuote:
Originally Posted by toast2266
There you go with your "logic" and "rational solutions."
Fuck that. I'm gonna spend another week fretting about a couple millimeters.
Ah makes sense on the -2 vs -3.
If you really drive your skis (racing background) I could see -3 making more sense.
But if you guess wrong you’ll probably hate skiing for the rest of your life.
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Just spent five days on the Sender Squads skiing a range of variable conditions at Mammoth. Bomber sweet spot under foot, loving them. Easy to carve, smear or feather. Grippy on hard snow. All the weight feels consolidated under the middle two thirds of the ski. They weigh about the same maybe a touch lighter (~2430g) as the 192 Cochise 106s and 191 Katana 108s. Freakishly light swing weight feel but the tips are damp and hold up. At first it almost feels like they're not there but you get used to the feel. Tails strong and supportive but weren't punishing and easy to stay on top of. Grabbed them over the Katana 108s most mornings, was really digging on the different feel.
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They sound sick, you mount on the line or -2?Quote:
Originally Posted by bry
-2 line...Emailed w Rossi and they said the zero line is 88.9 cm from tail (about -8), so that put me at about -10.
That and the air tech shit in the tips/tails makes them feel relatively quick and responsive and they tracked really well for me, never really got knocked around. They don't ski long by any means.
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looking at the sender TI as a 1 quiver Alta ski. Worried they'd be too narrow. how do they compare to the sender squad?
Currently on the 2020 super 7 HD in a 180 and loving the playfulness of those in basically all snow conditions, but they're pretty beat up after 1.5 seasons.
5 8, 140-145, my current super 7 is the shortest ski i've skied in several years
Cool, the dimples on my pair are 90.5 from tail, you mind measuring yours too?Quote:
Originally Posted by bry
I’ll probably start on the zero line and go back if I don’t like it. The low swingweight sounds fun for tricks
90.5!
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I love my Wildcat 108s, but after skiing them back to back with the Black Ops over a couple of days, they might now be redundant. The Black Ops are more fun to carve (at any speed, but especially high speeds), way more stable, and just as loose/pivoty. The WC108s are lighter in the air and easier to throw around, but that's about the only attribute where they have the edge. This is sacrilegious, but I can imagine paring down the inbounds quiver to just the Black Ops, or Black Ops + a narrower ski that only comes out in very firm conditions.
Going against the grain here, well kind of. I caveat the following by stating I am no doubt a worse skier than most here.
I've skied the BO 118 for 4 days this year, and while I do like them, I don't love them... at least not yet. I still prefer my QST 106 for the majority of days at Whistler so far. I find I can drive the QST more through the shovels and get a bit lower, which in turn gives me confidence to ski harder (I mounted the Black Ops - 5.5). I can also make quick adjustments on the QST much easier as it is obviously lighter and quicker edge to edge. As a result I find moguls and troughts and other tight stuff easier on the qst too. I can also carve the qst better. Also for when I have to turn a lot on steeps or on rough snow with bad vis (Whistler bowl whiteout at 2pmish today) the qst is easier for me, again adjustments. The Black Ops is better for bulldozing through 3d snow, and for skiing switch.
I haven't got the Black Ops out in real pow yet, so maybe that will change things for me. However I'm not enjoying it enough to be an almost one ski quiver like Luke at Blister and many others.
Most of the above is probably just skier ability and possibly preference, and I may just need more time with it for it to click.
I’ve skied the QST 106 a fair bit (at least the 19/20 version) and I agree with everything you said. I think it just comes down to the way you prefer to ski. Drive the shovels, carve more and make more turns = QST 106. Ski more centered, jump off stuff and make big turns through variable snow = Black Ops. They’re both great in pow, so I don’t know if that will end up swinging you more towards the Black Ops.Quote:
Originally Posted by AintEZbeingSteezy
Anyone else running these as a soft snow DD? Have narrowed down my next ski buy to something wider than 105 and seems like this could be more versatile than Wildcat 108, Woodsman 108, etc. but still a little nervous about pulling the trigger on something this wide. I like to ski squirrelly steeps and then run bases flat back to the lift for another lap. Strong legs so not worried about weight. Want float and chop stability. I’m 5’11” 190 and ski forward so a little worried they could be too short also. Would mount around -3 from the line.
Caveat: I'm new to the BO 118 - have maybe 5 days on them. Have owned the WC108, and the BO replaced my old Bibbys. I think the BO works well as a soft snow inbounds daily driver in that it's damp and stable (or at least, stable by the standard of skis with a fairly progressive mount) and it handles chop well. That said, it feels like a big ski - bigger than the Bibby. It floats better, but it also feels excessive and kind of klunky when the snow is soft but not deep. In other words, it's maybe a better option for the day of the storm, but a worse option for the day after the storm (or, as is the case these days, better the morning of the storm, worse by 11:00 when everything is thrashed).Quote:
Originally Posted by CouloirInTheLines
To put it yet another way, I like the ski a lot, but it also makes me want something a little narrower and more manageable for when its soft but not fresh. That'd be in addition to the BO, not instead of it (n+1, obviously). A Moment Deathwish comes to mind.
I grab my blops 118 most days it seems. Not the absolute best in every condition but it’s really hard not to have fun on them.Quote:
Originally Posted by CouloirInTheLines
For really deep untracked powder, I wish they were longer (even with them mounted -2 from rec), but as soon as it gets tracked out they are amazing, just monster truck over/through anything, incredibly stable. After a few days on them, I stopped noticing the weight and have no issue with them in narrow steeps/trees or even big moguls. Once it it turns to 100% chalk or hard pack I’ll grab my ranger 102s but if there is any hint of softness I am grabbing the black ops.
For context I’m 5’10”, 160-165lbs.
Good feedback, thanks. Also some potential news on a longer length. Big if true:
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...79#post6243279
i mounted mine -3.5 from the line and it's too much. seems like consensus is -2 from line?
-2 works well for me, though I haven’t tried them anywhere else...Quote:
Originally Posted by greenmachine
They really need to make these in the 192-194 range....
Sounds like they will be
gahhh that'd be just swell...Quote:
Originally Posted by skisurfmirth
where have you heard about this being possible?
*the link a few posts up wasn't working*
21-22 Gear rumour thread here and NS. Same poster I think.
copy that....for some reason the link worked this time. If that intel is from who they say it's from, that does sound promising.Quote:
Originally Posted by skisurfmirth
update. i chagned moumnt from -3.5 to -2 and it made a big difference. skied groomers way more intuitively and was overall a much more manageable ski for me. i'm on the 186 - 5'9 170lbs. i do think they have a large sweet spot and are super damp but i don't find them very responsive. maybe just my size and the ski size. great ski for day after pow or heavy pnw pow.
which ski would you say is a wider sender ti? (being similarly stable and with the same ease of use)
As i have understood the sender squad doesnt ski very similarly with the ti or no? and i think it only comes in 194
maybe the rustler 11 (188 or 192) , the faction dictator 4.O or what else
FYI for those interested Corbett’s just dropped their price to $480 Canadian Pesos or ~$382 USD. Grab them while you can. Just snagged a backup pair. I’m sure the 186 will go quick.
https://www.corbetts.com/2021-rossig...ps-gamer-skis/
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Damn!! Gone already.Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Skier206
I wish these came in 189-192cm, but they are so darn close I should try them. I prefer wide skis for everyday use, normally reserving 98-105mm skis for very low tide conditions. How do these compare to Bibbys/Wildcats on those moderately hard days? I actually like WC118 on hard days, so much so I got rid of PB&Js.
Could this ski be a contender for me? They got the weight and I don't mind the mount.
Blister let it leak Rossi is releasing a 190+ version for next year. It’s buried in the comments on the new Solomon 112 wide twin tip when I asked if the new Solomon would be a good Gunsmoke replacementQuote:
Originally Posted by AEV
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My hopes are low since its the least "TGR" ski imaginable but has anyone here skied the Black Ops Alpineer touring ski? It looks the exact same as the old Seek 7 Tour. I'm interested because its cheap AF for a light and fast spring traverse ski.
Whats up skibrd! That sounds pretty rad. What ski is the 112mm Salomon twin tip? That sounds right up my alley if it's heavy enough. 110-115mm is my preferred waist width for skiing WY/MT/CA.Quote:
Originally Posted by skibrd
I gotta run through the quiver pic thread, and see what you are skiing these days.
My opinion based on a whole bunch of days on the 184 WC108 and about 10 days on the 186 Black Ops 118:Quote:
Originally Posted by AEV
Despite its width, I actually prefer the Black Ops to the WC108 on firm days. The Black Ops has less tip/tail taper, less deep rocker lines and less splay than the WC108, as well as a damper construction. These traits make it a more fun carver, IMO - quicker to engage the sidecut, easier to get high up on edge, tracks way better in variable snow. The WC108 is lighter, snappier, quicker to roll over edge to edge, and more energetic. For what I care about (going fast and carving big turns) the B0118 is the superior tool.