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I mounted mine +2. Skied them for the first time today. In truly soft snow they were excellent. But if I got a firm bump the tail was too much, would absolutely launch me like a turbo boost. I’ll probably remount on the line. The 194 is way more ski than the 187. 187 is a good do it all ski. The 194 is a big mountain slayer.
Blank is more like a fat all-Mtn ski that works really well in all conditions. The 186 has a speed limit and isn’t as plush/stable at speed as the Optic 114 in the same length. Similar personalities, with the Blank being more comfortable in firm conditions and a bit more playful. The Optic is better in deep snow and more stable/more composed at high speed.Quote:
Originally Posted by stuntmanbo
Optic has metal and larger turn radius, which reflects the soft snow “bias” and stability difference
Finally got out on my 194s for a proper bluebird pow day yesterday. Loved them. More backbone than 194 Animas (previous gen), better float than 2012 bibby and 196 governor. Less deflection in chop than the governor and Anima, and they ski chop a little different than the bibby. Bibby just knifes through, still maybe my favorite Sierra chop ski ever, but I don't think the blank is far off and is definitely damper. It just wants to ride up and over the deeper bits. My favorite pow ski of the bunch, immediately loose and pivot-y in untracked. And it's still fun railing groomers back to the lift. Pleasantly surprised by how much I'm liking this ski.
Heavily detuned from the widest points fore and aft which I would recommend. Anyone know the factory edge angles? Fun enough to carve that I actually might keep these sharp.
https://www.evo.com/guides/ski-edge-bevelQuote:
Originally Posted by WhetherMan
Aurbroaing how much base bevel some companies are sending wider boards with from the factory. Loose goosy.Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
My QSTs have all had around a 2* side bevel, but they have been pretty uneven. not sure about base bevel.
My blanks side was pretty even from the factory.Quote:
Originally Posted by tupp_
Line optics 104 side was not even 2. The 114 were closer to a uniform 2. Bases on optics a bit past 1 maybe compensating for slightly concave bases?
Moved the mount point on my QST 106 skis to +1.5. Wow what a difference that made. So much more balanced, don't feel like they're always trying to throw me in the back seat anymore. Had a really fun day on them today. Thanks to all who recommended going forward.
Interesting. May not be the same results with a longer Blank tail.Quote:
Originally Posted by yeahman
Still real easy to slash those 106s or more.push back and control when you do?
Shit I thought I was posting in the QST 106 mount point thread. Oops! Yeah real easy to slash, much better when carving, basically just felt like the ski was working with me rather than against me. Even got into some chunky old pow and they chewed it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by altabrig
For those who have both the 194 and 186, how do you like having the two? Worth using as a quiver for low vis/high vis resort days?
Edit: damn emoji attack. I own both. In general I’m happy with the shorter Blank and find myself not grabbing the longer one for almost everything at alta/bird. The longer ski is more of a crud crusher but the shorter length is much easier to get airborne and play around with in chopped up snow. Might be selling my longer ones here soon.
Could anyone who has skied the 183 QST 98 and the 186 QST Blank compare them?
I adore the 98 for a mix of groomers, shallow pow and mixed conditions/moguls off piste. My ancient/beloved 186 Atomic Automatics (bought from Bandit Man a decade ago) are starting to feel a little imprecise/vague/heavy on anything but a true super deep pow day. I find the 98 just super effortless, easy and even got some great runs on perfect right side up settled pow yesterday. However, they do get a little overwhelmed trying to cut through the kind of dense chopped up pow common on a PNW pow day. I’m just a little worried that the Blank might be a much stiffer and more aggressive ski. The deep rocker and short turn radius appeal to me, though. I just love the 98 and I’ve seen some call it a mini Blank.
I also have the 181 QST 106 - the greenish ones with orange bases from a few years ago. I liked them but far prefer the 98. They are slightly better crud busters and a faster ski overall, but float worse, are less playful, and the balance point is just not as good for me for some reason.