^^^I think I’m headed in that direction soon.
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^^^I think I’m headed in that direction soon.
So...I sold my AM One Huns to a tgr mag (have fun Jongle nice to meet you the other day). I was mounted at minus six point 3 cm from center (just in front of minus seven rec). I prolly should have gone minus six. I found the AM unbelievably fast and good on wide open groomers. Damp and really was no speed limit. The AM is a great ski. But it felt long to me in tighter spots and when skiing variable terrain? Kinda Mantra like? The more I skied it in tight places, the longer it felt. My first few days on it were fast groomer days. No off piste. The last few days I skied it everywhere on the mtn. Maybe cause I'm so used to a minus three point five cm mount (eg Season Aero at -3.5 and more recently the new Line Bacons at -4), I was passing them over in the truck for more center mounted skis. Note I absolutely love my 180 FR One Tens and 180 R One Twentys. The AM just feels like more ski than those two.Sill a big HL fan...but if a ski is not "hell yeah" every time I ski it then best to let another mag have em.KC
Hmmmmmm….all these comments are making second guess my order now.Quote:
Originally Posted by kc_7777
Sounds like the ski is dead/damp unless really pushed, and doesn’t pivot or like super tight spaces much….
So is it pretty much just good at straightlonong through variable snow or groomers and making the most of its heft?
What else does it shine at? I love the shape and mount point but I guess the layup might now be for my style? I love charging but I also like popping off features and attacking moguls!
Should I pass on this one?
@Radskier perhaps I missed it, but what are you coming off of? id say the AM100 is wildly more playful and loose than a directional -11 mount ski like a mantra 102 or bonafide or whatever, while being every bit as fast and smooth. More than happy to talk it thru, but it would be helpful to understand your frame of reference!
Imo - the am100 is a "modern all mountain ski" meaning its strong enough to ski fast in variable and challenging snow: but versatile enough to feel loose and quick and manuverable in technical terrain. A number of am100 skiers are calling it a playful charger in their feedback to me. - Way more playful than directional chargers, and way more capable than lighter center mount tighter radius skis. Not sure if helpful, but hopefully use
Additionally, I have a number of emails to catch up on tomorrow, so for anyone with pending responses, please look for them by the afternoon. Thank you!
Will be skiing the AM100 in all kinds of east coast terrain for the first go tomorrow. Will share thoughts soon as I can in hopes they are helpful. They come across as all business to the hand/eye but at the same time whispering a flowing rhythm. Hopes are high for a nice blend of charge and ease of control.
As kc_7777 mentioned, I am m the proud new owner of his AM hundos (great to meet you kc!). Should be able to mount them tomorrow and get out on them this later this week. My initial impressions: topsheets look phenomenal in person. Build is top notch. Edges were sharp enough to draw blood - I will bring a gummy along on day 1 for sure, maybe even do a couple of light passes before getting them on snow.
Radskier asked about how similar the AM100s would be to the old Fischer Ranger 102FRs. I have been skiing the 94FRs for the past few seasons, and compared them to the AM100s in the garage earlier. The AM100 build is way burlier, especially in the tips and tails, which are much thicker than the FR94 tips and tails, almost comically so. The AM100s have nearly 400 grams per ski on the 94FRs and I would guess that much of the extra mass is in the tails and shovels. Flex profile is actually pretty similar throughout most of the ski, with the AMs being maybe a hair softer at the extremities. They are both stiff skis. The 94FRs deliver a TON of energy and rebound, which is part of why I am moving on from them to the AM100s. I prefer a ski that feels more quiet, calm, even a little "dead."
Most of my favourite skis are burly like the HLs but also have relatively soft and forgiving tips and tails - like my all time #1, the Rossi Sender Squad. So I will be curious to see whether the AM100s feel like a handful in weird bumps and tight spots etc. Will report back!
Edit: Jeez these forums are fucked, can't even use apostrophes anymore!
I never had the fourteen Katanas. But HL are indeed the real deal. The poplar/bamboo core with the sidewalls (what are they, PU of some kind?) mixed with the fast race bases make for a sick build. I was a Volkl guy for decades but the Mantra One O Two lost me. I loved it at first as a carving ski, but that didn't make any sense. Why would I own that ski as a carving ski? The OG carbon tip was also noisy and hurt my ears. I also didn't like ThreeD radius. Too unpredictable. Unpredictability and the Tuning Fork of a build resulted in a love lost for Volkl in general. But I'd be willing to come back if they stop over-engeering basic designs.Quote:
Originally Posted by BC.
Today, the RDimes lay the same trenches as the Mantra but are wayyyyy more veratile elsewhere. It's the most versatile ski of my life. The carve--surf window is wide open with this ski. I live in JP. If I lived in Tahoe or Mammoth, I'd likely love a drop of camber and this core layup with whichever width I felt approprite.
All weekend at the Arai FWT/Q/J comp people were asking about these skis. "Those things look smooth." Two guys riding for two major brands that I won't mention here out of respect looked legit bummed that these skis existed and they weren't on them. /sponsor pains. lol.
Ended up just about -7cm on the mount so right at the recommended. I think -8 would have been fine. Wouldn’t want to be any more forward.Quote:
Originally Posted by Doremite
I did not find the AM100 to be uncooperative in tight spaces/bumps/trees. Conditions had firmed up a bit so I was only able to really let them loose on groomers where I found them to be instantly intuitive and crazy smooth. I was not able to find a speed limit. So fun on edge. Turn shapes of any kind you please. Love at first turn.
Off-piste was hit or miss conditions bit did find some flowy tree lines and they proved quick and agile. They accelerate quickly so need to stay purposefully engaged. While they have a progressive design, they best suit a full throttle driver.
They somewhat reminded me of my og ON3P Woodsman 108 although tough comparison due to the agility gain from the more modest width of the AM100. Nonetheless, in comparison, the AM100 is more damp and silky smooth and much less “planky” than my Woods but they are in a similar family. I think some folks embraced the Woodsman to be a close cousin of the Jeffs and they ended up being much closer in design to the Wrenegade. For those familiar with ON3P, the AM100s behave much more like a Wren in that it is incredibly stable at speed, which is constantly craved by the ski but can be shut down with ease. I felt more stacked on the AM100 vs the Wren given the mount point is closer to center (I think?).
Really stoked on this ski but only one day in marginal conditions. Final thought is that I also own the FL105s and despite the AM100s desire for speed, it demands noticeably less effort on the driver in comparison. If I am spending the day in the trees, the AM100 is the call. I need to do some back to back days on the AM100 vs AM R99 to see if I can justify keeping both. The AM100s strike me as more damp and engaged with the snow whereas the 99s feel lighter and easier to drift but need more time to stand by that thought.
I am a better skier than ski reviewer so welcome any questions on any of this. I more so wanted to offer a differing perspective on its agility in technical spaces and wrote more than intended. HL is truly making amazing skis for dedicated skiers. Thanks MO. Not sure if I am just slurping the kool-guy-aid but I am head over heels bedazzled by HL builds.
Just a follow up on my comment about the AM One Hun’s agility.
Yes the tails release, even at high speeds. Yes they are great skis. They feel damp and planted, especially when locked in on a smoothish groomer.
Re the agility I commented on. I’m five seven, and one seventy pounds? When compared to a one Eighty cm Season Aero, that has metal in it, and camber tip to tip, with the same straight pull length as the AM, the AM One Hundred wants to be driven more in tough snow and varied terrain. The Aero carves just as well but is more versatile and releases better for how and where I ski. Was surprising to me. I believe if you are not one hundred percent pumped on a ski, you move on. So the Aero won. Ya I sold the AM at a loss but they went to a good local mag.
Still in love with my HB One Twenty Two, R One Twenty and FR One Ten.
Marshal I need a one seventy nine straight pull, one hundred and seven mm, stiff underfoot and softer in tips and tails with a minus four mount ski? Maybe make a baby HB?
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6 ft 180lbs+ geared up here. I have zero trouble driving the 187cm AM100 through smooth-ish variable snow and tight spaces. I skied them all weekend in a mix of setup refrozen coral reef to full on mash potatos slush bumps. In tighter trees and bumped out gullies, they took a little more forethought and input to get around than my FR110s, but they drift and slash about 75% as well, which is incredible considering what you gain in firm snow edge hold/stability/on edge dampness. They reward a strong pilot and forward stance more than the FR110s as well, I found myself able to bend them into just about any turn shape I wanted on soft groomed. The rebound and pop they give out of a turn is very different than the reverse style HL skis, but still has that same dampness and comfort I've gotten used to from the freeride layup. Not cold dead hands yet... but damn near after ~8 days on them so far.
Hey KC. Wasn’t trying to downplay your experience in any way. Truly to each his own and your posts read like you have a good take on what works best for you and your skiing style.Quote:
Originally Posted by kc_7777
I threw some pivots on KCs pair of AM100s (was juuuuust barely able to reuse the original holes) and got them out for a couple of days at Whistler this week. Skied a range of conditions. Dust on punchy crust, soft groomers, icy groomers, firm chop, park, spring slush. Two days is not enough for a proper evaluation but here are some initial thoughts. For reference I mostly ski Sender Squads and Sender Free 110s in the resort, but have also spent time in past seasons on Mantra 102s and Enforcer 104s, which are more comparable to the AM100s.
On day one I headed straight up Peak Chair to take full advantage of a whopping 5 to 10cm of new snow that fell overnight. Dropping into Whistler Bowl was arguably not the best choice of first runs - didn’t find the skis immediately intuitive in the variable snow. The edges were grabbing more than I wanted, and it took a while to get used to the shovels, which are much shorter and stiffer than on the Squads. You can point those Squad tips at pretty much anything and they will just roll over and absorb it. The AM100s will let you know when you carelessly ram the tips into a firm bump.
After a tip to tail detune, and a few adjustments to technique, I came to really enjoy the AM100s in variable alpine conditions. I would not call them particularly forgiving, but they can be pushed hard and mute out shitty snow. Ski them deliberately and you can slash and pivot your way through steep weird bumps. Get lazy and the stiff tips and tails may throw you off balance.
On piste they do not pull you into a turn quite as eagerly as the Mantra 102 or Enforcer 104, but once on edge they track better than either of those skis (and they are also significantly looser/damper off piste). They prefer a medium to long turning radius, not the easiest to bend into tighter turns, at least not for me as a smaller guy. With some speed and room to run they are a ton of fun on groomers. I am quite satisfied with their carving performance as I think you would lose their other standout traits if you gave them softer tips, shorter sidecut etc.
Anyway, too early to say anything definitive, but I’m happy so far and looking forward to getting more time on them. Might remount the pivots since I have too much forward pressure; even with the BSL adjustment backed all the way out I cannot achieve a fully erect heel dildo.
Take them to profile too if you still find them a bit grabby.
Couldn't let those BC100s sit in the outlet after how fantastic the AM100 has treated me. Can't wait to have a real daily driver touring ski again.
Any chance that an am90 is in the pipeline? Thinking a more playful hard snow ski with good suspension is in my future.
Just my opinion, but I don’t see the point of going 10mm skinnier on the AM100. It would make it way less versatile, and im not sure what significant benefits you really gain.
If you want more hard snow performance the rc85 is fantastic, and much more versatile than it has any right to be
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Agreed. -8 maybe but I would not drift any further back on the AM100. In MO we trust.Quote:
Originally Posted by waxloaf
I thought he meant Mount point as well
I think he means -TEN mm on waist width?
Am Ninety
Not seeing a need for that model personally
I have an R Eighty Seven comp already
I guess I’d be looking at RC Eighty five as well if I wanted something skinnier than hundred mm underfoot
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Ahhh! Makes sense. I actually looked back and didn’t see anyone suggesting a -10cm mount so was confused.
I agree with his anti AM90 stance too.
I was always Wren88 curious until people started bitching about the impracticality of a 88 waisted ski having so much rocker diminishing edge grip and a light went off.
Yeah sorry, I was using -10 to mean waist width (and presumably other measurements too). I just don’t see the need to go narrower
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I have talked with MO about an AM 90 but my idea would be something a touch different than the 100.
Tight radius / fun carver / HL Build
Not sure how much hard snow performance the am would gain going narrower but my thought was a more playful rc85 that could still charge. I am sure the am100 would be fine in this slot but slightly narrower and more engaged on edge would provide more separation from the r110s I have on order.
A heavier version of the bc ninety would be a great ski, even if it used the same mold. It would serve as an all mountain ski in the westQuote:
Originally Posted by Doremite
Mid winter with chalky snow, turn great on everything but hard groomers and they would be really surfy for light amounts of new snow. I would want the same rocker or dead flat in the middle of the ski.
Maybe, but not sure the world has room for a 5mm per edge hair splitting endeavor. Thinking the AM100 would be fine in all the conditions you describe.Quote:
Originally Posted by MagnificentUnicorn
I could get behind the FR build in a fun/AM carver. The sakana I had was a riot for dropping deep carves but I found it always wanted to pull across the fall line if you stayed on edge too long given it’s 15m radius. Its ride quality lacked if things weren’t soft. I’m not sure I would want that kind of quiver ski now but it served the purpose while skiing with my kids during their early years.
I guess my brain says a 17-18m more turns than the 100 but not turning into a Mirus Cor or Blade. My favorite thing about the am100 it’s its ability to shut down speed and never feel hooky while going mach looney. Would love a sprinkle of that in a “carver” type ski.
I think the RC ninety five is the most engaging ski I’ve been on. I’ve skied it in a foot plus of bottomless fine too. what’s wrong with that ski? i guess the mach looney?
to me there is more distinction between grabbing that ski or FL one oh five to run hot or skinnier for ice or fatter to float
Can anyone compare/contrast the AM100 with the Dynastar M-Free 99 or the Volkl M4 Mantra (the full rocker one)? My ideal ski would be an M-Free 99 that carves a little better, or a slightly more playful and forgiving M4 Mantra, seems like the AM100 could be the ticket...
Space reserved for irip's review on the AM100.
But the TLDR is "yes".Quote:
This is easily Marshal’s best shape to date and the finest ski I’ve been on in three years. It reminds me of the redesign to the Kendo. It arcs w bite and ease of a very intuitive design and still can charge/smear w 2 feet. Edge to edge way faster than a 100 should- feels like I’m bouncing side to side on a trampoline coming down the hill. Pure heaven.
This sounds like high praise from a guy that knows his skis. Can you bump my order up to ship tomorrow? (joking). Pumped for these sticks!
I like that trampoline part of the description. I’ve been having fun trying to ski that super dynamic Marcus Caston style. Loading up the skis and getting some air between the turns. Sounds like these could be just the weapon I need!
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Agree with the above. Only demoed a shorty Mantra for a few runs and fondled the MFree 99, but the AM100 is your unicorn here. It does everything your looking for plus more.
Have a few days on the BC100 now too... Quiver killer is my first thought. Paired with my BC120s I am trying to figure out if I even need something in between or lighter in my touring quiver. I have gotten along really well with the AM version (obviously) and the BC version is the same versatile ski only lighter and perfect for backcountry conditions. I also absolutely smoked a slightly buried shark doing 25+ skiing corn and thought I had broken the edge for sure... nope just a good core shot and slightly pushed in base, a little base weld and I was good to go.
I saw Marshall sent out an email about tunes to people who have open orders in.
I admit I'm a little conflicted on the AM100. From the above description, I really don't think I want the butter tune (unless you tell me irip is on the butter tune). While the word "surfy" always sounds fun, by the time I'm reaching for the 100s, I'm not sure I want that much detuning. Also I have a pile of files and stones, and it is a lot easier for me to detune myself than to get them back to sharp.
On the flip side...I'm not really looking for a "razor tune" to lock things in more like I might on a narrower ski.
But also I assume Marshall knows what he is doing.
The butter tune is what you seek. I run it on all of my HLs. Only ski I don’t think I will put it on is my RC 85.
@singlesline - so the big thing to note is that the amount of detune is model specific too, so the butter tune on the AM100 isn't the same as the butter tune on an FR110/120 for example - as those skis are shooting for max drifitness.
Razor tune is just that ... highly polished and prepped outside the widepoints, but full sharp under foot and very lighly detuned (extra gummi only) at the ends. This is an aggressive tune. Its a "either you know you want this, or you dont want this scenario.
The Butter detune on the AM100 is relaxed where I am mostly detuning the base edge on the ski to make it more friendly off edge / off piste and then full pass extra gummi along the ee. Its still a performance carver for sure, but less on/off feeling.
Once we get to the fall, the butter tune is slated to be the only option for the AM100, as I think its the right tune for about 95% of skiers on this shape.
Smiley what length Bc100 you on?
187cm in both. Mounted -6.5 on AM w/pivots and -7 on BC (due to hole conflict and binding ramp changes). If a 184cm BC version existed, I would have probably gone with it, but after chatting with MO and skiing the AM a bunch I realized I wanted these to be the same length to make swapping back and forth easy
God damn this forum is so shit right now. I have typed up like two longer reviews on the BC100 and every time lose them to some issue. Reposting this from another thread for posterity.
Having owned both the BC90 before and BC100 now I feel like I can write up a good quick review here. Other skis I have owned or skied in the same category: 184 Camox Freebird, 189 ON3P Steeple 102 (this one is a bit heavier, but was my favorite touring ski of all time), 184 Dynafit Free 97 (couple of tours and inbounds laps on rental rotations), and few short inbounds laps on a friends Wayback 98s, and a single tour on the new TX94.
Originally, I had the 184cm BC90 intending on using it for lowtide early season, mid-winter drought and full spring time. That ski was incredible with a consolidated base (one of the best corn skis ever) and in weird crusty strangeness as Marshal mentioned. I think as a dedicated spring ski I would have kept it. Considering I needed something a little more versatile for the mid-winter-facet-fuckery that happens in the san juans I moved it on and bought the 100.
The BC100 is surfy in anything soft, nearly as damp in variable as my 2000g+ Steeples were, floats far better than any other ~100mm ski I have been on in deeper pow, and is dead easy on smooth but firm conditions. In the horrible unconsolidated mank we have seen down low this spring, it floats well and turns quick enough to keep me from catching under trees and hitting buried stumps with is all I really can want out of a spring time ski in these conditions. I have yet to get it into uber firm jump turn terrain, but have skied my AM100s in that terrain and felt good about edge hold and stability. The tails on my BC100s get a little hung up in the variable wind skin and weird crusts that the 90 felt easy in, but that is expected and still way better than either of the Camox or Free 97 felt in the same conditions.
The BC100 just does everything so well for a ~1600g ski. With my binding setup they came out to ~1875g each, which is more than light enough for long tours but I can still drive it hard at 25 mph+ in corn and not worry I will die if I hit a variable section or catch a hidden rock. I would not hesitate to take it out in anything other than a deep mid-winter storm cycle, which is why I have a 120mm ski too. Going lighter means you are giving up variable snow performance for the up, going narrower (<95mm) is getting to specialist territory, and wider (>105mm) is not generalist enough for a this catagory imo. So the BC100 fits perfectly in the low end of my personal touring quiver.
AM100 vs Countach 104? Anyone been on both? I’m still lookin for a low-tide replacement for my QST 106. I don’t really have any complaints about the QST 106 other than I think it’s just meh everywhere.
You are welcome to borrow my AM100 demos some time!
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Originally Posted by Marshal Olson
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That would be badass, but not sure I want to wait till winter! I'm looking for a low-tide ski for hunting around the mountain and skiing groomers. At 5'10" and 165 I'd lean towards 180, that sound right?</p>