192 carbon med - stiff GPOs with sister Theresa topsheet ordered. Excited.
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192 carbon med - stiff GPOs with sister Theresa topsheet ordered. Excited.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using TGR Forums
If it isn't here already it should be :)
Attachment 139085
Dueling world champs Drew Tabke and Lars Chickering-Ayers at last year's Kirkwood stop of the FWT. Both on Praxis skis. PHOTO: Keith O'Meara
Been following this thread for awhile and decided to go ahead and pick up a pair of GPOs. At 60, 5'10" and 155 I'm no spring chicken and not a big burly charger, but I've been looking for a ski that could handle the chop and crud as well as the untracked. I currently have the DPS Wailler 112 RP at 178. These ski great in untracked powder, and their ability to turn at slow speeds in powder make them a ton of fun when hitting the very tight trees up in Northern Vermont. However, once those freshies have been tracked up a bit the Wailers tend to bounce around a lot and I really don't like skiing them at all once that happens. I demoed a pair of Kastle BMX 108s in 178 last season and loved their ability to crush crud at any speed, and they floated fairly decently though not super great at 108 underfoot. But after reading all the good stuff about the GPOs I thought they might fit the bill even better, possibly handling the crud almost as well as the BMX but providing significantly better float too.
One question I have is about the flex. I don't like noodles but at 155 I'm not going to flex something really stiff either. Keith has recommended I go with a medium flex (in 182), with the carbon layup. What do you guys think about the medium flex? Is that still stiff enough to handle the snow once it's all cut up? As an fyi this would also be one of a pair of skis I would travel out west with each year. So, the GPOs in medium flex skiing hard down Rendevous Bowl at JH in tracked up powder. Is this the right combo? Any suggestions are very appreciated.
Go medium stiff, I have both the gpo's and 112 RP. You'll probably be disappointed with the medium.
My bias is to listen to Keith when it comes to his skis...
If you are so inclined, you could split the different with medium+, which Keith will do.
Thanks for the replies.
I sent another email to Keith with a few more questions on the stiffness. Maybe the medium - medium/stiff would be the best bet. I'll see how Keith replies.
Things like this are always a bit difficult when you don't actually get a chance to demo something first - and this is my first pair of Praxis skis.
I went with the medium+ option and it feels nicely stiff underfoot and throughout...Quote:
Originally Posted by spindrift
I'm 5'8" 165-170 lbs, 43 yo...
I also ski a 188 S7 (relatively soft) and a 190 wailer 112 rp (softish also)
I think the GPO, is a nice balance of weight/flex and should be good for skiing "fast" down Rendezvous Bowl throung untracked pow.
I'd say medium plus would be good, as would medium.
^^^^^^This... I completely agree... I sent him my specs and he responded and after getting my boards he was spot on and glad I listened... I have not been on the GPOs and hope to, but with your stats (size and age) I do not think Med/Stiff would be the way to go... I am 6'4", 205 lbs and 42 and Med/Stiff is what I would go with... I would listen to Keith - he designed them and built them so to me his feedback/input would be hard to beat...Quote:
Originally Posted by spindrift
After a few emails with Keith we decided on the medium+ version, which should be a little stiffer then medium but not quite as stiff as medium/stiff, and should be good for my weight.
You sure can't beat being able to communicate directly with the guy who is building your skis for you. Awesome service.
And thanks to the group here too for all of the advice. Once I actually get these on snow (too many months away from now), I'll chime in too with my thoughts on how they ski.
Oh and now for that mounting issue, right now I am thinking -1 or -2. I have a tendency to really drive the boots forward and engage the tips. And I envision the GPOs as being a bit more of a charger. Though I have learned to ski more centered when on the Wailers.
I know there is a lot of discussion on this topic and I've seen lots of people commenting on mounting on the dimple, or -1, or -2, and so on. Sounds like a tough thing to agree on.
Just got my 192, all glass, med/stiff, powder eagle GPO's. Amazing price, service, and build as always!
Im planning sollyfit plates mounted on the line or -1. On hand flex tail seems very supportive, under foot plenty stiff, tip is exactly what i was looking for shape/rise and flex. They look like they will rail the resort and are replacing my rp112's and moment rubies for in bounds duty.
Planning to detune a lot from contact points out as with my woo 1.0's. will wait for early season reviews to finalize mount point and detune regime.
[QUOTE=shafty85;4010461]So the DPS RPC is stiffer than the med - stiff GPOS? Is that the pure 3 construction? Anyone else able to comment on this?
The above is true.
That pure 3 RPC (only one available last year, right?) is stiff as a board. The med-stiff gpos are a touch softer than I would like...but they snap and pop nicely. If i did it again, i would go stiff. car analogy: The wrx is a zippy car with a suspension that is nice and lively. Fun to drive. The sti is so stiff that you feel every little bump. But the car is more powerful and responsive. That's actually a perfect analogy for the comparison of the two skis, IMO.
RPC is stiffer and less forgiving. But a little more lively, slightly higher speed limit. A little less float and a little better on firm snow.
Med-stiff GPO is easier in bumps and
Tight spaces, better in untracked deep. Slarvier. More apt at making different size turns.
Both will rage if you ask. The RPC is not so good at not raging.
Overdue, but helpful?
I have a pair of GPO here now unmounted. 182cm med/stiff. 192cm med+ GPO has just been shipped along with a 187cm Protest in med/stiff. Once here they will be skied at Mt Hood shortly after delivery.
Should be an interesting comparison.
New 187 GPOs.
Med/stiff, cabon layup, & vintage graphic. Very stoked on how the graphis turned out. Hand flex seems just right.
Attachment 139656Attachment 139657
I am so stoked I am actually shaking! BD presents to myself are a little early this year ;_)
Med Stiff GPO, Custom Protest in Pompeii graphics and a custom GPO in Sun.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...68512783_n.jpg
Some ridiculously good GPO stoke form Chile
http://vimeo.com/71197113#
Got some gorgeous 187 carbons with the Stained Glass topsheet. My 6th pair of Praxis and the best craftsmanship yet.
Now... mount point. I'm thinking -3cm. Dynafit with Maestrale RS. To be skied in variable BC snow, never switch, sometimes charging, sometimes meadowskipping. I ski very forward and don't like new-school, center mounted skis.
For reference, I wish I had gone -1 on my 184 Freerides (they are -9cm from center), my 188 Rossi Squad 7s at -9cm from center sometimes feel too forward, and my older 189 RX's are -11cm from center and feel perfect. With the GPO's dimple at -7, I think I need to go -2 to -3cm from there. Talk me out of it...
-3 may be more here as well. I'm on the way back home from OR at the moment but will mount my 182s this week and ski them days later. RS and Dynafits as well.
Same situation, never switch. Just a "trad" old school all mtn skier. But really like the GPO design, flex and shape compared to my Rossi and DPS. Mount location will make or break this ski fro me. So I want to get it right the first time.
Glad I am not the only one thinking around -3.
Mine are shipping Monday, med stiff+ 192s. Not yet sure where I'm mounting but I'm watching this to see what people think. Plan on doing 9xx first then may mount for dynafits. Probably will do inserts for traveling as well
So my 7 flex (soft side of medium stiff) skis came in and here are my hand flex comparisons (comparing to the stated 7 flex):
182 shoguns with 75ish days - 8 overall flex. Tip and tail are MUCH stiffer than the GPO, especially the tail.
184 movement Goliath sluffs lots of days - 8.5 overall flex. Similar flex to shogun but stiffer underfoot however, skis softer through the tip.
179 K2 Seth's (first year with rocker) - 7 flex overall. These two skis flex almost identically. I have only skied this ski on shallow graupel and refrozen crud and it skis so short on hard snow that it is nearly impossible to make a statement about how it flexes on the snow (the contact length is only about 6 inches either side of the bindings).
175 coreupt candide pow (100-mm underfoot version) - 6.5 overall. Similar tip and tail flex, noticeably softer underfoot. Very round flex.
186 atomic automatic (going off memory on this one) - 7 with very similar profile as the GPO.
I would put most front side carvers at 8 to 9 on this scale although they can have a wide range of flexes.
So, not sure what to think about the flex and how they will ski. Hand flexing doesn't tell the whole story (not by a long shot) but at least gives a bit more data for others to consider. Also, if Praxis believes that 7 and 8 are close enough that they warrant the same description I would bump my numbers up for higher numbers and down for lower numbers. My numbers represent significant differences in hand flex.
Not sure if comparisons to older skinnier skis help anybody but there it is.
How do you know the GPO is a 7 flex?Quote:
Originally Posted by 98brg2d
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He ordered it that way...Quote:
Originally Posted by shafty85
So when you order, you can order more specific than med-stiff ie. you can order med-stiff and specify you want an 8?Quote:
Originally Posted by Undertow
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Some that have ordered have not wanted to go with the med/stiff and Keith recommended going medium +, which is stiffer than med, but not as stiff as med/stiff and has been referred to as a 7 rating...
Yes, exactly right. Keith said you could order it as 7, med+ or med/stiff-. I ordered it that way because I wanted the shape as my largest quiver ski for deep powder and the flex for tight trees, not as a stiff crud buster. I am surprised by how similar the hand flex is to the automatic since that is the ski that I was most likely to buy other than the GPO. I was expecting the tail to be stiffer but it hand flexes quite soft (as you can see from my comparisons). I would think most people who tend to ski any non-noodle ski in the 100-mm width range as their daily driver will be surprised. I never really thought of any of my skis as very stiff, actually the opposite, but by comparison to the GPO they are stiff.
[QUOTE=SupreChicken;4025687]Great analogy, IMO. I demoed the pure3 RPCs and loved them - I didn't find them that stiff, but that's probably a reflection of my lack of ability rather than a reflection of the skis. Unfortunately I'm in no position to buy them this year due to the old bank account being, well, empty :( love the customization of praxis, though, and can't wait to try them.Quote:
Originally Posted by shafty85
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Well. I mounted -2. Heading to las Lenas in less than 2 weeks to test them
All this -2 talk makes me nervous. I loved mine at the line but maybe I'll like em more back at -2
sent from the future using my mind powers
BBQuote:
Originally Posted by Bird Blaster
How tall and heavy are you and what's your bsl?
6'2", 185 and 326mmQuote:
Originally Posted by DeathVan
Thanks BirdQuote:
Originally Posted by Bird Blaster
192 Carbon GPO's are en route
I went through a mess of holes dialing in my 196 Protests
I look forward to hearing your take on the -2
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeathVan
Yeah no worries. I tried to base it compared to my 196ren and RP112. The -2 looked right, but we will see
By the time my GPOs showed up the skiing wasn't WorthAS locally so I have held off mounting. Partly because I am still undecided. Spent some serious time comparing Rossi Soul 7 and the new 7 Series and DPS 112/RPC in like sizes to see where they were mounted. And then listened to and read everyone's magic formulas.
Keith/Praxis is spot on by the numbers and the most often quoted formula . But neither Rossi or DPS is any where close on similar/like skis. And Ross makes the least sense of all adding tail to one ski size and tip to the other...pray you want to ski the middle size was my thought after looking and running a tape..
Or it simply doesn't matter where you mount :) Me? Still looking @ -3 on mine.
I've got 190 112RP's mounted +1.5 which are perfect for me, my 192 GPO's are mounted about -.75 and are just right. My bsl is 301, I'm 6'1" and 175lbs. I've always liked my mount about -1 from what Keith recommends on all skis except for the Concepts, which I like at recommended.
sandflea, what bindings are you running on your 190 112rp's?
I'm on the line with dynafit verticals and titan boots at 5'8" 170 lbs.
With the ramp angle of boots/binding, they are ok for backcountry, but for any resort skiing on firmer steeps, they feel a bit back, and I would like them farther forward.
I will likely put demo bindings on my 182 gpo's (or just put marker tour 12's at -2).
I am regretting +1 mount of 177 protests with dynafits.
I skied the 187 protest at +1 cm and am thinking I'll play with 0 cm there, which
might be the limit of the demo jesters I have on those skis.
Thinking I'd like 0 or -1 cm on the shorter length.
Seems like mount point is more crucial for me on shorter skis (easy for me to be more forward than I'd like).
Forgive the ramble...
I've got Marker Tour F12's on the RP's, I went +2 and almost sold them...for me, 1.25-1.5 is the sweetspot. I ski pretty neutral stance nowadays though. For reference my AKJJ's, I'm on recommended.
Difference between the suggested RPC and GPO mount point is something likesix (6) full cm IIRC, FROM MEMORY (190cm : 192cm)
Not at home or I would be able to tell you exactly what the difference is.
The GPO being that much more of a forward mount. I know why Keith has marked them were they are. And what some will be doing with this ski and how it will be skied.
I want a neutral set up ski, I also want one that feels pretty traditional under foot. I mounted my 192 RPC at +1cm and really like just how playful that ski is. Hoping for something similar from the GPO.
Very curious to see what the Bird thinks while he is in SA.
Me too. Have 192 med-stiff+ but won't ski them till December. Intend to get a decent mix of open snowbird terrain and tight Stevens pillow stuff. I haven't had time to compare with my other skis yet. But they feel a bit softer than intended and further forward as well. Im considering dynafits on them but probably want to tour on a shorter, different pair of skis.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dane1
Why is it he chose such a forward mount?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dane1
I loved the mount location of the pure3 RPCs. Are you thinking/hoping the GPO will perform similarly at the recommended mount location or further back?
Really looking forward to Bird's review.
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I agree. By handflex, they are much softer than I anticipated.Quote:
Originally Posted by abraham
But these are my first pair of praxis, the construction looks top notch and the price is great, so I'm stoked to spend time on them. I've never read a poor review of Keith's skis.
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I have 112s and RPCs. Love the RPC and not so much the 112s.
Was thinking the GPO might just be "just right" everything considered.
Med Stiff flex is a little softer than expected. But I am good with the flex. My thought is it might make the ski even more fun and more playful.
Both the GPO and the RPC are 192cm.
The GPOs suggested mount point is a full 6.2 cm forward of the suggested mid point on the RPC. I talked with Keith a little about that and my thought of going back 3cm. He was OK with it.
My guess from that conversation is the forward mount suggestion..and Keith was clear to me it was only a "suggestion" is a modern mount for those wanting to ski the board switch on occasion. Somthing I will never be doing. And by a mid cord measure it is "right". I am +1cm on the suggested for the RPC and couldn't be happier. Which is why I am really hestitant to mount such an awesome ski so far forward. The GPO has a lot more tail and less rocker than the RPC to start with. Go 6mm forward and you have a LOT of ski back there on the GPO.
The yellow ski is my custom pair of GPOs.
The grey ski is the RPC.
192 in both ski lined up for a suggested mount point comparison which is the left hand edge of the blue tape.
Attachment 140566
Skis lined up at suggested mount point showing the additional tail allocated to the GPO @ that mount.
Attachment 140567
Same lineup showing how"short" the tip is using the Praxis mount
Attachment 140568