Thinking about an everyday Tahoe ski...

I'm currently skiing an old pair of 184 Stockli Stormrider XLs (116-75-102, 20.4r) and I'm thinking about something a little wider and newer. I have the powder day skis covered with some Kingswood Mid Fats so that's taken care of.

I'm curious to see what people thoughts are among the following skis for an "everything in Tahoe except the huge powder days ski".

1. Moment Tahoe 188 (130-96-119, 22r)
2. DP Wailer 185 (125-95-113, 24r)
3. Head Monster 88 186 (126-88-112, 19.2r)

4. Another option I'm not aware of?


I'm 6'3 200, 6/7 skill level. I'm improving and have the athletic ability to be better, but I still mentally chicken out when things get really steep and bumpy. (I'm working on it.) Finally started jumping off some features this past Sunday, which was a blast and has fueled my motivation to improve.


Any insight is appreciated.

</Jong>

183 or 188 Bros.

Fisher Wateas or even whichever the wider "Heat" is. (I love my 186 Big Stix 84s, their predecessor)

Legend Pros.

Seconded on the LP's

Moment Tahoes if your looking for something a little softer/more playful that the LPs. Really fun ski.

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Originally Posted by DePierre

Moment Tahoes if your looking for something a little softer/more playful that the LPs. Really fun ski.

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Yeah, the Tahoe's interest me because of the shorter turning radius but still having some good size to them. Sounds like a fun combination. Just waiting to see a few more reviews of it. Might need to see about demo'ing it...

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Originally Posted by Bennett

I'm curious to see what people thoughts are among the following skis for an "everything in Tahoe except the huge powder days ski".

1. Moment Tahoe 188 (130-96-119, 22r)
2. DP Wailer 185 (125-95-113, 24r)
3. Head Monster 88 186 (126-88-112, 19.2r)

4. Another option I'm not aware of?

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Are you keeping the Stocklis too, or are they dead/otherwise gone?

IMHO, 90-100mm is the sweet spot for everyday; go much wider underfoot and the skis start to get planky on hardpack. Something around 90-95mm with a bit more shape than a dedicated powder ski would be a good choice.

Out of your top 3, I've only skied 1 -- sort of -- the older Head im85, 186cm. I like it a lot for hardpack and crud. I think the Monster 88 is a little softer, but don't know how much.

At your weight, I wouldn't go with the Mantra unless you want a softer ski. I'm a little lighter, and thought the Mantra was floppy and had poor edge hold on hardpack (edge hold issue may have been the tune, but I remember trying 2 different sets, and both sucked). I like the Explosiv a lot more.

The stiff 188 Bro was a pretty good everyday ski too. Mine had a lot of camber and didn't float in pow, but other than that, could be a good choice.

I plan on keeping the Stocklis. They are in good shape and could become that early season/rock ski.

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Originally Posted by Bennett

Yeah, the Tahoe's interest me because of the shorter turning radius but still having some good size to them. Sounds like a fun combination. Just waiting to see a few more reviews of it. Might need to see about demo'ing it...

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If you have any specific questions about em just PM me.

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

At your weight, I wouldn't go with the Mantra unless you want a softer ski. I'm a little lighter, and thought the Mantra was floppy and had poor edge hold on hardpack (edge hold issue may have been the tune, but I remember trying 2 different sets, and both sucked). I like the Explosiv a lot more.

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If he doesn't chime in, you should seek input from StormDay. He's about your weight, and IIRC, his everyday skis last year were 191 Mantras. I traded skis (my 188 Bros for his 191 Mantras) with him for a run at the end of the 05/06 season, and was very impressed with their edge hold. But they were practically new at the time.

I'm about your size and I had the 186 monster 88 last season. Just an excellent ski. Easy to manage, no speed limit, and can hold a serious edge.

The moment tahoes might be too short since they're more like 178s with their twin tip. If you dont mind a stiffer ski and want something from the moment lineup, the M1 might be a better choice.

if you're looking to buy new skis, then by all means, do so. but you could shake things up just by skiing the Kingswoods more. isn't the mid-fat 105 in the waist? that's still in the sweet spot for an everyday ski (assuming you don't stick to groomers in between pow days).

Yes, they are the 105 waisted ones, got them in the group buy here a couple years back. They are fun in the pow and decent in the trees, but I was thinking of something a little more nimble for an everyday ski.

As a complement to a 105-waisted ski in a two-ski quiver, I'd think about something in the 80s -- wide enough to cut crud and such, but sharp on groomers. Coincidentally, I'm thinking about demoing some skis in that range too. My list right now includes the Fischer Cold Heat and Watea 84, the Dynastar Mythic Rider and Legend 8k, and the Nordica Afterburner.

Monster 88's 186cm
Mach the groomers. check
Blast crud. check
crush moguls. check
'bout covers the Tahoe ski experience

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Originally Posted by serge944

I'm about your size and I had the 186 monster 88 last season. Just an excellent ski. Easy to manage, no speed limit, and can hold a serious edge.

The moment tahoes might be too short since they're more like 178s with their twin tip. If you dont mind a stiffer ski and want something from the moment lineup, the M1 might be a better choice.

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188s? They might even have some of next years.

Yeah. The 188 tahoes have a running length of 159cm (according to moment), while the 186 monster 88s are around 165. In retrospect, I guess its not that huge, but I still wouldnt want to go shorter than the 186 88.

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Originally Posted by yo eddy

Monster 88's 186cm
Mach the groomers. check
Blast crud. check
crush moguls. check
'bout covers the Tahoe ski experience

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i agree. i'd add as well that the torsional rigidity that comes from the hardwood laminate / metal sheet sandwich gives massive grip on the hardpack.

one of my favorite all-time skis. more stable in crud/refrozen than my 188 bro stiffs (but I have one of the lighter pairs of bros...some of the newer, heavier ones are no doubt damper and more powerful-feeling).

Anything in a Gotama shape....around 105mm waisted seems to be the ultimate Tahoe ski in any condition. A ski that carves, twin-tipped, fat enough for powder, and stable at high speeds.

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Originally Posted by alpinedad

If he doesn't chime in, you should seek input from StormDay. He's about your weight, and IIRC, his everyday skis last year were 191 Mantras. I traded skis (my 188 Bros for his 191 Mantras) with him for a run at the end of the 05/06 season, and was very impressed with their edge hold. But they were practically new at the time.

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I also have 06/07 Stormrider XLs and for that matter LPs. Are our XL the red/blue ones? Those were are bit stiffer than the brown leather top sheet ones (05/06 and 06/07).

Assuming you like the Stocklis:

if the XLs are Red/Blue: Look at the LPs

if the XLs are the brown leather topsheet: I would look at a 188 Stockli Scot Schmidt Pro. It is a on the thin side for everyday Tahoe ski, but is just wide enough and will have that awesome Stockli feel. A 184 or 191 Mantra would also be worth demoing and so would the Elan 888.


Elan 888 shape is similar to Mantra (a tad thinner) and I have seen some discounted already.


And AlpineDad needs to learn about keeping his skis a little sharper. :wink: or maybe I'm just an old EC skier...

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Originally Posted by Bennett

Yes, they are the 105 waisted ones, got them in the group buy here a couple years back. They are fun in the pow and decent in the trees, but I was thinking of something a little more nimble for an everyday ski.

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If he wants something a little bit nimbler than the Kingswood Mid-Fat (especially if he has regular and not extra flex), all you idiots telling him to buy 188 Stiff Bros or xploders or LPs are straight-up retards, as much as I love those skis. I see all of those skis as being fantastic skis for maching through crud and crushing snow - they're powerhouses and they love to be skied hard and aggressively. They are not "nimble" at least not at slow speeds. Assuming that's what you mean by 'nimble'

If the Kingswood Midfats are 105 underfoot, than that covers quite a few days in Tahoe. To my knowledge they are pretty stiff, so that will also slay crud pretty well. Then youve got your Stockli's for ice/groomer days I suppose? Maybe try a Rossignol Squad though it is pretty similar to the Kingswood's width (100 or 104). Mantra might be a good ski, though if you like skis as stiff as the Stockli's you might find the Mantras a bit weak in the tails. If you could find some Volkl Explosivs those would be perfect if you liked them, though I found I liked my Squads better on hardpack even though they were 5 mm wider underfoot. I'll second the Scott Schmidt Pro, that ski will slay anything. LP's! That is an ideal every day tahoe ski if there ever was one, and in the 186 not totally unmanageable for someone at your weight, but still mega stable.

Yes, the old red/blue guys with the flames. I think mine are 04/05, had them a while.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2344/...386841.jpg?v=0

By nimble, I mean something that would be decent in moguls and tight trees. The 105 waisted KW (mine are extra stiff) are great at bashing through the crud and afternoon slop but I wouldn't claim them to be a quick turning/tight spaces type of ski. Sure, as I get better, the ski will probably matter less, but I can't claim to be an expert yet.

I think I have some demo'ing in my near future. Part of my problem is I've skied only a 4 different skis since 1998 went I was allowed to start skiing again (NCAA coaches don't like skiing :) I've been on 4 Classics, Mod X's, then the Stormriders and now the KWs. So I really don't know what a "soft" ski feels like. I'm most comfortable on the Stocklis since that's what I've skied for the past 3/4 seasons. I've flexed skis in shops and though "hey, this one is a noodle (like XScreams)" but I really don't know what effect that would have on the mountain.

Have you thought about the 184 Stockli DP? I am a short guy (have the 174's), but they are freaking amazing everyday tahoe skis (IMVHO). I absolutely adore these f'ing things...

Edit for more content...

I also have the red/white/blue XL's... The DPs are not quite as quick edge to edge, but not surprising given the turning radius. They still rip hardpack/corn well. Also, I have Kingswood fats in the stiff version, and the DP's are way more damp...

If you get them, we may have awkwardly similar quivers...

Curiously, I hadn't thought about the DPs... hmmm. Will have to add those to the list.

Alright, for trees and moguls, I rescind my 186 LP rec and will instead throw out the AK King Salmon...handles the crud well but also pretty turny for a ski that 95 underfoot.

I haven't skied the other two but I demoed the im88 last year and really loved it for everyday sort of conditions as long as you got something fatter in the quiver. Ptex just offered and maybe still has some of this years brand new for sale on here for 299 shipped. That's what I would do if I were you. Thats what I did since I'm me.