Ode to the DPS Lotus 138 (and Volant Spatula)

REVERSE CAMBER - REVERSE SIDECUT

Let me tell you about a ski that has chaaaaaaaaaaaaaanged my life. (Imagine me as a street preacher waving around a fat ski).

DPS Lotus 138. It is the shit.

It is really the only ski anyone should be on in soft snow. Even at CO low tide. Why? Because no other ski is more forgiving on breakable crust, rock hits, and shallow snow. It lets you be super light on your feet to avoid/minimize rocks... cool for early season. But the real reason I have them is that there is no better tree ski, no better pow ski, that is also a crud ski. They also turn dust on crust to bottomless.

Sure I rock my EHPs when I want my alpine boots and want to charge hard.

Any other day over about 5/6" I'm on my DPS Lotus 138s, inbounds or not. They make tight trees super fun. They make crud feel like almost untracked. They ski breakable crust like pow. They let you ski longer because they take so much less input. That is why mine are mounted for touring, because you don't need an alpine boot to drive these. they require less boot than traditional ski (more boot doesn't hurt though). They open your beer and make sure your car never runs out of gas!!!

You can be a true soul skier and rip the ski that is the disciple of McConkeys Spatula. Lotus 138. All time best ski ever period.

Drink the koolaid yo! If I could only own two skies at all period, I'd own a DPS Lotus 138 and a something else like a Wailer 112 or Wailer 106 or something like that. 138 no question.

I have more days on Lotus 138s than any other ski, as I've been skiing the design for 10+ years.

But where did the Lotus 138 (and all these other skis) come from?

SKI HISTORY - VOLANT SPATULA'S CHILDREN

I still have my Volant Spatula 186s which I got in 2004 and skied a ton until I got my first Lotus 138s in about 2007. I still ski the Spats occasionally. They are heavy at about 15# for the pair... without bindings, (one ski weighs about as much as a pair of 138s). They are full reverse sidecut reverse camber 115-125-115 (as opposed other 138s which have a flat camber section with sidecut underfoot to hold an edge) which made the Spatulas heinous cat tracks.

These are the instructions, or Mental Floss, Shane McConkey wrote and were included with the Spatula in 2002:

https://www.evo.com/what-is-so-speci...i-the-spatulas

McConkey's Spatula was the progenitor of all the fun shaped skis we have now. Every fun-shape skier should read Mental Floss. Keep in mind it was addressed to people skiing traditional side-cut/traditional camber skis 90-108mm underfoot like the Volkl Explosiv, Salomon Pocket Rocket, Volant Chubb, and Atomic Powder Plus as their pow skis. He wanted to change their thinking, but it all applies just as well today.

All of our fun skis today are just evolved (compromised) Spatulas. They took the Spatula and compromised some design elements to make it better on hard snow. OK, losing the stainless steel top sheet was not a compromise (Lotus 138, Praxis Pow)... but every 5-point sidecut ski is the progeny of a a GS ski that had sex with the Spatula. The very first was Eric 'Hoji' Hjorleifson's 4FRNT EHP in fall 2005. Drake's DPS Wailer 112RP was the first widespread 5point design success in spring 2010 following the lesser appreciated fall 2009 release of JP Auclair's Aramada JJ. These were mainstreamed (copied) by the extremely successful Salomon Super 7 in 2011. Now every brand has something like that.

The true natural snow only tool remains a Lotus 138.

@hutash @adimmen @blurred @marshalolson @evile

Hallelujah, amen, preach the gospel of the 138.

They are simply the best in untracked.


In tracked out chop, the width gets to me after awhile. Also, if there's a lot of groomer between the pow, they're far from ideal.

I picked up some Blizzard Spurs earlier this year in the hopes of something a tiny bit more versatile. I wanted something usable at a ski area where it's a PITA to go back to the car and switch skis. Since this season sucks, haven't had a chance to ski them in anything deserving of a big ski.

Have you guys skied the BillyGoat? I thought the lotus 138 was it (for resort pow) until I got on the BillyGoat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier

Have you guys skied the BillyGoat? I thought the lotus 138 was it (for resort pow) until I got on the BillyGoat.

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Another 5-point fun shape... Spatula had sex with a GS ski. I have DPS Wailer 112s and 4FRNT EHPs.

Preach. Reverse reverse is the fucking sex and are way more than just deep pow skis. They just make skiing more funner than it already is.


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When did the Moment Deathwish come out, because that is the 1 ski for me?

I've got fatter, but not mo better.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Summit

Look another 5 point ski!

REVERSE-REVERSE ALL HAIL!
Spatula
Lotus 138
Praxis Pow
Armada ARG

There are no others like them.

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ProTest!

I actually started writing to tell Hutash tips on skiing reverse-reverse... so I started with Mental Floss and it turned into a love letter to 138s and a history lesson to the Spats... and too long for a PM... so I made a post of one of the gospels of reverse-reverse.

Reverse Reverse Tips:
Read mental floss
You can go sideways at any time and it doesn't mean stopping (unless you want)
You can push your tips to faceshot, porpoise
You don't have to get aggro forward, but you can
Stay out of the backseat (and you don't have fear the chop/breakable) just try it... get center.... now a little forward... YESSSS
Loosey goosey... little moves... think and the ski will read your mind! Force it and it will move in ways you didn't think possible
Wax is important on reverse reverse, although mostly for covering a groomer on your way.
On a fully lift served day where shit tracks out, I might switch out to a 5 point fun shape about mid day... unless mid day turns in to hiking/sidestepping for more lightly tracked stuff
Don't be afraid to take them out on a 5" day... they turn dust on crust into surfing
Once you learn them, go find some trees you thought were tight... YESSSSS

Bought a pair of 138 hybrids a few years ago and skied them as my main pow ski and only touring setup for 1 season. Probably 50 days on them.

Absolutely best ski for any kind of 3D snow. Even deep heavy wet spring snow that normally locks you in to a turn is super easy and fun. Just such a fucking bear on icy luge exits, hard groomers or long traverses.

Ended up grabbing another pair of Renegades for the next year. Rens just have that combination of L138 ability to make any turn shape in pow and are much more manageable on hardpack. Would love to remount the 138s with a tech binding and put them back in rotation though.

Everyone that considers themselves a ski nerd should spend some time on a R/R ski. I’ll never sell mine... unless someone has a 202 I can try...



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I still miss my Spats.

What's the best damp reverse reverse shape on the market now? The 138s are done, right?

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Originally Posted by Sirshredalot

I still miss my Spats.

What's the best damp reverse reverse shape on the market now? The 138s are done, right?

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ProTest.

Reverse reverse? Hmmm. Blurred had told me to try spats a few times.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evil E

Reverse reverse? Hmmm. Blurred had told me to try spats a few times.


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I still remember watching you effortlessly slaying something in East Vail in 2004 and looking over at Blurred and he goes "we need a pair of those Spatulas." He found us an end of season deal on them (they were discontinued).

Still the best pure pow ski of all time in my opinion. DPS made it lighter, but I like the heft of it. It crushes. The DPS gets bucked easily if it’s not perfect snow. The spatula gives zero fucks and just keeps destroying. Those days in east Vail were good times!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lantern

Everyone that considers themselves a ski nerd should spend some time on a R/R ski. I’ll never sell mine... unless someone has a 202 I can try...

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Love my 202s.
For R/R longer is better.

Although I have done the surprise splits on the cat track back to the lift.

I have my praxis pow 200's for sale since I haven't used them in 2 years, but now you made me decide to keep them and ride them.
I had one particular night ski probably 4 years ago now - drove down to ski in the city with a buddy on his L138s and me on my pows. was not expecting much from that night. It's still the most clear ski session in my mind.
Probably should book a trip to Japan...

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Originally Posted by pfluffenmeister

Although I have done the surprise splits on the cat track back to the lift.

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oh yeah. I know that move!

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Originally Posted by Judo Chop!

oh yeah. I know that move!

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Spats you definitely had to lean back a little and pressure the heel on the hardpack to not reverse-carve or "Spatula Splits."

138s are much better behaved.

My 2008 Praxis Hybrids (aka Protests) are full reverse. Versus the "recurve" Keith later changed them to. First year he sold them. I'll never give them up. Holy shit, that was ten years ago.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LightRanger

My 2008 Praxis Hybrids (aka Protests) are full reverse. Versus the "recurve" Keith later changed them to. First year he sold them. I'll never give them up. Holy shit, that was ten years ago.

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Ha I have a pair of camo powder boards with the riveted tips. Had them since the 08-09 season and I'm not giving them up either. I need to get some inserts in mine and get a few days this season.

Additional relevant history, from my old notes:
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2001 Volant 186cm “Spatula V1” Prototype with O.G. metal cap construction, 125-130-120, Reverse-Reverse

2004/5 Birdos 184cm “11s”, 134-137-128, Reverse-Reverse

2005/6 Birdos 195cm “11s”, 134-137-128, Reverse-Reverse

2005/6 Capital 195cm G-Funkenstein XXL stiff, 155-162-132 Reverse-Reverse, (…or was this ski later in 2006/7 ???)

2006 DPS 192cm Lotus138, 140-138-139, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

2006 Goode 193cm "Scoop 142", 125-142-113, Reverse-Reverse

2006/7 4FRNT 193cm EHP, 130-112-118, zero camber, some slight taper & early rise in tip. (The 190cm EHP was just a rebadged old VCT).

2006/7 Armada 185cm ARG La Gorda, 135-133-134, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

2006/7 Praxis 185cm Powderboards, 130-136-130, Reverse-Reverse

2007/8 Praxis 195cm Powderboards, 131-136-124, Reverse-Reverse

2007/8 4FRNT 186cm EHP, 128-113-122, zero camber, some decent taper & early rise in tip and tail.

2008/2009 Rossignol 188cm S7 Caballero, 145.4-115-123. Early “hybrid/5-point”.
* same year as the first Armada JJ "5-point" *
* both were well BEFORE the Wailer 112 *

2008/9 Armada 185cm "JJ (JP vs Julien)", 136-115-133. Early “hybrid/5-point”.

2008/9 Praxis 188cm Hybrid(Protest), 137-130-131, “Hybrid/5-point”

EDIT: 2008/9 Bluehouse 189cm Maven, 154-139-151, “Hybrid/5-point”

2008/9 Moment 186cm Donner Party, 135-140-130, Reverse-Reverse

EDIT: 2009 PMGear 191cm Splatula Prototype, Reverse-Reverse, 1st pair built by frenchie intern in 2009, not sure when the next pairs were built.

EDIT: 2009/10 4FRNT 188cm CRJ, 130-118-128, “Hybrid/5-point”

2010 DPS 190cm Wailer 112 RP, 141-112-128, “hybrid/5-point”, but not the first with widespread success.

2011/12 Liberty 192cm Mutant, 160-149-145, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evil E

...DPS made it lighter, but I like the heft of [the Spatula]...The DPS gets bucked easily if it’s not perfect snow. The spatula gives zero fucks and just keeps destroying.

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YES! I have both Spatula and 192cm pure Lotus138. What I really want is a 196cm Spatula.

Someday I need to trade my pure Lotus138 for the heaviest possible Lotus138 (like either hybrid construction or a 202cm). Or someday I might epoxy a layer of any heavy material right onto my Lotus138 topsheets.

Or maybe I should start with an old heavy-fiberglass Praxis Powderboard in a 195cm or 200cm or 205cm. Then if it's too soft or too much tip upturn (like the flaws of the very first 195cm version of Praxis PowBoards), then I'd epoxy sloppy layers of fiberglass right onto the topsheet to increase stiffness and to prevent the tip upturn from flexing up higher to an even more blunt hammer-like angle.

.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vitamin I

Additional relevant history, from my old notes:
----

2001 Volant 186cm “Spatula V1” Prototype with O.G. metal cap construction, 125-130-120, Reverse-Reverse

2004/5 Birdos 184cm “11s”, 134-137-128, Reverse-Reverse

2005/6 Birdos 195cm “11s”, 134-137-128, Reverse-Reverse

2005/6 Capital 195cm G-Funkenstein XXL stiff, 155-162-132 Reverse-Reverse, (…or was this ski later in 2006/7 ???)

2006 DPS 192cm Lotus138, 140-138-139, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

2006 Goode 193cm "Scoop 142", 125-142-113, Reverse-Reverse

2006/7 4FRNT 193cm EHP, 130-112-118, zero camber, some slight taper & early rise in tip. (The 190cm EHP was just a rebadged old VCT).

2006/7 Armada 185cm ARG La Gorda, 135-133-134, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

2006/7 Praxis 185cm Powderboards, 130-136-130, Reverse-Reverse

2007/8 Praxis 195cm Powderboards, 131-136-124, Reverse-Reverse

2007/8 4FRNT 186cm EHP, 128-113-122, zero camber, some decent taper & early rise in tip and tail.

2008/2009 Rossignol 188cm S7 Caballero, 145.4-115-123. Early “hybrid/5-point”.
* same year as the first Armada JJ "5-point" *
* both were well BEFORE the Wailer 112 *

2008/9 Armada 185cm "JJ (JP vs Julien)", 136-115-133. Early “hybrid/5-point”.

2008/9 Praxis 188cm Hybrid(Protest), 137-130-131, “Hybrid/5-point”

2008/9 Moment 186cm Donner Party, 135-140-130, Reverse-Reverse

2009 PMGear 191cm Splatula Prototype, Reverse-Reverse, just 1 pair built by an intern.

2010 DPS 190cm Wailer 112 RP, 141-112-128, “hybrid/5-point”, but not the first with widespread success.

2011/12 Liberty 192cm Mutant, 160-149-145, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

.

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2008/9 Blue House Maven 154-139-151
Hybrid/5 point

'1st widespread 5 point design success's. That Evo history written by SD? Those early Wailer 112's were skiings equivalent of Mexican pointy boots!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vitamin I

Additional relevant history, from my old notes:










2009 PMGear 191cm Splatula Prototype, Reverse-Reverse, just 1 pair built by an intern.





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while the frenchie designed em i have both a soft and stiff pair i built
and would put the # of these made at 6-8
detrouser just sold a pair

And having sellers remorse. I kept having to step on the brakes to keep from flying past the guides on the cat day.


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Where does DB Tabla Rasa fit in this history scenerio?

Tabla Rasa was a post-Spatula and not a Reverse Reverse.... swallow tail flat camber traditional shape (but pretty straight) I think from what... 03? @Telekóptero had a pair

I knew it was post Spat, but surely a step in the evolution of Lotus, no?

Never tried a reverse-reverse ski, sounds fun. Did some looking around.

New in plastic Spatulas only . . . . . . $3,500!!!!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-NEW-i...4383.l4275.c10

An older thread with comparisons of the different generations of the Lotus 138 (rocker 0, r1, r2, r3.1, r3.2, etc):
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...-1-to-rocker-3

Versions of the 138 I no longer have:
1) The original 138 -- pointy tip, r0, white topsheet/black sidewall, 192cm -- but sold it a few years ago. Mount point was too far forward, tended to tip dive compared to other versions. OTOH, it cut through crust or windpack like a Spatula, but bigger.

2) Rocker 3.1 hybrid -- big tip splay, 192cm -- recently traded it for the Spurs. Great ski, but I preferred the other versions that I have (below).

Versions of the 138 I currently have:
1) R1, bamboo sidewall, white topsheet, 192cm -- mounted with demo track bindings, these sort of became my rock pow ski, and just won't die. Light, floaty, slashy fun.

2) R? (no idea), black sidewall, blue textured topsheet, labeled 200cm (though I thought these came in 202, not 200), pure. Lower rise tip splay than any of the other versions I've had or have. My favorite of all the 138s. 200cm length gives a little extra stability over the 192 versions, at nearly no tradeoff in maneuverability.

3) Spoon 150, 190cm, pure -- a 138 that went on an eating binge. Have only skied this a few times. Not sure it really adds anything to the 138 experience, other than being able to ski sideways really fast and being scary on groomers -- it is very very loose. I have not skied any of the spooned 138s or 120s, so don't have any comparison there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tuco

I knew it was post Spat, but surely a step in the evolution of Lotus, no?

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I think it was the precursor to the 120s.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tuco

I knew it was post Spat, but surely a step in the evolution of Lotus, no?

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It became the lotus 120.
Looks quite different but skis similarly to the first gen 120s.
(or the other way around)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tuco

2008/9 Blue House Maven 154-139-151 . Hybrid/5 point...

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Good catch. Maven's tip & tail definitely qualify as "hybrid/5-point".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skifishbum

while the frenchie designed [the PMGear Splatula] i have both a soft and stiff pair i built
and would put the # of these made at 6-8
detrouser just sold a pair

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Good catch. My wording was off. I was trying to say I knew frenchie built the 1st prototype in 2009, and then I know nothing about timing after that. I have zero notes about if & when more prototypes might have been built, or if & when a "proper" production batch ever happened.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tuco

Where does DB Tabla Rasa fit in this history scenerio?

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As others responded, I think Tabla Rasa does NOT fit the "Reverse/Reverse" or "5-point" category for this thread. But I have old notes on them:

- 2003/04 DrakeBoinay Tabla Rasa flex3 186cm, Radius=44.5, 142-118-125 1800g

Then a slight refinement to width dimensions:
- 2004/05 DrakeBoinay Tabla Rasa flex3 186cm, Radius=47.5, 142-120-127 1800g (also came in flex2 or "medium")

I don't have any notes on possible drama/disputes, but at some point Goode Skis basically started pressing Drake's designs as their own, with exact same Tabla Rasa swallow-tail and everything:
- 2006/7 Goode "Monstro 120" 177cm, Radius=36.0, 141-117-125, was a blatant ripoff of Tabla Rasa.
- 2007/8 Goode Monstro 186cm, was a blatant ripoff of Tabla Rasa. (No point in displaying Goode's reported dimensions here, because Goode just lied on the numbers to make it appear to be not exactly the same as a Tabla Rasa.)
- 2008/9 Goode Monstro 186cm, was a blatant ripoff of Tabla Rasa.

.

I got a couple pair of the red hybrid 120's and i noticed the S/N is 2011-xxxx

does that mean they are 2011?

I can't really use any more ski around here on a regular basis

Quote:

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Originally Posted by XXX-er

does that mean they are 2011?

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Yes! This would be very coherent with the serial numbers I have on my DPS.

Thanks for the motivational post

#whyskiingisawesome

I had some Spats that I gave to a snowboarder friend converting to skiing. I still see him around. He thinks skiing is stupid except for Spatulating which he love. I think I traded Natty for some weed.

I have some 190 Powder Boards. Interestingly, I think there primary purpose is something other than charging pow. They just dominate challenging conditions. Spring snows, bumps, shit fuck in the trees it just doesn't matter.

Weed cookies, Miller Lites, sunglasses, headbands and Powder Boards = Spring Skiing!!!

I might have go Powder Board in inappropriate conditions this afternoon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vitamin I

Additional relevant history, from my old notes:
----

2001 Volant 186cm “Spatula V1” Prototype with O.G. metal cap construction, 125-130-120, Reverse-Reverse

2004/5 Birdos 184cm “11s”, 134-137-128, Reverse-Reverse

2005/6 Birdos 195cm “11s”, 134-137-128, Reverse-Reverse

2005/6 Capital 195cm G-Funkenstein XXL stiff, 155-162-132 Reverse-Reverse, (…or was this ski later in 2006/7 ???)

2006 DPS 192cm Lotus138, 140-138-139, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

2006 Goode 193cm "Scoop 142", 125-142-113, Reverse-Reverse

2006/7 4FRNT 193cm EHP, 130-112-118, zero camber, some slight taper & early rise in tip. (The 190cm EHP was just a rebadged old VCT).

2006/7 Armada 185cm ARG La Gorda, 135-133-134, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

2006/7 Praxis 185cm Powderboards, 130-136-130, Reverse-Reverse

2007/8 Praxis 195cm Powderboards, 131-136-124, Reverse-Reverse

2007/8 4FRNT 186cm EHP, 128-113-122, zero camber, some decent taper & early rise in tip and tail.

2008/2009 Rossignol 188cm S7 Caballero, 145.4-115-123. Early “hybrid/5-point”.
* same year as the first Armada JJ "5-point" *
* both were well BEFORE the Wailer 112 *

2008/9 Armada 185cm "JJ (JP vs Julien)", 136-115-133. Early “hybrid/5-point”.

2008/9 Praxis 188cm Hybrid(Protest), 137-130-131, “Hybrid/5-point”

EDIT: 2008/9 Bluehouse 189cm Maven, 154-139-151, “Hybrid/5-point”

2008/9 Moment 186cm Donner Party, 135-140-130, Reverse-Reverse

EDIT: 2009 PMGear 191cm Splatula Prototype, Reverse-Reverse, 1st pair built by frenchie intern in 2009, not sure when the next pairs were built.

2010 DPS 190cm Wailer 112 RP, 141-112-128, “hybrid/5-point”, but not the first with widespread success.

2011/12 Liberty 192cm Mutant, 160-149-145, basically Reverse-Reverse with short section underfoot.

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4frnt CRJ also definitely belongs on that list

Forecast calling for 6-8” of mank by the morning. Definitely going R/R tomorrow - the only question is which flavor...
Attachment 224626


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by PlayItLeo

Forecast calling for 6-8” of mank by the morning. Definitely going R/R tomorrow - the only question is which flavor...
Attachment 224626


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Fuck Yes!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by selle

4frnt CRJ also definitely belongs on that list

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Good catch. For "5-point" skis, I was merely including the earliest ones to show that Wailer 112 wasn't the 1st successful "5-point". But yeah, 2009/10 CRJ is early enough to be worthy. :)

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