Praxis 185: I'm sold

[filthyfrenchbum]

I acquired these from toiletduck a few weeks ago, and had the chance to ski them 4 consecutive days, 3 of which were pow days. These are the 06-07 model with the matte black topsheet, mounted 97cm from tip with S900's (.5cm back from line I believe)

They flex stiffer than my gotamas and stiffer in the tip and tails than an ARG and were the first reverse camber/sidecut ski I ever skied

I'm 5'6, about 150lbs, strong skier, tend to throw myself in narrow spots, like the steep and deep, ski Whistler/Blackcomb on 05-06 176 goats that I find too short and soft.

On friday, with about 20cm of dry fresh pow on blackcomb I experienced the magic. First run, couldn't feel much of a difference, groomers felt a little sketchy. Then got first tracks down couloir extreme. My first impression was that they were extremely easy to throw around, and as everyone said very surfy. Shortly after headed over to Spanky's and got very first tracks down the middle Sapphire chute. That's when I knew I was sold. I decided to let them rip and never have I been so confident and on top skiing powder at speed. One of my best runs of the season. These things just float right on top and are a piece of cake to ditch speed on (they like to go freakin' fast (I made one turn down the chute)).

I was dreading the long cat track out but I was wrong, these things are not sketchball at all on groomers, and with a good wax go just as fast as a regular camber ski. Stopping does not feel different, just throw them sideways and apply pressure. I found that leaning back a little helps trying to get a bit of edge contact on the snow. Can't carve a turn on the groomed but easily manageable and not an inconvenient.

Day 2, only a few cm, a few stashes of fresh and lots of tracked out pow. Thought of riding the gotamas, but decided to test these out in different conditions. These once again excel, hard to feel the tracks because they stay right on top. Headed over to Gunbarrels and hit some pillow lines, man are the landings ever fun as long as you lean forward more than you are used to. Got sketched out in sluffed out narrow areas and traverses, and although the lack of edge frightened me a little they still get a grip even on icy tight shitty spots where you don't want to fall and need to sideslip. Straightlined exhilaration to a crud field, flew right over everything (until I tried making a turn and yardsaled) Overall glad I took them out.

Day 3, a foot of fresh overnight. Skied trees before the alpine opened in the morning and it was uber fun. Then headed down to CBC to ski some pillows and more trees, followed by a lap in Sapphire. In that fairly dense snow they stayed right on top, no tip dive at all.

Day 4, a few cm, but peak chair closed the previous day. Once again these ruled the deep pow, but got tiring in bumpy/hard stuff in the afternoon.

So, overall these things rule and will be taken out every 5in+ day. Very fun flex, found them to be the most fun ripping pow at high speeds, and excellent in the trees. Much better than I expected them to be on groomers.

If you are doubting about Reverse camber/sidecut, buy them, you will not be deceived!

[toiletduck]

- good to hear buddy. Sounds like you're sending it on 'em already! Enjoy em, hope Whistler is getting this weird spring cold and snow spell that Fernie has had lately...

[flyby]

remind me, is exhilaration the one skier's right or left?

[bfree]

^ IIRC, its on the right, closest to the peak.

But I've experienced much of the same with my 185 praxis--they just like to haul ass and it is very fun. I too also have goats, and you might have some interesting experiences when switching back to them. One day of sleeper pow, I thought it would be nothing special and took the gots, but I forgot the difference and ended up learning the hard way that you can't stay forward on them near as much in powder, and especially on landing drops. Praxis just rule at that.

[todug27]

we're gonna do a little arg-praxis swap next time i'm up there so we can do a little side by side comparison.

stiffer in the tip and tails than an ARG

I was checking this out with Ben's Praxis and I think the flex is a little stiffer in the middle/tip but a lot softer in the tail on the ARGs. Praxis seem like a more consistent flex throughout though.