Long, Fast, Charger

[volklpowdermaniac]

70 degrees in Boulder. Spring ski deals should be on the way. A slightly more serious ski quiver advice question then the other one going on right now.

Looking for something longer than what I have, stiffer than what I have, that destroys crud, can move quick, be stable, and stomp.

Have a hole in the quiver at 110-120mm underfoot.

Want to know which one to grab at should it pop up on SAC, GS, or somewhere else cheap.

At first search, I thought I had to have the stiffest ski out there, some XXLs, or 192 Bros.

But having not been on a really stiff ski, I thought perhaps just a ski that was significantly stiffer than what I have will do...

Currently:

185 Kuro
183 Soft Bro
177 Bridge

5'8 175.

So given that thought, I SEARCHED and I came up with a few:

193 EHP
190 EHP
190 Katana
185 Mothership
192 Zealot


or maybe still a 192 BRO

Also which is the preferred vintage of 193 EHP.

Any others for suggestion would be good, as well as which are most likely to be found on the cheap side.

Again, just sig. stiffer/longer than what I have, fast, crudbust, stomp, but not a total dead fish.

It might kick my ass for a while, but who doesn't need a good ass kicking every now and then.
fire away, jong away, or say whatever helps you get through this warm weather.

Probably will be used couple days after a storm, and for mid-late season touring

[cc3]

these fit all the conditions...cept maybe the price one
http://praxisskis.com/index.php?opti...id=3&Itemid=29
Big Mtn 110 in a 192 $549

edit: plus you don't have to worry about the praxis late thing cuz there already made...

[Pierre LeCouloir]

Of your contenders list, I've only skied the 192 Bro carbon. The Big Bro definitely ticks the boxes you laid out. If you're worried about the stiffness, I'm guessing you can order EXACTLY the flex you want, since these are handmade by maggots. That said, I've got some very stiff 192s that level crud, make whatever turn I want, and consistently put a smile on my face. Granted, I've got 20 pounds on you. Also, my 192 Bros are not what I reach for if I anticipate harvesting tree pow, but they are what I reach for about 50% of the time.

[volklpowdermaniac]

fucking A those look sweet, too bad i'll never be able to afford them.

192 bros would be used, or blems, so no flex choosing

but i appreciate the input.


the 192 bros are really the ones that have me drooling, the other one's have me thinking a little more realistically

[Daywalker]

Try my 192 Bros out... seriously.

[volklpowdermaniac]

Try my 192 Bros out... seriously.

Ha, i just might have too, that deal is looking better each day. Let's hope for some fucking snow, and soon.

[skifishbum]

I feel bad for not replying to your pm.
I've never seen you ski so hard to tell but the 192 is a lot of ski
Try daywalkers 192 the only come in stiff
and if you can handle them I have a few pairs of blems I might get rid of.
Between the 186 lhasa and the 196 and a lotus 120 I haven't ridden the 192 all season.
If I were you I'd save my money for a carbon 196 lhasa or try and do a week of slave labor at the factory for a pair

[volklpowdermaniac]

^^^ no worries. thanks for the input.

[D(C)]

The only ski from your list that I've tried is the 193 EHP. I had the 07 model, mounted on the line.

Your criteria are the following: destroys crud, can move quick, be stable, and stomp.

The EHP is a lousy crud ski due to the soft early rise tip, at least in the 07s. I found I really got bounced around when it got rough. The 09s may be better due to the longer, lower-rise tip and rounder flex, versus stiff underfoot with a softish tip and tail in the 07s.

They were quite nimble and had a very light feel, making them a great ski in tighter places.

Stability was lacking due to their light feel and lack of edge grip. I blame the pin-ish tail design for this issue. They simply didn't feel like they could hold a carve all that well. They actually did better in short turns rather than long turns on harder snow due to their feel.

I never felt comfortable stomping on them due to the light weight, lack of stability on edge and tendency to get bounced around.

I would say the EHP makes a very nice deep snow ski but lacks the solidness to be versatile.

I would go with something that has a flat tail if I were you. My Rockers kill the EHPs in every way except maybe a touch of nimbleness.

I hope this helps.

[squatch]

stop buying shit and just go ski.

[marshalolson]

193 EHP
190 EHP
190 Katana
185 Mothership
192 Zealot
or maybe still a 192 BRO

Also which is the preferred vintage of 193 EHP.

i have never seen you ski, but your size makes me think that you should not even come close to considering most of those skis, given where you are currently located geographically and what else you are skiing on.

you most certainly "could" ski most of those skis, as in skid them around and think you are ripping, but if you want to ACTUALLY kill it, check that ego a couple clicks and get something that is appropriate. super long and super stiff really are very specific and frankly are not that sweet in most situations.

if you want an EHP, the 179 and 186 will both be plenty without question - and i would definately recommend the 08 or 09 iterations. the 182 VCT is plenty of board as well - at 6'2'' and 220lbs i am loving my 189's as an everyday ski. the 185 mo ship is nice but weighs about 10000lbs. 192 zealot are nice and all, but feel dead compared to the other skis in your quiver. you might like them for sure, but i kinda doubt it.

a 186 lhasa as SFB said would be a solid contender as well... IMO prolly the bestbet, along with the 182 VCT.

a 187 xxl and a 184 squad are great skis to consider too.

finally, if you are thinking about touring them, i cannot come close to saying enough about the 188 wailer charger.

[Trainwreck]

Try my 192 Bros out... seriously.

You still selling those bro? Hmmm...

[volklpowdermaniac]

D(c): that was a great review

Squatch: Love your brutal honesty, but i like to buy shit i don't need

interesting marshal, one of the first people on here i've seen advocating a shorter ski, usually its longer, longer, longer.....


maybe given all that the seemingly softest options of those group would be the ones to go for...185 Motherships and 190 Katanas....which Powtron says ski very similiar.

[marshalolson]

interesting marshal, one of the first people on here i've seen advocating a shorter ski, usually its longer, longer, longer.....

most people are fucking idiots. myself included.

[snoweater]

that destroys crud, can move quick, be stable, and stomp.

You are describing a good skier, not a ski. If you wanna be able to do these things, grab one of your pairs of skis that you already have, and ski... like squatch said.

...there better be a good front pushing all this rank Cali air onto us...lousy smarch weather.

[El Chupacabra]

Looking for something longer than what I have, stiffer than what I have, that destroys crud, can move quick, be stable, and stomp.

Have a hole in the quiver at 110-120mm underfoot.

But having not been on a really stiff ski, I thought perhaps just a ski that was significantly stiffer than what I have will do...

Currently:

185 Kuro
183 Soft Bro
177 Bridge

5'8 175.

You have the Kuro for a pow ski, so you don't really "need" something 110-120mm.

Try the old Salomon AK Rocket swallowtail. Someone has a new pair in gear swap right now. 195cm, but 10cm of that is swallowtail. It skis short, but amazingly stable. Also very floaty -- much, MUCH more so than the 95mm waist would suggest. Stiffer than anything you have now, but not ass-kickingly-stiff.

[Caucasian Asian]

If you're going to start looking at sub-100mm skis, you should consider the 192 777. It destroys crud, super stable at speed, and is available NIP for around $150.

[Shu Shu]

A slightly more serious ski quiver advice question then the other one going on right now.

I resent that remark I had just finished a fifteen hour day at work when I wrote that post, and was looking for a creative way to end my life. Everyone should have a suicide stick in their quiver, for when its time to go.

[Daywalker]

You still selling those bro? Hmmm...

Yes... ski them.

[volklpowdermaniac]

Daywalker, PM coming in next few days to set something up..

I don't "need" any of these skis. As I suspect many of the gear addicts on this site do not, but many of us share a common affliction, money in our pocket that burns....

I'd like to stick to the 110 range....


I'll see what kind of ass kicking the 192 BROs give me.

[shasti]

Marshal's advice was good. The skier, not the ski, does the charging, so pick the best ski for skiing. Look at Sage and Treadway - on the Rossinol S7 and Steeze respectively - Point being you dont need a ski that rips any harder than that to charge if you want to.

Of the skis you are thinking about, the zealots are planky and will not come alive until 50 mph, the katanas and moships will not do anything for you that another ski hasn't already, and the 193 EHP is probably a tad to big for you considering marshals ideology. I think the EHP, Lhasa Pow, Armada JJ, or Rossi S7 are the skis to be on right now.

I own the lotus 138 and Goliath 190 and I wish I could get my hands on a cheap pair of any of the above 4 skis. Not to take away from the 138s, but by noon, or whenever the pow starts to become bumps, they are not the thing you want to be on. They beat your ankles in bumpy snow. The goliaths on the other hand are also a great ski, and definitely the best of the big mtn charging skis that I've skied, but they are not pow skis. They dont have that flexible turn shape and versatility of riding style that a reverse camber ski affords. If the Kuro is limited on tracked out snow like my 138s then you might be most stoked on a pow ski that doesn't have this limitation. The EHPs can be skied the day after the storm, and even the day after that. If you want to charge, charge. But the ski that will hold you back the least from doing this (in any conditions) may be semi reverse reverse category. This is just my thinking, i dont own any of those skis but everybody I know who does seems to be pretty glad they do.

Again, I am sure you can charge hard, and the bro is probably a sick ski. What i am saying is, in my personal experience, accepting a few turns in a few situations, the big stiff ski is not ideal. I thought I was the ideal candidate for a big stiff ski, being 6'6 and 24 years old. After 2 seasons on goliaths (edit they are not super stiff, but no slouch. same for 138s) as my everyday and lotus 138 as my pow ski. I had fun but often I had to muscle the goliaths in tight situations, whereas my 138s were great until it got bumpy. The hybird seems to be the middle way as the buddhists say.

[connersw]

I'd echo what Shasti just said about the Zealot. Can't comment on the EHP or Moship.

You may also want to check out the THA 187. They can be found around here for cheap, and I love mine. It would fit that category you're looking for without making you feel like you're getting worked.

[walterboris]

You may check out the THA 187. They can be found around here for cheap, and I am also satisfied it. It would fit that category you're looking for without making you feel like you're getting worked.

[volklpowdermaniac]

Thanks to all first and foremost. I am just targeting this particular category because it seems like sometimes when im flying down crud or even open pow runs on any of the three i own i find myself wanting some more length. The width specifications are related to possible touring. I want to be able to have a 110+ for use in the midseason. The bros with dukes have taken a beating and i would like to make them an early season rig And for variable conditions and then have something lonyer and wider for pure pow tours and day after kuro use. The shorter skis marshal suggested seem like they wouldnt offer much more length over what i have. I know i should stick with what i have but i wont be able to refrain from buying so i figure i should target something diff then what i have which is 110 to 120 stiffer (er) and longer

It has to do with a total lack of self control with money and just wanting something different.

Suprised no votes for 190 katana or moships which ive heard ski similar and are fast and fun. Weight is no matter

[Shorty_J]

You have the Kuro for a pow ski, so you don't really "need" something 110-120mm.

Try the old Salomon AK Rocket swallowtail. Someone has a new pair in gear swap right now. 195cm, but 10cm of that is swallowtail. It skis short, but amazingly stable. Also very floaty -- much, MUCH more so than the 95mm waist would suggest. Stiffer than anything you have now, but not ass-kickingly-stiff.

Would a swallow-tail really be the best thing for charging in crud? Seems like that's a powder feature, and I think he's got those conditions covered.