Stiff Bro Ski Flexing Comparisons

[splat]

Made it by a local shop today to flex some skis and compare them to the stiff Bro Model. I picked a few of the better known top end brands and feel real good about how the Bros compare. Also found some of the subtle differences interesting. So I'll ramble through some short notes I jotted down while flexing and suggest that rather than attempt to compare the stiff bros to every ski ever made, those who have ordered can cruise by a shop and get an idea of how the stiffs flex.

Again, please note -the comparison was only with regard to the STIFF Bros. I'll do the same with the softs in the next few days.

B3 185 - Bro quite stiffer overall, similar rounded flex pattern.
Apache Chief - 188 (I believe) - AC is softer tip and tail, stiffer underfoot.
Legend Pro/8800 - right inbetween the two, LP is considerably stiffer underfoot, tip and tail similar. 8800 is a bit softer.
Sugar Daddy & Pimp Daddy- closest of the skis flexed, the SD is maybe just a hair stiffer, maybe not. (See new flex opinion below)
No Big Daddys to compare...


Most noticeable difference - The LP and the AC have considerable stiffness underfoot and sweet spots in the tips to initiate turns, the AC moreso. We tinkered with doing a sweet spot on one version of protos, but decided to go with a more rounded flex. The tail on the stiff Bro is stiffer in comparison to these skis, The Sugar Daddy, the LP, and the new PR's have tails that come close to being almost as stiff as the Bros tails.


Updated:::::
Just got back from the shop and not only did I flex the Pimp Daddy and Sugar Daddy in the 193, but I flexed the Sugars in other lengths and, aside from the softness of the higher tail tip, I honestly believe they are no softer, especially when negating the influence of the tail tip. I had a couple other guys flex them this way and they said the same thing.


Compared both to the stiff BRO in this more detailed flex test - The Pimp Daddy is stiffer underfoot, softer front and back (a trend in many skis this year, perhaps resultant of the success of the original PR)

As for the softs, I have only flexed them against some Sanouks so far, and the soft Bros are a little stiffer.

Interesting note in flexing twin-tips: they flex totally different if you flex them in the regular manner, then put the tail against a wall and your foot under the tail to negate the influence of the tail tip initiating a premature bending action in the flex of the whole ski.

Combined with the earlier comparisons that have been made, I hope this helps many of you to get a handle on what you'll be getting soon.

Thank you all for your patience, faith, and brotherhood. Really. I mean that.

We have all changed the way skis will be built and purchased in the future as a result of this endeavor.

Bros.

edit: for SD/PD reflex

[splat]

that's great stuff splat, that'll make it pretty easy once we have soft info in hand too. Surprised 2 ways: 1) PRs in same breath as Bro stiffs, WTF?/wow! 2) I was mainly scared off the stiff as a quick or lively powder ski by the stiffness underfoot of the LP I flexed. The 8800 was sort of in the range I'm looking for, I think? Anyways, thanks a bunch for the info.

PS: This whole "endeavour" as you call it is such a cool thing, the passion you and the others share for it is a contagious and beautiful thing, success is certain and deserved. [semi-serious]Each pair of Bros should come with a hundred PMgear promo cards for us to hand out to rippers (who know not what TGR stands for) that are going to ask "dude! what are those babies?" on the lifts this winter.{/semi-serious]

Thanks. I'm glad you got some insight on that Dynastar comparison. And those cards - I really want to do just that!

[splat]

If you're at the wood this weekend, you can do it yourself.

[splat]

Splat- check back in the pimp daddy thread in TT. Apparently the new BIG daddies have the pimp bases. These are NOT the sugar daddy "pimp" editon. THe pimps share the same red top sheet as the Sugar Daddy but are made in a 193. Is it possible that you flexed the Big Daddy? I have flexed both skis and found that the Pimp is not any where close to the Legend pro. Not trying to Call on this but just trying to get the info on the bro's right.

Duke

I think the shop guy that told me the pair I was flexing were PDs was not thinking straight, because the Sugar Daddies I flexed were stiff and a 188, I think.
He told me they were PDs based on the base design, so I'm editing the post above to reflect that they were Sugars, not PDs.

Thanx for clarifying that base issue, I'm not aware enough of the subtle differences to state the facts without possible error. I'm heading back to the shop to flex them again and find wtf it was. Will also get some soft comparisons. I feel completely dumb about now.........

INDY - You da mang!!! Will PM you.

[splat]

Went to the shop to flex the same skis Splat did and they had Pimp Daddies there that were the same top sheet as the Sugar just in a 193.

I hadn't flexed the PR's since they first came out. The new ones are a lot stiffer but probably not as stiff as the 8800 IMO. Pretty interesting. The LP to me is real stiff. The 8800 seemed a little more in line with what I would want. I'll wait for the results on the softs especially in comparison to the B3 which seemed quite soft vs. all the others including the PR. If softer than the B3 then I'll be going with the stiff given I'm around 200#.

Just got back from the shop and not only did I flex the PDs in the 193, but I flexed the Sugars in other lengths and, aside from the softness of the higher tail tip, I honestly believe they are no softer, especially when negating the influence of the tail tip. I had a couple other guys flex them this wy and they said the same thing.

Compared to the stiff BRO upon this more detailed flex test - The Pimp Daddy is stiffer underfoot, softer front and back (a trend in many skis this year, perhaps resultant of the success of the original PR)

As for the softs, I only flexed them against some Sanouks so far, and the soft Bros are a little stiffer. Just a bit.

I'm posting this back up in my original comparison and in TT.

[splat]

Man, this flexing is going to try friendships before it's over.....

The ones I flexed are stiffer than the soft Bros, Tom, working up towards the stiffs.

Or I'm losing my fucking mind....

[splat]

Coulda fooled me. I thought they were relatively stiff on the shelf.

And BB is right, skis do lose stiffness after a while. But we're pretty convinced the extra glass we're putting in the Bros will reduce that lessening of camber and stiffness.

edit: I'll be back in the shop tomorrow, flexing the PRs again. I'll post my take again here......

[splat]

That's why they are so popular. Seeing the same pattern in many skis this year, stable platform underfoot, softer tips and tails. It makes the ski easier to ski and feeling more stable at speed and in crud. We made a prototype that way, then backed off in favor of a more rounded flex.
As for the PR comparison, I'm starting to think I'm flexed out...
I'll work those things again tomorrow against the soft Bros.

[splat]

Ditto. Pimp Daddys mean nothing to me, as they're (I believe) a new ski. Any comparison to a Big Daddy, which only got cosmetic and topsheet material changes this year (supposedly) would be VERY helpful, since those were the skis I rode last year.

I looked for Big Daddys at the shop, but saw none. I'll look again tomorrow,Tip.

[splat]

A medium flex ski is a good way to describe the soft, Magoo.

The stiff certainly rewards form, but is not unmanageable whatsoever.