What skis for the kid?

[iceman]

I am clueless, I've been basically paying no attention for a few years. He thinks he wants Hellbents, for some reason. He's 15, 5'10" 170# and growing. He's been skiing since he was tiny, essentially all his life. He'll mostly be skiing at or around solitude for the next couple years at least. He skis very fast and will ski anywhere. He's a very good skier, not the most polished but effective.

He has a pair of 164 Bros with Barons, but I think they're just gonna be too small (right) this year. He was thinking the Bros for sidecountry and limited backcountry trips and the hellbents for the resort. I think we have to go with one pair with the barons that will cover everything.

What say yez?

[Shin-to-Win]

So many good options out there right now that are more versatile than the hellbents. JJ's, CRJ, Bibby Pro, 186 lhasas, s7, gotamas just to name a few. He's big and strong enough to ski real man-skis now, so everything is in play.

Don't go too short or you'll be buying again next year for sure.

Does he want to be flippy/spinny/jibby or just charge pow?

[single]

185 JJ if you dont mind buying from armada. Its a stupid fun ski that you can ski everyday. It skis really easy, but he will definitely be able to use it for a while.

Much more versatile than the hellbents while still having that cool factor. He will be stoked.

[splat]

ice, we'll be pressing 179 lhasas in the next couple weeks.
i'll shoot you a pair when they're done.
he can guineau pig them for me.

[single]

ice, we'll be pressing 179 lhasas in the next couple weeks.
i'll shoot you a pair when they're done.
he can guineau pig them for me.

[bodywhomper]

not to take away from the sweet offer above, but i'd be recommending skis based on his size, ability level, type of skiing he enjoys, and less on his age. it's not clear to me if you're basing your decision on age, but the thread title implies this. he's the size of many grown men. he's bigger than me. when i was his age, i was nearly full grown and was skiing adult size and length skis. as a kid, it felt pretty cool. as a skier, it made sense.

[iceman]

Splat - cool deal, I can send you back the 164's or give them to SFB, let me know. How are the Lhasas touring? It's not like he's going on all-day tours but more like a mile or two out of the resort through sometimes fairly sketch terrain, then charge it and head back to the resort. We're going to be out Christmas, should I plan on them or have plan B in place so you don't get stuck hurrying or whatever?

Shin - yeah I was trying to figure something that would last for a while, he's slowed down a lot but he's still getting bigger and stronger every day, especially with football and now winter lacrosse is starting.

He might try to pull a little spinny sumpthin-sumpthin off a cliff or whatever if it was in his way but he's way more about the pow by far.

Single - I only ever heard about the JJ's like yesterday, they seem popular I'll say that. I'll have to check them out, maybe we can do a second pair with Splat's kind offer. Are we not supposed to like Armada? I didn't get the memo. What's up with that?

bodywhomper - really all that age has to do with it is the fact that he's still growing and we'd like the skis to last a couple years at least. That and despite the fact that he's a very good skier he's a kid and being on something forgiving and floaty and somewhat turny is probably a good idea if he gets himself into a tight spot. Not that I ever did anything stupid when I was his age.

[single]

Splat - cool deal, I can send you back the 164's or give them to SFB, let me know. How are the Lhasas touring? It's not like he's going on all-day tours but more like a mile or two out of the resort through sometimes fairly sketch terrain, then charge it and head back to the resort. We're going to be out Christmas, should I plan on them or have plan B in place so you don't get stuck hurrying or whatever?

Single - I only ever heard about the JJ's like yesterday, they seem popular I'll say that. I'll have to check them out, maybe we can do a second pair with Splat's kind offer. Are we not supposed to like Armada? I didn't get the memo. What's up with that?

The lhasas are a killer touring ski. Super light, incredibly versatile. I wouldnt hesitate to use them year round. And the 179 in his size would be super manageable.

They JJ's are far and away my shops number one seller, and more than likely the best selling powder/freeride ski on the market. THey are super easy to ski, really versatile considering their width. The lhasa would be a much better charging/everyday ski, where the JJ would be a more playful/jibbing soft snow tool. IMO, having owned the JJ's and the Bents, the JJ's can be skied at least twice as often and you dont really sacrifice too much in powder.

But armada is suing everyone (DPS, Rossi and others) over rocker patent stuff. It is pretty ghey. And it might hinder a lot of people from purchasing.

I am kinda rooting for rossis legal department, but it doesnt change the fact that the jj's would probably be a good ski.