Dynastar Legends-Opinions

**Ferniefreeheels** · 01-01-2005, 02:48 AM

Who has 'em, who's skied 'em, and what do you think about them?

**ScottG** · 01-01-2005, 08:32 AM

You talking all legends? or just the "Legend Pro" or old "Super Nobis", which is my favorite ski ever made, all time, anywhere, any conditions.
I'm 210pounds, so YMMV, but for a big guy these are awesome:
1) stiff
2) not too much sidecut (more versatile)
3) fat, but not too fat.

do a search and you will find much more.

**Ferniefreeheels** · 01-01-2005, 06:32 PM

It would have been the Legend Pro's I was looking at... I guess I gotta see if I can demo a pair.

**phUnk** · 01-02-2005, 07:23 PM

I have em, I've skied em, I love em.

Any more specific questions?

**glademaster** · 01-02-2005, 10:33 PM

A few more questions PhUnk.

I'm about your size, can you make anything but big ass turns on these things, and do they feel ok to ski any speed except mach loony?

This summer it's time for me to buy new skis, and I want something I can ski in the east but that won't be too small to take out west with me when I head to college in 2 years. I figured better to ask here than start a new thread. Thanks.

**Duker** · 01-02-2005, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by glademaster

This summer it's time for me to buy new skis, and I want something I can ski in the east but that won't be too small to take out west with me when I head to college in 2 years. I figured better to ask here than start a new thread. Thanks.

you gotta be kiddin me.

**phUnk** · 01-03-2005, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by Duker

you gotta be kiddin me.

Agreed.

I won't play Enabler for an Addict.

**descender** · 01-03-2005, 05:10 PM

Phunk,

Will the Bro Riders work well as an everyday non-pow ski out west?

**phUnk** · 01-03-2005, 06:20 PM

The Legend Pros are stiff & fat with little sidecut. They truck.

The stock mounting position is a bit forward, which mitigates some of the stiffness, so on harder snow you can still get shorter turns out of em. They do alright in the trees too, because of this mounting position. Naturally, you give up some float with this mounting position.

Recommended mount point for the 186 Legend Pro's is 80.5cm from the tail, measured with the tape measure pushed down so that it touches the ski for that entire 80.5cm. Skiing Alta + Snowbird, I'd probably mount them 1cm back from where they recommend.

If the snow doesn't completely suck, I'm on my Legend Pro's. If the snow does suck, I'm in the park on my Troublemakers. I don't have or want an "in-between ski."

The Legend Pro's make great "go silly fast on groomers" skis too, as long as you have room to let them run. If you're eyes aren't watering, you're going too slow. These ain't no slalom boards.

**slim** · 01-03-2005, 09:51 PM

I just skied my first day on my 186's. Mounted them at 79.5cm and think this is definitely the spot... 80.5 would feel a bit forward. These are not powder skis. They simply are not. Despite 97mm at the waist they don't want to float. They are, however, the best post-pow day, crud snow, chop, whatever, ski I have ever ridden. Aggressive, fast, and super stable. They're also more forgiving than I was expecting... they are not Explosive mean. If I skied Jackson Hole everyday I'd want the 194cm, but the 186 is going to be perfect for the small exposed lines of Kirkwood.

**Ferniefreeheels** · 01-03-2005, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by slim

I just skied my first day on my 186's. Mounted them at 79.5cm and think this is definitely the spot... 80.5 would feel a bit forward. These are not powder skis. They simply are not. Despite 97mm at the waist they don't want to float. They are, however, the best post-pow day, crud snow, chop, whatever, ski I have ever ridden. Aggressive, fast, and super stable. They're also more forgiving than I was expecting... they are not Explosive mean. If I skied Jackson Hole everyday I'd want the 194cm, but the 186 is going to be perfect for the small exposed lines of Kirkwood.

This is what I wanted to know. " Not a good pow' ski" I am looking for something stiff enough for the crud and chop but still a good floater in the powder. My Atomics have been good to me but they are getting tired, time for replacement... maybe gotta check out atomics again???

**phUnk** · 01-03-2005, 11:06 PM

Agreed. Mounted at 80.5cm, they do not have a ton of float. Mount them further back for more float, which I don't think strips them of their "powder ski" title.

**ScottG** · 01-04-2005, 09:37 AM

You guys are nuts - this thing is an awesome pow ski.
granted, its no 120mm waist surfboard/snowboard plank, but hey, some of us actually like to be in the powder, not on top of it.
I ski the old 193, which has narrower waist than the 186, and it floats my 210 pounds quite nicely. Its also stiff enough for groomies.
i still don't get the 95+mm supertankers though, so maybe I'm just old school.

Fernie, whaddya weigh, and how much float do you need???
Seems like you are looking for these to fail.
You picked out one line in a review by a guy who "just skied my first day" on these.
I got 80+ days on these skis, mostly backcountry pow, so I should know a little better.

**phUnk** · 01-04-2005, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by ScottG

I'm not skiing the same ski you guys are talking about, but I've got lots to say.

......................

**descender** · 01-04-2005, 12:08 PM

Ok Slim you just sold me on the idea that I might not be completely insane to want a quiver consisting of the Legend Pros and an additional dedicated pow ski. Sadly the ebay auction I was watching just ended. Oh well.

**slim** · 01-04-2005, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by descender

Ok Slim you just sold me on the idea that I might not be completely insane to want a quiver consisting of the Legend Pros and an additional dedicated pow ski. Sadly the ebay auction I was watching just ended. Oh well.

I bought the LP for the exact reason you are thinking about getting them.

The ski will obviously ski powder... it just doesn't float very well. The ski charges through everything instead. On a deep day, I much prefer my Spatulas over anything else.

**Ferniefreeheels** · 01-04-2005, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by ScottG

Fernie, whaddya weigh, and how much float do you need???

I weigh 195. I float well on my 10ex's in a 177cm most times, however there are times that I wished they were longer.

Originally Posted by ScottG

Seems like you are looking for these to fail.
You picked out one line in a review by a guy who "just skied my first day" on these.

NO actually quite the opposite, I can probably get a good deal on a set through a friend of a friend. I just skimmed the posts quickly and I guess I never paid attention to the "...first day part"

Originally Posted by ScottG

I got 80+ days on these skis, mostly backcountry pow, so I should know a little better.

Have you got touring gear on them? I am looking for a ski which is good on resort and a good touring ski too. I am wondering how they'd be for telemark?

**phUnk** · 01-04-2005, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Ferniefreeheels

Have you got touring gear on them? I am looking for a ski which is good on resort and a good touring ski too. I am wondering how they'd be for telemark?

Note that ScottG is talking about the old Nobis Pro (or the first year's 194cm Legend Pro.) They both measured 194cm with a 90mm waist. This year's Legend Pro's, both the 194cm and the 186cm, have a 97mm waist.

**ScottG** · 01-04-2005, 04:46 PM

FernieFreeheel,
If you can get a deal on them, you won't be dissapointed.
Last year I had Super Nobis and R-EX 193. The Rex were my Frischi Freeride ski, and the Nobis had Alpine Binders. I found myself using the Nobis exclusively unless I was going to need to skin, even though they were a bit heavier than the Atomics.
The Atomics are stiff and light, but too shaped and hooky for me. I found that I really love a straighter ski. That way I am in complete control of where and how it turns. Also, when jump turning sketchy steep chutes it is nice to have the whole ski in contact with the snow instead of the tips and tails.
Ideally, I would love to see Atomic make a less sidecut ski. The EX with the beta channels and foam core was stiff and light, but I only liked them on groomers for hard carving, but for steeps, chutes and pow, the Nobis (Legend Pro) wins hands down.

PhUnk got me on the fact that some were dissing the shorter, fatter LP, which I do not ski, but hey, Fernie did not specify which one he is looking at, either.
I made it clear that I ride the bigger stick. To my knowledge, they still make the 193, which is only about 90mm wide, and the shorter 186 length is 97mm wide. Just guessing, I would almost expect more floatation from 7mm mid width than from 7cm more length, but who knows.
I never felt like I needed a wider ski, and I think to go wider, loses versatility, since 97 or 100+ waists suck on hardpack. I had thought Dynastar was keeping hte narrow waist for the longer stick, but I guess not. Glad I got that second pair.

I love this ski so much, I bought a used pair of the orange LP version, and am having a hard time deciding whether to put my Fritschis on them (first impulse) or to make them a sweet tele setup with a Hammerhead binding.

One thing that makes these less-sidecut skis fun is the ability to skid tails and ski more old school if you want. That might make them good for tele also, unless you are wanting to carve trenches.

If you float a 177 EX, you will really float in a LP, whether 186 or 193.

Also, the LP will have tons of re-sale demand, so even if you don't like it, you can get your money back out by re-selling them.

**gwat** · 01-04-2005, 04:57 PM

Yo Scott. The Super Nobis is the same as the LP in terms of construction, but I am sure they ski a little differently. The dimensions are totally different.
There are a few pair of 194 Super Nobis with the Legend graphics floating around (I guess Dynastar had some Supers and wanted to get the hype going so they stuck the Pro graphic on them) but real Legend Pros are 97 at the waist in both the 194 and 186 lengths.
I just wanted to clear that up.
It's been a year people have been talking about the Legends and some people still are confused. I guess it's Dynastar's fault for confusing people when they initially unveiled the 'Super Legend'??

**connersw** · 01-05-2005, 03:43 AM

It's totally Dynastar's fault. If you talked to two different reps, you got two different answers on the dimensions and even their web site still lists them incorrectly. It wasn't until I talked to Jonny Law at the PDX ski show that I got a straight answer. The mid-season release last year had the 194 at 90mm underfoot, and the 186 at 97mm. The models released for this season are 97mm for both the 186 and 194.

I haven't been able to justify dropping that much coin on a pair of skis, so I haven't been on them yet (subtle hint: anyone looking to dump a pair, I'll pay up to $450). However, I've been skiing on 4x4 Bigs and Arno Adams Pro Models that have much smaller waist dimensions, and I consider them my "powder" skis. I guess I just don't understand how a ski that fat could not float enough to not be called a "powder" ski.

**vinnay** · 01-08-2005, 06:34 PM

to slim and phunk etc, im really close to getting a pair of these as my all mtn skis and having spats for deep days-nice call slim - and your guys' comments have me real close to pulling the trigger on em.
slim i ski at squaw mostly and some ec, though i have some gs skis for pure ice days. lps are a big step up from the 85 mm waist range, skied some schmidts and titan xxls recently and they are not even as fat in the waist, thought the stocklis are almost too heavy and liked titans a lot for corn and cut up groomers.
slim i was wonderin if you think this isnt too wide for youre all mtn everyday ski like phunk says he uses his. if they arent only pow skis, do they carve and have the quickness of a ski more like a im85, g4, rex or did you just decide you liked the wide ride feel?

**slim** · 01-08-2005, 07:44 PM

They ride much bigger than a G4 which, to me, feels squirrely in comparison. My quiver is a G4 for garbage days, LPs for everything, Spatulas for the deep. The LPs are very straight and they like to ski in straight lines. If you charge, this is the ski for you. If you like to make lots of small turns, this is not the ski for you. I love these skis. They are the best.