The Official Great Pacific Octopus Thread

**whyturn** · 04-18-2013, 10:40 PM

So excited to actually be skiing these the next two days at Alta. should be a good test and similar conditions to the last time I was at alta with the squad 7

Will report on Monday.

**Bird Blaster** · 04-19-2013, 06:13 AM

Can't wait to hear your thoughts. Lots of 196 Ren comparisons please!!

**North** · 04-20-2013, 05:19 PM

Who did I spot on GPOs in the Lenawee lift line at A-basin today?

**whyturn** · 04-20-2013, 07:45 PM

Initial gut reaction is these things are missiles. If you don't want to go Mach look elsewhere. Full review when I get back. But in 6-8" with foot drifts they floated and smeared. Very stable and that tip is money

**whyturn** · 04-22-2013, 01:32 PM

Praxis GPO 192 med/stiff std non-carbon Review

Late this season I was able to put 2 days on Paxis's newest creation, the GPO. At 116mm underfoot it is the right size for today's western all mountain ski. The ski tested was what I'd describe as between a mid stiff and stiff when compared with other stiffer skis like LP or Renegade. This flex makes it very controllable and an easy ski to ride. It can be driven as well as taken for a cruise, but you will pay for getting lazy on this one since tips can wander and it wants to go fast. At Alta with 6-10" leftovers, 6-12" fresh, graupel and crud

My Stats:
1850bs plus a 10-12lb pack.
6'2"
aggressive to speed driver depending on the day. Really like to be over the tips and go fast, tend not to turn in pow unless I have too (trees)
No park, 20% groomed and 80% off piste storm chaser and sidecountry. Sundays at local hill on groomed at mach

Ski's I have and like:
BD Megawatt 188cm
PM gear Lhasa fat 191
Squad 7
(had and liked)
Renegade 186 &196
Prefer 30m radius with nose rocker and upturned tail or small rocker

Skis I dislike:
Dynastar LP's
Praxis pow
Bentchetler, S7, etc
RP112
anything too turny or anything floppy

Conditions tested (mounted at -2cm):

Day one, what a mix (groomed, set up pow, crud, refrozen and some nice pow in Secret saddle from previous storm)- Big grin when riding these conditions. For a fat ski these things really shine here. The turn radius is made to order. If you want to throw down high speed GS turns, they'll rail them out. Shutting it down to tight turns and you'll hit a 25m turn w/o much effort. Did not detune on day one and learned how to move heel to drive them from underfoot. No speed limit, float, go from groomed to pow and keep flying.

Day 2 - fresh 6-8" with foot drifts. not typical UT blower but nice 10% pow

Graupel - it's always fun to ski gruapel and these are no exception. Super easy, slice and rail

Heavy pow - they rode on top and tracked as expected. not a chance of a tip dive in the spring fresh. I wish we had some of cold smoke but this was good enough to me. Chasing a local around was a challenge for my legs due to my month off from skiing. But these things just want to go fast. I'd imagine that these skis would perform well in most all pow conditions with the rockered tip. After one run I had the shop detune and this helpe dalot with the hookiness. After first run they really let loose and went mach 11

Chopped up - they're stiff enough to drive right through the chopped and crud with only minimal deflection. Once again my legs were the limit, but these are a charger

8-10% pow - So fun, compared to squad not quite as quick, but faster and more of a scapel than a steak knife. Just go any speed, they plane, traverse and float really well. Seems to float better than squad. Your on top, versus in the pow with renegade, but its an interesting mix. Will comment more after more pow

192 skis like a 190 and longer than squad (squad mounted at 0)

Spring Firm snow - that means ice to us west coasters. this is where all fat skis suffer. this ski performed adequate and held an edge just fine. you just have to realize you're on a 116mm ski under foot and not get too pushy. Drive from heel and centered and no issue

Hardpack - They'll turn and burn, putting an edge in is no problem. After detune I could do switch, 360 etc no issue (not my thing but checked it to see). no speed limit and just crushed it on groomers and tracked runs

Groomed - See hardpack - but these go to 11

This ski is a semi-playful all mountain pow slayer ski that is one of the more versatile skis I've been on. I currently have it mounted at -2 from the rec (so -9) and it is good there. Could have gone zero. Its a trade since squads are at zero and some days wish they were at -2. These are at -2 and could see maybe wanting zero on some days. But overall its a damn fine ski. Don't over think it, prepare for warp speed and let them run. I thought they could replace squads but squad carbon, pop and shorter length will be nice at smaller resorts with trees. Overall a killer ski and can't wait to try my new protest 187 carbon/stiff.

Great job Keith, Kevin and Drew..........

**Bandit Man** · 04-22-2013, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by whyturn

8-10% pow - So fun, compared to squad not quite as quick, but faster and more of a scapel than a steak knife. Just go any speed, they plane, traverse and float really well. Seems to float better than squad. Your on top, versus in the pow with renegade, but its an interesting mix. Will comment more after more pow

192 skis like a 190 and longer than squad (squad mounted at 0)

That's the piece I was waiting for. I'm a little disappointed with the float of the Squad 7 on a really deep day, but love just about everything else about it. Since we have so many trees and tight spaces here in the PNW, don't want to give up the relative quickness the Squads can exhibit. GPO's sure sound like a fun ski if you have room to let them run.

**whyturn** · 04-22-2013, 03:23 PM

Well grain of salt. My legs were better after lunch and they were quick. Need more time on them to see how quick. Over time squads got quicker and I would imagine these will too.
I would imagine 187 is same size as squad and will be quicker than 192 for sure. But the tip is longer rocker and planes better for sure. Float is fine and really it's a solid ride.

**SupreChicken** · 04-22-2013, 03:29 PM

Fwiw, at the dimple, I like them in tight trees

. But the 195 gambit is def more of a tank than the gpo and ive been sing both a lot. my standard for "nimble" has changed this season. I also may move my mount from the dimple to -1. The charginess you're describing is there, but I have to coax it a little. I also have to stop railing the tips in deeper, lighter snow...and I'd rather not have to do that.

Great review. Thank you

**SupreChicken** · 04-22-2013, 03:29 PM

*Sing = using

**Shu Shu** · 04-25-2013, 08:49 PM

So I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm second guessing my decision to pick up the GPOs over a longer pair of Concepts. Skied my Concepts back to back with my buddies brand new Super 7s. The Super 7s were nice and all, really really easy to ski, but after about 2 runs they just felt boring and too easy if that makes any sense. Couldn't wait to get back on my Concepts.

Basically just looking for someone to say yeah even though there both pin tailed with similar dimensions they ski nothing like each other. Don't worry.

**abraham** · 04-25-2013, 10:08 PM

Yeah I'm wondering if anyone has time on these and Concepts or Woo.2s. More interested in a comparison with the concepts though.

**shroom** · 04-25-2013, 10:48 PM

go back and read the chicken's posts

**abraham** · 04-25-2013, 11:34 PM

Wow, yeah Im an idiot. started following this on page 6.

**xtrmjoe** · 05-15-2013, 07:03 PM

I procrastinated until the last day the coupon was valid.
192, regular glass, med-stiff, Powder Eagle graphic on the way.

Keith says delivery in July so plenty of time to stare at them until they get some action this Dec. Unless I can get them to shasta before it all burns off.

**BigLineSeeker** · 05-15-2013, 09:32 PM

I keep coming back to this thread trying to convince myself i do not need to add a 192 GPO to my pow lineup that is currently filled with Squad 7s. I am really happy with my squads but the sale is really tempting right now. I would like the tail of the squads to hold a better carve (I am @ -2 and am 165lbs) but everything else about them is on the money for me.

If someone PMs me a code tonight it just may put me over the top.

**nickwm21** · 05-15-2013, 10:06 PM

I emailed a review for my buddy in the market - thought id share here as well.

For reference - I am 6' 195# athletic. Like to charge...

Here is your requested review...
GPO - I have the 192s carbon, mounted on the line...
My first impression with the skis blew me away. Graphics look awesome and build quality is insane. Edges are super sharp. The skis are lighter than my superbros and vcts but heavier than my lhasas. Kinda similar shape to the lhasas but wider, more rocker, more chamber, and more tail. The flex is not as stiff as I thought for a pure comp ski. The mount is pretty centered, but I like that..
I skied them two days at mammoth. First day was about 6" of fresh on top of 10" of cut pow from the day before. The second day was mostly groomers, chop, some windbuff up top, and 4 hemlock hikes where i saw some untracked.
They are a very fun ski. With the taper/rocker/tight sidecut they can pivot and slarve tight turn in chutes and trees. Hop turns are a breeze with the light weight. When you get them in open places they can carve trenches at high speeds with confidence. They are an awesome landing platform... i hit a few 5-10'ers and they were super stable.
They ski untracked great, surfy but chargey, not as much float as a pure pow ski, but more than enough. They ski groomers fine, no real complaints. Bumps are easily manageable.
Where the skis shine in in the chop, crud, windbuff, day after pow type stuff. They mash through this stuff. They don't skip over the top like a big rockered ski, they arnt hookey like a traditional ski. They are in the grey area between. They have enough bite to haul ass and enough looseness to change directions or shut it down quickly. So much fun.
My only two complaints.
- I had to detune the shit out of them the night after day one. I almost caught an edge a few times.
- I feel like I should have gone all glass no carbon. They might have been more damp and that much more of a widow maker type ski.
Overall, I love them. The perfect resort soft snow charger. Not a pure pow ski, just one step below. Who skis pure pow all day at the resort anyway? (I still want the 196 protests for that...)

**whyturn** · 05-16-2013, 01:02 PM

BLseeker
I have squads and love playful and good charge on them.
GPO takes charge to 11, better finish on turn, slightly less playful. Way better float due to multi stage rocker
Get both, I did

**BigLineSeeker** · 05-16-2013, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by whyturn

BLseeker
I have squads and love playful and good charge on them.
GPO takes charge to 11, better finish on turn, slightly less playful. Way better float due to multi stage rocker
Get both, I did

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the TGR collective did not send me a coupon code (I did not go looking) so I did not pull the trigger. I am not sure if I have non-buyer's remorse or relief right now. I am sure I will feel fine about it until a brand new pair shows up in gearswap then I will be in for a few more sleepless nights over the decision.

**Shu Shu** · 05-23-2013, 10:55 AM

Just got an email from Keith, mine are ready to ship. I got my order in around beginning of April so looks like the first round is heading out of the factory...sweeeet.