ON3P SKIS Discussion

[abraham]

This is an untested ski in a brand new mold (sort of a BG/Wren hybrid). Let's hold off on the woe is me attitude. The ski might suck. We'll try it out, see what needs to be tweaked, ski it again, see what needs to be tweaked, ski it again....and if it is good decide to bring it to market. If you want to be the one testing prototype freeride skis, go out and win some WFT events. In the meantime, I think we should hold off on taking preorders on a ski that hasn't even been skied yet.

Wood Veneers definitely cost more than we charge, but are good marketing and we love keeping that option alive (as most here know, I am a huge Igneous fan).

Pffffttttt you sound like you know what your talking about. Do you make different molds for prototypes and production, or is there even a good way to do that with skis?

Igneous fan, hmmm. Flat tail, veneer Wrens in the future?

[auvgeek]

Wood Veneers definitely cost more than we charge, but are good marketing and we love keeping that option alive (as most here know, I am a huge Igneous fan).

I can't tell you how stoked I am on the wood veneers. They make me happy every time I look at them.

[klauss]

I just came here to post that my new 189 BGs are a nice improvement over the first gen 191s I had and which I loved. the 189s took on some characteristics of the wren 112 191s in that they have better hard snow performance than my last pair of goats and a touch more tail for back seat landings. Don't lose anything in soft snow capabilities and they are stiff enough for my robust 210 lb husky frame. Really liking these.

Did I mention the On3ps be the most durable skis in teh quiver

[PowTron]

Really looking forward to the Steeple 108s on the way.

You are going to be stoked on these.

[TahoeJ]

Not to get ahead of things but what's the primary goal with the BG / Wren hybrid? The only thing about the BG I would say could theoretically be improved is how well they track throughout your turn or when running straight in deep snow; when you can't go stronger on your downhill ski they tend to get a little "compass like" with some occasional wandering, if that makes any sense, whereas the Wrens just stay right on line where you point them. I'm not sure how much of that is due to sidecut vs. flex profile. I realize this trait is part of the reason the BG's are also so great at making any turn possible on short notice, especially in tight spaces. So just curious what the thinking process might be if you're willing to divulge.

Or you can just say we're working on it and fuck off, that's cool. ;-)

[iggyskier]

Not to get ahead of things but what's the primary goal with the BG / Wren hybrid?

BG/Wren hybrid might be a bit misnomer. BG with a bit lower tail rocker would be more apt. Goal is pretty simple....a bit more stability in the tail when going really fast or landing off something big.

As for the compass like feeling on a RES ski, that is a product of the sidecut, not the rocker or flex pattern. The skis have to be flexed to have any sidecut to engage, so when running straight, especially at slower speeds where the ski isn't flexing much, you can feel it wander around a bit. As you said, it is also why it is really fun in soft snow.

[MHSP1497]

Hey Iggy-

you guys still accepting custom orders?

[iggyskier]

Hey Iggy-

you guys still accepting custom orders?

Email me to check on model/size. Some stuff would be pretty quick, some stuff is going to be awhile (3-4 weeks).

[MHSP1497]

Sweet. Email sent. Thanks!

[Reformed]

that fucking variable variability.

Can really mess with you eh? I managed to answer my own question by getting out on some BGs yesterday. 2D variable snow performance isn't dynamic and high energy, but it's very predictable and better than lots of other pow skis that I have been on. You probably won't die unless you needed crampons to get up what you are planning to ski. 3D variable snow performance was as everyone has said over and over again - natural, powerful, surfy, fun, smooth, hookless, etc, etc, etc. It'd have to be a pretty remarkable day to feel under-gunned in 3D snow. It's cool to see a versatile ski that is optimized towards the soft end of the snow spectrum. Too many versatile "pow" skis are simply fat versions of an all mountain ski with a bit more rocker. The BGs are really different and make their compromises towards the end of the snow spectrum that we typically avoid in order to maximize the performance towards the end that we seek. Props to the ON3P crew for imagining and producing such a ski. Steeple 108s will likely be making their way into my quiver in the near future.

[Norseman]

Can really mess with you eh? I managed to answer my own question by getting out on some BGs yesterday. 2D variable snow performance isn't dynamic and high energy, but it's very predictable and better than lots of other pow skis that I have been on. You probably won't die unless you needed crampons to get up what you are planning to ski. 3D variable snow performance was as everyone has said over and over again - natural, powerful, surfy, fun, smooth, hookless, etc, etc, etc. It'd have to be a pretty remarkable day to feel under-gunned in 3D snow. It's cool to see a versatile ski that is optimized towards the soft end of the snow spectrum. Too many versatile "pow" skis are simply fat versions of an all mountain ski with a bit more rocker. The BGs are really different and make their compromises towards the end of the snow spectrum that we typically avoid in order to maximize the performance towards the end that we seek. Props to the ON3P crew for imagining and producing such a ski. Steeple 108s will likely be making their way into my quiver in the near future.

Great lil blurb. I have had more fun on BillyGoats than than any other board hands down and think you're spot on.

[auvgeek]

It'd have to be a pretty remarkable day to feel under-gunned in 3D snow.

I've said it before, but I skied the 191 BG on a huge day at Stevens. Like 39" overnight and 70-something in 24 hrs. First half of the day on 202 L138s, but the second half was my first time on my new 191 Billy Goats. Very different skis, but I never felt "under-gunned" on the Billy Goat, especially once I was up to speed. Totally blew my mind. (The size difference was a bit more noticeable when breaking trail across the flats.)

I'd love to ski the new BG to see how much hard-snow performance has improved.

[adrenalated]

I totally agree the BG punches way above it's waist width in 3D snow. About the only time I feel undergunned on them is really deep, low angle pow. As in it just snowed 2+ feet and the avy danger is high and I'm skiing sub 30* slopes in the backcountry and it's tough to get up to speed. If you have the pitch to get them moving, there really is no day too deep for a BG IMO.

[ASmileyFace]

Wood veneers are good marketing. I get more comments on those on the lift than any of the other skis. Always share who you all are and how much I am digging the skis.
On the other hand The "thanks Obama" top sheets in Canada not as many comments, more "what are you doing up here?"
I appreciate the customer service over the past few years. Really looking forward to the Steeple 108s on the way.

Same with my veneer top sheets too. Great way to share the ON3P stoke.

Keep up the good work! I'll be buying a new pair from you guys next year for sure.

[ahmedthesailor]

Wanted to make this a separate thread but apparently I cannot create threads so I apologize in advance.

Hey guys, longtime lurker first time poster here. First off just want to say thanks for what all you guys and gals do around here to answer everyone's questions and go into the minutia of it all. Literally cannot say enough about how awesome it is to have access to this community of people and their collective knowledge.

All this to say, I've probably put in about 50 hours of concentrated effort into deciding which skis I want to buy to be my daily driver, and I'm still not confident enough to pull the trigger on a set of skis which I desperately want/need to do. I am pretty confident that I want to buy an ON3P ski because of their highly touted durability and how active their staff members are on this community.

Me = 6'0", 175 lbs, 24 years old, skiing Whistler roughly 110 days/year, currently skiing a pair of 2015 193 Blizzard Gunsmokes. I feel as though this ski does a lot of things pretty well for me although I think that would be the case for a lot of skis over a long enough timeline on them. I like to ski very hard and aggressive inbounds, driving the tips with a low forward aggressive stance whenever I can. At my income level, I am kind of a one ski quiver kind of guy, although maybe the answer is to buy one of these skis now and the other (or another) during the summer when I have saved up a bit more.

My time is spent in many different areas albeit at different frequencies, the order being bowls, steep faces, alpine trees, tech entrances and chutes, mogul fields, and groomers. I also ski through May so spring conditions should be taken into account as well, an area where the Gunsmoke rarely left me wanting something different.

With my not so extensive mountain knowledge or willingness to work very hard uphill, I find myself skiing a lot of soft chop, hard chop, crud, soft moguls, powder, groomers, and bulletproof shit. I like to try and link GS turns down tracked out bowls and usually I'm one of a handful of skiers I see actively trying to go mach speed while making big radius turns in these sort of conditions. I don't have any significant experience on other skis to compare to (I suppose that's a red flag but I promise I don't suck too much), although I do like my Gunsmokes, particularly 80 days, 7 coreshots, and some delam ago. I have spent time on 2012 192 Legend Pro Rider 105's but need to spend more time on them before I can say anything of merit (but my initial impression is that I'd prefer some tail rocker in my daily driver).

In soft chop I think they (Gunsmokes) are great, and this might just be one of my favourite conditions to ski in. As a lifelong competitive athlete (skiing, football, hockey) I like to ski hard and fast and as much as I love untracked snow the challenge of holding it together in chop and laying trenches can be as satisfying and is more of a reality for me because I ski 6 days a week, no matter the conditions. I have been finding the speed limit on them in harder chop conditions, but I understand this is a tradeoff for being somewhat quick and fun in softer snow conditions. In untracked snow they are fun although I've definitely been on skis that have planed better and been less hooky in deep (again, obviously).

I feel like this community has already provided me with all the information to make this decision and yet I still can't, and at my income level and rent what it is here there is no room for buyer's remorse. The BG is better in 3D snow. The Wren is better in 2D snow. So in a perfect world I would ski the BG when it storms and for the next few days, and Wrens during the longer droughts?


Let's say I ski 50% soft chop, 25% hard chop, 15% untracked snow, 10% groomers. For the love of God which ski do I buy?

189 ON3P Wrenegade 108
189 ON3P Billy Goat

Thanks for taking the time to read this if you did, and I apologize to those who rightfully will say that this topic has been covered fairly extensively already.

[TahoeJ]

I'd say go with the Wren. Love the BG but not as a daily driver. Soft chop is where the Wrens shine.

[adrenalated]

Soft chop = BG
Untracked = BG
Hard chop = Wren
Groomers = why?

I'm not a fan of the old BG on firm snow, but the new version seems quite a bit better based on my limited time on it. I'm a fanboi of both skis, but I say go BG.
I think the old Wren 112 is a little hooky in soft chop but the new tip profile on the 108 should help that.

[Norseman]

Yup, BG's pass with 75% from my limited and humble gradebook... but new wren sounds great, too, and I haven't been on those.

191 Billies handle the groom in a solid way and will haul ass on long carves. If the new 189s are improved as they say, I'd be stoked on those as your ski. Launching into the chop fields from the groomers, fuck yeah. For the predominantly soft snow of the west coast good winters, that ski does many things very well.

[klauss]

108 wren

[Bruce Springskiin]

Sailor Ahmed,
First suggestion would be to try before you buy, if you can.
All of the above suggestions are great, and you are probably going to be happy no matter which ski you pick.
I have a Wren 112, BG, and Jeffrey 114 plus Steeple, and have skied several past models. The Wren, BG, and Jeffrey could all be my daily driver and life would be great. But they all excel slightly in the fields noted in the post above.
Two alternative ideas for you. Consider the Kartel 116. Or pick up a used set of ON3Ps and save yourself some money while figuring out what you like.

[Cascadian]

[QUOTE=ahmedthesailor;4918392]Wanted to make this a separate thread }

I would trade you for the young knees, but I love your attitude and commitment to go get it!

BGs are my favorite ski ever, but even I have had a couple icy days over the years when I enjoyed something else better. However, you seem to have that something else covered.

I hope to ski the latest Wren at a demo this year if it works out as I have been spending more time at Crystal than normal which seems to favor a less soft snow oriented ski than I'm used to.

[jackattack]

I haven't skied either of these new models but my approach would be to buy the BG now. Ski the legend pro until you can afford the wren 98 or find something else to fill that slot.

[sf]

Obviously you want the new BG/Wren hybrid our resident shredder is howling for [emoji3]

I haven't skied either of these new models but my approach would be to buy the BG now. Ski the legend pro until you can afford the wren 98 or find something else to fill that slot.

This is what I'd do. But if you can/will have only one I'd go Wren. I haven't skied å proper wren since 08/09 but I'm sure the new ones are great in the soft as well as the skied out.
The BGs are my favourite soft snow ski of all time, but aren't fun when it gets skied out. Deep/heavy chop is fine, but when it starts to get bumby they can be a handful. At least if you let them run, like you say you like

[undertow2]

Of the two and as a quiver of one the 108 Wren for the win... What I am surprised about is that you are not considering the Kartel 108... I also own a 193 Gunsmoke and love the shit out of them and ended up buying a pair of 116 Kartels and 189 Wren 98s... The Kartel profile is very similar to the Gunsmoke and since you like the Gunsmoke and tail rocker I would think the 108 Kartel would be a killer 1 quiver ski for you...

[ScrewYou]

STFU JONG

I think it's time you provide some empirical evidence of stated charging ability. I personally think you're full of shit. (Not in this thread, you've already cunted it up enough with your whining.)

Side note...
When you sell gear to a mag "minty fresh" means not a scratch -- not on the bases, not on the topsheet, indistinguishable from new (minus, presumably one set of holes.) So, eat a bag of dicks on the Steeples you sold me last Spring.
...carry on.

First off. What steeples are you talking about? I have had a few pairs, and I dont see any documentation of selling them to you on my computers..

Secondly, what a piece of work, If i did in fact sell them to you. They were mint when I shipped them out, I used them 3 times. Were they not new enough for you to not spend retail? Maybe i should have just given them to you for free?

I bought a pair of used wren 113s from On3p directly this fall. They were described as perfect, but when I got them they were not.. did i bitch? No, i said nothing. You bought from a mag, they were used 3 days, and you cunt it up because they werent perfect enough for you.

Fuck this place.