2017 Praxis Skis Info and Resource Thread

[theetruscan]

With veneer, enduro core, carbon, #4 flex, my 192 protests weighed 9lbs 15oz. So, ~2.26kg/ski. That + ^^ should give you an idea.

[nickel]

For reference, my standard enduro core gpo’s were 8.6lbs and my ul gpo’s (same flex) were 8.1. Veneer would take off about another 1/4 lb. with the width and extra length over my 182 gpo’s, the protest you’d be looking at taking atleast or about a pound off
Curious what you’d use an ul protest for ? With a veneer and enduro core(probably .35 lighter than list) is pretty reasonable weight for a ski this size. Ul might be fun for a dedicated touring rig in a quiver though. #quivergoals

All I basically do at this point is tour. Any loss of resort performance would be of little to no concern. My current pow touring ski is a custom 196 ski with dims of 150/117/123. I love it but it's old, has had 3 mounts and is starting to fall apart (compressed edges under foot, tails starting to delam).

I've been looking to add a narrower touring ski to my quiver, and the newfound impetus for a new pow touring stick has me strongly contemplating a touring quiver of 2.
192 yeti
192 protest

I'm still at the window shopping phase and am not in a huge rush. South coast BC, so deep heavy pow is a regular occurrence, therefore justifying a large ski for touring. I'm also wishy-washing about doing a -10 on the protest if I go that way. Powboard and GPO are also under consideration although I'm trending away from this. If DPS do a spring run of 138s these will also be strongly considered, although the 99 and 104 look meh.

[grinch]

All I basically do at this point is tour. Any loss of resort performance would be of little to no concern. My current pow touring ski is a custom 196 ski with dims of 150/117/123. I love it but it's old, has had 3 mounts and is starting to fall apart (compressed edges under foot, tails starting to delam).

I've been looking to add a narrower touring ski to my quiver, and the newfound impetus for a new pow touring stick has me strongly contemplating a touring quiver of 2.
192 yeti
192 protest

I'm still at the window shopping phase and am not in a huge rush. South coast BC, so deep heavy pow is a regular occurrence, therefore justifying a large ski for touring. I'm also wishy-washing about doing a -10 on the protest if I go that way. Powboard and GPO are also under consideration although I'm trending away from this. If DPS do a spring run of 138s these will also be strongly considered, although the 99 and 104 look meh.

Sounds like you have it nailed. Last week we had those conditions your describing and I was missing my protests. Those heavy snow days when it borderline turns to rain, they’d been my secret weapon. Literally had the hill , very close, to myself. Everyone left and I was still having great turns. Actually that’s the two skis I miss most, my protests and yetis . At some point I’ll have to get them again. I liked the ul for strictly touring. Hill not so much

[doebedoe]

All I basically do at this point is tour. Any loss of resort performance would be of little to no concern. My current pow touring ski is a custom 196 ski with dims of 150/117/123. I love it but it's old, has had 3 mounts and is starting to fall apart (compressed edges under foot, tails starting to delam).

I've been looking to add a narrower touring ski to my quiver, and the newfound impetus for a new pow touring stick has me strongly contemplating a touring quiver of 2.
192 yeti
192 protest

I'm still at the window shopping phase and am not in a huge rush. South coast BC, so deep heavy pow is a regular occurrence, therefore justifying a large ski for touring. I'm also wishy-washing about doing a -10 on the protest if I go that way. Powboard and GPO are also under consideration although I'm trending away from this. If DPS do a spring run of 138s these will also be strongly considered, although the 99 and 104 look meh.

As recent owner of Protests, and lover of my Yetis, I approve this idea. Yetis are great in up to 6" of fresh, and Protests can take it from there.

And while it'll be a heavy setup, I'm strongly considering adding some Shifts to my Protests for a Japan trip next year.

[nickel]

As recent owner of Protests, and lover of my Yetis, I approve this idea. Yetis are great in up to 6" of fresh, and Protests can take it from there.

And while it'll be a heavy setup, I'm strongly considering adding some Shifts to my Protests for a Japan trip next year.

Can you tell me more about the yetis? Search function mostly turned up gear swap stuff and user-generated info is sparse. I'm thinking 192 #4 flex...

[SchralphMacchio]

All I basically do at this point is tour ... contemplating a touring quiver of 2.
192 yeti
192 protest

... South coast BC, so deep heavy pow

South Coast BC is similar to Tahoe ... and at least 2 people I know have a Yeti / WooTest quiver exactly for that. I know the WooTest isn't a pure pow ski, but according to my mates it handles warm multi-layered funk pretty well.

PM Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer for more details on how he likes this setup. He's also got Protests for deep resort days, has sold his Megawatts, Stokes, Praxis BCs and other random skis in favor of a lighter quiver.

[meter-man]

Sounds like you have it nailed. Last week we had those conditions your describing and I was missing my protests. Those heavy snow days when it borderline turns to rain, they’d been my secret weapon. Literally had the hill , very close, to myself. Everyone left and I was still having great turns. Actually that’s the two skis I miss most, my protests and yetis . At some point I’ll have to get them again. I liked the ul for strictly touring. Hill not so much

My wife LOVES your Yetis. Perfect touring set-up for her. Mil gracias!

Are you anywhere near Golden? I'll be at KH Thurs/Fri with a ton o skittles. Would love to buy you a beer if you're around.

I'll be on my 187 Protests (with Kingpins), heading out to GAH huts for a week of wondering how in fucks name it can be so cold in Canada, and so warm and arid back home in California...

[meter-man]

Can you tell me more about the yetis? Search function mostly turned up gear swap stuff and user-generated info is sparse. I'm thinking 192 #4 flex...

I've never skied them, but...having touched my wife...'s skis.... it appears the design is more akin to a narrow pow ski (tip and tail rocker lines go deep, fatness from tip extends deep down the shovel) than a variable conditions/spring ski. But again, I haven't skied em, so not sure.

Another option might be a Freeride -10. Keith and I traded some emails about this a year or so ago, and agreed it would likely be an amazing variable/spring conditions ski that would complement a Protest beautifully.

[adrenalated]

I've never skied them, but...having touched my wife...'s skis.... it appears the design is more akin to a narrow pow ski (tip and tail rocker lines go deep, fatness from tip extends deep down the shovel) than a variable conditions/spring ski. But again, I haven't skied em, so not sure.

Another option might be a Freeride -10. Keith and I traded some emails about this a year or so ago, and agreed it would likely be an amazing variable/spring conditions ski that would complement a Protest beautifully.

I agree with that assessment (not having owned Yetis, but having owned Backcountry's, which is what the Yeti is based on). The Yeti is in the same category as a DPS Wailer 99 or the old Black Diamond Revert in that it's a skinny ski with a soft snow shape.

A Freeride -10mm would be my first choice in Praxis's line for a spring touring ski. I probably would have ordered a pair if they had been available when I bought my Downs. I still might.

[doebedoe]

Can you tell me more about the yetis? Search function mostly turned up gear swap stuff and user-generated info is sparse. I'm thinking 192 #4 flex...

I've never skied them, but...having touched my wife...'s skis.... it appears the design is more akin to a narrow pow ski (tip and tail rocker lines go deep, fatness from tip extends deep down the shovel) than a variable conditions/spring ski. But again, I haven't skied em, so not sure.

Another option might be a Freeride -10. Keith and I traded some emails about this a year or so ago, and agreed it would likely be an amazing variable/spring conditions ski that would complement a Protest beautifully.

I agree with that assessment (not having owned Yetis, but having owned Backcountry's, which is what the Yeti is based on). The Yeti is in the same category as a DPS Wailer 99 or the old Black Diamond Revert in that it's a skinny ski with a soft snow shape.

A Freeride -10mm would be my first choice in Praxis's line for a spring touring ski. I probably would have ordered a pair if they had been available when I bought my Downs. I still might.

I agree a Freeride -10 with UL core would likely ski hard snow and variable snow better.

I agree with most of the above -- noticeably a soft-snow shape but narrow. I have a standard flex Yeti (#2 I think?) in 182. I imagine this is quite a different ski than a 192 in #4. It certainly skis short, so not reason to not go long. I would probably want a stiffer ski if I skied in a place with a wetter and heavier snowpack.

I like the Yeti because I ski relatively conservatively in the backcountry with a lot more turns and slow speed than in the resort. It suits the sort of skiing I do a lot in CO where I frequently encounter a lot of wind blown, wind loaded, but mostly lightweight snow. It is also a fun corn ski, although way more relaxed/jibby than something like a ZeroG. Not sure if the slight oscillation in the side cut makes a meaningful different or not.

Sometimes when I hear a ski is good in variable conditions I think of junky snow conditions. I would say the Yeti okay here (shape tends to skip off of things, rather than plow through.) Where the Yeti excels is that it skis a variety of conditions (corn, windbuff, boot-deep powder) really well.

[grinch]

My wife LOVES your Yetis. Perfect touring set-up for her. Mil gracias!

Are you anywhere near Golden? I'll be at KH Thurs/Fri with a ton o skittles. Would love to buy you a beer if you're around.

I'll be on my 187 Protests (with Kingpins), heading out to GAH huts for a week of wondering how in fucks name it can be so cold in Canada, and so warm and arid back home in California...

That’s good. Just glad they’re clicking with your wife.
I’m across the pass in Revy . Shoot over if you can. Rumour has it some Cali mags will be around thurs/possibly Friday. Today was amazing and not everything got opened so should be good options tomorrow(especially w slackcountry gear) and snow on friday

[nickel]

-10 freeride seems like a good rec. I like the bigger radius, longer effective edge and reduced taper. a -10 194 (193 after -10) freeride UL #4 looks like the ticket for the skinny end of the spectrum...

[nickel]

So I'm still doing some mental gymnastics over potential two ski touring quiver. Protest or Powboard... What thinks the collective?

[N1CK.]

So I'm still doing some mental gymnastics over potential two ski touring quiver. Protest or Powboard... What thinks the collective?

I've never skied a reverse/reverse ski, but you can't go wrong with a Protest if you manage the weight.

[grinch]

Protest . I really liked the pow but it’d be more than a handful on a lot(not all) skintracks. On the hill they were awesome in the funkiest snow. A few cm’s over frozen baby heads no problem(hover over top the shit) or border line rain , it still feels like pow. A new world. Can get them down a groomer. Really hard to control on flat cat tracks that you need to tuck or carry speed(aka revelstoke). Wouldn’t want to ski them down steep hardpack(certain death). Protest takes a lot of the pow but you can carve a turn if you run into some wind blown hardpack or melt/freeze. Takes a lot of the good of the pow , close to the same degree and mitigates the bad traits of the pow to a large degree. Protest stands alone among a sea of skis

[2wheeler]

I've been on the Protest as my touring ski for 6 years. I'm on my third set, the latest is the MAP core with carbon and veneer top sheet. I love how it skis in deep, untouched powder, really effortless. But what keeps me coming back to it is it's ability to handle all sorts of weird mountain snow from rippled windblown chalk to breakthrough crust. I'm never at a disadvantage with this ski; it feels sometimes like I'm cheating.

[nickel]

Thanks for talking me off the ledge everyone.

[SchralphMacchio]

Re: my GPO issues:

Detune the fuck out of the edges as Muggydude suggests. Don't be afraid of the file.

I was seriously depressed after my first day on my 182's ... They're now, one of my "cold dead hands" skis ;-)

Don't give up!

Oh boy, you guys weren't kidding. I spent 30 mins with a hard file completely rounding off the tip and tails up to the widest point, then doing a more gentle detune from widest point down to the engagement point ... much much better but it still wasn't enough! I brought a hard stone and file on the hill, so then I really softened tail edges from widest point and about 3-4 cm forward from there, also used a gummy to even out the transition from round to sharp edges.

I checked for base flatness and no issues there ... maybe a micro-touch of concavity toward the tip, but not enough to slide a thin paper under the true bar.

The other thing is I did some very deep hand flexing, and heard some micro-cracking sounds (maybe from resin/glass interface, maybe from overflow epoxy from my mount releasing at the ski binding base surface, who knows), but the ski seemed to loosen up and make its flex more consistent after that. So the idea that they need flexing and a few days to break in (possibly much more dramatic w/ wood veneer) definitely holds water!

After that I was able to make low speed and high speed turns, actually release the tail instead of making only 23m radius turns or whatever ... lots of pow and chopped pow turns yesterday and I finally had fun.

They aren't yet "cold dead hands" skis after only two half-days on them, but 1000x better and I could actually have fun without going mach looney speeds. I'll post deeper thoughts and findings specific to my custom build, weight, and skiing style in the GPO thread.

Cheers

[Banh Mi]

Rx handle bumps so well. They ski like much thinner skis! But then also charge like fat, stiff, fairly traditional skis should, when you call upon them. They also float pretty well.

Daily Drivers, for sure. Idk if I even need a 98-107 ski anymore, I just cant see how it could get any better. I choose the Rx now over my 184 Monster 98s for hardpack and bumps. It just is more fun and more stable. Sounds outrageous, but it’s true.


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[Shu Shu]

I choose the Rx now over my 184 Monster 98s for hardpack and bumps. It just is more fun and more stable. Sounds outrageous, but it’s true.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Ive been skiing Keiths 115 ish quiver out on the ice coast for 5 years now as my DDs

Concept
GPO
Q

I can believe it. The operative words being "its just more fun"

[SupreChicken]

For reference, my standard enduro core gpo’s were 8.6lbs and my ul gpo’s (same flex) were 8.1. Veneer would take off about another 1/4 lb. with the width and extra length over my 182 gpo’s, the protest you’d be looking at taking atleast or about a pound off
Curious what you’d use an ul protest for ? With a veneer and enduro core(probably .35 lighter than list) is pretty reasonable weight for a ski this size. Ul might be fun for a dedicated touring rig in a quiver though. #quivergoals

I don’t recommend the UL core on TGR unless you are certain you’ll only ride consistent snow

[grinch]

I don’t recommend the UL core on TGR unless you are certain you’ll only ride consistent snow

I agree. I posted that for nickel’s inquiry. The map/enduro cores are plenty light especially with veneer. I still want a lightish touring specific ski but I’ve gone a touch heavier lately. Last one was concept/enduro/veneer/Carbon. It’s quite light(8lbs in a 177). I think I’d even skip the carbon if I built it again. 8.2 is decent. They’re just more versatile

[ghosthop]

A Freeride -10mm would be my first choice in Praxis's line for a spring touring ski. I probably would have ordered a pair if they had been available when I bought my Downs. I still might.

For all the love it gets around here, I've been curious to see if anyone gets a -10 RX for midwinter touring.

Differences from casually looking at numbers between Freeride and RX, RX is 10mm wider in waist, less camber height w/ shorter camber contact, similar tip height w/ longer rocker length, higher tail height w/ similar rocker length, and larger radius with less taper. Stated sidecut lengths are close between 174 FR and 179 RX.

Perhaps the true apples to apples comparison would be be the -10 RX to standard Freeride, but I would like to see someone do an A/B with the same layup. Standard layup of Freeride being #4 w/ MA and carbon, RX #4 w/ MAP. Also worth noting, I assume due to difference in core materials, the 179 RX is only 3oz heavier than the 174 FR.

[nickel]

I agree. I posted that for nickel’s inquiry. The map/enduro cores are plenty light especially with veneer. I still want a lightish touring specific ski but I’ve gone a touch heavier lately. Last one was concept/enduro/veneer/Carbon. It’s quite light(8lbs in a 177). I think I’d even skip the carbon if I built it again. 8.2 is decent. They’re just more versatile

There is always a chance of some variability when touring but as a general rule I manage to find good snow. Also, at 6' and 215lbs before I put anything on, I'm not going under 190cm for any of my skis so that's going to add up on a protest. I am however considering enduro-carbon-veneer for the -10 freeride.

[nickel]

Rx

How did I know this was coming...

Actually, I was considering it in a -10 for the skinny end of the 2ski touring quiver. Contributing factors making me err away from it in favor of a -10 freeride are:
-narrower. With a protest on the other end of the quiver, these will be coming out in hard/spring/ and less than 8". I don't need width for this spot.
-Longer contact patch\effective edge and less rocker
-flat tail

The longer radius of the RX is a factor in it's favor. Having trouble seeing other arguments in it's camp.