Chasing My Dream Daily Driver - The Heritage Lab FL105

[Marshal Olson]

I'm on the lift today at Steamboat, lone wolf rider that joined a pair of dudes on a single.

I note that the guy in the middle is on Mfree108s (pretty recognizable topsheet).
He asks me about the R110s that were on my feet that day and I start to gush about how great all of the Heritage Lab skis that I've been on recently.
Two days on a R87, groomers zoomed on rails.
Three on the R110s, super playful charger.
How damp and lively they are. HL's collection if great shapes and how, they see a shape they like, they should just buy it blind as it will be better than anything else they've likely skied.

The also mention my one day on the FL 105s, 105 waisted daily driver kind of ski,, and how they are THE SKI for me: fucking supercharger that also has finesse.

How one of the skis that inspired it was the Kastle BMX105HP.

Non MFree108 guy gestures down to his skis and says:
"I bet they're pretty much like these."

I glance down at his skis and say:
"Nordica."
"Enforcer."
"104."

He looks at me.
I raise my eyebrows.
He says:
"Yes."

I say:
"I'm not trying to be snooty, but ... I doubt it."

I love you, man

[arild]

R105 (193cm) in the queue. Not knowing how the flex will compare, these look a lot like the OG Cochise to me, but a little skinnier across the board, and minus the metal. I never skied the longest Cochise option (192?), and the side cut on the big R105 gives a much longer turn radius, so I think the build and camber will provide a lot of what I liked about the Cochise, while the sidecut will bump up the big mountain crush factor. I’m excited. Just wish it was next year already.

Hell yes. Easily my most used skis this season. I'm thinking hard about ordering a backup, if only just as ornaments for my workshop. Kill chop, kill trees, kill everything. Mount at 84.5cm from the tail. Profit.

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[arild]

I love you, man

I smugly chuckle.

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[2FUNKY]

I just cannot get enough of this ski. Skied them yesterday in mid shin pow, chopped pow and firm’ish groomers. They just kill it. So much fun. The energy out of a turn is so good and composed. They make skiing chop a breeze at super fast speeds. The tip just stays planted and goes through whatever is in it’s path. The best thing is they aren’t super taxing to ski. Stay stacked on the ski and just go along for the ride.


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[carlh]

185 FL105s inbound! Went with Marshall’s suggestion for the shorter length and hopefully I can get them mounted up in time to try and find a speed limit at Whistler next week. I decided to size down for the alpental back bowls which will be the primary home for these and a 192 35m radius did not seem needed.
Will be mounting with sth2 at -12 for 320mm (see my wtb)
Will report back with comparison to my 189 bonafides and happy to loan them to other mags to try in Whistler next week or at Alpy.

[pfluffenmeister]

Good luck finding a speed limit.

Drinking coffee in a phone booth on rails.

[arild]

I've been gushing about the R105s so much, I've neglected talking about the cambered siblings.

Been skiing some ice, chalk and breakable, though very thick, windbuff the past two days, and while I'd still prefer the Rs for more 3d loose snow (chop), the FLs are just amazingly clean in everything they do. Had to adjust my brains a bit after skiing mostly reverse and reverseish skis this season, FL105s and R87s sprinkled in between, being on camber again is truly great. The suspension, which is already top notch in the FL113/R105 profile, just goes to 11.

My FL 192s are mounted at -11, 304 BSL, which for me and my style really is right.



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[banzai]

Detuned the tips and tails. It was crusty yesterday, but they handled it fine and didnt give me clues to step off the gas. Poetry isnt a virtue I posses, so here is a video https://www.instagram.com/p/C3XvATvooQj/

[2FUNKY]

Well that was dope!


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[pfluffenmeister]

Well that was dope!

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Agreed.
Zoooom!

[shroom]

goddamn I am liking the FL105. such a well rounded ski. had an awesome time ripping groomers and chalk yesterday

[DeathVan]

Just chasing some dreams

Like Christopher Cross, I’m “Sailing”

[2FUNKY]

Brought these bad chickens to the mother land. They no disappoint.



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[pfluffenmeister]

Brought these bad chickens to the mother land. They no disappoint.



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True Tram racers.
Mine delivered (the mail) as well.

Cool to see you in the Tramdock.
Sorry we didn't get any turns together.
Maybe at Beaver Mnt.?

[SkiLyft]

I spy with my little eye



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[bry]

Love the tip protectors on those dynastars, need to snag a pair when the prices settle down

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[2FUNKY]

True Tram racers.
Mine delivered (the mail) as well.

Cool to see you in the Tramdock.
Sorry we didn't get any turns together.
Maybe at Beaver Mnt.?

Yeah, bummed about that. Shroom and I did hot laps on Apres vous, teton and casper lifts that morning. He on his FL105 and I was on my R99Comps. Hoping to cross paths with ya as I had some HL stickers for you.
Nah, not in the cards for me.


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[pfluffenmeister]

Yeah, bummed about that. Shroom and I did hot laps on Apres vous, teton and casper lifts that morning. He on his FL105 and I was on my R99Comps. Hoping to cross paths with ya as I had some HL stickers for you.
Nah, not in the cards for me.


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Yeah, I thought I was going to catch up to you guys
for sure on Thursday.

But after dining on refrozen sugar coated chunder muffins in Rock Springs (fun), I took a low speed backward twisting fall in the lower Hobacks, and took it right under the armpit (not fun).

Fuck, my shoulder still hurts.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I spy with my little eye



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Is that duct tape on some 4x4s?


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[2FUNKY]

Is that duct tape on some 4x4s?


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Not 4x4s but yes. Black duct tape. Super cool old school Village local. Dude was easily late 70’s early 80’s. Chatted with him on the tram that day and again the next day. Funny he also remembered me.


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[chewski]

Just spent two more full days on 185cm fl105 at mammoth. Conditions were styrofoam, chalk, packed powder, firm thaw/refreeze. See the photo below to get an idea.



Honestly i spent most of the weekend doing dad duty (skiing with a 16 month old most of the time and teaching a 3.5 year old to ski for a few hours). But i did have three of my oldest ski buddies with me so we still rode the entire mountain and skied really hard for the few hours I managed to break away from the family. First off: these are fine dad skis. Yes they charge. But they aren't difficult. I bought some k2 poachers last year to "dad." But honestly i hated having wimpier skis because inevitably i ski pretty hard with my kids, still do most terrain, and invariably want to enjoy my few hours of alone ski time to the fullest. Basically I just want charging skis to ski with my kids that aren't crazy hard to get on edge. Previously i was using mantra 102's in this role and they are awesome for that, but these were too.

Dad skiing aside, i was able to rage on these in their intended environment of mixed/variable soft and firm conditions. They are very, very predictable at all things. The firmest most refrozen parts of the mountain I always found edge grip predictable and adequate. They do not have the all out grip of a metal laminate kastle (fx 96ti or fx 104ti) or mantra 102, but it was always enough and better in any mixed/soft conditions.

In bumps these are just so comfortable for a charging ski. They are similarly easy to mantra 102 and kastle fx 104 ti in bumps. None of them are easy, but they won't limit or punish you either, and the tip rocker/small kick in the tail, medium/large turn radius and poppy nature let you ride over the tops, stay in the troughs or air between moguls fairly easily. I never hesitated on these when entering a chute with a mogul filled entrance. They are way easier than the FL113 or the wrenegade 102 ti i tried last spring.

As far as ski style and ability to flat out rage and blow shit up, these are much happier to ski across the fall line and finish a carve than the FL113, but they are also a notable step back in smash-itude. Their big brothers never want to be taken out of the fall line unless scrubbing speed, but they also have at least one full extra gear on the top end. The FL105 is definitely in line with skis like the OG cochise or xxl's. They are MORE than mantra 102's. But for those wanting THE MOST SMASHIEST ski that is good in mixed firm/soft conditions, the FL113 will take you there. The FL105 is much more versatile, but it's not "crack a pbr in jorts while straightlining" status. But HL has that covered too

[waxloaf]

Harlaut pivots look pretty bomb on these guys (178s, mounted +.5 due to small bsl).

Broken record, but finish on these is incredible. Love the shape and flex as well, and we’ll see tomorrow how they ski. They’ll get a taste of east coast ice tomorrow and slush over the weekend.


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[ticketchecker]

They’ll get a taste of east coast ice tomorrow and slush over the weekend.

Waxloaf, you at The Loaf?

[waxloaf]

No - I’m near Portland and normally ski Pleasant. Was at the loaf with the fam last week though


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[ticketchecker]

No - I’m near Portland and normally ski Pleasant. Was at the loaf with the fam last week though


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gotcha, I'll keep an eye out for FL105's up here and I'll know it's you.