Anyone listen to blister powder ski episode on gear30?
Seems these hinge/plow in deep snow? Anyone actually ski these?
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Anyone listen to blister powder ski episode on gear30?
Seems these hinge/plow in deep snow? Anyone actually ski these?
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I listened to that blister podcast. I’m not that concerned…but I was gonna go forward a cm to -3cm but after listening I’m going on rec around -4.5cm (short bsl).
With my 170 lbs and me skiing centered I ain’t worried. Plus if it’s deep and I’m skiing super fast I’m likely on stiffer Renegades or HL R120’s.
I think the HB122 should be really fun. Will report back in Dec.
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Last edited by kc_7777; 11-09-2024 at 02:05 PM.
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I love big dumps.
fwiw Paul, the blister reviewer skiing them, bought the demo set, instead of sending them back, so he could keep skiing them. He can’t think it’s that bad!
As a data point, he mounted +1 from where I would recommend for his size + 40lb guide pack, but again, he was super stoked on them overall, so I don’t think that’s a bad thing or the wrong spot. Just a touch less room for error, just like being a little forward on any ski, imo.
id call the skis mid-soft but supportive. I skied them maybe 30 days last season, never had an “oh shit” over the bars or wheelied out. super fun change of pace from chop-smashing monster trucking skis. Just one guys opinion!
but indeed; if you hand flex them… they are not stiff!
Last edited by Marshal Olson; 11-08-2024 at 09:25 PM.
I never had any problem with them overhinging on me last year, but I’m also not heli skiing at max speed with a guide pack.
For resort shralping these rule
Paul Forward picked them in his 5 ski quiver. He said he "can't think of a ski he's had more fun on at Aleyeska", and called them "magical". Can't be too bad!
Okay, faith in the ski restored, the way Paul Forward described them I was like. There is no way HL designed a ski that “flexes like a U” when skiing it.
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To be certain, if you are coming from charger skis, and hand flex them, you will be like “marshal may have lost his mind”. Haha.
But they really truly are crazy fun, and kind of addictive. Most surprised I’ve ever been on skis.
This ski sounds like a riot, maybe TAFKALVS will grab a pair. [emoji6]
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I had the chance to ski Paul’s pair for a handful of laps at Alyeska on a 15” heavy storming low viz day.
He had been moving the mount around, but wherever they were at, they fucking killed it from turn one!
They are not so stiff, per se, but they are a big ski and felt torsionally very powerful. They have an incredibly damp and smooth ride, with a very reliable rebound that you dance in and out of while you fly playfully from one feature to the next.
I couldn’t find their speed limit in the conditions that day and never felt any fold up cranking turns at speed but they are not straightline missiles, and felt ~25% softer than my FL113, which have no speed limit, period, and can be a handful when the viz is poor, like this day.
There is some Black Magic! in these boards and they were so fun that I ordered a pair that night.
-arriving in a scant few days!
I didn't think I wanted this ski, but you guys are killing me.
these sound rad for low viz (cough schwizz cough) pow days where you naturally want to ski a little slower but not be on the brakes the whole time.
100%
for my quiver this year, I am Swallowtail 120 (good vis -> alpine terrain) + HB122 (low vis -> trees/billygoating). Super easy to know what ski to grab, and they are ideally suited for those conditions IMO, but good enough at the other thing if you miss-read conditions, you aren't bummed out about the day in any way/shape/form
I'm thinking of going -4.5 or -5.0. I like directional skis for the most part I think. 170#......maybe 180-185# with my vest/shovel/probe/snacks/ski boots etc. I ski pretty fast most of the time.
Since you have a pretty normal sized foot IIRC, generally I’d say go -5 to -5.5 at that size, and depending on your fore-aft balance and how used to super progressive shapes you are. Since we already talked some of this thru, I’d say -5 for you, WG
I haven’t skied the hb122 but have spent time on hellbents. As long as you are a really balanced skier you can absolutely charge on them. It seems impossible when you flex them. But that softness just eats up all the imperfections in the snow. It’s actually quite amazing but you have to be able to stay on the center of the ski.
HB122 has the best tail of any inbound powder ski.... (Paul Forward at https://blisterreview.com/podcasts/g...be-next-ep-320 at 53min )
I can't wait to see what HB vs PF was in store for us.
Salomon Strive 16 retro 747’s with 130mm brake on my 179 HB122’s, which straight pull at 182.6cm. Mounted 87cm from tail (-4.30 from tc).
Can’t wait to ski these!!! Thanks Marshall!
Some topsheet, base and profile pics for ya.
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Last edited by kc_7777; 11-10-2024 at 06:00 PM.
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I love big dumps.
Dammit stop making these skis look so cool [emoji24][emoji1786]
Pivot 115s work well. That’s what I will be running. With a small twist.
Last edited by kc_7777; 11-13-2024 at 04:54 PM.
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I love big dumps.
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