Black BDs (short review)

[lemon boy]

Got to take a run on some of the new black big daddies. My one long and variable conditions run on them indicates that they are indeed quite a bit softer (AND LIGHTER!) than old BDs.

As such they are:
happier in pow (750' of near perfect wind deposited pow, never touched bottom) - although, lets be real here we are comparing against a ski that already was a flat out pow machine I maybe made one less turn on the new than the old.

much less happy on anything firmer, chunkier or more cut up getting deflected somewhat more.

Similar turning wise, happy t and p turns shorter and longer made one jump turn and it was as easy as the older ones.

Owing to the general stiffness changes I noticed the BD top speed has probably come down a fair ways (didn't even try to get up against it though). Now I would have to say there is somewhat more reason to fear the daddies b/c they're more pow specific (would make a great tour/pow only ski for sure). Just doesn't have that ripping all mountain all the time gimmie gimmie gimmie feel.

Overall I was a little disappointed, didn't give me that instant happy pants feeling of the old BDs

Comparison runs were back to back with my BDs for consistency.

[Telepath]

MT's or Prof's ski with same bindings, mount and all? Weird, I can still jump between skis from all years and not feel a lot of difference, I don't think the blacks are any softer than the dark blues (which were a tad softer than the greys). MT or Prof try your skis and think the same?

[Professor]

I dont have any BDs anymore. BUt one thing that could influence what was going on is MTs black ones are mounted a touch different than LBs. The amount of lift is a touch different as well. But on the mount, I cant remember if MTs black ones are forward or back of his orange ones. Both MTs and LBs orange ones should be in the same place though since they are both on the "Andys" plate.

[lemon boy]

They were MT's so should've been straight across*. Haven't tried the blue's though. Pretty noticeably diff to me. Wierd. Maybe I have the world's stiffest grey's but I doubt it...

*with the prof's caveat... MT echoed the one or two comments I made but we didn't really hash it out.

[Professor]

They were Sam's so should've been straight across.

Read statement above. I know the mount is a touch different, just dont know if it is forward or back.

[lemon boy]

read edit above

[MT]

The black DB's are at Chord Centre. The orange ones are a little further forward. I'm not sure how much Andy went on those, but it looks like may 1 or 1.5cm when they are standing side by side. I also think that they are quite a bit softer, but are much more fun to tour on because of the weight difference. If you are looking for a soft, super easy to ski pow stick these are a good choice. However, I would not recomend them for haulin' balls. They might be a little more stable mounted with a fixed heel though, because you could get over the shovel better. I know that Prof has had better luck with the rockets mounted alpine because of that....

[Telepath]

Hmm, wondering if Andy's plates make such a difference? I sied my greys mounted sans plate which migh have made them feel softer or more similar to the never ones though. Not sure. It could be that I'm just a pansy and no longer need a stiff ski. Maybe it's time to mount up the FaGS yet again to make sure...

And yep; the BD's are very different alpine. Being able to stand centered to me means the black ones are as fast as my M103s in pretty much anything as long as I'm on them. I've been skiing way faster/bigger on alpine than tele the last few years, maybe thats why I don't find them too soft for tele.

[MT]

Yeah, I think that the plate actually makes a bit of difference in terms of how the ski flexes.

I bet they ski better alpine. But, the real question is how well do they noodle?

[lemon boy]

Hmm, wondering if Andy's plates make such a difference? I sied my greys mounted sans plate which migh have made them feel softer or more similar to the never ones though. Not sure. It could be that I'm just a pansy and no longer need a stiff ski. Maybe it's time to mount up the FaGS yet again to make sure...

hmmmm do you think sandwiching 3 layers of aluminum in 4 layers of delrin and bonding it together would make much of a difference? j/k... that isn't how they're built (pretty sure at least)

edit: MT the clear answer is the old ones do....or just that I do

[MT]

The 05/06 on the left. Fun skis for sure in the pow, but quite scary at speed. You can get them to start having independant motion without too much effort. As mentioned above though, having them mounted with alpine binders makes a difference I'm sure.

[Yossarian]

are the 05/06s black, or really really dark blue? Just curious.
I like black. But blue doesn't match my shit brown eyes OR my black lip-piercing.

[MT]

It's hard to say. They look black to me all the time, but other people think they look blue in certain light. I don't know what the official answer is to their true color though.

[Z]

By "Black" do you mean the 05/06 model, or is there a mid season realease that is different.

I have the new 05/06 model mounted with Naxo nx21s. I'm 6'1" 235lbs. I still have not found a top speed on them - as with the 04/05 Led Zepelin graphic ones. I've reached terminal velocity on several straightlines off of the top of Mammoth, and do not find these skis to be unstable at all.

I'll caveat that to say it is a ski that must be driven. If you rock the back seat you may not like them. Just my opinion.

The 05/06 ones carve exceptionally well, are very torsionally stiff, handle hardpack, chop, crud, gunk, pow, death cookies, and anything else with ease. Compared to the 04/05 - my 05/06s are slightly stiffer in the tip.

Boot center is 84.5 cm from the tail. I have them mounted at the same boot center spot as the 04/05 ski.

Figure ill throw in my 2 cents. I have the 04/05s on the right, (actually 2 pair since i destroyed the first).


If you like to ski the backseat these skis will tell you immediately who's in charge. I kind of like it actually, cause when you're in the drivers seat the things will do whatever you want. As long as you like to take some speed with you. No likely slow turning. But who cares?

As far as top speed, im not that heavy = 180 on a wet day, and I don't think these have a top speed in my situation. Maybe they do and i just haven't found it, but they just friggin LOVE going straight and fast. I almost just want to not turn cause they feel so confident going straight.

[MT]

Yeah, I have them mounted with Linkens.

I agree that they ski like crap from the backseat. Most skis really don't ski "good" from the backseat. My problem with them is that they have too much sidecut and are too soft for going fast. My reasoning behind getting them was that they would be an excellent backcountry ski because of their weight and surface area. In this regard, I'm quite pleased with them. I'm just looking for something a little stiffer for an area board. The Titan Pro looks to be ideal in all respects except availability and price

[Telepath]

My problem with them is that they have too much sidecut and are too soft for going fast.

With a bit of luck I might have some extra new (newnew) BD's with a tele mount by the time you get here, might be fun to try I aggree though, BD's are too wide in the tails; but even in soft snow I've found that a serious detuning (my edges are like completely round from 15cm behind my heels and back) helps. New ones might have nailed the shape though.

I'm just looking for something a little stiffer for an area board. The Titan Pro looks to be ideal in all respects except availability and price

The ex-Prof FaGS might be availible. They should do the trick

[MT]

Yeah, from the little tidbits I have heard here and there, the new ones sound like they will be really cool. As for the FaGS, I for one do not need those