Help me decide on what sticks for Chamonix

[shirk]

Okay so I am in a spot here on what skis for Gordy's Cham camp.

I checked out my older 183 K2 Enemies and I think they are shot. Early last season I pulled the railflex plate off them to mount tele, used the same holes and made a cutting board plate for them. Mounted them back on the same holes with the railflex to lend to a friend later in the season. I flexed them last night and they made a horrible creaking and cracking sound. Like they were all dried out or something. I never knew how soft they were till I got Exploders, they feel like noodles. Skis are screwed correct?

So I have a set of superstiff bros that I am going to use if we get fresh. I have decide to use these instead of the 193 im103, due to the lower swing weight. The 103's are in the plastic and will most likely go up in gear swap after I get back.

But I need some mid 80 waist stiff skis for the steeps if there is no fresh snow and things are really firm. I have started looking for deals on old im85's. Any other suggestiosn on a ski about 180 80ish wasit low sidecut non twin and relatively cheap.

[lemon boy]

But I need some mid 80 waist stiff skis for the steeps if there is no fresh snow and things are really firm.

No, you don't.

[Steven S. Dallas]

What LB said.

[verbier61]

all you need is BRO











seriously.

[shirk]

The Bros and carry no back up pair?

I know the Bro will hold the edge. But in the super gnar if it's really really firm I think I should have a slimmer ski as a back up.

[Steven S. Dallas]

On hard stuff it's all about edgehold. If the Bros are up to it, why worry? Reports are that they slay all conditions. Save your money and sharpen your edges. Also, are you going to carry the extra pair on your pack or something? I don't think it's as easy as running to the lodge and grabbing your backups when you're in Cham.

[shirk]

Just sort of looking for every advantage I can get. If carrying two sets of skis across the pond then why not make them super versitile.

I have but one day in this year playing on the steeps in firm conditions at W/B but it was on tele on my exploders. Really I just want to be prepared for anything in any conditions that i will be exposed to.

[verbier61]

should you really decide when in cham that you need anything more than BROs, thake advantage of cham rental services. You'll have the opportunity to try interesting sticks that you might not find at home (movement, scott bumtribes, etc)

[lemon boy]

should you really decide when in cham that you need anything more than BROs, thake advantage of cham rental services. You'll have the opportunity to try interesting sticks that you might not find at home (movement, scott bumtribes, etc)

Marv Albert Voice
YESSSS!

[ski_rick]

I've been pondering a similar situation, La Grave in Feb. I'm 99% sure I'm just going to mount my Stiff Bros with Dynafits, bring my new Dynafit Aero Freerides and ski those the entire time.

[Meathelmet]

I have started looking for deals on old im85's.

NOOOOOOO-oooo!!!

Skied those sticks for a season,and even they are a decent pair of boards, i would never,ever use them for anything steep/hard.

They have so much sidecut that they tend to hand by their tips and tails all the time. Have had couple spooky encounters with them..
Also the short tail wich they have if mounted on the factory mark,make the tail easy to wash out when making jump turns.

If i would be you,i´d definately go with the bros.

And then,if neccessary, by some cheap sticks from cham/some other
place if need would arise.

Tough choices there, mang!

[shirk]

Thanks for the info Meathelmet. This is the type of info I was looking for.

[natty dread]

Just echoing what others have said: Bros will be fine for all cham conditions, there is no need for a narrower ski. I skied 3 weeks in cham and la grave all on my W105s, in everything from pow to blue ice and they were perfect.

Things can get pretty bony at the lower elevations in euroland, so be prepared to give your nice new bros a good stone grind when you are done. Less of an issue this year so far with the good snow, however.

I do agree that bringing two pairs of skis is a good idea in case something happens to your front line pair. One thing I would never do skiing burly euro lines is use skis with demo bindings. No WAY would I trust a demo binding to hold me in when it matters...

[hop]

I second the Bro with local Cham demo backup plan.

edit: but Natty has a good point about demo binders

[verbier61]

cham (as verb, St A, etc) has many rentals. Some rent shit, some rent brand new, safe stuff. I am sure maggots can select the best spots.

[shirk]

I don't want to plan to rent. I hope to spend all the time on the Bros. Just figured I would try and grab something to compliment the bros in a narrower waist. I am surprised you guys aren't trying harder to help me spend my money

The recommended ski thread doesn't have much about a narrower billygoat ski that would be great on really really steep stuff in firm firm conditions. forget about what I end up taking or skiing. What skis fit this bill?

[Jiehkevarri]

I'm not a specialist on steep skiing but I would still say that it depends on what's your definition of super steeps?

In Cham many of the classic lines are so long (vertical drop) that they don't get skied that much if the snow is very hard / sketchy (frozen chunks etc.) One slipp and you fall > 500m of vertical, and gather speed rather quickly... This will apply also to the bit "mellower" "common" lines like cosmic, rondi, poubelle(s), e.n.s.a etc.

I'm not preaching anything here. And you might have much more experience on this stuff? Still, I know a guy who lost a ski (older diamir binding prereleasing when ski tip got somehow stuck in the frozen chunk of snow/ice) in the start of cosmic --> downfall of 800meters vertical. The guy is lucky to be alive, and very very lucky with surviving the ride of his life without any major damages.

I've skied my steepest lines/classic routes in Cham and LaGrave with 75mm and 83mmn (in the middle) skis. And while they were OK, now I realise that I would have been much happier with wider skis there. Condition were always packed powder / chalky old snow when I've been there...wouldn't skied anything steeper without those kind of conditions at all actually.

I believe Explosives are pretty common ski in Cham for steeps. Stiff, relatively straight, not too wide. There are speciality skis like Stöckli steep rider, older Dynastar 4x4 verticals (some of the old guard extreme guys like Pierre Tardivel(sp?) uses these I believe...) etc. But I don't know how many "normal" skier actually uses that kind of stuff for everyday skiing? You're not skiing anything "real extreme" stuff on Gordy's camp, I suppose? Meaning: wait for right conditions (for god knows how long?), climb first all the way w/ all the mountaineering gear, you fall you die stuff...???

Not to sound an ass here, just giving my 0,02 cents.

And prolly Idris and Flingle would be the best sources here...PM them?

[Idris]

If you really need some smaller sticks I have some 180 explosives with 997s on rental tracks.....I also have stiff and super stiff bros if you manage to put yours out of commission...if you are feeling silly I have some other toy available

Prior to owning Bros which I now ski almost all the time. I skied Powder Pluses lift served or Explosives for touring in Cham.

[lemon boy]

yeah but you'd also tell him to put race stock binders on touring skis soo...

Shirk: What Jekki is trying to say is that if shit is that hard sketch you ain't gonna be skiing crazy dangerous anyway.

Actually Idris is saying that too.

[shirk]

Yeah I get it now. Lets chalk this up to me wasting my third last day on the job in cube land worrying about stuff I don't really need to.

On my drive cross country I'll get soms days in at Alta/Bird, Snowbasin, and Jackson. That should clear my mind. The office is rotting it into mush.

Oh and the binders with be race stock

[Hicks]

Rental or Idris backup plan thirded.