Help - Fat BC Ski for Me?

[Chainsaw_Willie]

nutcase, I'd like to take you up on that offer. My boot sole length is 305mm. Will you be at Xtal this weekend or next? My brother told me of a group he knows going to the Summit this weekend and staying at the Summit Inn. This group includes single females so I could easily be swayed in that direction, especially since I haven't hit Alpental in a looonnnggg time. Still, if I go to Alpental I won't get a chance to try any new skis. ugh, tough choice.

Sounds like the people who've skied the bros, sugardaddy, or gotamas have all really liked 'em. Wish I could demo 'em all, but only the Gotamas are available to rent at Xtal and don't know where else to find the sugar daddy or scratch bc and I'm assuming the Bro isn't readily available for demo either.

So, the Atua has been dropped from the list, the others remain.

You guys who went with the sugar daddy, why did you get it vs. the pimp? Any real reason, or simply opportunity or a good deal? The magazine reviews seem to indicate they are very similar with the pimp being a little softer. It's also a couple mm wider in the tip & tail though the same through the waist.

I don't really need another all-around type setup as that's what I have in the mojo 90s. They've done everything I've asked them to do and done it very well indeed. They really are a "quiver of one" ski with the only drawback being a slightly narrow waist for really deep snow. Mounted with S912tis, they are lighter than several alpine rigs I've tried. A dedicated AT setup with some Fritschi bindings that can handle variable conditions and deep powder is what I'm after.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Oh, one other question for the night-

Where are you guys finding out about skis like the sickbird and helidaddy? Rossi and Atomic don't mention them on their websites. I peruse these forums almost daily and haven't seen anything about either ski 'til now. Of course, I don't read every single thread, but do try to tune into the ones concerning new gear. What am I missing?

I even googled "sickbird" and the only skiing link that came up was for a DVD...???

[KANUTTEN]

You should strongly consider the bros, if the contest is between the gotamas, the bros and the sugar/pimp/heli daddies. These skis will probably all ski very well, but the bros will win on weight. Also they are durable sandwich construction from good folks. You will be able to get em for 550 usd, so not bad at all for a new ski. But you might be able to get cheaper used goats or atomics. If price is a big factor, then maybe worthwhile to shop around for goats/daddies.

Also take a close look at dynafit comforts or silvretta pure freerides for binders.

[pechelman]

I was in exactly the same boat as you Chainsaw.

This past year I made my first ski purchase ever and it was also the Mojo90 in a 176, Im also your same height and weight. Id like to try out the 186 mounted on the line or a 176 mounted 2cm back for a little better pow performance and make it a little less turny. Anyway, Ive been wanting a fatter ski too, and I was down to a 183 Gotama or 179 Soft Bro. I found a sweet deal on a 183 gotama but someone bought it before I could get to it so Ive since ended up with a 180 explosiv since I got a pretty good deal.
Seems like it should fit the bill pretty well for what I wanted, although maybe a tad stiffer\narrower. But I cant ignore all the praises of this ski and how well it destroys pow\crud. I wanted the 179 Bro and I suggest it to you as thats what you want...if you want to spend that much.
Granted, its a good price on a new ski, I just didnt want to spend another 500+ on skis after my Mojos.

[flip]

Where are you guys finding out about skis like the sickbird and helidaddy?

A fella named mtnlion clears out the skis from CMH heli-skiing. They're big enough that they have skis custom-made for their operation (usually an existing shape with difference topsheet or a bit different tip/tail). I would never have known about the Helidaddies, except he posted them for sale here on TGR.

As far as I know they ski the same as the sugars. mtnlion said the tips may be softer, which is fine with me. The flat tail is also easier to attach skins or plunge into snow as an anchor. Not as good for side-slipping couloirs though.

Again, if you're buying new, get the bros.

[nutcase]

Chainsaw - I am likely headed to Bend this weekend (although the dumpage going on up here is giving me some reservations about that). My boot sole is 315 but since the binders can adjust up or down one size i'm thinking it should work. If I'm not up there this weekend I should be next weekend if not earlier.

As far as finding out about skis- if you spend enough time on this board you will find out more than you want or need to know. But as far as the sickbird goes- just check out rossignols website again and look at the nordic ski section.

You may also want to check out telemarktips.com - they have a lot of good info on AT skis.

[descender]

I also am searching for an AT setup. I am thinking Gots, Sugars, or maybe something 95ish for better spring condition grip, which is probably when I will get into this.

So are twins really that much of a disadvantage for AT? People manage with skins on twins don't they? Does the anhor aspect come into play if you are not an extremo mountain man?

[Z]

I also am searching for an AT setup. I am thinking Gots, Sugars, or maybe something 95ish for better spring condition grip, which is probably when I will get into this.

So are twins really that much of a disadvantage for AT? People manage with skins on twins don't they? Does the anhor aspect come into play if you are not an extremo mountain man?

Twins are no problem, but you need an STS tail. Works perfectly, even on fully twinned seth pistols.

I'd go with Sugars. Super light, med flex, good size all around.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Heh. Shows you how far out of touch I am on the gear front. I thought "Nordic" and telemark skis would be skinny little planks, like cross-country skis. Then I go and look through my copy of Powder Mag's gear review from the beginning of the season and there are the Sickbirds and several other fat skis listed under Telemark, including the Volkl TRock which looks suspiciously like the Karma...

I'd love to order a set of soft Bros. Unfortunately $550+ is a big chunk of change for me right now. I was looking at the Sugars on clearance at $449 at a local shop and thinking that was a mite steep. If I'm going to do this, I need to find a pair of boards in the $300 range, which means used or end of season desperation clearance type deal. Or, I might just wait 'til my finances recover a little and buy the bros.

Thanks for all the responces from everyone, very much appreciated!

[hemas]

Big Daddy from Denver Wholesale Skis (on Ebay) with Mount-What-You-Like plates should be a good ski. Wider and stiffer than most of the stuff you mentioned (107 waist and only in 193cm), but for ~300$. They might also had Sugar's...

Ps. TRock doesn't equal Karma, as Karma has a full twin plus one extra layer of aluminium which the TRock doesn't (TRock = Queen Attiva).

[addict]

I'm in love with my Nordica Supercharger Blowers. They've held up to a LOT of punishment, fun to ski, not too too heavy for their size. Also like the idea of Capital skis, not too expensive for a custom product and you're close enough to the factory to take a trip and check them out no?

edit: if you want stable, don't get the Mantra. I found it unstable at speed and VERY easy to overski in the 191. It lacks torsional rigidity, which is what you want for stable, waaay more so than tip to tail stiffness.

[descender]

I'm in love with my Nordica Supercharger Blowers. They've held up to a LOT of punishment, fun to ski, not too too heavy for their size. Also like the idea of Capital skis, not too expensive for a custom product and you're close enough to the factory to take a trip and check them out no?

edit: if you want stable, don't get the Mantra. I found it unstable at speed and VERY easy to overski in the 191. It lacks torsional rigidity, which is what you want for stable, waaay more so than tip to tail stiffness.

I fondled some of the Super Blowers and I am in love. They are probably going to replace my sidewall destroyed 190 Gotamas for big pow days. Is it a bit fat for AT when you are hitting scrapped out ice death?

[addict]

They seem fine, but I tend to stay away from ice where possible. They are stiff underfoot, which I didn't notice at first when I shop flexed them. The overall flex I've had ~40days on them so far. I think they'd outlast a Gotama, but I haven't really given the base much to worry about yet (no scratches), he topsheet is OK, but some scratches (heavy abuse though). I give them 11 stars though.

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Skied the 183 Gotamas today in varying conditions from crust & crud to thigh deep pow, even some icy wind-scraped ridges and loved them. I could be very happy with this ski. If I find a cheap deal on them, they'll be mine. The demo shop oh-so-kindly offered to sell me the pair I was on for $550 at the end of the season... Out of respect for the good guy who runs the rental shop I didn't laugh in his face or even roll my eyes.

[stevied]

Like nutcase I have some Sickbirds to mount alpine. Mine are 178 cm and I am wondering where to mount. The randonee line is 819 mm from the tail of the ski. Does anyone know where that is in relation to the mount line on the 2005-6 Scratch BC for reference?