Spatula stability

[El Chupacabra]

Any long-time Spatulators care to enlighten me --

Took the Spatulas out again this morning -- conditions were 10-20" of windbuff, cream, soft 4-6" windslab in places, and open pow.

I am still amazed at how maneuverable these skis are in the trees and other tight spots, but they've never really clicked for me for higher speeds, big arcing turns, etc. They just feel kinda unstable at speed, like they're really really short.

Any suggestions? Do I just not have enough time on them? (maybe 8-10 days so far) Or is it just part of the Spatula "feel" that I have to get used to?

[iggyskier]

I felt the same way about them...

They are super super fun in corn and trees.

In the open....I vastly prefer my FFFs.

Spats just seem really short, I think the FFFs float better and are more comfortable at speed.

I ended up getting rid of them because, while they are really fun, I would rather have something more substantial.

suggestion....keep them for days when you think you'll be in the trees alot.

Get something like a FFF, EPH, capital trasher for days were you want something that can handle going really really fast.

[El Chupacabra]

suggestion....keep them for days when you think you'll be in the trees alot.

Get something like a FFF, EPH, capital trasher for days were you want something that can handle going really really fast.

The AK Rocket swallowtails I just picked up seem to fit the bill for going really fast in soft snow, and feeling stable. Those are probably why I felt like the Spatulas felt unstable today -- my last 2 days skiing before today were on the AKs.

Though I am still tempted by those ANTs. Dammit.

[iggyskier]

Though I am still tempted by those ANTs. Dammit.

Get them. Everybody who has them loves them.

Super super stable.

You know you want them.

[El Chupacabra]

Get them. Everybody who has them loves them.

Super super stable.

You know you want them.

iggyskier = crack dealer in previous life...

[iggyskier]

iggyskier = crack dealer in previous life...

So.....Bought them yet?!

[El Chupacabra]

So.....Bought them yet?!

iggyskier = pusher...

Worth it? Really? Different enough from stiff Bros & Explosivs?

Have you skied Big Daddies? Similar? (I had BDs briefly - didn't like them - dead feeling, unresponsive, not at all snappy or fun. I think Explosivs are snappy & fun, despite their weight.)

[iggyskier]

haha I don't know.

I haven't skied either the Ants, Bros, or Bds.

I've skied explosivs and like them....

So....would they be that different from the exp or bros? Maybe not.

Worth it? Why not

Talk to Vicious. He swears by them now. He'll probably tell you what I did...

Buy them.

[Arty50]

I'm gonna go against the grain here. I actually think the Spatulas rule at speed. It's one of the best straighline mach schnell skis I've been on.

[Bucky Mullet]

Back to the Spats:
As we lack true BM terrain, can't say that I've really gotten them above ~50 but haven't really noticed the stability problem. Theyre really good at DROPPING speed, so point 'em into your favorite tight line. Oh yeah, when you hit the hardpack, just get on the back of your uphill ski (pressure the heel) and you'll be able to carve those badboys!!

[upallnight]

I'm gonna go against the grain here. I actually think the Spatulas rule at speed. It's one of the best straighline mach schnell skis I've been on.

I'm with Arty, here. I find them to be super-stable even at full-throttle. I think what adds to my impression of their stability is that I know I can stop on a dime with them in any condition...whereas some of my big skis w/ traditional or no sidecut often need a little more time & room to slow down.

[mntlion]

play with the amount of pivot, the amount of insde lean. sometimes they just turn too fast = feels unstable?

[iceman]

I can't remember, mine have been out of the closet twice with almost 40 days in UT behind me this year. Stupid over-predicted storms.

But I seem to recall they went as fast as I wanted to go.

[bad_roo]

40 days in Utah and you didn't visit the Newfoundland Evaporation Basin once?

For shame.

[iceman]

As I remarked previously, for some odd reason I thought it was in Newfoundland. Silly me.

[Dromond]

Get them. Everybody who has them loves them.

Super super stable.

You know you want them.

I can't even ski, live in tree-and-molehill infested massachusetts and I want them.

Stupid nonsensical gear lust.

[vtdownhiller]

I prefer the swallowtail in resort when I am traversing alot but I find as long as you stay weight forward the spats will arc big wide turns in pow, you are just feeling the amazing stability of the salomons

[MOHSHSIHd]

It just takes time to really figure out the spats...

I took me at least 70-80 days on them to truly learn how to carve them...

They fucking ROCK at speen IMO
take for instance an inbounds day, its 4pm and I want to get to the truck and drink a beer...

you can seriously just point them through potatoes and chopped bumps...get em up to 40 or 50mph and they just smash through anything in their way...

[Vicious]

El Chup, I agree with your initial comments about not feeling as stable on the Spats. Not that they are an unstable ski, but I just feel more stable on other sticks. Hands down the best tree ski I've ever been on, but once again, when it opens up, I'd prefer to be on something longer and straight.

blah blah blah

Enough with the comparisons...just get some ANTs.

[marshalolson]

just get some ANTs.

trigger pulled

[Vicious]

trigger pulled

YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[Z]

trigger pulled

Holy shit dude. I wish I had your brain. I have no clue how you do it.

Actually, maybe you just have too many bindings lying around that need a home.

PS. You DO know there is a huge twin on these right?

[Evil E]

The spats arent for everyone, they take major adjusting and some people are unwilling to put in the time to adjust to the skis dynamics instead of feeling like the ski should instantly make them better and more confident (which it will if you spend some time on the ski) Personally i think that the ski is so radically different that every serious skier should really try them just for the experience. I think theyre really really cool and SOO damn fun in pow.

They kill in deep pow, mank, and especially snow with a suncrust or ice layer on top they are SOOO far superior to anything else out there. No comparison. No tips to hook and throw you you just sail over the crap and ski it as if its fresh pow. And in the DEEP they are faster than anything else too cause youre a floating madman. In marginal conditions they can break loose and I can see someone wanting traditional long fats, but as long as there is a few inches to manuever in they slay it.

BEST TREE SKI THAT EXISTS. This is the real reason to have this ski. I love skiing trees, but my speed and confidence doubles annually thanks to spats.

[funkendrenchman]

It just takes time to really figure out the spats...

I took me at least 70-80 days on them to truly learn how to carve them...

They fucking ROCK at speen IMO
take for instance an inbounds day, its 4pm and I want to get to the truck and drink a beer...

you can seriously just point them through potatoes and chopped bumps...get em up to 40 or 50mph and they just smash through anything in their way...

70-80 days? It is IMPOSSIBLE to carve the Spatulas. You can edge them but not carve.

[runethechamp]

I took me about 1 turn to realize the spats kick ass at high speeds, and that's how they've felt to me since. Maybe the transition time depends on how you ski them or maybe it depends on what level your basic technique is at, I don't know. I know my basic skills are kind of shitty and maybe that's why I liked them right away, but I do know I've skied lines a lot faster on the spats than on any other ski.