179 Stiff Bro mini-review

[splat]

We figure we'll have all the equipment together and be pressing by July.
Just finishing the orders for the skis that we have, doing our books, shopping for a space, and getting the new website and new products together for next season. We're investing in ourselves instead of manufacturers who can't deliver.

[gonzo]

We're investing in ourselves instead of manufacturers who can't deliver.

Good call.

[splat]

Also: we are sold out of everything, except a few used pair.

However, we are taking orders for the July run.

[beb42000]

how does the saying go?, "if you want it done right........."

[couloirman]

any used 179 stiffs for sale?

[splat]

Sorry, the used are 188s, salvaging/rebuilding 179 blems for demos to take to Mammoth.

[Larryl]

Also: we are sold out of everything, except a few used pair.

However, we are taking orders for the July run.

Are you going to change any specs in the July run? I don't know if 179 soft would suit me, 5' 7", 130 lbs. Currently, I am riding 173 Sugar Daddy, but would like to add BRO to the collection.

[splat]

Just flexes. Going to round out the soft/stiff a little better to reflect the designations.

[marshalolson]

Just flexes. Going to round out the soft/stiff a little better to reflect the designations.

congrats splat - good luck with the new facility... HAVE FUN

[DePierre]

Are you going to change any specs in the July run? I don't know if 179 soft would suit me, 5' 7", 130 lbs. Currently, I am riding 173 Sugar Daddy, but would like to add BRO to the collection.

I'm the about the same size and have stiffs.

[Pierre LeCouloir]

Me: 6'1", 190, lame.
My Bros: 188 stiffs mounted on the line with Tyrolia Mojo 15's.
My background: I had been on god awful, heavy, constantly pre-ejecting Atomic 11.20's for a while and spent a fair portion of this season test riding different mid-fat demo skis.

My thoughts on the 188 stiffs:
Over the course of a couple straight weekends at Mammoth, I rode the Bros in every condition imaginable on every pitch Mammoth has to offer. Spring corn, fresh pow, melted pow, groomers, boilerplate, fresh pow on ice chunks, blahblahblah (no ice faces over 45 degrees or mega bump fields, but why would I voluntarily do that?) . . . the Bros were rock solid on everything I put them through.

On ice, with a bit of extra angulation, they carve cleanly and reliably. On everything else, they are super light, super easy to turn (pick your radius) and yet super bomber. I realized I was in love during a handful of runs on steeper pitches with a bit of heavy fresh snow on top of firm chopped up, frozen-over crud. Any other ski I've ever ridden would have been bouncing and deflecting. The Bros felt rock-solid.

They also totally kick ass for outrunning yetis.



I will definitely be buying another pair soon for touring. Thanks Splat. Great service, great product. Good luck.

[Rob Stokes]

what is the radius for the 179's and 188's?i cant find this info anywhere. a few people have told me not to worry about it as they ski so good, but id like to know just out of intrest.....
also, im 5'9 and 160 pounds ish....do yo think the 179 stiffs will be ok?i currently ski the scratch bc 182 and the length is perfect.i dont really want to go 188 as i ski lots of tight couloirs, but am consernd that the 179 is a little short.u think the 179 stiffs will do me well? im a good strong skiier, i will be hitting tight 45 degree couloirs in europe and pritty much everything else everywhere else!!
thanks for the help!!

[ulty_guy]

They also totally kick ass for outrunning yetis.

def one of the better first JONG posts in a while!

[Toby]

what is the radius for the 179's and 188's?

188s are in the 30m ballpark. 32m maybe?

im a good strong skiier, i will be hitting tight 45 degree couloirs in europe

I'm a bit bigger than you, but the 188s are so light that they ski very easily. I personally wouldn't hesitate taking them in tight terrain. In fact they're a contradiction to me - super light and manouverable, yet bomber and damp at speed (I've got super stiffs).

[AltaPowderDaze]

what is the radius for the 179's and 188's? i will be hitting tight 45 degree couloirs in europe

toby's right about the radius but are you planning on carving out a 30m turn down one of those tight 45* coulies? the ski turns when you tell it to and is easy to adjust the turn to fit the terrain. if you are a strong skier then you shouldn't have to worry too much about radius until you hit the groomers or a huge AK style face.

[P_McPoser]

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet.
I'm 5'11", 165 lbs.
I had my 179 stiffs mounted up last week, got some skins and trekkers last weekend, and hit the trail yesterday. These skis are the lightest skis i've ever packed around with me. Once the downhill portion began, I can only say that I have never felt so confident on a pair of skis after one turn. Rock on Splat!

[Trackhead]

Last Bro review for me:

Finally skied the 179 stiff on some steep, icy terrain. Perhaps 45 degrees, very firm neve.

They worked fine. My sissy stix with the sub 70mm waist might work better, but these aren't sissy stix. The width of the waist is also nice for side slipping avy debris in couloirs. Easier to do with a fat ski, than a skinny stick.

They are also nice with the twin tip for side slipping runnelled couloirs, as your tails don't get hung up.

And again, the shorter length is VERY welcome in couloirs, and for easier swing weight in steep terrain.

APD mentioned he enjoyed his today too. He hadn't had them in terrain like this yet.

I was skeptical about bringing them to the Tetons, haven't not been on firm snow with them. But I'm over that now. I think they are as close as a quiver of one as I can find.

[Rob Stokes]

30 m radius...thats pritty beefy. o well, i would prefer a slightly smaller one but fuck it, the reviews say it all.....the only bad words ive ever herd said about the bro is that the boot centre is to far forward....so ill just mount em 5mm back or something....deffinatly in the market for them next season..

[DePierre]

Splat changed the line back a few mm, so theres no need to mount even further back unless its just a pow ski. Mount em on the line for all conditions. They're a perfect everyday ski on the line.

[Toby]

Rob, like APD said - 30m radius is irrelevant unless you want to rail them the whole time. They'll turn easily at any radius you choose.

[SponsoredByDuctTape]

what is the radius for the 179's and 188's?i cant find this info anywhere. a few people have told me not to worry about it as they ski so good, but id like to know just out of intrest.....
also, im 5'9 and 160 pounds ish....do yo think the 179 stiffs will be ok?i currently ski the scratch bc 182 and the length is perfect.i dont really want to go 188 as i ski lots of tight couloirs, but am consernd that the 179 is a little short.u think the 179 stiffs will do me well? im a good strong skiier, i will be hitting tight 45 degree couloirs in europe and pritty much everything else everywhere else!!
thanks for the help!!

I'm 5'7" about 160 and the 179 stiffs are perfect. I was on the 188 stiffs last year and they were great, just a tad too long for the trees. Get 'em.

[Rob Stokes]

i cant afford them now, but at the start of next season im deffinatly gonna try and get my hands on a pair....what can we expect for next season?any new shapes?or is this all top secrethaha

[bklyn]

Give the masses what they're asking for?

[Larryl]

Splat changed the line back a few mm, so theres no need to mount even further back unless its just a pow ski. Mount em on the line for all conditions. They're a perfect everyday ski on the line.

That's what I am looking for, everyday ski. I may even roll them down the moguls in Whistler/Blackcomb next season, WTH, and definitely bc around and outside Whistler, like Brew, Joffre etc.

[Shredgar]

The happy box:



My happy pack:



I'm a happy skier:



Have two days on them so far. One in big fat powder, sorry no camera that day but it was good.
The second day is here: TR Medusa Couloir

The 179cm stiff Bro Models are great skis.
They've worked well for me both in the steep & deep, and in steep, hard & narrow terrain.

Torsionally stiff & stable w/good edgehold on the high angle spring snow.
Damp & very smoove. Point & chute.

They measured 7.56lbs on the Foothill post office scale:



I've been keeping track of ski flex, supporting the skis at the tip & tail contact points 1" off a tabletop
& stacking weight at midboot till the ski touches the table:



The list looks like this:

Length Ski Pounds to decamber & flex 1":

210 Rossignol Strato 102 (1960's)..….........43.5
190 Atomic Tourcap................................36.0
160 Atomic TM11 rando race skis…..........…35.0
210 Head Deep Powder (1950's).……..........34.5
188 Orange Voile Carbon Surf..…...............34.5
200 Rossignol Haute Route (1970's).…........33.0
207 Dynastar Coupe du Monde GS..…........31.0
188 Stiff Bro Model................................30.0
183 '06 - '07 red Voile Carbon Surf….........30.0
195 K2 Explorer.....................................26.5
185 Trab Freerandos..............................25.5
195 K2 TNC Comp..................................25.5
205 Elan RC Comprex S...........................23.0
183 Orange Voile Carbon Surf...................22.5
190 K2 AK Launcher...............................19.0
175 Voile Mountain Surf..........................19.0
165 Voile Mountain Surf………............…,..…19.0

My 179cm Bros are blems that came w/different camber & flex for each ski:

179 Stiff Left Bro...................................36.0 & 0.75" camber
179 Stiff Right Bro..................................26.0 & 0.50" camber

With a couple weeks of bondage & discipline using one of those stiff old 210cm Strato 102s from my garage:



They are much better now & have stabilized at:

179 Left Bro..........................................27.0 & 0.4" camber
179 Right Bro.........................................26.0 & 0.4" camber

The 179cm Bros have a lot of tip & tail rocker = short contact length. Some numbers:

Length Ski Contact length (from tip to tail contact points):

185 Trab Freerando..........163cm
188 Bros.........................162
183 Voile Carbon Surfs......161
175 Voile Mtn Surfs..........156
165 Voile Mtn Surfs..........149
179 Bros........................147

I'm a 6'3", 200lb, 120+ days/year freeheel bc skier & they may not be long enough to be my
everyday backcountry ride. I need more days on them to tell for sure.

But I do know my daughter can't wait to try them



Maybe with some stickers:



Splat & PM Gear you do great work. Thanks.