Yet Another B-Squad Thread

**Bandit Man** · 11-08-2006, 06:43 PM

I've been spending the last few evenings pouring over the "wealth of knowledge" on the topic of B-Squad's availble through the magical oracle known as the Search Function. After much education and enlightenment, I'm left with a few questions for those in the collective who have been so fortunate as to have made some turns on the Rossi B-Squad's...so here it goes.

Background - I have a pair of LP's (186) that are great for charging, but leave something to be desired when it gets deep (ie - the like to submarine).

I've been thinking about some 184 B-Sqaud's as an enhancement to the quiver and possible replacement to the LP's, yet I have gleaned little from my friend the Search Function about their deep snow/pow performance. Being in the PNW these days I'm after a stick that will handle the freshies (albeit heavy) in the morning and rip the muck after lunch. Are the Squad's my ticket or are they going to dive in the deep stuff like the LP's?

Also, I appreciate input from anyone who has skied the 184's, as I'm a Nancy Boy and likely won't gofor anything longer.

Thanks!

**pechelman** · 11-08-2006, 06:50 PM

if you want a powder ski, buy a freaking powder ski
ARG, EHP, Spat, DP120/138, Praxis, Pow+, Axiom, Iggy FFF, Cap, you get the idea

**roorfan** · 11-08-2006, 10:30 PM

nah i like the idea of the b-squads. i have also been thinking of buying some myself. 184s would be more versatile too...ski bumps even? well-maybe only if u had to, but at least it's an option. i personally think if you want a ski to float more than the LPs, you will want a longer ski than a 184- regardless of its width
i'd go one size up...they wont be as stiff as the LPs i dont think (correct me if i'm wrong here, but i am pretty confident that's the case) so u can get away with a longer ski if you're used to the LPs.

**dk_alaskan** · 11-08-2006, 10:37 PM

step up to the 189 and you have an all around, albight heavy ripper. it can rip anything from cruds to bumps to powder. But it is a stick that you had BETTER demo before you buy, not for the faint of heart. I haven't skied the 184, but i have the 189 and have been told they are 2 different beasts. For that big of a ski, the squads in 189 are an easy skiing ski (they do what you want with minimal input).

**FreakofSnow** · 11-08-2006, 11:07 PM

I had the chance to demo a pair of 189s last year. It was crud, clumpy day, but soft stuff. Some patches of fresh, maybe 5 inches. Those skis are amazingly fast and fast. They will take crap from nothing, they simply bust everything in sight up. So i can't say how they will do float wise, but they will go mach looney. As for small turns ie. in the trees, better bring your tree trunk quads cuz you're going to need them.

**Jim S** · 11-09-2006, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by roorfan

i personally think if you want a ski to float more than the LPs, you will want a longer ski than a 184- regardless of its width

I disagree. I have the 179 Seth Vicious and the 184 LP and the SV smokes the LP in powder. (My go to skis are the 184 LP and the 189 SV. Yes I have both lengths of the SV. No typo.)

I know a few other LP owners that love the LP (as do I) but agree they aren't the greatest floaters. You could try mounting back 1cm but otherwise I'd add to the quiver.

Yes, hard to imagine me saying "add to the quiver".

**Professor** · 11-09-2006, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by roorfan

i'd go one size up...they wont be as stiff as the LPs i dont think (correct me if i'm wrong here, but i am pretty confident that's the case) so u can get away with a longer ski if you're used to the LPs.

I am correcting you because, you are dead wrong.....

Having skied the 194 LPs and my 194 Squads back to back. The Squads are MUCH more ski and WAY stiffer. The 194 LP felt soft and easy to toss around compared to the Squad. But due to the stiffness of the Squads, I dont think they are the greatest deep day ski. The 196 Squad Proto I have is a much better ski when it is deep, just because it is softer. The production Squads rule when it is cut up or smooth and dense. But for super light and deep snow they arent the best option.

**kidwoo** · 11-09-2006, 11:35 AM

Professor.........what's another name for pirate treasure?

Prof's right. LPs are nowhere near as stiff as squads. For some reason LPs have a rep for being much stiffer than they are. They're stiffish but squads are pretty much lumber with a sidecut.

**Professor** · 11-09-2006, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

Professor.........what's another name for pirate treasure?

Bounty. Why do you ask?

**dfinn** · 11-09-2006, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Professor

Bounty. Why do you ask?

The correct answer is BOOTY!

**Skip Dooley** · 11-09-2006, 11:58 AM

the solution is simple.
Get the new dynosaur xxl's

**kidwoo** · 11-09-2006, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Professor

Bounty. Why do you ask?

I think it's booty.

That's what it is!

**Professor** · 11-09-2006, 12:43 PM

"Booty" definitely works. But remind me again why we care?

**kidwoo** · 11-09-2006, 12:47 PM

B-boys song

If you don't know it, file under "not funny woo.....stfu now"

Just always wanted to do that in a thread you were posting in. Thanks to the mighty b squad, I got that chance.

You can't post for a while BTW. You're at 666. I bring out the beast.

**Professor** · 11-09-2006, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

You can't post for a while BTW. You're at 666. I bring out the beast.

Why didnt you point that out before I posted again

BTW I liked it better when my counter was "stuck" at 617. It was like that for about a year

**H-wood** · 11-09-2006, 02:23 PM

The LP's are probably submarining because the factory mid-mark is way forward on those skis. Before dropping a bunch of cash on a new ski, I highly recommend re-mounting 2.5 cm's back- you will notice a huge difference in float.

**kidwoo** · 11-09-2006, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by H-wood

The LP's are probably submarining because the factory mid-mark is way forward on those skis. Before dropping a bunch of cash on a new ski, I highly recommend re-mounting 2.5 cm's back- you will notice a huge difference in float.

So on my 186s that would put the sole at 770. 06 model, line is 795, I just checked.

That seems a little much.

**H-wood** · 11-09-2006, 04:37 PM

Haven't thrown a tape on the ski- just skied 'em. I think this has already probably been discussed a bunch on here- not sure what the consensus was...

I'm sure that the ideal mid-mark is different for everyone, depending on weight, height, posture, boot sole, etc.

That said, I had a chance to ski on some 186 LP's w/ demo binders on a pow day, and they felt very wrong on the line, but were great when I moved the binder 2+cm's back- much more float. Other shop employees where I work also noticed this with several Dynastar and Salomon models.
I guess my thought was that if the original poster was having problems with the ski seeking bottom (which shouldn't be a problem on a ski like that), re-mounting could be a potential solution, and just going back 1-1.5 might not be enough.

**Bandit Man** · 11-09-2006, 11:47 PM

H-wood and others -

I have thought about a re-mount a bit farther back, but have noticed that others commented about LP's in the 186 having a tendency to dive. That's why I asked the original question about the Squads and pow performance. It was probably a stretch to think they would be any better in the pow, since they are so stiff.

Anyhow good information so far. I should probably wait and demo, although the nicely priced pairs taht have been showing up on eBay are pretty tempting...

**dk_alaskan** · 11-09-2006, 11:50 PM

they are good in pow. been in waste deep pow (6'3), if you can ski a big burly ski, you will like them, not a super fat floater ski, but a damned good all around ski

**Particle** · 11-10-2006, 10:42 AM

Prof and woo are spot on, as usual.

As for the original question - I've skied the 186 LPs and also felt they dive a lot. In my opinion, although the Squads aren't leagues better, they do have that long shark nose and it really does work. Still not a floater like a Big Daddy or something, but they do stay on top much better than any other ski of that stiffness genre I've tried (LP's, Iggies, etc.).

**kidwoo** · 11-10-2006, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Particle

Prof and woo are spot on, as usual.

I told you it was booty.

So out of curiosity, you know where your squads are mounted....measurement from tail? As stiff as those things are, if you can get those to float, it shouldn't be that hard to do the same with some lps at a comparable weight point. The lps have a kind of wide, flattish tip so the fact that you guys are saying the squads float better seems a little odd. Could just be the extra width though eh?