The Better Freeride/Comp Ski

[Professor Chaos]

X-posting this from a gear swap question.

Me:186cm, 170 lbs

Skis in question: 194 LP and XXL

Just bought 194 LPs for general big mountain and comps, but am worried about tip dives due to the small tip size and low amount of taper. Plan on mounting them +1 from recomended.

Considering swaping them for XXLs as they are bigger and Ive heard are better in tight spots.

I know there a billion threads about this and Ive read tons of reviews but most are about the 186 which is not what I have. Any thoughts?

Will the tips sink with my size? Will the XXLs better for me? Or will the fact that Im planning on mounting +1 help the manouverability of the LPs in tight spots at fast speeds?

[Altaholic]

X-posting this from a gear swap question.

Me:186cm, 170 lbs

Skis in question: 194 LP and XXL

Just bought 194 LPs for general big mountain and comps, but am worried about tip dives due to the small tip size and low amount of taper. Plan on mounting them +1 from recomended.

Considering swaping them for XXLs as they are bigger and Ive heard are better in tight spots.

I know there a billion threads about this and Ive read tons of reviews but most are about the 186 which is not what I have. Any thoughts?

Will the tips sink with my size? Will the XXLs better for me? Or will the fact that Im planning on mounting +1 help the manouverability of the LPs in tight spots at fast speeds?

I hope this helps,...
I ride 193 Nordica Blowers & Armada ANTs, but all the guys I know who have XXLs, LOVE THEM!!!!

[Bobby686]

I had the XXL's last year as a comp ski, I loved it, except in Jackson during the morning on a sheet of ice. there were a few on the LP's who seemed to like them and did well. This year i'm going with the 192 Bro a little stiffer and wider, and mounted a little more in the center of the ski, a comp weapon in my opinon.

[Professor Chaos]

Thanks for the input. I think I might actually just drop both of them and get the shop to order some new Elan 999s. They took out the twin and just left a semi rise, like the Legends, and they stiffened the crap out of it from previous years 999s. They feel and supposedly are just as stiff as LPs, but with a ever so slightly softer tail and they added a shit-load of tortional stiffness to them. All that, with a 10mm taper, a generous 34+m radius in the 193 length, sounds perfect to me.

[Z]

999s are wayyyyy to soft for comp skiing (still...IMO). Im on XXLs this year and psyched on em. Im 6'4 180lbs and ski black diamonds occasionally.

I skied a few comps last year on 777s and those are a sick ski. Took me a few days to get em under me they have so much energy on hardpack. Check em out if you wanna go skinny.

[Professor Chaos]

Z, have you given the new 999 a shot?

Ive been eyeing a pair of 777s after hearing a lot of good things about them and if one comes along at a good price Ill jump on it.

My other option which Im very strongly debating is getting a pair of either 196 full twin or 190 semi twin Big Mountain Chargers from Capital. Ive been in contact with Funk for a while and he's willing to pull out this older template for me. This ski sounds also perfect, in fact if I were to design a ski this would be nearly exactly what Id get. 107 underfoot, 15mm of taper and 34 radius. A beast of a ski and in a stiff flex would just slay everything.

[Dug]

I suggest an Atomic Metron for avoiding tip dive in the deep pow you frequently find at comps.

[Professor Chaos]

Going with XXL. Quite happy with that. Thanks for help folks.

[Caucasian Asian]

Thanks for the input. I think I might actually just drop both of them and get the shop to order some new Elan 999s. They took out the twin and just left a semi rise, like the Legends, and they stiffened the crap out of it from previous years 999s. They feel and supposedly are just as stiff as LPs, but with a ever so slightly softer tail and they added a shit-load of tortional stiffness to them. All that, with a 10mm taper, a generous 34+m radius in the 193 length, sounds perfect to me.

The new 999 must be a whole lot stiffer than the old ones. I've got a pair of last years 192s and they were a fun pow ski, but they weren't so good in the crud or on hardpack. I'd try 'em out first.

FWIW-I'm replacing my 999s with a pair of 777s.

[JeffreyJim]

There are going to be SOOO many XXLs out there as comp skis. Damn.

[Professor Chaos]

^^^ Well considering I was gonna use ANTs this year but didnt want a full twin, this was a great alternative for something stiffer and in the same size range.

[couloirman]

don't forget about 189 squads, stiffer than, well, nevermind...

[Eds]

don't forget about 189 squads, stiffer than, a priest at a playground (?)....

Maybe that will work.

[Z]

There are going to be SOOO many XXLs out there as comp skis. Damn.

There were last year too. Squads and XXLs.

[Jizzing On Nerdy Grandparents]

^^^ Well considering I was gonna use ANTs this year but didnt want a full twin, this was a great alternative for something stiffer and in the same size range.

Not in the same size range.

[JeffreyJim]

Funny you mention the ANTS, I still am thinking of selling the XXLs for ANTS. It'd make me some money, (ANTS@399 for me right now) be a bit more versatile (yes, I'd ski the ANTs in park and for some BC jumpin'-fun) and easier to ski. Sure, I'd loose some mach looney stability but not sure it would really matter in the end. The XXL is going to be my go-to ski. It'll be my do-everything ski and that scares me.

Anybody know the running length diff in the XXL and ANT? I looked at the flex and they are actually just about as stiff as the XXL.

Oh, i'm 6'2" 200lbs.

[couloirman]

It'd make me some money, (ANTS@399 for me right now)

how would that make you any money? Isnt the maggot price right now around 400 for XXL's considering the number that were on SAC?

[Professor Chaos]

Not in the same size range.

Dimensions, close. Length and running legth, not the same.

Anybody know the running length diff in the XXL and ANT? I looked at the flex and they are actually just about as stiff as the XXL.

Huge. ANTs are a full twin. Probably a good 8cm, maybe...

[FrozenKiwi]

yip that was a good guess, from the ski weight thread ant running length=156, XXl running length=164.5. 'bout 8.5cm difference. The Ants are really short shorter than a 186 LP that has a running length of 158.

[JeffreyJim]

Thanks! Fact is, this will be the longest ski I've ever been on. Guess we'll see what happens.

[FREESKIER_FIVE-0]

I think the ANTs rise to a 6cm heigth over a 15cm length. Its ridiculous. But I think they are the best mach-looney twin out there in their dimension range.

[Z]

Thanks! Fact is, this will be the longest ski I've ever been on. Guess we'll see what happens.

dood. yer psyched. You'll be in jackson and have room to let those xxls run and stomp. no worries.

And either way....Im gonna be skiing a good amount of bumps with xxls, and im not really worried. Sure they'll probably kick my ass a bit early season, but then im gonna on top of them and they're gonna do every fucking thing I tell them too. That's my view atleast. In other words...don't be scared coming into skiing a big ski. Just think how bad yer gonna own it when you get ontop of em.


Also eldude, don't spend too much on comp skis. Cause yer gonna break them. Alot.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Also eldude, don't spend too much on comp skis. Cause yer gonna break them. Alot.

gud advice!!!!

[dfinn]

Anybody know the running length diff in the XXL and ANT? I looked at the flex and they are actually just about as stiff as the XXL.

I was at my buddies house when his XXLs showed up from SAC. They hand flex WAY stiffer than my first gen Ants. I would compare them closer to a 2x4 than the Ants

[Professor Chaos]

Also eldude, don't spend too much on comp skis. Cause yer gonna break them. Alot.

Aware of that. But hoping that if I spend a bit more for a better made ski (XXL or a pair of Capitals) that they will last longer despite the fact that Ill be beating them senseless. Still leaning and have my hands on the XXLs, but still considering getting some Capitals despite the extra $$.