The Official Great Pacific Octopus Thread

[superdigg]

Has anybody ordered the GPO in a medium flex? Wouldn't that make it more Automatic'ally and playful?

[neck beard]

Just jam your feet in a smaller pair of boots. It will be worth it!

I found a shorter BSL and am in the game!

[undertow2]

Unless I missed it... What is your mount point for the MVPs?

I mounted on the line and to me it is money... It is perfectly balanced and am glad I listened to Keith about the mount point... I spent more time on the ski last night and if the GPO lives up to all the hype than I am certain the MVP and GPO will be a killer 2 ski quiver... Some major thinning could occur...

I should add that I am 6'4" and 207 lbs...

[Shu Shu]

Has anybody ordered the GPO in a medium flex? Wouldn't that make it more Automatic'ally and playful?

Not sure how playful the automatic is cause I've never skied it. MY GPOs are medium+ flex. Solid feeling with nice pop, but not what would i call a stiff ski. However playful is not a word I would use to describe the GPO. Its super easy to ski and incredibly maneuverable but is very directional and want's to go fast down the fall line. I don't get the impression that softening the flex will change that, I thinks it more a geometry question.

[SupreChicken]

^^^^^

Agree. Mine are medium stiff carbon. I am considering a stiff fiberglass mounted at -1 for inbounds and turning my current pair into a touring rig.

[AyasFreeski]

^^

Don't agree. I mounted mine at -1, not listening to the advice of the, ahem, ski maker, and I find the ski to be 'off balance', in the sense that this mounting point is LIMITING the ski and forcing it to be directional and driver.

After a few days of really relaxed and playful testing, in various snow conditions and a lot of piste skiing, I can literally feel that a forward mount, that is, ON THE DAMN DOT, is the way to mount this ski. As I have them, -1, I feel the tips AND tails are catching too much on the snow, giving me a feeling of 'directional' and 'driver', especially in switch and when I am ripping hard down steep crud, or groomers. After a sunset descent down a closed piste (and after a good cigarette, this is really the way to get to know your skis), I am convinced that this is a super playful ski, even at low speeds, and on hard snow.

As far as GPO and MVP quiver goes, that sounds pathetically weak! I can only recommend you get a pair of Protests. Protest is the ultimate powder tool… although next year I'll get some powboards when they go on sale, so maybe its a bit naive to say 'ultimate'...

For he who doesn't have a Protest, you might consider mounting the GPO behind the line, for powder purposes. But I am convinced that this is a LIMITATION on the GPO, and probably won't even help the ski in deeper snow. And if you like to ski in deep fluff, get a damn pair of Protests!

Moral of this story: don't drill twice like your old friend Ayas, listen to Kieth and not JONGer September/October TGR reviewers!

[adrenalated]

^^

Don't agree. I mounted mine at -1, not listening to the advice of the, ahem, ski maker, and I find the ski to be 'off balance', in the sense that this mounting point is LIMITING the ski and forcing it to be directional and driver.

After a few days of really relaxed and playful testing, in various snow conditions and a lot of piste skiing, I can literally feel that a forward mount, that is, ON THE DAMN DOT, is the way to mount this ski. As I have them, -1, I feel the tips AND tails are catching too much on the snow, giving me a feeling of 'directional' and 'driver', especially in switch and when I am ripping hard down steep crud, or groomers. After a sunset descent down a closed piste (and after a good cigarette, this is really the way to get to know your skis), I am convinced that this is a super playful ski, even at low speeds, and on hard snow.

As far as GPO and MVP quiver goes, that sounds pathetically weak! I can only recommend you get a pair of Protests. Protest is the ultimate powder tool… although next year I'll get some powboards when they go on sale, so maybe its a bit naive to say 'ultimate'...

For he who doesn't have a Protest, you might consider mounting the GPO behind the line, for powder purposes. But I am convinced that this is a LIMITATION on the GPO, and probably won't even help the ski in deeper snow. And if you like to ski in deep fluff, get a damn pair of Protests!

Moral of this story: don't drill twice like your old friend Ayas, listen to Kieth and not JONGer September/October TGR reviewers!

Meh. Preferences I guess. I mounted at -2cm. Very glad I did. No way would I be happy with the ski mounted on the dimple.

First off, I don't ski switch. Ever. So Ayas and I may have different definitions of what "playful" means. To me, a "playful" ski is one that will pop, pivot, turn, and slarve effortlessly. Playful skis generally want to be skied with an upright, centered stance. A "driver" or charger ski is one that wants to rally directly down the fall line all the time, is damp and stable, and needs speed. These skis generally want to be skied with a forward stance with heavy tip pressure.

In my mind, the GPO is designed to be a compromise ski between these two mutually exclusive styles. A ski that is capable of fall line charging, yet can pivot, slarve, and smear when desired. There are many skis that do either end of the spectrum much better.

I think the GPO, mounted on the line, probably falls a bit towards the playful end of the spectrum (by my definition) more than the charger, compared to other skis that I'd consider part of this category (Automatic, Billy Goat, Squad 7, Bibby Pro, etc.). It's definitely closer to the Automatic than to the Billy Goat. I mounted mine at -2 because I dislike skis that are too pivoty and playful and wanted a bit more of a charger feel. The overall shape still provides plenty of playfulness, and the -2 mount is still fairly centered compared to most true "charger" skis (Wrenegade, RC112, Dictator, Seeker, etc.).

Ayas, did you detune your GPOs? I find all of Keith's skis, including the GPO, to be ridiculously sharp when they come out of the plastic. The stock tune is (I believe) 1/1; I've learned to always retune at 2/1 and very aggressively (like multiple passes with a file at a 45 degree angle) detune the tapered parts of the ski. Every time I don't do this or don't detune enough (as I did the first day on my GPOs) the tips and tails engage way too hard. If you haven't detuned, this is more likely your problem with the ski, not the mount point.

[AyasFreeski]

^^

Good stuff there. I've not skied any of the otter skis you mentioned. But having bought the Freeride and Protest (and Protest 163 fer me lady) last year, I know all about the razors that come in long boxes from Praxisland.

But yeah, did hit the tips and tails with the whetstone, but not nearly with any kind of ratio precision. Just enough to keep my fingers from bleeding. I usually let nature take care of those kinds of precision adjustments.

But honestly, I don't think that is really the problem I was having with the ski. I would describe myself and my style as both directional and charger. Last year I skied 130 days, only using the bottom section of the lowest piste twice a day for the sole purpose of getting back to the village (and getting the lift back up). So, to stoke myself, if the terrain ain't life-threateningly gnarly, I charge hard, brah.

Which is why I chime into this discussion with the observation that my (limited) days on the GPO surprised me. I was trying to charge the shit out of the ski, and even skiing in waaay shittier snow than I normally would for testing purposes, when I realized that the ski was perhaps designed to be a bit more 'easy' than I was perceiving it to be. That's when I started to play around a bit and really try to feel the ski and how it wanted to run. Which is why I am suggesting that others think long and hard before NOT mounting on the line.

FWIW, I haven't brought the bindings forward yet. I was going to do it when I get back up into the mountains next week. I'll give it a few more days in the position I'm in, but I'm almost one hundred percent certain that on the line is the right thing (for me) to do. I doubt I'll sacrifice any charging potential, and I'm sure I'll gain some really heady maneuverability.

As adrenalated mentioned above, the GPO is closer to the Automatic than to the Billy Goat. Those are skis I know only through research and TGR wisdom (and ski porno). He wanted a charger feel. I definitely got a charger feel at -1, but I also got the feeling that if I moved up the binding, the ski would become something else, a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force.

And I agree that there are skis that are designed to do one end of the spectrum or the other, and do their end better than the GPO. But the GPO ain't about one thing or another. It's about all things, freeriding, at a competition level. And anyways, I don't agree that those styles you were talking about have to be 'mutually exclusive' (as if Sage doesn't charge!). Adrenelated, have you tried mounting on the dot?

[neck beard]

AyasFreeski: I like your turn of phrase and expression. Keep the styled opinions rolling.

I lined up the tails of some 182 GPOs mounted on the dimple next to my 184 Wailer RPs

I was surprised to see that the GPOs, despite being 3cm shorter, have a mount about 3cm ahead of the Wailers.

[hoarhey]

neckbeard: I found the same thing with respect to my S7's back in the day, and concur with your 182 GPO vs 184 wailer112rp comment. DPS wailer mount point is relatively back compared to Praxis (and other skis).

[JJChit]

Ayas, you talked about how they are similar to the automatics. I picked up a pair of the 192 gpo stiffs...but HATED the automatics. They couldn't charge in crud at all. Hope this isn't the case with the gpo's.....

[adrenalated]

Right on, Ayas. Those are all good points and make a lot of sense.

I guess I agree that to ski the ski optimally, as designed, you'd mount on the dimple. I just feel that mounting 1 or 2cm back, while changing the character of the ski somewhat, doesn't make the ski "unbalanced." I still find that it serves it's intended purpose well, though perhaps shifting it's character a bit on the spectrum.

So if I wanted to change the character of the ski by changing the mount, why not buy a different ski? Easy - Praxis durability, generally lighter than other comparable skis, custom options, and price/value.

To clarify - when I said that charging and playful were mutually exclusive, I meant that the ski design elements that create each category of ski are generally opposites. Playful = softer, more rocker, more sidecut, more taper, etc; charger = stiffer, straighter, longer, etc. The skier's style can most definitely blend the two elements together, which is of course why skis like the GPO exist

I have not mounted on the line, and won't because for me, how I ski, and what I want the ski to do, -2cm is perfect. It seems that the consensus here is that anything from 0 to -2cm skis great, depending on how exactly you want the ski to feel.

[Shu Shu]

Yeah my mount is at the dimple as well. And yeah charging to playful is a pretty subjective spectrum. For me, my experience is

Garbones--------------GPO------------------Concept


"a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force"

Ayas-that's some really nice writing

I agree the GPO is pretty incredible in that it does not require speed to be nimble, slarvy and quick. Its just I felt when I was taking it easy, making turns at slower speeds, the ski was just there. Doing anything I asked no doubt, but it was almost like they were looking up at me like 'um...yeah...you see the bottom of the mountain? Go there now, fast" Then they would really come alive and give you goose bumps. Lightning quick, and giving you confidence to just point it, knowing that nearly instant direction changes are possible. Where the Garbones crushed terrain, the GPOs seem almost to meld into it...fucking cool.

The Concept is for me is a more magical unicorn. "You want me to lay some trenches in some EC boilerplate? yeah sure no problem" "You want to ski sideways through this patch of pow? Done". "bushwacking mission? count me in" So for me a 'playful' ski. By no means would I say the GPO is limited to charging, I just feel like it definitely wants to get down to it's business of eating up vertical, and skiing fast. All in all really complementary skis that can much pretty do everything, but coming from different ends of the spectrum.

JJChit-yesterday I skied chopped up leftover refrozen crud piles on top of a pure ice base, as fast as I could. Humbling conditions to say the least, and the skis were by no means the limiting factor (187 medium+ carbon).

[undertow2]

^^

Good stuff there. I've not skied any of the otter skis you mentioned. But having bought the Freeride and Protest (and Protest 163 fer me lady) last year, I know all about the razors that come in long boxes from Praxisland.

But yeah, did hit the tips and tails with the whetstone, but not nearly with any kind of ratio precision. Just enough to keep my fingers from bleeding. I usually let nature take care of those kinds of precision adjustments.

But honestly, I don't think that is really the problem I was having with the ski. I would describe myself and my style as both directional and charger. Last year I skied 130 days, only using the bottom section of the lowest piste twice a day for the sole purpose of getting back to the village (and getting the lift back up). So, to stoke myself, if the terrain ain't life-threateningly gnarly, I charge hard, brah.

Which is why I chime into this discussion with the observation that my (limited) days on the GPO surprised me. I was trying to charge the shit out of the ski, and even skiing in waaay shittier snow than I normally would for testing purposes, when I realized that the ski was perhaps designed to be a bit more 'easy' than I was perceiving it to be. That's when I started to play around a bit and really try to feel the ski and how it wanted to run. Which is why I am suggesting that others think long and hard before NOT mounting on the line.

FWIW, I haven't brought the bindings forward yet. I was going to do it when I get back up into the mountains next week. I'll give it a few more days in the position I'm in, but I'm almost one hundred percent certain that on the line is the right thing (for me) to do. I doubt I'll sacrifice any charging potential, and I'm sure I'll gain some really heady maneuverability.

As adrenalated mentioned above, the GPO is closer to the Automatic than to the Billy Goat. Those are skis I know only through research and TGR wisdom (and ski porno). He wanted a charger feel. I definitely got a charger feel at -1, but I also got the feeling that if I moved up the binding, the ski would become something else, a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force.

And I agree that there are skis that are designed to do one end of the spectrum or the other, and do their end better than the GPO. But the GPO ain't about one thing or another. It's about all things, freeriding, at a competition level. And anyways, I don't agree that those styles you were talking about have to be 'mutually exclusive' (as if Sage doesn't charge!). Adrenelated, have you tried mounting on the dot?

There is no doubt that a pair of 196 Protests will be in my quiver... The GPO and MVP are perfect for where I ski and the places I travel to, but have been lusting for the Protest... Especially after reading Blisters review...

And my 192 GPOs were mounted on the line as Keith was pretty insistent mounting on the dimple when I exchanged emails... His response was shorter, but what you wrote matched his reason for the mount point and the design...

[Dry]

I definitely got a charger feel at -1, but I also got the feeling that if I moved up the binding, the ski would become something else, a magical unicorn, a playful charger, a super sentient tentacled being capable of pulling itself through tiny holes while clamping down strangleholds with 10,000 Newtons of brute force.

Nice writing indeed. But with all due respect not sure what you are smoking brah I want some of that chit! Moving a mount 1mm one way or another aint going to change how a ski, skis very much. It certainly aint going to change the charater fo the ski for you. I own two pair of GPOs. One mounted on the line..one mounted at -2.5cm after much consideration for both. I am still waiting for more snow to take them out here. May be tomorrow. I'll eventually offer my impression of both mounts.

[concretejungle]

Has anybody ordered the GPO in a medium flex? Wouldn't that make it more Automatic'ally and playful?

This is all based on what I've seen from the misses medium flex and hand flexing it. I could ski it but me on a 182 would do a disservice to the ski. I hand flexed the automatic sitting around waiting for her to buy boots and since I don't give a shit about A tomic (fucking linking) it was a pretty weak attempt to waste time but I'd say the GPO is stiffer but not by much. The build quality with regards to the ski feeling solid was much better on the Praxis. The misses seems to like it and doesn't find it too hard to ski and had none of the hooky bullshit that I had with my MVP's last year.

We ski at Bridger so a lot of must turn here and not a lot of open it up and go fast but I'm not sure that she couldn't do that. If you want we'll be up at BS which is totally different terrain and I'll let you know. I can go flex an automatic sometime soon and actually pay attention.

[RobertRS]

I got a chance to take out my 192 GPO med/stiff today at Sierra at Tahoe, we had a very cold storm that started Friday night and ended Saturday night. Very cold as in 3 degrees at 8 am Saturday (skied my Protest) and Sunday am at Sugar Bowl. So the snow was four days old but still soft in places. I was really surprised how easily they turn in softish moguls and tracked powder. I ski with shin pressure and the GPO's seemed to pivot with the tails sliding around the bumps. Keith and I exchanged six or so emails about mounting points, he started at 2-3 cm behind the dimple but as we emailed it finally became the dimple. They work great for me there. I generally like skis with shorter turning radius but they were a bunch of fun and can rail turns. I also own 200 Powder Boards mounted first on the dimple then moved forward 2.5 cm. My 196 Protest are mounted at Drew's spot 104.5 cm from the tip. My 187 Concept is mounted back 1 cm due to my BSL of 345, that was Keith's suggestion.

My point is so far only my Ullr's and GPO are on the mark, all others are somewhere else.

My plan for the GPO was a day or two after a storm but now I think they will get more use, a really fun ski that has broad use not as narrow as I thought.

As Marshall pointed out, the midsole of the boot should be in the middle of the sidecut, not the middle of overall ski length

[racesla]

After three day's at Big Sky I'm of the Ayas frame of mind. I'll be heading to Lost Trail for powder Thursday we'll see how that influences my opinion.

[sf]

^^

Don't agree. I mounted mine at -1, not listening to the advice of the, ahem, ski maker, and I find the ski to be 'off balance', in the sense that this mounting point is LIMITING the ski and forcing it to be directional and driver.

After a few days of really relaxed and playful testing, in various snow conditions and a lot of piste skiing, I can literally feel that a forward mount, that is, ON THE DAMN DOT, is the way to mount this ski. As I have them, -1, I feel the tips AND tails are catching too much on the snow, giving me a feeling of 'directional' and 'driver', especially in switch and when I am ripping hard down steep crud, or groomers. After a sunset descent down a closed piste (and after a good cigarette, this is really the way to get to know your skis), I am convinced that this is a super playful ski, even at low speeds, and on hard snow.

As far as GPO and MVP quiver goes, that sounds pathetically weak! I can only recommend you get a pair of Protests. Protest is the ultimate powder tool… although next year I'll get some powboards when they go on sale, so maybe its a bit naive to say 'ultimate'...

For he who doesn't have a Protest, you might consider mounting the GPO behind the line, for powder purposes. But I am convinced that this is a LIMITATION on the GPO, and probably won't even help the ski in deeper snow. And if you like to ski in deep fluff, get a damn pair of Protests!

Moral of this story: don't drill twice like your old friend Ayas, listen to Kieth and not JONGer September/October TGR reviewers!

What's your height and weight? Your ski length, lay-up and flex? BSL?

[neck beard]

Just so I could identify with all you... Cable Monkey Gapers... I went and rode the lift all afternoon and tested out the GPO with plenty of repetition (182, medium, carbon, slightly detuned, Radicals, dimple, orange Maestrales).

After the first 10 days of this season on PowBoards and Protests my first thought was "feels like I'm back on my Wailer 112s".

They felt like neutral skis that rode easy and well across everything I skied.

I wasn't going to pay for a ticket at a hill down valley with some stepper terrain, so I went to the local lame-hill and rode boring short runs off the gondola 4 minutes from my house. So my test terrain didn't really test the ski like it probably deserves...

Knee deep 6-12 hour old 7% rimed powder in 25 degree tightish trees: nimble, some tip dive but that means nothing to me, I don't care. Felt great but perhaps I'd like a little longer. Generally I'd ride my 185 112RPs in this situation over the GPO. But the 112 is the perfect ski for that easy tree dancing stuff.

Totally chopped powder and very soft bumps: fun! I like skiing heavily tracked pow, never get the chance usually. The skiing was fast and nimble and pretty stable. Getting small airs off chop, lifting off a few rollers, solid touchdowns. Good light fun, but then I didn't have my heavy pack on at all, so I felt pretty free as it was.

Soft groomers: carves just fine, though not as tight and railed at the RP112, which is not a complaint. I'd really like to ski them on a long steeper groomer to look for some tip chatter. It was hard to get speed, so all I can really say is they turn easy on low angle.

I'd say the 182 medium GPO is a pretty different ski to a stiffer longer GPO.

Based on today, if I was forced to own only one ski for the next 6 months of backcountry touring at all elevations, I'd be happy with a GPO. Though the real test is on funky windboard.

[superdigg]

Just so I could identify with all you... Cable Monkey Gapers... I went and rode the lift all afternoon and tested out the GPO with plenty of repetition (182, medium, carbon, slightly detuned, Radicals, dimple, orange Maestrales).

After the first 10 days of this season on PowBoards and Protests my first thought was "feels like I'm back on my Wailer 112s".

They felt like neutral skis that rode easy and well across everything I skied.

I wasn't going to pay for a ticket at a hill down valley with some stepper terrain, so I went to the local lame-hill and rode boring short runs off the gondola 4 minutes from my house. So my test terrain didn't really test the ski like it probably deserves...

Knee deep 6-12 hour old 7% rimed powder in 25 degree tightish trees: nimble, some tip dive but that means nothing to me, I don't care. Felt great but perhaps I'd like a little longer. Generally I'd ride my 185 112RPs in this situation over the GPO. But the 112 is the perfect ski for that easy tree dancing stuff.

Totally chopped powder and very soft bumps: fun! I like skiing heavily tracked pow, never get the chance usually. The skiing was fast and nimble and pretty stable. Getting small airs off chop, lifting off a few rollers, solid touchdowns. Good light fun, but then I didn't have my heavy pack on at all, so I felt pretty free as it was.

Soft groomers: carves just fine, though not as tight and railed at the RP112, which is not a complaint. I'd really like to ski them on a long steeper groomer to look for some tip chatter. It was hard to get speed, so all I can really say is they turn easy on low angle.

I'd say the 182 medium GPO is a pretty different ski to a stiffer longer GPO.

Based on today, if I was forced to own only one ski for the next 6 months of backcountry touring at all elevations, I'd be happy with a GPO. Though the real test is on funky windboard.

That is the ski I was thinking about - not sure about 182 vs 187 though. Good to hear your experiences, they more or less confirm what I hoped for Weight/height BTW?

[neck beard]

I'm like a bird. 172cm x 65kg

Don't forget I just skied the mellows. I really did not feel the ski roar on what I skied. I need to give it more.

182 is fine for me, but I want more ski in front of my boot. Perhaps thats just emotional rubbish. I guess a 185 mounted dimple would give me what I think I'd prefer??? f'd if I really know

[Vt-Freeheel]

Free shipping, even global, ends today Friday the 13th, 10% off with code "Praxis".

[Bird Blaster]

got out on my 192 Carbons again today 6" fresh...oh GPOs are sweet.


Still thinking of mounting the second pair at -2.5 or -3cm (currently at -2). Anybody got them at this point --> thoughts?

[Banquo]

Received my 187 med/stiff carbon GPO's yesterday and they are beautiful! I'm already considering a pair of 192s in fiberglass for inbounds. The dot lines up perfectly with my 185 Nordica Unleashed Hells (love the UH's but too soft for me) so I think I'm going to mount on the dot and adjust if necessary. Anyone else surprised by how little camber the GPO's have?