The Official Great Pacific Octopus Thread

[steveski]

Nothing but more praise and love for my GPOs. Deep tree skiing this weekend at Mt Bachelor is a joy on these things!

[Dkla52]

Which ski is stiffer , 190 Bibby or 187 GPO (medium-stiff flex)?

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[shroom]

^bibby, by hand flex anyway.

[greasyslope]

I can only compare the Bibby to a 192 GPO, but IMO, the GPO skis stiffer. I have a fiberglass med stiff, mounted at -1. My Bibby's are old, and fairly played out, so, perhaps that makes a difference? I do not disagree with the hand flex, but skiing wise, I would say the GPO skis a good little bit stiffer.

They are surprisingly different skis. In a nutshell, the Bibby is a playful ski that does a pretty good job of charging, and the GPO is a charger ski that does a pretty good job of playing.

[TransplantedFromRMNP]

Picked up a pair of 187 med/stiffs fiberglass. Wondering where to mount these tele? Thinking on the divot or -.5cm back. I am putting in inserts to ski them both alpine & free heel. Appreciate any feedback (flame away).

[steveski]

Picked up a pair of 187 med/stiffs fiberglass. Wondering where to mount these tele? Thinking on the divot or -.5cm back. I am putting in inserts to ski them both alpine & free heel. Appreciate any feedback (flame away).

I can't speak for tele, but I mounted my 187 carbons on the line with inserts for alpine and have been very happy with them there. Definitely a forward, progressive style mount but I feel like Keith really knows exactly why he put it there. If you have very specific reasons or preferences to move the mount point fine, otherwise on the dimple is what I recommend.

[Wetdog]

Hey Wetdog do you have any time on your Ullr's yet? Love to hear a new report on that ski. Not much posted info on it.

I finally got on the Ullrs the other day. It was a Whistler powder day at last. In fact, it just keeps on snowing and after the Dec Jan drought it is welcome. I thought I would post here in response to racesla's query. They are essentially a wider GPO so appropriate. The day I took them out, I thought there would be more snow and the alpine didn't open so the mid mountain got skied out quickly and the snow had a bottom, but I did the fresh tracks breakfast and got them into some nice uncut snow before the hoards hit the slopes. They were definitely overkill for the conditions, but I really liked them. They definitely float easily with a 123mm waist! Like the GPO, they are not a slarvy ski like the Nordica Helldorado, the DPS Wailer 112 or Praxis Powder which I also own. They have a more locked in feel to turns which I like, though they can be made to slarve by breaking the tail loose, but you have to want to. Mine are the medium flex with carbon layup and I found the flex forgiving for the soft, but plenty stiff enough even when skiing in cut up turning to crud. My Concepts are a medium stiff and I really like them, but use them for more all mountain skiing and as the Ullrs are more of a powder ski I figured that a medium flex would be more appropriate and Keith agreed. So far, I am really happy with that flex.

What really surprised me was how well behaved they were on groomers which were mostly soft packed, but even in sections where ice was to be found they held an edge well. The tune was perfect, I felt no need to detune anywhere, no catchiness at all. The only downside to skiing groomers with these, which I had to at the end of the day to get off the mountain, was that it takes some energy to keep such a wide ski on edge for an extended time, but it sure didn't feel like I was skiing 123mm waist either. I've skied some wide skis that keep reminding me they are wide. The relatively light weight and profile of these skis made them feel more nimble.

Keith had suggested a mount of -2 for me. Mine are mounted with Schizos so the 0 or neutral point is 2cm behind the dimple which is where I started skiing them. In the soft this felt really good, but as the snow got skied out, I tried moving the mount forward, as I could feel just a little wildness in the tips skiing through manky snow and bumps at times. At -1 from the dimple this helped and later for my decent from the mountain I went to the dimple mark and found they skied harder surfaces slightly better there. I was able to find some fresh snow off to the sides in places and they skied well at the dimple. I will have to play around with mount points a bit more to be sure, but like the reports on the GPO, the Ullr seems to have a very big sweet spot. Moving the mount 2cms made only a subtle but noticeable difference, improving groomer performance slightly. I feel I liked the -2 in the fresh a bit better, but I really didn't have enough time on them to make a definitive evaluation. I wish I had them yesterday for a 20cm day at Whistler, but that is the downside of having to choose from a quiver. More to come.

[racesla]

Thanks for the review Wetdog. Can't remember if your Ullrs are the 185s, or 194s? I found the exact same behavior with my GPOs, as far as the mount goes. Also have schizos.

I finally got on the Ullrs the other day. It was a Whistler powder day at last. In fact, it just keeps on snowing and after the Dec Jan drought it is welcome. I thought I would post here in response to racesla's query. They are essentially a wider GPO so appropriate. The day I took them out, I thought there would be more snow and the alpine didn't open so the mid mountain got skied out quickly and the snow had a bottom, but I did the fresh tracks breakfast and got them into some nice uncut snow before the hoards hit the slopes. They were definitely overkill for the conditions, but I really liked them. They definitely float easily with a 123mm waist! Like the GPO, they are not a slarvy ski like the Nordica Helldorado, the DPS Wailer 112 or Praxis Powder which I also own. They have a more locked in feel to turns which I like, though they can be made to slarve by breaking the tail loose, but you have to want to. Mine are the medium flex with carbon layup and I found the flex forgiving for the soft, but plenty stiff enough even when skiing in cut up turning to crud. My Concepts are a medium stiff and I really like them, but use them for more all mountain skiing and as the Ullrs are more of a powder ski I figured that a medium flex would be more appropriate and Keith agreed. So far, I am really happy with that flex.

What really surprised me was how well behaved they were on groomers which were mostly soft packed, but even in sections where ice was to be found they held an edge well. The tune was perfect, I felt no need to detune anywhere, no catchiness at all. The only downside to skiing groomers with these, which I had to at the end of the day to get off the mountain, was that it takes some energy to keep such a wide ski on edge for an extended time, but it sure didn't feel like I was skiing 123mm waist either. I've skied some wide skis that keep reminding me they are wide. The relatively light weight and profile of these skis made them feel more nimble.

Keith had suggested a mount of -2 for me. Mine are mounted with Schizos so the 0 or neutral point is 2cm behind the dimple which is where I started skiing them. In the soft this felt really good, but as the snow got skied out, I tried moving the mount forward, as I could feel just a little wildness in the tips skiing through manly snow and bumps at times. At -1 from the dimple this helped and later for my decent from the mountain I went to the dimple mark and found they skied harder surfaces slightly better there. I was able to find some fresh snow off to the sides in places and they skied well at the dimple. I will have to play around with mount points a bit more to be sure, but like the reports on the GPO, the Ullr seems to have a very big sweet spot. Moving the mount 2cms made only a subtle but noticeable difference, improving groomer performance slightly. I feel I liked the -2 in the fresh a bit better, but I really didn't have enough time on them to make a definitive evaluation. I wish I had them yesterday for a 20cm day at Whistler, but that is the downside of having to choose from a quiver. More to come.

[ysammy]

Just picked up a 182cm GPO with the new UL core. Weighs in right at 8.0 lbs for the pair. Going to mount with Dynafits as a BC setup.

Can anyone describe the "progressive, forward" feeling of mounting on the dimple? I lean towards mounting on the recommended line, but some of the chatter in this thread makes it sound like -1cm might not hurt.

I don't know of any good shift plate solutions for Radicals, but please enlighten me if they exist.

[ysammy]

I can't speak for tele, but I mounted my 187 carbons on the line with inserts for alpine and have been very happy with them there. Definitely a forward, progressive style mount but I feel like Keith really knows exactly why he put it there. If you have very specific reasons or preferences to move the mount point fine, otherwise on the dimple is what I recommend.

Can you describe what you mean by "forward, progressive style mount"?

[steveski]

Can you describe what you mean by "forward, progressive style mount"?

Because of the design, the mount point is farther forward on the ski than that of a "traditional" ski. When placing a binding on the recommended line of the GPO it seems like there is a lot of tail, and that the mount point is too far forward. I listened to a lot of opinions, talked to Keith at Praxis, and decided to trust the recommended line. I am glad I did. The ski feels dialed in there for me. -1 or -2 could be good for primarily deep snow. I have skied mine in 18+ inches of light snow though and haven't felt or noticed tip dive. In the air the ski feels really well balanced and really stomps landings. The versatility of turn shapes and quickness the ski exhibits with the recommended mount makes me wonder if moving it back (or forward) would change the way it skis. That's a very personal decision for everyone. I think Keith dialed in the best "do all well" mount spot and recommends it for that reason.

[Dry]

I listened to a lot of opinions, talked to Keith at Praxis, and decided to trust the recommended line. I am glad I did. The ski feels dialed in there for me.

Me as well. I bought two pair to test my own theories on mounting a "modern ski" design. Hard pack or waist deep the suggested dimple mark on the GPO makes the ski more fun for me. Great ski design imo. More fun than the Protest in the 11+ feet of new snow we got recently.

[JJChit]

Have two pairs as well now. Keeping my original ones, but most likely selling my 2nd pair 192 carbon medium/stiff layout if anyone is interested. shoot me a pm

[Sessiøn]

Me as well. I bought two pair to test my own theories on mounting a "modern ski" design. Hard pack or waist deep the suggested dimple mark on the GPO makes the ski more fun for me. Great ski design imo. More fun than the Protest in the 11+ feet of new snow we got recently.

LOLWUT. Half this thread is you fucking heming, and hawing about where to mount. I'm not sure why some beater needs to test theories about mounts that people already fucking know.

[Dry]

Ya got it..12 years old, "5 foot 9, 220, all man" skiing in Orygun with a 2 ski quiver. Yea for you!

[wildmanwillie]

Ya got it..12 years old, "5 foot 9, 220, all man" skiing in Orygun with a 2 ski quiver. Yea for you!

Hey I'd rather have a 2 ski quiver than 3 fucking GPOs. Jesus christ man you bought the 182, 187, and 192. Or is it 4 GPOs because you had to buy another one to try out your stupid ass mount theories?

Also, please explain your comment about how the GPO is more fun than the Protest in the 11+ feet of recent snow. Cuz that just don't make no godamn sense boy.

[shroom]

that oregon shot hit home!

[Dry]

Two pair. Math not a subject in Orygun's middle school yet? Protest and GPO? If you had skied them both...oh sorry, you haven't. Never mind.

Missed that part where others mounted rear of the dimple long before I joined the conversation did you? And seem to like them there. Doesn't bother me to say I like skiing the GPO mounted @ the dimple.

But them I have actually skied both mount points and know the difference.

[wildmanwillie]

that oregon shot hit home!

Nah, it was the 2 ski quiver comment as an insult that pissed me off. Especially coming from a gear blogger like Dane who likely has more skis than he knows what to do with.

I'd love to ski the GPO Dane. You want to buy me a pair? 187 in medium-stiff carbon layup would be great. I'll even mount it with demo bindings so I can ski it at different mount points, ultimately reaching enlightenment and gear whore nirvana.

[Dry]

I have a hard enough time buying the chit I am curious enough to write about. And I have spent my time on a quiver of 2..skis and rock skis. You are on your own. Some blogger Nirvana then on the GPO?

http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/2014...ipment-by.html

[Shu Shu]

Can anyone describe the "progressive, forward" feeling of mounting on the dimple? I lean towards mounting on the recommended line, but some of the chatter in this thread makes it sound like -1cm might not hurt.
.

I think you also need to make peace with the idea that your balance point and approach to skiing (if you come from a traditional forward leaning drive the tips background), needs to adjust to the way the ski is designed. The more centered and balanced your body is over the sidecut, the more ski is able to do its magic. Sometimes I notice the ski starting to feel a little sluggish, and unsure, then I realized my head is way out over my tips. Pull it back get centred and bam, back to awesome. Its' still really weird because I'm used to instinctively getting more forward if I want more out of a ski.

[whyturn]

The GPO is quite versatile. It's also cool how you can customize it and talk to Keith and get pointers. But it's really an all Mtn pow ski.

I like it at -1 and it still retains most charge while being playful. Two stage rocker is so cool. Go slow and your on the first stage. Open it up in pow and it goes to Mach looney.

I have GPO and protest and it is great 1/2 punch. Then I got karencito and it's like GPO on steroids. So carry on

[Sessiøn]

Ya got it..12 years old, "5 foot 9, 220, all man" skiing in Orygun with a 2 ski quiver. Yea for you!

Your best is that I only own 2 pairs of ski's? Uh...OK. You own a shit ton, and ski like dogshit. You're also the kind of dumbfuck that who puts someone who hasn't skied in 20 years on fucking tech bindings to ski blues in the resort. I can only assume you have some mental illness.

[ysammy]

Thanks for the input so far. I'm leaning towards mounting on the line because I wouldn't consider myself from a traditional background at all.

Glad I could set the stage for a good ol' fashion interweb flamewar.

[Dry]

Oh, snap. "5' 9", 220#, all man". Do I need more?

Bet you are the best skier ever to ride the magic mile.