It really comes down to mount point, IMHO. Coming from the Monster 98, you'll probably prefer the W108. Might also consider the Black Crows Corvus for shorter radius and traditional mount point.
It really comes down to mount point, IMHO. Coming from the Monster 98, you'll probably prefer the W108. Might also consider the Black Crows Corvus for shorter radius and traditional mount point.
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
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Auvgeek is spot on. I will add, my stiff K98’s are not ideal in heavy fresh snow, they’re ok in the lighter stuff tho. The extra stiffness causes the tips to dive a bit more, requiring more backseat or a porpoising style. Additionally, I can feel the tails drag a bit more than w/ my BG’s or w/ my wife’s Wren’s due to the more aggressively upturned tail and having more tail behind the binding. However, they truck thru chop, refrozen chop, etc because of the stiffness and more likely, their weight. Sounds like the W108 might feel more natural to your style, the K108 wouldn’t be “bad” just “different” and enough so that you may love or hate it. Demo if you can...
I have a pair of Bibbys that I'm currently using pretty much all the time and looking for a narrower daily driver to compliment the Bibbys when there isn't enough snow to justify them. I like the progressive mount of the Bibbys but hoping to get something that handles low tide the best. Based on the above opinion that would be the wren, per TahoeJ, but I was originally thinking of getting a K108. Anyone else want to chime in? Would love to try either but that it appearing difficult so may have to buy and cross my fingers.
Well, you can always go the custom route and setup a K108 or K96 to be stiffer. My narrow daily is a stiff (extra carbon) K98 w/ veneer and the 22oz fiberglass (which it doesn’t appear they do on the veneers anymore, only offer 19oz). They’re exactly the ski I was after but that doesn’t mean they would be for you too. The extra carbon and 22oz glass makes them freight trains through variable while the bamboo and veneer take the bite out of crusty groomers. Fun skis...
So...one day review - the newest cease and desist is awesome.
Today was 10” of heavy and wet AF pow at Stevens. Been snowing a lot. A few longer laps from the top (both front and backside) and many laps in a chute/pillow zone i discovered today that I just couldn’t get enough of.
Agile, slarvy, fun. Really like the tour layup. Cut up groomers/mini bumps are a handful. Like a lot of work. Bump performance was not great. Smooth groomers are very fun. 2 footed power steering. No strangeness on firm at all. I’m not all over the tips, but they behave. Some of the earliest runs required a centered stance, but I think that was more a function of the snow than the ski.
Really gave me a ton of confidence in chutes and pillow zones. Tight steep entrances that demanded commitment and I was pointing them without any hesitation and I was super happy with the way I was skiing terrain that would have likely not gone as well for me last year. Knee rehab has helped.
I was hoping to A/B then with other skis today, but I didn’t really do that, because I just wanted to keep skiing them.
Legs lasted til about 2. Going up again tomorrow. Doubt I’ll get much of an impression of other skis.
Well done, Scott and crew. Could not be happier with my purchase.
I cannot comment on their rail performance [emoji848][emoji14]
wait!!!! waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait...Wait!
Zoolander wasn't a documentary?
One other note - I find them much easier to ski than 196 protests were. Way more fun than the karencito. Tail releases perfectly. Not quite as happy skiing slow as the protest was, but this is the deep day ride I’ve been looking for. Much preferred it to Luke’s 138 spoon (though I was surprised how good that ski was)
But of the fatties I’ve ridden, this takes the cake.
CD >>> everything else. My second choice would be a 192 protest. Still want to try pow boards, but I’m not all that convinced that the hulled tip adds much. I think the RES tip is higher yield than a hulled tip.
wait!!!! waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait...Wait!
Zoolander wasn't a documentary?
Will be interested to hear more detailed analyses of protest vs c&d comparo after your second day.
I'm in the same(ish) boat as you. I've been on primarily Bibby Pros the last few years. I just added a BG that may likely replace the Bibbys, but I'd still like to get a daily driver. K108 and W108 are on the top of my list (may do a custom stiff K108). The obvious answer to "mini Bibby" is the Moment PB&J really.
Pb&Js are pretty good on firm, and great on weird refrozen reefs or wind crusts for their weight. And good in chop/crud for their weight.
I thought the standard 2018 K108 was just as good on firm and refrozen crap, and great in spring slushy crud. I would be on the K108 right now, but the elliptical sidecut felt tighter turning and the rocker profile feels a little looser than the Pb&Js to me, even tho the radius is similar. That makes the Kartels easier to jib around on, but I dont jib much.
A K108 with a 27m radius could be the bees knees. I’d probably buy a pair like that next year or the year after.
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Another fantastic day on the Billygoats! I've been skiing BGs since 2010 and the last couple revisions, every time I'm on them just puts a smile on my face. Such confidence in all conditions yet playful and able to break the tails out when I want them too.
Now I just need a lighter version for a proper tour setup because the BGs/Shifts are too much to lug around for big days. I hope Scott and ON3p do a run of Steeple108s. BUT if they don't, what do you think are the next best choices?
Also, I should have been on the 191 K108. I keep thinking that I wouldn’t notice elliptical sidecut being tight, as much if I was on the properly sized ski, as it was designed. I’m 200-230lb nekkid, depending on what shape I’m in, and a 186 is short for me. Not too short, but definitely close.
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Now I’m rethinking my K108 decision - sounds like more tail rocker than I want. Generally a flat tail is more my style, just skis better with a telemark mount. I know this isn’t really worthy of comparison, but anyone skied either of the K/W108 and Dynastar Cham 2.0 107s?
Well for me personally I ski for the dump days and would rather sacrifice a bit on other days. I also don’t get to ski as much as I like, but when I do I ski storm days. Probably 75% of my ski days are storm days. If I had a pass, lived closer, and got to ski a couple days a week regardless of conditions my answer would probably be different.
Thank you so much for your review. Excellent. How would you compare them to BG's?
This makes me even more stoked go get out on my pair! Early season has been absolutely horrible over here, and it doesn't seem like it's going to improve anytime soon. I just hope I can get a few days on them before leaving for Japan in early february.
it will also be very interesting to hear Supergoat vs C&D comparisonsCan't wait to see some more action shots as well.
Yes... I should add that I grew up skiing and ski racing on Dynastar and Volkl and loved both... Last skis I loved from Dynastar was the XXL and Legend Pro... Hated all versions of the Cham...
With that said you want the Wren 108... I own the Wren 108 along with several other ON3Ps and to date this is my favorite... If I was forced to only own one ski from my bloated quiver it would be the Wren 108... I loved the Kartel 108 and have a pair on order, but with you liking the Cham and Head Monster I would go Wren 108... As stated earlier the K 108 does have a decent amount of tail rocker and is more newschooler than traditional... You can drive the Wren where you will stay more centered with the Kartel...
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