What's Blizzard up to?

**Adrgha** · 01-07-2019, 01:28 PM

-5 mm or +5 mm of the line on 2018 180 Bonafides? Can't go on the line due to existing holes.

**Bandit Man** · 01-07-2019, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Adrgha

-5 mm or +5 mm of the line on 2018 180 Bonafides? Can't go on the line due to existing holes.

If you are a big guy, go -5mm. If you are lighter weight go +5-mm...at least that is what I would do. Bones have a pretty big sweet spot for such a stiff ski, so you should be fine either way.

**Adrgha** · 01-08-2019, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by Bandit Man

If you are a big guy, go -5mm. If you are lighter weight go +5-mm...at least that is what I would do. Bones have a pretty big sweet spot for such a stiff ski, so you should be fine either way.

Thanks! I'm lighter weight. Going +5 mm will also allow me to reuse two holes, which is always good. Looks like I'll be going in that direction. Just wasn't sure how big of a sweet spot these have.

**blackalps** · 01-09-2019, 06:54 PM

just poking my head in to say that Rustler 11's are THE SHIT for a 195 lb directional charger that likes bumps, steeps, and trees in CO.

also Brahmas absolutely rip on less than stellar snow days.

**snowaddict91** · 01-09-2019, 08:07 PM

I need to get on a pair of R11s soon I think. Demo'd a pair of R10s a couple seasons ago and was shocked by their stability for how nimble they were. Maybe the R11s will help me move on from my long-time love affair with the OG bodacious?

**I've seen black diamonds!** · 01-09-2019, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by snowaddict91

I need to get on a pair of R11s soon I think. Demo'd a pair of R10s a couple seasons ago and was shocked by their stability for how nimble they were. Maybe the R11s will help me move on from my long-time love affair with the OG bodacious?

You'll want both. They compliment each other well.

**snowaddict91** · 01-09-2019, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by I've seen black diamonds!

You'll want both. They compliment each other well.

Makes sense. Have a pretty fresh pair of bodes that aren't leaving the quiver anytime soon.

**blackalps** · 01-09-2019, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by snowaddict91

I need to get on a pair of R11s soon I think. Demo'd a pair of R10s a couple seasons ago and was shocked by their stability for how nimble they were. Maybe the R11s will help me move on from my long-time love affair with the OG bodacious?

yeah, the R11's are crazy damp for how easy they ski. Can straightline steeps or carve moguls all day, happy doing either. I'm sure it's less stable than a Cochise, but it's more stable than a whole, whole lot of other skis. Especially considering how pivot-y they are in trees. and I have the 188. What's also weird about them, imo, is how well they do on groomers and hard snow considering they're a 114. I thought maybe I'd wish I'd gone with the R10's for every day, but honestly I don't. If it hasn't snowed in a while, I use my Brahmas, if it has, I use my R11's. If I end up on shitty or hard snow on the R11's, I don't ever think to myself, man, I wish I was on my Brahmas.

I've also got some 2019 Spurs I haven't mounted yet. trying to decide what to do with bindings. May move my shifts to the Spurs and put some Pivots on the R11's. Coworker says I should do a tech binding and save it for perfect snow days. Although, if I don't end up traveling to MT, UT, CA, or BC, I may not end up mounting them, the R11's are more than enough for the snow we've been getting in CO.

**roQer** · 01-10-2019, 02:15 AM

Originally Posted by nomad_games

I've also got some 2019 Spurs I haven't mounted yet. trying to decide what to do with bindings. May move my shifts to the Spurs and put some Pivots on the R11's. Coworker says I should do a tech binding and save it for perfect snow days. Although, if I don't end up traveling to MT, UT, CA, or BC, I may not end up mounting them, the R11's are more than enough for the snow we've been getting in CO.

The Spur is a fantastic ski for surfing pow storms. It sucks in variable conditions, though, which you regularly encounter while going human powered. No way I‘d use Spur for touring in the Alps. R11 is a much better candidate for a Shift IMHO.

**blackalps** · 01-10-2019, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by roQer

The Spur is a fantastic ski for surfing pow storms. It sucks in variable conditions, though, which you regularly encounter while going human powered. No way I‘d use Spur for touring in the Alps. R11 is a much better candidate for a Shift IMHO.

yeah, I can see what you mean. A bunch of guys here have MTN's or Alpinists on their Spurs. Personally, I'm on the verge of putting Pivots on my Rustler 11's and Spurs and selling my Shifts, then putting MTN's/Backlands on a set of Black Crows Corvus Freebirds and calling it a day.

**roQer** · 01-11-2019, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by nomad_games

yeah, I can see what you mean. A bunch of guys here have MTN's or Alpinists on their Spurs. Personally, I'm on the verge of putting Pivots on my Rustler 11's and Spurs and selling my Shifts, then putting MTN's/Backlands on a set of Black Crows Corvus Freebirds and calling it a day.

Be aware that Pivots do not fit on asym Spurs because of the side rails. Unless you somehow shim the surface between the rails and create a flat area under the binding. I‘d rather recommend switching over to a Tyrolia Attack 16. Those fit nicely.

**gregL** · 01-11-2019, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by snowaddict91

Maybe the R11s will help me move on from my long-time love affair with the OG bodacious?

Good chance. My two pairs of Bodacious have only seen a few days of use since I got the R11 last season.

**skibrd** · 01-11-2019, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by gregL

Good chance. My two pairs of Bodacious have only seen a few days of use since I got the R11 last season.

What about your 4 pairs of Gunsmoke?

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**blackalps** · 01-11-2019, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by roQer

Be aware that Pivots do not fit on asym Spurs because of the side rails. Unless you somehow shim the surface between the rails and create a flat area under the binding. I‘d rather recommend switching over to a Tyrolia Attack 16. Those fit nicely.

Decided to quiver kill spurs and rustlers for my Shifts. Dont have a ton of money for new bindings and I got the QK basically for free.

**gregL** · 01-11-2019, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by skibrd

What about your 4 pairs of Gunsmoke?

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2 pairs. Not using them either, one went to my son and the other to the brother of a local Blizzard athlete.

**blackalps** · 01-12-2019, 09:40 PM

skied my first day on my Spurs today at Monarch on 5" or so of fresh on top of a previous day of chopped fresh. fast as hell, will fly over/through anything. Can point them straight down a mogul run and not feel a thing. unsurprisingly burly, stiff, and damp as hell. Great for stomping large drops down steep lines. great for busting through chop like it isn't there. very weird and unpredictable on anything approaching hard snow. Asym tips constantly feel like they're going to hook in chop but weirdly never do. as along as you keep the tips up, they'll go over or through anything. I disagree with Blister that they ski short. They're a handful in trees. They take work and commitment, and are fucking exhausting if you aren't a very fit and very strong skier. I ski uphill 5 days a week and do a lot of long XC bike trails, 14ers, etc, and my legs were fine but my core was exhausted after about 3 hours. Which is also how I felt skiing 2018 190 Line Sick Day 114's, fwiw. Also, they're so big that they really torque your knees compared to other skis, it's really noticeable. I say this after having 42 days so far this season on about 15 different pairs of skis.

anyway, I'm not sure about them. They absolutely rip at the steep, gnarly, deep, fluffy lines they should be on. Predictably, they're too much ski on anything else. They look rad as hell IRL and get a shit ton of comments on the lift (not that I care, just saying). So far, I really prefer my Rustler 11's which are about 90% of what these are in steep gnarly deep shit, but so much easier and more fun to ski everywhere else. Curious about the Bodacious.

**TAFKALVS** · 01-12-2019, 09:49 PM

I skied the rustler 10 today, surprisingly I liked it a lot, not really my typical ski but they are good

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**gregL** · 01-13-2019, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier

I skied the rustler 10 today, surprisingly I liked it a lot, not really my typical ski but they are good

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I have a pair but my friends use them more than me. Would love a 118mm wide Rustler 12 in a 186 and 192 . . .

**TAFKALVS** · 01-14-2019, 09:03 AM

It was a very easygoing ski that didn’t deflect or fold. Could make them smear or carve. Now I want to try the 11.

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**gregL** · 01-14-2019, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Leavenworth Skier

Now I want to try the 11.

Are your new boots 25.5? You can try mine, I've got both the 180 and 188.

**jackattack** · 01-16-2019, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by noslow

The Rustler 9 is very quick edge to edge and has lots of pop out of a turn. As the Ski Essentials reviews have often mentioned, it feels like a slightly wider Brahma underfoot but with more forgiving tips/tails. Lots of fun in the bumps and trees. Not quite as heavy or stiff as the Brahma but crud performance is still pretty decent.

The one thing I like about it is that it can do quick short turns but also doesn’t fight you if you want to make longer turns at higher speeds. For a 17m radius it does GS turns at 45-50mph very well and doesn’t mind going straight. Blister Gear mentioned it doesn’t like longer turns at speed but every other review mentions how this ski “comes alive” at speed so wondering if there was a tuning issue like mine originally had.

Seems to ski longer than the other Rustler models as it has the stiffest flex, least rocker and most metal for its length so I wouldn’t always size up. Think I’d only do the 188cm if I was north of 200lbs and skied in more open areas similar to a Brahma 187cm user.

All in all, a great one ski quiver for someone who wants a Brahma mixed with a free ride ski. It’s the most “serious” of the Rustler range but can still be quite playful especially with the mount up a bit.

This is what I wanted to hear. I have a hole in my quiver for a somewhat playful ski that can still handle firm conditions. I'll have to keep an eye out for a pair of these to demo. Thanks for the review.

**blackalps** · 01-16-2019, 06:21 PM

Been thinking I kinda wish I had gotten the Rustler 9 instead of the brahmas and that kind of confirms it.

**noslow** · 01-16-2019, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by nomad_games

Been thinking I kinda wish I had gotten the Rustler 9 instead of the brahmas and that kind of confirms it.

Had the Rustler 9s out today in firmer conditions and they were great. Have them sharp tip/tail with a 1/3 tune and they aren’t catchy at all. Pivot when you want and great grip on edge.

Brahma will be a more powerful, damp ski with even better edge hold on harder snow than the Rustler 9. Fantastic ski that’s more “serious” than the Rustler 9. Both great skis.