Sender Free 110

[noslow]

Had my 184cm Sender Free 110 out yesterday(6’2”/175lbs and mounted -3cm to make them ski longer) in Spring Conditions with some refrozen sections in the afternoon with ice marbles. The first time out with them was in fresh snow and they felt fine but yesterday felt very surfy and loose when flat and the conditions exaggerated that. When I switch to the Blackops 118 after and they felt much more confidence inspiring and solid, I knew there must be a base high issue with them. Actually checked them before tuning and they looked pretty flat but sure didn’t ski that way.

Had them stone ground this morning and they are completely transformed. Much more stable and comfortable being flat and felt more like the Blackops 118.

Having the very similar 184cm 21 CT 3.0 mounted in a similar spot, they instantly felt familiar. Find the slightly softer tips/tails and added rubber absorbs variable terrain even better and makes them even easier in bumps. Carving ability are great on both but think the SF 110 is a touch easier at lower speeds.

Will get my 190cm 21 CT 3.0 out soon to compare but I’m sure they would be very similar to the 191cm Sender Free 110. Again the Sender Free 110 should be a bit more forgiving.

[rudy]

Looking for this ski in a 184 in case anyone is looking to unload.

[Skeeze]

Had my 184cm Sender Free 110 out yesterday(6’2”/175lbs and mounted -3cm to make them ski longer) in Spring Conditions with some refrozen sections in the afternoon with ice marbles. The first time out with them was in fresh snow and they felt fine but yesterday felt very surfy and loose when flat and the conditions exaggerated that. When I switch to the Blackops 118 after and they felt much more confidence inspiring and solid, I knew there must be a base high issue with them. Actually checked them before tuning and they looked pretty flat but sure didn’t ski that way.

Had them stone ground this morning and they are completely transformed. Much more stable and comfortable being flat and felt more like the Blackops 118.

Having the very similar 184cm 21 CT 3.0 mounted in a similar spot, they instantly felt familiar. Find the slightly softer tips/tails and added rubber absorbs variable terrain even better and makes them even easier in bumps. Carving ability are great on both but think the SF 110 is a touch easier at lower speeds.

Will get my 190cm 21 CT 3.0 out soon to compare but I’m sure they would be very similar to the 191cm Sender Free 110. Again the Sender Free 110 should be a bit more forgiving.

Noslow—any more comparisons you can make to the BlackOps 118? Is the BO118 looser and damper? I presume it floats quite a bit better? And where’d you mount your BO118s?

[kid-kapow]

Is the BO118 looser and damper? I presume it floats quite a bit better?

The 110 is the answer to the question "what would the end result be if we make a BB118 that is -8mm, is made slightly more directional, decrease its swing weight and underfoot weight a bit and give them a tad more hard snow prowess?".

The main difference in use is mainly the weight (both underfoot and swing weight), besides quickness edge to edge (or lack of) and added float that you mention. Their looseness in deep snow is pretty much as the widths would suggest - though very good with either.

I have mounted my SF 184s and BO118 186s at -2, so -5.5 and 4.5 respectively.

And the only real criticism I can provide for either ski is that they are not ON3Ps. If the new SF118s reduces the swing weight of the BO118s then that will be a slight improvement too imho, but not super significant imho.

[noslow]

Noslow—any more comparisons you can make to the BlackOps 118? Is the BO118 looser and damper? I presume it floats quite a bit better? And where’d you mount your BO118s?

Agree with kid-kapow that they are very similar skis with the Sender Free 110 being the more precise, faster edge to edge and lower swing weight younger brother. I remember laying them on top of each other flat and the rocker profiles are almost identical. The Sender Free 110 just have a slightly thicker core tip to tail resulting in the same flex pattern, just stiffer overall with it being most noticeable tip/tail.

Both skis are pretty loose when flat in soft snow but what separates them in their class is their precision and grip when on edge. Low taper in both so they are amazing carvers with great edge hold when needed. Find I can even use the BO 118 in the East in Spring crud when it’s still fairly firm in the early mornings. Incredibly versatile skis. The BO 118 needs a bit more speed to come alive but again much lower than most skis it’s width.

The 184cm Sender Free 110 has very good suspension for its weight but the heavier BO 118 takes it up a few notches in heavy crud or tracked out snow. The 191cm Sender Free 110 should move the gap closer though.

I mounted my first set of Blackops 118 at -2.25cm(wanted -2.5cm) and the second set is at -2.5cm. I find I don’t notice their weight as much as expected and find that mount point a good mix of float, ease of pivoting and stability. Wouldn’t want to be any closer for my 175lbs on them.
Absolutely love both my 184cm Sender Free 110 and BO 118. If I didn’t already have the 21 CT 3.0 I’d probably have a 191cm SF 110 too.

[noslow]

Looking for this ski in a 184 in case anyone is looking to unload.

Will send you a contact number to your inbox.

[JRainey]

These are the skis I was looking for.

A few more days of noodling with the kids as the snow was kind of trickling in. Today it turned blue with what was about 6" on top of smooth breakable crust up high, turning to smooth non breakable crust in the middle, to dust on corral reef at the bottom.

Steep, high alpine, high speed, big airs: no problem in power. They do want to cross the fall line a little bit more than the bent 120 or 110 or Hoji would, but it wouldn't say you have to fight it, it's easy to feather off.

Reminder: 184, on the line.

No problems with too little tip and breaking through the crust on landings. I pulled a bad audible on one cliff, which resulted in landing flat, on one ski, with my weight all my weight forward, and I didn't die. Again, these won't be my deep pow ski, so I might feel different about the length or mount point if that was the case.

As the crust turned non breakable, I think that is where these skis showed their colors. Great bite on the ice under the snow, and as it started to get rough from old tracks and rollerballs, they stay the course.

Really rough 3d hard snow was pretty manageable. The super rocker keeps them loose and not grabby. Had some real coral reef, refrozen slush moguls, which totally sucked, but the skis were as good as anything could be. Didn't hook up once, but my speed was naturally pretty low.

Noodling with the kids is fun on these. They handle whoodidoops fine, with the medium+ flex, and give plenty of motocross options. They are not "pop off the tails" ollie machines. They have pop, but you have to access it by loading up in a compression and jumping from the middle of the ski. In comparison, I skied Hojis the day before with the kids and even with the RC I could pop off the tails much better on the hojis. I could also whip out 360s on the Hojis w/pins on jumps I couldn't get around on the SF110 w/alpine, so not really the best for micro jibbing (obviously). But I was going 180 crazy on the SF110.

[noslow]

Another great day this week in heavy, Spring snow that refroze later on the 184cm Sender Free 110 and then Blackops 118. Both were able to grip the firm sections below the heavy crud with ease and was impressed by how well the SF 110 did for it’s weight in those conditions. Find the SF 110 skis more similar to the BO 118 than my old 184cm 21 CT 3.0 did especially after getting a stone grind on the SF 110 last week to correct some factory base high issues.

The 184cm SF 110 doesn’t require much speed to be fun even with my -3cm mount and I think that mount helps with their stability and crud performance for my 175lbs. Still haven’t got out on my 21 CT 190cm CT 3.0 to compare to the SF 110 but I assume there will be a noticeable increase in stability at the sacrifice of playfulness.

[noslow]

Funny story about the Sender Free 110-At Lake Louise yesterday and with lots of new snow there were lots of wider skis out and saw about 15 pairs of the Sender Free 110 on the hill. Just stopped for a break at the bottom of the hill and while getting out of my Blackops 118 skis, I noticed a skier about to step into his set of Sender Free 110 skis. Asked him how he liked them and he noticed my BO 118 and then asked “are you on TGR?” and turns out I helped him with advice on mount points on that ski and I’m the reason he’s seeking out 21 Faction CT skis. Haha

Shout out to @RadSkier! Always nice to meet online posters in person.

[kid-kapow]

nice!

SF110s are the real deal though - such good skis. It will be very interesting to see how Dynastar's take on the same ski will fare.

[JRainey]

Just another day in total post windfuck 100+kph winds and they still rule.

Still heavy enough that I'm not really throwing 360s, cuz I'm a puss, but that's the only criticism and it's of me.

Hard but breakable wind crust are so nice. Very breakable sun crust does good enough to get you straightlining out. (Toured on the hojis this weekend and got into the nastiest crust imaginable, all-time crust ski.)

But the transition from hard windboard to soft windboard, to old tracks to sun crust (back and forth ad nauseam) is about as good as you can ask for. Skiing in the alps is about making bad snow ski good, and these are killing it.

Because I'm not really doing 360s, my goto safety trick is speed 180, mostly on step up windlips or rollers that run out to flat. Turning around back to regular or doing halfcabs off little bumps is not a catchyexperience, even with light crusts. They don't whip back like the bent 110s, but they also don't try to kill me on hard snow.

[NotSoBright]

I'm torn on sizing for these. Seems like I could go either way.

6', 175 out of the shower, Whistler-Blackcomb. Probably will mount near rec. or just behind -1.

191 seems like the call for the alpine, 184 for lower ⅔ of the mountain.

Most people here are on the 191.

Thoughts?

[noslow]

I'm torn on sizing for these. Seems like I could go either way.

6', 175 out of the shower, Whistler-Blackcomb. Probably will mount near rec. or just behind -1.

191 seems like the call for the alpine, 184 for lower ⅔ of the mountain.

Most people here are on the 191.

Thoughts?

Almost the same size as you and you could do either ski with a slight change in mount points. The 184cm is always going to be more playful and easier in tight spots but go back -2cm to -3cm back(I’m -3cm and it’s perfect) to make them float better and “ski longer”.

The 191cm will be more stable and offer more float but I’d keep the mount -1cm or so to make them a bit more maneuverable and “ski shorter”.
I have the similar 190cm CT 3.0 mounted closer to center than my 184cm Sender Free 110 and it’s definitely more ski. Like the 184cm Sender Free 110 better for everywhere but more open spaces where the longer ski thrives.
Have the Blackops 118 for my powder ski so the upmost float isn’t needed for me.

[NotSoBright]

Almost the same size as you and you could do either ski with a slight change in mount points. The 184cm is always going to be more playful and easier in tight spots but go back -2cm to -3cm back(I’m -3cm and it’s perfect) to make them float better and “ski longer”.

The 191cm will be more stable and offer more float but I’d keep the mount -1cm or so to make them a bit more maneuverable and “ski shorter”.
I have the similar 190cm CT 3.0 mounted closer to center than my 184cm Sender Free 110 and it’s definitely more ski. Like the 184cm Sender Free 110 better for everywhere but more open spaces where the longer ski thrives.
Have the Blackops 118 for my powder ski so the upmost float isn’t needed for me.

Thanks - appreciate that. Looks like you went with the 184 and haven't been disappointed at all?

[noslow]

Thanks - appreciate that. Looks like you went with the 184 and haven't been disappointed at all?

Had the very similar 184cm 21 CT 3.0 before and prefer the 184cm Sender Free 110 as it has a bit better suspension and even more fun at moderate speeds. Very good stability but still fun at lower speeds carving on groomers. Very happy with the sender Free 110-carves and grips amazingly well but still loose in the trees.

Have the longer 190cm CT 3.0 which is even more stable but if I had to choose just one, it would be the 184cm version for sure.
Again you have to mount back to gain the extra stability and carving ability for our size as the rec mount wouldn’t be as stable and might ski a bit short for 175lbs.

[NotSoBright]

Had the very similar 184cm 21 CT 3.0 before and prefer the 184cm Sender Free 110 as it has a bit better suspension and even more fun at moderate speeds. Very good stability but still fun at lower speeds carving on groomers. Very happy with the sender Free 110-carves and grips amazingly well but still loose in the trees.

Have the longer 190cm CT 3.0 which is even more stable but if I had to choose just one, it would be the 184cm version for sure.
Again you have to mount back to gain the extra stability and carving ability for our size as the rec mount wouldn’t be as stable and might ski a bit short for 175lbs.

Thanks - excellent feedback. Really sounds like mount point is going to affect the call.

[noslow]

Thanks - excellent feedback. Really sounds like mount point is going to affect the call.

Exactly-one you want to lengthen it’s feel and one you want to shorten.
The more bumps and tight trees you ski, go 184cm. The more open areas and higher speeds and if it’s your widest ski, go 191cm.

[kid-kapow]

184 SF110s in spring snow feel very akin to 186 BO118s in deep midwinter snow - which is great news (both mounted at -2 from rec).

It kinda seems like their bases need to be waxed a bit more often than some other skis though.

in short - SF110s are the best damned 110ish ski I've had the pleasure to ski. Rossi should have released this ski a long long time ago - they are sure to consistently shift units of these for years to come. Now they just need to release some tour versions of them too

Really sounds like mount point is going to affect the call.

yeah, mount point location factors into it for sure. I would re-read Blister's take on the two lengths - their review is pretty spot on imho, as is noslow's takes in this thread.

I would not be terribly concerned about the longer ski being too long though - their deep rocker lines and playful shape mean that they should still be fairly managable. So it could be that the longer ski mounted at rec could be the best of both world's, or the shorter mounted a bit back if you prioritize having a more nimble ski.

I doubt you will regret it either way, but you might regret not getting on them sooner after you get them - so you might as well take the plunge sooner rather than later

[noslow]

“I would not be terribly concerned about the longer ski being too long though - their deep rocker lines and playful shape mean that they should still be fairly managable. So it could be that the longer ski mounted at rec could be the best of both world's, or the shorter mounted a bit back if you prioritize having a more nimble ski.“

Definitely agree with this statement! The 191cm SF 110 would be easier than my stiffer 190cm CT that’s mounted further back, so mounted on the line it would be pretty easy to manage at 175lbs. The 184cm mounted back at -3cm would just be even more nimble still and more fun in tight spots and at lower speeds.

Blister needs to try both lengths even further back than they have like they have done with the Blackops 118. Lots of comparisons in their Flash reviews to skis mounted -8cm vs the Sender Free 110 mounted at close to or at their -3.5cm rec point. Like the BO 118, the Sender Free 110 can be moved back from even their -2cm mark and still be very playful still. Not as sensitive as some other skis it seems.

[NotSoBright]

184 SF110s in spring snow feel very akin to 186 BO118s in deep midwinter snow - which is great news (both mounted at -2 from rec).

It kinda seems like their bases need to be waxed a bit more often than some other skis though.

in short - SF110s are the best damned 110ish ski I've had the pleasure to ski. Rossi should have released this ski a long long time ago - they are sure to consistently shift units of these for years to come. Now they just need to release some tour versions of them too



yeah, mount point location factors into it for sure. I would re-read Blister's take on the two lengths - their review is pretty spot on imho, as is noslow's takes in this thread.

I would not be terribly concerned about the longer ski being too long though - their deep rocker lines and playful shape mean that they should still be fairly managable. So it could be that the longer ski mounted at rec could be the best of both world's, or the shorter mounted a bit back if you prioritize having a more nimble ski.

I doubt you will regret it either way, but you might regret not getting on them sooner after you get them - so you might as well take the plunge sooner rather than later

Thanks, that's helpful.

I ended up finding a sweet deal on some used but ostensibly new 191s. Going to get the bindings remounted for my boot size and give them a shot.

I was expecting them to tower over me, but the straight pull on them puts the tip just above my head. So not nearly as long as I was expecting them to be. Still big skis, though. Will report back after I give them a spin.

[noslow]

Thanks, that's helpful.

I ended up finding a sweet deal on some used but ostensibly new 191s. Going to get the bindings remounted for my boot size and give them a shot.

I was expecting them to tower over me, but the straight pull on them puts the tip just above my head. So not nearly as long as I was expecting them to be. Still big skis, though. Will report back after I give them a spin.

That’s awesome! Mount them close to rec and get at it!

[kid-kapow]

Skiing my a few of my BMTs yesterday and then taking a tour on my 109s effectively ended my SF110+tech bindings experiment.

BMTs ski so freaking well that I do not really see any point in hauling the extra weight of the SF110s uphill. I found that it was easier to ski the full reverse BMT with Vipecs on refrozen boilerplate than SF110s with FR14 heels /SkiTrab Vario.2 toes. The latter skipped around a lot more on me, in spite of their increased weight, damper construction and actual camber infused suspension - though it kinda makes sense that BMTs with their short effective edge underfoot together with toes with more elasticity would be easier to ski in those conditions.

The weight difference between BMT109 w/Vipecs and SF110 with ATK FR14s w/ Freeride spacers and toe shims is only like 300gr or so, so not huge. The smoother toes of the Vipecs are alot better for my delicate knees too. #gettingoldermanvibes

[JRainey]

I'm touring on Hojis for the same reasons. Not too much lighter, but I just don't need camber all the time.

I LOVE the Sender Free, but with alpine bindings and heavy boots. Hojis rally with the light gear. I value a neutral ride over almost all other things while touring.

[noslow]

Have seen an absolute ton of these skis in Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and in Kicking Horse the last week. Everyone raving about them when asked “how do you like them?” too.

[Judo Chop!]

I'm touring on Hojis for the same reasons. Not too much lighter, but I just don't need camber all the time.

I LOVE the Sender Free, but with alpine bindings and heavy boots. Hojis rally with the light gear. I value a neutral ride over almost all other things while touring.

you and I very much seem to like/have the same skis.

I saw you were looking for a hard-snow companion to your 110's. What did you end up with?
Myself, I'm interested in the new enforcer 99, but waiting for the 191 size to be released.