Push the Envelope: Heritage Labs RC85 and RC95

[gaijin]

Hey Sylvan, you beast...

You think a guy like me (5' 8", 165lb / 73kilos) could arc a 187 RC95 on smooth, near-firm snow? Albeit mid-winter or spring melt/freeze?

I know I could surf it, but could I arc it into GS railroads from medium speeds? Or, do I have to be Ted Ligety? I don't want to always have to be going mach-looney to make it work.

My hip angles are decent for a middle-aged cowboy, I like to haul ass, but two things-- 1) The 183 RC85 makes more sense on paper, but 2) The 187 RC95 is more attractive to my heart.

This will be a high-vis ski on high-pressure days, where I just kind of go straight until I have to turn and then drop my hip and let the magic happen. But it's still JP, where I'll be playing in late spring, crusty, sporty forests and high alpine off-piste.

Only a budget for one of these skis. The RC85 would work in that late season stuff, but it would be a slower, carvier approach to lines as opposed to faster, driftier styles of 95.

Main question is -- can I arc the 95 mid winter?

/fuck bullet-proof. I don't ski that stuff anymore. /that was long, sorry.

[iriponsnow]

Hey Sylvan, you beast...

You think a guy like me (5' 8", 165lb / 73kilos) could arc a 187 RC95 on smooth, near-firm snow? Albeit mid-winter or spring melt/freeze?

I know I could surf it, but could I arc it into GS railroads from 30mph? Or, do I have to be Ted Ligety?

My hip angles are decent for a middle-aged cowboy, I like to haul ass, but two things-- 1) The RC85 makes more sense on paper, but 2) The RC95 is more attractive to my heart.

This will be a high-vis ski on high-pressure days, and late season, slushy/crusty forests.

/fuck bullet-proof. I don't ski that stuff anymore.

Pro tip(s) for lighter guys looking to slay the final boss:

*Work w/ your brain ; buy w/ your heart
*Tune ur skis
*No 'detune' but run a generous gummy on the tips and tails
*Finish with 6-7 hard passes w/ a sideguide/200 grit stone to leave a hanging burr under the binding area only

[gaijin]

Pro tip(s) for lighter guys looking to slay the final boss:

*Work w/ your brain ; buy w/ your heart
*Tune ur skis
*No 'detune' but run a generous gummy on the tips and tails
*Finish with 6-7 hard passes w/ a sideguide/200 grit stone to leave a hanging burr under the binding area only

I do tune my skis. Quite well, I thought. I hate detuning, I use gummies to polish/clean, not really detune. I like clean and sharp and leave the releasability to shape/bevel.

But a hanging burr (from side edge to base edge?) So make under-foot grippy as fuck and loosen the exterior a bit? That sounds like hockey skates. But not in a bad way. Just a big... hmmm....

Hmmm...

[TAFKALVS]

Hey Sylvan, you beast...

You think a guy like me (5' 8", 165lb / 73kilos) could arc a 187 RC95 on smooth, near-firm snow? Albeit mid-winter or spring melt/freeze?

I know I could surf it, but could I arc it into GS railroads from medium speeds? Or, do I have to be Ted Ligety? I don't want to always have to be going mach-looney to make it work.

My hip angles are decent for a middle-aged cowboy, I like to haul ass, but two things-- 1) The 183 RC85 makes more sense on paper, but 2) The 187 RC95 is more attractive to my heart.

This will be a high-vis ski on high-pressure days, where I just kind of go straight until I have to turn and then drop my hip and let the magic happen. But it's still JP, where I'll be playing in late spring, crusty, sporty forests and high alpine off-piste.

Only a budget for one of these skis. The RC85 would work in that late season stuff, but it would be a slower, carvier approach to lines as opposed to faster, driftier styles of 95.

Main question is -- can I arc the 95 mid winter?

/fuck bullet-proof. I don't ski that stuff anymore. /that was long, sorry.

Just my .02, you should consider the 175 rc85. It’s a lot drifter ski than I think you think. I know it’s sacrilege to ponder anything but the longest length on TGR.

That said; follow your heart, and I’m sure you’ll be stoked on the RC95. But you probably wont achieve a carve tighter than GS+ radius unless you really really know how to work a ski.

At your dimensions were you able to bend the OG Race Room Legend Pro Rider or similar skis in to a tight arc?

The RC95 feels like the first gen comp skis from the 00s with a little surfier shape and rocker profile.

Maybe NWskier can chime in on the 183 RC85, he’s your dimensions.

[Marshal Olson]

I do tune my skis. Quite well, I thought. I hate detuning, I use gummies to polish/clean, not really detune. I like clean and sharp and leave the releasability to shape/bevel.

But a hanging burr (from side edge to base edge?) So make under-foot grippy as fuck and loosen the exterior a bit? That sounds like hockey skates. But not in a bad way. Just a big... hmmm....

Hmmm...

So I sat down to sketch up what a 180cm RC95 would look like. And its really just a 5mm narrower 187 AM100 with a bit of the ends up off the snow cut off.

So... IMO the correct answer is 187 AM100 and maybe an RC85 one day when you are ready to replace your euro carver since the RC85 can pull double duty as performance carving ski and good times high pressure / slush bumps all mountain ski

[gaijin]

Just my .02, you should consider the 175 rc85. It’s a lot drifter ski than I think you think.

At your dimensions were you able to bend the OG Race Room Legend Pro Rider or similar skis in to a tight arc?

The RC95 feels like the first gen comp skis from the 00s with a little surfier shape and rocker profile.

I think you're right about the 175 RC85, the little voice in my head knows it, too.

As for the OG LPRs, I could ski them... later in the season after my legs got under me... 25 years younger, too. I had to train into them. But I'm kind of famous for skiing skis that are too big for me. I've always liked the ski to do all the work, so long as I can hang on. Part of me does want a modern, surfier comp ski of yester-year, but that's admittedly going to only get harder to ski as I go through my 50's. It's hard admitting the mild mid-life crisis going on at the moment.

Hey dude!

I want to say yes, but as Irip and TAFKALVS mentioned, the honest answer may be an 85.

Marshal's comp flexes feel like they're optimized for...me.

Hope that helps dude!

It does help! Thanks for getting back and reassuring my doubts. ;-)

So I sat down to sketch up what a 180cm RC95 would look like. And its really just a 5mm narrower 187 AM100 with a bit of the ends up off the snow cut off.

So... IMO the correct answer is 187 AM100 and maybe an RC85 one day when you are ready to replace your euro carver since the RC85 can pull double duty as performance carving ski and good times high pressure / slush bumps all mountain ski

Makes sense... I'm eyeing the AM100, too, as it would be the logical move narrower from my R110. All of this debate will end once I learn how firm of a snow it takes to upend the R110. I have a pretty good idea, maybe, but apparently your skis are damp as fuck... so it's throwing off my ride-dar.

Thanks for the humble feedback, everyone!

[2FUNKY]

Sick man!

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[TAFKALVS]

Just did a remount on my RC85 super comps to play around with balance point. Went -1.5cm from the original mount.

Skied a lot of chopped up schmoo this week on them and felt like I wanted a little more tip and a little less tail (this should be unsurprising to anyone who knows me.

While I was at it, I threw some of the “rossignol super” color pivots that came out this year for extra bling.

[gaijin]

That’s a pretty incredible color-way.

Also super (see what I did there?) interested to hear about your thoughts on a rearward mount.

I grew up racing gates in the 80’s in MN. It was a different world. I’m admittedly lazy now, or more finesse than power. Whatever you wanna call it.

I’m now curious how much reward I can get from actually driving an HL build that I do thoroughly enjoy letting do all the work for me.

I wonder if I have the nervous system (ie— reaction time) to make an HL my bitch.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[TAFKALVS]

So far liking the updated mount point a lot. Skied 4-5” deep wind blown pow over a soft base and 1” on firmish groomers. The ski feels more stable, a little less responsive but a lot more comfortable and relaxed off piste. If I was to split hairs I’d probably go -1 but I’ll probably keep them at their present location.

[Lord Thomas]

Woody,
Keep the opinion/info coming on these RC85's. I'm about ready to mount my super comps this week and want all of the latest data on mount points before I start augering holes. EXTREMELY excited about these things. Wanted something like this for a very long time.

[TAFKALVS]

Woody,
Keep the opinion/info coming on these RC85's. I'm about ready to mount my super comps this week and want all of the latest data on mount points before I start augering holes. EXTREMELY excited about these things. Wanted something like this for a very long time.

I’d go -1 without hesitation especially on super comps. You like pretty trad mounted skis.

[2FUNKY]

I could see that on the SC’s. The standards are pretty rad at recco.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[TAFKALVS]

I only moved them back for off-piste skiing, if the skis were groomer only I’d stay on the line I think.

[Marshal Olson]

Just a quick note to reiterate how much fun I'm having on the RC85. We just returned from the Dolomites where I put six days on them. Absolutely perfect for the conditions. They ripped the freshly groomed trails in the morning, but late in the day when the conditions were essentially spring-like, they were equally at home making old-school parallel turns on the margins and cruising through slush-bumps. The versatility is astounding.

Not to mention how I was blowing past all the Euros on their low-radius SL skis. These things love to run and fit nicely with my desire to try to keep them in the fall line as much as possible.


And so damn stable. With my knee issues, I'm sensitive to every "bump" in the road, and the RC85 excels at flattening out every imperfection in the terrain.


Now... have you considered making that low-radius SL ski? Ha! I don't know if I'm serious. I think I would get dizzy making so many turns.

Thought folks would enjoy this email I recieved! My feelings are the same. So fun for lower tide and firmer snow conditions.

[singlesline]

Anyone with buyer's remorse or not jiving with their RC85 (or possibly 95) and want to unload the pair?

I'm feeling non-buyer's remorse...wish I hadn't waited until they went out of stock.

[jackattack]

Anyone with buyer's remorse or not jiving with their RC85 (or possibly 95) and want to unload the pair?

I'm feeling non-buyer's remorse...wish I hadn't waited until they went out of stock.

Super comps in stock. You buy now. https://heritagelabskis.com/products...44426872127676

[Island Bay]

So I sat down to sketch up what a 180cm RC95 would look like. And its really just a 5mm narrower 187 AM100 with a bit of the ends up off the snow cut off.

So... IMO the correct answer is 187 AM100 and maybe an RC85 one day when you are ready to replace your euro carver since the RC85 can pull double duty as performance carving ski and good times high pressure / slush bumps all mountain ski

This makes me very happy. So excited about my AM100.

[singlesline]

Super comps in stock. You buy now. https://heritagelabskis.com/products...44426872127676

Oof. While I do weigh in at 200lbs, that seems like more ski than I am really looking for in this quiver spot.

But maybe not? The slot I am filling is somewhere between replacing my thrashed short MX84s with something a bit longer/longer radius for mostly-groomer days and/or for replicating cruddy snow days I had last season that were made much better when my dad left his old Bonafides here for a couple months.

[Marshal Olson]

If you are looking for something more inline with Bones/Brahma, I'd go for the production verion of the RC85. The Super Comps are a full notch or two more demanding.

[L8APX]

The RC85 fits my high pressure east coast groomers ski perfectly. Damp, stable, quick and are so much fun. I appreciate how they can break free mid carve and jump right back on the rails. Unlike those low radius skis, they aren’t locked into one turn shape. Straight rowdy they are. Gidy-up hard pack cowboys

[singlesline]

If you are looking for something more inline with Bones/Brahma, I'd go for the production verion of the RC85. The Super Comps are a full notch or two more demanding.

You don’t happen to have a pair hiding in a corner or some “demo” returns coming back in do you?

[Conundrum]

High pressure setting in. Pretty sure I’m not going to find the limit on the RC95c’s. Really fun skis. I’m heavy, had a lot on my mind and was skiing a bit angry. Right ski for the day.

[TAFKALVS]

We’re in genuine hardpack with very firm spots. These things are incredible. Hook up when you want to but go flat base and they drift/slide/surf like a much bigger ski. I had a blast ripping groomers at mach looney leaving clean arcs and then throwing them sideways in shaveice on the side in big surfy drifted turns. So much damn fun.

[Conundrum]

Are you skiing with Bode?