4FRNT 06/07 Lineup reviews and pics

[skier0178]

I was fortunate enough to ride on next year's 4FRNT lineup this past weekend at Mammoth and I thought I'd share my experiences. Here are all the sticks I had at my disposal (sorry about the quality, pictures were taken with my cell phone camera):


Left to right: TNK 175, VCT 182, MSP 187, MSP 180


All mounted with Deadbolt 412 on demo plates.


Left to right: MSP 170, EHP 190, STL 183, STL 177


All mounted with Deadbolt 412 on demo plates.


The new Crossfade pole.

Vitals: I'm 6 feet, 175 lbs. I ski pretty agressively, and like the pow and steep stuff as well as the occasional huck, but nothing huge.

Reviews:
VCT 182
I skied this ski all day saturday in conditions ranging from hardpack, to ice, to curd, to windblown, to spring corn. I was really pleasantly surprised with this ski. It is 104mm underfoot but surprisingly quick and turny with a nice big platform for stomping stuff (yes I tested that as well). It's a little softer then the MSP but rips through different snow very nicely. The two areas it lacked (slightly) was at high speed (i.e. straightlining from the top of scotty's, which was groomed) and really hard pack. It chatters a little in both. If I had the choice, this would be my everyday ski. I would say this is the perfect, non huge pow day ski for the west coast skier.

EHP
The 190 is a burly burly ski. It’s 104mm under foot, stiff (32m turn radius) and meant for people that go big. It has a more turned down tail then the other skis (more square then rounded) so it could also be a good AT ski if needed. The conditions weren't ripe for testing this ski as it's meant for big days and BC pow. The 193 is just huge, pretty much only for big AK descents and extremely aggressive skiers that like to go straight. (it’s 130x112x118 with a 41m turn radius).

MSP 187
First of all, this is one of the nicest skis I've seen graphics wise. The whole seasons theme for the MSP line is really nice. I had quite a few people comment on how good this ski looks. This ski skis very similar to the 187 MSP I'm currently on which I reviewed a while back so you can search for the full review. It's a little stiffer then the one I'm on but the dimensions are the same. Overall it's a bit stiffer and a bit longer (187 vs 182) then the VCT I skied on. I didn't ski the other lengths in the MSP line but the relative stiffness is the same as they all have a 25m turn radius.

STL 183
This is designed to be a park ski, however I didn't ski it. The interesting part is a lot of the people who skied this on demo days say it's a great overall ski. Being 84mm underfoot, this sounds like it would be a great all mountain ski for a smaller rider for someone skiing on the east coast.

I didn't ski the STL or the TNK because I'm not a park rider and I had limited time. As far as the bindings go, nice looking and kept me on the skis as they should. They feel quite solid and burly so I liked them. The poles look good, are light, and come with either powder or hardpack baskets. If I could choose any 2 ski quiver for myself (west coast specific), I’d go 182 VCT for everyday riding and the 190 EHP for really big days. I hope people find these reviews useful. I was impressed with the new offerings.

[Vicious]

I want a pair of the 193 EHPs. DROOOOOL

[Big Blue]

I want a pair of the 193 EHPs. DROOOOOL

seconded. i've been lusting after those things since the "SIA Big Skis" thread.

[Professor]

thirded... although it would be nice to hear from someone that has actually skied the 193 EHP. Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

[squirrelmurphy]

it’s 130x112x118 with a 41m turn radius

...*gulp*

[skier0178]

thirded... although it would be nice to hear from someone that has actually skied the 193 EHP. Anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

I wouldn't count on many people, there aren't very many out there right now...

[Vicious]

I wouldn't count on many people, there aren't very many out there right now...

If you know where any are...let me know.

[mntlion]

If I see Eric in banff I'll ask him about a demo pair to try,

thinking that might be a nice ski (if I can find a soft flexing pair)

[Particle]

Alright I'm bored and have been promising Prof I'd give him the write-up from the 06-07 4FRNT catalog. Here is Eric's writeup on the EHP 193, pretty cool I thought:

"This ski has been developed from my experiences skiing in big mountain environments. Often I was skiing in situations when I needed to point it and outrun sloughs and avie slides. I wanted to create a tool catered to one concept: skiing at high speeds through variable snow conditions. This ski has some very unique design features: zero camber, minimal sidecut. The first 25cm of the tip and last 15cm of the tail have reverse/neutral sidecut. This enables the ski to be very stable and forgiving at high speed: The tip doesn't hook up to force your turn to end. A 25cm gradual tip radius provides ample flotation. This design floats on top of the snow instead of plowing through it. The last 15cm of the tail has a slight reverse camber shape, which allows you to butter your turns or ditch speed by kicking your heels out when you really need to shut it down.

The gradually designed tips allow for this ski to retain a stiff flex pattern throughout the entire ski. This creates a super stable platform to ride all types of snow. Unlike a twin tip tail design, the minimal reverse camber retains the ski's stiffness and doesn't "wheelie" out of big landings, which results in control when it counts." -Eric Hjorleifson

I want a pair

[BakerBoy]

Oh look, another big mountain pro who (gets to design his own ski) also hates camber, and actually thinks flat to reverse camber is the way to go. Hooray!

[XtrPickels]

. The first 25cm of the tip and last 15cm of the tail have reverse/neutral sidecut. This enables the ski to be very stable and forgiving at high speed: The tip doesn't hook up to force your turn to end. A 25cm gradual tip radius provides ample flotation. This design floats on top of the snow instead of plowing through it. The last 15cm of the tail has a slight reverse camber shape, which allows you to butter your turns or ditch speed by kicking your heels out when you really need to shut it down.
-Eric Hjorleifson

Don't Prajekt skis have this same concept?

[skier0178]

Me too....

We may be able to do something about that

If you know where any are...let me know.

There's an unmounted pair here in Cali with another pair on it's way. Some in UT as well....

[Professor]

Where in UT? Want to share details

[skier0178]

Where in UT? Want to share details

None in stores, you would have to get in touch with the 4FRNT rep there. 4FRNT headquarters are in SLC.

[Professor]

None in stores, you would have to get in touch with the 4FRNT rep there. 4FRNT headquarters are in SLC.

"Paging Particle to the red courtesy phone, paging Particle..... Yeah... Particle I am going to need you to come in on the weekend and work on this....ummmkay? Great....." I really dont think that 4frnt will deal with me calling them up and asking to borrow skis, since I no longer work in the ski industry in any significant capacity

[Particle]

I'll see what I can dig up...

[Professor]

"Yes" that sound you hear is me giggling like a little school girl I would do a little cheer to egg Particle on even more, but unfortunately I dont know any cheers

[Professor]

193 EHPs ROCK! That is all.....

[Particle]

Seconded! WHOOP! More fat skis for Particle and Professor! Just what we need!!

[Dromond]

193 EHPs ROCK! That is all.....

I so demand more info than that... assuming you have them.

[lemon boy]

they signed an NDA...ASSHOLES!

[Professor]

I so demand more info than that... assuming you have them.

Nope dont have them, just yanking everybodys chain

[Particle]

http://backcountryblog.blogspot.com/

[robokill1981]

Nice writeup guys!

Sounds like it's a soft snow only ski? Or would you use it as an everyday ski if you had some DP 138's for pow?

[Particle]

I wouldn't say it's a soft-snow only ski. That's really what I've been excited about; finding a ski that's 'progressive' in taking some of the design ideas from skis like the Spat and taking the best of those qualities while retaining the skis' usability for getting down the groomers without feeling like you're going to die. I could see using the 193's as an almost-everyday ski; I'd still want something in the oh 98mm waist range, ya know - carving width for non-pow days. But as far as ideally combining non-cambered, slightly rockered soft snow performance with enough edge and stiffness to actually handle groomers - this ski is the shit.

What really spoke to me about them was that my very first run on them, I felt completely totally comfortable. They disappeared under my feet and I was just able to make the turns I wanted to make, let em run, make smaller turns, do whatever. They were easy to ski - they are significantly longer tip-to-tail than my 189 Squads and not much softer (they are quite stiff), but I felt totally comfortable and in control. Good stuff. Must find a pair of my own now.