Post by superbman on Aug 21, 2014 9:21:45 GMT -7
Piggy-backing on the real skiers review site thread, I have thought a lot lately about what really are the needs and considerations of an East Coast expert ski (or skier), especially in the coveted, elusive, if not downright mythical notion of the One Ski Quiver. All deference to Peter Keelty and Jackson Hogan, I don't think they really know or understand what the adventurous East Coaster is looking for in his or her all mountain hometown ski. Yeah, Peter has eastern roots…but skiing Stowe in the early 1960's is a completely different world than skiing Steaux in 2015. Their suggestions are close to the mark, and their divisions of Finesse Skis and Power Skis dance close to the edge of a revelation, but they still lean towards the 'everything is narrow, firm and crowded' model-which, while not without some grounding in reality, obscures the picture.
However, here, I am going to do some musing on what an expert, or any level 'east coast focused' all-around ski might look like, and what qualities matter and where the compromises lay. This is off-the cuff and mostly unorganized, so please see it as a though in progress. And, Since, this forum is overwhelmingly frequented by East Coasters (well-ski-traveled East coasters, but Easterners none the less), I think some really great insight might evolve.
Ok, So-What does an East Coast all a rounder Need? First-the majority of East coast 'experts', or at least East coast active ski enthusiasts (maybe we ought to save the ever troublesome 'expert' label for another thread), are what I'd call 'Front-side' experts. You might think you know what I mean, but let me add a few very specific qualifications:
1. Front Side Enthusiasts: Skiers who ski all of the 'on-the map' trails, in all-conditions: This includes Groomers (duh), Bumps (especially bumps on a snow-making based trail-something almost every resort in the east has and maintains, some more than others). They like powder, but will typically stick to the variety that falls on top of previously groomed trails or snow-making based bump runs. To them, expert 'off-piste' largely means ungroomed (but often with snow making snow as a base)-such as Outer-limits or Cascade/ Down Draft at Killington, or the Front Four at Stowe (undoubtedly legit expert terrain mind you), Ripcord at Mt. Snow. They also like good groomers, and want to ski 'steep' groomers like Avalanche at Cannon. If they are real east coast enthusiasts, they'll ski all surface conditions without too much complaint.
2. The Second category of East Coast All mountain enthusiast, and by far the smaller group, yet they are a significant minority) are The Real EAST COAST Off-Pisters. In a word, what they want are 'Glades.' And that is, all manner of East coast glades-from Chutes and Gully Narrow passages, to dense hemlocks with their oh-so rocky soils to wider Birch and Beech forests to those labyrinthine thickets of bramble and branches. They'll push the boundaries of 'In Bounds' (often linking turns along a long line of Blue National Forest/ Resort boundary markers). Occasionally, they'll ski out to roads. They'll use every bit of James Bond subterfuge to discern local's only 'enhancements' at every resort. They'll do a little boot packing as well. They wouldn't think of going to Cannon and Not skiing the Mittersill area or Kinsman Glades. Mostly, they want those long-lasting, hidden stashes, of soft or unbroken snow…and yes, they are willing to swish and slash through quite a bit of off-piste crap just to get the chance to make 10-20 turns in soft snow, while most are scraping around on groomers.
They are rarely bothered by 'thin-cover'; and have learned to ski across 'wet dirt' and grass or to hop when necessary (or to just accept that all All P-Tex is ephemeral but also replaceable!). They like bumps, and they like groomers-but they want a ski that plays to the varied difficult eastern glades more than to front side ripping. Not that they mind groomers and man-made snow moguls, but the ideal day is spent exclusively in the Glades of Jay Peak, or the Single Chair at Mad River (Or The Kennabago area at Saddleback to The New massive off-piste gladed areas at Sugarloaf) only hitting the run outs back to the lift. They're the sorts who say things like 'You know, Mt. Snow has way better glades than you'd think' and mean it. They haunt questionable lift line runs everywhere: From Magic to Berkshire East.
There are a number of commonalities in both groups, both will and do contend with precarious weather and the low-altitude surface issues endemic to the east from Jay Peak to Berkshire East. Both groups know that you need good edges to enjoy a ski day anywhere in the east on any day.
So, here what I've come up with thinking about this relationship between all mountain east coast enthusiasts and skis:
The one ski quiver is only possible for the former group, the Front-Side enthusiasts. There are actually quite a lot of skis that handle hard snow well, navigate bumps without beating the shit out of the pilot (assuming a base level of 3D ski skills), and will excel in average glades…which are usually so well traveled in the east that they are usually just enhanced, semi-scraped bump runs with obstacles (I think of all of the Glades that dump into the Canyon Chair at Killington as the prime example of this) and will easily churn through power and crud that sets up on typically groomed-snow making trails. Most of the skis recommended in Realskiers as 'all mountain east', seem to fit this mold: K2 Rictor 82xti, Kastle MX83 (and probably also the MX88), The Blizzard Brahma's and latigos, the Head Rev's, etc. Actually, for Front-side all mountain enthusiasts, the slight retraction towards capable 'modest' width skis away from chunkier models, while still retaining some early rise/ rocker, softer or more forgiving tails, top-flight near race room construction throughout whole model lines all adds up to the halcyon days of ski gear, I would think. Truthfully, you almost can't miss with any skis in this category, and the biggest challenge is getting the right size.
The second group is not-so-lucky, and will always face compromises every day. Yes, The Real East Coast Off-Pister will appreciate a ski that doesn't fall apart in brutally hard snow, and Bumps are probably the biggest commonality between the two groups. But, there is a bit of danger added to their pursuits that means they won't want skis that buck or refuse to bend when sudden logs, gully, firm unidentified mounds of snow, deep pocket of heavy snow followed by firm snow seize up the front of their skis. They want to turn, on a dime, away from sudden immoveable danger. And, Float is non-negotiable, they just cannot afford to sink as crap and danger lies only a few inches below their ski bases.
They hit the trees when it has only snowed 8 inches on a base of cold dirt ('Don't worry man, this stuff is really dense!' Ever heard that one?). Yes, some pivoting is in the cards, as is hopping, conforming to funky terrain and the aforementioned float. The real truth is, to get these abilities, you are going to have to trade up, in some cases, significantly trade up on front side expert abilities. None of the This is so true, that most 'all mountain Real' Off-Pisters rarely go to the hill with only one pair of skis. CAVEAT: I have some buds who firmly fit into this category and they throw around old-stiff Volkl Mantras and Bonafides, which err on the side of front side expert focused-God Bless 'em, but I that ain't for me or most who chase this terrain.
Personally, I'd like to find a Sub 100mm ski that plays more to the Off-Pister side of the spectrum, but still makes coming and going around a Big VT hill enjoyable, even after the Westchester and Fairfeld County hordes have 'Polished' the hills. I'm intrigued by the 'Finesse' models listed Realskiers in this category, but I am not sure any would really stand up as off-piste end of a two ski East Coast quiver.
Maybe Some Contenders;
Nordica Soul Rider: I have skied this at the end of last season and loved it in soft, deeper VT corn and slush…but I might have liked a pair of 6 foot 2 x 4 planks as well in those very wonderful conditions. But the slight rocker tip and tail, true twin tip, flex on the softer side of medium (and pretty pronounced side cut with top notch sandwich construction) certainly puts these near the top of an all-around to consider. Yeah, you'll give back quite a bit in firm frontside bumps and groomers to skis in the low 80's with some metal, but they're passable, and on soft-ish groomer downright fun.
K2 Shredittor 92: Only spent one brief run on these…Similar to the SR, but even more 'rockered' from and rear, a little stiffer flex (but not much) with a very different tip-tail shape. Definitely easier to pivot, and I'd bet, even with the 6mm narrower waist, they'd float as well or better. Less turn, more floaty-but due to width not horrible on the Front side (they we're fine in a few soft bumps too).
Icelantic Shaman 161cm: I think the length is critical with this ski in the east. It's a love or hate…and I mean even when yo are using it-you'll sometimes love it and sometimes hate it. Pros: You can swivel, stuff, carve, hop, bang, ride this little mother-fucker through the most ridiculously tight spaces in soft to very soft snow. On soft-ish groomers it is a real pleasure. It's weaknesses are: 1. In very deep or suddenly deep snow-it dives like Jacques Cousteau (and will hit dangers below and send you Flying), it was a dog in deep breakable crust 2. Really firm snow sucks. 3. It is not a fan of drifting or taking. In 3-7 inches of East Coast off-piste snow (Western more open skiing add 6 inches) or well-set up spring snow in tight glades, it can't be beat. Though, rolling over this wide ski hurts my knees (you have no idea how much I hate to admit that)..which is the real reason I want a thinner ski for eastern off-piste adventuring. The shaman works best when you lay it over, and laying over a level that wide and stiff hurts old dudes like me… Oh, and it is the best off-piste Toboggan running ski of all time for you dedicated Patrollers lurking on this site.
Liberty Sequence: Very Similar to The Shredittor
Other skis I'd like to try:
Blizzard Bushwacker and the no metal Version of the Bonafide.
Icelantic Gypsy SKNY: A 99mm waisted version of the Gypsy??? Man, that could be the holy grail of the East coast off-piste.
Basically, this is what I've come up with: The second level of East Coast all mountain Enthusiast needs at least two skis: 1. Dedicated front side ski…since they are resigned to getting two skis, they can go quite a bit narrower than the 1 ski quiver Front side expert (think a true SL ski, or something like the Head speed-depending on how important firm bump skiing is to the pilot). The second ski I'm mixed on…I'd love to find that Off-Piste Traveling companion that stacked up to snowy glades at Jay but had a modest waist width @ 95mm, but I wonder if the East Coast off-pister, with two skis would be better off with a fatter second ski-like the ever popular Nordica Patron or a Libery Helix or even an Icelantic Nomad RKR? Using pure personal observation and anecdotal evidence: that seems to be the way most East Coast Off-Pisters go. I can't count all the Rossi Soul 7's I saw swiveling through trees and stumps south of Canada and east Michigan last season.
I'll probably end up sticking with my 3-4 ski quiver, but the allure of simplifying is enticing. Two skis, happy knees, no compromises-can it be done for the East Coast Off-Pister Enthusiast? It is Easily done by the East Coast Front-Side Enthusiast.
Anyway, as if gear selection wasn't complicated enough, I wanted to throw out my ideas for further expansion and categorization on East Coast All-Mountain skiers and the skis that'll suit them.