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Post by gary on Sept 2, 2015 9:02:51 GMT -7
Hey gang...just got my first ski mag and it so pumps me up for the new season. Hope all are doing well SO LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!
My son just picked up a deal on the 2015 Blizzard Brahma...187...and yes he's a big boy, 6'3. 220lbs......Me, I couldn't arc that ski if my life depended on it! Looks like a really winner from everything I've been reading.
Me... Ok so last season I had a chance to ride a ski not sold in US ski shops...Svends daughter (hard charger) tried this ski at Blue Mountain, Canada...the Blizzard S Power IQ...she brought it with her to Banff and I got my moment..
WOW...it was instant love...having skied a few superb carving skis...I was blown away with how quick edge to edge it was....solid undefoot, enters turns quietly but with power, simply stated: point and shoot! When the morning perfect snow turned into crud piles, the S Power ski just plowed, carved and drifted through it.
As good as I felt the MX83 was...the versatility truly expanded with the S Power...Hard to believe but the 70 underfoot just does NOT feel that narrow. While it's quicker and easier to bring up on edge than the MX 83...it's ALL as good as the 83 in everything else including bumps. Not sure why it's not sold here but it truly brings back that "sweet carveability" feeling with expanded terrain capabilities.
SO impressed, I just had to order it...can't wait for more rides.
My current quivver for 2015 -2016:
Blizzard S Power 70 under foot
Kastle 94
Salomon Q105
Gonna be another fantastic ski season.!
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Post by livingproof on Sept 8, 2015 10:46:09 GMT -7
Gary, Your ski selections always make me smile. Just a few threads down is where you discussed buying the MX83, and, now they are history. But, hey, you would not be you unless something is changing in your quiver. All I can say is that I wish you bought skis one size longer, then, I'd be in line for castoffs.
I've always felt love for sub 70 carving skis, especially on my home mountain in Pa. They change edges very easily, are stable at the speeds I ski and grip on ice. I'll make it a point to get to Bristol this season so I can see the grins on your face when turning them. So, my best wishes for an enduring relationship (ha ha ha). Do you plan to take them on western trips? For me it would be a tough call to include them, if so, it would be a last minute decision depending on forecast weather. Big jump from the Blizzards to the Kastle 94. Many years ago, I took my Head Supershapes, also a 67 waist to Summit County in the springtime. They did not match well for conditions and I skied a 88 all week.
I hope Svend decides to post occasionally, as, he has interesting insights into new/deomo'd skis.
And, thanks for doing the first thread for the upcoming season.
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Post by gary on Sept 8, 2015 12:35:09 GMT -7
Hey Mike...Life is an adventure changing all the time....adapting is a wonderful thing! It's SO much find experiencing new products and for the few I post about I've tried many others.
I only make the change if I can redeem some benefit from that change. Typically, if I can gain versatility WITHOUT losing performance....it's in my quiver! AND yes....hope you can visit Alice and I this season for some skiing at Bristol.
Whether I take it out west or not...hmmmm...my thoughts are if I go out west in Dec...I'd take the Blizzards and Kastle 94's....just cause of early snow. Mid to end season...the 94's and 105's.
It's really hard to explain to all but the Kastle FX 94 does sooooo much soooo well.....
Still...If I could get 3 ( if Alice is going)...she typically takes just one pair so the S Powers could hitch a ride in her ski bag...now that would be cool.
I am looking forward to the little more narrow ski that skis like a mid 80's ski when the crud, loose snow and ankle high pow show up....yeeha!
Best to all, G
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Post by superbman on Sept 11, 2015 17:51:26 GMT -7
I still haven't found the right combo. This year I'm thinking of going with two pairs of skis (and one set of low snow, tree roaming Shamans). I'd like a one-off sl race ski (like the atomic redster, or Head Rebels, maybe that RC4..) and versatile 90-100mm ski. I really enjoyed the completely off the radar Dynastar Slicer I skied last year, also thinking about the K2 Pinnacle 95, or even the new Volkl Kendo (I've never owned a volkl!)-just something tree and east coast soft/ deeper snow worthy (that won't fall apart at medium speeds in heavy crud).
Of course, I am also trying to buy a full on DH bike at the moment as well, which might force me to make the economical choice and live with the 4 pairs of skis I already own.
Jackson Hogen raved about the new Atomic Vantage 85CTI skis…anyone else ski 'em?
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Post by ron on Sept 13, 2015 7:07:00 GMT -7
I am also looking forward to getting on my Head SL RD's! The temps here have been in the low 30's in the AM so that cold feeling triggers my brain to start to think more about skiing. I bought the new Enforcer for my 5-8" pow days and the Q105 is my dedicated pow sticks. Just love that ski! The day I skied it, i called Gary and told him to go buy it! The rocker profile is near perfect and the tapered tips and tails places the TR a bit back on the tips, and forward on the tails making the ski pivoty when needed/wanted but allows the ski to be carved and drifted. tremendous control over the ski. For 104 underfoot, its also very nimble in soft bumps and tight steeper spots.
I picked up the FX84 at the end of last season and this ski is phenomenal. Its my every dayer now and its really a narrower version of the FX94, but much better in the bumps. Its so good that the 94 is really not as important in my lineup. There's really nothing I can't ski on the 84 that I feel the "need" for the 94.
Fischer Motive 95. this is a TRUE all mountain ski. I tested this ski last season in loose snow in tight trees and steep lines at Copper. Damn, this ski, while not as refined or smooth as the FX94, has a tighter TR , holds a edge better, quicker edge-to-edge with superior bump performance over the FX94. This ski is seemingly just starting to get notice, but is a fantastic ski and sized correctly at 180. What is so interesting about this ski is that the 180 has become a favorite of many of my friends but we all range significantly in our sizes and power. Me at 170#, my friend Kevin who is super strong and 220# and my other friend Susan who is maybe 130-140 and Chris who weighs about 150. The Motive 95 also has incredible float for 95. This ski can be had for under $400 on STP so if you are looking for a super versatile 90-something ski, this one should be on the top of the list. It truly holds up against a Kastle or even a Stockli
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Post by superbman on Sept 13, 2015 14:53:18 GMT -7
I was looking at the reviews on real skiers for the Kastle FX 85 and FX 85HP…both interested me greatly, how similar are these to the FX 84 (if you have skied both..or is the 85 the 84??)
I am thinking hard about maximizing a skinnier stick for east coast all mountain skiing…85 could be the new 95...
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Post by ron on Sept 13, 2015 19:38:09 GMT -7
I haven't skied the new versions but check out Scott's (dawgcatching) reviews on Epic. His site is www.dawgcatching.com. From people I know who have skied it say its not that much different although the new version (85) does have some tail rocker which I don't want. however, it does grow to a realistic length of 180. I think (you need to check) he still has some 84's in stock in the 176. I am on the 176 and it's good, i just wish it was a bit longer. Speaking of reviews, Not sure I am totally on with the reviews here at RS for a few different skis. I think they got the review on the FX84 from last season wrong as well. Its a fantastic ski that is every bit as good as the 94, if fact, its the identical construction just narrower
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Post by livingproof on Sept 14, 2015 7:43:10 GMT -7
Am I the only one to notice the pendulum on ski width seems to be heading back to more narrow waist skis. I'm looking forward to Ron's review of his Head Sl skis, been almost a decade since he did anything this narrow, and, yes, Harald would approve. (ducking). I remember reading that the mid 80 waist ski was to become almost extinct, yet, the Kastle Fx 84, and it's near relatives, remain solid offerings for packed firmer snow. In the Epic forums, more are considering narrower. Never say never, but, my quiver looks to remain the same as last year. Rather than a mid 80, my preference continues to be the Hart Pulse 78. I just like skis that change edges a little faster.
For sure, we all have individual wants and needs based on our specific situations. I envy Ron for having the biggest and best home mountain area, the Boat gets a lot of the good stuff. I'd love to base my quiver around skiing there, but, not going to happen this winter (or next). Wants vs Needs, hmm, not sure I need anything, but, damn, I do want to keep looking for a ski that brings a big smile to my face.
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Post by ron on Sept 16, 2015 9:26:54 GMT -7
Mike its really important to understand that all 85mm wide ski's don't ski the same way and that a 85mm ski from 5 years ago may be drastically different today While my skills have progressed so have my tastes and my terrain preference. Since I ski trees and bumps now pretty much 90% of the time and ski AB and copper steeps, my ski choice has changed dramatically. Part of that is just learning what works best and choosing what is the best balance. For instance, in open powder (6" plus) I will still grab a 105-115 wide rockered ski because its so much fun. However, I've found that skiing tighter trees and bumps all day a narrower ski still gives me the float I need and want (95-105) for a day up to about 8" (which we get many ) but adds much more ease and efficiency needed for bumps, steeps and tighter trees. For groomer days and soft snow, I am just fine on my FX84''s. I could easily down-size to a 3 ski or possibly 2 ski quiver but I just enjoy different skis. The Sl's should be fun on firm groomers and to work on balance and form by skiing the SL's in crud and broken on easy terrain like blues.
an example of this is my avatar picture. I am skiing DPS112's, in some pretty tight trees (not where this was taken) and while the 112's are super-fun, skiing at these angles and this effort all day is tiring! A ski around 100 with much less rocker (tip and tail) requires less angulation and effort to turn and most importantly, speed control. A wider ski just wants to run in super dry light powder, which again is great in open terrain but in the trees, it requires more effort for speed control, the narrower ski drags much more (especially with little or no tail rocker) and is much easier to ski at a reasonable pace.
Todays skis with taper allow a ski to be pivoted in tight spots and don't get hooky on broken or irregular bumps. If you haven't skied a ski like this, you need to try one. The shovel on the FX84/94 or the motive 95 is designed as such and they are all great bump skis and great on steeper lines where you need a ski to release and then engage smoothly. With the shovel maintaining a wider profile further down (and TR located further down), you actually get more float from the ski as compared to a traditional design for a given width. Again, there's a balance here, with that design, you will give up some carviness over a traditional design but the gain off piste makes this a good choice.
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Post by livingproof on Sept 17, 2015 8:06:29 GMT -7
Ron, The above is well said! It's all about knowing yourself and the mountain(s) where you ski. There is no doubt my quiver would change if I lived in Colorado mountains. My skiing would change to become a far better all-mountain skier, i.e. crud, trees, steep bumps, bowls. Honestly, it's a situation I'd love to find myself addressing in real time. It is great to read reviews of the newer skis with fine tuning adjustments in western prime conditions. Makes my mouth water! Time to get the carvers ready for my real world.
So, here's to Gary and his new Blizzard S Powers which should rock his home mountain world at Bristol. Same to Svend's daughter who skis the other Blue Mountain in Ontario. BTW, it is funny to be on G's guy trip to Holimount and see all the people wearing season passes from the other Blue. I can just imagine Gary sweating what skis to bring the next time he heads west. Too many decisions.
I am impressed with the angles in your Avatar. You are far more flexible than my aging body.
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