 Poster: A snowHead
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Down Skis will open their pre-sale on 1st August, a great chance to get some cool skis with unusual designs and great build quality at excellent prices. A lot of their skis have high carbon content, making them pretty lightweight and an excellent choice for people who expect to tour for some of their lines. I've been using their 7 since late last season as a soft snow touring ski, and have been very impressed with its capabilities.
The owner, Gregor, is a really nice guy, so if you're interested in any of the skis drop him an email and he'll talk you through them. What he says:
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4 days left until our Annual Pre-Sale!
So Sunday usually is the day of rest, but we here at DOWN never rest in our mission to deliver more value to our skiers. Today our post is about price...plain and simple. (see our previous posts on how DOWN saves you $$$).
Below are the official prices for our 13/14 pre-sale. As noted these are a once a year pricing and like last year we expect to sell out the whole line-up again. Again, like last year returning customers get 10% off the already great pre-sale prices!
13/14 Pre-sales Prices:
NEW: CountDown Carbon 0: 379E
Updated: CountDown Carbon 1 Carbon: 379E
Updated: CountDown Carbon 2: 349E
Updated: CountDown 3 Original 299E
NEW: CountDown Carbon 3: 359E
Updated: CountDown Carbon 4: 329E
Updated: CountDown 5: 309E
Updated: CountDown Carbon 6: 339E
NEW: CountDown Carbon 7: 349E
Flat rate shipping: 10E (In mainland Europe)
Delivery time: Shipped before December 1st (and we will work hard to make that deliver date earlier!)
*Quantities are limited so we may sell out of specific models before the end if the pre-sale.
So all that being said we are here to answer any questions you have about DOWN. Contact us anytime.
GET MORE, GET SMART, GET DOWN!
-G
Founder, DOWN FREE Sarl (CH) |
http://www.downskis.com/
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sound quite good, can you point us in the direction of some reviews?
cheers
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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davidhammy, the Blister review is probably the best one, there are some floating around on TGR too. Apparently there are several Italian reviews floating around (a lot of Italian guide bought seemingly use the 4 and 6), but that's not too helpful.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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clarky999, How is the 7 on harder snow? I fancy a rockered alternative to my preachers but I usually only take 1 pair of skis on holiday so they have to manage some piste days with friends/family. I was also looking at the 2 since I fancy something with less sidecut, but it does look like a lot of ski.
I know there are other options out there (I was all set for carbonlite directors) but the Down presale prices are seriously tempting, the money saved would pay for a couple of weekends skiing!
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Jamied9, they're not a piste ski, but they're good for the size unless the snow is very hard-packed or icy. They hold an edge fine, but don't expect to carve them in those sort of conditions. Fantastic on soft and slushy groomers. When you lay 'em over they carve nice mid-size turns. On ungroomed hard snow they're great as long as it's pretty consistent, though when things get cut up (hard frozen deep crud) I'd rather be on my heavier, damper skis - but that's the tradeoff between every lightweight/carbon ski and a traditional wood/metal/glass ski. They really are great in powder and corn though, much of the surfiness of my bigger skis in a narrower and lighter package.
Edit: Might be worth pm-ing Markymark29 as he has a pair too (can't remember if he's skied them yet though).
Last edited by After all it is free  on Thu 1-08-13 22:47; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Gave in and ordered some twos
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| springbok45 wrote: |
| Gave in and ordered some twos |
Nice! I'm umming and aahing over the 1s. Definitely do not need, yet definitely do want... Would also love to try the 5s, but I can't really imagine using them that much - though I've never skied anything like them before so hard to tell. Maybe next season...
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| clarky999 wrote: |
| springbok45 wrote: |
| Gave in and ordered some twos |
Nice! I'm umming and aahing over the 1s. Definitely do not need, yet definitely do want... Would also love to try the 5s, but I can't really imagine using them that much - though I've never skied anything like them before so hard to tell. Maybe next season... |
I know what you mean, I've got that nagging doubt that I should've got the zeros. Now I need to decide what bindings to stick on them
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spyderjon, too many tempting options! I'll try to give you a call about the whitedot deals, I really like my preachers and like the sevice they give so would happily stay with the brand. Plus, they'd need QK'd anyway so I'd save money by not having to send them down to you.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm going to stop looking at this thread before I do something stupid.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| fatbob wrote: |
| I'm going to stop looking at this thread before I do something stupid. |
Do it, make me feel better 
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Poster: A snowHead
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fatbob, tell me about it. I've had one pair of skis this summer that I have yet to tell my wife about. There probably shouldn't be another.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Jamied9, from the WD line, the Rangers are closer to the 7 than the Directors. Comparing my sister's Directors to the 7s, the camber and longer sidecut section on the 7s (and likely the Ranger, from what I can tell from the web pics) definitely makes them more capable onpiste. The Directors are more an 'everyday offpiste ski' than 'everyday, everything' ski to my mind.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| clarky999 wrote: |
| ......The Directors are more an 'everyday offpiste ski' than 'everyday, everything' ski to my mind. |
+1
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| fatbob wrote: |
| I'm going to stop looking at this thread before I do something stupid. |
Buy the skis
(high time I got my own back!)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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fatbob, Just out of interest, which skis were you thinking of buying?
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ALQ, None
But prob the Carbon 3 or the 7 for a bit more of a giggle. Quite like the idea of the 5 for a specialist ski though.
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Good choices. The 3 looks great, but would like try out the 5.
Hmmm difficult to decide between them especially at those super low, bargain prices....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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When my Bibbys die (should get one more season out of them) I think the non-carbon 3 will be the replacement.
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Hi guys, great to see the interest in this thread!
If anyone has specific questions or just need to be pushed over the edge, we´re here to help... 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Step away from this thread. Step away from...
clarky999, OK - I've a "friend" with a pair of 190 WD Preachers and a pair of 180 non-carbon Redeemers. What Down ski would best complement that quiver, d'ya reckon?
(those are silly prices - are these guys nicking their carbon from crashed Stealth bombers or something)
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Big Paua, what quiver niche would you want to cover? The 3 would give you a nice slightly chargier allrounder, 6 or 7 good touring options...
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clarky999,
Thanks. Probably the touring oriented options which is what caught my eye on a first look at the site.
I think the Redeemers cover me for when it gets silly deep and cruds of various consistency and the Preachers also do that plus everything else. However, the Preachers (which used to be my absolute everyday driver) and I are not getting on that well at the moment - not sure why; the three-season itch, perhaps? - and my eye is wandering...open to advice
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You know it makes sense.
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| Big Paua wrote: |
clarky999,
Thanks. Probably the touring oriented options which is what caught my eye on a first look at the site.
I think the Redeemers cover me for when it gets silly deep and cruds of various consistency and the Preachers also do that plus everything else. However, the Preachers (which used to be my absolute everyday driver) and I are not getting on that well at the moment - not sure why; the three-season itch, perhaps? - and my eye is wandering...open to advice |
Sounds like you´re looking to replace your everyday ski?
I´d recommend the 2 or the 6 depending on how wide you want to go in a freeride ski that also tours very well. There is a thorough review of the 6 coming up on http://exoticskis.com/exoticskis/home.aspx, though they have a little tease of what´s coming in their short article on our presale. The 7 could also be appropriate if you want something slightly turnier and more jibby.
We don´t steal our carbon anywhere (nor any of the other materials going into the ski or the craftmanship for that matter ), we´ve simply cut away anything that does not add value to the skis from our company structure. There is something called lean business practice, but I think we´re borderline anorexic.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Big Paua, Personally I'm really happy with the 7s for touring. Light and narrow enough to make the up less of a chore, but retain much of the surf and performance of my bigger skis on the way down. Exactly what I wanted, if I'm lugging skis up to the top of something cool with great snow, I don't want to hold back on the way down. Though they have a smaller sidecut they also have a fair amount of tip taper, so are perfectly happy to smear out long turns. Not at all hooky. 6s are presumably a little easier going up, but not quite as good going down.
If you're more thinking about replacing the Preachers, the 2 is probably the best option.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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clarky999, Buddy, PLEASE stop pulling this thread up to the top, it is taking every ounce of self control I have to not Buy a pair of 3s and just Quiver Killer them!!!
If I buy any more new kit this year I'm going to be the most expensive guy on the mountain!!
Also sort your life out and get down to the Arlberg this winter, upgrading resorts!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I feel the same as I am about to buy a a pair of 6's!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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dulcamara, Wasn't me!
Will for sure be around the Arlberg at some point (I have 3 days there on my pass). Have a big tick list around here too, we should definitely hook up. Have you skied Achensee? Lead to believe there's a poo-poo-tonne of of skin-accessed goods (with a tram to get you up the first part). Really keen to check out Montafon too.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Well,
Got Montafon down, know that one pretty good so if you're ever bored of Tirol, I'd be happy to show you some lines.... (some really fun short climbs, and at mid season the Zamang spitz to the valley is a ridiculously long powder run with virtually no tracks)
Not been to Achensee, might be keen, but it's a bit of a trek and with the whole of the arlberg to explore for the first season, I think if I'm completely honest, not sure i'll be able to build up the enthusiasm to make it over...
Back to the skis, I will entertain the idea... you know anyone who's tried the original 3's? Tempted to just mount them with normal bindings and have them as a lift fed charger... but as a "charger" I'm a little concerned about the super short running length when things get hard! and also that I'm not gonna have any fun on the millions of miles of pistes in the Arlberg....!
For info that takes the BC quiver to the following: I'm just concerned the 3's would never get used if they do the same job as the Zealot (an easy charger)
Black diamond Zealots 182 + Barons (short climbs and daily driver)
Ski Logik Howitzer 186 + Radical FTs (touring)
(Down 3 190) + what ever I can rip off an old rig..... (charger)
If you can be ar$ed, thoughts?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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downskis, actually out of interest, where are you guys based?
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We are based in Geneva, Gregor lives there, while I live in Norway. I´m sure you can get in touch with Gregor directly if you´re headed in that direction and have a look at the skis...
Regarding the 3, it will certainly offer a different feel than the Zealots. Primarily I think you´ll find the 3 to be more stable at speed, a better pow ski and handle chop and crud better than the Zealot. (This is based on the assumption that these are the Zealots you own: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/2011-2012-black-diamond-zealot, have a look at the CountDown 3 review as a comparison: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/2012-2013-down-skis-coundown-3 and the update to that review: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/update-2012-2013-down-skis-countdown-3.)
The changes to the 3 this year (thicker bases and edges, a little extra rubber, new rocker profile) has made it a touch more damp than last years, and also means it has a more "planted" feel on hard snow where it´s easier to use the full length of the sidecut than on last years model. Radius is still 41m though (tip 29, mid 55, tail 35), so you have to go real fast in order to get any kind of carving-action out of it on groomers, think big GS - SG turns. I really like it on harder surfaces and groomed snow, though preferably on pistes that I know well and without too many other skiers... Gets you back to the lift-line really quickly.
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downskis, Tempted to hold off until the Metal 3 comes out, definitely excited about that..... get on it buddy!!!
Geneva literally couldn't be further away from me! (Buchs, SG) maybe if work drags be that way...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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dulcamara, no worries, I'll definitely be in touch re. Montafon and Arlberg anyway. Just need to pick up some dynafiddles!
Re. the skis... I haven't skied the 3s, but I'd have though that just the extra length/width and reduced sidecut should make them much more stable at high speeds than the Zealots. If you can get in touch with marius on TGR, he skis them a lot so should be able to help. I think he (or his mates) also have a small demo fleet here in IBK, which could be an option (maybe downskis know more about that? Can't go too wrong at the price though 
Also totally agree that the 3 metal would be absolute €€€!!
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The Lad just ordered a pair of 6s for Japan.
Great service from Down.
PSA: If you are a guide/instructor and contact Down they may offer you a further discount
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FAQ
