 Poster: A snowHead
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I have been skiing off-piste for a few years now but have only recently tried fat skis as I staunchly wished to persevere with the technique I have built up over the years even in the deepest powder on the steepest slopes with skinnies. When it got to the point last season that all my buddies switched and blew me away I decided to give them a try. Wow, wow and thrice wow! Converted! at least for steep AND deep. I have hired pocket rockets and Rossi B3's. I am told Seth Pistols "rock" (is that a good thing I wonder - I'd prefer them to be stable at speed). I would use them for big powder days. I prefer shorter turns rather than mega fast sweeping lines. I am in Val d'Isere from 16th and St Anton from 23rd and wish to choose a pair to buy during this coming period. Any advice would be wecome 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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B00thy,
I am in the same boat, but maybe between styles/technique rather than skis. I can't help you with Fats as I don't like anything wider than 75m waist underfoot. I feel that XX's suit me fine for most conditions and the whole mountain. The only place they don't really work for me is on crust where a heavier ski might blast right through. But as I only take one ski with me and in the event of a dump I would have to hire an unknown ski, I am a bit loathe to do it. Unless it is super-deep I would probably stay on my all-rounders. And for days out in the back I still stick to something like a XX or Ini 74 becaseu I feel comfortable on being able to work it on.
whatever I might find.
The only ski I have used which I would call skis fat is a B2 which I know isn't a fat ski but it skis big and planky which I don't like. I prefer more nimble skis. The one compromise I am considering is a Merton b5. It has a mid-fat waist, and huge side-cut and weighs a ton, apparently, so I am hoping it skis nimble but performs fat in
dificult condition because of its weight and float.
I have seen guys ski big GS turns in steep snow and it looks great but I am like you, I need to know I can get them round in a tight gully. I am not sure Fats would work for me in there.
Skis I have heard good things....but haven't tried are Nordica Beast which is supposed to be one up on pocket rockets but is manageable on piste, 92m waist and the Dynastar Legends 8000/8800. I am a fan of Dynastar so I will be checking these out but maybe the 8000 or 6200 as I want the one all-rounder. Maybe the solution is to hire on those very rare big powder days...
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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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Rather than trying to strap a pair of overweight deformed snowboards to your feet, just buy one decent one and discover why God makes powder,
Jeeez . . . you'd think you stick tanglers would have learned by now!
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OTOH, if big a fat plank is good wouldn't two be twice the fun ? 
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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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Good point Masque , and well made. I enjoy boarding as well as skiing and enjoy both in powder. How does it compare for you?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Best advice is to demo. both Val and St Anton have a good choice of fat skis to hire. Are these going to be your only skis? If so, you are also going to use them on piste sometimes. Your main trade off is float v manouverability (needed for short turns which you prefer). also note that some of the fat skis are very stiff and, again, not so good for short turns.
I demoed plenty of wider skis over a few seasons and in the end bought a 83mm waisted ski (these days that's considered a mid fat only), with a fairly soft flex, which works well in all conditions for me (72kg/187cm).
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Snowman, my main skis are Stockli Stormriders, 75 at the boot. They grip well enough on hardpack and are not bad in bumps. I intend the fats for deep days. As I ski 40-50 day a season it may mean I only use them 10 times max a season but worth buying still.
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B00thy,
Lucky you! as you already have a 75mm ski, then I would definitley go fat. Try Voelkl Explosives, they have a cult following amongst hardcore skiers. they are fairly stiff skis though.
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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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B00thy, On a powderfield every skier is my enemy . . . mind you so are the boarding bulldozers that spend their downhill time making giant moguls. When will they learn that powder has its own speed-brake! But I've just had my Achilles stitched back together so for the first part of this season I'm on skis for the support so I've got a pair of Atomic SX10's to play around the slalom poles. I've also got to beat Mark Hunter to a Flech D’or. He has a bronze and a DNF, I've a DNF (f'd Achilles) and I'll do my second run the week after next.
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Do they still make Volkl Explosivs for 2005? They seem to have disappeared from the catalogue.
If it's purely for deep powder days then I reckon you would demo:
Volkl Gotama
K2 Seth Pistols
Stockli Stormrider DP's (if you can find 'em)
Rossi Scratch BC
Nordica Beast
Scratch BC and Seth Pistols are the only ones of those I've tried. Like you I prefer shorter turns to big fast lines, so I reckon you should get on well with these. I found them both suprisingly agile edge-to-edge in short turns - and even more suprisingly they are big fun for carving on the piste and through the crud. I ended up buying the Scratch BC as I got a very good deal at £350 with bindings, saved nearly £200 over the K2's. The Pistols are 3-5cm wider and a little stiffer, but for me not a lot between them on feel, price being equal I would have got the K2s though. Didn't get chance to try the Pistols in deep powder and that's where they should have an edge.
Suprised you got on with Pocket Rockets if your normal ski is a Stockli Stormrider XL. I hated the PR's, felt far too soft and floppy for me even off-piste... but horses for courses 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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johnnyrotten,
You are probably right as Voelkl had a major revamp of their range this season . BTW they are now owned by K2 who also bought Marker.
I am not really up to speed with this season's skis as I bought my Voelkl V-Pro last season and stopped looking at skis. I am sure you could get the Explosiv on the internet from one of the auction sites or find old stock at one of their distributors.
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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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B00thy,
Agree with others here that it's best to rent different models and see what works for you. St Anton is full of ski shops you should have no problem renting a few different fats. The Mad Trix Mojo is very similar to the PocketRocket but stiffer and wood core.
PS I can't believe someone has mentioned Seth pistols without WTFH posting a picture of his 
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Sorry, I only got back from skiing on Saturday, and am in my new job today.
Seth Pistols all the way for an off-piste ski.
Picture to be posted later.
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You know it makes sense.
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johnnyrotten, I wouldn't say I got on well with the Rockets - they were OK. Are the Stockli Stormrider DP's black - they have some in Jennewein in St Anton and were well stiff. I intend trying them in a couple of weeks.I have seen the Gotamas about too! The beasts seem to have vanished from St A but have been out for a while I s'pose (3 years?)
DB, Mad Trix Mojo ? Is Mad the manufacturer - excuse m'ignorance 
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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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B00thy, Head make the Mad Trix
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Poster: A snowHead
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B00thy,
No, it is Head.
This is what snowrental said
Big 7's with a grab, if that is your "bag" then these are the Daddies, if you're wondering what I'm talking about then it is because these skis are very specialist and aimed squarely at the big jumpin', hard spinnin' generation found lurking in the Powder Parks of Europe and North America. The 89mm underfoot gives you the float in powder and the landing pad for huge airs in the Park or Backcountry. Volkl V-Pro, Salomon Pocket Rocket, and K2's Seth Pistol all spring to mind, but this is the one aimed very much at spinning high.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Hmmm. JT, I am a couloiry sort of guy who traverses and hikes to find deep untracked powder fields with an occasional (smallish) jump off a ledge. I have been upside down a few times but only unintentionally. When in the park I walk the dog. When on the table top I dance. The only grab I know comes after smash. I guess I am not what gnarlies would call a dude. Are they still for me?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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Any advice out there for those of us who are smaller than average. 5'3"....9 1/2 stone. Don't like Pocket Rockets - what else is out there ?
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ski, Rossignol skis are, in general, made for the french who have a smaller, lighter build. You might try the Rossi B3's.
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ski, Demo the Rossi Scratch BC's and see what you think. I'm 5'11' and 10.5 stone (probably less now after this last week off work with flu  ). I like a stiff ski that I can kick around agressively, I haven't really clicked with Rossi skis before but these I love. I ski them at 182cm, try the 176 maybe. I hated the Salomon PRs, far too limp, the Scratch BC are stiffer and more responsive. You'd probably like the Seth Pistols too, I did, they may look like a total beast of a powder-only ski but they're suprisingly easy to get on with. I'd happily ski them anywhere, all day, (except for in the bumps, ouch)
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B00thy, johnnyrotten, Thanks, found some Dynastar Inspireds from last year that were a bit cheaper...so they're on their way to me now !
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FAQ
). Although it's name and the advertising blurb indicate it to be a trick ski it also serves very well as all mountain deep snow ski. I've just bought my second pair on ebay. It works much better on the piste and is much more stable in the powder than the PR, the only spinning I do is when I'm washing my ski socks. 
