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The best powder weapon on the planet??

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Down's pre-season sale has got me all hot under collar, so I have decided to start dreaming early this year Very Happy

Last season sucked, so this one will be all levels of EPIC! As such I will NEED a new tool!

I ask the question,

What is the greatest powder slaying plank on this beautiful planet?


The rules:

1. Not narrower than 110 not wider than 130
2. No noodles!
3. We are not floating down japanese rice fields, this is an alpine machine
4. It's just me but you can ignore it, i don't really want a pin tail (reason why i haven't order a pair of down SD115s yet)
5. If the radius is under 20m there better be a good reason for it! wink
6. Not under 185cm
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Well, I could sell you my 190 cm ON3P Wrenegade 112s for a good price and then you'll know first hand! wink They check all your boxes. Plus they are nearly indestructible.


From what I've heard, you certainly have the technique and power to master them. I love them, but as a cube jockey I find the DPS 112s more versatile, and having added the Whitedot Ranger Carbonlites, which are a bit easier to maneuver than the ON3Ps, I have too much quiver overlap.
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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?
If no pin tail is a must then the Whitedot Redeemer CL is very hard to beat.

Semi pin's are superb so you should definately consider the SD115's (I've got last years CDC3's) which ski very much like the awesome PM Gear LLasa's/Kusala's but without the price/availability issues.
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A snowboard *runs away*
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I fondled a 4FRNT Renegade recently, that ski just seems so totally dialed to me. Last season's are on sale in several Austrian/German shops atm too.
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Nooooo stop it.
I swapped my much loved Preachers last year for something a little narrower and a lot lot lighter. But it just wasn't the same. Now I'm thinking stick some dynafiddles on something 110+ I guess carbon.
I watch with interest. Horizon tell me about the rangers cl.
ski holidays
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Richard_Sideways, please see Rule 2 wink

The rest of you, all are great options! not sure if the old Wrenegade might be a little much for my desk trained legs Embarassed

Just out of curiosity, any non-Boutique type companies making headway on your wish lists? (Blizzard maybe?)
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
I'd go for Lotus 120s meself
What's the issue with pintails? I'm always a bit confused about pintails cos the tail is almost always narrower than the tip and I don't know at what point that becomes a pintail Puzzled
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dulcamara wrote:
Just out of curiosity, any non-Boutique type companies making headway on your wish lists? (Blizzard maybe?)


I'd definitely look at the Blizzard range if I was in the market for new skis. Maybe Black Crows too (not sure if they count as boutiquey)
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Quote:

at what point that becomes a pintail


Rule of thumb I was quoted is 2:1 offset from the waist... My fear is a ski that will drift when i want it to carve still!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
WD Redeemer - fat n happy on pretty much anything except piste. Definitely not a a one trick powder noodle. Then again, the good old WD Preacher is really pretty good everywhere... if the operator can adjust accordingly.
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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.
Arno wrote:
dulcamara wrote:
Just out of curiosity, any non-Boutique type companies making headway on your wish lists? (Blizzard maybe?)


I'd definitely look at the Blizzard range if I was in the market for new skis. Maybe Black Crows too (not sure if they count as boutiquey)


+1

Also maybe Black Diamond Megawatt? Kästle BMX 118 or 128 if you wanna get spendy. New Moment Bibby, but also quite pricey now and it really didn't need softening...

FWIW Blue Tomato have the Renegades at 40% discount (I've been considering them too as I get an extra 15% discount for freelancing for them, but that's really not the quiver slot I need to fill. If only they had the Hojis...): http://www.blue-tomato.com/de-AT/product/4FRNT+Ski-Renegade+186+2014-301311611-uni/?back=KLVvXQ

EDIT: Huh, really clever affiliate linking when it Be Nice please! up the link to the actual product rolling eyes Laughing
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Atomic Automatic does it for me. -20m I know but great in tight trees, gullies etc. where the powder usually is! Also burly enough to give your legs a good workout on the skin up... Toofy Grin
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
jbob wrote:

I watch with interest. Horizon tell me about the rangers cl.


Here you go: (might as well finally post my review in a separate thread, so I don't derail this one)
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=2554632#2554632
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
2 m swallowtail snowboard.

For skis there is lots of good stuff but you're probably limiting yourself a lot if you rule out 5 point shapes due to the pintail.

For a full tail the Ranger ticks most boxes but isn't a pure pow ski.
ski holidays
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Arno wrote:
dulcamara wrote:
Just out of curiosity, any non-Boutique type companies making headway on your wish lists? (Blizzard maybe?)

I'd definitely look at the Blizzard range if I was in the market for new skis.....

The new Blizzard Spur looks like it'll do the job & there's some good pre-launch reviews out. Similar flipcore construction as their Bodacious/Cochise freeride range but without the metal layers.

http://youtube.com/v/yZp0dm4K7MY
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Another vote for the WD REDEEMER.

Bought a pair last season after a few years on the preacher were thoroughly enjoyed. I thought the redeemer would be a powder day only ski but found it really versatile for anything but bulletproof piste. Despite the full rocker it smashes through crud with confidence and the float in powder is lovely. Still got plenty of stiffness so you can push it hard but not so much that my "UK based three times a season" legs can't handle them.
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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?
Another vote for the WD REDEEMER.

Bought a pair last season after a few years on the preacher were thoroughly enjoyed. I thought the redeemer would be a powder day only ski but found it really versatile for anything but bulletproof piste. Despite the full rocker it smashes through crud with confidence and the float in powder is lovely. Still got plenty of stiffness so you can push it hard but not so much that my "UK based three times a season" legs can't handle them.
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Nordica Dobermann SL-R 165cm. No problem kick turning on those bad dogs!
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dulcamara wrote:

What is the greatest powder slaying plank on this beautiful planet?


You're right that one plank (singular) is all you need.

If you have two then carrying the second board under one arm is easy enough but mostly people don't bother with that.

Personally I'll wait and see what there is next season, ride a few boards until I find one which is as good as what I was on last season and probably stick with that.

With one or two exceptions now and then, I don't think things change particularly quickly season on season. Getting a board which happens to match your weight/ style is more important than getting whatever the "new" designs may promise. Fashion plays a large part too: a lot of stuff comes in cycles.
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dulcamara, OFFS! . . . JUST BUY A SNOWBOARD . . . There's only so much bullocks worth hearing from yous 2 plankers about powder tools rolling eyes
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
C6 Bones 180 only fails on last rule...

The c6 stuff is making me hot to splash cash Very Happy
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Wow, snowboarders are super grumpy and opinionated.

Still, at least they aren't telemarkers, eh?

dulcamara wrote:
Rule of thumb I was quoted is 2:1 offset from the waist... My fear is a ski that will drift when i want it to carve still!


You want to carve powder? Well, each to their own.

110 to 130 is a pretty big bracket. Why not get two pairs? snowHead
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Renegade and Kusala are a nose ahead (the redeemer looks lovely but so expensive) both would make very happy, but I might keep looking around.... Let's be honest this is by far the most fun ski of a quiver to buy Very Happy Very Happy

daveminion, Not heard of C6, nice to see the Kiwis in the mix. That all looks super short though! 180 with that bigass rocker is going to handle like a snowblade wink

Masque, I dunno why but i always thought you were a skier.. weird Puzzled

philwig, Random question for boarders, though not wanting to get into a big debate, skis are going through all sorts of re-designs, big shape and material changes, it's quite an exciting time (if you are a geek like me and interested in that stuff)... boards doing the same?
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Serriadh, i ski Powder like a racer... it's my thang

i have 110 skis (sexy BD Zealots) but was trying to keep it broad
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Have you skiied the Renegade? Might be a bit of a gamble if you haven't; the shape doesn't seem to suit everyone's skiing style. 4Frnt's reverse camber geometry seems to attract more negative feelings than, say, Blizzard's, but maybe that's just an artefact of it having been about longer and gone through a revision or two.

For another non-indy option, have you seen the new Volkl One and Two?

(and if you haven't already done so, go read through Blister's reviews of everything. no shortage of powder ski porn there)
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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.
dulcamara,
Quote:

i ski Powder like a racer... it's my thang


for fast big turns then the Redeemer from Whitedot, if you were wanting a more turny fun powder ski then I would always go for the Movement Flyswatters, I usually end up back on the Flyswatters as they are so much fun and easy to ski Toofy Grin
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
The Kamoshika from Idris Skis - yes it's named after a Japanese goat/antelope but it was designed in Chamonix - Ticks all your boxes

190cm - 34m turn radius, 125mm underfoot - Makes powder slaying easy - run out of room trying to find a speed limit in pow - probably had them up to 80mph in waist deep fluff and that was on the 180's

Oh and for Snowheads there is a great deal on the price (PM me for details) - more on this in August
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
dulcamara wrote:
...Random question for boarders, though not wanting to get into a big debate, skis are going through all sorts of re-designs, big shape and material changes, it's quite an exciting time (if you are a geek like me and interested in that stuff)... boards doing the same?



I've not yet seen "next season's" gear, but for powder boards, not really, in my humble opinion. I'd be interested to hear differently - I don't know what I don't know.

My expertise is in powder boards for mixed terrain, where "traditional" big powder boards never worked, and "carving powder" is using the word "powder" differently from me.


In my view reverse camber was a much bigger issue for powder skiers than for snowboarders. Now you get "park stance" skiers in the back country, thanks to their gear. Even poor snowboarders could always ride powder.

Powder snowboards were soft and flattish anyway. People experimented with weird base profiles but they don't make that much difference, or they didn't work. A reverse camber board feels like it's reverse camber, but works the same as a flat board or a standard camber board. I ride all three and it makes no difference at all. Your feet are both on the same board and some distance from the center, and as you're not using the camber for turning, that makes sense.

For powder Burton has broadly gravitated back to a "classic" base profile (eg the Fish), with a little camber, and a de-cambered nose. So now both my piste race board and my powder board have essentially the same profile, albeit differently tuned. Sure, they still market a range of "profiles", but at root this stuff doesn't make a lot of difference. It's more about fashion/ marketing than engineering.

Reverse camber park boards seem to work better in powder than traditional park boards did; that's not an issue if you're riding dedicated powder boards, but it's good if you're not. I think that's a reflection of the park, where you don't need to be able to carve, unlike the pipe. So you can make park boards more powder friendly and get away with it.


Snowboarding at the moment is extremely traditional and conservative, perhaps like skiing was when boards first started to be used. Our competitive focus is on subjectively judged aerial ballet, so that's not a driver for change. There is some innovation, but unsurprisingly none of it coming from the mainstream. At the fringes... Asmo builds interesting noboards using different materials, and the race scene embraced metal years ago....


What specific things have they done to ski design this season/ last season which are making a difference in powder?
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Hehe, nano tubes baby 😉 ask sportiva!

No, maybe I'm not the right person to answer this (given the manufacturers who are on here) but if they won't. I'll have a stab at answering that seriously ... Off to a meeting now Crying or Very sad
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
dulcamara, I swing MANY ways wink


but first and always a snowboarder. Tele in powder is the only thing that comes even remotely close to a board and you don't need a boat nailed to each foot to manage it.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Kind of agree, but disagree with philwig.

I agree that the Rider market is pretty conservative when it comes to changing the basic formula too far and change the ride characteristics away from what they're used to... But from looking at the 2014/15 season catalogues a lot of the board manufacturers have gone for shaped boards, with cut away nose and tail sections. Pretty much every manufacturer is touting a new silhouette in their range as well as a selection of cambers. How effective any of these are is debatable, most are likely done for brand differentiation,

A lot of these new shapes seem trace their DNA back to the designs from Gentemstick in Japan who have been doing some interesting things with snowboard shape for about 15 years.
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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?
Gentemstick's boards make we want to start snowboarding again.

In terms of powder skis there seems to be a lot of work going on with tip shapes, amounts of rocker and camber and materials. The skis I bought last year are different in this years version let alone the skis I bought two years ago.
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I want a Gentemstick just to mount on my wall!

I'd say there's still a hell of a lot of refinement going on in ski rocker/camber profiles these days. The days of huge banana rocker are nearly over; long subtle and low rocker is the way forwards.
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@Richard_Sideways ... perhaps it's stating the obvious that major players don't innovate because they are already winning.

As I said I've not ridden "next season's" boards, but you're right that they appear to have been playing with plan shapes as much as anything. Very visually entertaining, but those things look like cosmetic changes to me.

The Fish's "double ST" is a case in point. I have a Fish from the first model year. It feels slightly different from more modern versions, but not significantly so. They're all basically the same, with the exception of one or two model years when the lunatics controlled the asylum. I doubt anyone would be able to feel the difference between last year's mini-ST and this year's "mini-double-ST". There may be no innovation at all there.

The last significant switch from my perspective was the shift from "go big or go home" (when people rode big boards like the Supermodel Mk1) to smaller tapered boards (Fish, Khyber). People will point out that tapered boards inherit from much older designs too. (I realize some people still ride big boards {Tankers, STs}, but not in mixed terrain in my experience.)
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philwig, there were some monster sized boards at Copper last year 170+ all flailing around on the groomers rolling eyes
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jbob, what did you swop the Preachers for? I am currently looking for Preacher replacements and am struggling.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Dublinfella, I swapped them for some K2 Hardsides with f12 bindings.
The Hardsides have been greatish this year and I've skied them almost every day whatever the snow or place, they have been solid at everything, a proper one ski quiver. I've used them with my at boots so maximum comfort and a really light setup, however while they have been ok on all snow from deep powder to hard pack they are not great at anything and are certainly not the grin inducing sticks in the deep stuff the preachers were. Truth is I don't need to have a one ski quiver I have a large estate car and two garages at my disposal ffs, and while I did need to lighten up a bit, I missed my powder day skis. Crying or Very sad
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Mabe some things here you might like, 186 ON3P Billy Goat? http://www.blacksheepsports.de/Ski/Freeride-Ski/2/
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I'd say it's the innovation in snowboard development that's rejuvenated the ski industry, with the hybrid camber designs giving both skiers and snowboarders the stability and carving ability of a cambered board with the catch free float of a reverse camber board. Personally the main board I now ride is a Jones Hovercraft which is basically a race board with a rockered nose, due to the profile and surface area it does float like an old fashioned barge of a board but unlike them you can turn it on a pin which makes it awesome in trees, but it makes deep powder a breeze and on piste you can hammer it.
Next year's boards may not be hugely different to the last couple of seasons but there's only so many things you can do to a plank of wood, there's a few new shapes but as the others have said the camber profiles tend to more subtle than before.
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