 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm planning on either a non-working season or moving to a city within easy striking distance of the alps this upcoming winter, so feel like it's time to get my own pair of skis. But I'm having trouble deciding which ones to pick!
After a lot of research I've slightly narrowed it down to three - trying to decide between Head Rev 80 Pro, Supershape Magnum or Supershape Titan.
I've previously rented and have opinions on:
- Movement Jams @ 182cm: Had 2 weeks on these in Morzine March 2015 - conditions were very spring-y and they were alright in the slush but felt very floppy on harder snow - lacking grip? I didn't like them much at all but persevered
- Rossignol Experience 84 @ 178cm: Half a day on these in Russia - Jan 2015. Conditions were fairly firm and they were nice.
- Dynastar CR72 @ 178cm: A week on these in Jan 2015 in Serre Che. Mostly firm conditions with a small layer of fresh. They were OK but felt 'weird' to start off... Possibly the only piste ski I've used at an appropriate length?
- Head Rev 80 R @ 184cm: A week on these in Are, Sweden - March 2014?. The first time I felt like I actually got skis that were "right". Loved them. Soft south facing slopes likely helped my perceptions here.
- Dynastar Outland 80 @ various lengths: I think these were my first rentals, and I had a pair at the EoSB 2013 too, and liked them a lot, but not sure I knew what I was doing
There have been a bunch of other skis in between these as well - mostly 170-172cm piste-focused randoms and they've just often felt far too short. I'm 35, 193cm and 95kg (6'4" and 15 stone) - about 12 weeks on snow since my first trip in 2012.
It seems like an obvious choice would just be the Rev 80 as I've skied it before and I liked it, and it's a bit cheaper than the other two - but I've probably had another 4-5 weeks since that trip, and it was the rental version instead of the 'Pro'. Plus, I'm really just looking for a piste ski instead of an 'All Mountain'. Also, why not the 85 Pro instead? And what if it's just as floppy as the Jam which I didn't like?
The Magnum seems rather well liked here and gets good reviews, and longer term I'm interesting in doing and BASI L1 etc (which is where I read about it), but I'm mildly concerned about it being 'too much ski' for me? Or that I'll find cause to blame its length (short?) for my poor technique 
The Titan I've just thrown in there because why not - sort of a mix of the two? Dunno.
Thoughts, comments, appreciated. Not sure there is a definitive answer. Currently leaning towards Magnum and getting something wider once out there should the need arise.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'm 5'11", 91kg (good mix of units there!) and I love my 177cm Titans. I thought they might be "too much" for me (about 20 weeks on snow) but I tried them on a demo day at Braehead and found them incredibly easy to ski. Very stable and tremendous edge grip. The Titan is a few mm wider than the Magnum but I believe it has exactly the same construction so is slightly stiffer. For someone your size I think they'd be perfect. Ellis Brigham usually have the Titans and Magnums in their test fleet so if you're anywhere near a fridge you should go give them a go.
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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 don't think any of them would be a bad ski, the Magnum vs Titan boils down to on/off piste split.
The Head website says
TITAN: 70% groomed slopes, 30% off piste
MAGNUM: 100% groomed
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Skied for 3 days at the back end of the season with my new Titan's, think they're 177's, and found them great, had real good grip on boilerplate, good in slush, didn't find any powder so can't comment on off piste. I like them.
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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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If you're doing a season you want a hard conditions and a soft conditions pair. Titans and something in the 105-120 bracket would seem to meet that spec. Your wider ski will also be your go to ski in spring conditions (unless you really want to get out for that first hour of boilerplate rattle.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| If you're doing a season you want a hard conditions and a soft conditions pair. Titans and something in the 105-120 bracket would seem to meet that spec. Your wider ski will also be your go to ski in spring conditions (unless you really want to get out for that first hour of boilerplate rattle. |
+1
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thanks for the feedback everyone, I've pulled the trigger on the titans (this expression would have been genius had it been the magnums!)
going to wait until I'm in situ to pick up something wider
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