 Poster: A snowHead
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OK, the thread title is possibly a bit of a misnomer, but I did ski four skis over seven days in decent conditions at Snowbird, Utah.
Me, 13 stone/185 lbs/85kg, 5'11", advanced intermediate (ish).
Day One & Two. On arrival it had snowed lightly since the previous afternoon and didn't stop untill around 2.00pm on day one then snowed overnight and into day two. Stayed on marked runs which hadn't been groomed, with snow depth at about 4" on top of the firmer groomed snow underneath. First days of the season and skied last years model Rossignol B2's 174cm. No suprises with the ski as I'd been on it before, it does everything pretty well without shining in any particular area. Predictable, easy to handle, initiates turns easily, floats OK but gets knocked about a little by piles of snow later in the day. Does carve well too, but memories of last season remind me that it is difficult to get an edge into really hard snow. You have to be really going some to get any rebound off it at the end of a turn, but that isn't to detract from it as some people may not like that feature.
Day Three. Powder day. Therefore dumped the B2's and sensibly chose Dynamic SL27 165cm. Didn't ski on the runs too often today (the ones we did had several feet of snow on anyway) and stayed mostly on the single diamond and one easier double diamond off piste routes. Possibly not the best choice of ski for the conditions, but earlier on the big shovel, short length and tight turn radius did provide a degree of confidence as the ski whipped round nice and quickly to allow good speed control for a novice powder hound. On the downside the inside ski was very keen to plough a seperate line if the skis were angled slightly differently. I was also able to discover that some areas of new snow covered an even softer lower layer about 2' down, a joy lost on fatter ski riders, which also enhanced my recovery skills. It took me until late in the day to start performing to any degree of competance, but they are useable in deeper snow. (Also good for strange looks in the ski queue).
Day Three A.M. Nearly another powder day although not really enough new stuff to fully cover all the cut up areas, but deeper snow was easily located. Went and hired a pair of Volkl Karmas in 177cm. First impression was how stable they were just to stand on while gliding in a straight line down to the lifts. The next was how easy to turn they were, very much like the B2's in initiation but even easier to finish turns on, it didn't seem to matter where your weight was. Didn't feel like I'd jumped up about 15mm in waist width from the B2's as they were very similar in performance, but with added float and the ability to spray snow on anyone following you. Probably had more rebound than the B2's at the end of the turn, but they were still knocked about quite a bit by cut up snow as the morning wore on.
Day Three P.M. Swopped the Karmas for Dynastar 8800's 178cm. These were a little more involving than the Karmas'. You had to keep you tips weighted and drive the ski more with your shins, especially to finish the turn. If you get lazy the 25m turn radius makes things interesting by straightening you up and pointing you down the hill at a speed faster than you'd expected. On the upside, it doesn't get deflected about very much in cut up snow; so if you don't like the look of the emerging bump run then you just ski through the newly formed bumps. It's also more work to carve turns on, but when it does carve it is nicely stable. More so than the B2's or the Karma's.
Day Four, Five and Six. Bought the 8800's and lived on them through another powder day and two days on wind blown powder. Got used to the extra work needed to turn them, so that by the end of day four I didn't notice it any more.
Day Seven. Moved to Deer Valley Resort which had fully groomed hard snow pistes only. Back on the Dynamic's and WOW! Once I realised that they don't let go of an edge until you want them to it was just a case of being able to carve everything with SL, GS or Super G turns, or a combination of all, sometimes on the same turn. A big grin day until the taxi came to take me to the airport.
Conclusions, for piste work buy a slalom or slalom carver ski - it is like cheating, honest, and makes those groomed runs really fun. For deeper snow get a fatter ski to help with float and one with a big turn radius to help with balance and which eliminates the "twitchy" nature of short radius skis. With a cynical hat on, if you buy a ski in between, you have to work equally hard to make it work in either of those snow conditions. If you don't want two skis, then buy a fat or a slalom (dependant on the usual snow conditions where you ski) and hire the other now and again when conditions change.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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marc gledhill,
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Conclusions, for piste work buy a slalom or slalom carver ski - it is like cheating, honest, and makes those groomed runs really fun
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I bought a women's specific carver last year, and they are really pants. No matter how much I pressure the shin, the tips flap around/get deflected..have to ski them slooowly. I'm now looking at mid fats, like the Stockli Stormrider AT and the Movement Demon Flame, tested both, enjoyed both, even on boiler plate!. I guess we all have different needs, and skis work in different ways for lots of us 
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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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snowbunny, strange, what were the slalom carvers?
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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snowbunny, Ah, I see. I'd guess that the slalom carvers I'd be thinking about in the Atomic line would br SL9's or ST11's.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I'm now looking at mid fats, like the Stockli Stormrider AT and the Movement Demon Flame, tested both, enjoyed both, even on boiler plate!.
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How did the Movement Demon Flames handle? I have been interested in purchasing a pair, but haven't gotten around to testing them yet. I am specifically interested in how they handled on groomed trails and on moguls.
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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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DECENT CONDITIONS?!?!?! Oh, Marc, c'mon! Fresh snow every day is "decent"?!?!?! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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so are you taking 3 pairs next week marc?
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gregh, yep.
My SL's, the 8800's and the wifes 5*'s. But I'll take two bags.
I've had it when the kids grow older 
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You know it makes sense.
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marc gledhill, it was definitely not the normal Utah fluff. But sometimes in the shade and trees, I hit come amazing pockets. It was pretty wonderful, wasn't it?
...and thanks for the welcome back...
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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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ajhainey,
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snowbunny wrote:
marc gledhill, I'm not sure they could be classed as slalom carvers, however they are definitely narrow underfoot at 64mm. They are Atomic B9W, supposedly with a wide performance potential, maybe it's me
I think they are probably just softer than a full slalom ski which is probably the issue (and I'm betting a women specific is even more so) - my C9s have something of the same affliction but I forgive them because most of the time they are quite good fun
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According to the S&R blurb, my B9W is identical to the C9, mind you, they also said it was stable 
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Poster: A snowHead
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marc
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If you don't want two skis, then buy a fat or a slalom (dependant on the usual snow conditions where you ski) and hire the other now and again when conditions change.
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Fair point but it is extra cost and hassle. I notice you didnt try Stockli Stormrider XL or Legend 8000 either of which may have worked as a one ski quiver. I doubt the stocklis give much away over a carver in terms of edge grip/rebound/etc and offer more fun in the crud powder.
J
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jedster, good points too. They didn't have Stockli's in at all, or I would have tried them.
I didn't try the 8000 either as I already had the slalom skis, so was specifically looking for something around a 90mm waist.
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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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marc gledhill, nice review. i came to the same conclusion as you and now own some atomic sx11s and some dyna legend pros. thing is, i always go away in the hope that i will find powder (no matter how hopeless it may seem) so the sx11s tend to stay at home
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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marc gledhill, I thought you bought the 11000s 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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ajhainey,
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It's got barely any 'kick' to it at all.
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You can still accelerate on the tails though.
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plus if you go fast enough they seem to sort themselves out
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I was unable to get up enough speed to iron out the wobble, before my nerve broke.
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FAQ
. I seemed to get on so much better with the mids, even though I tried the 
. Nice to see you posting back on here though.
That may also be the reason behind them seeming to lack kick, come to think of it 