 Poster: A snowHead
|
Anyone skied these yet?
I understand that they're a park oriented ski but also a good all mountain option from the reviews I've read. However, I went into a shop the other day and they said that I wouldn't want them unless I mainly ski park.
I ideally want an all in one ski that's a bit floatier when it gets soft than my current piste skis. We tend not to get massive powder days so I don't want anything too far. It's a bonus if they could potentially be used for some light touring with a change of binding (I've never toured but I have friends that do so would like to try). Any advice appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Find a new shop as they're obviously idiots. The Bent 90 and the Bent 100 are true all mnt ski with a pretty light construction that's getting in to touring ski weights so it could be a bit rattly on hardpack days but as you have a piste ski that'd be no issue for you. Personally they're a bit too light for my tastes and too easily deflected but if you get in to touring then that's a plus.
My direct competitor ski would be the Whitedot Altum 94 which will be 150-200g per ski heavier but still fine on the 'up'. Or there's the Whitedot Ronde 96 with a bit less tail rocker and not a twin tip giving it a true freeride touring profile with longer running length for skin engagement and a shorter tail length for kick turns.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@spyderjon, thank you. I think at the end of last season you recommended me the Altums, so that’s interesting. I won’t be buying from that shop anyway, I was looking in there and noticed they had some in stock so the guy was talking to me about them. I have a reasonable sized voucher to use in a different local shop, but they’ll have to order them in for me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I skied the Bent 90 in Canada in Dec 22. I had them for 2 days.
I had regular Head skis for 4 days from the rental shop (I think they were Supershapes or something - had a quick look through pics but they're always covered in snow) - just run of the mill rentals and they were great for on-piste but as soon as we started getting some snow falling and the piste had 2-3 inches on it, they started to struggle.
I had the Head Kore 93 for a day before them. Hated the Heads, too skittish on the piste, although was like having a bulldozer strapped to my foot for crud and mini moguls (smash smash) but turns were a bit clunky and sometimes dicey.
The rentals then said try the Bent 90's. Wow, loved these skis! Yes cool graphics top and bottom but they just felt so good in everything. I am spending my time on piste, doing greens (same as greens and blues in Europe). They smashed through crud easily, super quick turns, and didn't get too bashed off course with the loose stuff. Night skiing in them was fun, it was a bit icy towards the end of the runs by the lifts and didn't phase them at all, gripped well and I felt very confident in them. Even went up and down the quarter pipe on them (just turning near the top and back down, not jumping off it into the air) Only downside is gaining speed they felt a little unstable and we are not talking that fast - my app says I hit 18.7mph - so not the silly straight line speed some people get up to. Having said that, I don't really go all that fast, if I am going fast (for fast think @admin doing laps on blacks - where I am sure he lapped me at least twice), I can't spot the little bumps and banks and other stuff I like to have fun on.
Now this could be my fault on the skittishness. I am 174cm tall and weigh 81Kg and am 49 years old and haven't skied for 3 years, so they decided to put me on 150cm for Head Basics and then put me on 157's for the Atomic Bents (it was a bit of a shock to find my DIN was at 5 instead of 7 where it normally is as I am getting old according to the staff!). Maybe if I had gone up to the 166cm ski I would have felt more stable, but counter to that I may not have felt so nimble on the ski and god did i feel like i was swashbuckling in my turns with a huge smile on my face. We're not talking those hip turns every 2 seconds, a lovely carved turn apparently according to my instructor - or at least 1 in 3 were  - I wasn't the only one either as the rental place said everyone who had taken them out so far had really enjoyed them and they were pretty honest with me as I had built up a good rapport with them leading up to the holiday.
I own a set of Kastle skis DX85 -168cm, and they were great on piste but rubbish when it snowed on the last PreBBW I did in 2020, wandering all over the place. I am considering getting a set of the Bent 90's as I enjoyed them so much, just don't know if I am going too short at 157 and should go to the 166cm ones. Hope that helps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@hammerite, sorry late with review - did you go for something else instead or still debating?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Agent Orange, thanks, that’s a really useful review. No, I haven’t got them yet. They were out of stock at my local shop initially and the snow base here hasn’t been great so I’ve just been battering my piste skis (quite literally!).
We’re due a decent dump next week, so I might go and get them at the weekend.
Our vital stats are very similar, but I’m thinking about the 175s although the turn radius is quite a bit more for these than the 157s and 166s.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Agent Orange, great thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bought them today in readiness for next weeks snowmageddon (fingers crossed!). I’ll not use them this weekend as it’s all a bit scratchy still. Hopefully will next weekend.
I’d not really researched bindings so had Tyrolia Attack 14s put on. €466.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
They're going to be a lot of fun for you I think. Tyrolia do very good bindings, the other ones I see recommended a lot are the Marker Griffon 13. Be interested in your thoughts after a few days on them
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
For me, that 90mm waist width is a particular sweet spot for general use skis.
They seem to stretch in both directions ability wise, with really wide "gateway" to both decently hold an edge on hard pack, while extending well into powder support enough to get stuck into it without any special technique.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Agent Orange, yeah, I’m hoping they’ll be fun.
@ski3, yes, that’s why I went for these. Where I live we rarely get any big powder days so wanted something that would be fun when we did get some, but still manage in normal conditions. I’m a firm intermediate who isn’t getting any younger so going for something a bit softer I think should suit me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Got the chance to use these skis this weekend. I really like them. Given the conditions, I didn’t get chance to really push them but they felt easy to ski on piste and handle the softer stuff off the side of the piste well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@hammerite, excellent. I’m probably going to sell my Kastles and get a pair as well. Might wait until I go skiing again and try the two different sizes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@Agent Orange, my usual piste skis are 14m radius. My Bents are 19m. I can’t say I noticed a huge difference but that’s probably me as opposed to the skis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
