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Powder ski's advice please

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Advice please.
I am a 71kg 50yo mod-advanced skier. I ski in Australia and xmas in Japan/Canada/Europe/US.
In Australia I ski on Faction CT1 (92) which are great.
I am going to Japan this xmas for the first time in 3 years. I want skis that will both help me advance my skiing in powder and also for fun/float etc.
I am considering the new Faction Mana 2 (102) or Mana 3(112).
The 2'a would probably be better back in Australia but are they wide enough and of good shape for the best powder experience or should I go the 3's?

Thank you for your advice.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
in my view the two would be ideal, your a high level skier, not at all fat, you'd have huge fun on 102.

don't over think, over compensate, or delead into widest is the only way to go.

oh, and welcome to Snowheads Smile
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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?
@downunderDave, if it’s super light Japow then any ski will work fine but if it gets a bit heavier not sure either of those models will be great for deep pow based on the Blister review. You want something more forgiving (and IMO even more float) - not a « quiver killer » type ski
https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/2022-2023-faction-mana-3

The La Machine would be the ideal Faction model for Japan
https://blisterreview.com/gear-reviews/2020-2021-faction-la-machine

You have your CT1’s for Oz / low pow conditions.

Alternatively get the Mana 2’s as an upgrade to your CT1’s and rent a dedicated pow ski if you get the goods in Japan.
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I'm of the opinion that wider is better, so I'm still using my, now 5-y-o Salomon Rocker 2s, 192cm long with a 122mm waist. I'm 185cm and 85kg, a good deal older than you but I ski quite aggressively, like to freeride hard and fast through and over tracked and broken powder and crust. For me surface area is the key (to making it easier and less effort to ski). Of course the rest of the ski has to be right too...

Not to say you should follow suit, and I can't give an opinion on those particular skis, but many people suggest that there's a downside to the extra width and I personally don't see it. Sure, there's the weight factor, but they're actually no heavier than my Slalom and GS race skis, both having a rail mounting system integral to the ski. They carve, yes, they can even do short turns, although clearly you have to work them more. But on a mixed day with a bit of proper powder and mostly piste skiing, even if I'm teaching, I'm happy to ski them all day long.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Not sure of your height but at your weight these would fit the bill
https://uk.factionskis.com/products/la-machine-ski-2021?variant=32331304665123
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These would also fit the bill
https://www.sport-conrad.com/en/products/armada/arv-116-jj-sc-3.html

Or

https://www.sport-conrad.com/en/products/atomic/bent-chetler-120-sc-2.html

Or

https://www.sport-conrad.com/en/products/black-crows/nocta-sc.html

Or

https://www.sport-conrad.com/en/products/line/pescado-sc-2.html
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thank you all.
Can wait for Japan especially now it is fully open. I we all have a great xmas snow season.
The reason I have focused on the Manas 2 or 3 as they are closest to my CTs which I really like on Oz snow. As mainly skiing in Oz, powder is a still a learning curve. Do you think this is the wrong way to go for Japan powder? Being 5'10 and 71Kg, length of 178 suits.
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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!
downunderDave wrote:

The reason I have focused on the Manas 2 or 3 as they are closest to my CTs which I really like on Oz snow. As mainly skiing in Oz, powder is a still a learning curve. Do you think this is the wrong way to go for Japan powder? Being 5'10 and 71Kg, length of 178 suits.


I'm 5 foot 9, 67kg, have done two ski trips to Japan, and if I were buying new skis for a trip there this winter they'd be 185-190cm and ~120mm underfoot with lots of rocker at both ends.

Top of my list (based off how much I enjoy the 104mm version) atm would be the Völkl 121, but I'd also strongly consider the Atomic Bentchetler, the old (black and asymmetric) Blizzard Rustler, Atomic Whitewalker 121 or Black Crows Nocta.

For me, Japan is all about surfing the fairly mellow terrain with lots of pivots, slashes and fast direction changes through the trees and pillows, and that's much more fun on a ski designed to ski like that. I definitely wouldn't choose a ~100mm ski with all the design features for skiing hardpack well inherently compromising its powder performance - Japan is one of the few places where you can count on deep untracked snow much of the time, so why compromise to favour conditions you hope and realistically expect not to ski there?
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Thank you.Hopefully a huge powder season this year!
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