 Poster: A snowHead
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I grew up skiing at Squaw Valley/Lake Tahoe, and then gave it up for decades. Now living in Europe, I got back into the sport a few years ago. I’ve gotten by on rented equipment, but this season I’m buying my own stuff. When renting, I’d opt for the top of the line GS ski offered, whether Völkl Racetiger, Atomic Redster, Stockli Laser, etc. I liked them all (and they certainly all performed better than the 207 cm Rossignol SMs I was skiing on when I gave it up in the early ‘80s).I figured I’d buy something in that category, until someone whose opinion I respect asked me why I’d want race skis for my one pair of skis. He instead suggested the wider, presumably more versatile, Volkl Kendo 88s. And indeed, when I researched them, I saw that they get high marks from the reviewers. But then I asked myself if I might be giving something up by going wider. Almost 100% of my skiing is on groomed pistes, going fairly fast, making big turns. I’d love to ski powder, but there hasn’t been so much in the Dolomites. That said, the few times I found myself in 3-5 inches of fresh stuff (“cheater snow,” we used to call it), GS skis were fine. So now I’m wondering if I should stick with GS skis, or if I would indeed benefit from whatever category the Volkl Kendo 88s are in. Or maybe I need two pairs of skis, and if so why get something in the middle instead of getting a carving ski and a much wider one. Thoughts?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Get an all-mountain ski.
Goes everywhere, on and off the piste.
One and done.
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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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+1 for one. Get a piste-leaning AM. I love my Mantras and there's others out there. I also have some fatties for rare deep days, but that's it. When I had a multi-ski quiver it seemed like I was too often on the "wrong ski", which seemed contrary to what I was trying to accomplish, and honestly was kind of a downer.
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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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Just to clarify, all mountain is the 80-90mm width that includes the Völkl Kendo 88?
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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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There are some carving piste skis that are now available in a slightly wider waist. I got the Doberman Spitfire 80 RB in 180 and they are great in all piste conditions. Narrow enough to be able to get onto edge to carve big turns, decent when the piste has a few inches of fresh snow, and solid when it is cut up. It's a Bentley of a ski, gentleman's high speed grand touring ski. They are used mostly in the Dolomiti SuperSki. Fischer to a Curv GT advanced piste ski in an 82 width.
I do not go off piste though.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If 100% of your skiing is, and is going to be, on pistes in the Dolomites, just get a pure piste ski.
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I would also suggest either a piste-leaning AM ski, or a wider Carving ski....so, probably 80-88 underfoot.
You could consider:
Blizzard Brahma 82 or 88
Rossignol Experience 82Ti or 86Ti
Head Titan 80
Volkl Kendo 88
Volkl Kanjo 84
Elan Wingman 82CTi or 86CTi
Ideally, try before you buy.
I wouldn't get 2 pairs, if you spend most of your time On Piste....and I would also look at the more narrow waist options.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 4-12-23 18:12; edited 1 time in total
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For the Alps I like a 2 ski set up - Atomic Redster X9s for the groomers and something like a Salomon QST 106 for everything else. Personally I've grown to dislike most all mountain skis (mantra excluded)finding them a Jack of All Trades, Master of None. Fortunately I don't travel with them. My QST's have shift bindings and get used for short tours
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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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Happy with my Kendo's - from 2-3ft frsh powder to carving groomed runs.
Of course with any one ski there will be compromises, just what and where you want that to be. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Try before buying. My current ski is Dynastar Legend X97 which is great both on and off piste but my previous was Atomic SL11 which was equally good but slightly harder work.
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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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| Gordyjh wrote: |
| Atomic SL11 which was equally good but slightly harder work. |
I have some SL11s...very long in the tooth now. Terrific skis and more versatile than one would imagine.
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| Bones wrote: |
| Of course with any one ski there will be compromises… |
This is the key point. The art of ski selection is to minimise the compromises you need to make. If you spend all of your time on piste, and your preference is for longer radius, higher speed turns, do you think an all-mountain ski is the best way to minimise the compromises that inevitably come with a one-ski quiver…?
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You know it makes sense.
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@Old Fartbag, I bought them 20 years ago when I mainly skied on piste. They were also great off piste but when they died, I got something more powder-orientated.
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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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| Gordyjh wrote: |
| @Old Fartbag, I bought them 20 years ago & stopped using them when they died… |
Very similar...mine are from 2004, though still in great nick...but now kept for Rock Hoppers.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| mikxe wrote: |
| Almost 100% of my skiing is on groomed pistes, going fairly fast, making big turns. |
Given this, and that you are used to the performance of GS skis, I think that wider all mountain skis will feel like a disappointment. Yes they'll go anywhere but they are not going to be so much fun in the conditions you mainly ski in. Definitely don't buy wider without trying.
In your situation I'd go for one ski like you are used to and hire on the occasional powder day.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Doesn’t a stiff GS ski have a very limited sweet spot ie carving on quiet, not too steep, well prepared pistes? Outside that they become a handful. Something like the Kendo mentioned still has a GS radius but will be much easier to ski in less than perfect piste conditions and much more fun off piste.
Nice review of the Kendo here by one of Warren Smiths instructors
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0RWspjINCe/?igshid=N2ViNmM2MDRjNw==
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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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| Gämsbock wrote: |
| mikxe wrote: |
| Almost 100% of my skiing is on groomed pistes, going fairly fast, making big turns. |
Given this, and that you are used to the performance of GS skis, I think that wider all mountain skis will feel like a disappointment. Yes they'll go anywhere but they are not going to be so much fun in the conditions you mainly ski in. Definitely don't buy wider without trying.
In your situation I'd go for one ski like you are used to and hire on the occasional powder day. |
This. For a piste skier in the Dollies buy a piste performance ski, not necessarily FIS GS as they aren't the best in traffic. If you find yourself wanting to get offpiste consider adding another ski thereafter.
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FAQ
