 Poster: A snowHead
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Here at a very wet SIGB ski test in La Clusaz and this afternoon I was walking around trying to determine out of the 650 odd skis which to test.
On the drive up I had an idea and that was to test the classic popular All Mountain skis that have been around year after year but have been continually updated etc
So my list of contenders are in no particular order
Atomic Bent
Salomon QST
Salomon Stance
Dynastar ECross
Rossi Soul
Mantra
Kastle MX84 88
Volkl Deacon
Nordica Enforcer
Elan Ripstick
K2 Mindbender
And new kid on the block replacing Bonafides
Blizzard Anomaly
Anything else?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 29-01-24 9:35; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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any Decathlon own-brand stuff in there? I recently bought Patrol 95 skis for Mrs NBT and myself (165 for her, 175 for me), it would be interesting to see how you rate them against other skis - especially given the price, we paid €300 per pair including bindings.
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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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@Weathercam, get yourself on the Salomon QST 106 Echo that came out this season. Same great shape as the regular QST 106 but they've taken a lot of weight out of it to get it down to 1700g per ski in 181cm.
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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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@Weathercam, be good to know what you think of the Blizzard Hustle 9 touring skis. They're a new model this year, get great reviews (Fall Line Touring Ski of the Year) and they seemed to be available at big discounts in lots of outlets.
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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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Fall Line ski test rates the Salomon Addikt pro.
I’ve never really been in a position financially where I could consider a brand new ski, but at the end of this season I might actually be able to do that.
So for the first time ever I have seriously started reading some reviews.
Is this ski on your radar?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Weathercam, any Black Crows available, or are they too small a brand to be in the test?
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| Perty wrote: |
| @Weathercam, any Black Crows available, or are they too small a brand to be in the test? |
I've just ordered some Mirus Cor in 184 because @Ravensburger and @Grinning told me to. But I'd still be interested to know how they ski if you size down. I was debating sizing down for moguls and general manoeuvrability, but wasn't sure if they might be overpowered easily on ice/firm...
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Volkl Deacon 80 vs. Deacon 76? I'd be very interested in a comparison between the two. The 76 is great for big turns on hardpack but how much does it lose out to the 80 for ease of handling in crud and heavy new snow?
I find the 80 very manageable in poor conditions but it is nowhere near as impressive on hardpack/ice.
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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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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Weathercam, bit meaningless, to th eextent you aren't me and don't ski like I do, but interesting to hear if you like the Blizzard Anomalys.
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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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Interesting, so this carve gizmo measures what your feet are up to whilst skiing different skis? Guessing 'pressure' is measuring how much of your weight you're putting into the edge? As in edge hold? Assuming 'edging' is the ease of getting onto edge?
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Now on the Scott SEA 98
Ski Everything Anywhere
Conditions ideal for testing All Mountain freshies up top, piste below
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You know it makes sense.
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Scott SEA loads of fun, and good on the piste too
Now then of Blizzard Anomaly 94
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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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@Thomasski, I’m using them in 178, I’m a strong skier 85kg, 5’10” and they’re super playful but if I bought a pair then I’d definitely size up 184.
Centrally after we’d been talking about the MCs mounted with Shifts I saw a pair in Les Brévières: a Scotsman on UCPA vacation - he loved them and also said they might be a bit skittish when charging on real hard pack - I took a photo of them 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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@Skeet, My husband has Volkl Deacons in both a 74 and 80.
Today’s conditions were choppy, it had snowed about 15cm during the evening but had stopped before the piste bashers came in at 2330. He skied the 80’s today all on piste and never regretted it.
The 74 are definitely for charging on piste
Normally he would have taken out his Bonafides but our son is skiing them at the moment as he’s wrecked his QST’s 
For reference he’s 6’1 and 100kg and a very strong skier.
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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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@muppet, Thanks, that confirms my experience. I have no qualms about the 80s in soft and crud - they're excellent, however, they're not brilliant at speed on icy hardpack. I did like the 74s on hardpack (my only experience of them).
What I'm keen to understand is how manageable the new 76 is in soft and crud, in comparison to the 80.
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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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Shifts on the Mirus Cor?? Was a lovely ski when I tried it but not too sure it would be good for touring
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Well that was an interesting few days, had all snow conditions, untracked cold snow through to slush, however, that does affect ones' idea of how good a ski is, that said the majority of AMS ski powder well, and it's how they ski the piste that is probably more important in this category and some can certainly do that well!
What was amusing was that, on the second to last run we went up in the cabin with the guy from Elan who was on a very good-looking pair of skis and they were a Freestyle ski and were classed as fun - the name was actually Playmaker 101
Mr Elan went on to explain the heritage behind them, i.e the Ripstick but more fun / easier to ski - so for my last run of the test I skied those, and came back with a huge smile on my face.
I've just been looking at some reviews and came across this quote.
“it’s like a Ripstick 96 meets a Ripstick Tour 104, but the meeting took place at X Games.”
More here https://www.skiessentials.com/Chairlift-Chat/2024-elan-playmaker-101-ski-review
And they now really have me thinking, maybe we're too focused on performance, as in All Mountain Skis, at the expense of just having fun, and next years test I think the it will be Old Farts do Freestyle skis.
And as a postscript last year as I mentioned I skied the Mirrus Core, and no change for them this season, and they too really made me smile and I enjoyed skiing them, along with the Scott SEA so maybe that's where it should be, "fun" ?
Should also add that staying in our hotel were the guys from Ski Mojo and I sort of explained that whilst I have major knee issues I'm still very fit, so they went out of their way to get me completely battered (bed at 02:00) and then ski the Mojo next day, and what a brilliant hangover tool, legs were fresh at the end of the day as per the start, the day before, and with them, to really test, I was skiing non-stop circa 5km 1200m vertical each run, pretty hard, very impressed, will do more of a write up later.
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I hated the Ripstick 96’s when I tested them; way too flappy for my taste.
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@Skeet, Husband if of the same opinion the 80’s he just can’t get the speed.
He skied the 74’s for 2 runs this morning and swapped them for the 80’s and he had much more grip on the icy pistes in the shade.
I had edged and waxed the 74’s last night so that was definitely not the problem.
Some new Black Crow Justices are due to arrive in the next day or so
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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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| Thomasski wrote: |
| Perty wrote: |
| @Weathercam, any Black Crows available, or are they too small a brand to be in the test? |
I've just ordered some Mirus Cor in 184 because @Ravensburger and @Grinning told me to. But I'd still be interested to know how they ski if you size down. I was debating sizing down for moguls and general manoeuvrability, but wasn't sure if they might be overpowered easily on ice/firm... |
+1 on Mirus Cor in 178 - need to know b4 I splurge!
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| Belch wrote: |
| Thomasski wrote: |
| Perty wrote: |
| @Weathercam, any Black Crows available, or are they too small a brand to be in the test? |
I've just ordered some Mirus Cor in 184 because @Ravensburger and @Grinning told me to. But I'd still be interested to know how they ski if you size down. I was debating sizing down for moguls and general manoeuvrability, but wasn't sure if they might be overpowered easily on ice/firm... |
+1 on Mirus Cor in 178 - need to know b4 I splurge! |
Over the course of many late-night trawls, I read/heard (can't remember if video or written) a few accounts of people around my size who said they felt the 178 felt less dynamic for them - not as much of a playful pop and that the 184 didn't feel any bigger physically.
I took the plunge on Monday night, and the 184s are out of evri's hands and with my neighbour as we speak...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Thomasski, Good deal?
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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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It's an ok deal, this season's skis plus bindings (that I don't want) for £720.
So I think I'll sell the bindings and it'll make the outlay a bit more palatable!
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@Thomasski, Thats pretty good - local or website and what bindings?
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You know it makes sense.
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Snowleader! They come default with Stage 11 bindings which I'll be swapping for Strive 16. Strive bindings are coming from Jon with QK inserts...
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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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| BertieG wrote: |
Scott Pure AM 92 ti
Scott Pure free 90 ti
Blizzard Hustle 9
Volkl Blaze 94
Salomon QST 92
Armada Declivity 88c
Is there an alternative to the Scott Slight 93? |
We tested the Scott Pure Free 92 and the Scott Pure AM 92 and the new SEA. The Pure AM for us was a better scoring ski as its more versatile for those wanting to do some short touring trips, or can be run as an all-mountain ripper. More forgiving than the Mission Pure 98 we felt, which for us was a good thing. The SEA is a very very nice ski, came 2nd in my list of 30 odd skis I tested, buttery smooth, still agile, really is a one-quiver ski and its width doesnt restrict it to freeriders only, its a very nice and rewarding all mountain ski.
I hope that helps
Scott
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The Slight was notable for being light weight, lively and quick edge to edge especially in short radius turns. It is not a damp charger and though fun in fresh snow not particularly floaty. Are any of the above similar?
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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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| BertieG wrote: |
| The Slight was notable for being light weight, lively and quick edge to edge especially in short radius turns. It is not a damp charger and though fun in fresh snow not particularly floaty. Are any of the above similar? |
The Pure AM 92 comes out of the Slight mould so very similar! Main difference is that the Pure AM has a stiffer tip so less ‘flappy’ at speed on hard packed piste.
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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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@BertieG, I ski the Slight every now and again as I have a pair in the garage, but they are not in the same league as the SEA.
I've now done my review of the SEA
https://stylealtitude.com/scott-sea-skis-98-108-review.html
Now need to collate all the other skis I tested, and we then have probably another big test weekend after next, but with current conditions not looking too good 
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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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| Weathercam wrote: |
Here at a very wet SIGB ski test in La Clusaz and this afternoon I was walking around trying to determine out of the 650 odd skis which to test.
On the drive up I had an idea and that was to test the classic popular All Mountain skis that have been around year after year but have been continually updated etc
So my list of contenders are in no particular order
Atomic Bent
Salomon QST
Salomon Stance
Dynastar ECross
Rossi Soul
Mantra
Kastle MX84 88
Volkl Deacon
Nordica Enforcer
Elan Ripstick
K2 Mindbender
And new kid on the block replacing Bonafides
Blizzard Anomaly
Anything else? |
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Weathercam, great review, thanks.@marky, Interesting, being a lightweight I’ve found the Slights to be pretty stiff and never seen the tips flap so may not be an improvement for me.
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@scottydog, what came first?
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@BertieG, ironically the last few days I've been using my old faithful 7 year old BlackCrows Atris (trips to Siberia /Japan) with my Alpine boots as opposed to state of the art rando kit (Scott Pure Tour 100 & Freetour 105) in this fresh snow (off-piste) which below 1900m is patella tearing porridge and the difference is staggering, maybe I should take the Sleight's out to see what they're like?
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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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Pretty skis
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@Weathercam, I have been skiing off piste in similar conditions (snowing every day)in PSV this last week on the Slights, apart from one day when it was particularly heavy and I rented some Rustler 102s which gave a marginal improvement in float for a small loss in manoeuvrability. I left the bindings for my powder skis at home  . The Slights can ski anything but have been hard work in some of the heaviest snow. In some particularly wet snow I sank to my thighs coming to a halt! The sun is out this morning and it sounds like a war zone up the mountain so fingers crossed we will have a good day.
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FAQ
