 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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fatbob, yeah, there fatest ski is skinny...
I spent a day on a pair of Thunders, but it was in a foot of powder, so who really knows.
PM Flicksta he had a pair of Thunders...
Goliaths look good.
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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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seen them criticised for being too stiff (this is by decent skiers) but never been on them myself
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Arno, TOO stiff?? You are having a laugh. Never skied them myself I have to admit but am now dead keen to do so.
Only too stiff ski I've ever encountered (here we go again, grandad, have another creme de menthe) was the Atomic Arc Bionic SL of 1989 designed for Tomba. B@st@rd ski.
Flame Pro have great graphics, which really is all that matters, non? 
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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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David Murdoch, i thought it was a strange criticism too!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Arno, Nah!
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I did indeed have a pair of Thunders and enjoyed them a great deal. When I got them, they were the fattest ski I'd had, although they aren't any more.
The first time I used them in earnest was in Argentina and some very steep stuff, 48 and 50 degree couloirs in a mixture of conditions. I was very happy with them, since I came away unscathed and felt very secure in a pretty high consequence environment. I also skied them in some pretty deep powder and they were great.
Only comment I can make re stiffness is I had a day alternating them with some Gotamas, and the Gotamas were noticeably much stiffer.
Only criticism I would have is that a plonked them down against a wall in snow, bashed them on some concrete and lost a bit of the topsheet at the tail.
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FWIW I find the Gotamas to be 'softish', especially in the tail.
flicksta, how do they compare to the Madens? I've not skied Madens but pressing them in the shop they feel softer (overall) than a Gotama...
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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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You can tie a pair of Madens in a knot.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Both the Gotama and the Ma'den have soft tails and tips for landings. The key to flex testing these skis is not to flex the full length, by blocking the tail with the foot and ignoring the give in the tip. Both skis have a good stiffness starting about 10cm down from the tip and up from the tail, giving the ski a lively feel when skied on harder snow pack. I too felt the same abouthe the Seth and the Ma'den and stuggled to middle the ski in powder as they ski short due to the forgiveness of the extemeties. Since then, due to their popularity with the aggresive Scandies here in Cham', i gave them a few more tries and found they are surprisingly stable at higher speeds and longer turns. 
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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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Without sounding like an absolutely fool, I really haved caned the Madens in all sorts of conditions off piste and it has proved extremely stable with me on board. That said, I really do struggle with it on hard pack. Slides all over the place.
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flicksta, I think with wider skis on hard pack, good preparation of the ski is key. Also, you need to be really committed and get those skis right over!
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You know it makes sense.
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Skied my Madens in Argentiere at NY two days after getting them, all sorts of trouble on anything resembling polished. Same each time, I would rather not bother with them on piste. Off piste though, they really suit me, since I do like big long turns.
The stiffness debate always interests me. What difference do people think a stiff/flexible ski makes?
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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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flicksta, Stiff skis for 'Engaged' skiers, soft ones for 'Passive' skiers.
No wedding jokes!
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Poster: A snowHead
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That doesn't demystify it a lot. In layman's terms? I think a lot of this ski is stiff/no it's not debate comes from different interpretations of what impact stiffness has.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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flicksta, Sorry, i think to benifit from a stiff(tailed) ski, one has to be aggresive. By that i mean, locked in the turn and constantly applying pressure to charge the tail with energy. Then at the right momment; release, unweight and let the ski accelerate whilst you change direction and start again to apply pressure. A stiff ski will bite a little earlier and require presure to use it's shape.
A softer ski will bottom out if a strong/aggresive skier tries this and as a result will feel they are passive in the effect on the ski.
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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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That makes a lot of sense. Nice one.
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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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the rider's weight makes a big difference to their perception of stiffness - so for a big (fairly) strong lad like me a burly ski feels more manageable than it would for someone a bit lighter
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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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Agree with all that. My Prophets are soft but can be A-B-U-S-E-D. Preperation is the key. That and dislocating knees / hips... And word is I've got an alignnment problem!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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parlor, I envisage you walking like a Giraffe passing under a low door!
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fatbob, I thought the Demon Flame was quite stiff, but it was also too long for me at 169 - a softer ski of that length is fine. Heavy too, but these are the most pisty of their range. Can't talk about the others.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, the beautiful lady wife often calls me a giraffe, although I'm only 6'1"... 
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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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IMHO Joysticks are CR&P, dont bother wasting your money on the inferior build of them - if freestyle is what your after.
Also seen many peeps suffer at the hands of Armada with quality
I stick to well tested K2's, Volkl and Dynastars
A
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Thanks for the comments so far. I was thinking the Thunder might be a good Euro ski, narrow enough for a bit of hook up on icy pistes & variable off piste but with enough girth to assist in the soft stuff. Course I really lust after the Pow Pow Swallows or Goliaths
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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double post deleted
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Thu 7-09-06 1:29; edited 1 time in total
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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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I have both the Spark Carbon and the Gladiator (both 183), bought using the very reasonable BASI deal last season (which unfortunately doesn't seem to be available this season). I demo'd those plus the Demon FLame in 179. I essentially had to choose between the Demon Flame and the SPark Carbon as an everyday ski, and preferred the extra length and stiffness of the Spark, as well as the finding the Flame had a bit too much sidecut for my liking. BTW i am big and heavy and ski pretty aggressively. To be honest I was attracted to the fact that I could get 2 pairs cheaply which certainly influenced my purchase decision. I haven't tried Gotama, Maden or KArma for that matter so cant compare. In comparison an old pair of Public Enemies feel v floppy. I demoed some B2, B3, B4, Scratch BC and a coupke of the different Head Monster skis early last season and can honestly say the Movement's (especially the Spark Carbon which I skied on a lot) were my favourites. Unfortunately I was only able to take the Gladiator out on a coupke of decent powder days, but on those limited outings I was impressed with the floatation. Am looking forward to next season to try them some more....
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FAQ
