 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi Guys,
I've been reading the forums as an "anon" for a while now, theres some great info in here, so thanks for everything so far.
At the moment I ski a K2 coomba, this had started with the idea of being just a powder ski, but it’s so great all over the mountain that I use it every day. I guess for icy surfaces there would be better skis, but I tend to avoid it where I can! My one qualm with the coomba is that it's a little soft, and it lacks the surfey feeling in the deepest powder. I like to ski fairly aggresively I'm about 5"9 and 70kg, I ski the coomba in 174cm, I'd probably go slightly longer in the next ski.
So, I'm after a pure no compromise powder ski. I've skied the Volkl Kuro, in less than great conditions, but I really rated it. The other skis I had picked out to were the Line EP pro, K2 hellbent and the K2 Darkside, I haven’t had a chance to try these yet but hopefully will soon. I wonder if anyone else has any other recommendations?
Cheers in advance
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
powdermutt, hellbents....they are sooooo easy...mount them at +7 and you will be riding switch in nipple deep in no time!!...
okbye
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| parlor wrote: |
Welcome to 
Whitedot Freeride Redeemer. |
Just waxing mine up at the moment hoping for powder later in the week but they're getting a run tomorro whatever the conditions, can't wait. (note to self: don't get blind tonight you might get powder up top tomoro if you hit first lifts).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Hellbents, no question, amazing skis!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| milnerhome wrote: |
| Hellbents, no question, amazing skis! |
If you liked those, you'll love the Factions.
RPF I've just put together some clips from recent seasons, I found a load of shots from 3rd April 2008, easily the deepest snow I've ever skied in Verbier... Hold on, the best is yet to come...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
powdermutt, welcome to snowheads. Are you by any chance Mark the pilot?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks guys some good suggestions coming in here. Does anyone have a rough idea of the flex of say kuro vs hellbent, and hellbent vs royale?
Cheers
Mark
PS. spyderjon, yep its me. Hows things? You managing to cope back in blighty sans heated toilet seats?!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
powdermutt, Another one to consider if you are after a pure powder ski is the Line Prophet 130 - lots of flotation and well rated - as you are probably aware Eric Pollard is one of their sponsored athletes. My missus has just bought the Line Celebrity 90 mm waist (womens specific ski) - she is very happy with her choice - more of an all rounder. All in all great ski's.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
powdermutt, Deepest powder, no comprise ? You need this
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
powdermutt, assuming there's some fresh at the weekend I will have a swap with RPF and you can have 2 opinions on the Kuros vs the Redeemer's. I've got 185 Kuro's and am a big fan (and have skied them everywhere since the start of January). Haven't tried the Hellbents, Darkside or Line's I'm afraid.
What conditions did you ski the Kuro's in? They are at their best in powder or wind crust. Not so good when you are going through to a hard base or in heavy debris where thy can get knocked around a bit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I also like the Hellbents at +7 much better than reccomended. Doesn't mean you will though. I find the Bents pretty surfy and they are, of course, much softer than Coombas and so don't do crud nearly so well. If you have the option then try all your options out. Otherwise make a rough guess and go on price.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royales are slightly stiffer than the Hellbents, they also have slightly less rocker which means they do cope with hard pack far better than the Hellbents - which I understand are still pretty good considering the size / shape etc...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
| K2 coomba, this had started with the idea of being just a powder ski, but it’s so great all over the mountain |
Yup - its a really great ski...
Really easy and fun to ski on all types of snow.
Sadly mine have died (ripped the edge!)
| Quote: |
| My one qualm with the coomba is that it's a little soft |
True...
Though just be aware the softer flex is one of the things that makes the Coomba usable on piste / bumps / harder snow.
| Quote: |
| I like to ski fairly aggresively I'm about 5"9 and 70kg, I ski the coomba in 174cm |
Well then you should be on the 188cm 
Far too many people buy wide skis then get them in too a short length.
The extra length will add more surface area and flotation
And also make the ski feel stiffer / more stable at speed.
Something like a Pontoon / Fly Swatter / JJ (or other reverse camber ski) would be the obvious suggestion for a dedicated powder ski. Just dont expect lots of days in Europe where they have snow deep enough for it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
bobinch, I skiied the kuros mostly on tracked powder, but managed to climb to get a few turns in the real fresh snow. They seemed all most to be like the coombas, but after a heavy dose of steroids, which is really what im looking for. If you could manage to do a comparison between them and the Redeemers that would be much appreciated!
After a little more research the prophet 130's seems pretty interesting too. The one small reason putting me off the ep pro and hell bent etc is that their design seems to be heavily based around skiing/landing switch in powder, which isnt going to happen with me driving, at least not intentionally!
Thanks again for the advice so far guys, keep it coming and I'l keep growing this demo list. If anyone fancies sacrificing anything to the powder gods for Chamonix this weekend...that would be helpful too!
Cheers
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Another (and rather biased!!) vote for the Redeemer, check out Praxis and DPS from the states aswell!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| the_doc wrote: |
| Another (and rather biased!!) vote for the Redeemer, check out Praxis and DPS from the states aswell! |
For "not a powder ski from the big companies..."
- Whitedot Freeride (http://www.whitedotfreeride.com)
- Storm Skis (http://www.stormskis.com)
- Birdos (http://www.birdos.com)
- Praxis (rabid cult following in North America) http://www.praxisskis.com
- ON3P (rabid cult following in North America) http://on3pskis.com
- SkiLogik (http://www.skilogik.com)
- DPS (rabid cult following in North America) (http://www.dpsskis.com)
- Kingswood (http://www.kingswoodskis.com)
Or search the listing...filter by "Powder Skis":
http://www.exoticskis.com/ExoticSkis/list.aspx
I just visited Fallline Bootfitting in Chamonix, and they still have some White Dot Redeemers, and a rare pair of Kingswood powder skis at decent pricing!
The most advanced pure-powder shapes seem to be coming from the champagne powder regions of the USA and are produced by DPS, Praxis and ON3P. Kingswood has a new rockered ski "RockerType" (I have not seen it yet).
You need to ask yourself if you want a "pure" deep-snow ski (flat or full rocker with pintail and narrowed-to-flared tip or full "reverse-reverse" geometry) or a more "multi-surface" fat ski (cambered underfoot with tip and tail rocker...hourglass sidecut)....the "pure" powder skis are like cheating in pure powder and cannot be surpassed in their element, but can be "challenging" on the groomers getting back to a lift. (very specialized but superb).
The answer is to buy both !
DPS has an interesting hybrid coming:
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Don't forget PM Gear too, they seem to have a rather rabid cult following
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Frontier Powder Ski, I'll get some more info up tomorrow.....
139 underfoot, bamboo core. Epic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
powdermutt, If you are in Chamonix at the weekend Fall line bootfitting has Whitedot test skis so you could try the Redeemers there.
Things are to cool down soon so maybe the powder Gods will dump on us for the weekend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have Redeemers, was skeptical about the size but they are really easy to control in any type of soft snow. The float takes some getting used to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
another vote for redeemers from me
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Right, hopefully it'l puke this weekend and I'l demo the redeemers. Thanks for the suggestions on the "boutique" brands, I'm determined this time though to buy a ski that I have tried and compared to a few other's as opposed to just on a review. Whilst this worked out on the coombas, I think I got pretty lucky!
Can anyone talk me through the benefits/drawbacks of running a twin tip, like the EP pro or hellbent against a more traditional shape, darkside, kuro, prophet 130 etc if I dont intend to ski titty deep pow backwards?
Cheers
Mark
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RPF, where's the test? just in case I'm in the neck of the woods
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
under a new name, Fall line bootfitting have test skis at the shop all season AFAIK.
arv, agree I had them out yesterday in crust and chop and I was expecting them to try to kill me they didnt. The rocker made them easy to turn in tight spots and they never hooked up in the crust like some of my stiff cambered skis. I was very impressed in less than ideal conditions. Cant wait to get them in the powder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
The redeemers sure are a lot of fun. I've only had a half day on them on spring sugar with some heavy powder off piste, but they pretty much cut through it all. They're funny on piste - perfectly rideable but, man, you get some chatter!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RPF, ahhh, I may pop in, just out of curiosity, y'know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| powdermutt wrote: |
| Can anyone talk me through the benefits/drawbacks of running a twin tip, like the EP pro or hellbent against a more traditional shape, darkside, kuro, prophet 130 etc if I dont intend to ski titty deep pow backwards? |
Can't think of any. I'm sure the skis are still made like that to look cool. IMHO it's a pain in the backside, skins don't attach properly, making a bomber anchor is tough, even standing your skis in the snow is hard. You get rooster tails which just annoy folk behind you and you loose some effective edge.
The I re-read your message. My rant above is about twin tips on fat skis, you are actually talking about tail rocker (or reverse camber on certain skis). The advantage of this is the way you can turn the skis, you can be stood directly over the skis and change direction just by pivoting them, why you ask? because it's fun. It all depends on the type of skiing you want to do and where you want to do it. Double rockered or reverse camber skis are a real blast in the trees, and give a real jibby feel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Best thing about twintips (if you're not a freestyler) is the rooster tail - brilliant for cutting your mates up and blinding them, and it looks pretty cool too.
I think you're tlaking about tail rocker though, as parlor, mentions above.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| clarky999 wrote: |
Best thing about twintips (if you're not a freestyler) is the rooster tail - brilliant for cutting your mates up and blinding them, and it looks pretty cool too.
I think you're tlaking about tail rocker though, as parlor, mentions above. |
..My darkest pleasure on the slope! haha 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
ok more info on the Frontier ski as promised.
Their powder ski has the dimensions: 158 - 139 - 144 182cm length
Frontier skis have a bamboo core and are hand made. They are designed specifically for Niseko, Japan.
They are a fairly stiff as far as powder skis go, but this is to maximize speed through the powder.
Trust me these skis are amazing!
Picture of the ski next to a 189cm K2 Hellbent.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| parlor wrote: |
Can't think of any...
You get rooster tails which just annoy folk behind you and you loose some effective edge. |
Surely getting rooster tails is the only & possibly greatest advantage to having a twintip on a powder ski?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| frank4short wrote: |
| parlor wrote: |
Can't think of any...
You get rooster tails which just annoy folk behind you and you loose some effective edge. |
Surely getting rooster tails is the only & possibly greatest advantage to having a twintip on a powder ski? |
Rooster tails are great and worth having a twin for alone.
I've always had a theory that the tail gives you the benefit of surface area without the penalty of effective edge (e.g. in trees, tight spots etc).i.e. even without rocker the twin gives you greater response at a given length (or enables you to pint compensate while still being a girly man) . I buy into parlor's PITA doctrine too as obviously do a number of manufacturers who seem to have gone rpound cutting the twins off their pure freeride skis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elliot_Simcock, what's the camber like on those things? Post pictures...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| parlor wrote: |
Have a scroll through this section and see how many, "recommend me a twin tip - I'm an advanced intermediate and confident on reds" threads there are.
( |
slightly amended..
Saying that by Parlors measure I'm SUPERGAY as I have two pairs of TT. COO-EY SAILOR
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| parlor wrote: |
Twin tips = jester hats = Smurf outfits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| parlor wrote: |
| Elliot_Simcock, what's the camber like on those things? Post pictures... |
They are fairly flat I'll go grab some more pictures today for you to have a look at. The radius of the ski is 50m, a proper powder ski.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
