 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hey gang. This is sad, but I've been out of the loop on equipment now for some time and this is from someone who used to be a tech in a ski shop back in the day and also an instructor for a large part of my youth.
Anyway, I've been using some Salomon Street Racer 10's for the last few seasons (albeit a handful of occasions as I've been neglecting my favourite sport big time since I got married - typical huh!). Before this, I was using a pair of XScreams from yonks ago.
The XScreams were awesome when I bought them and were good all round, but then I caught the 'carving' bug and went for the dinky Street Racers. Before that, it was old school 200cm straight cut skis (still did the job mind). Anyway, the Street Racers are awful offpiste, in chopped up stuff and bumps. So I was thinking of a pair of good all round skis for this season.
Initial reviews have pointed me to the Scott Crusade although another website has the Head Peak 82 as a leading contender.
What I'm after is something that will be decent on groomed piste to allow me to crank out some nice turns and carve, but also won't be compromised when off on the chopped up, bumpy, or fresh.
I'm thinking ski technology has came on leaps and bounds so any help would be much appreciated. Are the Crusade's the dog's cahoonas and if so, is there any change between 2010 and 2011 models? Oh and what's all this 'rocker' technology I hear about (hey hey)?
Cheers guys,
Glenplakesmohawk
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 26-09-10 20:35; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
you probably already know this or have it in mind...
hire some for a week... tell ski shop you are "shopping" and would like to try a few
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Actually daehwons, I hired some skis last season in Courmayeur and had an awful time. Not sure it was cos I had to hire boots as well as all my gear was back home, but blimey, I didn't have struggle.
TBH, in the past, I've tended to just go for what's reviewed well. If 9/10 folk say the Crusader is the biz, then I'd probably go for it.
Have been reasonably successful with this philosophy to date - I used to swear by Salomons but I thought I might try something else now.
And I'm not really wanting to fork out on rentals in any case as you get charged through the nose on the continent. Demo's would be good, but doubt I'll be anywhere close to a demo show.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Glenplakesmohawk, K2, Volkl and Line have had demos at Glenshee towards the end of the season for the last 2 years at leats if you can wait till then?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
if you buy some from the shop they will probably not charge you to rent
what did you hire last year?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
But I don't intend on buying in UK as I'm working in Italy.
I dunno what it was I had... I went back and changed 3 sets. They were just middle of the road carvers, but Europe decided to have an end of season dump and a foot of fresh snow on carvers, coupled with altitude sickness, was a great combination 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks lynseyf but was wanting to get something before the season kicks off. Not really interested in demo'ing - just wanted to know what was highly recommended and what other's may own as a reference point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've got a pair of 2008 crusades (different graphics but pretty much the same ski, i think) & reckon they're excellent all round skis.
Strong points: surprisingly happy & stable carving medium/long turns on piste; destroys crud & chopped up stuff; nice in light powder. In the really deep stuff, or in very tightly packed trees, you're probably better off with something with some rocker, a bit less sidecut & a bit more width/flotation. But then, these won't be as good on piste, so the choice is yours...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Glenplakesmohawk, follow your sig 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Go big or go home? Haha.... are you talking about a set of speed skis then Mosha Marc?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 was thinking that you shouldn't let looks put you off.
I'd have said that something round 90mm underfoot would be about right for all mountain. Things like the Volkl Mantra spring to mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What would you suggest as a binding on a big wide ski like that? Riser plate/flexible unit or just bog standard bindings? I take it you'd need to get a set of bindings where the breaks were wide enough as well?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Glenplakesmohawk, flat mounted straight onto the ski probably.
Nearly all new bindings will have a "wide" set of brakes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Scott Missions. 89mm underfoot. I've been riding a pair (2 pairs, actually) for 3 seasons. Got some piste-only skis and off-piste skis too, but mostly I use the Missions.
Great carving on most pistes - go a bit flappy when it's reeeely hard and icy. Easy to ride off piste. Not perfect at either, but a great one-ski quiver. Hope this helps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Jonno, the Missions are slightly skinnier than the Crusade with a slightly narrower radius. I presume they are better suited to piste than the Crusade in that case?
Mosha Marc, was always of the understanding that a higher stance on the ski led to a better initiation of turn but not sure if you want this for crud/pow. What's your thoughts on the flat mounted option?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Glenplakesmohawk, the thought process seems to be to go flat mounted for more stability while offpiste/bumps etc, but plates n risers onpiste for bigger angles and more speed edge to edge.
So, as with the skis, for all-mountain it's a compromise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
just waiting for long computer simulations to finish at work....
to be honest it still doesn't get much better than original metal salomons like 914, 916.
but you might want to look at the marker baron (downhill binding with touring ability).
the latest marketing buzz word....
rocker stops tip dive in variable snow - at expense of having less effective edge on hard snow.
some all mountain skis will have subtle rocker or a flat camber.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If looking for a deal, wintershack, based in Dundee, sell on ebay, or you can visit their store (opposite side of the Kingsway from ASDA). They major on Rossignol but also stock some other makes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Thanks for the replies and help guys, particularly Haggis Trap.
Actually, never mind going from Equipes to XScreams, the biggest jump across the void was when I first tried a pair of K2 Extreme's back in the early 90's. The sidecut on those bad boys was a complete sea change from anything we had witnessed before. I loved those skis to bits and the only reason I stopped using them was partly due to having a stone based grinder at the ski shop I worked in, and I took the base to within a millimetre it's usable life 
Anyway, I've ploughed straight in (no pun intended) and just taken ownership of a set of Scott Crusades in 179. Sounds like a good compromise for myself. Totally itchin to get them on snow. Not long to wait - Cervinia opens up at the end of October!!
So, just have to find a reasonably cheap set of bindings to slap on them now. The Salomon STH12 looks ok. Dunno whether to go for a riser plate or indeed, whether this is required in a wider set of skis (ie, non carver set up).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bindings flat on ski for sure.
Riser plates give more leverage on a narrow race ski (when your foot is almost directly above the edge).
On a wider off piste ski they have little merit.
| Quote: |
| K2 Extreme back in the early 90s |
A real classic! Used to own some Black Magics - which were like the K2 Four.
K2 brought out a twin tip with the original graphics last year - very cool.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Aye, that was my train of thought too HT. Some dude on YouTube (Gords Skis or something) who reviewed the Crusades, was banging on about a riser plate with his set. Mind you, he didn't really sound like an authority on ski equipment. Didn't really think you need the height and leverage for a fat pair of skis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Flat, no riser required due to the width.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Not sure 189 would be a wise move would it?
