 Poster: A snowHead
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Just wondering, and if so what did you ski on, how often and where...
Cheers,
Greg
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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120mm at the tip, tail or underfoot? 
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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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kitenski, Redeemers, 3 valleys, probably about 5 days, but only got them near the end of the season.
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I don't think I skied any days last year on >120mm skis. Wait, maybe two. This survey is a bit odd. Don't you need to know how many days people skied total and if they're actually capable of skiing off the groomers?
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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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K2 Hellbents, 122mm underfoot, Italy, 1 week, used them everyday, even on piste.
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kitenski, and surely the subsidiary question is, "and why?"
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Had a shot on some Amplid Cholesterones. Great fun, perform better on piste than my gotamas aswell. Enjoyed them, still preferred my Goats though. Also had a go on the Infradark or Infrablack, not sure on the name, in a 195 length (I think), not sure they were that big underfoot but they were great when they got shifting, just really hard work in the tighter trees! I could happily ski the Cholesterone for every powder day, even when there isnt a lot, which is what I did on my Gotama anyways, they spent around 21 days out last season, every powder day going unless I was teaching. Oh and where, would be Chatel (pre la joux mostly) in the PDS.
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Skied Volkl Chopsticks all last season, in Fernie, CA. They were amazing. but a bit wobbly on hard ice. Other than that, recommended.!
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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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kitenski,
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cos I am thinking of getting a pair
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whatever... 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Redeemers. 3 days (only got them late in the season). Where? Austria - trees in the 'enormous' hill that is Eben, short hikes nearby. Conditions were heavy pow off piste and late season slush on piste. Had a lot of fun.
My only general comment on big skis is that, with an awful lot of wood to lug around on your feet, if you're unfit, you get tired easily. This I know from experience.
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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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zammo, cheers, are you a UK skier, whose out in the Alps for holidays as opposed to living out there? What kind of skis have you had before?
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kitenski,
Only a few years ago people were saying skis such as the Rossi Bandit XX / B2 were great for 50/50 Piste/Offpiste. My advice would be just strap two snowboards to your feet and have done with it. 
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You know it makes sense.
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High Society Freeride 186W; 122mm.
For about a week and a half in Japan - loads of new snow, chopped powder, trees etc. As they're the fat cousin of the standard HSFR 187 (which I have) their manners were very similar and so I got used to them by the second run.
No rocker, normal camber; so great lairy GS turns on piste were fun and doable.
Just make sure those 140 tails will fit into your backpack carry system though. They did in mine - just!
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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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Yes about 15 days - pow days, days after, set up untracked, wet slop(rain) and corn. Not daily driver however.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm amazed that Brits who don't live near ski resorts are considering 120mm+ waisted skis unless the hassle of carrying skis and money is no object. If they don't ski many days a year in resorts that see a lot of powder I can't see it being more cost effective than renting. Renting does have it's problems (e.g. Certain skis aren't available esp on powder days or in smaller resorts) but at least you get to try many different skis.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 13-09-10 13:33; 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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DB, well this Brit likes to go to tiny places off the beaten track that often don't hire fat skis + I also want touring bindings on them.
Hassle of carrying one extra pair of skis without bindings is minimal for me, and probably driving out at least twice this year....
Remember off piste is more often than not powder, it can be lovely spring snow or more often chopped up crud and slush, both of which a good off piste ski will help with!
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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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kitenski,
Hey don't move the goal posts - I was talking more of your 'average' Brit who flys out and doesn't go touring.
120mm waisted skis are going to be heavy (unless you go super expensive carbon) for a touring ski. Anything more than an hour skin up and you probably won't be in any condition to ski.
I'm touring here in Austria many weekends during the winter so know what offpiste is about. For allround conditions offpiste conditions ski tourers tend to be on 75-95 waisted skis*
*Depending on skiers weight and conditions.
PS Some of large sports chains (e.g. Eybl) offer touring skis to rent and the selection is getting wider.
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DB, I consider myself non-average
to be honest I prob wouldn't skin on 120mm skis and I'd only really ever do slackcountry, I'd use my 92mm skis for them, however using the inserts means I wouldn't need to carry 2xpairs of bindings around!!
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| DB wrote: |
| How many bottomless days does the "normal" Brit see anyway? |
Obviously more if you're on fatter skis. 
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DB, but I think your missing the point (well my point anyhow).
Given bottomless champagne powder and my skill level, any ski >90mm is going to be fine.
However in the real world of crappy offpiste, whatever makes my life easier is good news to me, my assumption is that a phat pair will make my life easier in crud, heavy porridge etc etc
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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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| fatbob wrote: |
| PS I've noticed the never ending stream of threads from kitenski on this topic elsewhere this might be received as trolling but her I think he just needs some help to MTFU |
I think I just need a nudge in the right direction, 2 options appear to be go 110mm width and sell the 92mm High Society Freerides, or get a more off piste 120mm ski as a 2nd more off piste orientated ski, with the inserts to move bindings around and keep weight down.
BTW I am a He, not a Her
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| DB wrote: |
| After all that some %&/%&$§$"%!!!! local whizzes past on a pair of ex-rental 2003 Fischer RC race skis (the green ones). |
Current race Fischer skis with the holes in the tips are even better for this.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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kitenski,
Always thought crud was more about technique, ski stiffness in relation to skier weight (so it doesn't get chucked about) and less sidecut so it doesn't hook up so much. If 90mm is ample for powder it might be that a different type of ca 90mm waisted ski would be better for you. How much do you weigh?
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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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| DB wrote: |
kitenski,
Always thought crud was more about ski stiffness in relation to skier weight (so it doesn't get chucked about) and less sidecut so it doesn't hook up so much. If 90mm is ample for powder it might be that a different type of ca 90mm waisted ski would be better for you. How much do you weigh? |
12st 7lbs at the last weigh in....but that is also where rocker is slated to help as well....then you get into camber, rocker, length, width as well as stiffness, and some skis appear to be stiffer under foot and not so much in the tip.tail
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DB, just a couple of points; you can usually sneak two pairs of skis in your bag and still come in under the baggage allowance, renting is becoming very expensive and I wouldn't have thought that too many shops have really wide skis.
Don't you have a powder day ski then?
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You know it makes sense.
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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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DB, I think that link gives some clues
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| The resulting early-rise tip allows you to float easily over powder and crud, and drive the ski more aggressively in soft snow conditions—much like you would on-piste—without worrying about over-flexing the tip. Rocker makes turn initiation smooth and effortless in soft snow, and allows the ski to change direction far more quickly than traditional camber designs. |
and
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| The beauty of rocker is that it also can help on firm snow. Due to the early rise tip, the ski has a shorter contact length because the longer tip is raised off the ground |
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Poster: A snowHead
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kitenski,
What's easier - floating over crud or blasting through it?
What do your current skis do float or blast?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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kitenski, DB,
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What's easier - floating over crud or blasting through it?
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Or could it be a combination of both?
I have spent quite a bit of time on the Flyswatter and the new Super Turbo, the Flyswatter is soft with huge tip and tail rise but just standard camber underfoot, its OK in crud even with a 125 underfoot and better than my noraml 94mm medium flex they tend to try and float over crud.
On the other side there is the Super Turbo with a very very ear;ly tip rise but not as much in the tail, and reverse camber underfoot, they are the best I have come across so far for crud bashing and they come in 202cm 
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 13-09-10 17:12; edited 1 time in total
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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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| DB wrote: |
kitenski,
What's easier - floating over crud or blasting through it?
What do your current skis do float or blast? |
I would assume float is easier, but it would depend, if its rock solid you'd want it knocking out of the way, my current ones would blast thru or float, depending on speed, weight of snow etc etc
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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kitenski,
If you get properly off piste, away from the slopes, always looking for the untracked stuff, happy to stick skis on back and hike up, ready to use the skins when it hasn't snowed for a while.... If that's you, you'll aways find untracked/lightly tracked stuff where a proper rockered ski will rule.
If you're between the pistes, following other tracks, usually find yourself in the tracked out lumpy cruddy stuff that quickly gets mogulled then you probably want something better on a hard base, stiffer underfoot. Follow whatever these 1 ski quiver guys are telling you to get.
I've never understood the theory about needing bottomles pow to get the best out of fat rockers. I wonder if the guys telling you that have ever actually skied them...?
Here is 1st weekend December - remember fatties don't sink so deep so you touch fewer rocks even in 10cm of fresh
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=58169&highlight=
This is an hour long tour - I attest touring on big skis is hard work but it's quite possible and for the down they were great - pow, crust, heavy mank at the bottom. Easy.
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1461968&highlight=verbier#1461968
This is a 40 degree couloir with a hard base. No means ideal conditions for Fat rockers but no problem either and for the rest of the day they simply ROCKED
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=61513
By no means exclusively deep pow here but on every one of these days I know which skier had the most fun. Proper rockers are a different experience - just more fun. I've skied for many years on many skis and last year was my favourite - the big rockers were the main reason for that.
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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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| Mosha Marc wrote: |
| DB, just a couple of points; you can usually sneak two pairs of skis in your bag and still come in under the baggage allowance, renting is becoming very expensive and I wouldn't have thought that too many shops have really wide skis. |
Yes I realize esp. with inserts that this is possible. In terms of ski availability it depends which resort you go to. (e.g. St Anton in Austria has a large selection of offpiste skis). Before I shelled out for a 120mm+ ski I'd want to test it first to make sure it really made a difference.
| Mosha Marc wrote: |
| Don't you have a powder day ski then? |
Yes but most of my skiing is ski touring these days and my powder skis are pretty trashed with alpine bindings on so don't use them much these days. Have thought about going up from 76mm to 90mm waist for deep snow day ski but beyond that would be too much width and weight for day tours. Back in the day I used to buy a new pair of skis almost every year but now prefer to improve my technique (plenty of scope there) rather than relying on a selection of skis for different conditions.
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DB, I bought new touring skis for the PdG last year - Head Crusairs (90mm waist) with Dynafits. Worth a look if you're prepared to go to 90mm. 1600g per ski (176) - got some carbon in them so quite stiff but still lightish. I bought them for long tours and steeps.
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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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DB, if I was going to stick around 90mm I was thinking I would just keep my current pair.....but that is an option!
My head says stick with what I've got, but new gear syndrome is saying get something to make your life easier in less than perfect conditions....
and there ain't many places to test in the UK, and I can't see the point of taking such a ski into a fridge!!
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| BobinCH wrote: |
| DB, I bought new touring skis for the PdG last year - Head Crusairs (90mm waist) with Dynafits. Worth a look if you're prepared to go to 90mm. 1600g per ski (176) - got some carbon in them so quite stiff but still lightish. I bought them for long tours and steeps. |
Thanks they are on the list I just need to bite the bullet and fork out for new touring boots with dynafits, new dynafit bindings and a pair of skis. At least now I could put inserts in my old touring skis (rock skis - for when conditions aren't that great) and only buy one pair of bindings.
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FAQ
