 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey,
I am looking to buy a new pair of skis for next season before i do an instructor course in Zermatt. I am basically looking for an all round ski that would be good for most conditions and for instructing. My brother gets 50% off Rossi, Salomon and Stockli skis, so these are the ones i am looking at.
Does anyone know what the following skis are like (all 05/06 models):
1. Stockli Stormrider XL
2. Rossignol Bandit B2
3. Rossignol Bandit B3
4. Salomon Teneighty Foil
Realistically, i am probably looking at either the stormrider or the B2, as these seem the most versatile-I've also heard that the B2 is stiffer than it was last season, which i like the sound of-i tried last season's B2 and enjoyed it. I've never tried the stockli, so don't know much about it-does anyone know if it has changed for 05/06?
Cheers in advance for your comments...
Chris
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've skied the old B2 (and bought some) and the Stormriders. For the BASI Gap I think you might be right to keep to the first two choices, although having a few pairs of skis might help  For me, I'd use the B2's on that course, it's a "punter" ski but for good reasons, it's versatile, can handle most anything without needing a push, the XL is almost certainly a better ski, but it's more rigid, better off piste but will need more push. You're going to be snow ploughing and doing plough parallels a lot, the easier ski may be better. It's why I bought B2's recently.
The B3 just doesn't seem suitable for what you're doing as a single ski, the 1080 is poor in some ways, but it's one of the reasons it's popular (apart from peer pressure) is it's versatile, however, it's way too "exciting" if you're hooning around and, for me, a bit tiring.
Given the B2 is stiffened up for 05/06 it might be nearer perfect for what you want than ever. As for the XL, last time I was in Stöckli they reckoned they weren't going to discount the XL much as it'd sell next season, from this I take it that it's not changing but they couldn't say.
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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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Just had a slither on 1080 "Thruster" at MK. Not v. good grip for me. In terms of grip they weere much better than the old model, but still left me never wanting to own a pair. 
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snowbunny, mmmm, I don't like them, but, to be fair, where they are good, or where people like them, is in a variation of terrain that maybe a snowdome doesn't have.. otoh, I've never been to a snowdome
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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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snowbunny, nope, I left the UK before they really opened, and they've never caught on here Although, right now Milton Keynes has more open lifts than Les Diab's does.
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ise, have you tried the new B2s yet?
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RachelQ, nope, the old one did exactly what I wanted for these courses so I bought them. I got a good price on them as well, 280 odd quid from Telemark Pyrennes with bindings.
I'd be interested to know what you think when you try them though,are the changes going to make it more suitable for fat blokes than women?
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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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ise, Mr snowbunny really enjoyed the new B2 at MK and he's a bit of a fat bloke (ducking now) 
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Chris_5000,
I agree with ise in that the XL is a much better ski than the old B2 - not sure about the new model. For me, last year the Xl was the find of the season - couldn't find the b5 so don't know what the fuss is all about there.
Maybe the B2 would be a bit more forgiving but if you only want the one ski I would pick the XL for a good skier.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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JT, note that Chris is doing a BASI Gap, he's not necessarily after the all out best ski, but the best one for the course. The XL makes you work slightly harder and I'm not sure it's going to work well striving for the perfect plough turn.
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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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ise,
Yes, I understand your point about the B2 and horses for courses, in this case the BASI Gap. As you know I really liked the XL and therefore think it is worth the extra effort required., not that I thought it demanding. Rewarding? yes!
If I were to go on this course I would use the XL over the B2 if I was buying a ski. If I was hiring I can see the point of the B2 in this instance. But of course, I can see the B2 could work well/better in an instructor's situation.
But Chris_5000, the XL was a much better all-round ski last year IMO.
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having done one of these things myself, I think he'd be best off going for something that helps his performance at the top end. frankly, a decent skier ought to be able to do a pretty decent snowplough turn with any ski. however, the "personal performance" actually requires a pretty high standard. if his "pure carving" is a bit of a weakness but steeps and variable a strength (that was my profile in general), i'd suggest something which will help with the former but needn't be ideal for the latter - i used atomic sx11s and that was a pretty good choice for me. one guy on my course used b2s on the first day then gave up on them in favour of some rossi slalom skis for similar reasons.
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You know it makes sense.
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Arno, sx11's do seem popular, 5 and 6 stars as well. Personally, I started on Lasers and went down to b2's
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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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ise, i certainly like the sx11s for skiing on piste. however, i do think they are very much an on-piste tool. you can ski them off piste but they're a bit too narrow and stiff for my liking - you're much better off with a fat ski. suspect the same is the case with the 5 and 6 stars.
i did a season independently with the basi course at the end. i think i'd find it quite difficult to recommend one ski for one of these gap things. can't help but feel that if you go for an all mountain ski, you're denying yourself the full pleasure of carving a slalom/skier x ski and also the fun of skiing off piste on a proper fat ski. i'm also aware that not everyone has the money to pi55 up the wall on 2 (or more) pairs of skis so compromises have to be made
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Poster: A snowHead
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Arno, yes, I'm aware I can have the specialised pairs and buy a general pair as well while some are going to need to have the one pair. Like you say it's a compromise, you just pick where you're taking the hit, chris got two of the best skis as his one or two anyway, the gap between the XL is going to close up with the 05/06 B2 as well.
I'm 100% sure the XL is the better ski though, but slightly less sure it's better for this use, however, it's got to be a contender. If you look in the current course line-up there's some GAP trainees waving a pair of XL's on page 16 There's also some B2's, 3v's, SX's, two sets of 1080s and some Salomons I don't immediately recognise.In the end, I guess any old planks will do if you're hitting the mark. Personally, I need two pairs a day
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ise, if you look on the "buy, sell, exchange" page you will see the fall-out from my attempts to get the perfect ski for every occasion!
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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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| Chris_5000 wrote: |
I've never tried the stockli, so don't know much about it-does anyone know if it has changed for 05/06?
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I can now confirm that Stöckli do have a new lineup for next year, the lasers, snakes and stormriders all have new versions. The snakes have a new BC model which looks interesting, a reduced turn radius from the previous snake I think.
I was over at Stöckli at the weekend and took a look at the new models. The guys were saying the Stormriders are largely a cosmetic change, lost on me as I've forgotton what they look like already
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ise,
Do you know what the 06 Stockli slalom ski is like?
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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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The SL's? The 05's were brutal, it's not an everyday ski at all. I've not skied the any of the new ones at all though. I do have some SC's which are a different ski.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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ise,
What's the SC like?
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FAQ
I found the 1080's heavy and lacking a bit of grip. I guess this means that they would prob be good in heavy soupy snow. I imagine they would be quite stable at speed, which is not really an option at MK which got progressively scraped bare through the afternoon -I blame the knuckledraggers 
