 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi there,
I'm currently looking to purchase a pair of Whitedot Preachers for the forthcoming season and having currently been on Zag Big 168s was wondering if I should stick to the 169s or take a punt on the 179s.
I'm 170cm (5' 7"), 71kg (11 and bit stones) and competent on most stuff, by no means an expert on all terrain but like to go off piste and in the trees.
Wondering if anyone had a view? How stiff are the shorter ones and whether they'll do the job + less of a jump from a ski with a 88cm waist (I'm nervous and excited at the idea of the wider skis!)
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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fatmansan, I am sure DOT. will be along soon to give his expert advice.
The Preachers ski short as the effective edge of the 179 is 158, I have been skiing the 179 but would have gone for the 189 as I am 81kg and 180cm
The 179 will give you a better feel on piste and more stability off piste, the Zag Big is a very turny ski compared to almost any freeride ski around. I think you will be surprised how easy the Preachers are to ski, they do not feel like a wide ski.
Also as you improve you will want that little extra length in 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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livetoski,
Thanks. I was speaking to Mark at Whitedot and he said similar - i.e. upgraded to 189s after starting on the 179s. The Zag is very turny and I enjoy it but I guess was a bit nervous about the extra length, despite the effective edge being much shorter. Gut feel is the 179s as I want to try and improve and really looking forward to getting on them so your feedback is appreciated
Cheers
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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fatmansan, Likewise, if i was you i'd upsize to the 179.
I'm 180cm's 80-85 kilo's (Depending how much raclette's been going round) And am pretty confident on anything but that doesn't mean i always make it look good. Love to be in the tree's and hopping, popping and dropping off mini-cliffs.
After a wee chat with Mark I bought the 189cm Preachers last season and they're so useable that despite the size they became my every day ski. Obviously they give great float in Pow but they also handle well on piste when you get your weight forward and i've even had them spinning a litte in the park.
Awesome ski, you will not be disappointed!!!! 
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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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fastandicy, Many thanks for your post and input. Really good to hear how use-able they are. Great feedback there...
Pizza's in the oven, think decision on skis is made and the snow isn't that far away. You said 75kgs was better for the 179s right? (it's a big pizza!)
Cheers
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Defo 179 Preacher.
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spyderjon, to the point. cheers
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fastandicy, got the same stats as you and I have some 179s on tne way, now I am worried.
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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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jbob, Ski's are a very personal thing. The 189's work for me but it depends what you're doing and how you're doing it.
If you haven't skied them and you want to upsize i'm sure the guys at Whitedot would do what they could, they've been no less than exceptional in customer care in my experience.
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I'm 80Kg (and dropping amazingly!), and am on 189s. They don't ski like 189s. For me even they are a little on the short radius side (189s I think have a slightly longer radius than 179), and the advice was to go for them as they get stiffer as they get longer (!) as the yare slightly on the soft end of my ski spectrum (having spent a good while on Volkls that have girders in). This advice was bang on and with a little bit of adjustment to the factory tune after a chat with Dot. I was happy as a pig in ...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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fatmansan, Gidday. I think everyone's already covered everything.
You could easily ski and love the 169s or the 179s and both will easily give you loads of float in any depth of pow. Keep in mind the skis are stiffer the longer they are so, if you're looking to take it easy and just cruise, spend a fair bit of time on piste but say 40% of your time off piste I'd go for the 169s, if you're looking for more response from a ski, more stability and spend most of your time in the back country the 179s will be the way to go. Feel free to call me on o7531 o39976 tomorrow if you want me to talk through the finer details of the Preachers.
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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'm 181cms.81 kg and have got the 189s. Two weeks skiing on them. I'm still learning to ski them the way the way they need to be skied and sometimes I wish I'd gone shorter. They feel like monsters in a telecabine with all the short, skinny piste skis and sometimes the same on your feet. But on balance, i'm very glad I bought them. It's a fun challenge and I'm sure there'll come a time when we click completely. Because they are definitely a buzz to ride! Really good on long fast GS type turns; "intriguing," shall we say, for the first time in knee deep, week-old stuff .
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fatmansan, MTFU (© Parlor) and get the 179s. Or take a gamble and get the 189s. Seriously they don't ski as long as their length would suggest. I'm 194cm and 95kg and my Preachers are 189cm. They really are an incredibly versatile ski, and will look after you even when skiing like a complete lady's front bottom.
I've been back on mine skiing for the last two days and it's putting on a favourite pair of comfy shoes that you haven't worn for a while. A couple of runs to get used to the width and then I'm back up to speed. And off skiing things that are way above my talent level.
And they really do put a huge grim on your face.
As fastandicy stated above, they are an awesome ski. Which ever length you chose, you will be mightily impressed, and won't regret your decision.
And they attract a lot of questions on the lifts.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Skier from Argentina wrote: |
| fatmansan, MTFU (© Parlor) and get the 179s. . |
189cm??? 
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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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Skier from Argentina,
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And they really do put a huge grim on your face.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm humming and harrring about Preachers in a 179 or Directors 178, I just can't decide!!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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All,
Can't say enough for all the feedback and experiences - really appreciated. The order is going in this morning for 179s! as I'd rather go for the extra stiffness, esp as the Zags i have are anything but.
Can't wait for some white stuff now.
Cheers
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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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heidiky, its a tough one, they are similar but also very different all at the same time. I have skied both and love both skis, the Directors offer a rocker solution to an all mountain ski, they take a little bit longer to get used to than the Preachers.
Its probably all down to the type of skiing you are doing most of the time, IMHO I dont think there is a wrong choice between the two?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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livetoski, tough choice, I like fast responsive skis on piste but I'm not getting them for piste! Maybe the preachers would handle better on piste? Not a big deal though cos like I said, I'm probably not going to ski on piste with them.... ponder away!!
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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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heidiky, from what you have said it sounds like the Directors maybe a better choice for you, the rocker is a big plus off piste.
What has put you off the Redeemer though? if its all off piste skiing then they might be worth looking at
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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heidiky, I decided on Directors as my off piste ski.
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| heidiky wrote: |
| I'm humming and harrring about Preachers in a 179 or Directors 178, I just can't decide!!! |
They aren't a direct trade due to effective edge with rocker - the Director has 90cm of effective edge versus the Preacher's 158. I'd consider trading up in the Director for this reason if you want them for the same purpose.
I'm looking forward to trying the Director though.
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The chat on here is so helpful, I've had to donate to SH as I reckon this advice is worth a least that.
Cheers
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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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livetoski, Don't want something too huge, would like to be able to fit in skinning tracks for those rare occasions that I put the effort in! Thinking directors really, although I reckon they'll flap like a mofo on hardpack between runs 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| livetoski wrote: |
Skier from Argentina,
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And they really do put a huge grim on your face.
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Typo, meant to say grin.
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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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Skier from Argentina,
MTFU - pips spyderjon, in the to-the-point stakes. Fair play.
Just spoken to the lovely folks at WD and 179s should be arriving with Marker Jester bindings early Oct.
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| Quote: |
it just depends on how fast your going
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.........fast!
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You know it makes sense.
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I'm 183cm and 90ish kg and after a good chat with some of the guys at whitedot on friday I pulled the trigger on a set of preachers in a 189.
All of the reviews that I've found as well as the advice from the company themselves (many thanks for your time on the phone on friday Andy) seems to suggest it's best to err on the long side with these.
On a slightly different note, what are the best mounting points for these? Has anyone found a particular sweet spot that works well on and off piste? I'm planning mounting Dukes on them but realistically these are just to aid me in reaching good snow rather than a great deal of actual touring and the majority of my skiing will still be lift served.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
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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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Just reopening this post to make a couple of comments having picked up by Preachers this weekend.
I ordered the 179s with Marker Jesters and a package duly arrived on the date the team at Whitedot said it would. Bindings checked out ok but the skis were 169s. We all know that s**t happens, and it's how you react when it does that makes the difference.
I have to say that my experience of the customer service from Whitedot was as excellent as earlier posts have suggested it would be:
- Excellent and swift recognition of the problem upon me sending them an email
- Great communication around how we'd solve this issue and they were obviously happy to discuss options
- As I live in London and they were at the Ski Show this weekend, arranged for my wife and I to get complimentary tickets to the show so we could go and do a ski swap
- Just as friendly and professional in the flesh and 179s were picked up, drilled as required
I've yet to ski them, ibut f they are anywhere near as good as their customer service then all should be well in the world come Zermatt in January.
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Poster: A snowHead
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fatmansan, Brilliant service eh?! They combined postage for me and a friend, they really know how to keep people smiling.
I ended up going for the Directors in a 178, can't wait to get in the pow! See you in Zermatt for a kodak+whitedot moment?!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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fatmansan, I'm not surpsised at all. The whitedot guys, I presume, are skiers. As a result they seem to low how to look after us and they do it with aplomb. I just got my delivery of the one's a few weeks ago and am desperate to get out on them as they look awesome. I'm rarely brand-loyal hear days but after two successive orders I feel that for whitedot I might make an exception!!!!
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