Salomon rocker 2 115 or Moment Bibby Pro or Line Opus or Line EP Pro?

A snowHead

Dear Snowheads,
I am an expert off-piste skier who spends between 2 and 4 weeks a year skiing off-piste (with guides.) I am 6ft 3ins, 89kg and physically fit. I own a pair of 191cm Scott Punishers and have skied 20 weeks on them. After hiring a pair of 186cm Moment Bibby Pros I have realised I need new skis! I really loved the Bibbys, they made my off-piste skiing loads more fun.
I know of a dealer (in La Plagne) for the Moment Bibby Pros, but I reckon they could be too expensive. So after a fair bit of research I am considering the following skis as my next purchase:
1. Salomon Rocker 2, 115.
2. Moment Bibby Pro (if not too expensive.)
3. Line Opus.
4. Line EP Pro.

What do you think?

I would really appreciate your opinions.

Thank you.

A snowHead

I have the 190 Bibby Pros, which are a bit stiffer than the 186s (186 more jibby, 190 more chargy), and can't think of anything I'd rather have as a Europe-based all conditions offpiste ski (Ok, deep hard-frozen crud I'd like a bit of metal and maybe 110 underfoot, but the Bibbys still do very well). Flex is dialled, I wouldn't call them 'stiff,' exactly, just perfect - great mix of playful and chargeable. Awesome in pow, can surf out big turns on open faces or slash/pivot quick turns in trees equally well. They do seem to have got more expensive in recent years though, mine were $600 at the time...

I haven't skied the others, but form hand-flexing/fondling in shops, I think they're too soft, and won't have the versatility of the Bibby once the pow's tracked. I haven't seen the Opus though, which could be different.

In the same category, take a look at DOWN skis. Made in the same place as Faction, Whitedot and Zag, all the skis have two layers of carbon, and some very tasty shapes. Very good prices as they only sell direct to customer, the owner is really helpful if you have any questions, they have a sale on atm and will have a summer presale too. Some of the team are consistently getting out and doign seriously rad stuff here in Austria. Praxis are only available direct from the US, but usually have a very good summer presale, and you can usually find a 20% off code on TGR. DPS are increasingly available in Europe, and the hybrids are actually cheaper than Moment over here - the RPC or Lotus 120 would probably work well. Atomic Automatic, again feels softer than the Bibby, so not for me, but maybe worth a look. New Scott Punisher is worth a look, as are the Fischer Big Stix 120s, and maybe the 4FRNT Hoji or Renegade (several shops in Germany stock them), though I've never seen them/don't know what their flex is like.

TGR and Blister Gear Review are good places for relatively unbiased reviews.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Also worth noting the Bibbys are changing for next season, 2mm fatter and 2mms longer - neither of which I particularly want, tbh.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

i had exactly that shopping list 4 months ago ! there are far too many options around that range, I found it ended up just about keeping the costs down! Bibby pros are sweet but i never found any good deals, ended up with a pair of black Diamond Zealots, which I love.

I had a play with the Salomon Rockers and found them far too soft for me.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Praxis GPO or MVP? Got a 20% off code for them, if you're interested wink

I'd also suggest the ON3P Billygoat to continue the theme of rather nice skis from smaller manufacturers, but they're painfully expensive to get this side of the Atlantic.

I'll second the Blister Gear Review suggestion; plenty of ski porn to keep you busy there... they have quite a few reviews for skis in this category.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Dear All,

Thanks for your help and suggestions, very much appreciated.

I have been reading the TGR, Blister Gear, Fall Line, various youtube reviews and using the www.Backcountry.com reviews. A Blister Gear review reckons that the Salomon Rocker 2 115 are similar to the Bibbys. The Salomon Rocker 2 115 does get loads of rave reviews all over the place - I was actually concerned it maybe too stiff!

How do the Line Opus and Salomon Rocker 2 115 compare?

Please keep your thoughts coming.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Yeah, 'too soft' seems a bit odd... Salomon's freeski guys Cody Townsend and Mark Abma spend plenty of time on Rocker 2s and they're not shy about charging hard and dropping off cliffs, so the skis can't be that floppy wink

After all it is free

Serriadh, Eric Pollard also goes big on soft skis, having awesome skills probably helps, I just find it limiting. Stiffer skis make things easier IME - at least to a point. Also no guarantee they're on stock skis. Horses for courses though.

JayDub, remember the stiffness of the Bibby depends on what length - you mentioned the 186, which was the jibby version, the 184 and 190 are stiffer (less so than marketed, I'd describe them as medium-stiff, in no way demanding to ski anyway), so you should double check which version they were comparing to the Rocker2s.

Apologies was on the 108 Rocker2 which felt a bit soft, maybe the 115 is a different, tougher beast, will work go on my dyslexia and leave you to it.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

dulcamara, Have never found any of the range of Rockers Soft and I am a big guy who is used to skiing on Factory race skis?

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Cheers all,

I am now thinking Salomon rocker 2 115 (188) or Salomon rocker 2 122 (190something)

The only on-piste I do is between off-piste runs and maybe a couple of piste bashing days (out of 8 days skiing.)

Has anybody skied both of these?

How do they compare?

Thanks again.

snow reports

JayDub, have you tried posting on TGR? I'm sure there're lots of guys who've skied the skis you're interested in and will have an opinion. Best to try to test, but I know it's difficult to do so and hence you rely on internet chat, which is what I did when deciding to buy my last pair.

Sideshow_Bob,

I am looking for a place in Les Arcs where I can test them both next month.

My plan is to try them both - and then buy.

Thanks for the advice.

You know it makes sense.

JayDub, I have had a good fondle and play with the rocker 2 but never skied them, I can not get my head round why they have no edges at the front or back of the ski unless they have changed that now.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

JayDub, I work for Salomon but

I have skied both the 122 and the 115.

My powder ski of choice is the Rocker 2 122,I am a Little shorter and heavier than you. They are both excellent skies to be honest and great fun.

The do fall down on hard packed icy piste but then again that is like saying a Ferrari F1 car is no good at ploughing fields.

A snowHead

Rossi S7

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Camber, camber, camber

You need to Login to know who's really who.

CH2O,

I have been thinking of the s7 too, and have read the reviews. Have you skied the s7 and R2 115?

Help!!

Salomon rocker 2 115 or Moment Bibby Pro or Line Opus or Line EP Pro?

snowHeads Forum Index >>> Equipment Reviews/Questions