 Poster: A snowHead
|
I've owned some Gladiators before which were around 89mm underfoot but I've never skied anything 100mm+.
I'm 6ft, 180lbs (more with backpack and stuff on), comfortable skiing off piste, diamonds etc. Probably looking for a 170cm ski or thereabouts and something to ski in occasional powder/trees but am getting more and more into off piste. Something a bit softer for bumps and crud?
So,
I'm down to
Rossi S3 178cm
HEAD Rev 90 170cm
Prophet 90 170cm
watea94 178 best price but not sure whether it skis a bit short...
any thoughts or recommendations? I don't really want to go over 94mm as it's probably a waste unless spending all your time off piste.
Also, the market seems to be moving away from narrower waisted skis as the mid fats are just as good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
GordonFreeman, 170 sounds a little short for you 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Was going to use them out in the east coast of NAmerica at times and 186 might be alittle too long for tree skiing?
178cm sounds about right?
S3 is a top seller but I'm a little worried it's powder only whereas the Watea94 could cover the lot?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
GordonFreeman, I ski an s3 in 178cm alot, but I am a bit lighter than you and a little shorter.
They ski very short, but i ski trees as much as i can and they are excellent in trees, and in bumps.....best bump ski i have ever skied............but have a definite speed limit on piste, (a low speed limit) they are also very quick for a 98mm width ski. Get knocked around in crud, last week I went back to my normal camber fischer misfits when it got cruddy. The 186cm version has effectively the same running length, more rocker. The only issue i have with the s3 is it is so easy to ski it makes me lazy.......................
I have also skied a watea 94 with the odd boat hull tip, very different to s3, stiffer, better on piste, much more grip, likes GS turns, i found them hard work with smaller turns. The tails is quite upturned, but ski much longer than the s3's.
Have not skied the other two, but 170cm seems a little short, however the s3 178cm only measures 175cm from the floor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GordonFreeman, they have tip and tail rocker (and a twin tip), so ski a bit shorter than the length might suggest. FWIW, I'm 5 foot 9 and about 75kg, and never wish they were shorter. Ever. Well, maybe on kick turns...
Seriously though, very nimble and easy to pivot your way through tight trees (or tight bumps, for that). The old skis I referred to were 176, and feel too short for me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm quite pleased with my Line Prophet 98s in 179 ((I'm 172cm/177kg). I used them in L2A last week and was surprised at just how easy they are to get onto their edges.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| Claude B wrote: |
| I'm quite pleased with my Line Prophet 98s in 179 ((I'm 172cm/177kg). I used them in L2A last week and was surprised at just how easy they are to get onto their edges. |
177kg 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
woops I'm more an old fashioned lbs & ounces man, 77kg 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
How would the S3 compare to say the Head REV?
Only think I'm worried about with the S3 is how it works on piste...also I'd probably get a 178 as I want to use it in trees and 186 is prob too long but is 178 enough for my height/weight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
S3 carves and short turns really nicely....obviously it is not a GS ski....but you did say one-ski quiver!
I have a multi-ski quiver, but I ski my S3s probably 80% of the time on and off, only resorting to a true slalom (Elan SLX) when it is really properly hard underfoot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BTW...170 is much to short in an S3 if you are 6ft.
185 is what you need. (they ski a lot shorter than that on piste, and the rocker still makes them shorter than that off piste)
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
I will throw in a vote for Stoeckli VXLs. 88mm underfoot for the 189cm model. I am 6' 4" and find the 189cm perfect. Agile on-piste, with great edge hold on ice. A bit like a GS ski. Solid in the crud - does not get unsettled unless you are in the backseat. Some, but not a lot, of float in powder. I think you need to go a lot wider than 88mm, unless you are a lightweight midget, to get float in dry powder. Bumps? Well, I am crap in them, so I will not comment, other than I hope to get a lot better.
For a 1-ski quiver, many of the reviews I have read put the VXL and the Kaestle MX88 at the very top of the pile. Have not skied the latter, so cannpt comment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| GordonFreeman wrote: |
How would the S3 compare to say the Head REV?
Only think I'm worried about with the S3 is how it works on piste...also I'd probably get a 178 as I want to use it in trees and 186 is prob too long but is 178 enough for my height/weight. |
You have to think about more than just ski length, when considering how a ski will be in tight places/making tight pivot turns. A softer ski will be easier to bully around, a rockered ski easier to pivot quickly. For anything over than extreme hardpack/ice, I'd rather be on my 190 skis than a 165 slalom ski in tight trees.
What sort of ability are you/how much experience do you have? Sounds like it might be worth you trying skis of different lengths (and other characteristics) jsut to get a feel for this stuff/some confidence in it, even if you can't demo the exact models you're interested in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| clarky999 wrote: |
| GordonFreeman wrote: |
How would the S3 compare to say the Head REV?
Only think I'm worried about with the S3 is how it works on piste...also I'd probably get a 178 as I want to use it in trees and 186 is prob too long but is 178 enough for my height/weight. |
You have to think about more than just ski length, when considering how a ski will be in tight places/making tight pivot turns. A softer ski will be easier to bully around, a rockered ski easier to pivot quickly. For anything over than extreme hardpack/ice, I'd rather be on my 190 skis than a 165 slalom ski in tight trees.
What sort of ability are you/how much experience do you have? Sounds like it might be worth you trying skis of different lengths (and other characteristics) jsut to get a feel for this stuff/some confidence in it, even if you can't demo the exact models you're interested in. |
well, resonably experienced. can ski pretty much any black run, can ski off piste in forgiving conditions, not much experience in the deep stuff. However, where I may be moving to (Quebec), they have icy conditions most of the time with occasional deep powder once a month.
However, in terms of skis, I've only ever skied thinner skis (Head 72, other carving, Gladiator 80mm) so I'm not that experienced in terms of the difference in feel for soft and hard skis and how this affects things.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
From what I've heard of Quebec I'd have thin piste skis and rent (or buy) wider skis once a month.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Claude B wrote: |
| From what I've heard of Quebec I'd have thin piste skis and rent (or buy) wider skis once a month. |
Maybe but then most people out there seem to ski on 80+ skis anyway.
There seems to be a large move towards wider skis nowadays
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
If you'll be moving to somewhere you can ski regularly, you'll inevitably end up getting a quiver anyway. In which case, skip the middle ground (somewhat) and get a 75-85mm piste ski and 105mm+ soft snow ski.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
After a gladiator, softer skis may be a disappointment. Plus Glads were were 92 wide and 182 or 192 (we talking of a different ski?)
Could go for their replacement the Source, turnier apparently
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
If you're going to be living in Quebec, buy a hard pack gripper and back it with a 105+ soft snow ski for trips out west or powder days. As above. If you get out west with something skinnier you'll look like a tourist unless you're rocking OG Explosivs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
fatbob, your command of dude speak never ceases to amaze
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C'mon I pull most of this straight outta my harris.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
would a rossi experience 83 in 184cm be too long for me?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not if you're remotely a man
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| rungsp wrote: |
I have a multi-ski quiver, but I ski my S3s probably 80% of the time on and off, only resorting to a true slalom (Elan SLX) when it is really properly hard underfoot. |
I have this plus Auras with Marker F10s for touring
I have read that there isn't much stability advantage with the 186cm vs the 177cm S3 as the running length is the same, it just has longer rocker
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Very, very fun ski though and great on piste if the snow is even a wee bit soft, not for those that like to charge though
