A-Bangs or Rockers? (way different, I know, but read on...)

Ryan*

Ryan*

Active member
So here's the deal:

Essential facts:

Height: 5'9" - 5'10" (not quite sure)

Weight: roughly 143 pounds

I ski mainly at Stratton, VT. I do a lot of park but that's really not my favorite thing to do. I love skiing pow, blasting cliffs (of course, there are none at Stratton, but I take what I can get), ducking in the woods, basically steep n' deep shit. I really belong out west, but that's not happening for a while so for now, I'm stuck, and the biggest challenge on the mountain is in the parks, so that's where I go.

I have a pair of 08/09 Chronics (166 cm) with Griffons. I like them, they're great all over the mountain, but they're too stiff. I can't butter them, do presses, nollie, or anything like that. They kick ass at high speeds and they pop like crazy, but they're just not that playful. So I want another pair. I'm trying to choose between the Moment Rockers @ 171 cm or the Afterbangs @ probably 166 cm (unless 177 is a better idea, but they'd be taller than me, so I don't know about that...). Let's break it down.

The Moments are rockered, sidecut 114-92-114. They are apparently pretty flexy, and the rocker obviously helps with butters and that kind of stuff. They're advertised as "rockered park skis," but I'd imagine that the +90 waist and rocker makes them pretty good in pow too. The thing is, as much as I'd like to need a ski that performs in pow, the truth is, I only go out west once a year. And yeah, we get good snow sometimes in Vermont (like on Thursday, for example), but to be honest, my Chronics do fine in it, it's never that deep. So I don't know if this ski would really be necessary.

If I got them, I'd probably get them with Schizos ($339), and I can get these skis for $400, bringing the grand total to $739. Yikes. Working alternating weekends at $8.50 an hour, I won't make that for a long, LONG time.

The Afterbangs are, obviously, a park ski, sidecut 115-88-115. These are much more playful, and certainly more park oriented. I like that they cut down on wood and plastic waist, because I am an admitted and ardent environmentalist. The thing is, if I got these, they would leave my Chronics as the most versatile ski, and when the snow gets deep, the Chronics would be the only good option for me. And the Chronics really are not that good when the snow gets deep.

If I got these, they'd be with Griffons ($229) and these skis are $359, bringing the whole setup to $588. A much more comforting number.

So I guess my Chronics are the middleground ski. A bit of everything. Question is, which way do I want my new skis to lean? Do I want them to lean towards park and urban, or a bit more towards pow? Of course, the Moments are park-centered too, but the rocker and wide waist undoubtedly means they'll be a lot better in deep stuff than either of the Lines. The A-Bangs are a bit wider too, but they're no powder ski. And I've also heard some horror stories about the A-Bangs delamming, which worry me. So, what should I do? Any advice, testimonials about these skis, suggestions of other ideas, etc. are greatly appreciated.

I should just get some Faction Royales, just to be a BAMF.
 
I don't know about the A-bangs, but I have a pair of this years Rockers that I absolutely love and wrote a review on. It's on my profile. I wrote that review after 2 days of summer skiing at Hood. I now have 12 days of skiing pretty much all types of terrain on them. You should hit me up with a PM with as many questions as you like and I'm happy to help you out.
 
Thats funny i was deciding between the two also... I decided to wait and get next years (2010-2011) Moment rockers. Just heard so many good reviews and i've had lines my whole life and kinda want to try something new
 
Bumpity

SHampton helped me a ton with the Rockers, but nobody has told me much about the Afterbangs (I know a lot about them but I want some testimonials to go by)...any help here?
 
im not sure why you would get schizos on the rockers?

that adds another $100 of plastic to your binding.

i would go for rockers with griffons (i wouldnt put griffons on personally, but thats what you want)
 
I was wondering the same thing. Rockers arre symmetrical, there is only one place they should be mounted at: CENTER.

I have a pair, I ski upstate NY and VT and they are so much fun. MOst playful skis I've ever ridden. I reviewed them on backcountry.com if you want to check that out. or PM me if youhave questions.

I got mine mounted with FKS 155's and they are super fucking light and great in the park and pretty manageable anywhere else (a bit scary on hard conditions/ at speed but if you're a good skier you should be able to manage it)

Griffons/Jesters would also be a good choice if you want to go with markers, but def dont get schizos on them, that would be retarded (no offense). Not only does it add a shit ton of plastic and weight (not to mention a binding that has way more moving parts to break) but it puts you off center and these skis arent meant o be ridden that way. The rocker , early taper and mid fat profile makes them do pretty good in deeper stuff.
 
I was going to put Schizos on so that I could move the mounting position back so they'd do better in deep stuff and pow, but if everyone agrees that that wouldn't be necessary than I'd just as soon put Griffons or FKS's on them.

So I guess that's another question: do the Rockers do well in pow, even when mounted at center?

P.S.

My dad is on ski patrol, so I'm pretty sure he gets pro pricing (half price on everything) on Rossignol, so I'd put FKS's on both of these skis if it is deemed that Schizos aren't necessary for the Rockers.
 
I don't know if you have a thing for symmetrical skis or not, check out surface skis. They have some symmetrical pow skis, and they have these which I think you might like.
 
I don't really, I just like these two skis and they happen to be symmetrical. I'll definitely check out Surface though, I know about them but I'll give them another look.
 
For a park specific ski, yes they do well in pow, even mounted at center.
And as far as your question goes I would get the Rockers and put Griffons on them. Can you take the Griffons from your Chronics and just switch them over?
 
That's what I thought, though I love my Griffons. They've taken quite the beating and I haven't had a single problem yet. (knocks on wood)
 
rockers with griffons, or older fks 120 or 155 models (less than $150 on a few sites)

and rockers are a rockered park ski because they are symmetrical.

i ski volkl walls (a symmetrical park ski) as a one ski quiver and have skied powder with them. it doesnt take long to get used to it, and i think you would be fine with the rockers for your occasional powder trip.
 
If I were you, I would go for the 181 rockers. I'm 5'7" and I have 177 Planks. The rocker makes the running length shorter so longer length=more stability. At your height you won't regret it.

Like it's been said before, don't put schiztos (sp?) on the rockers. They are meant to mounted on center

I have both invaders and Planks (both similar skis to what you are looking at) and I would take out the planks any day over invaders. They are super poppy, easy to butter, decent in the bumps, pretty good in the glades. I haven't had them on a pow day yet (I don't need to as I have a pair of LL2's) but they are good on groomers.

 
Forgot to mention this, 171 would definitely be real short on you. If you go with the Rockers they will ski super short, being symmetrical and rockered will make them seem like a 171 ski.
I recently moved from 166 Foils to 172 Elizabeths and was worried about the length, but now I wish they made the Lizzies in 176. Don't be afraid to go longer!
 
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