All Around Ski -- Park + Crud

funtimes

funtimes

Member
Hey guys -

I haven't been paying much attention to the new gear for the last few years, but I'm back. I am looking for a ski that I can use in the park a bit, and then riding/playing around on regular days at Snowbird as well (chop, trees, few inches of new snow, etc.).

I used to have Kung Fujas for this, but I snapped the tails in mine. Looking for something to replace these guys. I was thinking Shreditor 102s, but was looking for other options too

Looking for something playful, but can handle some serious chop too (and can ride in park). I ride switch a ton too. Thinking 100-105 underfoot roughly. Also thought about the Candide 2.0, but you can never find good deals on these

I've got Bentchetlers and Hellbents for playing around on deep days already, so I don't need it to double as a pow ski.

Thoughts? What do you guys recommend?
 
Armada arv ti's are fun too. Now i think there's arv86, 96, and 106 apparently. Good for what you described, i demoed them at alta on a subpar day and had a blast, pretty chargy and poppy
 
you've really got to decdide whats more important, playfulness or peformcance in chop/crud. Ulitmately a stiff ski is likely to be less playful but will chop through crud better than a soft ski like the shreditor 102 which will get bounced around.

You could try the new K2 poacher, it replaces the shreditor and falls between the 92 and 102 at 96mm under foot but is a fair amount stiffer than its predecessors. I've taken them out on a pretty cold day skiing groomers and they felt solid, i didnt notice any bad chatter and they seemed to hold an edge nicely. I'd imagine they'd perform relatively well in chop and refrozen crud unless you're going mach10 in which case you'd be looking at something stiffer anyway (blizzard bonafide could be a good option but much more direectional so probably not your thing)

anyway thats just my 2 cents
 
13711218:gapersarefriends said:
Armada arv ti's are fun too. Now i think there's arv86, 96, and 106 apparently. Good for what you described, i demoed them at alta on a subpar day and had a blast, pretty chargy and poppy
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Nice, thanks. Have you ridden them in the park? Just curious as to how they performed there.

13711231:JibbaTheHutt said:
you've really got to decdide whats more important, playfulness or peformcance in chop/crud. Ulitmately a stiff ski is likely to be less playful but will chop through crud better than a soft ski like the shreditor 102 which will get bounced around.

You could try the new K2 poacher, it replaces the shreditor and falls between the 92 and 102 at 96mm under foot but is a fair amount stiffer than its predecessors. I've taken them out on a pretty cold day skiing groomers and they felt solid, i didnt notice any bad chatter and they seemed to hold an edge nicely. I'd imagine they'd perform relatively well in chop and refrozen crud unless you're going mach10 in which case you'd be looking at something stiffer anyway (blizzard bonafide could be a good option but much more direectional so probably not your thing)

anyway thats just my 2 cents
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Thanks, yeah, understood on the playfulness vs. performance. I looked these up, and they look pretty rad. I haven't ridden a super stiff ski in a while, so maybe it's time I make the switch back haha. Seems like these are park-oriented skis, but how do you think they'd do in a few inches of fresh snow when I don't feel like bustin out bentchetlers/hellbents?
 
13711526:funtimes said:
Nice, thanks. Have you ridden them in the park? Just curious as to how they performed there.

Thanks, yeah, understood on the playfulness vs. performance. I looked these up, and they look pretty rad. I haven't ridden a super stiff ski in a while, so maybe it's time I make the switch back haha. Seems like these are park-oriented skis, but how do you think they'd do in a few inches of fresh snow when I don't feel like bustin out bentchetlers/hellbents?
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I have not no
 
13711526:funtimes said:
Nice, thanks. Have you ridden them in the park? Just curious as to how they performed there.

Thanks, yeah, understood on the playfulness vs. performance. I looked these up, and they look pretty rad. I haven't ridden a super stiff ski in a while, so maybe it's time I make the switch back haha. Seems like these are park-oriented skis, but how do you think they'd do in a few inches of fresh snow when I don't feel like bustin out bentchetlers/hellbents?
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i'd say at 96mm under foot with subtle tip rocker they'll do fine in upto 6 inches of fresh, anything past that and they might sink a little but less than you'll be fine.

I've also ridden the arv96, its softer in general with a medium soft tip and tail and medium flex under the foot, they are very playful but if you're going for it they don't feel anywhere as stable as the poachers.
 
None of those are good for crud. ON3P Kartels 106 or 98 are good in park and crud, k2 poacher is also good. Get a damp ski.
 
I got a pair of Blizzard Peacemakers last season and fell in love with them as a do it all ski. 104 underfoot and fun on everything.
 
Ok thanks guys, 10/10 to all haha. I think I'm leaning towards the k2 poachers and the ARV 96s. Which one do you guys think rides better out of park? I think that's the kicker for me
 
13712601:funtimes said:
Ok thanks guys, 10/10 to all haha. I think I'm leaning towards the k2 poachers and the ARV 96s. Which one do you guys think rides better out of park? I think that's the kicker for me
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I have in depth reviews coming up for both of these skis coming up in the fall, along with some others in the same category. I have my own pair of Poachers and I skied the Arv96 at a test (and have my own pair coming for a full review shortly). Long story short, the Poachers are definitely the more stable/chargeable of the two outside of the park. The Arvs are an awesome ski but they are way more in that 'surfy buttery fun' bracket, and crud busting performance suffers as a result.

All that said, I think the K2 Marksman (the wider of the two new K2 skis at 106mm) would be a great choice for you. The problem with the Poacher is even though it's a solid ski for crud, it isn't that wide (only 118mm in the tail). It still suffers from some deflection/catching/hooking issues as a result, particularly when landing switch in mixed snow.

You seem less fussed about park and more worried about all over performance and the Marksman is a great option. It's definitely an all mountain ski and I'd say cruddy mixed condition performance was its best attribute but it also has wider edges and enough jib dna to make it usable as an occasional park ski. The flip side is it's heavier in the air, so you have to make that tradeoff.

**This post was edited on Aug 16th 2016 at 4:47:52am
 
13712648:Twig said:
I have in depth reviews coming up for both of these skis coming up in the fall, along with some others in the same category. I have my own pair of Poachers and I skied the Arv96 at a test (and have my own pair coming for a full review shortly). Long story short, the Poachers are definitely the more stable/chargeable of the two outside of the park. The Arvs are an awesome ski but they are way more in that 'surfy buttery fun' bracket, and crud busting performance suffers as a result.

All that said, I think the K2 Marksman (the wider of the two new K2 skis at 106mm) would be a great choice for you. The problem with the Poacher is even though it's a solid ski for crud, it isn't that wide (only 118mm in the tail). It still suffers from some deflection/catching/hooking issues as a result, particularly when landing switch in mixed snow.

You seem less fussed about park and more worried about all over performance and the Marksman is a great option. It's definitely an all mountain ski and I'd say cruddy mixed condition performance was its best attribute but it also has wider edges and enough jib dna to make it usable as an occasional park ski. The flip side is it's heavier in the air, so you have to make that tradeoff.

**This post was edited on Aug 16th 2016 at 4:47:52am
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Wow, thanks for the detailed post! I was a little hesitant on the marksman due to the asymmetrical tip and tail...how'd you feel about those? What'd those ride like?

I love riding everything I can switch, so I would want to make sure they're good there (I can't imagine Pep designing something that blows switch, but you never know ha)

As far as park - yeah, you're right. I really just want something that performs well in the park when I decide to cruise through for a couple laps on these. I have park specific skis, but I don't ride strictly in the park too often anymore. Usually just about 5-6 laps
 
13712692:funtimes said:
Wow, thanks for the detailed post! I was a little hesitant on the marksman due to the asymmetrical tip and tail...how'd you feel about those? What'd those ride like?

I love riding everything I can switch, so I would want to make sure they're good there (I can't imagine Pep designing something that blows switch, but you never know ha)

As far as park - yeah, you're right. I really just want something that performs well in the park when I decide to cruise through for a couple laps on these. I have park specific skis, but I don't ride strictly in the park too often anymore. Usually just about 5-6 laps
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Sorry for the slow response but the asymmetrical sidecut + tip and tail shape actually works really nicely in chopped up snow. I feel if anything it helps to cut through cruddy stuff and makes the ski more surfy going sideways and definitely smooths out the exit of butters etc too. Definitely ski normally switch too, I wouldn't say they were exceptional but no worse than other similar skis.
 
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