Best pow ski for japanese pow!

W

WHOdatSK

Member
got the 2010 shogun when i went to silverstar at the start of the year and really enjoyed it. heading to Niseko this season and looking to upgrade to a real pow ski. very interested in the Bentchetler as it sounds like a really fun ski. looking to get a ski i got really float in deep pow aswell as use it for backcountry freestyle.

btw im 175cm and 75kgs
 
Hmm...I've never skied the Benchetler, but I heard you're better of going for the Hellbents/EP Pro's (they're pretty much the same I think).

Considering you're pretty short (for Dutch standards ^_^ ), I'd go for the 179cm Hellbents I guess.

I have never skied in Japan (but trust me, I wanna!) but from what I can tell by the movies is that you don't want a stiff ski anyway because it's relatively flat and you're gonna want to jib around and what not.

The Benchetlers are only in 183 and the EP Pro's only 185. I know there's a load more ski's like this, but these are the ones you're the most likely to get your hands on I guess...

Good luck making your choice
 
I dont know who told you this but everyone who has ridden the bentchetler LOVES them. The same cant be said for the Hellbents: some love em some hate em..

Also you say the bc is short at 183 but you do recommend the 179 hellbents?

@ OP: From all the comments ive seen on similar questions in the past i'd say look into Bentchetlers, EP Pro's, On3p Caylors
 
I have skied in japan at niseko and the hellbent and EP are perfect skis for the terrain and type of snow they get but I would personally say get the benchetler or EP because they are just as good for the powder as the hellbent just lighter,more nimble, and has a better flex for what I like in the two skis. also the graphics I think are better on both the two.
 
well considering youre in japan i would say volkl chopsticks. for any other pow i would say the armada jj.
 
EPs for sure my friend. Light, nice and soft but stiff underfoot, and the perfect flex for light pow. Fun on groomers too and in park, but watch out for crud, you can get worked if you're not on your game
 
OK after doing some more reseach and from what you guys have said i think i can narrow down to 2 EP and Bentchetlers. can someone tell me the main differences between the 2.. if any. cheers

 
OK here goes...

EPs are a wider, softer ski. They have early rise tip and tail (although really more of a rocker)whereas the bentchetlers have rockered tip and tail and camber under foot

also, EPs, at 153-127-150 underfoot are a good deal wider throughout than the bentchetlers.

EPs are also softer than the bentchetlers by a good deal. The benchetlers stiffness underfoot helps it on the groomers, but the EPs rail on groomers better than expected.

Basically EPs are soft and more jibby as well as a better ski for pure powder. Bentchetlers are stiffer and are better for charging and variable conditions. Both are awesome skis though, so it depends what you are looking for.
 
I have the 2010 JJ's and they're really good. But when i tried by friends Bentchetlers, those were fucking awesome. Turns on a dime, so buttery. Just awesome.
 
When are you going dude? ill be there from the 26th of december to the 9th of Jan, with a buddy of mine,
if your there we should ride!
oh and bump, i still cant settle this debate for myself, leaning chetlers right now, just dont know if id like more width
 
I have skied whistler all season with my bentchetlers, Im around 5'11 and only 150lbs. Like has been said before, they ski short and measure short for a 183. I really love the reverse sidecut (early taper) design. In deep pow you can create any turn shape you like with zero hooking.

Originally I mounted mine at -1cm from centre but found the tail so big that it got hung up on me a bit. I really love them at -2.5cm. Crazy but makes such a difference.

Big rockered skis you really want to detune the rockered section as you dont want to catch your tips in sketchy conditions as a fat ski will act like a giant fulcrum on your leg/knee/pelvis.

I have skied the 179 hellbent and the bentchetler is a much better all around ski that kills it in the deepest of days.

I also ski a 179 obsethed which is my favourite ski of all time, I do like soft skis but ep pros are too pow specific. Whistler gets a lot of wet elephant snot for snow and the ep would get too deflected. The bentchetlers still rule in these conditions.

I like to ski alot of trees and pillows, mini golf type terrain. Im not really one for super tight sketchy chutes and variable terrain.In those conditions I would want my seths or something stiffer, Once you get up to 120mm plus underfoot, there is not the same leverage (read grip) on icy exposed faces.

P.S: Im going to Niseko/Hirafu too and have a job lined up December to end of March. gonna be sick......
 
so summing up the EP is the more powder specific ski and is more jibby.. but the Bentchetler performs better in variousconditions.. both good options but if the EP is better in that sexy pow then thats what i want.
 
i absolutely loved my EP Pro's when i worked over there last summer, they joust float and kill it, then when you go large you can without any worries. they get an amazing amount of snow and they never felt to big.
cant froff on them more.
 
I was on EP Pros mounted true center with Jesters. If you go EP's, mount on the line, not true center. While they were awesome fun I did end up going over the handlebars a few times at bad moments. Brakes don't work so well in blower pow.
IMO go the EPs. Who cares about groomer performance, it's Niseko, if there's no fresh then go to the Onsen and chill for a day since there will probably be 2ft fresh the next day.
 
I'm heading out there boxing day with a buddy of mine, 99% sold on the bent chetlers

anyone have any input bentchetler vs JJ... I just think i want the width of the bent chetler, truth be told i could go wider.

seems a bunch of people are going to niseko, anyone going to be there when i am? Boxing day till early january
 
The tapered tip and tail are also an amazing feature of the chetlers. And for thw guy who said they r more of a varied condition ski, ur high. They slay any fresh, and that is what they r best at
 
After reading way too many reviews and listening to what you guy have said.. im sold on the bents. buying the 183 tonight off getboards.. i have one last question.

im either getting the rossi fks 14 or sth driver 14

but both only come with 115 brakes.. firstly has anyone put these bindings on similar sized skis? and is bending the brake to fit an option?

im keen on the fks but the heelpeice is sounds like alot of work in deep snow.. although also sounds worth it if my knees dont blow up in a crash...

please advise +k

 
i just bent 75mm fks over my 114 one lifes

i think that both of those bindings are good

deff wouldn't pay a full 700 though, look around on B/S/T

someone was selling melees with sth 14's for 250 the other day

 
They'll be great while you're skiing, but the way they're designed makes em a little tough to get on when the snow is deep. Overall, not a big deal.
 
All bindings suck in waist deep jap pow. First you have to find your ski though, which takes like 20 minutes of wallowing round in the snow. Next you find an appropriate sized bush and kinda climb into it and try to put your ski on, but every time you move you cause approximately 3 tons of snow to fall on your binding.
At least their super dry pow generally doesn't stick to your boots.
 
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