Best powder skis

[Tmcauliffe]

I demoed soul 7 hds, they were great, im looking for something around 120mm waist, that performs in the powder for when i go out west. I am agressive, i do hike some bowls, and i ski a decent amount of trees. Include at least one line option for me.

 

[Greg_K]

I demoed soul 7 hds, they were great, im looking for something around 120mm waist, that performs in the powder for when i go out west. I am agressive, i do hike some bowls, and i ski a decent amount of trees. Include at least one line option for me.

The Soul 7 HD are easy to ski for lighter weight, non aggressive skier skiing in soft snow but do not have a great rep among those in the know as they are very poor on groomers and at speed. Perfect rental ski for powder newbies though.

Lots of easy to ski powder skis out there with more of a backbone though for someone of your ability. The Moment Wildcat is the reference standard in a playful charger powder ski. Much more stable at speed and great in tracked out powder which is very important if you want to ski all day in the day after the dump. Easy to swivel in trees too.

Tried out the new 2020 Line Outline(117mm underfoot) and really liked it. Softer flexing than the Moment Wildcat and not quite as good in crud but still pretty good and float for days. Very fun and surfy in untracked snow and would be a blast in trees.

 

[Rum_Ham]

Wildcat is awesome, highly recommend

 

[olic]

Wildcat is awesome, highly recommend

Where do you have your Wildcat's mounted dude? I'm toying between them and some Line Mordecai's (totally different skis I know but undecided if I want something burlier or more playful)

 

[Rum_Ham]

Where do you have your Wildcat's mounted dude? I'm toying between them and some Line Mordecai's (totally different skis I know but undecided if I want something burlier or more playful)

Had them on the line, had to remount for new boots so I think I’m +1 from the line now. I think they’re still just as playful as my JJ 2.0s were but way more stable. I don’t really notice a difference between -6 and -5.

 

[Greg_K]

Where do you have your Wildcat's mounted dude? I'm toying between them and some Line Mordecai's (totally different skis I know but undecided if I want something burlier or more playful)

I’ve got Moment Bibby’s mounted about 5.25cm back from center(6cm factory) due to a previous mount and they are great there still and most people find that ski you can move +/- a bit from rec without issue.

The Mordecai has a range of -2cm(Eric’s Choice) to -6cm “all mountain” but most freestylers have it on Eric’s or close to it. Would be a little more stable but less playful back a bit. Honestly very similar to the Wildcat in weight(Mordecai is a bit heavier) with the Wildcat a bit stiffer but the Mordecai is no light noodle. Much stiffer than the Opus is.

The Ski I talked about above, the Line Outline is replacing both the Mordecai and the Opus next year. Was impressed with it! Definetly more playful than the Wildcat and not as good in crud but very fun and surfy.

 

[olic]

Cheers guys for the info, I can pick up a Mordecai in 176/184 for around £400 in the UK, Wildcat is kicking it at around £600+ so just need to work out whether the Moments are worth the extra cash and hassle of importing, they'll get their first test in Japan next season hopefully!

 

[JulianSharpe]

Cheers guys for the info, I can pick up a Mordecai in 176/184 for around £400 in the UK, Wildcat is kicking it at around £600+ so just need to work out whether the Moments are worth the extra cash and hassle of importing, they'll get their first test in Japan next season hopefully!

Check snowheads - there was someone selling some 17/18 bibbys for c. 400 quid with binders on them - looked in pure condition and if I didn't already have some I'd have pulled.

From experience on mine (mounted at minus 4) they rip in the alps/can be used pretty much as a daily so long as it's not ice (and even then..). BUT I wouldn't pick them as my pure pow ski - prefer something a touch softer and wider. Might be relevant as you mentioned Japan.

 

[olic]

Check snowheads - there was someone selling some 17/18 bibbys for c. 400 quid with binders on them - looked in pure condition and if I didn't already have some I'd have pulled.

From experience on mine (mounted at minus 4) they rip in the alps/can be used pretty much as a daily so long as it's not ice (and even then..). BUT I wouldn't pick them as my pure pow ski - prefer something a touch softer and wider. Might be relevant as you mentioned Japan.

Sweet will have a look! I'm still running some 2014 Line Chronics as my daily, so just looking for something fatter to hit the softer deeper stuff for when the Chonics start to struggle, ridden Line since 2009, feels weird looking at other brands ha ha!

 

[Rum_Ham]

Check snowheads - there was someone selling some 17/18 bibbys for c. 400 quid with binders on them - looked in pure condition and if I didn't already have some I'd have pulled.

From experience on mine (mounted at minus 4) they rip in the alps/can be used pretty much as a daily so long as it's not ice (and even then..). BUT I wouldn't pick them as my pure pow ski - prefer something a touch softer and wider. Might be relevant as you mentioned Japan.

I agree with this, they are definitely the best resort pow ski ever made because they handle the chopped up stuff so well. That said, for low angle, lower speed terrain like you would see in Japan they wouldn’t be my first choice. They’ll do fine but they aren’t the floatiest.

 

[olic]

Japan is probably a one off, after that it'll be mostly riding in the European Alps as a resort/pow ski and possibly a trip to Canada when I can afford it after the Japan trip.

Really appreciate the info, might stick with the Mordecai then as it's a bit softer!

 

[lion.pappa]

anyone have experiences with k2 catamarans and the arv116 jj? wondering how they compare to each other..

 

[Chunderface]

anyone have experiences with k2 catamarans and the arv116 jj? wondering how they compare to each other..

I have the Pettitors in 189 which are the precurser to the Catamaran. Funnest ski ever. Can smoke groomers, too. I haven't skied the Catamaran, but they are supposed to be improved Pettitors. If that is true, the Catamarans should be a really fun, versatile ski.