Decisions Decisions..

Alistair.

Member
Hey NS.

I've recently sold my Rossingol Scratch Sprayer FS' because I simply did not enjoy skiing them and have hunted around for a good pair of All Mountain Ski's to take to France with me this Christmas, I will be riding Groomers, Park and I suspect a bit of off Piste.

I've hunted it down to the following three, but I am definately open to suggestions

K2 Extreme, Armada El Reys and Liberty Hazmats (Havn't heard much about them but the few reviews I have seen describe them as pretty solid ski's)

And if I were to get Armada's or Libertys I have no idea what Binding to get on them if I am completely honest

And last but not least, I have no idea what size to get myself. 6'1 and 10st 9lbs which is around 150 lbs I think :/. Cheers Guys (Y)
 
I just got the K2 Extremes this past weekend and they are currently being mounted. I can't wait to ski them. It really depends on what you want to ski though. I have heard, although they are described as an all mountain ski, that the el reys are too much of a park ski, but I could be wrong. My brother is getting the hazmats i think, and he won't be skiing much park at all. I think the extremes have a great price and K2 makes reallllly solid skis. If you aren't really worried about the price and want a great all-mountain ski then definitely check out the volkl bridges or walls if you want a great park ski. My suggestion is the extremes and that isn't only because I picked them. What percentage do you ski park/groomers/ice/pow/etc. That would help.
 
These are only rough guides of percentages but I'd say 50-60% Groomers, 30% ish park and 10% off of ze piste, no deep pow tho I don't think, depends :/
 
For your description, the Hazmat would be the best. It's great in powder and awesome everywhere else. You won't be dissapointed. Also, you can put any bindings you want to on any of those skis.

 
I would definitely say hazmats or extremes. I think you can scratch the el reys. It's really up to you now. Hazmats and extremes are similar skis except for the waist (Hazmats are 94 and Extremes are 85). Based on your percentages I would go with the hazmats because I don't think they are as much of a park ski as the extremes, and you won't be doing too much park. Either way, though, each ski kills it outside of the park.
 
Keep this in mind-don't let what anyone tells you on here get you so down on a ski that you don't want to consider it anymore. When I was buying skis I made a couple threads and went from ski to ski to ski to ski and on and on and on. Get what your instinct tells you to get. Go to a shop and ask an expert. If you are a good skier then you will probably be able to ski anything. I think you should get the hazmats and you can put any binding you want on it. I suggest rossignals just because I like them a lot and have had great experiences with them.
 
Cheers guys, Mr_Grom, I really didn't like my rossingols when I skiied them, at all. And I'm not sure about the Hazmats because I have not found any in depth reviews on them, and I still don't know what to do about Mounting or Lengths.

 
As your 6'1 and looking to ride all mountain you dont really want to get a ski shorter than 180

Here are a two reviews for the hazmats, both decent reviews - check em out -

https://www.newschoolers.com/web/content/reviews/action/read/id/733/

https://www.newschoolers.com/web/content/reviews/action/read/id/753/

I have the 181 hazmats 08/09 with salomon S14 bindings mounted at -2.5cm (its liberty recommended mount point called Cab Forward) I really like the mounting point as, it gives me good switch skiing and spinning but also the extra few cm on the front helps when in deep powder.

The only reason I'm looking to replace these is because i'm looking for a big pow specific ski as I've just got some antidogmas for park and can't take three pairs of skis to europe.

If you want buy em off me great, but if not I still recommend getting these as they are the best one ski quiver I've ever used

here are a couple pics of my skis - plus in action this winter in Val Thorens dropping some pillows.

1234791175CIMG0601.JPG


1234791359CIMG0604.JPG


1234790881CIMG0585.JPG


1257340348IMG_1190.jpg


 
Thanks so much for the help on the Hazmats (: I'll definately take them into more of a consideration as before they were like furthest down on the list :L

And no to be a dick, but I'd rather have them new, for various reasons.

But seriously, thanks for all the info on them, and I'd always considered something around 180 to be way too big for me. :/
 
i've got hazmats in 186 mounted -2.5 from center. im pretty sure liberty has a 3 year warranty too so thats a plus.
if you're a strong skier (racing background?), i'd recommend them. they're really solid and fun for big jumps in the park, and do well in east coast powder-ish stuff. they're definitely the most fun when you are up to speed, and then they turn and ski really smooth, forward and switch. light too.
if your're a small guy looking for something to kinda noodle around on, look at like ARVs or something. they're a lot of ski, especially in the 186 length. don't let that intimidate you or anything they're definitely fun, much more than my public enemies were (same as extremes i think?). IMO, k2s are heavy/dead, break relatively easy and have a shitty warranty (see my review).
and for bindings, i have marker griffons and they're nice and light and work well.
 
Thanks alot guys, I think im probably gonna go with the Hazmats, everyone seems to think they're a damn solid ski.

Extremes are a revamped version of the PE's, not exactly the same, but extremely similar, heard they're a lot better which is why I was considering them.

Finally, I'm still extremely unsure about lengths and stuff, because my Rossingols were a 174 ski and I absolutely hated them, I think that may just have been the ski itself tho. :/
 
Back
Top