Fun, playful, stable, nimble 90mm underfoot skis?

K

Kulharin

Member
So I got a pair of monster head 82's which are a solid carving ski and great on firm days but not much purpose beyond that for me. Needs to be driven. Also got Nordica Enforcer 100's and they are a great versatile all mountain / big mountain ski , very stable at speed and blows through chop; likes to be driven!

I'm kind of looking for something of an in between size that's a bit more on the easy goin, playful, nimble end but still stable around 90 underfoot... I used to have the Pinnacle 95's and they kinda filled that niche but I felt the tips were a bit squirrely, overly eager to turn, and would get hooked in variable conditions.

Perhaps

Atomic Vantage 90?

Nordica Navigator 90?

Solomon QST 92?

Rossignol Experience 88?

**This thread was edited on Dec 4th 2018 at 2:51:39pm
 
In my own experience the vantage is not a very fun or easy going ski, more of you’re basic all mountain carver. I’m not too sure what you mean by fun and easy going but if you are referring to getting air or learning tricks maybe try something more like the k2 poachers?
 
cruisey and maneuverable I suppose... not super demanding ski that needs to be driven all the time, yet is still stable and precise for variable conditions and at speeds. generally for any days it doesn't snow more than 10cm

**This post was edited on Dec 4th 2018 at 4:33:38pm
 
13968208:Kulharin said:
cruisey and maneuverable I suppose... not super demanding ski that needs to be driven all the time, yet is still stable and precise for variable conditions and at speeds. generally for any days it doesn't snow more than 10cm

**This post was edited on Dec 4th 2018 at 4:33:38pm
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I still have no idea what you are using this ski for? Are you just riding groomers? This isn't the best website for you if so. We don't know a whole ton about that sorta thing.

If you mean a good all mountain/park ski that you can jib and carve on... I'd personally get Poachers, Kartels, or ARVs.
 
To ski absolutely everything that isn't over 10-15cm of snow.. Because on those days I whip out my Enforcers

**This post was edited on Dec 4th 2018 at 5:55:08pm
 
Blizzard Bushwacker(88mm-Brahma without metal) or the Rustler 9(94mm and metal just underfoot) would be perfect. Not too demanding but still have a backbone. Most easy going skis that can still charge and be fun.

Navigator 90 more of a carver and not as easy to smear turns like the Enforcer. Rest of your listed skis wouldn’t be as good for what you want in a ski.
 
Perhaps the Liberty Origin 90? The guys at blister rave about the 96. It certainly looks like a fun narrow do it all kind of ski.

I feel like most of the fun skis that aren't straight up park skis are wider, mid 90s minimum.
 
Sick day 95s or whatever they are now. Used to have em in a 179, super fun ski. Fun to carve, poppy, playful, not hooky, just all around easy to ski. I outgrew them and prefer stiffer skis now but I loved em when I had them.

Where do you ski? A 3 ski quiver of directional 100mm and smaller skis seems a little odd as the enforcer 100 could easily do everything the sick day 95 and the rest of the skis you've suggested does. I think an 82mm carving ski and a 100mm all mountain is a solid 2 ski quiver but I guess I just don't understand the need for an 85-95mm ski when 100 is becoming the standard for an all mountain ski.

Anyways, if you're set on a ~90mm easy going, fun ski I think the sick day would be a great choice.
 
Black Crows Orb? This is from the blister review:

In steep, recycled slough and powder on A-Basin’s upper East Wall, the Orb felt surprisingly comfortable given its narrow width. It was nimble enough to dodge the rocks but still able to float up and slash from a neutral stance (this tends to be easier in steeper terrain). When the pitch mellowed out at the bottom and the snow transitioned to 15” of consolidated pow, I still had to ski on my heels to keep the tips up, but again, the Orb is only 91 mm wide, after all.

Chop / Variable

The Orb is narrow and light, but I found it to track surprisingly well in chop and variable conditions. Its slightly tapered tip kept the ski from feeling hooky, its round flex is forgiving, and the ski feels pretty smooth (especially in softer chop and variable). I’d prefer to be on a wider, heavier, and longer ski for blowing through chop at speed, but if you’re willing to ski with a bit more finesse, the Orb is passable in these conditions, and I’d say it does better than several other ~90mm-underfoot skis I’ve been on.

I've skied a few of their skis but not the Orb.
 
More detail to help narrow it down.. the monster head 82 are great for just carving and firm groomers but not much else and are kinda boring. My enforcers work well enough for both and do everything else well... I want to sell the monsters but still have a narrower, fun, easy, playfall, stable all mountain ski. I consider the enforcers my big mountain directional charges. Used to have automic automatic 109. Very fun powder all mountain ski but some ass hat stole em.
 
13968690:Kulharin said:
More detail to help narrow it down.. the monster head 82 are great for just carving and firm groomers but not much else and are kinda boring. My enforcers work well enough for both and do everything else well... I want to sell the monsters but still have a narrower, fun, easy, playfall, stable all mountain ski. I consider the enforcers my big mountain directional charges. Used to have automic automatic 109. Very fun powder all mountain ski but some ass hat stole em.
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volkl kendo is def the ski that comes to mind for me here man
 
13968699:SofaKingSick said:
volkl kendo is def the ski that comes to mind for me here man
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OP keeps mentioning playful, is there anything playful about the kendo? It looks like a really traditional ski aside from a bit of rocker in the tips?

Also OP are you looking more towards nimble/playful or stable? Where on that spectrum do you want to be? Going on your current quiver I'm guessing you like a more traditional design?
 
13968723:mystery3 said:
OP keeps mentioning playful, is there anything playful about the kendo? It looks like a really traditional ski aside from a bit of rocker in the tips?

Also OP are you looking more towards nimble/playful or stable? Where on that spectrum do you want to be? Going on your current quiver I'm guessing you like a more traditional design?
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yeah you might be right, but as you touched on, i think OP's range/spectrum of "playful" is different than most NSers. he seems like more of a traditional design guy, so he wants something a tad playful but nothing even approaching the soft, near-symmetrical noodles we talk about being playful on NS generally. first post mentioned Pinnacles being too squirrelly and hooky, so i thought the kendo might be a good option. camber and a traditional directional design, but easy enough to keep control of and has rocker on either end of that camber. seems like a good medium to me

mostly just spitballing here though; worth considering
 
13968733:SofaKingSick said:
yeah you might be right, but as you touched on, i think OP's range/spectrum of "playful" is different than most NSers. he seems like more of a traditional design guy, so he wants something a tad playful but nothing even approaching the soft, near-symmetrical noodles we talk about being playful on NS generally. first post mentioned Pinnacles being too squirrelly and hooky, so i thought the kendo might be a good option. camber and a traditional directional design, but easy enough to keep control of and has rocker on either end of that camber. seems like a good medium to me

mostly just spitballing here though; worth considering
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You're probably right or have a better interpretation than I do.
 
13968761:mystery3 said:
You're probably right or have a better interpretation than I do.
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naw, hard to say, which is why i think it's best to just throw up some options/food for thought for OP

so many good skis nowadays, it helps to just at least get started by checking examples out and deciding if they sound good or bad and going from there haha
 
Yah, I guess a sorta medium between a traditional / directional stiff ski and a freeride symmetrical noodle.

I do have Icelantic Nomad 115's as well... haven't ridden them yet though, that's my deep powder day ski.

Looking at all of these

Bushwacker 88

Rustler 92

Head Kore 93

Volkl Kendo 90

The Kendo appears to be the stiffest of the bunch?

**This post was edited on Dec 5th 2018 at 5:53:33pm
 
-Volkl Kendo-Stiffest of the bunch, traditional mounting point, great all mountain ski. Would be similar to a wider Monster 83 in feel.

Head Kore-Hand Flexes stiff but skis more forgiving than that, quite light, forgiving and again a more traditional mount. Easier to ski than your Monster or a Kendo but not park ski “fun”

2019 Blizzard Bushwacker(was called Brahma CA before)-Regular Brahma would be like the Kendo or a wider Monster 83, so stiffer, full sheets of metal so it charges but a bit more demanding. The Bushwacker takes out the metal so it’s lighter, softer flexing but still damp and fun for a traditional mounted ski.

Rustler 9-Instead of 2 full sheets of metal, it has one full width sheet underneath the binding area that tapers out near the tips and none in the tip/tail area. Carbon fiber/dampening material instead so the tips flex more and they are lighter/whole ski is lighter. So it’s like a Brahma underfoot and then a free ride ski tip/tail. Very similar flex to the Monent Bibby/PB&J. Less rocker than those skis and not a full twin so you have more effective edge for carving. It’s is like a carving and park ski in one.

Have 5 days on my new Rustler 9 and they RIP! Short turn, long turns and feel great in the air too. Loving them.

Similar mount to the Enforcer so more forward than a traditional ski and I moved mine another cm forward of factory to make them even more playful. Game changing ski for someone that wants a fun ski that can still rip.
 
I'm leaned more to the Bushwacker now. Sounds like it'll keep me in the narrower range also. The Rustlers look great as well but at 94 underfoot is getting a tad bit close to 100. Bummer they dont make the 180 length in a 92
 
13968987:Kulharin said:
I'm leaned more to the Bushwacker now. Sounds like it'll keep me in the narrower range also. The Rustlers look great as well but at 94 underfoot is getting a tad bit close to 100. Bummer they dont make the 180 length in a 92
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Was thinking the Rustler 9 would be perfect if you had Enforcer 110 instead as it wouldn’t be so close in width. Bushwacker at 88mm would be the closest thing to a Rustler 9 in a smaller width. You could again move up the mount a touch to make it more playful.
 
Ok thanks. The Icelantic Nomad 95 also looks like it'd be pretty fun but again too wide with my enforcer 100's, and seeing as I already own the Nomad 115 trying to stay in that 88-92 underfoot range.

But ya after swapping between my monsters and enforcers back and forth over the last couple days the head monster 82 seems pretty pointless for me on my mountain... My enforcers already carve up firm groomers surprisingly well.
 
Hi

First time writing a comment. I love your comments and review and have been studying them while locked up dreaming of end to quarantine and next years ski season.

I’m 5’10 185lbs live in Montreal. Ski all over east hunting snow from mad river to Le massif.

I’m an advanced intermediate? I ski every run. Harder the better. Not necessarily with expert precision

I ski 70% in trees and bumps. Like steep and challenging. Blacks double blacks. I like to jump of natural features but have no park experience. When I do, I like to rip groomers as fast as possible. I’m pretty athletic and fearless but need to improve technique.

I own Rossi pursuit 800 for hard/Icey in a 177cm I find slightly long but grip like hell

J skis the metal 180 for pow days. They are my first wide soft flex. Love these skis!

*Rossi experience 88 hd 180* I want to replace. Great ski but hard to turn in what I like. Too Heavy and stiff

I’m looking for a 85-90mm daily for up to 4” days but honestly Usually will be less. Something like the metals. Quick turning, nimble, playful something I can ski in trees and bumps but frontier as well. I don’t need them to be super locked in for groomers as I have the pursuits

I’ve set apart by what I see as comparable:

Navigator 85 vs bushwhacker; Light snappy skis with frontside in mind

K2 pinnacle 88 vs Salomon qst 92; playful mid range with versatility up to 6/8” snow?

More park: (not opposed to adding with one of above)

Nordica soul rider; sound similar to the metals but narrower (I like what I’ve read)

Armada arv 86; too soft for crud?

Armada Invictus 89ti

Line Tom Wallisch pro

Sorry for the essay

Really would appreciate any opinions

Thanks guys
 
14128540:Quebecpow said:
Hi

First time writing a comment. I love your comments and review and have been studying them while locked up dreaming of end to quarantine and next years ski season.

I’m 5’10 185lbs live in Montreal. Ski all over east hunting snow from mad river to Le massif.

I’m an advanced intermediate? I ski every run. Harder the better. Not necessarily with expert precision

I ski 70% in trees and bumps. Like steep and challenging. Blacks double blacks. I like to jump of natural features but have no park experience. When I do, I like to rip groomers as fast as possible. I’m pretty athletic and fearless but need to improve technique.

I own Rossi pursuit 800 for hard/Icey in a 177cm I find slightly long but grip like hell

J skis the metal 180 for pow days. They are my first wide soft flex. Love these skis!

*Rossi experience 88 hd 180* I want to replace. Great ski but hard to turn in what I like. Too Heavy and stiff

I’m looking for a 85-90mm daily for up to 4” days but honestly Usually will be less. Something like the metals. Quick turning, nimble, playful something I can ski in trees and bumps but frontier as well. I don’t need them to be super locked in for groomers as I have the pursuits

I’ve set apart by what I see as comparable:

Navigator 85 vs bushwhacker; Light snappy skis with frontside in mind

K2 pinnacle 88 vs Salomon qst 92; playful mid range with versatility up to 6/8” snow?

More park: (not opposed to adding with one of above)

Nordica soul rider; sound similar to the metals but narrower (I like what I’ve read)

Armada arv 86; too soft for crud?

Armada Invictus 89ti

Line Tom Wallisch pro

Sorry for the essay

Really would appreciate any opinions

Thanks guys
Click to expand...

K2 Mindbender 90Ti my friend
 
Thanks bdoobz

I checked that out

great review but I feel like it might be too heavy a ski for me. I see there’s a carbon version

looks like a great ski But would you say more carving oriented than quick?
 
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