Help with picking a powder ski

-GL-

-GL-

Active member
Hey guys, I know there a million which ski? threads and I do apologize for clogging up the forums, but I am in need of some advice. I have never owned a pair of pow skis so these will be my first pair, I'm an intermediate skier 5 foot 11 and 140 pounds. I will be using these skis for skiing powder only I will be going on a trip to utah this year and think this will be a good investment seeing only have park skis. Now the skis I'm interested in, I've been surfing the web for about a week and reading reviews trying to figure out which powder ski will be best for me and this is what I came up with:
ON3P Caylors 2012Retail - 749$148-12-140recommended to me by on3p rep
ON3P Pillowfights 2012 Retail - 899 $ (a bit out of my price range)153-135-142Don't know a lot about it, I'm guessing will be great in powder but I'm guessing its not too versatile
K2 Hellbents 2012 Retail - ?160-132-151I hear they are not a very versatile powder ski, but just money in deep snow
K2 Hellbents 2011 Price - 589 $ on evo.comspecs - ?only come in 179
K2 Obsethed 2012 Price- 699 $ on evo.comspecs - ?I have heard they are more versatile than the hellbent
K2 Obsethed 2011 Price- 559 $ @ getboards.com specs - ?
Line Mr. Pollard's Opus 2012Retail - 699 $ 144-118-141I hear they are very very versatile
Line EP Pro 2011 Price - 519 $ on evo.comspecs - ?I hear they have a very soft flex and they are wider than this years Pollard Pro model
Volkl Chopsticks 2010 Price - 549$ @ skiessentials.com148-128-148I don't know much about this ski
Atomic Bent Chetler 2012Price- 699 @ evo.comI don't know much about this ski either
Thanks for the help NS!
 
I'd go for a ski around 110-120 underfoot, if you've never had a pow ski before something like a hellbent can seem overwhelming. Look at JJ's, bibbys, bentchetlers, caylors etc. it also comes down to personal preference, you may prefer a softer or stiffer ski etc
 
word, thanks my man I totally forgot to checkout and armada lineup, but I will do in the near future thanks again for the help.
 
For versatility, you probably won't want something as soft as a hellbent or ep pro. The bent chetler seems like money, as does the opus. Also check out the moment night train. Basically the bent chetler but slightly stiffer, flat underfoot, with a full sidewall, and made in the usa. Also, the new graphics are $$$. Also, I've heard NOTHING but good things about the caylor.
 
I just went through the same process. Where you located? Do you ever have to ski ice/really firm snow to get to and from the pow? Or you blessed with all pow?

If youre part of the first group like me, look at Volkl skis, they are great for firm snow as well as pow. I personally went with Mr. P Opus because I heard about how versatile they were. If you have a ton of pow, look at the Obsethed. Ive heard great things, except they are quite soft..

again more info would be nice
 
Sorry for lack of information, my home mountain is Wachusett which is located in Massachusetts so yes I do ski primary icy conditions and am rarely blessed with the gift of powder, but this year I am taking a trip out west so (hopefully) there will be a shit ton of powder where a powder ski will be quite helpful.
 
I wouldn't bother going with something like the Hellbents.. They're too big and unnecessary. Seth's are always nice - go for them.
 
thanks everyone the responses have been great so far guys, I'm starting to veer away from the fatter skis like a lot of you recommended and look at the JJs, and Nighttrains.
 
Im from the same side of the country as you, just a couple hundred miles north. Id look into a stiffer ski then, rather than a PURE powder. Try looking between 105-115, but more than 115 wont handle too well on the hardpack. I dont know much about JJs or Nighttrains, but stay away from the K2 pow skis, from what I hear they are very soft. Check out the Atomic Blog as well, from what Ive heard they are a typical atomic ski, stiffer than most others
 
The kid did say he was an intermediate skier, and only weighs 140 lbs, I think that the 179 seths should be perfect for u, soft enough to be forgiving, stable.enough at speed, especially at ur weight, and wide enough to float, all without being overbearing, or too stiff for an intermediate
 
Pillowfights are probably too big, i'd stick to something Caylor size. With a 100% bamboo core, carbon fiber, and the thickest edges and bases we can get, the Caylor has no compromises in its construction, and trust me, for 120 underfoot with a slight amount of camber, it mobs on hardpack. Some skis get knocked around in deep stuff, or feel so dead that its impossible to pop. The Caylor powers through anything, but still has pop and spring from the core and carbon. i'm biased, sure, but ask any one of our customers.
 
^thats me, the customer (I have no affiliation with on3p skis or any of it's associates, and am in no way biased.)
 
The caylor has been the most fun ski I have ridden. It slays in powder, cuts through crud, and does surprisingly well on hardpack. I never felt any problems with stability on hardpack, they can hold a edge very well for a big ski. In pow, they are amazing, super floaty and very poppy, yet stiff enough to handle variable snow. Also, the durability is unmatched. I have hit massive rocks and trees, and have nothing more than a few topsheet chips and a few small scratches on the base. They were my go to ski for this year. Unless I was riding park all day or it was solid ice (we had a big drought in the PNW) I would ride my caylors. I wrote a review for them, check it out. I would also recommend the 181. I am about the same size as you, just a bit heavier, and it is perfect
 
My personal opinion coming up...

Don't get enticed into buying a fat ski thinking that you will be skiing nothing but powder lines each and every trip you take out west. It's not always unicorns and 30" days each and every day out there.

I'd personally aim at something in the 95-115mm range underfoot with traditional camber underfoot and either an early rise tip, or tip and tail rocker. Preferably a moderate to stiffer flex. Something with good tosional stiffness will be able to slay firm snow too.

I would want something that I could use reasonably for more than just a handful of days a season, and a ski spec'd like above will give you that versatility.

Unless you're going to be running heli-trips or BC missions while your out there, I would best recommend looking at the solid All-Mountain category, which is really populated by 95-115mm underfoot skis.
 
All that said, I wouldn't rule out a ski like the Caylor. Seems to be a great spec ski. I'd just love to hear a review from someone who has put it through the paces on the east coast.

If I was buying a new ski today, my purchase would be the Nordica Patron. Skied it last winter. 113 underfoot. Camber underfoot with tip and tail rocker. It was playful and agile, while remaining relatively stable at high speed (obviously there was more tip flap than my fully cambered Prophet 100s) and holding a great edge on solid ice.
 
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