I am out-skiing my EP Opus...need charger ski!

Dr.Gnar

Dr.Gnar

Member
After screaming down the chutes and dropping 20+ footers all day at Kicking Horse today in variable powder, crud, and death cookie faces, I've come to the definite conclusion that the Opus is too soft, surfy, and turn-happy for my liking. I do not ski like Pollard anymore. I'm only 155lbs at 6'4 but I need a ski that can kick my ass a little - one that I can grow and progress into. I'm done with soft skis, I need something that can truck, and something long. I intend to move to KH next year so I'm looking at the 193 4frnt Renegades, 186 4frnt EHP's, 193 ON3P Cease & Desist, and possibly 191 Caylors (too soft maybe?). Riding and landing switch in pow is a fantasy that I've fulfilled here and there, but is more or less impractical, so I don't want so much tail rocker anymore. Which big mountain ski should I get? Please give me some reviews. Thanks!
 
I ride 191 ON3P Caylors they are honestly the best pow boards I've every used. The medium stiff flex means you can stomp all day, the bamboo core gives you so much pop and the ski feels lively and playful when I want but when I need it it's stiff and stable. These skis munch wind effected, crud and any other variable snow condition. Considering their width they grip ice and slay the groomers (as well as my line prophet 100s at least).

 
If you want to stick with Line, you could go with the 2012 Line influence 115 or 105. From everything I have read they are pretty solid and definitely a directional ski.
 
ON3P Billy Goat, Atomic Automatic (my choice for next year), both of those 4FRNTs you mentioned, and maybe the K2 Sideseth? Avoid the Line 115 next year, they've made it softer
 
You just described everything the Renegade is built for. No quick turns for those bad boys... all they do is charge
 
You're in a similar situation to what I was in at the beginning of this season. There's a thread of mine with lots of good info here:

https://www.newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/651807/

There's also lots of good info on TGR on skis like this and you will get some better reviews for the most part.

I never ended up getting a pair of sticks due to lack of funding but now with my tax return coming I'm back in the game. Just a couple points to address in this thread. First off, whoever suggested hellbents should have their posting privileges revoked or get the golden wheelchair or both.

You're on the right track thinking EHP's or Renegades. I see that you're in banff, you should head down to Soul Ski and Bike as they have both to demo, although I don't think Jason there has the big sizes. Even though they're wider, I found the renegades to be a little more versatile than the EHP's. While you're at Soul, you should also talk to Dave Williams, one of the bootfitters. I believe he has some 192 Dynastar Big Dumps for Sale. Last I heard was brand new in plastic for $400.

In regards to the Caylors. To whoever said they were stiff, yes they aren't soft, but they aren't on the same level as EHP's, renegades, or C and D's.
 
Thanks for this info dude, huge help! The Caylors look nice but I don't need a ski that is "playful" and now you've just about sold me on the Renegades. From what I read more and more they are exactly the "big boy ski" or "man ski" (lol my roommate's comments) that I'm looking for. To pick some Rens up on sale at the end of the season here should be the way to go. Perhaps I should migrate to TGR nowadays....lol
 
Go to Darkside in Golden, they have some 194 Renegades for sale there, just waiting for someone to pick them up
 
C&D would be perfect, the new ones have reverse elliptical side cut(reverse from boot center forward, normal back) an the tips have been softened up sligty to help them plane up onto the surface of snow. Very fun ski, ad can kick your ass if you aren't on top of them
 
chopsticks BOOOOO!

I'd look into Moment Bibby 190 or even Moment's new Governor in 196 for next season. The other skis mentioned in this thread are great options too!
 
For my mere 155lbs you don't think the 186 would be a smarter bet? I can handle my 215 DH's with ease but they are on the other hand a narrow race ski.
 
Demo them for a day. I know Soul has the 186's in the demo fleet. It's under $50 for the day and worth it in the long run. If you like them, then you know you want the 186's, if you want more then go longer. It's a small price for knowing that you're getting the right product for you.
 
I just checked them out today and they look SICK, and not as rock-stiff as I expected, which is good. I nice solid, gradual flex, by hand at least. I'll demo them the next day I'm at the Horse since I got a day pass left for there. There's a chance I'll go longer just...because.
 
I'm in the same boat. I used to work at Soul so I had em out at the Pony a few times. Like you said, they don't hand flex stiff, I think the best way to describe it is just nice. They flex nice. If I made a ski thats how I would want it to flex. I'm a bit more portly than you so I'm looking for a 196 for sure. If there's any place to test them out though its at KH.
 
Nooo. I demoed bentchetlers on a crud day, and I only used them for 1 run because of how bad they were in crud. Super soft and got kicked around a ton
 
If you want to get a volkl ski that will charge, get the katana, 112 underfoot, so it's not the widest byt it has two sheets of titanium which will hold like no other. I just flexed my dads katana's and they might be the stiffest ski I've ever flexed.
 
They might be, but I think you'd regret the shorter length. You're 15 lbs lighter than me, and an inch taller. I've personally never skied them, but I have a friend (also skis at KH) who is my size and skis them everyday.
 
I just bought the 186...demo'd them this morning at cruddy, choppy, heavy melt Sunshine, deliberately through the worst of conditions I could find at the highest of speeds I could manage. Seemed like enough ski, and nimble where I needed them to be. Absolute TRUCKS! Never ever have I been able to go Mach speed through such heavy chop. Kicked my ass when I got backseat in once instance. These are leg burners. Gotta keep the shins pressed forward. Such ridiculous go-fast, ignore-the-snow-underneath rockets. The reverse camber does whatever is wanted assuming a good stance. I don't feel like a need, nor want, any more length....they ski pretty true to length and the flattish and stiff, mildly curved tails give so much support already. I'm blown away.
 
Is it still wintery in the dive or more spring corn right now? I'm trying to get out between classes ending and finals to ride these things.
 
I didn't make it into the dive but I imagine it was like the south side chutes today with the sun in full force. Very choppy, I left at noon and it was getting very wet and heavy, though not quite mash potato at that time. Big chunk of mush grabbed one of my buds suspects right off of his foot, sending him one-ski-daffy-supermanning to faceplant...lol. I was hauling ass and the Rens just blew right through those piles, on edge or not. Never does one ski suddenly slam on the brakes cause of that stuff. It's amazing, really, and ultra confidence-inspiring to test the speed limits, if they exist. I did let my downhill ski get too far forward/backseat and I got flung onto my back downhill...I hope your quads are in shape because they need constant forward, balanced aggression to pilot the reverse camber. They are one special breed that's for sure, they give me a rush tbh
 
We had a "stock" flex and "lite" flex this year. Next year (12/13) we will only have a stock flex which meets in the middle pretty well between this years "stock" and "lite".
 
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