hm, after noticing that the pows and wreck115s were not identical, i measured them. Turns out they're not, with the latter being 2mm wider front and back than the pows. I do not know if this is caused by them having a slightly smaller radius, or if there is a slight early taper on the pows. Both wrecks were identical though, so i do not think it is simply some skis being off. With the slightly softer flex overall - especially in the shovels - it will be interesting to see how they perform. The pow is stiffer yet more sidecut/effective edge joint with wider shovels that are softer in flex might just make the wrecks even more chargy. Exciting!
the wunders/ufos were all on spec.
to you're points - I do not think a kingpin setup would ride significantly harsher than a alpine front end, though, to be fair, unlike the vipecs i have been sporting the elasticity in the front on the kingpins is very limited. Then again, from my experience the wrecks' predecessors is that they are kinda chargy so i expect the new wrecks are as well. So if that is not what you are looking for, then they might not be an optimum fit. That being said, i have found them to be really fun and easy to control in all settings were one can simply let speed make the skis do the job for you, but in scenarios were that is not possible - super steep (aka too steep to just haul unless you want to end the season if you fall) or in super tight trees - the wider skis are a bit of a handful, the 100s less so. I think the pows/wrecks are designed to charge, to constantly be on edge and carve - and as that is what i like to do, we get along famously most of the time. I am thinking that the ufo's will respond well to similar riding, but be a lot easier to manipulate in the steep/tight scenarios, and generally be a more playful ski. I am not sure how the softer shovels will respond in denser coastal pow, especially if it is windblown, but time will tell. Too bad you are not here in the old world - i would sell you the ufos real cheap to get on the wunder118s instead
a wunder 106/118 quiver might be a more versatile setup though - more so than swapping cold turkey from wrecks to ufo's, and i am really looking forward to getting more info on the 118s, especially with regards to chamber/rocker-profile. If they are fully rockered, waiting until 2018/19 might prove too much of a task.
if you want to consider other skis i would check out the bibbys/blisters or some black crows noctas in the powder department. I too like Line, but i am not sure what ski in their line up that would be suited for your needs. I like the smaller brands more though. I am also super keen to try some 2018 on3p billy goats, though i think those are bit on the chargy side - that is, they are stiff as a mofo out of the box. I am also really curious about the 4frnt lineup. The mix of full rocker and longer sidecuts could be fun, though - to be honest - the only ski i ever hated that i have owned were som 4frnt crjs.
as for the wunders - what i really liked about them is that they really work quite well in pow, yet are super positive to carve with in all snow conditions. One can really drive the tips of the skis and make them go were you want them to do, and really lay into the turns. That being said, i am 176cms and not in particular heavy, and i am riding the 182s. So, if you are in 180/185cm+ range, then they might not have a size that fit you ideally. My issue with the fffs in 175 were landings into softer snow where i would get pitched forward. I really enjoyed riding them around on harder/variable snow, but did not like the planing "plank" feeling i got in not too deep snow or deep snow followed by said pitching forward when i landed. The wrecks worked a lot better in that regard, and held an edge beautifully - even if the tips bounce around (like the other guy on evo pointed out), the floaty shovel/tip joined with a shorter back end and narrower waist made the rear settle into the snow, yet the ski stayed afloat perfectly. I dunno. The last day i rode em last year was the best day of the season for me, so to be fair, that is more than likely making me be superpositive when i describe them. Then again, i had the 175fffs and the 171pows in my car, and never once considered to ride them again after i got on the wunders.
all the libs are plenty light for resort based touring, or the occasional full blown tour. I got some lighter touring skis this year just to try how carbon skis ride, though i am not positive that i had done the same again. My quiver is too large presently, and a wunder106/118 with some lighter walking/expedition skis would be sweet/light enough + easy to mange quiver-wise. Instead of the three boot x 9x skis debacle i went with..... And that is not even counting the mega pows i have decided to sell... I world problems, yes indeed.
