Looking for Skis

[Sean.]

Hey folks,

I am looking for a new pair of daily drivers. I am an advanced skier, I have been skiing for 18+ years on all sorts of terrain. I ski anywhere from midwest landfills (lol) to west coast mountains. Now that I am older, 22 years old, I have moved away from the park and am looking for a strong all mountain twin tip ski.

I am 6'1, 195 lbs, 22 years old.

My budget is $500. I have a pair of griffons that will go on these skis.

I ski mostly backcountry, groomers, powder, trees. You will rarely find me in the park nowadays.

I want an all mountain ski, durable, stiff, twin tip, rockered although not necessary, and fat (equal to or greater than 105mm waist). A ski I am currently looking at is Jski's The Metal. I want to see if there are any other options out there before I bite the bullet.

Thank you for your recommendations. I will be active on this thread. K+ for those who help!

Sean.

 

[Shoey-Ski]

Definitely check out on3p Kartel 106's or k2 shreditor 102s,

 

[elcornholio]

Another vote for the Kartel.

 

[jackdonovan]

ON3P Kartel 106, never heard anything negative about them and they can handle everything.

 

[Sean.]

I will look into the Kartels, however they are a little expensive.

Do we have any other recommendations? The skis do not need to be 2015s.

 

[jellomellow]

Surface one lifes are pretty fun. you should be able to find them cheap

 

[Sean.]

Surface one lifes are pretty fun. you should be able to find them cheap

I thought Surface one likes were soft?

 

[jellomellow]

I thought Surface one likes were soft?

Nah they are a 9.5 out of 10 for the 189 length. they are very stiff by hand flexing but on the hill the feel a bit softer because of the rocker

 

[stinky_cheese]

Op go with 4frnt devastators trust me. such a dope ski, they are exactly what you're looking for, and you can find them for a lot cheaper than those on3ps. pm me if you want more details on them!!

 

[Sean.]

Op go with 4frnt devastators trust me. such a dope ski, they are exactly what you're looking for, and you can find them for a lot cheaper than those on3ps. pm me if you want more details on them!!

Having done a little research on those skis, I definitely like the way they look. Im interested in hearing some more about the skis.

 

[KravtZ]

Same situation as you OP...I ride Surface skis. Most are quite stiff and great all mtn skis. Huge variability in their shape/designs, etc

 

[270on420out]

I thought Surface one likes were soft?

They are the stiffest skis I've ever owned. But the rocker makes them such a fun ski to ride around,

 

[Sean.]

Bump for visibility

K+ for those who help. I want to put emphasis on my budget of $500.

Thank you

 

[Sean.]

Same situation as you OP...I ride Surface skis. Most are quite stiff and great all mtn skis. Huge variability in their shape/designs, etc

What surface skis do you currently ride? What skis are you looking to purchase?

 

[FastSpeed]

Find a pair of last years Cochises. Great ski run over shit with, go fast, blast crud and arc turns with

 

[Zach12]

Check these out, best skis out there! Durable and wicked buttery. These skis are all mountain and are the best in the market as of this year. Definitely invest in these high quality skis.

 

[Kygourz]

Nordica Patron is a sick ski, if you want something stiffer the Nordica Helldorado is basically the same thing just with metal. It runs more than 500 but if you look around you might be able to find a deal and get within budget.

 

[KravtZ]

What surface skis do you currently ride? What skis are you looking to purchase?

Had a whole bunch of watchlifes...which are now the park blanks / all mountain blanks (the older watchlifes were 90mm the newer ones were 100mm). I prefer the 90 park blanks for southern vermont all mountain in a 180. Rails turns on groomers and is nimble enough for trees, etc. I have pow skis when it gets deeper or real choppy. Id go all mountain blanks as a 1 ski quiver though

 

[gnarballsianm]

Hey folks,

I am looking for a new pair of daily drivers. I am an advanced skier, I have been skiing for 18+ years on all sorts of terrain. I ski anywhere from midwest landfills (lol) to west coast mountains. Now that I am older, 22 years old, I have moved away from the park and am looking for a strong all mountain twin tip ski.

I am 6'1, 195 lbs, 22 years old.

My budget is $500. I have a pair of griffons that will go on these skis.

I ski mostly backcountry, groomers, powder, trees. You will rarely find me in the park nowadays.

I want an all mountain ski, durable, stiff, twin tip, rockered although not necessary, and fat (equal to or greater than 105mm waist). A ski I am currently looking at is Jski's The Metal. I want to see if there are any other options out there before I bite the bullet.

Thank you for your recommendations. I will be active on this thread. K+ for those who help!

Sean.

Sean,

I have a couple of suggestions for you, the Atomic Blogs, great skis and can be found for cheap online and the K2 Shredditor 112, last years model can be found for cheaper online. Both skis are right around 110-112 waist which is perfect for powder days and eating up chunder in the off piste. Both skis are lightweight, playful, a little bit buttery and have a tapered sidecut so making medium radius carves on the hard pack isn't to hard.

I bought the Blog and Marker Baron for just under $500 on ebay which was a steal but similar deals can be found. I love them for AT and they so far have done great in everything I have put them up to (stomping cliffs, flipping, spinning, getting playful in the powder, shredding on groomed runs and destroying the duff). I may even buy a second pair to replace my old shoguns.

Keeping in mind that I am also 6'1" 185lbs and at the same level of expierence and age (17y/o) i would suggest you seriously consider these options.

Cheers man

 

[dmski]

I've really enjoyed the S3's, and buddies have the K2 shreditor, automic blog and line prophets. All of which seem to do quite well on the all mountain charging/fun side of things.

 

[BigScaryLarry]

Nah they are a 9.5 out of 10 for the 189 length. they are very stiff by hand flexing but on the hill the feel a bit softer because of the rocker

I have a pair of these in the 189 and they are fucking 2 by 4s haha they fucking charge tho. three stage rocker is unstoppable

 

[doot]

Heard good things about the Metal.

I rode the blizzard gunsmoke for a day, and really enjoyed that. But I think you might have more fun on the Metal.

 

[brov1]

Definitely check out on3p Kartel 106's or k2 shreditor 102s,

Nah they are a 9.5 out of 10 for the 189 length. they are very stiff by hand flexing but on the hill the feel a bit softer because of the rocker

Same situation as you OP...I ride Surface skis. Most are quite stiff and great all mtn skis. Huge variability in their shape/designs, etc

They are the stiffest skis I've ever owned. But the rocker makes them such a fun ski to ride around,

What surface skis do you currently ride? What skis are you looking to purchase?

let me start by saying that ON3P and surface aren't in the same league by any means. Surface skis aren't even comparable in terms of quality. ON3P make some of the highest quality cores on the market and have far more advanced tech in their skis than Surface. honestly you might as well get a bent 2by4. The idea of a slalom stiff ski with tip and tail rocker just isnt near as fun. we have a joke in the shop i work at that surfaces are the only skis that come pre-broken since we see more delamed skis from them than anyone else.

i have never met a Technically great skier that "loves" surface because at super stiff tip/tail rockered ski isnt ideal in any conditions whatsoever. if you are going to get a all mountain twin with tip/tail rocker you should be getting one that is at very most stiff/mediumstiff. the over stiffening of a ski with a short contact patch effectively defeats the purpose of a short turn radius so you will find yourself slashing most of your tight turns rather than just carving and edging them, especially in the trees.

for a first all mountain twin the ON3P kartels might actually be the most fun on the market rn. though ive also heard great things about the moment pb&j and the faction candide 2.0.

 

[270on420out]

let me start by saying that ON3P and surface aren't in the same league by any means. Surface skis aren't even comparable in terms of quality. ON3P make some of the highest quality cores on the market and have far more advanced tech in their skis than Surface. honestly you might as well get a bent 2by4. The idea of a slalom stiff ski with tip and tail rocker just isnt near as fun. we have a joke in the shop i work at that surfaces are the only skis that come pre-broken since we see more delamed skis from them than anyone else.

i have never met a Technically great skier that "loves" surface because at super stiff tip/tail rockered ski isnt ideal in any conditions whatsoever. if you are going to get a all mountain twin with tip/tail rocker you should be getting one that is at very most stiff/mediumstiff. the over stiffening of a ski with a short contact patch effectively defeats the purpose of a short turn radius so you will find yourself slashing most of your tight turns rather than just carving and edging them, especially in the trees.

for a first all mountain twin the ON3P kartels might actually be the most fun on the market rn. though ive also heard great things about the moment pb&j and the faction candide 2.0.

Don't knock it till you try it.

Also you are completely off base with the whole "stiff rockered skis defeat the purpose of a short turning radius"

 

[KravtZ]

let me start by saying that ON3P and surface aren't in the same league by any means. Surface skis aren't even comparable in terms of quality. ON3P make some of the highest quality cores on the market and have far more advanced tech in their skis than Surface. honestly you might as well get a bent 2by4. The idea of a slalom stiff ski with tip and tail rocker just isnt near as fun. we have a joke in the shop i work at that surfaces are the only skis that come pre-broken since we see more delamed skis from them than anyone else.

i have never met a Technically great skier that "loves" surface because at super stiff tip/tail rockered ski isnt ideal in any conditions whatsoever. if you are going to get a all mountain twin with tip/tail rocker you should be getting one that is at very most stiff/mediumstiff. the over stiffening of a ski with a short contact patch effectively defeats the purpose of a short turn radius so you will find yourself slashing most of your tight turns rather than just carving and edging them, especially in the trees.

for a first all mountain twin the ON3P kartels might actually be the most fun on the market rn. though ive also heard great things about the moment pb&j and the faction candide 2.0.

I grew up racing the Vermont circuit and was pretty dam successful at it. I have 4 pairs of skis I rock now. I'm not saying surface sucks or on3p is the best...I have never ridden ON3P and its something I want to do since I only read great things about them all the time.

I can't see your view point on Surface. I love my skis, am a pretty technically advanced skier, and think they are fun as hell. They carve pretty dam well also. Haven't had a pair delam on me in the 7 years of using 5 different pairs of them.

 

[brov1]

Don't knock it till you try it.

Also you are completely off base with the whole "stiff rockered skis defeat the purpose of a short turning radius"

I grew up racing the Vermont circuit and was pretty dam successful at it. I have 4 pairs of skis I rock now. I'm not saying surface sucks or on3p is the best...I have never ridden ON3P and its something I want to do since I only read great things about them all the time.

I can't see your view point on Surface. I love my skis, am a pretty technically advanced skier, and think they are fun as hell. They carve pretty dam well also. Haven't had a pair delam on me in the 7 years of using 5 different pairs of them.

@kravtz if you are a race then i can understand why you like them but for an average all mtn skier i strongly detest them, . also its just based on the fact that ive seen more delamed surfaces come through my shop than any other brand

@dirtyB i have and the flex pattern was actually the most inconsistent thing ive been on. some parts were randomly softer than others and the rocker profile made it chattery asfuck.

also just so you know a short contact patch is useful because it allows for quick turning and being ridiculously stiff actually physically compromises it because the ski wont bend so you cant quickly initiate a turn it will just force you to sluff out your quick turns.

 

[KravtZ]

@kravtz if you are a race then i can understand why you like them but for an average all mtn skier i strongly detest them, . also its just based on the fact that ive seen more delamed surfaces come through my shop than any other brand

@dirtyB i have and the flex pattern was actually the most inconsistent thing ive been on. some parts were randomly softer than others and the rocker profile made it chattery asfuck.

also just so you know a short contact patch is useful because it allows for quick turning and being ridiculously stiff actually physically compromises it because the ski wont bend so you cant quickly initiate a turn it will just force you to sluff out your quick turns.

I mean you work in a ski shop im sure they delam often mine have never had a problem. That being said I also have like 5 pairs of skis I switch up. Surface for the price they sell them at on there sales is so worth it so cheap and a decent quality fun pair of skis.

I feel like traditional camber skis are a dying thing in the free ride world. I can't give them up. I love my rockered skis but enjoy the camber so much more unless its choppy out or fresh snow.

Anyone with a race background can appreciate that. Hard to give up all of that effective edge so you can "butter" or have more "pop" over rollers or whatever.

 

[brov1]

I mean you work in a ski shop im sure they delam often mine have never had a problem. That being said I also have like 5 pairs of skis I switch up. Surface for the price they sell them at on there sales is so worth it so cheap and a decent quality fun pair of skis.

I feel like traditional camber skis are a dying thing in the free ride world. I can't give them up. I love my rockered skis but enjoy the camber so much more unless its choppy out or fresh snow.

Anyone with a race background can appreciate that. Hard to give up all of that effective edge so you can "butter" or have more "pop" over rollers or whatever.

i really hate full rocker to be honest i was raised on camber and a ski without a little camber just doesnt feel right. just so you know surface has the same amount of flatland contact patch as on3p but they dont have elliptical sidecut so no matter how much you put them on edge you get the same amount of effective edge which is essentially outdated tech at this point

 

[KravtZ]

i really hate full rocker to be honest i was raised on camber and a ski without a little camber just doesnt feel right. just so you know surface has the same amount of flatland contact patch as on3p but they dont have elliptical sidecut so no matter how much you put them on edge you get the same amount of effective edge which is essentially outdated tech at this point

Honestly I have no idea what the hell an elliptical edge is. I like regular camber traditional skis a lot. Feels good to me and it rides nicely. Perhaps im missing out though.