Moment Wildcat 108 Tour / Shift Binding - Horrible combo? Bad ski? Please help

W

whistles

Member
I bought the wildcat tour 108 in 184 and mounted shift bindings at the forward mounting point (I think -4 from true center). I am very disappointed in the "pop" of the ski. The plus side is it rips GS type turns and I dont feel like they are getting deflected for a light ski. However, anything I try to jump off they feel absolutely dead to the point I dont feel like Im getting up at all and Im going to go over the handle bars. To verify I brought them inbounds through the keystone jump line and it was to the point it was scary. Is this the ski? Is it the mounting point with the Shift with a large mounting plate? I'm thinking of selling the ski but almost feel guilty like Im selling a car with a bad transmission. I was excited for the twin tip touring option but it seems like anything but a playful freestyle ski.
 
Huh. You're having a really different experience with that ski than I did. I found it to be pretty happy popping and jumping. And I haven't' had that problem with any of the other skis I've tried with Shift either. What skis are you coming from? What's your frame of reference?

By "pop" of the ski, do you mean when you load the tails and ollie? Are you coming from softer skis? I'm pretty surprised you're having this issue, have found the Wildcat 108 Tour (and the Deathwish Tour) to be super poppy and playful.
 
14092099:cydwhit said:
Huh. You're having a really different experience with that ski than I did. I found it to be pretty happy popping and jumping. And I haven't' had that problem with any of the other skis I've tried with Shift either. What skis are you coming from? What's your frame of reference?

By "pop" of the ski, do you mean when you load the tails and ollie? Are you coming from softer skis? I'm pretty surprised you're having this issue, have found the Wildcat 108 Tour (and the Deathwish Tour) to be super poppy and playful.
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Definitely softer skis - 2012 Line SFB, Rossignol slats, Armada ARVs. The load the tails ollie is non-existent for me on this ski but that was to be more expected. The issue I have is forward shin pressure and loading the ski into a lip and the setting of my jump. Typically I feel like it springs me into the air and is how i set going off a jump. On the wildcat tours i feel like I get no air and am way off balance. It's like I fly right through the takeoff. Is this what stiffer skis feel like? Is it possible to get a bad set of skis in a batch? I use to ride the armada el rey because it was stiff on big park jumps and never had this issue.
 
14092111:whistles said:
Definitely softer skis - 2012 Line SFB, Rossignol slats, Armada ARVs. The load the tails ollie is non-existent for me on this ski but that was to be more expected. The issue I have is forward shin pressure and loading the ski into a lip and the setting of my jump. Typically I feel like it springs me into the air and is how i set going off a jump. On the wildcat tours i feel like I get no air and am way off balance. It's like I fly right through the takeoff. Is this what stiffer skis feel like? Is it possible to get a bad set of skis in a batch? I use to ride the armada el rey because it was stiff on big park jumps and never had this issue.
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Also, 5'11 175lbs can normally flex a ski pretty well.
 
14092111:whistles said:
Definitely softer skis - 2012 Line SFB, Rossignol slats, Armada ARVs. The load the tails ollie is non-existent for me on this ski but that was to be more expected. The issue I have is forward shin pressure and loading the ski into a lip and the setting of my jump. Typically I feel like it springs me into the air and is how i set going off a jump. On the wildcat tours i feel like I get no air and am way off balance. It's like I fly right through the takeoff. Is this what stiffer skis feel like? Is it possible to get a bad set of skis in a batch? I use to ride the armada el rey because it was stiff on big park jumps and never had this issue.
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Huh. Hard to know what to tell you...

A "bad ski from a batch" wouldn't really feel like this.

I have found that different camber profiles and flexes really require subtly different "pops." For example, on the Meridian I felt like I had to pop a little later, and more off the balls of my feet than I usually do. Same with the 4frnt Inthayne, I end up waiting until the lip is right under my boots.

You do have it mounted a bit forward of recommended, but that shouldn't be that big of a deal at all.

All that to say, I really, really doubt you have a "bad" WC Tour 108. Instead, my guess is, that it requires just a little different technique off of jumps than you're used to, and it's throwing you off. I'd highly recommend skiing it a few more days before you give up. Mess around on little side hits where there's no consequence and try popping earlier or later than usual. You should find how it wants to be skied pretty easily.

I used to run into this problem a fair bit when I was starting out reviewing skis. I'd get on something different and be frustrated that I couldn't get it into the air. But in the end I found that it's never really the ski's fault, it's just that some skis require different stances and techniques to jump well, and it's pretty easy to find the sweet spot for most skis.
 
Im not a big park skier but maybe it’s you...

wildcat tour rips and has some pop for what it is - still not a park ski.if your expecting it to resemble a chronic or other dedicated park ski with alpine bindings you’re barking up the wrong tree.

why would you take it to park in the first place? Seems dumb. Then again, you seem dumb.
 
14092125:cydwhit said:
Huh. Hard to know what to tell you...

A "bad ski from a batch" wouldn't really feel like this.

I have found that different camber profiles and flexes really require subtly different "pops." For example, on the Meridian I felt like I had to pop a little later, and more off the balls of my feet than I usually do. Same with the 4frnt Inthayne, I end up waiting until the lip is right under my boots.

You do have it mounted a bit forward of recommended, but that shouldn't be that big of a deal at all.

All that to say, I really, really doubt you have a "bad" WC Tour 108. Instead, my guess is, that it requires just a little different technique off of jumps than you're used to, and it's throwing you off. I'd highly recommend skiing it a few more days before you give up. Mess around on little side hits where there's no consequence and try popping earlier or later than usual. You should find how it wants to be skied pretty easily.

I used to run into this problem a fair bit when I was starting out reviewing skis. I'd get on something different and be frustrated that I couldn't get it into the air. But in the end I found that it's never really the ski's fault, it's just that some skis require different stances and techniques to jump well, and it's pretty easy to find the sweet spot for most skis.
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That makes sense, Ill keep playing around and see if I can figure them out. Appreciate it!
 
14092185:cobra_commander said:
Im not a big park skier but maybe it’s you...

wildcat tour rips and has some pop for what it is - still not a park ski.if your expecting it to resemble a chronic or other dedicated park ski with alpine bindings you’re barking up the wrong tree.

why would you take it to park in the first place? Seems dumb. Then again, you seem dumb.
Click to expand...

Not looking for a park ski, just the characteristics of what its shape and description are promoting. Your second question can be answered in my original paragraph by exercising some basic reading comprehension.
 
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