Need new skis for 09/10 Season... all mountain. suggestions? On3P's, Line, Armada?

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Dandurand

Member
Ok so time for a new pair of skis, I would love to say that I need a nice fat pow ski but I have to be realistic and quite frankly we can have some really shitty snow days at Louise/Sunshine. I need something that I can maneuvre through the tight tree lines and float on powder. Something that can jam through moguls and holds well at highspeed when I'm making my way down to the bottom of the mountain. Something that is light enough to flip and spin with ease. I was using 07/08 season Line Prophet 100s which I really enjoyed, they were almost perfect, they just got a sketchy when straight lining chutes. I also have a pair of 07/08 Armada ARV's which I find way too unstable and sort of a mess.
Anyways I'm thinking of another pair of Prophet 100s or maybe Sir Francis Bacons just because I know that will be a safe choice. I would like to find something else though. I've been lookng at the ON3P skis and they look pretty good. I like the fact that they're a ski designed by a skier for skiers. What I'm weary about are the common problems associated with new ski companies...low quality, delamination, etc. I was looking at the Caytons but I think the Wrenegades might be a better choice for what I'm looking for. Any feeback would be great, thanks guys.
 
the new watchlifes seem like they might work..check them out..bacons are sick though..not sure if they are super stable ..ive jibbed on them. but they are pretty soft and seem like they could get sketchy straightlining stuff
 
it really is a challenge to get that one ski to excel at everything, particularly somewhere like sunshine.

I find it odd you didnt like prophet 100s straight lining chutes,most other twin skis of similar dimensions would not do so well IMO. It could be to do with the mounting point and there lies your dilemma. If the prophets were mounted -2cm to centre, theyd be sick in the park, but more unnerving in chutes etc because of the long tail. I digress..

So if you hate ARVS you clearly dont like softer all-mountain skis.

with that in mind check out the following for a go everywhere ski with more of a powder bias.

Rossignol S5, S3 and S6. s6 110mm underfoot no rocker, s5 98mm underfoot @185cm no rocker, s3 186 with rocker and reverse sidecut (intriguing ski) should ski like a mini s7, could be sweet

Line Blend these are sick they remind me of a slighly stiffer non-rockered seth and a bit less directional than your prophet 100s.

Armada JJ 185 kill it everywhere but park.

Maybe the new 4frnt vct turbo might work for you (108mm underfoot I think) and rocker.

IMO you really need to look at a 2 ski quiver ie; fat pow stick: Hellbent, ARG, CRJ (4fnt), Moment Night Train, Atomic Bentchetler, or big mountain ski ie; B-squads, XXl Dynastar, Line Mothership , Armada ANT.

and a park ski

Armada ar6, Line Chronic, Chronic Cryptonite, Amplid Antidogma, K2 disorderly.

Pretty cryptic I know but IMO once you try rockered skis in the pow pow, youll be hooked. Though their Achillies heel is their hard snow performance. Hencem the 2 ski quiver.

Sell the prophets and get 2 pairs if you can.
 
To be honest, a better matchup for the type of ski you are looking for might be the Jeronimo or Billy Goat over the Caylor and Wrens. The latter are definitely fun, and could be used for all mountain (especially the Wren), but the Jeronimo and Billy Goat are going to be more managable and manuverable for side stash poaching. They both still have considerable surface area and rocker, so dont think you're getting a fattened park ski - Both the Jeronimo and Billy Goat can kill it in pow.
 
How big are you? That would help a bit.

Couple things, if you didn't find Prophet 100s stable enough for charging, the Bacons will be worse. However, the Wrenegades would solve that problem in 2 seconds flat. They will be a bit big for flipping/spinning in a 191, but the 181 would be quite versatile. The Jeronimo may be a bit soft/thin for your liking, but the Billy Goat could work very well. Depends if you think you'll be doing more tight stuff and want the ski to be more playful (Billy Goat), or whether you'll be wanting to charge more (Wrenegade).
 
Yah forgot to mention 6'1 175lbs, been reading more on the LIne Blend, they are looking promising. If the Wrenegades are anything like the Blends then they might work. Speed and stability are important but I need something responsive for the shit runs that end up being icy moguls.
 
blends are gonna be less stable than prophet 100s, again, a bit more job centered. its a killer ski, but prob not what ur looking for.

eddie's advice is pretty square on, id look more at two skis, but on3p billy goat, 4frnt vct turbo, rossi s5, k2 obsethed, something like that if ur trying to do a one ski quiver. 100-110 underfoot, maybe with some tip and tail rocker with traditional chamber underfoot would be killer
 
armada jj or on3p billy goat
haven't ridden the goats but i can vouch for the jj so therefore that style of ski. apparently the bg's are more directional feeling than the jj's so can charge a bit harder. probably can't go wrong with either, i'd say billy goats just to try something new and hit up a new company
 
Cool good advice thanks guy...I'm weary on 4frnts. I had 4frnt bindings and they fell apart on me. Not sure if their skis have the same issues. I'm pretty hard on my skis partly because of the terrain we have here.The edges separated and as I mentioned my bindings broke so durability is important.
 
which bindings did you have? the vist ones from two years ago (or earlier) or the tyrolia ones from last year? the older deadbolts suck, imo. its a decent binding, but struggled sooo much with durability and proper release.

the skis are a bit better, altho im not totally enamored with their edges. some people swear by them tho. i've never been a huge fan of k2 stuff, i did at one point start a thread flaming public enemies and extremes, but their stuff is notoriously durable. heavy, but durable. if you're tough on equipment the obsethed might be a killer choice, or again, billy goats. i know scott will thoroughly stand behind his stuff.
 
They were the older 4frnt bindings.. deadbolts and yah they did suck lol. Ya I've never been a huge K2 fan either and weight is a factor when you're making tight turns in the trees, need to work on my leg strength more I guess lol. I have a similar skiing style to Seth (ex racer as well) so the obsetheds might be something to look at. The billy goats sound good as long as their stiff and responsive enough. :)
 
If it was me, I'd go with Jeronimos, but there are plenty of good suggestions in here. I'll be joining you in the 2011 season out there.
 
i heavily concur with the statement that k2s are notoriously durable. ive ripped an edge off my seths, >1 inch separation between the edge and the rest of the ski, and had a awesome shop tech heat it up, and bend it back in place. ski was completely normal after that. i havent shot at them yet, because im worried about ricochet after it bounces off them.

and for what its worth, my dad rode prophet 100s for a few years. then rode billy goats and the prophet 100s this past year. is trying to sell the prophet 100s now, as he is making the billy goats his primary ski.
 
"I have a similar skiing style to seth" lol

I didnt recommend the obsethed as the 179 is pretty soft, I have a pair and I love them, but they leave alot to be desired in crud/crust. Though in the pow pow and park they are exceptional and they rip hard(ish)pack.

Maybe some MOments may be worth looking at too. How about the Moment Ruby or Bibby........

http://momentskis.com/0910catalog.html

 
From the on3p line, I've skiid both the Caylor (which I own) and the Jeronimo and I'd have to say that while the Caylor is good in trees, the J-mo is a lot better in tight places.
For you, if you haven't already decided on a ski, I would personally suggest the Jeronimo or the Billy goat.
If the reason stopping you form buying an indy ski is the quality issue, I'm going to go and say that last season I test rode the Caylors like nobody's business and they held up better than K2 maidens, Old motherships, seths, etc. To boot, last year's skis didn't even have sidewalls! You can't really go wrong with these...
 
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