Need skis for the West!

dr_phil

dr_phil

Active member
So yeah I'm going to Whistler for a month next winter (will ski each day) - I'm from the East so I'm super-stoked

I'll need some skis to ski pow (it was time for me to buy new planks anyway)

I still want to use the skis on the EC on powder days (Jay, etc.), so I'm not looking for ARGs or skis of that type (I'll only have one pair of skis)

I'm about 135-140 pounds, 5'7, I consider myself a good all around skier (glades,drops, stuff like that)

I want something that can hold is own in the park, so no Bandits or things like that

Was thinking about Guns, ARVs, or some Atomics(don't remember their name though)

So, what does intrawebs suggest?

 
ARG would be to big, only come it 185

ARV is to thin 92mm under foot at the 175

http://www.coloradofreeskier.com/product_detail.cfm?CatID=98&PID=1358

the new JJ would be a good choice at 175 being 115mm under foot

http://www.coloradofreeskier.com/product_detail.cfm?PID=1364

VCT from 4FNT would be another good shot, not as wide 104 under foot

http://www.coloradofreeskier.com/product_detail.cfm?PID=1252

Line prophet 100 could be a good choice in the 172

Elizabeth is another choice at 172 and 110 under foot

Seth or HellBent in the 169 are great skis, HellBent 122 underfoot and obSETHed 105 underfoot

obSETHed

http://www.coloradofreeskier.com/product_detail.cfm?PID=1243

HellBent

http://www.coloradofreeskier.com/product_detail.cfm?CatID=99&PID=1242
 
Get a pair of Head Mojo 90s. I am on my second pair of mojos and my newest pair is SIIIICK. Good in powder and can do park too, although I don't touch rails with my new pair as I am trying to keep them in top condition.
 
scratch brigades would be solid at 178. i have them from 06/07 and love them. rips pow, park, groomers, even a few New england and mid atlantic ice days. also, take a look at the line prophet 90s and 100s, both rippers. stiffer than average, slay everywhere.
 
Its getting to be a common misconception that you need a 120mm plus waisted ski to be able to ski out west. Look for something in the mid 90mm area with some sidecut and you'll be able to run them out west and at home with no problems. Sometimes you may need a little more speed on the deepest of deep days, but I can ski and enjoy anything from hardpack to knee deep with my 93waist Movement Gladiator
 
if i were you i wouldnt listen to gabe, he obviously has no idea what he is talking about.

and i agree on macmahoons statement that people think that you need some huge ski to be able to ski pow/the west

arv definately would not be too small, it could be perfect for a mix of pow and park but you may find it soft if you really want to push yourself and ski fast

a few skis i would suggest are, scratch brigades, obsetheds, kung fujas, prophet 100, dynastar big troubles, 4frnt msp, 4frnt vct

thats all i can think of right now but send me a message and id be glad to help you out

 
I live in Calgary and i ski the arv's. Never had any problems with them except in the crud. They're pretty soft but i am only 125 pound so i havent had any problems. They are quick in the trees, carve nice on the groomers and are good in pow. You might not have powder everyday in Whistler (never skied there so i could be wrong) so you probably wouldnt want the JJ considering they are 115 underfoot and are elf shoed or whatever its called. I also saw lots of people with arv's and seths at fernie if that is any inidication of how they ski powder.
 
word. i think lizzies are good one ski quiver for whistler if you will be skiing a fair bit of park aswell as pow, however if only skiing a little park i would go with 09 JJ's, look soooo sick and the whole armada team is raving about them (although they have to), but them do seem genuinely stoked on the ski.
 
Lizzies are your best bet I think, prophet 100s are probably to stiff for your liking, arvs may be good, jjs may be good but with the rocker they may be akward in the park for you unless you like the feeling. Same thing with Obsethed's as jjs. Look at two years ago seths and last years seths for sure cus they were both good. Last years a bit wider.
 
For your size and weight lizzies are pretty much perfect.. I'm a bit bigger than you and used them as a 1 ski quiver out west (colorado).. If you have any questions about them PM me or read my review
 
lizzies, blends, scratch bc/brigade/s5 in order of desirability/waist width (im a proponent of fatter is better, regardless of situation)
 
For being from the PNW, I HIGHLY recommend the Armada JP vs Julien's. From everything that I've heard about them, the ski is perfect for big mountain but can also shred groomers and crud like any other ski. Their also perfect for tree skiing, because of the fact that they're rockered so you can pivot or turn quickly on them through the trees. And because their rockered you don't have to lean back to keep your tips up and dropping cliffs are easier because your tips won't sink and flip you over like other skis. Switch hits into the powder will amaze you, because usually you had to counter your tails from sinking into the powder by leaning forward extremely, but now you won't have to worry. I hope that helped out!
 
I was just making some suggestions, I was able to ski a few powder days last year to say the least, and I found myself looking for a fatter ski where my favorite ski for the last two years, the VCT with a 104 waist was to small at times, I enjoy skiing a fat ski and will probably never ski another ski under 100 at the waist, the ARV is an amazing ski and not to thin for all but to thin for myself, I am a big mtn skier and that is what I am looking for in a ski personally, excuse me if I made this sound to pompus and came across like you have to ski a ski that fat

and if you think I don't know what i'm talking about suck it
 
ya, you just sounded like you thought a ski under 100mm was too narrow to be able to ski in pow, maybe you do know what youre talking about that post jkust sounded really dumb
 
Bump

I've come down to a choice between ARVs or this year's Blends.

Any contructive things to say about these skis?
 
Out of those two i would definitely go with the Line Blend's just due to their ability to perform better in the powder than the ARV's. But if i was you i would take a look at the Atomic's Pimp before making a decision.
 
between those 2, this years blends...

but honestly dont kid yourself, the perfect ski for you is the obsethed. its meant to do everything you just described
 
obsethed isnt ideal for jibbing. Not sure whether they even make a 169 anyway this year, I dont think they do.

178 Rossi s5, 174 rossi s6 if you dont want to put many turns in and you want a stiff ski.

The Lizzies would be sick for you 110mm waist but a 15m sidecut, they turn so quick and hold an edge on all but the firmest days. (the best option in my opinion).

The new line blend is a sick ski but not as playful as the lizzie.

I know someone that skied the new jj all season in NZ and he raved about it (similar to EC conditions). Said it still carves really,really well and in pow told me it felt like a narrow waisted ski does o hard pack. 175 length possibly an option, though not a proven ski yet.

169 kung fujas may work but I think you may be giving something up for your trips west.

Bottom line. Get the Line Elizabeth. Such a playful ski, loadsa float, quick turning, Still good in the park. great switch performance.

 
if you're going to be in whistler for a month, it's one of the biggest ski shopping places in the world, thus you are in luck.

trying renting/demoing "high performance skis". these guys at summit sport had pontoons in every size for rent the first year k2 had them out. (thats just an example) im positive between all the shops in the village, youd be able to demo a couple of the skis you are looking at, as well as get a fairly decent price on purchasing.
 
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