PNW destroyer.

dadunda

dadunda

Member
So, if anyone read my last "searching for ski advice" thread, I now have a change in plans. Next year I am skiing at Crystal Mountain, WA (advice from locals would be awesome) instead of Snoqualmie. I am 5'4, 100lbs. I would consider myself an advanced-expert skier. Basically, here is my situation.

I can get a good deal on a pair of '10 Hellbents (300$ w/bindings). But, I wouldn't consider that ski an everyday driver. So, I am going to need another ski. I will not buy the Hellbents if I can get something that is going to be almost to just as good in the powder but much more versatile.

Crystal does not have a "real" terrain park (they do have a rail park which I will be heading into occasionally but not often) but I will probably be building BC jumps occasionally.

So, I need a ski that is going to be really good in almost everything Crystal has to offer. Big lines, tight trees, steep n deep, cliffs, etc, while still being able to ski packed out bumps, groomers, park etc.

Thanks in advance. +K to both ski suggestions and size suggestions.

 
i think i'll be shredding crystal next year, too, i'll be a freshman at UPS

idk which skis will come out there with me yet
 
Anyone know how the Armada TST is in terms of spins and landing switch? Looks like exactly what I want but I'm not sure how the swing weight/switch landings are. Also, I should be ok with the 174 if these are for next year, right?
 
I've thoroughly considered these skis and almost bought them BUT, the only problem with this is that I think I would want to buy Hellbents to accompany those, which I might not have the money to do. I am also definitely considering Jeffreys although I would have to wait until next year to get the 171.
 
Leaning towards this year's TST or maybe next year's Jeffrey. I would definitely go for the TST now but I am a little bit concerned about riding switch on them. I don't ride switch often in pow but I do frequently on hardpack. That is my only concern with this ski but otherwise I'd jump all over it. How do they ride switch on groomers? Input?
 
Medium to stiff, 18-28m radius, camber plus mellow tip & tail rocker. Take your pick. Bibby Pro or similar type of ski would be a good call.
 
I'd go with the Caylors. I use mine as pow skis and love them. Stiff and rockered enough for my size (5'8" 135lbs), and the near symmetrical shape makes them easy to ride switch.
 
Looks good however the smallest it comes in is a 177' which i doubt i will fit into as im short and pretty light. Leaning towards 171 Caylors or next year's jeffreys after the comments about the TST. How do the caylors do on bc jumps, occasional park, or packed moguls?
 
i wouldnt invest in park stuff if you are skiing crystal. It only has a couple of jibs up usually. On pow days the snow is really good up top and you can find some big lines. I would get a stiffer, somewhat fat ski for it. next year i might get the armada magic jj
 
Do you really think I would be better off with the 181? I feel like I would be much better off with the 171.

 
don't be afraid to size up, especially with a super rockered ski like the caylor or YLE (both of which are excellent one ski quiver's in the pnw (i skied the caylor just about every one of my 40 days this year in Oregon) I'm 5'9'' and 170 and i wouldn't even going shorter than a 181 caylor, the 177 YLE and 181 caylor are both great options
 
Hmm...maybe. I'm coming off 158 park skis so they might be a little too much to handle. I will see. Any advice from other people regarding the size? I think I'm set on the Caylor.
 
How tall were you when you made the switch? I am concerned for how they would do in tight trees as well. I'm considering the 181.
 
I have two 181 Caylor Lites in stock here at the factory, last ones of the season. Lites are lighter and softer than stock, a little less chargey and easier to throw around.
 
I'm the same height as you (21 and still waiting on my growth spurt :/) and ride the 171 Caylors. They're a ton of fun to throw around and are the perfect ski when I'm in the trees or feeling playful. At the same time when I'm in the mood to charge I occasionally go over the handle bars and would definitely prefer a longer ski (partly because I'm used to more directional ski and have a pretty aggressive stance, if you're used to symmetrical park skis this may not be a worry).

So I'd say you could go either way, it depends on how you ski/like to ski. If you don't tend to drive your tips the 171s would be perfect. That said there's no reason you couldn't handle the 181s and if you're more aggressive you'll appreciate the extra length. Add in the fact you're likely to grow a lot before you manage to kill these and that is another point towards the 181s.
 
Lites are the same price.

At your height and weight, they will charge fine.

The 12/13 caylor is right in-between the lite and stock 11/12 caylor. The lite is definitely not overly soft.

Since it is a bit softer and more floaty, I usually recommend the 11/12 lite over the stock for the PNW as well as as snow tends to be heavier, so a bit more float is helpful, where skiers in more continental snowpack can get away with less float due to the light snow.

Hope that helps.
 
Still looking for advice. Any one around my height who has skied a 181 or similar? I looked at my dad's 180s today and they are a good 8" taller than me.
 
really depends how often you are swappin out your skis. People are telling you to go a larger size so you can grow into em and get a few extra years on them. If your skis take alot of damage and are usually beat within a season or two I would go one size smaller mainly because the 180's will be hard to control at the beginning and will still feel slightly awkward throughout the season.
 
Hey I ski up at crystal a bit we should ski together sometime. I recommend you get 4frnt yle's they'd be a good ski for you
 
Jefferies will float in every condition at your weight, and you will appreciate the added versatility over the caylor. If you were heavier/bigger and were looking for a dedicated pow stick that will still handle well all over, I would say caylor for sure. The jeffery, however, is essentially an all mountain ski that skis powder really well. Sounds exactly like what you're looking for.
 
i'll throw in my vote for the jeffrey. got em in a 186 and they ski much, much shorter than that, so they're easy to throw around in soft snow. they're super stable on groomers, float well in light, dry utah pow, and are super stable in heavier PNW sloppiness too. i've never been on a ski that inspired as much confidence either. they make you want to ski faster and jump off things.
 
honestly, i think 181 would be a bit big for you. if you are a really advanced skier that charges rediculously hard and needs the added stability, it would be good, but i think something around 176 would be the biggest you should go.

i have the caylor and love them, but i probably wouldnt recommend them as a one ski quiver. they handle pow/chop/shit amazingly, can rail groomers, and are fun in the park, but given that crystal doesnt always have amazing conditions, and some days you are stuck skiing bumps and groomers and their "park," i would go with something like the jeffery. it will still float great at your size, and its a great versitile ski from what i've heard.

however, if you can find a way to get some older park skis as well (check craigslist or s/t here, get some old and kinda beat ones for like 50-100, nothing great, just something to get by with. or even use your old ones), or will plan to get some before the season starts to wind down and it turns more into slushy spring skiing and solely park, i would highly recommend caylors.

i rode crystal with caylors last year. unless i knew i would be hitting rails or bumps all day, which only really came in the spring/summer after other mountains closed, i always took my caylors. i would say they were the only skis i used at crystal from december through march. if the conditions werent good, i was at summit or stevens hitting real parks.

(my personal opinion here, some may disagree) something that helps with sizing the caylors if you want to use them as an everyday ski, is get a size closer (but still bigger) than your height. i am about an inch shorter than mine, and they are great. i've rode the 191, and they feel great in the pow and chop, where they excel, but cruising groomers, bumps and hitting park, they felt almost a bit too long. the 181 was a lot more nimble and easier to work with in those situations IMO. so if you are less than around 5'5/5'4, and you want them as an every day ski, i would go 171

sorry that was kinda long but i hope it helps. pm me if you want more info, i dont want to post more long winded responses in the thread
 
also, dont get the idea that caylors dont do good on park and moguls based on what i said. they are awesome on bc jumps, and can slay park and moguls better than any ski like that, however i would recommend them as part of a two ski quiver if you want to hit more than an occasional park run.

i also try to keep mine in the best condition so i get a long time out of them, so i try not to hit too many rails on them. if you dont care about that, rails can be really fun, just dont expect a nimble park ski that you can spin a 4 off of down rail on. however, they are really fun on flat bars and narrower boxes because the rediculous rocker makes switch-ups so easy and natural
 
Guys I already bought skis 8 months ago when this thread was made. Someone necro'd it, but thanks for the advice anyway.
 
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