Quiver re-think for 14/15

M

marcel_ID

Member
Getting to a point that I need to re-think my quiver entirely...

currently on Line Prophet 98 172 and Solly Rocker2 115 178.

P98 - love it in anything soft, but it lacks some backbone on hardpack, crud or anywhere conditions get less than desirable!

R2 - love the rocker profile, but I don't like the short turn radius and find it to be a bit too soft for my tastes.

I'm thinking about a 3 ski quiver for next season and I'm already set on Cochise 177 for my mid ski, which I will probably be skiing most of the time.

Me, 5'5" / ~147, so I'm not particularly light for my height, so I tend to like skis a little stiffer than noodles, but not crazy stiff since I'm still a 147 lbs dude! I ski mostly in SW Idaho (this include Brundage in McCall, Bogus Basin in Boise and less often Sun Valley). I usually do something like 15 days between SLC (mostly Alta/Bird) and Jackson each season. I ski 100% off-piste, ungroomed, trees when I'm with friends or alone, I hit some grommers when I'm skiing with my wife but that wouldn't require too much of the ski given that I'd just cruise grommers with her, and I don't ski park at all.

Skis I've looked into to replace the R2:

Atomic Auto 179 - nah... to me softer than the R2, not too good in crud and too much rocker.

Line Influence 115 - skied last season, found it to be a little too stiff, but that might change if I try them again, easy on trees and quite good to charge, like the rocker profile.

Moment Governor - I love the profile, long low tip rocker and subtle tail rocker, that's exactly what I'm looking for, but I don't have any chance in flexing the skis, just crazy too stiff for me.

Line Opus - too much rocker, quite unstable in less than ideal powder.

Gunsmoke - Better than the Opus, similar rocker profile, but again a little too much rocker in the tail.

Skis I'm dying to try:

ONPPP Billy Goat 176 - all based on the hype, never tried before, but I'm afraid I might be in between sizes. the 176 should be about the size of my rocker2 178, but it has more rocker in the tail, more than I'd like, but you never know until you try! Am I in between sizes here? Would 176 be a good size? I'm positive the 186 would be too much ski for me.

Praxis RX 179 - never skied, hard to find much information about it, so it's quite a shot in the dark here! The profile and a mid stiff layup seems to be what I'd look at!

ONPPP Jeffrey 114 176 - think I'd like the BG instead of the Jeffrey, I ride forward 99% of the time, and the more symmetrical shape doesn't appeal to me that much for a ski in the category! I'd like the profile if I'd get the Jeffrey 122 at 181, but can't really justify a ski that wide.

Skis to replace my P98:

I haven't demoed skis in this category, so don't have much of a benchmark, but considered the usual suspects. Bonafide 173, Kabookie 173, Brahma 173, Hell&Back 169, MX 88 168.

Really depends on what I'd after here, I'm considering downsizing from 98 to 88 because it seems to have some overlap with the cochise, so leaning towards, Brahma, MX88, Bushwacker, Kendo...

Right now I'm leaning towards BG 176, Cochise 177, Brahma 173, but I'm interested in what you guys have to say, what I'm missing?

The question I tried to find the answer for but couldn't was, which skis has a similar rocker profile to solly r2 115, but has a longer radius (mid 20s) and it's stiffer, better in crud, more ability to charge?
 
so are you looking to replace just the r2 or your entire quiver? the new q115 could be a good replacement for your r2.
 
Skip the Prophet replacement, stick to two skis and take more ski trips with the spare cash. The Cochise skis everything well, just pair it up with a surfy fat ski for deep days.
 
12947691:b-kul said:
so are you looking to replace just the r2 or your entire quiver? the new q115 could be a good replacement for your r2.
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quest115? that's the same as the r2 115, is there a new one coming next year?

12947728:Boax said:
Skip the Prophet replacement, stick to two skis and take more ski trips with the spare cash. The Cochise skis everything well, just pair it up with a surfy fat ski for deep days.
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thought I'd keep the prophet and just get BG to replace de r2 115, but still trying to figure out if the 176 is a good size!
 
The governor is stiff, but not to stiff.. Blister has a really good and honest review, read it!
 
Check out the praxis gpo 182 too- like a more playful bg from what I've read- plus it would be between the sizes of 176 and 186 for the BG. And you get to customize flex, core, and graphics so you can get just what you want from it. I personally got med/stiff 187 with the normal core for next season. PM me for a 15% off coupon

Everyone I've talked to loves their praxis skis, and the quality is supposed to be superb as well. You can is the contact form on their website and talk to the owner himself as well, I'm sure he has some good input.
 
173 Brahma and 179 Norwalk would be what I would look at in your situation. The Norwalk has a longer sidecut than the 115 and camber though the tail which makes it carve better.
 
12947837:Muggydude said:
Check out the praxis gpo 182 too- like a more playful bg from what I've read- plus it would be between the sizes of 176 and 186 for the BG. And you get to customize flex, core, and graphics so you can get just what you want from it. I personally got med/stiff 187 with the normal core for next season. PM me for a 15% off coupon

Everyone I've talked to loves their praxis skis, and the quality is supposed to be superb as well. You can is the contact form on their website and talk to the owner himself as well, I'm sure he has some good input.
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I really would like to try the GPO, but based on the size of people I see skiing even the 182 I'm pretty sure it's going to be a little long...

12947862:AJizzle said:
173 Brahma and 179 Norwalk would be what I would look at in your situation. The Norwalk has a longer sidecut than the 115 and camber though the tail which makes it carve better.
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Any idea where the norwalk sits regarding stiffness compared to say the JJ or MagicJ? or other skis like Auto, Rocker2, still think the 19m radius and massive early tapper is not that great, but the rocker profile does come close to what I'm looking for
 
to replace the P98 i would suggest looking into the volkl mantra and the blizzard bonifide similar to the profit but stiffer. if you wanted to go narrower look at the kendo i love that ski. you could also look at the brahma but it has a smaller turning radius then the kendo.

I've heard great things about the cochise but another ski to look in and around the same width would be the moment belafonte. its stiff and destroys crud.
 
and to replace the salmons it sounds like the old moment bibby pro would be right up your street. i think the exit world still uses the bibbys old shape but has been converted into a touring ski so its a lot lighter. that and the billy goat would be worth a look.
 
Think of it as a rocker 2 155 with lower swing weight, that finishes of a turn harder, but is slightly easier to ski, and actually floats a little bit better. You can really feel the fact that it has camber though the tail, but the 19 m radius makes it easy to control when forward at slower to medium speeds, and the insane poppyness (compared to the rocker 2 115) makes it IMO better in bumped out stuff and trees, esp getting to stashes you don't work nearly as hard. Everyone talks shit about the freakier rankings, but I understand why that ski was ranked no. 1 in big mtn. It is awesome when you are able to open it up, but it is super easy to shut down in nasty billy goat situations. I would most closely compare it to a fully cambered tail on a gunsmoke. Really worth buying.
 
For the 88 underfoot ski I would def get the brahma. Kicks ass as a carver, skis bumps reasonably well, and is fantastic on a spring slush day. Btw the way you ski really describes me as well, except I am 200 lbs and am on the latest sizes of all of these skis, so take that for what it's worth.
 
Do you ski switch at all? If not, considering you want something stiff and with a longer turn radius, I would recommend looking into the Dynastar Cham series. Next year there is going to be a 117mm model which might be great for your wide ski. They have tip rocker and are considered pow skis, but they have flat pintails, so if you ski switch at all (even a little) don't get them. They're almost a hybrid between a GS ski and a pow ski the way I see it. If you ONLY ski forwards, they might be what you're looking for. If you want something really wide they have a 127mm model which you can get half price at evo (if you want it get it now, its discontinued I believe). I skied the 127s and LOVED them. I didn't get a chance to ski them in pow so I can't say how well they float.

They also have HM (high mountain) variants of most of their Cham skis which are lighter and intended for touring, and you might prefer if you want float in pow.

These are a lot different than your Rocker2s but to my understanding you want something a lot different. Demo before buying if possible.
 
The BG's could not be a more perfect fit for your pow ski. The turning radius is longer, they are stiffer, and have a similar rocker profile compared to the quest 115.

I would go two ski quiver with the bonafides, but thats just me. It just seems like a cochise and bg will overlap quite a bit, unless you get the tour bgs. Out the tons of 98mm titinal directional all mountain skis out there, I would say those have the best grip on hardback, and still perform great in soft snow.

IMO the perfect 3 ski quiver for you would be the ON3P BG tours, salomon q lab (105mm waist, two layers of metal, long radius directional charger for 2015), and then the Blizzard Brahma, which is just a skinnier Bonfide.
 
I have a pair of Praxis RX and I love em, but i think they might be too stiff for ya given the skis you have. My 189s are the sturdiest skis I've ever been on. They're retarded stable though, comin out of chutes and just pointing it through chunder they're totally confident.
 
12949281:Sh4dow said:
Do you ski switch at all?
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I do from time to time, so the flat, pin tail doesn't do for me! don't need a full twin like bent chetler or jeffrey but a flatish a bit up rocker tail is ideal!

12949325:MartianMan said:
The BG's could not be a more perfect fit for your pow ski. The turning radius is longer, they are stiffer, and have a similar rocker profile compared to the quest 115.

I would go two ski quiver with the bonafides, but thats just me. It just seems like a cochise and bg will overlap quite a bit, unless you get the tour bgs. Out the tons of 98mm titinal directional all mountain skis out there, I would say those have the best grip on hardback, and still perform great in soft snow.

IMO the perfect 3 ski quiver for you would be the ON3P BG tours, salomon q lab (105mm waist, two layers of metal, long radius directional charger for 2015), and then the Blizzard Brahma, which is just a skinnier Bonfide.
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1)Care to share a little bit more about bg tour/regular? why do you think the tour would be a good/better choice?

2)the q lab was totaly out of my radar! but I'm a cheap bastard and it's hard to beat a cochise for ~300 bucks! anyway, trying to find more info on the q lab, but people only talk about q bc lab! is there a solly catalog around already?

3)sometimes I feel my 98 is a bit too wide for hardpack or days I'm skiing groomers with the wife, that's why I'm thinking to go 88, the brahma seems to offer a fair amount of versatility, not as locked as a pure carver or a more piste oriented like mx88, kendo, but better for me since I also do a lot of hard off piste skiing! kendo can also be found cheap, but not really looking to pay twice for the mx88 anyway! again cheap bastard!

12949336:charmander said:
I have a pair of Praxis RX and I love em, but i think they might be too stiff for ya given the skis you have. My 189s are the sturdiest skis I've ever been on. They're retarded stable though, comin out of chutes and just pointing it through chunder they're totally confident.
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how about a medium instead of a mid stiff? care to share a little more about the rx?
 
The RX is pretty directional but it is a twin. Not a ton of rocker, just a bit in the tip, very little in the back. They hold edge well at mach schnell on groomers but it's a little tough to get em to hook up well at slow speeds, you always have the option of slidin em around though.

I'm not sure what the construction is of mine as I bought em used but they're at least as stiff as my Cochise and in a 189 they're more stable than my 193 Cochise... imo of course.

The RX doesn't float as well as you'd think for a ski that's 116 under foot, in my quiver it's not a powder ski, it's a ski that I ski when there's a little soft snow and I feel like rippin pretty good.

My quiver fwiw is: (from powder to hard snow in that order)

195 Praxis Pow

189 Praxis RX

184 H2O Tazlina (Praxis BC basically)

193 Cochise

and I'm 5'9" 190 lbs.just so you know where I'm comin from on skis.

also, fwiw I work at a shop and can get stuff way cheap, I choose to spend extra and buy Praxis because they make a superior ski, I don't get any hookup on em.

Next year I'm adding an automatic 117 though, just for a little mellower soft snow ski that's still pretty solid and really usable all over the mountain, if funds allow I'd like a GPO to replace the RX since the RX that I have is totally beat at this point.
 
^^^thanks

looks like the BG is getting more and more ground for my resort pow go through anything ski! really almos pulling the trigger on a 176!
 
12949755:charmander said:
The RX is pretty directional but it is a twin. Not a ton of rocker, just a bit in the tip, very little in the back. They hold edge well at mach schnell on groomers but it's a little tough to get em to hook up well at slow speeds, you always have the option of slidin em around though.

I'm not sure what the construction is of mine as I bought em used but they're at least as stiff as my Cochise and in a 189 they're more stable than my 193 Cochise... imo of course.

The RX doesn't float as well as you'd think for a ski that's 116 under foot, in my quiver it's not a powder ski, it's a ski that I ski when there's a little soft snow and I feel like rippin pretty good.

My quiver fwiw is: (from powder to hard snow in that order)

195 Praxis Pow

189 Praxis RX

184 H2O Tazlina (Praxis BC basically)

193 Cochise

and I'm 5'9" 190 lbs.just so you know where I'm comin from on skis.

also, fwiw I work at a shop and can get stuff way cheap, I choose to spend extra and buy Praxis because they make a superior ski, I don't get any hookup on em.

Next year I'm adding an automatic 117 though, just for a little mellower soft snow ski that's still pretty solid and really usable all over the mountain, if funds allow I'd like a GPO to replace the RX since the RX that I have is totally beat at this point.
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nice quiver you got there, I'm in Europe but might make the trip over so I am quite interested in Praxis skis, what is the main difference between the RX and GPO? I do mostly resort pow skiing but I have my Line Prophet 98s for the groomers and such. Which is the better charger and crud destroyer? Which floats better?
 
12949876:Nippletron said:
Which is the better charger and crud destroyer? Which floats better?
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1st question) RX

All I've heard from it is the post above.

2nd question) GPO

Some people complain about soft tip/tail in the GPO for the regular mid stiff option. Depending on your size you could go stiff GPO or size up for better float/crud.

Take a look at the specs on praxis website and you can have an idea for sidecut, splay, rocker it's pretty handy when comparing praxis against praxis! Also there is a gigantic discussion thread about the GPO on TGR.
 
12949901:marcel_ID said:
1st question) RX

All I've heard from it is the post above.

2nd question) GPO

Some people complain about soft tip/tail in the GPO for the regular mid stiff option. Depending on your size you could go stiff GPO or size up for better float/crud.

Take a look at the specs on praxis website and you can have an idea for sidecut, splay, rocker it's pretty handy when comparing praxis against praxis! Also there is a gigantic discussion thread about the GPO on TGR.
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Oh great, I'll have a look at the thread. And ye I'm 5'11" and weigh 158 so I think the 187 is perfect as anything too tall will be not to my liking in terms of manoeuvrability, etc. and ye I will defo opt for the med/stiff flex, I'll look into the stiff flex though .
 
RX is gonna charge harder, GPO is more of a powder ski, especially in the full rocker build.

Tabke goes pretty hard on the GPO though, he's been known to ski the full rocker one in competition to I believe. I haven't personally skied the gpo but I think that for a 1 ski quiver in the west it's gotta be hard to beat unless you prefer 98mm dad skis.
 
Get the BG! Tail rocker on that is more for smearing turns than riding switch, but it sounds like its the perfect ticket for what you want coming off those Rocker 2's!
 
12949812: looks like the BG is getting more and more ground for my resort pow go through anything ski! really almos pulling the trigger on a 176![/QUOTE said:
BG are a sick ski. Long turning radius, but pivots like my AR7s when I want them in the trees.

Also maybe consider the BG light version. Only reason I wish I would done that is could convert my BG in touring rig. Still might but gonna heavy with reg BG. Just food for thought.
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kinda wondering about the Praxis SND! A stiff at 167 right at the top of my head!

Will have to talk to Keith about it and see what he has to say about it! Anyone skied?

Right now my narrow ski is kinda in between:

Kendo 170

Brahma 173

MX88 168

SND 167

Really don't wanna go to a real frontside piste ski because I still wanna be able to rip some hardpack off piste on it!
 
^get the brahma, straight up rips, but is still easy to move around with the slight tail rocker. Super stable at speed, on hardpack and in crud.
 
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