Skis for Baker/PNW

Phantom

Phantom

Member
I'm moving to Bellingham in the fall and I'm looking for a pow ski. I'm 6'3" 190 and I'm looking for a versatile pow ski that will be stable at speed, but not too heavy for the backcountry. I'll ski mostly at baker but could spend time at whistler. I've been skiing on some chronic blends but i've been looking at hellbents and caylors, but looking for some more suggestions.
thanks

 
You picked the top two designed for the PNW, at least in my mind. For cascade concrete, anything fat, unsymmetrical and with massive rocker will do ya fine.
 
191 on3p caylors for a jibby ski

191 on3p C&D for a charging stiff baby killing ski that is surprisingly nimble in the trees
 
186 moment bibby for a jibby ski190 moment bibby for a charging stiff baby killing ski that is surprisingly nimble in the trees
 
Something stiffer, with a bit of rocker, and fairly wide. Off the top of my head I could think of ON3P Wrenegade, Armada JJ, Surface One Life, Salamon Shogun or possibly Czar, K2 Obsethed, Volkl Gotama, and Rossi S3. I was in this type of predicament a little while ago and demoed the Gotama, S3, Shogun, and JJ. I personally like the JJ Salamon a ton for everything, but they might be a bit skinnier than what your looking for. The JJ would be a really good option, as they are super versatile. The Gotama is also a very fun ski, good in pow, stable, and turns well. I ended up buying the ON3P Wrenegade, and it seems like it will be great for everyday skiing in the backcountry and everything that isn't park.
 
this

id say caylor, mine are killer, even in "death snow" as my dad calls it, theyre also tuff.

one of mine ran away and went a few hundred feet dwnhill into a tree, they were fine.
 
I was in this same position myself back at the end of May when deciding on a new everyday ski for myself. I ski Whistler almost exclusively and decided on picking up a pair of 181 Caylors. I'm 5'10'' - around 165 - 170 lbs.

If you want some big rockered skis for the PNW, Definitely consider these alongside some CRJs and Hellbents.
 
The bacons are a sweet ski, might not be enough underfoot for baker though, sweet in the trees and goes from deep snow back to groomer no problem. But i guess it all depends on if you want something just for snow and you could care less about getting back to the lift. If thats the cause I would get something crazy like the ARGs or the hellbents.

super jealous your skiing baker all season. good luck dude
 
i didnt even think of a RR ski, if you want a ski ONLY for deep baker pow(which there should be alot of this winter, there is no reason not to do a ful RR ski, in which case i would suggest DPS lotus 138s, Praxis Pows, or moment donnar parties(the first to more so because they come in longer sizes IE over 200)

to the people suggesting Wrens, as fantastic of a ski they are(my favorite ski EVER) i dont think they would be right as a pow ski at baker, they just lack some of the girth and rocker of other skis, OP if you do want a ski to charge on like wrens but better suited for pow, C&D are the way to go for sure, or if you want a ski like hellbents but better in every way, get Caylors. Both would be great choices and steller in the heavy baker pow.
 
yeah, i'm gonna be at western so it'll be super sick. I could probably make something like the ARGs work, anyone else ski them at baker?
I've been thinking about going with some caylors but i can't decide between the 181 or 191, anyone have any other input?
 
ON3Ps look pretty legit, possibly Bibbys or night trains are really sick skis and JJs, would be also.
 
191 for sure. A full reverse/reverse ski wouldnt be my 'everyday-pow' type of Baker ski, it would be like a 'pretty deep day' ski.
 
Because symmetrical pow skis are pointless. There is a reason there isn't many around- having such a wide tail can make them hooky in heavy or wet snow. You don't really gain anything over something like the caylor/hellbents which are still great switch, but much better going forwards than symmetrical skis.
 
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