Symmetric twin tips for all-mountian skiing???

serendipity

New member
I've been renting twin tip demos and love 'em. Don't spend much time in the park but am interested in learning some stuff. I love to ski backwards, so I like the idea of a symmetric ski. But people keep telling me they're better used as park skis. Would I have problems on all-mountain terrain with symmetric skis? I do spend a lot of time on groomed runs, occasionally in the trees or deep powder too.

Anyone have any specific experience with any of these skis or other twin tips, skiing all-mountain and/or in the park, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Line Anthem

Line Invader

Volkl Wall

Volkl Ledge

K2 Extreme

 
I've got K2 Disrderly's, they're symmetrical and i loved skiing them all mountain. They work great in the park too, and I like the idea of being mounted in the center for skiing all situations.
 
i have the same skis and love them. i've only been to a rail jam once with ice rink snow and the were great but i don't know they actuaully SKI. but the are a great park ski, medium stiffness, with a hinge point for butters, good swing weight, sidewall consrtuction, and an 85 waist. i am hoping and have heard that these do excedingly well outside the park.

if you could give your height, weight etc.. it could be easier to recomend a certain ski. but i would stay away from the invaders for all mountain. way to soft unless you are like 90 lbs.
 
you dont need a symetrical ski to ski backwards i would recomened and all mountain twin such as the surface watchlifes or volkl bridges or something u can ski backwards fine and they still rip the park up and dont mount htem cent u can do close to center but if you can actually make a proper turn i would recomend a tad back like -1 or -2 just so u can stil rip. i have surface watchlifes and they are like -1 or -2 i forget and they rip all mountain and they also can handle there own i the park
 
To expand on my original question:

I am very lightweight. Weigh about 130 and 5'10" tall. Intermediate to advanced skier (maybe closer to advanced), can ski anything pretty aggressively on the right skis. Prefer a tighter turning radius. Usually ski on something between 165 and 175 with DIN about 5.

I did list mostly park skis. Main reason is I'm wondering about people's experiences using them for all-mountain skiing as well as the park. Aside from dimensions, radius, etc. what performance differences will I notice between park and all-mountain skis?

 
i would recommend the chronic or the kung fujas. neither are perfectly symmetrical but i think you would have a better time on either of those in any condition then with a park specific ski. although the 178 anthem might fit you rather well because of your height and weight.
 
Hadn't read about the Line Chronic before. It's really close to symmetrical, but maybe the symmetric flex is more what I'm looking for than the totally symmetrical ski. There are too many to try them all, but I think I will look toward the Chronic, Anthem, Kung Fujas to demo next and narrow my decision. Sounds fun!!!

Here in Colorado, we're getting dumped on!!!!
 
i would say go for anthems but also the line elizabeths are almost symetrical if you would want something fatter
 
Well, this was first year riding on symmetrical skis, and the first thing i noticed was that i had more tail, which didn't really change anything after i got used to it. Then i noticed the softness, which i like better than that of an all mountain ski.

In general, park skis are softer than an all mountain. In my experience, i hasn't affected my all mountain performance. I'm on disorderly's.
 
Chronics and Kung Fujas are sick directional twins that still ski switch very very well. If you prefer a stiffer ski for more hard snow get the chronic. A softer more playful (better in powder) ski is the Fujas and they both kill it on jumps.

 
fischer addicts. just got them, i ski in the east so its mostly ice and crud. they rip. im sure they will do good in some pow, and they supposedly rock in the park, i dont ski park that much, i occasionally do.

any symetrical ski should be mounted pretty close to center, mine are like 1cm back from center. thats not good for pow, you will need to lean back a good amount. i find it a really different feel then my carving skis, but you definitely get used to it. look around for em.
 
If you like soft skis like me? Go for the Anthem. It's a great ski. I ski everything with them. Other then that, there are the Elizabeth's(Which I aspire to get and/or ride sometime soon) but they are much fatter. I love fat skis though.
 
Very true. But it's a quite difference if your a good skier and you ski a symmetrical ski opposed to a directional ski in an all mountain situation.

that being said, chronic, arv, blend maybe, kung fujas, last years seths could all be options.
 
Very good point!! The better you ski, the more you will be able to use the wrong ski for the wrong terrain. But the better you ski, the more you will also notice how wrong that ski is for your style and preferred terrain. A less experienced skier probably wouldn't be as aware of the differences. I'm looking for a ski that can accommodate and enhance my skiing style without requiring me to use my experience and skiing style to make up for the ski's limitations.
 
Thank you hehe.

ive narrowed it down to two skis for you, in my opinion, and in no order.

chronics, why?, because it will do it all. on piste, off piste, crud, not so much of a pow ski but will manage, great in the park great on rails... i have chronics and there the best ski ive ridden so far and i think there bullet proof, honestly.

kung fujas, why?, because in my opinion is a slightly softer, slightly wider chronic, and with your size issue, you could flex the fujas a lot more. and it will do better in powder.

hope this helps

 
yeah i figured as much, but my old worn chronics have gotten a little softer thus altering my flexing comparison skills.

however i still think those two skis would be a good choice.

depending of if you want a softer flex or a stiffer flex

 
i have center mounted line invaders i ski them all mt they get the job done. i also have k2 PEs for powder/all mt but they are mounted 6cm back so kinda suck for park so 90% of the time i end up using the invaders
 
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