Atomic Snoop Daddy

Hi Guys:

Before I got my new pair of 2007 Snoop Daddy's I tried to find some info on the web. Not much. Let me tell you about my last two weeks' experience:

I am 40 years old, former collegiate ski racer, 245 lbs, 6'1", I consider myself a level 8+ skier. I am comfortable with all in-bounds skiing.

I just got back from a two-week vacation from my desk job. I skied Squaw Valley (hiked and skied the Palisades), Kirkwood (everywhere that was open), Mt. Rose (awesome chutes!) and finally spent a week with my wife and 6-year old at the Canyons Utah.

I am a little new to big mountain off-piste sking (only 4 years), but I am hooked! Unfortunitely, skiing in NC, I need a ski that performs well on groomers, slush, and out-west crud and powder. Man, I found it!!!!

I own a pair of SL-9 in 160cm,SX-11 Supercross in 180cm, and R-EX in 184. I have skied the R-Ex for the past 2 seasons in Tahoe. I now have the distinct pleasure of owning a pair of Snoop Daddy's in 185cm!! I'm not a big fan of rap music, but I am a BIG fan of these skis!

I was having a little problem transitioning from my Supercross (SX-11) to my R-Ex's. They just wouldn't turn as well. I asked my buddy who manages a local ski shop that if I could find a ski that was as responsive as my SX-11's, but wide enough to handle the crud and powder of Tahoe, I would buy it! I found it. Holly crap! I was about to buy a pair of discontinued M-Ex's (yes I have a thing for Atomic), when a pair of the new Snoop Daddy's came available so I jumped on it!

This ski holds on ice, cruises on groomers, and performs like a champ in the WAIST DEEP POWDER I found on Red Pine Chutes at the Canyons in late March of this year (we had over 40" of snow during my trip...but now I'm braggin'). The ski is 88mm at he waist, and plenty of shovel!

Get some, and try 'em...that's all I can say.

e-mail me questions...I'll try to give you straight answers!

Jack (aka Dawgcatcher)

Am about to pull the trigger on a pair of Sweet Daddys. Have heard good things about them and have found a good deal on this years models, though they are difficult to find infor on on the web as well, doesn't seem like many people ski them.

When you tried those did your buddy have anything to say about the Sweets or he just point you in the direction of the Snoops?

I am 99% certain they have the same core as the Sweet Daddys, did you find them to be real stiff?

We didn't look at the Sweet, only because I was pretty sure about the specs I wanted.

I was specifically trying to find a replacement for my R-EX's. They just didn't turn well enough for my liking on every type of snow, but I wanted the same mid-fat width under my boot. I had heard too many mixed reviews on the Metron M-EX, and now that Atomic discontinued it, the new line of Daddy's seemed to be a perfect fit. I also didn't want too much of a duplication of my Supercross, so I wanted at least 88 under boot.

The Snoop Daddy is noticably softer than the R-EX, yet it holds just as well on cranking carved turns on groomers. Only a slight bit of wash at super fast speed. The larger shovel also gives the ski slightly more shape, and it turns like a dream. The best surprise of all was how well it floats in deep snow and powers through heavy crud (which was my favorite thing about my R-EX's)!

It may not be the perfect ski for everyone, but it is the closest thing to a one-ski quiver for Tahoe and other western off-piste areas that I have skied. I don't work for Atomic by the way, I just did a ton of research on these mid-fats, and like you, it was hard to find any comments on-line.

On a related note, the 2007 Neox bindings come with an adjustable sole length (similar to the older demo-track bindings), so now all my buddies with a boot size smaller than 29.5 will be able to try my new skis.

I haven't skied the snoop daddy yet but first saw it back in November and was convinced it was going to be an awesome ski. Good to hear a first hand report. I'm thinking I may set a pair up for AT.

Great Review! I'm also an Atomic fan - I enjoy the smooth, stable feel. If I didn't already have the M:EX's, I'd consider the Snoops - based upon your review.

The R:EX was a big hit for Atomic, but for some reason, the M:EX wasn't (personally, I love the M:EX's: ultra-smooth and powerful).

I suspect Snoop hit the sweet spot for sizing this year - 88 mm underfoot is a perfect all-round size for western conditions. Combine that with Atomic's usual fluidity, power and edge-hold, and the Snoop should be a winner.

The only small quibble I can imagine is the graphics (woodgrain with the thick vertical black stripe). Just not my taste.

Perhaps by the time I've trashed my M:EX's, the graphics will be different.

Can't wait to give 'em a run. Thanks for the insights!

with talk of replacing the R:EX, has anyone tried the D$'s?

D$'s?

the "D-Money" is a ski "put out for" Daron Rahlves...its supposed to be a reissue of the R:EX I've seen it in shops for $350 or so, thought about picking it up but didn't know if it skied like the ol R:eX

The D$ IS the R:EX...at least that's what I've heard most often....I did read in one place that it was a TAD softer but I don't necessarily believe it....softer would be unfortunate to me since I find the REX on the low end of my tolerable performance range...

...while it's probably too soft with too much shape for my tastes it sounds like the snoop daddy should make a lot of people happy...perhaps a lighter, snappier alternative to the iM88....

...thanks for the nice review btw ...I just got my wife a used pair of R:EXs to use as her "all-mtn" harder snow ski...if she finds them tough then the snoop will definitely be looked at for her for next year...

The Snoops sound like they're modeled after the Sugar and Sweet Daddy. I'm sure they're lighter and quicker than the M:EX's or the R:EX's (no torsion bars or thick mounting plate). In addition, they offer more float.

I recently purchased the '06 Sugar Daddy's, and I'm amazed at how light they are, yet they still bulldoze like my beefier M:EX's.

The Snoop Daddy's appear to have same basic design as the Sugars (Densolite core, no plate, great edge-hold), but in a size that'll work for almost anything on big western mountains.

If they live up to expectations, they'll be the next skis I buy (once they lose the uninspired graphics).

I'm new to this forum, and not sure if it's OK to advertise, but I would gladly sell my 2004(?) R-EX's, 184cm, cosmetics 7+, bases 8+, with Neox 6-14 bindings for $300 plus shipping. I can provide photos.

My Snoop Daddy's certainly feel a little softer. While I like to ski steep off-piste terrain, I like to ski it a little slower than some of my younger brethren working toward their next Matchstick Productions cameo. One of the reasons the R-EX was such a hit was that at warp 9 the ski DOES turn like a dream, powers through the thickest crud, and it holds an edge as well as any GS racing ski! The Snoop Daddy still holds surprisingly well, and makes easier medium radius turns. At this stage of my skiing life, easy is good.

As you can tell, I'm truly stoked with the ski.

Jack

I don't suppose you have ever skied the Head Mojo90? The Snoop has similar dimensions to the Mojo's, and was just wondering how it skied in comparison.

i tried the snoop in jackson a little while back and also thought it held an amazing edge, great turner, and i didn't get to test them in the pow.

i passed them up for the monster 88 and i liked the oulaw better as well for their ability to damp the vibrations of frozen crud and the like. but if that isn't as important, i agree that the snoop is a great light ski. i'm sticking to the heavier damper monster that actually came from Dawgcatchers shop.

I skied the snoop at Snowbasin in early March, new heavy snow. I thought they were great. I was on a pair of tele daddy's with at bindings. They floated almost as well, and turned quicker...next year's ski for me.

Dawgalicious Duality of Screen names

Dawgcatcher's ( Jack) or Dawcatching's (Scott) shop??

THAT's where the confusion arose (for me, at least).

Apparently, apprehending errant hounds is in vogue.

Dawgcatcher (North Carolina version) comes from a boat captain's name whose reputation for catching more dog fish (otherwise known as lizard fish, slippery d**ks, and parson's peck*r) than speckled trout and redfish is world renowned. It's been a screen name for a while. I didn't know there was another Dawgcatcher out there. How 'bout that.:

"My" shop is Alpine Ski Center in Banner Elk, NC at the base of Sugar Mountain.

As of now I am planning on a new pair of Snoop Daddy's as my new backcountry ski. I will mount them with Freeride bindings. This ski is lighter than my old Pocket Rockets and a pound lighter than the Mojo 90 (which I also considered). From talking with a few people at a couple of shops this season I am not the only one thinking this way. More than one has predicted that this will be one of THE new backcountry skis of choice. I wil also use it on days with appreciable new snow. BTW, my other (inbounds) ski is the B5. While I suspect there may be days I might prefer the B5, if there is any chance I might hike I will be grabbing the Snoop Daddy's. Hopefully I'll find them as versatile as Dawgcatcher.

Actually the snoops not as quick as the mex it has more of a rex feel but in a far softer ski . I have the rex in 184cm ,the mex in 185cm and have been on a pair of snoops in 185cm the past 6 times out ( radius as follows :rex 23m , snoops 22m, mex 20m) . They do have a lighter feel to them (especially up front) and are softer throughout. The edge hold is respectible but not that of the mex or rex , they are however an awsome powder and heavy wet snow ski. They get a bit squirrelly at high speeds on ice when the rex or mex are damper. They initiate turns easily and have a good predictable feel to them , sweet spot is smaller than the mex but bigger than the rex ( kind of want to keep you out of the back seat a bit )
It is definetely a different ski and will probably be a big hit , I know there will be a pair hanging in my garage.

Interesting!

The M:EX's in 185 is a lot of ski.

It sounds like the Snoop is more of an all-round ski than the M:EX.

I like the M:EX's in soft snow, but they're best on steep, gnarly, chopped-up crud and at speed. I'm not surprised that they don't have the float of the Snoops.

It'll be interesting to try the Snoops and compare. It could be that the Snoops will overlap my other big skis too much (M:EX's and Sugar Daddy's).

However, for someone with neither of those skis, it appears the Snoop could simplify the quiver.

It's better if you take them skiing isn't it? Don't leave them in here now I wouldn't want to see what those 9 puppies could do to them.

Snoop Daddy v AC4?

Has anyone skied the Snoop and the 07 AC4?

SJ, I know you did a great comparo on your wesite of the Snoop v the K2 Outlaw.

Any thought on the current AC4 v Snoop??

While both are Mid Fats They look very different personality wise ( AC a carver, ice holding hard snow ski and Snoop a softer snow ski with less edge bite but more tossable?) and I would enjoy the comparision.

Also a good comparo might include the Blizzard Titan Nine as well.

Got

Anyone can tell me how well those skis do on groomed slopes?

Excellent inquiry.

These are the 2 models I'd be looking at, if I didn't currently have my M:EX's.

I also suspect that the AC4's would have the edge on ice and hard snow (they're stiffer), while the Snoops, I'd guess, would be floatier.

Both are great mid-fat options.

The Snoop and the AC-4 have very different personalities. I had a pr of each all spring (I am done at the store in late April) So in April and all of May, I skied about 20 days on about 25 different skis.

I think these two have a very different feel. The AC-4 (177) is powerful and grippy and rails like a carver. It is also fairly stiff and can buck you a bit if you have a "mass displacement error" The AC is the more damp ride of the two and in general "feels big" in much the same sense that some of the Nordicas do.

The Snoop (185) is exceptionally light and nimble and actually feels shorter than it's length and quicker than it's width. The Snoop got a lot of use in the heavy powder falls in March and April plus the spring goo in April-May. I really liked it in most all conditions with one exception. Every ski has some downside and the the Snoop is not especially damp on the really rattley frozen stuff in on spring mornings. It does however, hold very well underfoot.

My personal prejudices in this width category (82-88mm or so) run toward nimbleness over power so take this with a grain of salt, but....... I personally preferred the Snoop. This is because I have other things to use when it's bulletproof and for that frozen hour on a spring morning..........I can live with a little bounce.

SJ

SJ: Have you tried the Mantra's?

Would the Snoop be more akin to the Mantra than the AC4?

Yep, I've skied 'em quite a bit and........Welllllll....................uhhhhhh... ................

The Snoop is not really akin to either Volkl because the feel is so different. Still, I guess it is closer to the Mantra than to the AC-4. The Mantra is much stiffer than the Snoop in beam flex, smewhat stiffer torsionally, and heavier. The Mantra is significantly stiffer torsionally toward the extremities while they are more similar in torsion in the center.

I find that the Snoop has a nimble, playful feel while the Mantra has a requirement that the skier be a little more deliberate. For the heavy footed skier or one that hangs on the front of the boot, the Mantra is honestly a better choice. The Snoop is maybe a better fit for someone that has active feet and who likes a ski that "dances"

SJ

Interesting! I'm looking forward to demoing the Snoops. They look more playful than my M:EX's, which have the higher, stiff center with mounting plate.

The Snoop's lower profile simplifies the ski, bringing the skier closer to the snow - better for "Big Mountain" designs, where extreme angulation isn't the issue.

First Atomic took the "hostage binding" design off the Sugar, and then replaced it in the M:EX with the Snoop. They're learning.

Great feedback, SJ.

I owned an M:Ex most of last year but after I got in the two Snoop Demos, I never skied my M:ex again except as a refresher. I spent the most time on the 185 Snoop and it was more fun than the 175 M:Ex.

Actually the Snoop put my Sugars on the shelf on a few days when I would otherwise have taken them...........purty cool ski.

SJ

Man, I really think Sierra Jim has a way with words!!

His ski reviews/comparasions seem extremely insightful and precise.

Thanks SJ, and keep your impressions comming!!

Got

ps: also good question Captain Strato, you primed the pump for SJ!