Volkl Bridge Question

I'd really love to have a pair of Bridges, but let me play devil's advocate and question Volkls choice with this ski. Without skiing it of course, it seems like the bridge is way too fat for a FS/Mogul/Park ski for which the Karma was much better suited. It is also too narrow for a really good powder ski like the Gotma or Salomon Gun LAB. Given that I have the Karma and Gun LAB, even if you gave me the bridge's, I can't imagine a park/FS day that I'd take them out over my Karmas, or a powder day that I'd take them out over my Guns. Does this nag anybody else? I know they could be a "one-ski-quiver' but it seems they are too fat for even a compromised front-side ski. I'd really be interested to hear thoughts on this. They are wider than my old Pocket Rockets for heaven's sake!

Hmmm……Somebody in their posse has told them the ‘Bridge’ is necessary as the bridge between big mountain and park having folks think Karma but with a wider shovel and 92 underfoot. My take…if graphics made you a better skier I think these boards are out there.

The Bridge is not a park ski. (not a full twin, pretty stiff in the tail, too much shape)

It is however a pretty good Western "one ski" if you want your OSQ to have a least a vestigial twip. It's pretty decent at everything not great at anything. (like most skis in this range)

Yup. Volkl’s marketing group desperately needs your help SJ:

'For the skier who wants a ski that will ride great in the park, yet still have the width and strength to take on really deep conditions.'

http://www.volkl.com/ski/freeskiing_bridge.html

They're just doing what marketing folks do............

SJ

I personally haven't gotten on a pair of Bridge's yet, but a buddy has and he said he loved them. He was a Karma guy, and bump skier and he said the Bridge's are fantastic. they're only too wide if you live in the midwest and only get to ski on ice. there are only a handful of resorts that have bumps tight enough for 92 to be too wide, and even then, if you're a decent skier, you'll be fine

SJ-

I have been told that the Bridge is like a fatter PE. Correct? Thoughts?
I'm trying to decide between a Bridge 169 and a Gotama 176 - not much difference in length. Looking for sonething more powder oriented than my 169 PE to use out west. Suggestions? Prophet 100?
Thanks!

I skied the Bridge part or most of about 5 different days last spring and found that I really liked it. I was never a Karma fan but I think the Bridge is great. In anything resembling "normal" western conditions, I'll ski off trail maybe 80% of the time. It could be a great OSQ for many folks with similar terrain preferences.

SJ

Not even close to the PE, both in terms of performance and float. The Bridge will be way stiffer than a PE, and a hell of a lot more ski (sorry, not a K2) fan.

As for the Bridge or the Goat, I'd go with the one you'll get the most use out of. If you live in Jackson, you can probably ski the Goat 90% of the time. If you live in the midwest and go on vacation in Colorado, you'd get to make more use of the Bridge.

As for the size, I'm 5'9", 160 lbs, and I ski my Karma's in the 177 and just sold 176 Goats in order to get the 183 because the 176's got squirrelly at speed. just some thoughts.

There are a few striking similarities between the Bridge and the PE but some differences too. The 177 Bridge and 174 PE are the same material length but the Bridge has shorter tip and tail splay so more running length. The shapes are dramatically different with the Bridge having a lot more taper and a bigger tip/waist differential. In many ways the proportions of the Bridge are close to the Outlaw. The PE and Bridge are nearly identical in weight and it wouldn't floor me to discover that they use the same core blanks but different glass layups.

So...............for more powder orientation than the PE you'd gain some with the Bridge due to the somewhat bigger waist but when you factor in the softer flex of the PE I'm not sure there would be that much difference. The BT is better than the Bridge in soft snow, and it's a stronger ski than the PE but realistically, it would only be incrementally different.

So, So............There are of course a lot of wider skis that would give you the powder improvement that you want. The Goat is one as is the P-100 but there are myriads of medium flex fattish skis that work well. I own the Goat and the Sugar Daddy but I like the P-100 too and I'm also intrigued by the new Atomic Pimp.

As well as................................

SJ

Oi, Sierra Cosworth. Your specifics are on the nose. However, the 'Bridge', for me, is the best 'All-Mountain' ski ever; shape, weight, flex. Feeling is everything, there ain't none with the PE due to it's fabrication. It's lazy.

5 9, 160 lbs, level 7-8, need bridge as an everyday ski and a pow board. what size?

welp it seems the Bridge is much stiffer than the PEs according to qk9 yesterday. He was having a hellofa time with them but not the PEs - very easy. Maybe that's Volkl though. I'm quite a bit bigger (taller, heavier) and love Volkls. Just goes to show there are many factors for everyone, depends on your style, capability and size.

177

SJ

so the birdge seems to be a better all mt. while the PE is a better bump ski? anyone thrown the mojo90 into the mix? I am looking for an all mountain ski that skis well in the trees and bumps that will still hold an edge in the steeps. PE, mojo90 or karma? thanks

I'm 6'2" 200 lbs. Is the 177 too short for me?

Yes.

SJ