I am 6ft so not much taller than you and weigh a few pounds more - 170 are the go and very easy to control... Go longer you wont regret it, they are a great ski and my favourite piste ski. Recommend them 100%.
I had the 165's of the old RC4's and to be honest I didnt know much difference between the 2 apart from the fact I think the 170cms maybe have a higher top speed, but you can fly on both really
Thx compo, I've read a few of your posts in other threads on the RC4's. Do you think their suitable for all day skiing or can they get tiresome after a while ? I'm in good shape, though at the moment I generally only ski for about 2 weeks a year. How would they compare against for the RX8's for instance ?
Also you mentioned they weigh a bit, however they would be quite a bit lighter then the SL variants etc. Most of the the reviews I've read on the web indicate their weight is quite light for a slalom race type ski.
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.
Just checked our inventory. We do have one pair of the Fischer Race RC4 SC Pros in a 165 length.
Mate are you in Oz? I live in Brissy! THey are a bit heavy compared to my Armadas but not too heavy.
They are much more race stock than the RX8 better all round in my opinion....
You wont regret buying them!
CR
Hi Compo, I'm from Sydney. You were fortunate to get a pair last year in NZ, 9 months or so before their general release in Australasia. Though they have been available on a few American sites for a while. I've spent some time skiing in NZ before a few years ago. I've done OZ for the past few years and probably I'll be in NZ next year for 2 or 3 weeks.
The RC4's appear really good, still checking reviews for a few other ski's though they would be fav's at the moment. Head make some good skis, a few of interest are the supershape and speed variant and the Monster 78 is a versatile ski. Although the supershapes are great skis, either is probably not as versatile as the RC4 SC PRO.
Your comments have been really helpful and have given me a good insight into the RC4's.
I found a pair of the Fischer RC4 SC Pro's at a Ski store here in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and am thinking about picking them up ($399euro...Around $500). Based on the retailers prices listed here it seems like a bargain (no shipping, etc) and the $ amount falls under the limt for duty free. I use to race on 198cm Rossi S7 planks but now am an old fart and have been renting demo skis during that past few years so I am quite familiar with the newer technology, I've just never gotten around to buying the new technology. I live in US and just happen to have had the luck of skiing in Austria three weeks ago (Obertauern) and now here in Germany. Think I should do it?
I found a pair of the Fischer RC4 SC Pro's at a Ski store here in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and am thinking about picking them up ($399euro...Around $500). Based on the retailers prices listed here it seems like a bargain (no shipping, etc) and the $ amount falls under the limt for duty free. I use to race on 198cm Rossi S7 planks but now am an old fart and have been renting demo skis during that past few years so I am quite familiar with the newer technology, I've just never gotten around to buying the new technology. I live in US and just happen to have had the luck of skiing in Austria three weeks ago (Obertauern) and now here in Germany. Think I should do it?
A 170cm ski with a slalom sidecut and vertical sidewall construction will not make an ideal all-day, every-day ski. Its a fun ski for aggressive carving on firm snow, but it will tire even a strong skier after several hours.
You might consider the Fischer Progressor 8+ as an alternative.
Michael
Michael - Thanks for the quick reply. I've tried some of the "all mountain" types skis and just never been that happy with them. I want a "performance ski" I can "run hard and put up wet". I realize that these aren't really for "cruising" but that's OK. I don't really "cruise" that much. In fact, what I still do (even @ 46 years old) is go at the hill hard. I still ski the bumps and black and double black are still well within my range. In short, unless my legs are burning and I feel completely spent, I don't feel like I have skied at all. So, fatigue is simply an integral part of skiing for me (even now).
I want a ski I can "trust" on those runs to turn when I make it turn. I generally don't like GS ski's as they simply can't do the turns the way I need them too. However, I DO want a performance ski that "can" stay stable at higher speeds. As a point of reference, when I said I don't ski like I used to you have to keep in mind that I was a competitive NASTAR racer at one point (mid-to high regional rank) and other times I was doing 360's and backscratchers as I made my way down the mogul runs (back when VERY few were doing that back in the earlier eightys) so when I say I don't do the things I used too, you have to realize the point of reference. I have taken my 13 year old through a few of the terrain parks and shown him how to ride the rails and go off the smaller jumps with 360's and stuff but don't really ski that way day-to-day.
As a point of reference, I liked the Vokle RaceTiger's as well as the AtomicSL12 Race that I demo'd in the past. Going a bit easier, I have been considering trying the Atomic Metron 9 as I've heard good things about it but I am a bit hesitant as I've never tested them myself. I am demoed the Head iSupershape "Liquidmetal" ski in a 170cm length today (12.1 radius). It can get VERY fast but it also gets a a bit "twitching" once you get it over 40 or 50Mph. I am very familiar with the liquid metal tech having been one of the first to play it in both golf clubs as well as tennis rackets but I have got to say that it has "come alive" in this sport.
Last thing - I know that this may be a contradictory statement but ski weight has ALWAYS been an issue for me. I went to the extreme's with prior skis by using the lightest weight binding I could possibly find (Marker Titanium's on the S7's I have now) so I would like to get the lightest ski/binding possible that would meet my needs. I haven't looked into the newer combos but do realize that I have to take the Fischer bindings with the SC Pro's which (I think) should be OK.
Hmmm, I just read an online review and now see that some are having a hard time being as "precise" as these require. Then again, that was written by a guy who had been skiing on a pair of supercross so maybe he wasn't an appropriate equivalent for my consideration? BTW, I can't demo the SC Pros, I can only buy or not buy them before I ski tomorrow....
Just read about the Fischer 8+'s as well and do see what you mean. They are a 12 radius as well and the reviews have them with solid stability at higher speeds...
Edited by ndabunka - 3/22/2009 at 07:58 pm
Edited by ndabunka - 3/22/2009 at 08:13 pm
Hi ndabunka,
The Fischer SC Pro should ski like the Head Supershape. The head will be softer and more damp, The Fischer will feel livelier and offer a little more edgegrip (I would assume). If you liked being on the supershape and the way it skis, the SC Pro should offer the same experience.
Michael
Hi ndabunka,
The Fischer SC Pro should ski like the Head Supershape. The head will be softer and more damp, The Fischer will feel livelier and offer a little more edgegrip (I would assume). If you liked being on the supershape and the way it skis, the SC Pro should offer the same experience.
Michael
I am hopeful that it will be more stable at the higher speeds due to the "verticle" sidewalls. The "re-introduction" of verticle sidewalls seems odd to me because my old "straight skis" had verticle sidewalls and internal torsion boxes but I thought that the world had changed to the mono-coque style for better dynamics. I guess it didn't work out that way in the long run. Either way, thanks for your .02. If the dealer works with me on taxes (i.e. duty free so no taxes), then I'll buy them but I don't know if getting them duty-free is really an option or not.
From your description above, you should ditch the race sc and get a WC SC. The WC SC handles speed fine on groomers, and only becomes dangerous if there is a lot of snow (don't try to make a large radius turn in the ungroomed snow at a trail crossing at speed with a 13-m radius ski). Baring Mank it's fine at mile a minute speeds; it won't pure-carve a large radius arc and won't feel as nice in LR turns as a true LR turns, but it's plenty stable.
I have skied in Garmisch for a couple of days actually got the bus there from Munich!!! Small village/ US Army base there?! cute little town. Mate get the SC's from what you describe of your skiing ability your pretty similar to me and they are super fast and hold hold hold. If your an ex racer and want something thats fun, fast and nimble get them. I have tried a whole raft of other skis in the same class and they are soooo much better.
enjoy
Thanks for the replies guys. I ran into transportation issues while trying to leave Garmisch today. A 4 mile walk due to poor directions and then the rental car company not having a CONFIRMED reservation left me with nearly no time for skiing considering the logistics required to get to the Zug, ski and get back in time to make the train to Darmstadt. Definitely a bummer but the thought of lugging around all my gear AND a new set of skis on a 6.5 hour train trip was not in my plans.
I am skiing in Saalbach this weekend. I found a couple of great places to buy these skis online (eBay and other similar sites). A large number were in Germany and I was able to arrange a price of 349euro (or $480usd) which included the z12-series binding (usually a 25euro/45usd fee) included in that price. The shop was also very knowledgeable of the requirements for the VAT-refund process and even filled out all the paperwork I would need to get 19% refunded back to my credit card. I obtain the processing stamp from Customs and then file with my Credit Card company (or claim at the customs office). So, once the VAT rebate has been successfully completed, it looks like my final cost will be around $380 with the Z12 bindings after all is said and done.
Now, to the important part (Performance). I skied VERY hard all day with two small 20 minute breaks. I've seen others caution that they "can't keep these skis under them". All I can say is that those reviewers must have VERY bad form (i.e. riding 85% of the time on the tails of their skis) because these things literally "came alive" in my experience. Carving long or short/quick turns was equal effortless. When pressed, they REALLY shined. Quick, hard progression down a couple of steep blacks was a pleasure. Contrary to other review I read, these were even a "bit" forgiving when I intentionally (and unintentionally later in the day) would get a "bit" on the tails. You can go 10 to 15% rear-weighted with little or no problems. Beyond that... yea, a bit hairy. But that's a BIG variance and anybody who skis regularly should be well able to handle these so don't be scared by the other reviews you might see online. These are GREAT skis
The Head iSpeed's were tuned and "seemed" to be a faster ski for a complete run but these SC pro's literally went from rack to slopes without ANY tuning so I am certain these will only get faster once properly set up. Compared to the Head iSpeeds these SC pro's seemed more stable at speed. Compared to the Volkl TigerShark's, the SC pro's were much more "precise" underfoot when it counted. The technology in skis today is SO much superior to what I competed on. I can see how many more people can compete at the higher levels with technology like this. It's almost like cheating. I am also an avid golfer and tennis player. I would equate ski tech with golf tech. Tech alone can shave 10 strokes off a game. I have no doubt that the tech in skis can shave MANY tenths off a typical run. At 46 I am even starting to consider seeing if there is an "old timers" division (i.e. Idiots like me over 40) to compete in once more.
For those tuning in... Sking Saalbach this first weekend in April is still the entire set of mountains but in the afternoon, it does get "slushy". The nights are still freezing and it did snow one night but the days are getting warm. Today was sunny and was said to have gotten up to 50+ degrees so there were a number of times I was wishing I had worn a tee shirt.
I brought my 13 year old boy over to Austria for one last trip of the season April 17th through the 20th. Temps in the evenings were ZERO and the entire mountain was open. Our flight did not leave Munich until Monday at noon so we stayed at the hotel Sunday night. We were the ONLY ones in the hotel come Monday morning. The hotel was closed after we left. The entire mountain was still open but it did get a bit slushy in the afternoons. Not as bad as Saalbach so it was still ski-able. We also had a hard time finding resturants that had stayed open.
To keep this tied to the original thread I also wanted to expand on my second experience with the Fischer SC Pro's. Since I had my son, I skied a LOT more blue's than the prior trip. I took the opportunity to ski EXACTLY how these things performed when pressed into GS-style skiing. I was very pleasently surprised to discover that they were VERY stable at speed. They were also VERY effective at "storing" the energy biult up during the longer turns which allowed me to accelerate HARD out of turns and simply add more speed so I'd say that for 'recreational' skiers or the weekend racer, these would work OK for 'some' smaller GS courses (most NASCAR stuff). If your a hard core guy who's trying to ski @ 70MPH, these are NOT the skiis you would want to be on at speeds much over 60-65MPh.
I also got the chance to ski the double black Gamsleiten for about an hour Saturday afternoon when my boy got "worn out" after skiing the first 5 hours that day. MAN, was that FUN! Nice to once again be only a few inches from the side of the hill, cutting hard, flipping it over to the other side and "bouncing" down the pumps for a decently long run. I will admit that I did fall on that run. In fact I got turned around backwards and "thought" I could "spin " back around a turn or two later. The good news... The bindings released as they were designed when the tails "dug" into the second mogul and sent my tumbling...
The only REALLY negative thing I have to say about these is that they "sound" odd (to me). They do have a wood core but due to the titanium striations, they have a "tinny" kind of sound. They HOLD, HOLD HOLD but they do sound odd (too me). I'm also still not quite used to the way ANY shaped ski acts when laid flat on a basic slow run. It seems that the tails shape acts to "catch" here and there. Sometimes it's the outside and other times it's the inside (of the tails ONLY). This has a tendency to make the skiis feel less than "neutral" when skiing slow (under 20MPH) and simply "cruising" down blue runs.
Thanks for the update. I gather the SC PRO is not like the old Race SC, but more like the WC SC. What were the dimensions and construction?
Thanks for the update. I gather the SC PRO is not like the old Race SC, but more like the WC SC. What were the dimensions and construction?
This thread may help explain why my experience demoing the 08/09 Race SC Pro was hard to reconcile with the reports of a friend who is a longtime fan of (older models of) this ski. I liked the ski, but did not find it as easygoing as he cast it.
