2009 Ski Blowout Sale: Price Drop 3/15/09

hi,

i ski at okemo vt. and one trip yearly to vail.  me- 6'0, 200lbs, 49 years young, level 8 plus. love bumps,

 and powder. skied the vail pass in powder above my head.( coombas)

i currently ski rx8 fire 165 and k2 recon 174?. im done with the recons. ive demoed the dynastar 4x4

172?, great ski, skied large soft bumps, hardpack, and skied off groomers. wonderful ski.

i also demoed the blizzard 8.1 172?, like riding in a cadillac.... not the best bump ski but my acl replacement

didnt feel a thing, as a matter of fact i wasn't sure i even skied that day. is the wider waist better for

a bum knee?

ive read may of your reviews and respect your opinion. you seem to like the 8.7 more than the 8.1

can you elaborate on this.

additionally what twin tip would you recommend for where i ski, i'd like to buy them from you as well.

thanks,

steve

Hi dawg,

Another guy asking for advice. 6'1/2" 164lbs on the high side of 50. I don't ski a lot, high would be 1/2 dozen days a year, low would be a couple. I currently have 200cm Volant Z (S?) hard to tell from the graphics, I've had them for years but bought them used. I mainly ski Mt Hood Meadows and Timberline, I do like to motor about quickly. I can handle the blues but have never progressed to the blacks. The West side of Shooting Star is about as steep as I've been able to handle with the Volants. I have tried coming straight down under the Mt Hood Express chair lift but the only thing I've accomplished, at the top of the run, is to provide entertainment for the lift riders.

I am considering the Salomon Tornado which has many good reviews, The Fischer Progressor 7+, The Contact 10 and 4x4 (I read you comment on needing to be a level 8 for the 4x4 so that may be out). I figure at least 70% on groomed but if I get off on the side I would like to muddle through (the Volants don't do that very well). 

The Volants do carve some and I also shed speed by sliding, from what I've read a number of the carvers don't slide very well. Standing up, leaning a little and sliding seems to be a great way to save the quads. I don't mind learning new technique but I will have limited on ski time. I also considered the X-wing 6 but it's pegged as not liking strait line speed that well and maybe a bit soft. I have an old pair of 190 Elan RC's that flex more than the stainless steel Volants, I like the Volants better.

 So I'm looking for something that will be forgiving enough to make skiing fun, strong enough to give me some room to grow and able enough to finally get me down some of the blacks.

Conditioning wise, I'm not going to blow anyone away but I am a roadie. +4000 miles last year, +700 this year (30 this afternoon), the legs do get some use.

Thanks for any advice, Gene T

Dawg,

I think you told me in the old string that the Jesters on the Pro Riders were mounted for 305 sole length.  Is there enough play in the heel to move to 334?

Dawg, you've given me more to consider. Just for interest I measured the Volants, 85mm at the shovel, 65mm at the mount and 75mm at the tail by comparision anything modern will be a change. 

I do more spring skiing than winter ski. It's nice being at the top of Palmer or Cascade Express on a sunny day.  In sping I usually hit packed groomed condititions and not that much new snow, though it can happen. Probably the hardest fall I ever took was getting caught unaware by the liquid line moving up the mountain on a spring day. I will night ski too so more crusty and icy conditions.  I'll look into the skis you suggested in addition to those already in consideartion and thank very much for the suggestions.  - Gene 

Scott...I am cutting and pasting from the Gear Discussion forum in the hope you can help me out with some skis you still have in stock:

Me: 5'10...200 Pounds...Level 7+ Skier...Ski in the east...Bumps...More Bumps...Trees...As much Powder and Crud as I can find...as little hard fast groomer skiing as possible.

Current Skis...Blizzard Cronus 180cm and Dynastar Contact Ltd. 172cm.

Favorite ski to date: Blizzard Cronus.

The Cronus is truly my gold reference standard. Great as long as the snow is not too deep...better than I expected on hard snow...but not outstanding obviously...for me just fantastic in bumps and tight trees. Actually helped bring my bump skiing to a new level. I will keep this ski until it dies.

The Contact Ltd. is a good ski, no question...but when I have to use it (I hate to stay home and NOT ski) I just find it uninspiring. Too much shape in the front of the ski for me in bumps...less stable in chopped up snow that I would like...less stable at really high speeds than I would like.

So what do I want?

A ski that behaves as close to the Cronus in overall demeanor as possible but with more float...maybe a bit more powerful in really chopped up or heavy crud,,,but not so wide as to become a chore in bumps or trees. I ski with a fairly aggressive forward stance and fin the Cronus (at least in a 180) settles well below the surface when the snow is deeper than 6 or 8 inches.

Possible choices: Elan 999 (2010)...K2 Coomba...Nordica Enforcer...Watea 101..???????

I also want a ski that is more in the 75 to 82 mm width than the 72mm of the Contact Ltd. that is straighter...more to my liking in bumps...better in "some" crud...yet noticeably better that the Cronus on harder snow. Will still use it in the trees.

Possible choices: Elan 777...IM82...Elan 82Ti...Blizzard 8.1...Blizzard 7.6...Blizzard Supersonic....?????

Thanks in advance for your input. If I can take advantage of year end sales and maybe even sell my Contact Ltd. I can afford to buy both!

What lengths of Elan Mag 10 TI do you have left?

Scott,

Sorry... I haven't posted enough to PM yet.

I'm 5'8", 150 lbs, 40 yrs old, fairly athletic.  I'll ski anywhere (groomed, moguls, glades) but perhaps not with the best technical ability - I love to mix it up.  I'm generally skiing Vancouver Island (ie heavy snow), but don't want to buy something unsuited to interior powder.  Currently only skiing a few times a year, but that may be due to the fact that I don't have skis anymore.  I'm looking to increase the frequency.

any thoughts?

-dave

I am 5' 9" 165lb, is that about the right size for me?

I've done a bunch of reading and the iM78 certainly gets good marks but the 171 seems to be preferred over the 177 for versatility. At just over 6' I'm not short but at 165 I'm not heavy either adding to the concern that the 177 might be over kill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneT 

 

I've done a bunch of reading and the iM78 certainly gets good marks but the 171 seems to be preferred over the 177 for versatility. At just over 6' I'm not short but at 165 I'm not heavy either adding to the concern that the 177 might be over kill.

 

 

One's view of versatility depends on the height/weight and skiing ability/interests, so you can't really generalize that one size is "preferred" over the other.  I can tell you that the iM78 skis extremely short.  I'm 6'1 195lbs and the 177cm is my short hard snow ski.  At times it feels too short.  I would think someone of my height but lighter weight could handle the 177cm just fine.  In the same vein, you'd probably find that 171cm is just not enough ski and was too short in variable snow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneT 

 

I've done a bunch of reading and the iM78 certainly gets good marks but the 171 seems to be preferred over the 177 for versatility. At just over 6' I'm not short but at 165 I'm not heavy either adding to the concern that the 177 might be over kill.

 

 

I am exactly your size and 171 is the perfect size.  Especially for versatility.  Throw some Tyrolia/Head Railflex bindings on them and you can move the bindings forward or backward from the center mounting point depending on the type of conditions you are skiing.  I would only get 177 if you want the ski primarily for crudbusting and fast long radius turns in wide open trails and don't care about agility in bumps, chutes, tight spaces, etc.  But if that is what you want, then there are better skis than the im78...im78 is special b/c of its ability to be powerful and stable but also agile and adept at short radius turns...once you go to 177 at your size, unless you are level 9+, I think you are getting away from that.

I,m 155 lbs, and the 171 is way too turny..

I can make all kinds of turns in western snow with the 177, and the only place the 177 is not  as versatile as the 171 is in hard moguls...

My $.02

Keep in mind this is a mid-fat, not a carver, and should be sized nose height upward.  But you can also consult Head's product advisor for an impartial opinion:

http://www.head.com/ski/advisor.php?region=us

It actually recommends 183cm for a 6' person, but I think backing off to 177cm is fine if you ski with a groomer bias.  When snow becomes soft/variable, I'd ditch the 78s and go with something longer/wider anyhow.

Scott, out of PM's for the day.  I called the shop about the Elans you reccomended and the bindings (you got called about) and they said there hadn't been any of those Elans in the shop for a while, call me confused.

Thanks, Gene

Hi Dawg,

Do you still have  2009 Elan Magfire 82ti 168cm for sale ?

If you do - how seriously they are beaten up ?

Thank you 

Egnat.

I ended reversing direction, not going with the Head iM78's but Elan 7's instead. It looks to be similar in use and maybe a bit more suited to my ability. As Elan skis are made in Slovenia time will tell if this is a match made in heaven or if I'm just a means to a visa for another pretty, foreign face.

Hey there Dawg!

I'm a big Fischer fan....it's true!

Do you have any Progressor 9+ (170cm) or Watea 94 (178cm) left?

The Watea is unchanged from last season I believe so either this year or last year's will do for me.

Thanks in advance,

2planks

If you get a chance to check with your distribution guys...yes I'd appreciate that!

Please PM me if you do find either of these models.

Thanks again!

Hi Dawg,

Do you still have available the Blizzard Magnum 8.1 in a 172cm?

Thanks,

Brian 

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawgcatching 

 

 

 

Wide skis: the Enforcer is a real powerhouse, great float, is a hit or miss ski for many people. I really like it.  The 999 is a great crudbuster and softer snow ski, still does well on groomers, and would probably make you happy. I haven't skied the Coomba, but it should be a bit softer than the others. Watea 101 is pretty versatile in the shorter length, would probably be a good choice, as would a Legend Pro or Argos. 

 

Narrower skis: Elan 777 is a great bump ski, and meant more for off-piste skiing than on-piste. The Blizzard stuff tend to feel a bit stiffer and more of a wider hard-snow ski, which is fine if you are looking for that feel. Same for the 82ti.  The 4x4 would be worth considering, but as far as bump skis in this width range, it would be hard to beat the 777 and the Watea 84. 

Two quick questions:

1. I am pretty well sold on the Elan 777's. I hardly ever ski a "groomed" run. Can I safely assume they will give me that extra measure of grip on hard snow and ice compared to my Cronus despite not being a a true carver?

2. Between the Enforcer, 999 and Watea 101 would one offer a noticeable advantage in fairly close but powder covered bumps?

Thanks in advance!