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!