It's Ski Buying Season! Need advice on 100% west, 90% off piste skis.

Hello to all and many thanks for the incredible wealth of information you all post. I hesitate to post yet another new ski advice request, but it seems that each skier on other posts has different priorities / specifics than mine. So here goes:

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES: 39 year old male, 5'-10, 163 pounds, fit w/strong legs

SKIING TERRAIN: Ski only in the West-Snowbowl, Whitefish, Discovery in Montana with a few trips to Alta, Snowbird etc. Total days on area 15-20 Backcountry 5-10

Ski almost exclusively non-groomer, off piste, steeps, trees and any powder that can be found.

As a result, ski lots of very variable snow. (Montana isn't quite Alta!)

SKIING SKILL LEVEL: This one is tricky and important. I can ski anything on any area and a lot of stuff that is beyond the lines with aggression and without falling. Tight trees, narrow chutes, deep pow, super steep. BUT I'm not that good of a skier technically. I grew up in the mid-west and didn't really start skiing seriously until 7 years ago. So, I have the classic penchant for being in the back seat and also a habit of allowing my left side to rotate (hand back) when the snow gets deep or the going gets tough.  I spend a lot of time scrubbing speed by skidding my tails instead of fall-line-skiing and carving. Okay, so maybe I'm being a little tough on myself, but better to be conservative about my skill level. And one more thing- I don't jib, flip, switch or goofy anything anytime.

THE QUESTION: I'm buying new skis now that the season is ending and things are cheap! What would you recommend? I am a one pair of on-area skis guy so am leaning towards a mid-fat 80-90 mm ski. But would be interested to hear if you think this is a mistake given the lack of groomer skiing. Should I go fatter? Can I continue to improve on my carving / technique if I go fatty? Want something that will be good for tight trees (quick turning and soft?) and a tad more forgiving than if I were gonzo ex-racer, uber talent guy. Do different skis throw skiers forward or aft? If so, I defiantly want a ski that will encourage me to lean over em! 

I've been on Salomon Pilot Scream 10, 180s for last five years. Have always felt that they will go faster than I'll ever be able to push 'em. But can't complain since I bought them blind from Sierra Trading without doing any research! And I do feel that they forced me to become a much better skier. 

Thanks Much!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dynastar-Mythic-Rider-178cm-07-08-Ski-w-PX12-Lifter-WB_W0QQitemZ190299743604QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSkiing?hash=item190299743604&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

go. buy them. register a live.com cashback account, sign in, search using live.com (for ANYTHING) until you see a link that offers whatever the current cashback discount is (10% at THIS moment) for ebay, once the link takes you to ebay with the activated discount, you have an hour to find the 178cm (the length you want) dynastar mythic riders w/ px12 bindings and wide brakes from action sports outlet, buy-it-now, pay immediately with paypal, get $30 back in 60 days. badda-boom, badda-bing, your ideal set-up for $270 with bindings. retarded. i know. it's that good.

i'm your size and a very strong skier as well, and i just ordered a pair of these for my friend. they arrived today and i was very impressed. i personally ride the 187 dynastar xxl, which is the wider sibling of this ski, as my off-trail ski. the flex seems similar between the xxl's and the mythics, with the xxl's having  a slightly softer tip (to get you up on top of the snow... it's more of a pow-specific ski than the mythic) and a slightly stiffer mid-section (for crushing babies). the mythic just has a narrower waist (88mm vs. 109mm) and a shorter turn radius (21m vs. 37m). honestly, those two changes are all i'd need to make the xxl's a quiver of one, like you are asking for. the mythics will hold an edge on all but the firmest of groomers, will get through all but the tightest/deepest/firmest bumps (with good technique, of course), it will destroy crud, it will be damp and stable at speed, it will slide controllably in the steeps. i love the dynastar legend series. have i actually skied the mythics? no... but i've skied the xxl's and both the new and old versions of the LP, and my living-room evaluation (and all the reviews i've read) of the mythics tells me that it will not be very different. which is a good thing. and, as with all my dynastars, i'm sure durability will be superb

These would top my list as one-quiver ski for the waist dimensions you want.

Line Prophet 90

Moment Tahoe 96

Moment M1 105

Moment Garbones 105

BD Havoc 88

BD Verdict 102

Dynastar Legend

Quote:

Originally Posted by summerteeth 

These would top my list as one-quiver ski for the waist dimensions you want.

 

Line Prophet 90

Moment Tahoe 96

Moment M1 105

Moment Garbones 105

BD Havoc 88

BD Verdict 102

Dynastar Legend

that is the most arbitrary list i have seen in a long time. but it's been a while since i've been in an anthropology class, either...

Lukc,

Thanks for the great link,

What an incredible fricking deal.

At 5'10- 163 do you think the 178 is too long for me?

I also see Watea's for $344 on ebay, but no bindings.

Thanks

A buddy of mine in the French Alps last year loved his 178s for the same type of skiing as you described.  He felt they were good both on and off piste and is about your weight, but taller.  He is a strong skier and good technically having grown up there. 

OTOH, I skied Salomon Scream Hot 10 Ps in a 185 for a few years and didn't love they Mythics on the groomer run I did on his 178s (felt I was slidding, not carving) or the powder I skied for about an hour on the 184s (the stiffer feeling compared to the Screams or Fischer Atuas/Misfits I have skied made me feel like I was going to go over the handle bars a few times).  I am 6'3'' 185 lbs and hope I am a level 8.

I'd recommend demoing the Mythics if you get a chance, but at that price, you probably wouldn't be too hurt if you got them and decided to move them on before X-mas next year.

Thanks for the advice MEfree.

I've got a feeling the move from the Scream 10 to Mythic Rider, Watea, or Head IM (kinda my short list... I think) will be a brave new world. And like you say, at closeout prices I can always bale on them, go back to the screams and demo, demo, demo.

I did demo the K2 Xplorer and the Fury last weekend. Not blown away by either but like the feel of the K2 and it was clear that the Fury felt more like the Screams. Rippers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by missoulajeff 

Lukc,

Thanks for the great link,

What an incredible fricking deal.

At 5'10- 163 do you think the 178 is too long for me?

I also see Watea's for $344 on ebay, but no bindings.

Thanks

 

you want the 178's unless you're gonna be mashin bumps a LOT. just dooo eeet!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by missoulajeff 

 

At 5'10- 163 do you think the 178 is too long for me?

I also see Watea's for $344 on ebay, but no bindings.

 

 

Forget eBay.  Sierraskis has Wateas brand new flat for $324 flat for the 94s 289 for the 84s.  check them out here:

http://www.sierraskis.com/2009-Fischer-Watea-94-44037.asp

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timr1 

 

Forget eBay.  Sierraskis has Wateas brand new flat for $324 flat for the 94s 289 for the 84s.  check them out here:

 

http://www.sierraskis.com/2009-Fischer-Watea-94-44037.asp

while those are certainly good options with very balanced power/forgiveness (as would be the head monster 82/88 if you want stiff and damp, like the dynastars, or the salomon x-wing fury, if you want a more forgiving ski, as well), he'd still be up into the low to mid $400's when a binding is included. honestly, ask yourself, "what kind of ski feel do you like? heavy or light? damp or lively? stiff or soft? long turn radius or short?" and then decide. all are good options, as i just had one friend buy the mythic riders from action sports outlet and i'm currently steering another friend towards the watea 84's or x-wing fury's from sierraskis. the difference is in their style of skiing. but the mythics are still the better deal, by far...

I would go with a versatile ski at least 100mm underfoot

Dynastar Huge Trouble

Line Sir Francis Bacon

Line Prophet 100

Blizzard Answer

K2 Hellbent if you like rockered

Fischer Watea 101

For someone your size (5' 10, 163lbs), I'd go with something around 95-100mm underfoot, like Nordica Enforcer, Dynastar Pro Rider, Volkl Gotama, Line Prophet 100.

You probably cannot go wrong with the Mythic Riders, these are great skis (for the record, I do own them).  Other skis that you may like are:

Head Mojo94 (I really liked them when I demoed this year).  They don;t like the back seat stance, but the payoff is tremendous confidence when you ride them right.

Watea 94 (lots of fun, but definite limitations, I'd hesitate to have them as a one-ski quiver).   They have a tail that is reminescent of Salomon tails- i.e. it throws you forward if you mess up. 

Skis I have not demoed, but that tend to get a good reputation here:

Mantras and Enforcers need a strong technical driver, so try to demo before you buy.  

174 LPR's (if you like going fast).

Atomic Snoop or Crimson. 

For the money though it is hard to beat the Mythic deal, and the skis rock for what you are looking to ski.  There sre better skis ona  deep powder day, and there are better skis for the rock solid ice days, but the Mythic will do on both better than most other skis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monologuist 

I would go with a versatile ski at least 100mm underfoot

Dynastar Huge Trouble

Line Sir Francis Bacon

Line Prophet 100

Blizzard Answer

K2 Hellbent if you like rockered

Fischer Watea 101

 

 

 

not that there aren't skis on this list that would be good options... but, as a whole, this may be a worse list than summerteeth's...

Quote:

Originally Posted by MustangSVT 

For someone your size (5' 10, 163lbs), I'd go with something around 95-100mm underfoot, like Nordica Enforcer, Dynastar Pro Rider, Volkl Gotama, Line Prophet 100.

see people? while this list is different than mine, at least it is well constructed and it makes SENSE why each ski on it has been selected. jeezus krist...

Well, thanks to all, I threw down for the Mythic R.s

Honestly, for that kind of money I can feel comfortable that if I hate them, I can sell them to a buddy and move on to another ski!

BTW, closing day today at little ole Montana Snowbowl was off the hook. Sunny, incredible spring skiing conditions and still deep almost everywhere, and lots of nearly naked costumed tele chicks ripping up the snow. A great way to end the season.

Thanks again,

Jeff

Seriously, are you for real? You call my list arbitrary and sensless, did ya read the OP? Dude is looking for a one-ski quiver 100% west,  90% off piste. These are skis I have skied and would narrow it down to depending on weight, overall waist width, etc...

So why don't you tell me what is so arbitrary about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukc 

 

 

not that there aren't skis on this list that would be good options... but, as a whole, this may be a worse list than summerteeth's...

Quote:

Originally Posted by summerteeth 

Seriously, are you for real? You call my list arbitrary and sensless, did ya read the OP? Dude is looking for a one-ski quiver 100% west,  90% off piste. These are skis I have skied and would narrow it down to depending on weight, overall waist width, etc...

 

So why don't you tell me what is so arbitrary about it.

 

i HIGHLY doubt you have actually been on almost ANY (IF any) of those skis on your list. to me, it looks like you're just fanboying a bunch of "in" skis/companies that you probably don't know much/anything about because it's cool. did you seriously just recommend the momment m1 to the sam person that you just recommended a prophet 90 to? i just had my buddy who skis like 5 days a year buy prophet 90's and he likes 'em a lot. do you KNOW what would happen if i put him on an m1 (easily one of, if not THE stiffest skis that you can even BUY?) he'd be nothing but a splatter against the side of some car in the parking lot...

your list sucked because it:

1) INCLUDED random, LARGELY (to the point of gratuitousness... not just in the "more than one way to skin a cat" way...) disparate skis on it (with extra hate dropped for obvious fanboying)

2) OMITTED so many OBVIOUS skis within each cattegory (which probably isn't fair of me to say, since the list was never uniform enough to make it clear WHAT category you were even suggesting)

You guys have listed some real good choices for the OP, but have you forgot RULE #1

All the aboved mentioned skis SUCK unless you have GOOD FITTING BOOTS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerthoudPass 

You guys have listed some real good choices for the OP, but have you forgot RULE #1

All the aboved mentioned skis SUCK unless you have GOOD FITTING BOOTS!

agreed on boots. most important equipment. then bindings. i can't ski unless i trust the bindings i'm on. skis are just for shits and giggles...

but as to lists... both of the lists i dropped the hate on DID make a few good recommendations. but only because they went with the shotgun approach...

I dig the heated list conversation!..sock puppets and random lists and all I really wanted was a pair of skis!

But on the subject of boots (and thanks for bringing them up).., simple question... is it true that you can wear out the shells of a high quality pair of boots? That they will get overly flexy over time?

If NO- than can you recommend the best after-market new liners as I need to replace.

If YES- how many years or days of hard skiing do you typically see in a pair of shells before they are roont? (yes, that is a word) Can you recommend a good boot for my ski skill level and my new Mythics? Size 10, wide toebox preferred. Like Scarpa AT boots over Garmont due to width...

Thanks,

 Normally the wear aspect first manifests itself on the soles.  But the plastic can indeed degrade over time.

UV is bad for plastic and I've broken a pair of boots before.  But I'm not sure what the early warning signs are as I clearly missed them.

And since we can apparently recommend skis we've never been on, I'll throw in a vote for the Mythic Riders.  However, I'm not sure they are particulary easy to ski.  I've read various posters who complain of not being able to "figure out" the ski.  So if the OP doesn't feel he is technically skilled, it might take some time for him to get used to the ski.  Nevertheless, it does seem a great ski for his circumstances.

Also, lukc, be less angry.

Actually have been on skis mentioned and the shotgun approach was used as a method to give the original poster some lee way in either direction depending on just how stiff/soft and wide/narrow he might want to go. Many skis were not mentioned becasue I don't have experience with them. Judging by your willingness to hate you are either a rep or some faggot poster that needs this shit to uphold your fragile self-esteem. Way to go you can definitely feel good about yourself today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukc 

 

 

i HIGHLY doubt you have actually been on almost ANY (IF any) of those skis on your list. to me, it looks like you're just fanboying a bunch of "in" skis/companies that you probably don't know much/anything about because it's cool. did you seriously just recommend the momment m1 to the sam person that you just recommended a prophet 90 to? i just had my buddy who skis like 5 days a year buy prophet 90's and he likes 'em a lot. do you KNOW what would happen if i put him on an m1 (easily one of, if not THE stiffest skis that you can even BUY?) he'd be nothing but a splatter against the side of some car in the parking lot...

 

your list sucked because it:

 

1) INCLUDED random, LARGELY (to the point of gratuitousness... not just in the "more than one way to skin a cat" way...) disparate skis on it (with extra hate dropped for obvious fanboying)

 

2) OMITTED so many OBVIOUS skis within each cattegory (which probably isn't fair of me to say, since the list was never uniform enough to make it clear WHAT category you were even suggesting)

Quote:

Originally Posted by evonitzer 

 

And since we can apparently recommend skis we've never been on, I'll throw in a vote for the Mythic Riders.  However, I'm not sure they are particulary easy to ski.  I've read various posters who complain of not being able to "figure out" the ski.  So if the OP doesn't feel he is technically skilled, it might take some time for him to get used to the ski.  Nevertheless, it does seem a great ski for his circumstances.

 

Also, lukc, be less angry.

The Mythic is versatile and easy to use. Like all versatile skis It does not have a huge WOW factor, but it's a solid choice and a huge upgrade over the Salomon's the OP is now using.

The ski is a outstanding deal. 

Michael

Yeah, superb deal and nice skis even though not an obvious choice for off-piste/backcountry skiing. But Lukc never met a Dynastar he didn't want to marry. So all good, and all done.

But Missoulajeff, unclear what you mean by "backcountry." Sidebounds? OB? Do you hike for your turns? Skin? Shuffle home? If yes to any of these, then in one trip you'll tire of horsing the weight around beneath the snow (not light skis even for alpines, and pretty skinny for heavy powder) and/or the blisters from trying to do it in alpine boots, and/or the falls from hiking in plastic soles. The solution is more AT suitable gear that still works on groomed. Some of which Summerteeth listed before he got pit-bulled by Lukc. 

Or let's say you let your enthusiasm get the best of you, and what you really mean is that you like to explore inbounds, and you like powder. The MR's will be closer to the mark then, but there are a bunch of candidates in the 90-100 range that would be better in soft snow and virtually as good on groomed. In all honesty, defining a mid-fat as 80-90 is kinda old school; nowadays a lot of folks consider fat skis to start at 110. I use my 105 waist Goats as a one-ski quiver out west, They're fine. Not as good on hardpack as the MR's, but a whole lot better than any 88 when it really snows. Or hustling though glades. So depends on what you're actually hoping for.

So enjoy your MR's, which are excellent sticks, you'll probably want to keep them forever as a 70/30 do-it-all, but meanwhile go visit TGR and read up on what other folks who like soft snow and chutes actually ski. It ain't midfats. 

Thanks Beyond,

To clarify I bought these skis for lift server skiing. Although I do tend to do a lot of traversing etc.. But I have an AT set-up for true back-country. So the weight shouldn't be a problem at all.

Thanks to the lead to the TGR site. I am also looking for a new (lighter) AT ski and I could see getting more than one ski for lift served soon as well. Fatter and more pow / steeps specific I think.

Missoula Jeff

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyond 

But Lukc never met a Dynastar he didn't want to marry.

quoted for truth. my whole life i was mostly a k2 guy, but as i started to do less park and to really progress my freeriding, i turned to volkl based on all the reviews i had read. but, while their stuff was never BAD, i just did NOT get the hype about them. well, last year i was able to demo a lot and buy used gear cheap and flip it with little loss. i must've ridden on 25-30 different pairs of skis last season, from k2, volkl, line, rossignol, salomon, atomic, pm gear, and... DYNASTAR! i was hooked. the build quality, durability, and performance that i got were all what i had been told to expect from VOLKL, but they just weren't there. oddly enough, dynastar was like the ONE company i never even thought to CONSIDER over the almost 20 years i've been skiing, but after trying out FIVE of their models, i'm always just... impressed. it is the ONLY company i would buy from on reputation alone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyond 

The solution is more AT suitable gear that still works on groomed. Some of which Summerteeth listed before he got pit-bulled by Lukc. 

ARF! ARF! ARF! ARF!

but seriously... you make many good points, and i never said that summerteeth listed bad SKIS. plenty of them on there would be good considerations. but if you are just going to LIST several skis, some of which that are suitable for advanced intermediates and will HELP you ski better and others that are only for the most hardened of experts and will try to KILL you, then you should at LEAST qualify which each ski is

Quote:

Originally Posted by missoulajeff 

Well, thanks to all, I threw down for the Mythic R.s

Honestly, for that kind of money I can feel comfortable that if I hate them, I can sell them to a buddy and move on to another ski!

 

BTW, closing day today at little ole Montana Snowbowl was off the hook. Sunny, incredible spring skiing conditions and still deep almost everywhere, and lots of nearly naked costumed tele chicks ripping up the snow. A great way to end the season.

 

Thanks again,

Jeff

You'll love them - without any doubt. If you hate them, there's something seriously wrong with you .
 

One of the best one-quiver skis ever made. I have 172 for SLC and CO, and 178's at Whistler, and they abso-freaking-lutely rock Have fun.