If I were to pick up a pair of (race stock) race ski as a toy to ski in the east, would you suggest a 165 SL or a 191 GS?
10/23/09 at 9:07am
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Race Ski as a toy, SL or GS?
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Race Ski as a toy, SL or GS?
10/23/09 at 9:18am
T'were me, I'd do the Slalom ski. That's a ski that you could use all day including skiing on a crowded trail. (Assuming of course that you have enough turns in your turn bank) As much fun as a GS would be, I think you'd find yerself having to break off the carve too often in order to miss the moving traffic hazards.
SJ
SJ
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10/23/09 at 9:21am
- Joined: September 2006
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My vote would be SL. You get more for your money. I takes a lot of room to really enjoy a GS ski.
JF
JF
"Apparently, a person who dives headfirst down an icy cliff wearing a spandex jumpsuit is supposed to celebrate with a nice glass of tea."
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10/23/09 at 9:22am
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Can there be anything more fun than skiing icy bumps on a well-tuned race stock SL ski? Well, yes, but still. It is fun.
Control. Freedom is control.
10/23/09 at 9:26am
+1 SL
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10/23/09 at 10:02am
- Joined: January 2009
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SL, I don't feel comfortable skiing on my GS skis anywhere with people around at the speed and turn radius they're built for.
10/23/09 at 10:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by philcski 
SL, I don't feel comfortable skiing on my GS skis anywhere with people around at the speed and turn radius they're built for.
SL, I don't feel comfortable skiing on my GS skis anywhere with people around at the speed and turn radius they're built for.
Agree. A true GS ski really locks you in to fast big arcs. You need lots of room to use them properly. A good SL ski can turn a boring hill into a real rollercoaster ride.
10/23/09 at 10:13am
- Joined: December 2007
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Why not find some early season deals and get both?
10/23/09 at 10:15am
Phil, if you have Head this year, I highly recommend the RD SL.
10/23/09 at 10:18am
- Joined: July 2002
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SL, unless you can really bend a GS ski into a tight arc. Bear in mind that the race stock GS ski will take a LOT more effort to ski well than the race stock SL ski.
I would not call a race stock GS ski a "toy".
I would not call a race stock GS ski a "toy".
10/23/09 at 10:24am
Agree on the SL talk. Here's my perspective. I have access to yearly top end hand-off to dad skis from my son. Back when the GS skis were a 21-22m radius ski, they were reasonable skiable, particularly when things were buffed and the hill was pretty empty {like mid week}. Home hill has a lot of cruising {race} terrain. When the radius moved to 27m, for me at least, they became pretty useless. They are designed to carve huge turns, at high speed. Sure you can skid them all over the place, but that's not much fun. Last year my son was giving me the old man treatment, so I jumped on a pair of 195 27m GS skis. Never again. I could make two turns in a row before bailing. They're a one trick pony, and the trick isn't free skiing.
Now the SL skis can be fun, but again if you're skiing them the right way, and trying carving the turns, all they want to do is turn, turn, turn more, etc. The really don't like to run very straight, and they are really happy on edge rather than being flat. But on some "hardpack" days, they are a lot of fun, and rock solid. And you can ski them at a pretty fast speed. As my kids got older, and the basic FIS course sets changed, I've been blown away by how fast men's GS in particular can be. I think it was two years ago at the Utah carnival that they had a radar gun out for kicks, and in GS the guys were timing at 50mph +.
SL, or older GS.
Now the SL skis can be fun, but again if you're skiing them the right way, and trying carving the turns, all they want to do is turn, turn, turn more, etc. The really don't like to run very straight, and they are really happy on edge rather than being flat. But on some "hardpack" days, they are a lot of fun, and rock solid. And you can ski them at a pretty fast speed. As my kids got older, and the basic FIS course sets changed, I've been blown away by how fast men's GS in particular can be. I think it was two years ago at the Utah carnival that they had a radar gun out for kicks, and in GS the guys were timing at 50mph +.
SL, or older GS.
10/23/09 at 10:34am
- Joined: May 2009
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I'd say an an older 21+m 175 GS ski. A new 27+m 191 is a LOT of ski. Muleski sums it up pretty well.
A SL ski is going to require a lot of attention; i.e. a lot of turns. You'll be exhausted after one run if you ski them the way they ought to be skied. They won't be forgiving in the least. You won't be able to predictably smear turns when needed, such as to avoid another skier.
MR
A SL ski is going to require a lot of attention; i.e. a lot of turns. You'll be exhausted after one run if you ski them the way they ought to be skied. They won't be forgiving in the least. You won't be able to predictably smear turns when needed, such as to avoid another skier.
MR
10/23/09 at 11:03am
These will be as a trade for some other skis, now do I get the SL's or use the $$ for snow tire rims that I need.
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10/23/09 at 11:12am
- Joined: September 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Philpug
These will be as a trade for some other skis, now do I get the SL's or use the $$ for snow tire rims that I need.
These will be as a trade for some other skis, now do I get the SL's or use the $$ for snow tire rims that I need.
No brainer, skis over rims everytime.
JF
"Apparently, a person who dives headfirst down an icy cliff wearing a spandex jumpsuit is supposed to celebrate with a nice glass of tea."
David Fehrety on Bode Millers 60 minutes interview
10/23/09 at 12:21pm
I would say "go for the GS skis and I'll take the SLs off your hands".
Seriously I have a pair of 165 race stock slaloms and find them to be extremely versatile as long as the snow is groomed and/or relatively hard which is almost always the case in the East unless you're going into the woods. They are awfully heavy with all that metal in them which may be why they seem to be surprisingly stable at speed. They do want to be on edge but long turns, medium turns, short turns are all fine. Put them on edge and really crank and of course you will get a short carved turn but you can smear them if you want. They do reward you if your habitual movement patterns are correct. They are not what I would call sloppy, unresponsive skis which can be a drawback if that is what makes you comfortable. My only reservation would be if the person contemplating acquiring them were a light person. These skis might overpower some one without the weight and strength al though some mfr's SLs may be softer than others.
Seriously I have a pair of 165 race stock slaloms and find them to be extremely versatile as long as the snow is groomed and/or relatively hard which is almost always the case in the East unless you're going into the woods. They are awfully heavy with all that metal in them which may be why they seem to be surprisingly stable at speed. They do want to be on edge but long turns, medium turns, short turns are all fine. Put them on edge and really crank and of course you will get a short carved turn but you can smear them if you want. They do reward you if your habitual movement patterns are correct. They are not what I would call sloppy, unresponsive skis which can be a drawback if that is what makes you comfortable. My only reservation would be if the person contemplating acquiring them were a light person. These skis might overpower some one without the weight and strength al though some mfr's SLs may be softer than others.
10/23/09 at 12:59pm
- Joined: May 2007
- Post Count: 16
Try the Blizzard GSR 181, it has a turning radius of 19, and should be more versatile than a short radius SL. I have a pair for my hard pack days and they are awesome.
10/23/09 at 1:26pm
- Joined: October 2009
- Post Count: 16
the SL race stock is a fun ski. a 191 rd gs is scary most of the time! I like some of the high end carvers like the head supershape line up. they are a laminate ski and give you the feel of a race ski but less intense. race stock skis are for pushing it all the time, sometimes its nice to rest. check out this pair i have on my eye for a ripping carving ski. http://www.levelninesports.com/head-hello-sweden-railflex-skis-170cm-p-6151.html
the 165 sl is some fun too!
think snow
the 165 sl is some fun too!
think snow
10/23/09 at 1:54pm
- Joined: September 2007
- Location: England
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newfydog
Agree. A true GS ski really locks you in to fast big arcs. You need lots of room to use them properly. A good SL ski can turn a boring hill into a real rollercoaster ride.
Agree. A true GS ski really locks you in to fast big arcs. You need lots of room to use them properly. A good SL ski can turn a boring hill into a real rollercoaster ride.
my thoughts exactly
10/23/09 at 2:26pm
- Joined: June 2001
- Post Count: 4,245
I think Phil misses his Metrons.
10/23/09 at 2:32pm
- Trekchick
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I'd say SL's(didn't you have fun on the Blizzard Mag SL's when you had them?) then save up a couple bucks and buy a dictionary. 
Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy
10/23/09 at 3:02pm
SL
10/23/09 at 3:16pm
It would be these...
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10/23/09 at 3:38pm
give those to me..........I'll give you some fun skis!
10/23/09 at 3:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iriponsnow
give those to me..........I'll give you some fun skis!
give those to me..........I'll give you some fun skis!
Whatcha got?
Click. Point. Chute.
10/23/09 at 3:45pm
- Joined: March 2007
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Phil, Phil, Phil
You are a GS skier, I don't think you'd ever be happy with a SL (unless you plan to ski Blue). I love the Blizzard Mag SL's that you sold me, but, as I plan to do a racing series this year and have an alternative SL ski, the GS looks good to me.
You are a GS skier, I don't think you'd ever be happy with a SL (unless you plan to ski Blue). I love the Blizzard Mag SL's that you sold me, but, as I plan to do a racing series this year and have an alternative SL ski, the GS looks good to me.
10/23/09 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by slider
I think Phil misses his Metrons.
hehe
And I just sold mine, I wish he had said something sooner!
Pilote Custom Skis. Skis for you.
10/23/09 at 5:30pm
I will take the contrary view.
Get a GS race ski.
A SL ski will only arc a turn up to a certain radius, and you will want to be skiing fast enough to be making turns with a greater radius. The result is that you will be skiing a SL ski at GS speeds in GS turns.
Besides, a one-step-down from race SL turns well enough at SL speeds (at least my Fischer WC SCs do if you only weight 165 lbs).
Get a GS race ski.
A SL ski will only arc a turn up to a certain radius, and you will want to be skiing fast enough to be making turns with a greater radius. The result is that you will be skiing a SL ski at GS speeds in GS turns.
Besides, a one-step-down from race SL turns well enough at SL speeds (at least my Fischer WC SCs do if you only weight 165 lbs).
10/23/09 at 5:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philpug
If I were to pick up a pair of (race stock) race ski as a toy to ski in the east, would you suggest a 165 SL or a 191 GS?
If I were to pick up a pair of (race stock) race ski as a toy to ski in the east, would you suggest a 165 SL or a 191 GS?
Phil, phil, PHIL!
You work in a ski shop. You have bookoo connections on top of that. I would suggest BOTH! SL for early days when the big hill might not be open and for mid day on busy days. Then, have the GS for early and late high speed cruising. Why on earth wouldn't you want to have both a GS and a SL? You'll also want the SL on really icy days and the GS for NASTAR runs. In case you aren't catching my subtle hint
BOTH!
Smell that? Winter's coming!
10/23/09 at 5:56pm
- Trekchick
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Keep in mind that Phil has all kinds of big TR skis that he enjoys on a regular basis. An SL will fill a hole in his quiver and give him a completely different ski.
Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
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