2012 Blizzard Bonafide - Page 6

173 Bushwacker   7lbs .5oz  per pair  or 3189 grams
180 Bonafide        9lbs or 4108 grams
187 Bonafide        9lbs 8 oz  or 4309grams
 
All of the Freemountain skis have the same core.  It is a very lightweight core similar to what Dynafit uses with stringers of different woods and hybrid materials.

^^^^ thanks for that. I cross posted over at TGR too.

Philpug,

 

I saw on one of your posts that your shop would be carrying DPS skis.  How would you compare the Bonafide to the Wailer 95 pure or hybrid?

 

Thanks.

^^^^ Thanks.  I have been struggling with the cost/benefit ratio of the wailer.  The Bonafide sounds like it is probably a more versatile ski and with the roughly 500 dollars of savings I can almost buy half of a pair of mx78's.  

Better have another cup of coffee, Phil!

Unless you were touring (alot)I would see no point to getting the Wailer 95 over a bonafide.

Hiked and skied on the Bonnie Tues and Wed. Worked great in the Eastern and Western Sierra Soft Serve. A little on the heavy side, but not much more than my previous AT set-up or my resort set-ups. Handled well, very smooth. Buddy I was skiing with remarked that I seemed really comfortable and natural on them considering the terrain, conditions, and the fact that I had never skied them before. Methinks I'll be getting a pair...

I can't decide between the Bonafides, Bridge, or Armada TST for my east coast daily driver

 

6'1 215, aggressive skier 

I am in the same place. I have read every review on both skis and I am pretty torn which way to go. At 5'10"/190, I am thinking 187 Bonafide or 183 TST.  TST is a twin tip, so likely a quicker turner than the Bonafide.  TST is a touch wider underfoot at 102, which I like and appears to have a touch more rocker/ early rise than the Bonafide for better plaining in pow.  The next purchase is for a daily driver at Mammoth to go between my 178 Sultan 85's and my 196 Lhasa Pows.  As I can't demo either, at least I found a local store that will have the TST in stock in August???  Wish I could fondle them both before deciding.

Correct dimensions on the TST: 183cm: 119/132/102/123 (16.8m)

Great review on TST:  http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/211141-Review-183-Armada-TST

 

Edited by liv2 ski - 7/8/11 at 5:42am

I would think for the east coast the bonafide would be a little better. From what I remember growing up in VT you generally have firmer conditions and when the powder does come it generally on the heavier side. The metal in the Bonafide will give you better edge grip on the firmer snow and the ski will probably plow through the thicker pow/crud a little better. I'm assuming the TST doesn't have much metal but I couldn't find exact info anywhere. I think out west the TST would be a great ski and I've heard nothing but good things about it. I would say the biggest difference is the amount of tip rocker in the TST versus the Bonafide.

There are a ton of skis in the "all mountain ripper" category and it's become a chore picking one out.... sadly I can't demo too many skis in Southie. 

 

Basically I've narrowed it down to the K2 Hardside, TST, and Mantra

 

everything I read about the TST is that it rips in everything... The Hardside appears to be a fine option as well.. The Mantras have a softer tail, tip rocker, and slightly more underfoot.. but the knock on the Mantra's is that they are super stiff and not very playful. . I'm not sure about being a 2012 model guinea pig. 

 

most of my skiing is in the trees, and on east coast bumpy rocky, tracked out, technical steeps. 

 

TST seems like the choice... If I'm skiing icy boilerplate it's not by choice and I'm not looking to make the best of it. .. the only thing that spooks me on the TST is the Rocker.. it seems like a LOT of rocker compared to something like the Hardside, Mantra, Shogun, or Bonafide 

 

as superficial as it sounds, I've completely ruled out the Bonafides because the graphics are terrible... I gotta look at them every day on the mountain and that bull design looks like sound kind of Energy Drink or Nascar logo. .. I'm not a young kid trying to look cool, but those Blizzard graphics are cheese. 

 

I'm also slightly loyal to Armada as I had a great 5 year run on my ARV's. 

 

 

I'm getting the 187 Bonafide's

 

the reports are just too solid and the specs are just too perfect for my style of skiing and preferred/regional terrain.   

 

I've come to grips with the graphics.. 

 

Put me squarely in the group that cares a hell of a lot more about performance than top sheets... I agree maybe the bull isn't a "timeless" look but it's not that bad, either.

NVM 

Edited by fza2001 - 8/4/11 at 2:20pm

alexzn, since you have been on the Dynastar 105s and the Bonafide, pretend you have both.

Which skis would you grab for what kind of conditions and skiing....powder, cutup, "schlop"?

Trees, chutes, wide open bowls?

If you read this, Thanks.

I think that in the end, the graphics are far less important than the ski. And as I sit here in my study typing this and staring at the new Bonafides that I picked up today since it is tax free weekend here in Massachusetts (& my first issue of Powder was delivered yesterday), the graphics appear to be a non-issue. And, the colors seem to match the colors of my Technica Inferno Blaze boots, which might be more of an issue for some than the graphics of the ski.

For what it is worth, I opted for the 173 length, since my skiing takes place in the tight trees of Sugarbush, and my present ski is a Line Prophet 100 in 172 length. The longer lengths that you western skiers seem to choose would not work for this 5'9" 62 year old eastern skier. I will probably have Marker Griffon's mounted on them. Now I just have to wait out the 3 months +\or so until opening day.

Stan

Is that a California thing?

 

My jacket is blue and yellow. But the Bonafide's match the new boots I purchased last season & no planning of any type went into this.

How have the Cochise and Bodacious been doing?  I know you've pre-sold at least one pair of the Cochise.  ;-)
 

 

I believe Alexz has hit it on the head with his comment that the LP 105, Armada TST or Bonafide will rock for a good skier.  I have a few pairs of Dstars, so I want to change it up a tad. While the Bone sounds like an awesome ski, I like to ride something everyone else isn't on. That along with the outstanding reviews, the JJ tip and the 17m turn radius in a 183 ski and I ordered my TST's today. Fugly graphic, but everything else offsets that. To be reviewed sometime in December?

 

Edit: Just received the TST's today.  Stoked on the build quality and the graphics look better in person.  With the significant early tip rise/rocker, I can see how they will turn on a dime and likely rock da bumps.  Nice solid flex pattern, come on winter.

 

Edited by liv2 ski - 8/17/11 at 5:06pm

Along Philpug's train of thought (retail instinct), a complementary outfit for the Bonafide might be wild.

Swirls and some barber pole action.  Dynastar 105s.... Creamsicle.

Edited by John J - 8/15/11 at 4:58pm

With Labor day right around the corner it's time to start thinkin' skiin' again...

 

So I'm in a debate on length for the Bones.  I'm leaning toward the 187cm, but I'm wondering if the dimensions are identical to the 180cm.  I think I saw somewhere that the 187cm is listed with a 21.5m sidecut radius which is surprising given that the 180cm has a 21.0m.  So can someone look at an actual pair of 187s and confirm the dimensions?

 

I tested the 180 a few times and loved it, but when I look at my quiver and think about when and where I would use the Bones I think that the 187 is actually the better fit.

 

TIA

The 187 do have a 21.5 meter raduis. They turn tight.