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Help with companion ski for MX88

post #1 of 16
10/17/11 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 

Hi, I'm 6'0", 44 years old, 175 lbs. I grew up racing in the East but now ski mostly at Whistler (and the interior mountains of BC). I ski a combination of black/double blacks at Whistler + groomed runs if there is less snow. My skiing style is probably on the more 'traditional' side.

 

Last year I demoed a lot of skis after my Metron B5s were stolen at Whistler. In the end, the MX88 was the best ski I tried - they seem to do everything well and are a great all around ski.

 

On the bigger Whistler days (where the snow isn't usually light and fluffy like the interior of BC), I'm having a little trouble on my MX88s and was thinking a bigger ski might help for those days. I'm looking for a ski with:

- Lots of stability in the broken up conditions which exist after the first hour or so at Whistler

- A ski where the tips are less likely to dive when the snow gets really deep

- A ski which is still fun to ski in soft moguls. Even when there is lots of fresh snow, there is often a mogul section on the way to the powder and I still want to enjoy skiing it

- I don't want to ski down to the car at 10:30am when the powder is gone to get my other pair of skis (I have friends who do this).

- Enough manuverability to feel a bit more confident in the trees.

- I don't want to make three large super high speed turns down the hill! I tend to make more short to medium radius turns.

 

I tried a pair of Atomic Access skis for a couple of days last year. While the tips didn't dive, I didn't find they were very stable in Whistler conditions.

 

After reading all the threads I could find, I think I have it down to:

- Cochise

- MX108 (similar to the Cochise from what I've read - I wonder which one is more manuverable)

- DPS 112 (more powder specific/lively/playful at the expense of stability?)

 

In Canada, they are all about the same price so this is not a factor. It is a little harder to demo skis for these conditions as they don't occur all the time. In addition, some of these skis look like they will sell out early.

 

Can anyone recommend one of the three over the others for me?

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

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post #2 of 16
10/17/11 at 7:41pm

The MX88 could be the best cornerstone ski on the market or many ever? I would suggest the DPS 112 as the complement, especially for the wacky snow conditions you get at Whistler. The second choice would be the BMX108 (out of the skis you mentioned)

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post #3 of 16
10/18/11 at 3:51am

I'd take a look at the Kastle FX104. That is a ski that actually is pretty fun to ski in bumps, and does really well in the crud and powder. It has no rocker, but I didn't miss it when I demoed.

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post #4 of 16
10/18/11 at 2:41pm
I am looking at exactly the same thing , I have the MX88 in 168 cm, and my short list for wider ski to go with it is the DPS 112 RP,the DPS 105, the FX104 and the White dot director,
I find the same as the OP that the 88's struggle to stay up in heavy snow condition, but I am unsure of how much longer to go if I move up to a much wider ski, I am 5'6" and 165lbs
I ski all over the alps , but am off to japan this winter , and so want something for the powder there that will work in normal European mix.
Apologies for jumping in on the thread but hope the answers will help us both:D
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post #5 of 16
10/18/11 at 8:06pm

I own the MX88, agree with Phil it may be the best "cornerstone ski" (great phrase) ever. Also agree for Whistler that the BMX108 would work, especially if you have a racing background. Cannot speak to the 112 since I haven't skied it yet. But IMO, why not something a touch wider? Prior or ON3P make great skis that are truly optimized for NW powder. The Prior Overlord is like a S7 on steroids; still quick, but smoother and calmer in junk and at speeds that makes a S7 jumpy. Perfect for the back bowls. I have not skied the Billy Goat, but could see it for the chutes and steeps, would be better than the Overlord in the trees. The new Jaguar Shark from Moment or the Caylor from ON3P also look to be a great big mountain powder blasters, deep enough sidecut to navigate groomers, but major cajones for the big upper faces. OTOH, there's the J.S. graphic. Which may be the flat out nightmarish I've seen since the Evil Clowns...YMMV

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post #6 of 16
10/19/11 at 4:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by beyond View Post

 But IMO, why not something a touch wider? Prior or ON3P make great skis that are truly optimized for NW powder. 


Because he put in the part about "good in bumps"?

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post #7 of 16
10/19/11 at 9:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by epic View Post

Because he put in the part about "good in bumps"?


Yeah, yeah, I know. But the bumps in question are not like Goat, and he doesn't need to ski them like you do. Note he also put in a part about "Lots of stability in the broken up conditions which exist after the first hour or so..." And wonders if the 112 is too playful at the expense of stability. Not asking for much, huh?

 

Whistler bumps and trees were fine with several 115-ish skis I've tried there over the last few seasons. S7's the best, predictably, with my turny style, but not the best on the glaciers or Flute. Obviously on a 115 you do relaxed pivoting, smearing, rolling, not zippering bumps between shoulder width trees. (As if I could.) And Do Work swears by the Bill Goats for your neck of the woods. Some if this, for me, is whether a move from 88 to 108 mm is going to produce a dramatic enough change to justify the $$ for a soft snow ski. th_dunno-1[1].gif

 

 

 

 

 

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post #8 of 16
10/19/11 at 10:17am

The 108 was my go-to ski on the deeper days last year.  I did obtain an BMX128 as well, but it was so wide that it was overkill unless the snow was super heavy, almost unskiable on other skis.  The 108 rocked for me on the plentiful deep days we had last year. The Super S7 was fun too, favored a more finesse-style of skiing, the 108 is more of a big-mountain driven-hard ski, which is what you would expect considered that it is the Huge-o model.  One of my teammates used to be a pro freeskier on the comp circuit, lived in SLC for a few years and skied with many of those guys every day; he was telling me who had input on which ski, their skiing style, and why each ski seems to ski so much differently, depending on the background of the skier and their style and movements.   As far as being good in bumps: the 108 in the shorter length is easy to ski in bumps: in 187cm at my size, you have to be on the thing, as it is a lot of ski. The S7 was a little sketchy in bumps; the tip wasn't that predictable and it felt spoony there. I am sure you could get used to it, but probably there are better bump skis out there. The Cochise is the best of the 3 in bumps.  You could look at the Atomic Bent as well; that is a really fun ski!  Haven't skied the DPS enough to really say.

 

Lots of good choices in this category. If you like the power and feel of a Kastle, then no reason to deviate.  That 128 is sick, you will ski faster than you ever have in deep snow, but you may get bored, as it is like riding a snowboard at times.  I mostly picked it up to handle the wet heavy snow we get here; once it came, we only got blower pow and cold storms!   

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post #9 of 16
10/19/11 at 11:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by beyond View Post

Yeah, yeah, I know. But the bumps in question are not like Goat, and he doesn't need to ski them like you do. Note he also put in a part about "Lots of stability in the broken up conditions which exist after the first hour or so..." And wonders if the 112 is too playful at the expense of stability. Not asking for much, huh?

 



Well, I figure there is a continuum between doesn't suck too bad at bumps (S7) and is fun in bumps (104). FWIW - I skied the FX104 enough to decide that I wanted the FX94 for Goat even though I really really liked the 104, it was a little clunky in icy sharp Goat bumps.

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post #10 of 16
10/19/11 at 1:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by epic View Post

Well, I figure there is a continuum between doesn't suck too bad at bumps (S7) and is fun in bumps (104). FWIW - I skied the FX104 enough to decide that I wanted the FX94 for Goat even though I really really liked the 104, it was a little clunky in icy sharp Goat bumps.



Yeah, that 104 is a pretty beefy ride. The 94 really impressed for someone my weight, as did the LX92. Unfortunately, it comes in a bit short length.

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post #11 of 16
10/21/11 at 1:31pm
Sorted , found a pair of 2011 mx 108 177's in the sale rail at the London ski show:)
Having them fitted with quiver killers and then off to the alps in December to try them out
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post #12 of 16
10/21/11 at 1:52pm

Ok. Officially jealous.

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post #13 of 16
10/21/11 at 8:41pm

I would vote any of the three, I would ski on any of the three you are considering.

 

Strangely, my everyday ski this year is the FX 104, but that is more of big version of the MX 88.

 

My powder ski the BMX 108, sure, only 4mm wider but totally different construction and rocker profile, softer, with early rise-

same with the RP 112, and the Blizzard, you will be happy with any of them.

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post #14 of 16
7/28/12 at 6:45pm

I have some new Blizzard Cochise 185cm (2011/2012) version.  PM me if still looking and interested.

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post #15 of 16
7/29/12 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by NyYeti View Post

I have some new Blizzard Cochise 185cm (2011/2012) version.  PM me if still looking and interested.

I thought you were just trying to buy a pair of 185 Cochise th_dunno-1[1].gif

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post #16 of 16
7/29/12 at 1:30pm

Yes, I was and found them.  Now I have 3  pairs.  Two pairs for sale at an awesome price, with free shipping!

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