All-Mountain Ski Advice

I love my PM Gear Lhasas for what you describe. My son loves his Praxis BC skis. Both ways, we've supported local companies that bring a lot to the ski scene.

It looks like you did some lurking before signing up today, good on ya; I did the same thing earlier this year.

 

In terms of what you think you want, your soft-to-hard choices would be something like:

 

-Fischer Watea 94/98/101 (I skied the 114s, I thought they were a ball on soft-to-groomers)

-S3

-Blizzard Bonafide

-Sultan 94

-Prophet 98

-Armada TST

-Nordica Enforcer

-Rossi Experience 98

 

Not sure where K2s fit in with any of that, what I know about them I can write on the inside of a matchbook with crayon.

 

Given your weight and family obligations, some of the 85mm (ish) skis might seem appealing as well, like the Sollie xt850 (see crudmaster's comprehensive reviews); at 180#, I ski the Kastle MX88s until it gets really powdery, then I look forward to my shiny new DPS RP112s.

 

You're looking for a really fun pair of skis in a category the ski makers are trying like hell to please you in.  If your original post is an accurate description of your ski-construction-priorities, you are looking for a slightly burlier bias.  

 

As far as length, with today's reduced running edge length thanks to rocker (tip, and also tip/tail), high 170/low 180 sounds about right.  In fact, a good do-it-all ski that lets you say FU to crud and still turn tightly and handle pow funly AND not look like a horse's ass on groomers might even be the Bonafide in 187...

 

The non-gapers should be along shortly to give you better advice, hope you got a chuckle in the meantime.

I had similar needs and demoed and loved the Dynastar Sultan 94.  Also liked the the Kastle MX88, but less "playful."  Haven't tried the other skis on your list.

The 98 is a great choice, but my caution on the s7 is if you were worried about the s3 being washy, then you may find the s7 no better. If your priority is forgiveness, ease of short skidded turns, and slow speed performance then look at the s7. If this doesn't sound like you, then there are other options out there. For instance, the nordica patron, helldorado or even the radict, the volkl shiro, the line pollards opus or influence 115, the blizzard bodacious, or even the super seven.

The patron and radict carve like a race ski, but float well and bust crud like champs. The helldorado is basically a stiffer and damper patron. The radict is stiffer and wider than the patron, but with out metal, it keeps the snappy response of the patron. Oh, don't forget the unleashed hell, which is a lightweight patron. Add 10cm length for the patron or u.h.

The Shiro is literally the best crud ski I have ever used. With full rocker, if you keep your weight centered, then it will roll over junk like a monster truck tire as long as you let the ski do the work. It is the second best in powder next to its big brother the kuro, but with more edge contact than the kuro it is more stable at speeds. Rips in powder but best at smoothing out the worst conditions.

The polards opus and the influence have similar shapes , but the opus has more sidecut and no metal. The influence is super stable and can be pushed hard, but with the rocker it is still easy at slow speeds. The opus is more bidirectional and is characterized by super fluid and playful performance, but shocking stability due to the tip profiling. Also, line's early taper shape puts more edge on the snow when you tip it while the s7 has less contact when on edge. What that means is that rossi is looser and easier to manipulate in a turn (i.e. skidding) while the lines are more precise and stable (i.e. carving).

The bodacious is a different sort of beast. Blizzards edge grip is absolutely unmatched and the stability and dampness is unreal. The ski has a tapered tip and a LONG sidecut. Essential a wide straight ski, but will skid a turn on a dime thanks to the rocker. If you like gs turns and don't mind using a little power over finesse this is your ski, but if you prefer the ski to do more of the work, the maybe not.

Here is your guide: if you...
Love the prophet->influence 115
Like it but wish it was more playful and fluid->pollards opus
Wish the prophet carved more like your nordica hotrod->patron, unleashed, helldorado radict
Wish the prophet was better in crud powder and tight spots but with a similar feel->shiro
Don't think the prophet is enough ski for you->bodacious
Wish the prophet was easier, more predictable, and less of a carver->s7

The best option is to get out and demo, but do it when you can find powder stashes, but not a powder day. That way you get the idea of powder performance, but still get a fair test on even snow.

 You won't be sorry. The Prophet 98 is a really fun, versatile ski. It's very well-suited for 85%+ of ski days where I ski. As a result, it'll be one ski that lives in my car all season long. 

 

Sierra Jim and skipunkx gave great advice.  Skipunkx-- Nice run down on some skis that don't get nearly enough attention here on Epic. You should chime in here more often.  

+1.  The P98 is a great choice for an everyday ski at Crystal and Stevens and it will migrate great to Whistler as well.  You'll be thrilled - and you'll probaby never ski your Nordies again. Pick up the powder board of your choice (after you have brought your wife on board with the program, of course) and you'll have any condition in the PNW covered.  But don't live in want. . . until then, the P98s will kill it in powder (especially our coastal snowpack) better than anything you've ever been on.

I skied Line prophet 100 for a little while and I really liked the versatility they offer, Ripped through every thing, Bumps, crud, groomers, trees..I liked them alot. Sold them because I had a connection with Nordica and bought some Steadfasts, they also rip through a lot of stuff, also have some Nordica patrones but they are more for deeper stuff, not the best in the bumps. But worked well everywhere else..

 

Line Prophet 100's

Nordica Steadfasts

 

my 2¢

Sound a lot like my dad, got him the line prophet 98s too. Seamed like a good choice, especially since he likes moguls and trees, compared to the bonafides

I SKI STEVENS  TWICE A WEEK. VOLKL MANTRAS OR KATANAS WORK GREAT THERE AND MOST NW RESORTS. I HAVE A PAIR OF KATANAS THAT ARE NEW  UP FOR SALE.