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The right ski for current Vail / B.C conditions.

post #1 of 9
3/10/12 at 7:18am
Thread Starter 

    I am headed to Vail/B.C. March 12th for a week. (Coming from the East Coast.) I was planning on skiing off piste.  I have a New pair of Fischer Watea 94 with Marker Griffon bindings, unmounted. Was planning on bringing them with me. Given the current conditions and the forecast of clear skies and mid 40's I am not sure I should bother. Not sure its the right ski. It's easy enough to demo! Since I haven't skied these yet, I am looking for a few opinions.

 

  I picked the wrong year to plan a few ski trips, buy new skis and snow tires. Go figure!

Thanks!!!

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post #2 of 9
3/10/12 at 7:24am
I'm not sure I understand why you'd need a different ski for Vail. Take what you normally ski.
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post #3 of 9
3/10/12 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 

I normally only demo. I have never skied the Watea's. It's my first owned ski in 20 years. They are said to favor soft snow conditions. Not sure that what I am going to find.

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post #4 of 9
3/10/12 at 3:38pm

Right now Vail has spring conditions. Off piste will be difficult, not much powder. Any remaining powder will be heavy. You might find slush on top of frozen in the mornings. Off piste will be crud until next storm. Very warm now. The packed slopes are excellent.

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post #5 of 9
3/11/12 at 7:54am

We (colorado) are in a complete daily corn cycle. mount the watea's they will work perfect.

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post #6 of 9
3/11/12 at 8:06am

From your post, I suspect you are more a side-country skier than true b/c skier. Temperatures have been very warm, and down low (e.g. Vail) snow loss is very rapid. Vail sidecountry will be a mess.  For true b/c, avalanche danger is moderate, and we are starting to get wet slides TG, as there  is no bonded base due to lack of snow in early season. Yesterday had spring condiions below 12000 ft, slush/refreeze (depending on aspect) from about 12 to 12.5, and iron-hard windpack above 12.5.

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post #7 of 9
3/11/12 at 8:17am

I think the OP may have meant Beaver Creek, not Back Country.

 

I haven`t been to Vail in two weeks, but skied Beaver Creek last weekend and Keystone yesterday.  

 

I think you may like the 94 for the afternoons when things are soft.  For the mornings, I would prefer a narrower carver and stick more to the groomers until things soften up.

 

It has been a light snow year so far and with the melt off the last week, there is certain to be some edge/base unfriendly terrain exposed that you may or may not want to take a new pair of skis through.  At least with no new snow forecasted, most of the dirt/rocks will be visible (as opposed to the hidden surprises when you get 4" on top of it).

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post #8 of 9
3/12/12 at 2:19pm

Doh.

 

I'm going back into my cave now...

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post #9 of 9
3/12/12 at 2:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lloyd braun View Post

We (colorado) are in a complete daily corn cycle. mount the watea's they will work perfect.



x2 should be a fun ski. 

 

warmer temps mean bring the mid fatties! 

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