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Gotamas or the s7

post #1 of 15
4/12/12 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 

I am a midwest skier that gets to the mountains one or two weeks a year.  5'10" and 190 lbs. Good skier, When I ski SLC area I look for the powder and trees. Failing that I like to spend some time on steep chutes - "think Baldy chute at Alta.  However, the snow gods do not always smile on me so I will often spend considerable time on groomers. 

I presently ski an older Gotama (the white one at about 180 in length) and like it. I am thinking about tapping into the newer rocker technology and narrowed the search down to some new Goats or the Rossi s7.   Looking for some comments on how they compare in personality/strengths/weaknesses and opinions on how they would fit the "one ski to take to the mountains" requirement. 

Thanks

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post #2 of 15
4/12/12 at 3:51pm

Haven't skied the rockered Goats, owned a slew of the non-rockered ones, own a S7. If it's between those two skis, suggest that they're answering two different questions. The  S7 is the archetypal fun ski, surprisingly good on groomers and in bumps, superb in trees, fine in crud as long as you don't push it. But: not a speed machine, not stable enough for maching, and a vague tail. Heavy. A lot of skis offer more stability with rocker, starting with the Super7, but nothing IMO is a much fun goofing in tight places. 

 

The rockered Goat has its advocates, not including me, because it changed radically from the non-rockered version, which was an all-mountain ski. But I'd assume it's a more serious ski than the S7, stiffer, lighter, more stabile, not as surfy, not as good in bumps, but much better blasting through chopped up bowls, more planted feeling. Probably more energy and pop from the torsion box. Seems like two different skis for two different missions. Maybe you need to decide what you're after, make some priorities. 

 

If you're not wedded to these two, many many good alternatives, too. 

 

 

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post #3 of 15
4/12/12 at 7:34pm
Thread Starter 

Beyond - Thanks for the insights.

 

I think I dropped this in the wrong form, so I copied it and put it in the gear discussion form also.

 

I am not wedded to the Goats or s7's, but these seemed to have a dedicated following.   You mentioned other good alternatives as the One Ski "not to rule them all" but at least the one to lug with when I ski the mountains in search of powder, but often get stuck with the locals leave me. 

 

Mind dropping a few more suggestions with a short characterization of them.

 

Thanks

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post #4 of 15
4/16/12 at 9:55am

I live in Minnesota and ski almost identical to you >> one or two weeks a year, always in Utah, almost exclusively at Alta looking for powder in  the chutes and trees.  Went from a white Goat in a 183 to the original JJ in a 175 >> nirvana.  However, as you point out, the snow gods can be indifferent and the JJ's get a little tiresome if the gap since the last snow stretches past 4 or 5 days.  So, went looking for something that would make the couple-days-after conditions more enjoyable >> lots of reading and PMing about BMX98s, ON3P Jeffreys, Blizzard Bushwacker, 4FRNT Turbo and Nordica Steadfast before pulling the trigger on some Armada TSTs.  You could start with that list; there are numerous reviews and comments here and on TGR.  Have fun and good luck.  

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post #5 of 15
11/2/12 at 7:17pm

If  you're a fan of the old goats, stay with the new goats. The s7's have a much shorter turn radius and don't ski like them at all.

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post #6 of 15
11/2/12 at 9:55pm

I have owned the old Gotama (2 of 'em), the S7 (2 years), skied the new Gotama a lot along with about 120 other skis a year. Here are my impressions......(cliff notes version)

 

  • Old Gotama: Wonderful daily driver ski for most days where I live (Tahoe) good for anything between bulletproof and 24" deep.
  • New Gotama: Better in deepish snow, worse in everything else.
  • S7: Superb powder ski, possibly state of the current art (or close) for that, less than ideal on days with no new snow.

 

SJ

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post #7 of 15
11/8/12 at 11:11pm

S7 all the way!  Gotama feels really soft and if you are in mixed snow, doesn't hold up well. S7 can be a little squirrley, but much more predictable in chop, and more stable at speed.  The new Goat felt like it was asking me to struggle, the S7 allowed me to open things up with confidence.  

 

I would also throw the new Blizzard Gunsmoke in there.  

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post #8 of 15
11/9/12 at 8:55am

Above two Bears really know their skis, heed their advice.   My less knowlegable opinion:  My S7's 188 are my "over 5 inches ski" otherwise on my Blizzard Bonafides (also a rocker) 180 that I love on groomers, frozen whatever etc., the inland PNW usual dust on crust or 2-3 inches of good powder.

 

In the powder I absolutely love the S7's.  They are playful, very easy to turn, smear or ride.  I have no problem with their stability at speed.  They are really good in the trees.  As an example heres how they changed me in the trees:   Prior to S7's, looked for the gap and then where I was going to set up and turn to make that gap.  On S7's:  See the gap, shoot it-no set up place or time just do it and that goes for big gaps or very small gaps, even where you better have your arms/poles in and even turn your shoulders a little lateral.  Can't really say enough good things about the S7's.

 

The good news is you can afford new skis, the bad news is you don't get to use them enough.

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post #9 of 15
11/9/12 at 9:35am

I had the gold goats and now have the 2012 version.  I'm usually in the same camp as SJ but in this case I disagree because I very much like the newest version of the goat (2012 and 2013 are the same).  When they first went to that shallow full rocker (Volkl calls it ELP) that version of the goat had a soft tail which felt very unstable to me but with the newest version its fixed and I really enjoy it.  This is a very versatle ski and for many skiers this could be a one ski quiver.  I also have the Super 7 in a 195 for the storm days and that ski is as much fun as you can have with glass and metal but as a one ski quiver I would look elsewhere.  If you do go that route don't be afraid of the Super version in the 188; the ski is very user friendly and skis short.  I'm also a big fan of the Katana and use it most days.  For a one ski quiver you should check out the 184 and also a very similar but more user friendly ski is the Elan Olympus/1010.  

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post #10 of 15
11/9/12 at 9:22pm

Why is this in a "review" forum and not in ski gear? Is there any review here?

 

 Like all the FS ads in the WTB or WTT forum. th_dunno-1[1].gif Seems simple, but apparently not.

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post #11 of 15
11/9/12 at 11:33pm

^^^^ Have noticed lately that we seem to be throwing on the towel on keeping the review forum for reviews. th_dunno-1[1].gif

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post #12 of 15
11/16/12 at 11:58am

If you can afford it, the S7 is the way to go.  Thing is, you can save a little money and buy the Armada JJ...very similar ski and can find better deals

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post #13 of 15
11/17/12 at 7:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by beyond View Post

^^^^ Have noticed lately that we seem to be throwing on the towel on keeping the review forum for reviews. th_dunno-1[1].gif


love the language glitch:  sounds like:  In Russia, when they not run lifts, we only throw on the towel. roflmao.gif

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post #14 of 15
11/17/12 at 7:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by surfski99 View Post

If you can afford it, the S7 is the way to go.  Thing is, you can save a little money and buy the Armada JJ...very similar ski and can find better deals

ya' think?

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post #15 of 15
11/17/12 at 7:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by snofun3 View Post

Why is this in a "review" forum and not in ski gear? Is there any review here?

 

 Like all the FS ads in the WTB or WTT forum. th_dunno-1[1].gif Seems simple, but apparently not.

Moved it.

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