Looking for a charger in this width (80 to 90) - This will compliment current quiver of Bones (daily driver, but not first choice for dry spell periods - not quite as playful in bumps and trees, but decent), JJs (snow over 15 cm. skis well in trees, bumps, soft crud and steeps, but not well on hard and even worse on ice. playful with the ability to ski old carve or new school smear), Rossi/Atomic SL and GS race hand-me-ups from my race kids (use these when stuck at hill that only has man-made snow or for race training course that I periodically take - love the speed, precise control and g-forces on these - workable in bumps and chop, but really not what these are intended for. also want to keep the bases nice - so picky about where I take these skis). I also use a 178 Scott Mission as my rock ski, (really like this ski with the 14 meter radius - very playful ski, but getting rather beat up).
I want something that will rip the groomers, but also work well in crud, bumps and trees. This ski will be used on dry spell days when the snow is a bit hard, and will be doing groomers/bumps all day). Demoed the MX88 in a 178 last year and loved it, but was on hero snow that day - this ski is on my short list. Demoed the APEX in a 175? and didn't like it (perhaps wrong ski for the day and the hill - crusty hard conditions at Kicking Horse - skiing chutes, trees, etc with very variable snow - felt I over-skied the ski and was much happier when I switched to the Bones.) Although I looked for a ski in this category last year, I never made the leap.
I've read various reviews of the MX88 and 8.5 - both sound like what I'm looking for - Any thoughts or suggestions of others skis??
The days are getting shorter - time to think about skis, eh?
