Advice on mid-fat for 1 ski quiver

Me: 6'2" , 200 +, ski Japan/NZ/Oz/n. America.
Have used my im77's at all of the above places but my go to do everything ski now is the Volkl Mantra.
I mounted some railflex plates on them and used the tyrolia bindings that came with my monsters.
Makes them even more versatile as I can slip them off for travelling. in harder conditions and on piste, I have them set on the line, when its 50/50 variable conditions I have them back 1.5cm and when in deeper powder(Japan) i have them back 3cm behind the line.

I have just purchased some wider (109) skis for a trip to the NZ club fields in a few weeks but unless it starts puking down, I will re pack and take the Mantras.
Having said that, many lighter skiiers feel that the Mantras are too stiff.
Cheers

OP: Maybe "none of the above?" 

 

The Volkls are nice groomer and crud skis, but too stiff for a guy your size and not great pure powder skis. Have owned several Mantras. The Icelantics sem to have a lot of fans, but IMO are somewhat specialized, again not groomer skis. 

 

The Sollie Lord is a nice easy going intermediate to advanced ski that probably won't hold up to your demands. Cannot speak to the other.

 

The Prophet is a nice all-around, but kinda old design and not stupendous on groomers. Owned one. 

 

Armadas are a strong choice for powder, dubious about days then the weather doesn't deliver.

 

My alternatives to think on, no particular order but annotated to strengths, all biased toward soft snow, but all with the ability to deliver on groomers, all between 98 and 101, which is where you want to be, not 90-100:

 

1) Moment PB&J - Great all-around, B+ in everything, touch stiff if you like that

2) Blizzard Kabookie - Great all-around B+ in everything, bit softer and less rockered than the PB&J

3) Rossignol S3 - Best for tight spaces, cut-up or fresh, and bumps/trees, soft and rockered, so weakest on hardpack

4) Kastle BMX98 - Best at speed, on groomers, and in crud/variable, touch stiff for bumps, most traditional feel, most demanding

5) PM Bros 179 - Best for sidecountry and adventuring, lightest, so easy in bumps but can get knocked a bit at speed in crud, fairly stiff

6) Salomon Shogun - Best for actual powder, solid grip but not a short turn specialist, second most traditional feel, stabile but lively

Rossignol E98 - can do it all, fantastic ski.

wow, there's a ton of potential skis in this class!

 

Blizz Bushwacker comes to mind but Fujas may be an excellent option here. the S3 is a great ski too.  Armada TST. You may be able to find a pair of blizz' The ones

 

 

or even the Sickle or the SFB (althgough a bit on the wide side for you OP)

 

So many skis' 

The bushwacker has some rocker and should give better float. I also still believe the Flipcore is for real and I like the feel of that ski. It's a fun ski.  the Pilgrim is a good ski and also fun. I skied that for a couple of seasons. I just think the Bush is a better, more versatile ski.

 

dont rule out the S3 or the Fujas......

Salomon Shogun is a solid suggestion.  I picked up a new pair last year in a 173cm and I found it to be extremely versatile.  Perhaps not ideal in super deep pow but with a 100mm waist you can pretty much do anything.  My only complaint would be the cap construction.  Other than that they are a solid one ski quiver. 

A little off topic but just because I`m a little curious. Is it worth buying skis if you live in Brazil, so you can`t drive to any resort or ski area. So if you consider traveling with your gear boots+skis, plus maintenance for lets say a couple of weeks each year. Isn`t a better idea to rent skis and maybe have just your own boots? Not sure if air companies will charge for check-in ski bags but I`m assuming they would which make it eeven more expensive, not saying it can also hurt our equipment.

 

I would say you have though about that, also I have no idea what kinda gear is available at South America to rent, do they have current season skis or stuff that is at least not older than a couple of seasons?

Blizzard kabookie or Rossi Scimitar. Blizzard the one, if you can find them. 

PB&J, possibly the best one ski quiver created.

I ride "the one". I absolutely love them.

for me 3 years with one ski for all terrain:

 

Duret mountain 177               ...wonderful!

 

I demoed the Fischer Big Stix at Mt. Rose during last season's Epicski gathering. I think they were 98mm wide under foot. A great ski and worth adding to your demo list imo. 90 to 100mm for western N.A. should be the right width.

keep in mind he wants something on the softer side. The shogun big stix and many others are all good skis but they aren't what I would call softer ski's.

 

tops for me:

 

bushwacker

S3

Fujas.

The  One

^^^^ Yeah, I assumed you wanted a ski with a soft snow bias based on your intended uses. But you've mentioned concern for groomers enough now that I'll amend suggestions for a 98-ish, agree that the Bushwacker (or the upcoming Outland 87) might be perfect compromise. Just keep in mind that if you're in actual powder over 6-8", especially if it's got some water in it, you may need to do more work. Repeat after me: Life is full of tradeoffs. Skiing is part of life. Skiing is full of tradeoffs. One of the tradeoffs will be soft snow versus hard snow. 

 

At 101 underfoot I was kinda nervous about them too for use in the bumps, turns out I actually really like how they work. Tip and tail rocker makes them very easy to pivot and maneuver. Edge grip, better then both S3 and Bushwackers (demoed S3's, owned Bushwackers).

 

Let me know if you got any other questions.

I'm also pretty light.  I'll second what Dano posted about the Fischer Big Stix 98  (the previous few years it was the Watea 98).    Very light, lively, and quick, does better in powder than you'd expect for a 98mm wide ski.   I had the most fun with these of any ski I've demo'd.    Sierra Trading Post has the Watea 98.  Big Stixx will be out in the fall.

 

Since you like your Head Monsters, you might also check out the Head Rev 105 (also new for 2012/2013).  They seemed huge at first (144 wide at the tip, 105 at the waist) but they have a pretty short turning radius, I think 16m.  They did great in deep snow and totally destroyed cut up crud, but what really surprised me is how easy they were through moguls. Without feeling heavy or damp, they still absorbed the bumps and vibrations enough that I could ski longer down a mogul field without stopping, more than I can ever recall doing before.  Something in the construction was working for me, at least.  I didn't have any long stretches on packed groomers (lot of new snow that day), but they feel really stable on everything I skied.  

 

   

 

 

before you buy on skis.com why not ask any of our sponsors here if they can match or offer something competitve?  The Bush was my 1st thought  (post #5) and I really think you would like it. I am sure you noticed the number of others who agree; Its a ski you can have fun on but it can be serious when needed.

^^^^ What he said. In my experience, the online warehouses don't save you much $$ compared to folks here who sell skis, when you factor in the expertise and various ancillary expenses like mounting, shipping etc. Phil's place http://shop.starthaus.com/store/pc/2012-Skis-c263.htm has a better sale price on Bushwackers right now than skis.com, and trust me, will give you waaaay better advice and prep; Dawg http://www.dawgcatching.com/ski-s-1/blizzard.htmlalso is carrying 2012 Bushwackers at a good sale price and does great prep, will mount for free. You get the idea. One of the points of being part of this community is to support the bricks and mortar people who are giving you some very solid advice for free, and who will stand by their products. Good luck on that if you buy from a warehouse. 

I was mulling over this same question myself a while back and there really isn't one answer anyone can really give you, it always comes down to your individual preferences. I would definitely check out the Rossignol S3 and the Line Prophet 98 or 90 both have some tip rocker and cap-wall construction so it can grip with side wall underfoot but cap wall in the tip and tail to reduce the overall weight. I'm obviously a little biased (I own the Prophet 98's) but I think they're worth at least looking at along with the S3. Everyone on this forum seems to be partial to Blizzard's as well, I've never tried a pair myself but they seem to get positive reviews on here so probably worth a look. The Volkl Bridge could be another option for you, it's very light and I don't think there's much if any metal in the ski (don't quote me on that I'm not positive) not too stiff so could work decently in the bumps.

 

Oh, and despite what some may tell you don't worry about using a 90-100 underfoot ski in the bumps they'll work just fine once you're oriented to your new ski and if you know how to ski moguls well it won't affect you that drastically if at all. That was something I was apprehensive about myself, but trust me you'll be fine maybe not as quick as something slimmer underfoot, but unless your competing it's not a noticeable difference. 

+1 for exploring the sponsors of this site.  I have bought from Starthaus and Dawgcatching, and they saved me money not only with a great deal (better than what I have seen on STP and Evo for out of season stuff), but by selling me the right ski for me, the first time; it's pricier to buy stuff twice.  I love online shopping (Amazon Prime rocks!), but skis seem to require a little more... translation?  Can't think of the right word, but Phil at Starthaus and Scott at Dawgcatching creep me out by seemingly having a USB plug inside my brain.  

 

As far as your original question: light, quick-turning and enjoyable on groomers?  Especially for your weight, the Head Rev 105.  Great float, 16m sidecut gives quickness, construction is lively.  I am the same height as you, 15 kilos heavier.  I skied them at Heavenly last year, mostly family-friendly, medium angle stuff, and it was fantastic, they felt like the 'new 98' in that environment, very quick yet capable.  I would like to ski them at Squaw, to see if I would still like them or find them wanting like Alexzn did...

TT's or FKS/looks. these have become my favorite bindings.  Heres FKS14. great binding. Again, when you buy from someone here, they will help with proper equipment and setup. 

 

http://www.backcountry.com/rossignol-fks-140-ski-binding

 

The lords were my 1 quiver til I just pulled the trigger on some on3p's. I think they (the lords) were well suited to all mountain, but when I was searching I heard nothing but raves for the pb&j and on3ps i ended up with.

I have griffons on the lords and have had no issues though I'm about 190lbs. The fks are awesome but significantly more expensive. If money isn't an object def get them.