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K2, Salomon, Kastle??

post #1 of 34
7/30/12 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 

I am 23 years old and have been skiing for about 20 years now.  Unfortunately I live in Ohio but make it up to Vermont atleast twice a year and usually make a trip out west once a year as well.  I consider myself a Type III agressive skier that loves to ski everything on the mountain.  I do not spend much time in the park but trying to find the gnarliest terrain on the mountain.  I am 6'1" and weigh about 215 pounds.  I am looking for a ski that will perform on every aspect of the mountain.  I have been considering the following three skis: K2 Kung Fujas, Salomon Rocker2 or Salomon Shogun, and Kastle BMX.  Please share your thoughts on these or something else that will not let me down in the Northeast and that I will also love in the pow out west.

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post #2 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:16pm

Welcome to EpicSki!

Assuming that you have your ski boots figured out, so I won't say, "go to a bootfitter first." biggrin.gif

 

Beyond that, you say Salomon Rocker2, and Kastle BMX, but don't specify which width.  

 

If I were advising you on a good, all round, ski, (one ski quiver)  I'd look at something in the 90's

(see tags on the right side of the page)

 

I haven't been on the K2 Kung Fujas nor the Salomon Rocker 2's, but I have been on several of the Kastle BMX line, and while I really liked them for me, I'm a bit of a light weight and wonder if you'd be better suited to try something from the MX line. 

 

Will you have an opportunity to demo? 

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post #3 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbenge27 View Post

I am 23 years old and have been skiing for about 20 years now.  Unfortunately I live in Ohio but make it up to Vermont atleast twice a year and usually make a trip out west once a year as well.  I consider myself a Type III agressive skier that loves to ski everything on the mountain.  I do not spend much time in the park but trying to find the gnarliest terrain on the mountain.  I am 6'1" and weigh about 215 pounds.  I am looking for a ski that will perform on every aspect of the mountain.  I have been considering the following three skis: K2 Kung Fujas, Salomon Rocker2 or Salomon Shogun, and Kastle BMX.  Please share your thoughts on these or something else that will not let me down in the Northeast and that I will also love in the pow out west.

that's 4- with the caveat that the BMX is unidentified

 

regardless, you have listed a rather wide variety of ski's here. What are you skiing now, have you invested in properly fitting boots yet?  What do you want out of the ski?  For instance, the Sali Rocker is a pow ski, in your length, 192, its 122 underfoot, the Sali Shogun is a versitle ski 100 underfoot. its probably a safe choice for "all mountain"  The Fujas is going to be too soft for your 215 plus gear pounds.

 

The Kastles are awesome skis but I don't know what model you are considering. Possibly the 98? I prefer the MX line over the BMX

 

My standard go to "all mountain" ski with a nod to soft snow is the Blizzard Bonafide  98 underfoot, stiff enough for you and a truly versitle ski that actaully performs well in all condifions but glare-ice  Another is a Rossi Experience 98.

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post #4 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:21pm
Thread Starter 

I am leaning toward a width of 95-105 with a length of 178-188 and probably will not have time to demo.  I did purchase a new pair of boots before a trip to Jackson Hole in March and experienced some serious shin bang after four days of intense skiing out there.  So I will definitely need to have a boot expert look into that for me as well.

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post #5 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:23pm

"intense"

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post #6 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbenge27 View Post

I am leaning toward a width of 95-105 with a length of 178-188 and probably will not have time to demo.  I did purchase a new pair of boots before a trip to Jackson Hole in March and experienced some serious shin bang after four days of intense skiing out there.  So I will definitely need to have a boot expert look into that for me as well.

That's helpful.  

Like Finndog said, the Blizzard Bonafide is at the top of the field. 

Another ski you may consider in that field is  Atomic's new Alibi which is also 98mm under foot. 

I'll do some more tagging of options for you on the side of the page so you can look at some specs. 

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post #7 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:26pm

my links go to the product pages and other Epic threads....

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post #8 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbenge27 View Post

I am leaning toward a width of 95-105 with a length of 178-188 and probably will not have time to demo.  I did purchase a new pair of boots before a trip to Jackson Hole in March and experienced some serious shin bang after four days of intense skiing out there.  So I will definitely need to have a boot expert look into that for me as well.

If you're going back to Jackson hole, you should look up Skiing In Jackson(memeber here)  He's a very good boot fitter. 

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post #9 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:35pm
Thread Starter 

So it sounds like the Salomon Shogun, Kastle MX98, and Blizzard Bonafide is what I should start doing more research on.  Any recommendations on how to adjust my boots to cut down on shin bang.  I know it usually occurs from boots that don't fit properly but I had these molded to my feet and shin.  They fit comfortable and do not recall them slipping or moving while skiing.  Any suggestions for that? I have also heard that once on a wider ski that can prevent some shin bang from allowing you to not "ski in the backseat".

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post #10 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:38pm

+1 icon14.gif

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trekchick View Post

If you're going back to Jackson hole, you should look up Skiing In Jackson(memeber here)  He's a very good boot fitter. 

http://www.jacksonhole.com/plan-buy/rental/certified-pedorthist.html

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post #11 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbenge27 View Post

So it sounds like the Salomon Shogun, Kastle MX98, and Blizzard Bonafide is what I should start doing more research on.  Any recommendations on how to adjust my boots to cut down on shin bang.  I know it usually occurs from boots that don't fit properly but I had these molded to my feet and shin.  They fit comfortable and do not recall them slipping or moving while skiing.  Any suggestions for that? I have also heard that once on a wider ski that can prevent some shin bang from allowing you to not "ski in the backseat".

 

 

not true, how about some lessons and a boot fitter?  Fix the backseat issue and get the boots fit correctly. 

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post #12 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:40pm

It would help to know what you are skiing on now.  What have you been skiing on before, and what impressions did you have of those?

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post #13 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:43pm
Thread Starter 

Currently skiing Rossignol Scratches and before that Rossignol Bandit XX

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post #14 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:46pm

Based on the OP's size, I think the Cochise might be a better fit than the Bonafide... especially for somewhere like Jackson Hole.

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post #15 of 34
7/30/12 at 1:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JayT View Post

Based on the OP's size, I think the Cochise might be a better fit than the Bonafide... especially for somewhere like Jackson Hole.

He's in Ohio, skis mostly in the midwest, some in Vermont and an occasional trip west. 

 

The Cochise likes a bit more room to run than his usual skiing will give it. 

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post #16 of 34
7/30/12 at 2:04pm
Thread Starter 

Nothing in the midwest is worth my time though.  I only ski Vermont and out west so a big mountain ski is what I am looking for in that sense

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post #17 of 34
7/30/12 at 2:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbenge27 View Post

Nothing in the midwest is worth my time though.  I only ski Vermont and out west so a big mountain ski is what I am looking for in that sense

In that case, the Cochise may be good for you.  Its a big brother to the Bonafide. 108 under foot and pretty darn beefy. 

 

I've skied the women's version for 2013 Dakota and was surprised how much I liked a ski with that much RAWR to it, but yeah, it was fun.

Still, I wouldn't want it as my only ski. 

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post #18 of 34
7/30/12 at 2:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbenge27 View Post

I am 23 years old and have been skiing for about 20 years now.  Unfortunately I live in Ohio but make it up to Vermont atleast twice a year and usually make a trip out west once a year as well.  I consider myself a Type III agressive skier that loves to ski everything on the mountain.  I do not spend much time in the park but trying to find the gnarliest terrain on the mountain.  I am 6'1" and weigh about 215 pounds.  I am looking for a ski that will perform on every aspect of the mountain.  I have been considering the following three skis: K2 Kung Fujas, Salomon Rocker2 or Salomon Shogun, and Kastle BMX.  Please share your thoughts on these or something else that will not let me down in the Northeast and that I will also love in the pow out west.

 

I'm 5'11, 195lbs.  I owned a pair of 189 Kung Fujas(133/102/127).  They were too soft for me.

 

I now ski a 189 4frnt Turbo(134/108/126). 

 

I only ski out west, but it is my every day go-to ski.  They're stable at speed, float in the pow, and do just fine on groomers.  I have a pow ski that I use on big-dump days, but these usually come out in the afternoon or the next day once it gets cut up or skied out.  Some days I'll just take these out when I don't feel like stopping at the truck to change out.

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post #19 of 34
7/30/12 at 2:41pm
Thread Starter 

Since I only get a solid 10-15 days of skiing every year I want something that I can use in any condition and on any part of the mountain.  I feel like 108 under the foot would be a little too wide for that description.    

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post #20 of 34
7/30/12 at 3:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sbenge27 View Post

Currently skiing Rossignol Scratches and before that Rossignol Bandit XX

Did you think the Scratches were limp noodles, just about right, or super stiff mountain maulers?  I have an idea, but I'd like to hear your take on them first.  What year & model were you skiing?


Edited by SpikeDog - 7/30/12 at 3:25pm
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post #21 of 34
7/30/12 at 3:07pm

dude, 95-102 is all you need or want.  There are a ton of skis in this class. Blizz' bonafide is a no brainer but I don't think you really know what you want yet.  Figure out what you will really be skiing and how much. Be honest with yourself.  You don't need a powder ski, if you are traveling and it dumps, go rent one for the day. Otherwise, get a ski that will serve you well for soft snow through firm groomers. Something with some rocker in the tip.  Another fantastic ski is the Kastle MX88 but I think you want something wider?  

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post #22 of 34
7/30/12 at 3:31pm

TheDad has a pair of cared-for Kastle MX88s in 188 cm up for grabs, sounds like they would be phenomenal for you; I ski them in 178, I am 25# lighter and 3" shorter, and I dig them the mostest.  If you go west (or northeast) and run into a hero day, demo some 120ish mm Bdizzlesuperfats...  I skied 20 days last season: in Summit Co, Tahoe and Utah. 17 of them were on the MX88s, I lucked out and had 3 glorious days on powder sticks.  Ok, that isn't totally honest... 4 of the 17 were on 77mm Hart Pulses, but the MX88s would have done just as well, they are That Good (tm).

 

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/5987841/truth-about-powder-skis

 

I live in the east; I plan for average, and hope to have to spend for fanfreekingtastic!

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post #23 of 34
7/30/12 at 3:32pm

Of the skis you mentioned in your first post, the Shogun is your best bet, IMHO. Rocker 2 is a great powder ski, but you'll want a ski with some camber for all mountain, and something with good edge grip and stability for Vermont.  Even if you get a big dump of powder it won't last long enough at most popular resorts, so you really need a ski that excells in crud as well.

 

Kung Fujas are nice, but seems to me to be more of a park-and-pipe all mountain ski. 

 

Any Kastle model will be expensive, you rarely see them discounted.  It may cost you a lot more than another brand, while being a better ski but only marginally better.  Depends on the model of course. 

 

Bizzard Bonefide is a very popular ski.  They work well in most conditions, just wasn't my favorite.  I prefer something a little more lively.

 

If you don't have a local dealer your're working with already, consult one of the retailers who are sponsors here on Epic. 

 

Edited, now that I see FairToMiddlin's post above and spknmike's post below:   if you can get the MX 88's or MX 98's at a decent price, go for it.


Edited by DesiredUsername - 7/31/12 at 11:20am
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post #24 of 34
7/30/12 at 3:56pm

I have some BMX 98's that would fit you on sale in Gear Swap: http://www.epicski.com/t/111591/10-11-kastle-mx98-bmx98-188cm-flat

 

(They are actually MX98's but the are exact same ski as the BMX98)

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post #25 of 34
7/30/12 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spknmike View Post

I have some BMX 98's that would fit you on sale in Gear Swap: http://www.epicski.com/t/111591/10-11-kastle-mx98-bmx98-188cm-flat

 

(They are actually MX98's but the are exact same ski as the BMX98)

MX98's were an awesome ski.

 

icon14.gif

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post #26 of 34
7/31/12 at 6:15am

I enjoyed the 98 very much. Good ski. That said the mx88 is more versitile more energy and better on groomed. Even more stable at speed. I would give the 98 a soft snow oriented advantage not only due to the width. I would still take a Bonafide over either for simply the versitility.

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post #27 of 34
7/31/12 at 6:18am

I would NOT dismiss the Shogun at this point either, it is a great value (at less than $400) with a ton of versatility. 

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post #28 of 34
7/31/12 at 6:24am

Phil, do you have any leftovers for this guy?

 

Sbenge, why don't you PM Philpug he may have some good stuff for you.

 

(Phil, hope you don't mind this post.)

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post #29 of 34
7/31/12 at 6:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Finndog View Post

Phil, do you have any leftovers for this guy?

 

Sbenge, why don't you PM Philpug he may have some good stuff for you.

 

(Phil, hope you don't mind this post.)

Already PM conversations going on. 

Start Haus Insider

Bringing World Cup caliber ski equipment and service to all skiers - from pro ski racers to everyday all mountain skiers and into the...

» Get the latest news and updates at the Start Haus sponsor page.
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post #30 of 34
7/31/12 at 7:07am

always a bridesmaid.......

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