EpicSki › The Barking Bear Forums › On the Snow (Skiing Forums) › Ski Gear Discussion › What's the Deal with Fatties - All the Time?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

What's the Deal with Fatties - All the Time?

post #1 of 198
4/6/08 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
I just bought some 183 Gotama's, and I love 'em. I've had fatties in my quiver for a decade. They're a must.

But, what's the deal with people skiing fatties, all the time, everywhere?

I can understand if you're hitting bumps or groomers on your way back to the wild 'n deep. But, lots of these guys are just doing laps.

Some days, there's more powder on a Starbucks lemon cake, than on the hill. Still, fatties abound.

Reminds me of guys driving Hummers to the grocery store.
Reply
post #2 of 198
4/6/08 at 7:06pm
"Hummers on pavement"... reminds me of the tele skiers at my area. Most of them never leave the lifts and trails. I'll bet they spend more time in the moguls than any back country.

And what's inside those mega backpacks with all the cool straps flying in the wind. I can fit everything in my pockets, but it looks like these guys are carrying around camping gear on the local groomer. Anything to look like you belong in a Warren Miller flick.
Reply
post #3 of 198
4/6/08 at 7:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritzski View Post
"Hummers on pavement"... reminds me of the tele skiers at my area. Most of them never leave the lifts and trails. I'll bet they spend more time in the moguls than any back country.

And what's inside those mega backpacks with all the cool straps flying in the wind. I can fit everything in my pockets, but it looks like these guys are carrying around camping gear on the local groomer. Anything to look like you belong in a Warren Miller flick.
You're right - I forgot about the backpacks. The same dudes.

They could be onto something. Maybe it turns on the babes.
Reply
post #4 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:07pm
I NEVER ski a ski that is narrower than my boot or shorter than me! In any conditions.
Reply
post #5 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:14pm
This thread took a wrong turn the moment you implied Gotamas are fatties...
Reply
post #6 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by spindrift View Post
This thread took a wrong turn the moment you implied Gotamas are fatties...
Granted, you don't see a lot of Katana's or Pontoons. BUT, there's lots of dudes on skis in the 100 mm range.

I'm not saying they're all posers, but many can't ski worth shyte.

What's the point of trying to tip a 110 mm ski on edge if there's not a fresh flake within 300 miles, and you're an "advanced intermediate"?
Reply
post #7 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_Strato View Post
Granted, you don't see a lot of Katana's or Pontoons. BUT, there's lots of dudes on skis in the 100 mm range.

I'm not saying they're all posers, but many can't ski worth shyte.

What's the point of trying to tip a 110 mm ski on edge if there's not a fresh flake within 300 miles, and you're an "advanced intermediate"?
i got to ski a friends '08 183 Gotama yesterday (groomer day) back to back with my Supershape Speed.

All I can say is it was a very long awkward way to an edge. Also I was a bit baffled at how every liitle bump and imperfection in the snow surface seemd to be amplified through the ski compared to my SS speeds or Monsters which are much smoother, quiter and more energetic.

I could not imagine skiing on this ski on anything other then a POW day and would avoid the groomed like the plague. I had always heard how versatile this ski was and how well it skied the groomed and held an edge.

Bull!!!!!!

Now I am totally convinced that the skiers that sing the virutes of a 105mm waisted Pow ski to be good on groomed is just a ridiculous if i tried to convince them how good my Head i.SL Rd Race Stock slaloms are in 2 feet of POW!

With that said the Monster 88 kills the Gotama on groomed and comes somewhat close to skiing the Pow as well!
Reply
post #8 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:41pm
If you couldn't afford a quiver and you live out west what kind of ski would you buy captian? a skinny one?
Reply
post #9 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by summitskier View Post
If you couldn't afford a quiver and you live out west what kind of ski would you buy captian? a skinny one?
Not the Captain, I'm the chief, but if i had to pick one ski (I live out west) it would have to be a properly tuned head Monster 88!
Reply
post #10 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:52pm
Quote:
Not the Captain, I'm the chief, but if i had to pick one ski (I live out west) it would have to be a properly tuned head Monster 88!
I'd rather have some beat up, rock-ski, goats... (and yes, I tried the iM88s) The only thing I don't like the goats in are big deep icy bumps, but then again, I'd rather not ski big deep icy bumps
Reply
post #11 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by summitskier View Post
If you couldn't afford a quiver and you live out west what kind of ski would you buy captian? a skinny one?
Nope!

I'd get an 80 mm to 90 mm mid-fat.

I've got a pair of 84 mm M:EX's that I ski happily in almost anything.

I'm lucky enough to also have 74 mm skis that are shine on hard snow, and 105 mm Goats that are better in blower.

This isn't about snobbery - as in having a huge quiver.

I just think these kids drank the Kool-Aid.

Whatever looks good in Warren Miller, is what they've gotta have (including the back-pack - even though there's only lunch in there).

It's one thing for a local expert, on a budget, to pick a fattie because he can ski it on anything, and lives for the pow.

It's another for a cornhusker from Nebraska to show-up on Rossi Quads 'cause he saw Sage riding them in Powder Magazine.
Reply
post #12 of 198
4/6/08 at 8:59pm
Its like having a post through your tongue. Impractical, stupid, and trendy.
Reply
post #13 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:01pm
I don't know cap'n, I'm no local ripper but since I can only afford one ski I would much rather have a 100mm+ ski than a 80 or 90 mm ski. If I only stuck to the groomed I would probably feel differently but I hang out mainly in the trees and its just so easier... I think there's a lot of folks just like me.
Reply
post #14 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:09pm
whats with the judging of other people and their ski choice?

If you can't carve a fat ski, do you really know how to carve at all?
Its the skier not the ski. Those advanced intermediates will be advanced intermediate on any width.

And who says that Tele skis are only for backcountry?
Reply
post #15 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by summitskier View Post
I don't know cap'n, I'm no local ripper but since I can only afford one ski I would much rather have a 100mm+ ski than a 80 or 90 mm ski. If I only stuck to the groomed I would probably feel differently but I hang out mainly in the trees and its just so easier... I think there's a lot of folks just like me.
There's a few like you, and a lot who hang-out on trail-map runs.

I ski 50 + days per year at 6 mountains here in CO. We get lots of tourists, many who are not great skiers.

When you see a lot of these dudes (mostly young guys), who are clearly NOT experts - chopping down the hill on skis that are eating them alive, it's choice between laughing and feeling sorry for the kid.

I agree with Atomicman - most of these guys would be better served on narrower skis that suit their ability, and the terrain they ski. But, they've been suckered by the hype.

There's nothing "awesome" about it. They just look goofy.
Reply
post #16 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:43pm
How many times has this been discussed here? Its the same old debate.


I grew up racing. I've skied all sorts of skinny skis. I now ski squads as my hardpack ski because I have never found a skinny ski that comes close to their stability in cut up uneven refrozen hard pack. They just smooth everything out.

If you like making lots of little "perfect" turns without ever letting the skis run (except on the groomed run) then Im sure skinny skis work great.



I think there are a lot of "advanced" skiers that only learned to carve when shaped skis came out, by letting the ski do all the work, so that when they get on a fatter ski, they can't make it work in anything but powder. I also think a lot of people just don't really like using some muscle in a turn. I learned to carve on straight skis, and love a good high g turn, so squads work great for me,
Reply
post #17 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_Strato View Post
There's a few like you, and a lot who hang-out on trail-map runs.

I ski 50 + days per year at 6 mountains here in CO. We get lots of tourists, many who are not great skiers.

When you see a lot of these dudes (mostly young guys), who are clearly NOT experts - chopping down the hill on skis that are eating them alive, it's choice between laughing and feeling sorry for the kid.

I agree with Atomicman - most of these guys would be better served on narrower skis that suit their ability, and the terrain they ski. But, they've been suckered by the hype.

There's nothing "awesome" about it. They just look goofy.
I think a lot of ski instructors would be better served by using fat skis in pow and crud, but they just won't. Maybe they'd learn to make bigger more fluid turns that allow the skier to flow through the terrain better, but they won't. They'd rather make the same turn all day long because its what they're used to, and its easier.

And the majority of tourists are going to be hacks no matter what they're on.
Reply
post #18 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_Strato View Post
Whatever looks good in Warren Miller, is what they've gotta have (including the back-pack - even though there's only lunch in there).

Bwahahaaa

Yea, thats what all the core bro bra kids are trying to emulate is warren miller.

Powder 8 turns are like soooooo extreme.
Reply
post #19 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:52pm
And one more post in a row just because I just thought of somehing else.

All ski trends start out as something practical and useful, then a small amount of stupid people take them way too far.

Its the same thing with the short shaped carving skis. Sure, they are a great tool, but I've seen grown men, that at least THINK they're good skiers on 150cm skis. Thats just retarded.
Reply
post #20 of 198
4/6/08 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MAGGOT View Post
Bwahahaaa

Yea, thats what all the core bro bra kids are trying to emulate is warren miller.

Powder 8 turns are like soooooo extreme.
Have you seen ANY Warren Miller flick - post 1995?

I don't know how good you are. But, I guarantee, you're not good enough to be in any WM flick.

They still recruit the best, and most extreme, skiers on the planet.

In fact, a guy recently died on one of their shoots. Extreme enough for you?

Powder 8 - indeed.
Reply
post #21 of 198
4/6/08 at 10:05pm

Gotama Every Little Bump & Imperfection

Quote:
Originally Posted by Atomicman View Post
i got to ski a friends '08 183 Gotama yesterday (groomer day) back to back with my Supershape Speed.

All I can say is it was a very long awkward way to an edge. Also I was a bit baffled at how every liitle bump and imperfection in the snow surface seemd to be amplified through the ski compared to my SS speeds or Monsters which are much smoother, quiter and more energetic.

I could not imagine skiing on this ski on anything other then a POW day and would avoid the groomed like the plague. I had always heard how versatile this ski was and how well it skied the groomed and held an edge.

Bull!!!!!!

Now I am totally convinced that the skiers that sing the virutes of a 105mm waisted Pow ski to be good on groomed is just a ridiculous if i tried to convince them how good my Head i.SL Rd Race Stock slaloms are in 2 feet of POW!

With that said the Monster 88 kills the Gotama on groomed and comes somewhat close to skiing the Pow as well!

I'm with you Atomicman. As a Gotama owner, to me, it would be nothing short of absurd to use these things on groomed hardpack. What self imposed torture. Give me my skinny Rx8's, or this year, Progressors, on that
thank you very much!
Reply
post #22 of 198
4/6/08 at 11:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Retired2ski View Post
. Give me my skinny Rx8's, or this year, Progressors, on that
thank you very much!
Amen to the RX 8's, any hill any type of snow, ::


If you can only ski pow on fatties.....stay home.
Reply
post #23 of 198
4/7/08 at 12:01am
Imo, the skinny carver is a quiver-ski just as much as the funshape is a quiver-ski.

90-100 underfoot with a soft tip is the ideal single-ski quiver for most of us.
Reply
post #24 of 198
4/7/08 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_Strato View Post
Have you seen ANY Warren Miller flick - post 1995?

I don't know how good you are. But, I guarantee, you're not good enough to be in any WM flick.

They still recruit the best, and most extreme, skiers on the planet.

In fact, a guy recently died on one of their shoots. Extreme enough for you?

Powder 8 - indeed.

Yea, wm recruits some of the best skiers, then has them ski at half speed.

Have you seen any other films the same skiers have been in? WM makes lifestyle/travel films that show skiing as part of the experience. These movies are in no way documenting a progression of the sport.
Reply
post #25 of 198
4/7/08 at 4:01am
i find my 183 goats to be perfectly acceptable on hardpack, and my normal groomer ski is a 165 rx8. the goats are a lot more fun on ice than the rx8 is in knee deep pow.
Reply
post #26 of 198
4/7/08 at 4:31am
These are the type of threads that make this site look bad.
Reply
post #27 of 198
4/7/08 at 5:30am
I broke a binding on my last pair of fat skis a few weeks back and ended up skiing our biggest pow day of the season on my 165 Doberman SLs. I felt like a real gaper, but I still had fun. I maintain it's easier to ski powder on a race ski than to ski hardpack on a fat ski, though both are certainly possible if you have to do it. I'm a horses for courses guy myself, love having the right ski for the right day, though if I had to just have just one ski I'd go fat, just to "protect my upside" on deep days.
Reply
post #28 of 198
4/7/08 at 5:48am
Have the skiers become fad followers, or have the midfat and fat skis become more versatile?

I'm really really happy that my actual waist has not increased at the rate as the waist on my skis.

Quiver at the beginning of the season had a ton of overlap in the 70's range.
Now the overlap is in the 90's range, and I'm totally lovin' it!!!

Yesterday I skied spring slush and the only ski I considered pulling out of my quiver for grins > Bro Baby!!!
Reply
post #29 of 198
4/7/08 at 6:21am
Those of you who feel that fat skis like the Goats don't/can't carve well on hardpack should really learn how to carve.
Reply
post #30 of 198
4/7/08 at 7:01am
We can get really predictable. Atomicman, I also own both Goats (183) and Supershapes (165). Out west this year, I was surprised how well my Goats carved groomed. Does that mean they're comparable to my SS's? No. Would I want them as my primary groomer ski? No. But unless you hike for all your turns, every run, and refuse chairs or trams, you will probably need to use your fatties (sorry Spindrift) on some groomed. Often. And surprise! They often handle it well enough to make us smile.

OTOH, you guys with the backpacks and Everest gear need to face reality: That whole deal is becoming like a lot of boarders who wear hip-hop wannabe clothes fashionably four sizes too big with lots of plumber's butt showing. Oh, they're bad, but they can barely sideslip down the blue run, let alone do big air off the pipe.

Lately I'm noticing that a lot of guys with backpacks/gear and fat skis or teles aren't exactly tearing up the groomed, let alone the OB. Are they required to because they wear a pack? No. Does the pack advertise their backcountry prowess? Yes. It's called symbolic capital...:
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Ski Gear Discussion
EpicSki › The Barking Bear Forums › On the Snow (Skiing Forums) › Ski Gear Discussion › What's the Deal with Fatties - All the Time?