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Another East Coaster needs ski help

post #1 of 17
12/8/09 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 
 Hey all--

So I've suddenly come into the market for skis, as the base, edge, whole nine yards have decided to separate directly under the toe of the binding on my '05 Fischer RX-6s. Loved 'em.  (This is where you picture me banging my head on the wall, screaming Why!??! about every ten minutes.)

Here's the deal: I'm 6'3", 160 lb. (yeah, lanky dude. I get blown back at Sugarloaf on a windy day.) Pretty much ski everywhere on the mountain. Spend about 50% of the time on the groomers, 50% off it. On groomers, like to rip and hold edge, but need something to be free enough in the trees.

Looking at older models via discount sites right now, so out of the following, what would people recommend? Fischer Cold Heat
Fischer Progressor 8+
K2 Apache Raider (this is what I have found so far, new, under 300 buckeroos, which is essentially all I can pay for. Need new skis ASAP...
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post #2 of 17
12/8/09 at 5:08pm
Progresssor 8+
Cold Heat
[anything else]
Apache Raider

In that order

Neither the 8+ or the RX6 is really a great off-piste ski, but as you love your RX6 these are as close as you'll get out of that bunch.  The 8+ is definitely more front-side oriented, but has a similar radius as your RX6 and is just a hair wider.  It's also a great deal at $300.  These would feel like old friends after a couple of runs.

Cold Heat is Fischer's all mountain ski, wider underfoot, but has a reputation for being pretty stiff.  It's width and stiffness will give it an advantage in chopped up snow and crud, but may be a little stiffer than you would want in the trees or the bumps ... particularly coming off the RX6.  Don't rule them out as they're still a good ski, but will be a big departure from the RX6.

You might also look for some of last year's Head Monsters (76, 82) which can be had for around the same price.  These are much more freeride oriented and imho would be a much better choice for a 50/50 eastern ski.  A little less grippy on the groomers than either of the Fischers, but much better off-piste.

I'm a Fischer fan (RX8, Race SC & Watea 84) and could not find anything to love about K2 skis.  I've tried both the Recon and the Explorer, which are higher end skis than the Raider, and they left me with no urge to go back for more.  If you like the RX6 I would stay far away from the Raider.
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post #3 of 17
12/8/09 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
 Yeah...the one thing that I definitely wanted to go with this time out was something a bit beefier underfoot. I might be small, but I ski with a lot of power. I rode on a pair of K2 Crossfires a couple times out and thought them to be pretty solid, so I was intrigued. Definitely appreciate the feedback.

I'm kinda hemming and hawing over the Progressor and the Cold Heat. Debating the 170s in each...coming off 165s in the RX-6, and thought that the 164 in the Cold Heat would defeat some of the float I was looking for.
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post #4 of 17
12/8/09 at 8:52pm
I have the Progressor 8+ and love them.  Cold Heat seems to be more of a wide carver/race ski type layup.  Good on groomers and crud, but less than optimal in soft snow.

You should also consider the Head IM78.  Good hold on groomers and good off trail at 78 in the waist.

Good Luck!

Mike 
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post #5 of 17
12/8/09 at 9:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by somedevil3441 View Post

I'm kinda hemming and hawing over the Progressor and the Cold Heat. Debating the 170s in each...coming off 165s in the RX-6, and thought that the 164 in the Cold Heat would defeat some of the float I was looking for.

You could definitely go 170-177 depending on the ski ... At 6'3" you won't notice the extra couple of inches in terms of maneuverability, but you will notice an increase in stability at speed.  The longer skis also float better in the soft stuff.
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post #6 of 17
12/9/09 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeC View Post

I have the Progressor 8+ and love them.  Cold Heat seems to be more of a wide carver/race ski type layup.  Good on groomers and crud, but less than optimal in soft snow.

You should also consider the Head IM78.  Good hold on groomers and good off trail at 78 in the waist.

Good Luck!

Mike 

I'm totally thinking on the fence here, as I've heard good things about the Cold Heats in bumps, and then bad. It's brutal on a budget, but I need skis ASAP and I'm broke.

Any other recommendations people have? Thinking the 170 length for a little extra float, kinda leaning still towards the Cold Heat as I'm looking for a little more snap on-piste (hello, White Nitro most of the year!), but while I'm lapping Can't Dog and Ripsaw needs to have that maneuverability. 
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post #7 of 17
12/9/09 at 12:20pm
If  you spend 50% off piste in deep snow and crud, and like to ski fast, you need a powerful, wider ski.  I just took out a pair of Nordica Enforcers and find they fit both categories well.  No question they can handle groomers, too, so they should be great for an east coaster.  This is a traditional ski.  With metal, they are definitely a lot of ski.  I'm 5'5", weigh 135 and drive my skis down the fall line, so the 169s are just about right.  At your size and level (based on your description), I'd go one step bigger.  Don't pay attention to the older years' reviews.  They are not talking about the same ski.  Ranked No.1 (tie) in Ski Magazine tests this year.  Summary:  Skiers we know, some skis can’t get excited if there isn’t at least a foot of fresh. Not the Enforcer. Even on hardpack, testers loved its tight, solid platform, which delivered a carve-greedy responsiveness that belies its 98-mm girth. Its sidecut is the deepest among medal-winners, and its wood-core, vertical-sidewall, metal-reinforced construction destroys crud and rips groomers. “Solid underfoot; excellent rebound; loves to be worked from tip to tail,” said Couperthwait.  See: http://www.skinet.com/ski/gear/nordica/nordica-enforcer-2010.
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post #8 of 17
12/9/09 at 12:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dharmaline View Post

If  you spend 50% off piste in deep snow and crud, and like to ski fast, you need a powerful, wider ski.  I just took out a pair of Nordica Enforcers and find they fit both categories well.  No question they can handle groomers, too, so they should be great for an east coaster.  This is a traditional ski.  With metal, they are definitely a lot of ski.  I'm 5'5", weigh 135 and drive my skis down the fall line, so the 169s are just about right.  At your size and level (based on your description), I'd go one step bigger.  Don't pay attention to the older years' reviews.  They are not talking about the same ski.  Ranked No.1 (tie) in Ski Magazine tests this year.  Summary:  Skiers we know, some skis can’t get excited if there isn’t at least a foot of fresh. Not the Enforcer. Even on hardpack, testers loved its tight, solid platform, which delivered a carve-greedy responsiveness that belies its 98-mm girth. Its sidecut is the deepest among medal-winners, and its wood-core, vertical-sidewall, metal-reinforced construction destroys crud and rips groomers. “Solid underfoot; excellent rebound; loves to be worked from tip to tail,” said Couperthwait.  See: http://www.skinet.com/ski/gear/nordica/nordica-enforcer-2010.

See, I don't think that's going to wind up holding up on Nitro or Gondi Line when it's pretty much nothing but a skating rink...sounds like it'd be good for the trees and bumps, though. Also not within the budget of $320.

Right now I'm thinking Cold Heat, Progressor, and Raider, in that order. Anybody have some info on the old Monster i.M 77s? That's the only other thing I can find in the budget.
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post #9 of 17
12/9/09 at 12:57pm
Wow, you have certainly limited yourself with this budget.  If you want a ski that holds steep icy lines under the lift, then I would not consider that ski an off-piste ski, really.  You are probably better off with a smaller ski.  Fischer certainly makes good ones, and I love my Progressor 9+, which is a racing ski, of course, and a bit like your 8.  At the low price, you might be able to find last year's K2 Recons, which would be small enough and versatile, too.  Good luck!
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post #10 of 17
12/9/09 at 1:00pm
Here's a link to some recons under $400.  With bindings.  http://www.o2gearshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2&language=en&currency=USD&products_id=6729
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post #11 of 17
12/9/09 at 1:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dharmaline View Post

Wow, you have certainly limited yourself with this budget.  If you want a ski that holds steep icy lines under the lift, then I would not consider that ski an off-piste ski, really.  You are probably better off with a smaller ski.  Fischer certainly makes good ones, and I love my Progressor 9+, which is a racing ski, of course, and a bit like your 8.  At the low price, you might be able to find last year's K2 Recons, which would be small enough and versatile, too.  Good luck!
Yeah. Law school will do a heckuva job ruining your budget. I'm still not sure how I put in 30 days at the hill, but I make it work. The thing is, I truly do 50-50. I'll rip Gondi Line and Narrow Gauge in the morning (Gondi is probably top-5 steepest pitches in the east), then transition to bumps and tree skiing, then go back to those trails to end the day. So yeah, I need something that will hit both targets right for me. The one thing I wanted more out of the RX-6s was some more float.
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post #12 of 17
12/9/09 at 1:36pm
I know about law school.  As that famous baseball player said, with apologies, "Law school been very very good to me!"  As for law practice, it was good too, but it was even better to leave that behind and join the real world.
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post #13 of 17
12/9/09 at 1:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dharmaline View Post

I know about law school.  As that famous baseball player said, with apologies, "Law school been very very good to me!"  As for law practice, it was good too, but it was even better to leave that behind and join the real world.

Met a guy at Sunday River last year who was ripping it big time during a two foot dump. Fricking AWESOME day. Rode the chair up with him, turns out he was a lawyer. Guy talks about how pissed he was at his friends for not coming up for the weekend with all the snow, and that he was supposed to have a case on Monday, which he got a continuance for to keep skiing. Mmmm...professional responsibility.

At any rate, I almost looked at the Watea 84s, but needed a little more edge grip cause even on good days...we'll find some ice out there somewhere. Then again, "if you can't see fish beneath it, it ain't ice."
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post #14 of 17
12/22/09 at 8:54am
Thread Starter 
So--after demoing all of the skis, wound up with the Progressors. Plowed through some crud and had a ton of fun in the bumps with them. And Fischer is warranting the RX-6s for me...so here come a fresh set of Watea 84s for powder days. Perfect! Thanks all.
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post #15 of 17
12/22/09 at 11:02am
Sounds like a good 2-ski quiver for the East.  Enjoy!
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post #16 of 17
12/22/09 at 2:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dharmaline View Post

At the low price, you might be able to find last year's K2 Recons, which would be small enough and versatile, too.  Good luck!

Friends don't let friends do Recons. Just sayin'
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post #17 of 17
12/22/09 at 5:32pm
Try Volkl Ac 40 at 170cm.

I ski the AC 4 at 170cm at Killington Trees,Bumps, Fast and Firm etc....

The best ski I have ever owned for Vermont Conditions.

Check the reviews out.

CJ
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