Pick-a-ski

[PTskier]

My buddy is ready for new skis. He's about 5'10", maybe 200#, likes to ski fast. I don't think he's a technically very good skier--I've only seen him make S turns when I challenged him, and they were done OK. His usual ski tracks are slash left, slash right, slash left, etc. He skis anything anywhere, but as fast & straight as possible. Except that I know him, I wouldn't want to be downhill from him. I've never seen him fall. Anyway, he's looking for skis that are probably described as front side oriented all mountain. His current front side skis are Head RD slalom, and he's ready for something more versatile. And, he has bad knees and wants very protective bindings. Suggestions please.

Head Supershape i.Titan is one I've thought to suggest to him to demo (170 or 177?). Maybe Monster 88 (size?). And....

 

[François Pugh]

If he is skiing in Washington state, where there is plenty of fresh snow on the hill, I'll agree with the Monster 88. If the snow is less soft and deep where he skis then he needs a cheater GS ski to accommodate his style of skiing. longer turn radius, but closer to 70 mm than 85, imo.

At the described speeds, he will only be able to make clean turns using a ski with a longer turn radius. If his ski won't make clean turns, he will have trouble getting better (unless he slows down and it doesn't seem like he wants to do that).

 

[Brian Finch]

Head Titans; 177 is a lot of ski.

 

[pchewn]

I'd suggest ski lessons instead of skis .....

 

[trailtrimmer]

Head Titans; 177 is a lot of ski.

Lots of ski, but for some reason it doesn't seem to punish you much for getting on the tails. To me its the perfect blend between a cheater GS and SL ski that can handle some fresh snow. You can also smear them at slow speeds, truly a versatile ski.

Love mine tuned to 1/3, a better frontside ski than my Brahma or Monster 83 by far.

 

[PTskier]

I'd suggest ski lessons instead of skis .....

Nah...he really needs to get off those race slalom skis and on something more versatile.

 

[markojp]

Nah...he really needs to get off those race slalom skis and on something more versatile.

It's not the ski that isn't versatile, it's the skier. Titans aren't likely to solve the problem.

 

[Ken_R]

My buddy is ready for new skis. He's about 5'10", maybe 200#, likes to ski fast. I don't think he's a technically very good skier--I've only seen him make S turns when I challenged him, and they were done OK. His usual ski tracks are slash left, slash right, slash left, etc. He skis anything anywhere, but as fast & straight as possible. Except that I know him, I wouldn't want to be downhill from him. I've never seen him fall. Anyway, he's looking for skis that are probably described as front side oriented all mountain. His current front side skis are Head RD slalom, and he's ready for something more versatile. And, he has bad knees and wants very protective bindings. Suggestions please.

Head Supershape i.Titan is one I've thought to suggest to him to demo (170 or 177?). Maybe Monster 88 (size?). And....

I have a pair of the Head Monster 88 in 184cm and really love them. Demoed the Monster 98's 177cm the other day and really enjoyed them as well. Regarding bindings I have no clue. I have heard some good things about Knee bindings but no direct experience with them.

 

[markojp]

I have a pair of the Head Monster 88 in 184cm and really love them. Demoed the Monster 98's 177cm the other day and really enjoyed them as well. Regarding bindings I have no clue. I have heard some good things about Knee bindings but no direct experience with them.

Knee hasn't passed TUV testing and ha e a kooky amount of stand height.

 

[Philpug]

Knee hasn't passed TUV testing and ha e a kooky amount of stand height.

Plus are not forward compatible with GripWalk/WTR/MNC.

 

[LeLeedler]

My buddy is ready for new skis. He's about 5'10", maybe 200#, likes to ski fast. I don't think he's a technically very good skier--I've only seen him make S turns when I challenged him, and they were done OK. His usual ski tracks are slash left, slash right, slash left, etc. He skis anything anywhere, but as fast & straight as possible. Except that I know him, I wouldn't want to be downhill from him. I've never seen him fall. Anyway, he's looking for skis that are probably described as front side oriented all mountain. His current front side skis are Head RD slalom, and he's ready for something more versatile. And, he has bad knees and wants very protective bindings. Suggestions please.

Head Supershape i.Titan is one I've thought to suggest to him to demo (170 or 177?). Maybe Monster 88 (size?). And....

I wouldn't take something like the Blizzard Brahma off the table, not a terrible choice but, I would say it'll beat him up a bit until he cleans up his skiing. If you backseat in the Brahma you'll know it. So maybe not the best choice but, it may teach him to ski a bit better.

 

[dawgcatching]

If he likes Blizzard, and wants something a bit more spoony but still with good feedback, the Rustler 10 is the way to go. It is a little wide, but I have found it to be a competent technical ski (for what it is, a twin rocker 102 underfoot that isn't too stiff). The Brahma may be too much ski.

Stockli laser AX if he wants to stay narrower. There is no better technical all-mountain ski made today.

 

[PTskier]

The Stockli AX sounds like a good choice.

I must have done a poor job of describing my friend's skiing. He's a good, strong skier. His preference is to ski fast & straight, make a check turn, then ski fast & straight the other way. That's just him. He's made smooth clean S turns when I've challenged him, that's just not his preference.

 

[pchewn]

The Stockli AX sounds like a good choice.

I must have done a poor job of describing my friend's skiing. He's a good, strong skier. His preference is to ski fast & straight, make a check turn, then ski fast & straight the other way. That's just him. He's made smooth clean S turns when I've challenged him, that's just not his preference.

"Except that I know him, I wouldn't want to be downhill from him"

If he is out of control enough not to want to be downhill from him, then he needs lessons, not a new ski.

 

[PTskier]

I didn't say that he was out of control. He's in control. I said that I'm OK being downhill from him. He just looks like a runaway train. I kid him and tell him that he has two speeds--stuck throttle and kill switch.

 

[François Pugh]

The Stockli AX sounds like a good choice.

I must have done a poor job of describing my friend's skiing. He's a good, strong skier. His preference is to ski fast & straight, make a check turn, then ski fast & straight the other way. That's just him. He's made smooth clean S turns when I've challenged him, that's just not his preference.

Convince him that he can ski faster if he makes cleaner turns instead of check turns. It shouldn't be hard to convince him, because it's the truth.