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New freeski

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suckyn00b
Posts: 39 - Karma: 10

As my name shows I am wanting to "get into freeskiing".  (Im interested in a mix of stuff and I want to learn both rails and jumping, but more interested in the jumping.)

I need some help figuring out boots/skis and ski sizes.

Ive been skiing for about 7 years (15-40 days a year) mostly midwest, but Ive been colorado and international a couple of times.  I am 5'8" @185 lbs (yea I know im not the typical scrawny freeskier build), I play defense in hockey (so more of that build).

I am an intermediate/advance skier. My current setup for skiing is:

2008 Head SuperShape 170cm (altho 165 cm works for me too. This is a very technical ski)
2008 Nordica Doberman Pro 130's

Right now I mostly do on-piste skiing for now, but I would like to start learning jumps and park riding.
Here are my questions by gear....

Boots:
I just got these boots this season and they are properly fitted by a professional boot fitter. They are a stiff race type boot which I like because it helps me to stay upright a bit. When I was I purchasing my boots I let the boot fitter tell me what boots to try.  When I was being fitted I tried the Head Mojo XP (not sure 110 or 100 flex) however, I practically folded the boot in two when I flexed them. They flexed like they were made out of soft butter.  Hence my move to the Dobermans.  My question is, can these boots work for park riding? Ive read some people talking about softer boots for park, I dont know why or what the technical reasoning behind this.  I also think park boots have a bit more padding for softer landings?

Skis:
I definitely am not willing to take my $900+ skis into the park to get trashed!  I have looked around, but I like what Ive read about the JO Pros plus I really like the graphic (lol, go ahead and start flaming about that)..but in all honesty, between the various higher end skis (within a certain niche), your joking yourself if you think the choice does not come down to either brand name preference or looks (whether it be the same looks as everyone else or trying to be an individual). I also need help with ski lengths.

Any hints in bindings would be appreciated too.

Oh, price range doesnt really matter for me. Unlike a lot of middle/high schoolers, I am a bit older (ie 27) so price range doesnt matter for me, however I hate buying low end stuff and having to upgrade. I'd rather start off on the best.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Apr 6 2008 5:26AM
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zackblain
Posts: 2322 - Karma: 22
your boots should work fine if they fit nice. As for skis I would go with some sort of heads, k2 PEs, volkls, fischer addict pro's or maybe even the prophet 90s.
Apr 6 2008 9:05AM
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phishfood
Posts: 2542 - Karma: 298
if you're looking for a good stiff park ski, go with next years volkl walls. J.O pros are ok but i think the walls are ur best bet.
and i know a bunch of kids who ski park in race boots so thats no problem. plus you'll just manhandle a softer boot and it'll probably end up making park harder for you.
Apr 6 2008 10:50AM
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suckyn00b
Posts: 39 - Karma: 10
Any suggestions on ski lengths? Ive been told the 169cm over the 169. I was wondering do I need to go all the way up to 178? that seems a bit excessively long.
Apr 6 2008 1:10PM
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suckyn00b
Posts: 39 - Karma: 10
Sorry to be such a nub, but whats the importance of softness/stiffness of freestyle skis.

I know the technical background for racing/carving skis. Im assuming, soft/stiff skis when it comes to freestyle skiing have other factors for tricks such as rails vs jumps? Can anyone explain to me the benefits of stiff vs. soft skis in relation to type of tricks (ie jumps, rails, pipe)?
Apr 6 2008 1:16PM
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StReEtPIRATES
Posts: 1378 - Karma: 138
Stiff skis are usually poppier(springyier) and can take faster speeds without chattering, they are also better for jumping but not as good on rails.  Soft skis are imo more fun, better on rails,butterier sometimes lighter but not as good for jumping and going fast.
Apr 6 2008 3:19PM
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-Nick-
Posts: 1479 - Karma: 24
if you center mount you could easily ride 178s
Apr 6 2008 3:42PM
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mmckechnie
Posts: 1483 - Karma: 29
remember that you need to take into consideration that a park ski has a much shorter running length than a racing, or carving skis, due to the raised tail.  Also take into account that where you mount the ski will be much further forward than a racing/carving ski, much closer to center, so you will have much more tail to land and ski switch with.  this means less tip also meaning the ski will ski shorter.  so mounting closer or at center and having less running length means you should go longer with a park ski.  for 5'8 and 185 lbs i'd recommend 170 minimum and all the way up to 180 or 182, remember longer just means more stability for going fast and stomping landings, it also means more float if you want to ski some pow. 
Apr 6 2008 4:20PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
being a racer for the past 8 years(now just ending to because park is more fun), I would get new boots. 130 flex is quite stiff so I would go with at most a 110. And for skis I would say JO pros or even ar6(I love mine), maybe the Dumonts, they are fun to ride also
Apr 6 2008 7:26PM
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suckyn00b
Posts: 39 - Karma: 10
Thanks for the help guys, much appreciate it.
I think Ive decided on the JO Pro @ 178cm, center mounted.

I have found a great deal on the flat ski so I need to get bindings for them. Ive mostly seen these paired with Mojo 11 or 15's. Are these good bindings or is there something better out there that I should put on? the 15's are $200-250. So this would be the time to put on a different pair of bindings if there is something better out there.

Also mrstskier: I think stiffness in boots is all relative. The doberman Pro 130's are at the high end range of stiffness (believe me sometimes a real pain to get on and off). However, I have no problem flexing them. Like I mentioned in my original post I tried the Head Mojo's (dont know 100 or 110) however I dont think it would have matter because I practically fell on my face when I went to flex because they had so much give. I think I'll stick with my boots for now until I get a feel for the new skis and style of skiing to see if I like it and maybe I can make a more informed decision at that tie.


However, any suggestions on brands and models of bindings would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Apr 7 2008 3:17AM
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mmckechnie
Posts: 1483 - Karma: 29
the scratch or axial2 series is nice, I have the scratch 120 binding, a bit heavy, but really durable, all composite, another good one is the scratch 140 TI, a bit lighter, greater din settings
, and made with titanium
Apr 7 2008 9:20AM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
Mojo 15s should be fine. Others i would look at are Marker Jesters and Salomon STH 16s, depending at what you ride your DIN at. Unfortunately Look/Rossi went from making the best park bindings to very mediocre ones when they introduced the PX/Axial 2 series. If you know of any FKS120s (or ZR series) or people with the turntable P12s or P14s (or rossi equivalent) then i'd get those, you might be able to save money over buying new too.
Apr 7 2008 12:14PM
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suckyn00b
Posts: 39 - Karma: 10

Thanks for the help.
I'll probably go with the Moj 15's then. I'll loock at those other suggestions though

For freestyle do the DIN settings follow the same guidelines as traditional skiing?  I know there is a fine line where you dont want to break your legs because your boots didnt come out, but at the same time you dont want to break your legs because you boots did come out..lol...talk about a fine line?

Anyways, should the DIN settings on my freestyle setup be the same as my traditional skis?

Apr 7 2008 1:24PM
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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216
Don't trick yourself into thinking that the skis are all the same in the higher end range, because they are definitely not. Companies are still making asymetrical(sp?) park skis, and many of the current park skis have flexes based on what the pros like. I mean, look at the lizzys - they're Pollard's park skis and they're like... 100 underfoot.

For boots though, flex is good just not too much. I have salomon foil boots and they're amazing. For the skis, really do your research, you should probably get something really really stiff considering your weight.

For the DIN it should probably be higher than normal, because your skis absolutely must not come off if you are close to stomping something. Really though, if you are just starting out in the park, I would just set it as your normal DIN and see what works. If you feel your skis fall off to easily, turn it up. If they stay on too much, turn it down.
Apr 7 2008 9:53PM
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suckyn00b
Posts: 39 - Karma: 10
Thanks for the post.
I understand not all high end skis are the same. I do have some history of traditional skiing, so I understand the fundamentals of gearing, I just dont know the freestyle specifics.

I actually plan on buying 2 pairs of skis because Ive heard its not ideal to use the same ski to do both jumps and rails? So I figure I'd use JO Pro's for jumping and something like Moment Reno Jibs for park (or something symmetrical, Ive read Invaders, Punx? something of that sort)..

If you think the JO Pro's are too soft for my build can you suggest other stiffer skis that would be good for jumping? I think someone above suggested the Vokl walls?

Thanks
Apr 8 2008 2:27AM
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Dr.Scholl
Posts: 1139 - Karma: 47
if your gunna get 2 pairs dont get seperat rail and jump
you should get park skis and a bc or pow skis
but thats only if you get a lot of pow skiing in
since you live in the midwest you prolly only need a pair for park
Apr 8 2008 5:15PM
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