So here's the deal:
Essential facts:
Height: 5'9" - 5'10" (not quite sure)
Weight: roughly 143 pounds
I ski mainly at Stratton, VT. I do a lot of park but that's really not my favorite thing to do. I love skiing pow, blasting cliffs (of course, there are none at Stratton, but I take what I can get), ducking in the woods, basically steep n' deep shit. I really belong out west, but that's not happening for a while so for now, I'm stuck, and the biggest challenge on the mountain is in the parks, so that's where I go.
I have a pair of 08/09 Chronics (166 cm) with Griffons. I like them, they're great all over the mountain, but they're too stiff. I can't butter them, do presses, nollie, or anything like that. They kick ass at high speeds and they pop like crazy, but they're just not that playful. So I want another pair. I'm trying to choose between the Moment Rockers @ 171 cm or the Afterbangs @ probably 166 cm (unless 177 is a better idea, but they'd be taller than me, so I don't know about that...). Let's break it down.
The Moments are rockered, sidecut 114-92-114. They are apparently pretty flexy, and the rocker obviously helps with butters and that kind of stuff. They're advertised as "rockered park skis," but I'd imagine that the +90 waist and rocker makes them pretty good in pow too. The thing is, as much as I'd like to need a ski that performs in pow, the truth is, I only go out west once a year. And yeah, we get good snow sometimes in Vermont (like on Thursday, for example), but to be honest, my Chronics do fine in it, it's never that deep. So I don't know if this ski would really be necessary.
If I got them, I'd probably get them with Schizos ($339), and I can get these skis for $400, bringing the grand total to $739. Yikes. Working alternating weekends at $8.50 an hour, I won't make that for a long, LONG time.
The Afterbangs are, obviously, a park ski, sidecut 115-88-115. These are much more playful, and certainly more park oriented. I like that they cut down on wood and plastic waist, because I am an admitted and ardent environmentalist. The thing is, if I got these, they would leave my Chronics as the most versatile ski, and when the snow gets deep, the Chronics would be the only good option for me. And the Chronics really are not that good when the snow gets deep.
If I got these, they'd be with Griffons ($229) and these skis are $359, bringing the whole setup to $588. A much more comforting number.
So I guess my Chronics are the middleground ski. A bit of everything. Question is, which way do I want my new skis to lean? Do I want them to lean towards park and urban, or a bit more towards pow? Of course, the Moments are park-centered too, but the rocker and wide waist undoubtedly means they'll be a lot better in deep stuff than either of the Lines. The A-Bangs are a bit wider too, but they're no powder ski. And I've also heard some horror stories about the A-Bangs delamming, which worry me. So, what should I do? Any advice, testimonials about these skis, suggestions of other ideas, etc. are greatly appreciated.
I should just get some Faction Royales, just to be a BAMF.