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One Life, 'Chetler, Bibbys, and where to buy Night Trains/JJ

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the-big-lepowski
Posts: 1212 - Karma: 541

Sorry for another "pow ski for me thread", but couldn't find this specific set elsewhere, and got no help when I tried in other threads.

I'm looking for a ski to replace my Line SFB's that broke and I might stick with the same, but I'm curious about rocker.  I have a pair of carvers and also park skis, so I want a pair of true powder boards, probably with a similar flex to my bacons.  I'm skiing the east, so no floppy hellbents or EP's.  Not afraid to go fat, but I definately want a mid-flex, non-symmetrical (so no new life/chopsticks), 182-190 cm, 112-125 mm waisted, 18-25 m. radius ski.  Ideally a backcountry jib stick that is still decent at charging.  I also would like to support indie companies, so Moment/Surface or even ON3P sound good.  I don't know as much about the ON3P's, but I'm sure Rowen will play sales rep :)

Surface One Life- 189 cm, 112 at the waist- WHAT IS THE TURN RADIUS???  not listed on the surface site, which is surprising.  I assume the LAE artist one is the same, just different graphic?  It is listed as a partial twin tip, which worries me a bit.  What's the deal there?

Atomic Bentchetler- 183 cm, 123 at the waist- can't find it online very easily, but seems pretty ideal for me.  19 turning radius sounds good for the EC.

Armada JJ- 185 cm, 115 waisted- looks ideal for me, but I can't find it online in my size.  the sidecut and rocker looks fun.  Also, could anyone find last years online in a 185?  I would do illicit  things for person who finds it.  14m turning rad.  looks so short?!?  yet I see people straightlining with these?  explanation?

Moment Night Trains- 186 cm, 123 waisted, 27.4 m radius.- dopesauce, but I can't find them online. 

Moment Bibbys- 186 cm, 115 waisted, 21.9 turn radius- super schweet, and I can get 'em for cheap off evogear.

As much as I love CRJ, his sweet skis don't meet my requirements for the East.  not enough sidecut.

I'm 6', 160 lbs, type III skier. 

Peace, TBL

6', 160 lbs, any thoughts?

Feb 28 2010 11:14PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
Moment Donner Party if you're not afraid of width. And with the DPs, you certainly don't have to be afraid, they handle the firm quite nicely. Check the review section or my threads for my review.
Feb 28 2010 11:19PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,626
I have the LAE at 189. same as the One Life.
Partial twin means since the massive rocker is in effect, the tail isnt turned up like a normal twintip.

I don't know the radius of them, but the can turn on everything. This ski is the stiffest twin/rocker out there that ive seen. so it charges and handles everything. wont flop around.

havent skied anything else that you listed. But the One Life/LAE is the best all mountain ski. 112 in the waist, solid ski.
I'd buy them. The rocker makes them sex in pow. People will think that theyre broken and stare at you thinking you dont notice when secrtly you do and you can hear them.
Mar 1 2010 12:10AM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 314
I love my jj's and one lifes. Either one would be perfect for what you are looking for. Check tgr and ebay and geartrade for 185 jjs. good luck!
Mar 1 2010 12:38AM
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luc
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 607
next years SFB will have early rise!
Mar 1 2010 7:02AM
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the-big-lepowski
Posts: 1212 - Karma: 541

thanks for the help bros.  The moment DPs would be fun out west, but for an east coast ski, and as a 3rd ski for my quiver, they're a bit extreme.  yes, at that point, I'm a bit of a fatty-puss.

anyway, Bibbies I can find easily and they sound great.  One lifes still sound nice, but I'm not sure I dig one of the stiffest flexes in this category.  Anything else about the turn radius for JJ's?  And where the hell do I find them?  I'm too lazy to get a TGR account, and I might want to order online tonight, so I might use next week when I'll ski alot. 

Mar 1 2010 2:02PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
on3p caylor
Mar 1 2010 2:14PM
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Phormat
Posts: 774 - Karma: 20
you don't need a TGR account to browse through the gear swap forum. I got an awesome deal there, '10 obsetheds with griffons for $500. Also if you do an advanced search on geartrade.com, backcountry.com sells a lot of new gear there that has been returned, earlier this year i saw some 181 Night Trains selling for $425. Also google "search all of craigs", it will get you to a search engine that searches all craigslist listings for the entire country at once. As for ski advice, do you have other skis in your quiver? Otherwise from what I have heard, the JJs can carve on hard pack pretty well and slay in the pow. Night Trains are good all mountain too, but may be stiffer than what you described, so in that case I would lean towards the Bibbys. Honestly I think all of the choices you listed are awesome, and its hard to judge what would be best for you.
Mar 1 2010 3:30PM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 314
Oh yeah check boardlocker.com for jj's too.
Mar 1 2010 6:52PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
This is true. However, it may not be so true to the extent you think it is. I ride mine in the park every so often if I had a long night the night before and I want to chill during the day.

Go for Bibbys. Moment is just bombproof in general.
Mar 1 2010 6:53PM
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the-big-lepowski
Posts: 1212 - Karma: 541

scoring Bibbys from evogear for $518.

Really excited to try them and thanks for the advice.  A refreshing amount of personal experience in this thread.

Mar 1 2010 9:59PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
Another one for Moment! They are such a nice, down to earth company. I went straight to the factory to pick up my pair and they just seemed so happy that I was buying their skis.

Wise choice. I just picked up my second pair recently (190 Rubies).
Mar 1 2010 10:21PM
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iFail
Posts: 2066 - Karma: 65
One Lifes are by far the best at charging and are the most versatile, they will carve on your EC ice.  Turn radius is small due to large rocker.  They are way better outside of pow than anything you named IMO, but I haven't been on bibbys or NTs(but, based on their designs(186 of both) I'd say One Lifes would be much better out of pow/in park).  They're not the best at pow skiing of this group, but wayyy better than Bacons, I hated those.  For best pow performance I'd get NTs of those(pretty much full rocker and taper=surfy. yay), for great pow performance and best everywhere else I'd get One Lifes of those.
Mar 1 2010 10:56PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
Love Love Love my Bibbys in the east
I've skied everything from ice to pow and they've been so nice
Easy to toss around, feel nice and stable at speed, carve quite well considering their width and rocker and they are so fun in the park haha
Mar 1 2010 11:09PM
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the-big-lepowski
Posts: 1212 - Karma: 541
so excited to try rocker!  now for the follow-up- where to mount.  I've got last year's Jesters to throw on, but Moment's site didn't include a rec mounting point.  Anyone know it?  I also ski switch a lot, even in powder, so might want something closer to center.  Where do you have your's?
Mar 2 2010 11:38AM
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the-big-lepowski
Posts: 1212 - Karma: 541
bump.  where is rec. for mounting bibby's and where do you have yours?
Mar 3 2010 10:23PM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
There should be a line on the ski that you can see when you get them. Or email moment, they'll tell you.
Mar 3 2010 10:33PM
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summersover
Posts: 5777 - Karma: 233
recommended is -3.5 from centre i believe. there is a line there and thats where i have em
perfect spot i might add
Mar 3 2010 10:54PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
I would not even consider the one life, it's not a very well thought out ski, and doesn't excel in any conditions. The rocker design really ruins the ski.

Bentchetlers were fun, but didn't blow me away.

I haven't ridden the JJ's or the Night Trains, but I've heard nothing but great things.



Mar 3 2010 10:59PM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,626
I don't think so.

I have one ski and one ski only, and that's the One Life @ 189. It excels in plenty of conditions, and like most fat skis, not that well on ice. the rocker design is unlike any other, not that i've skied much other rockers, but the shape. The rocker doesnt hook. great for slashes, charging, pow, cliffs( haven't fallen back on the tail from landings), groomers, crud. just no ice, not that I die on ice, just it doesnt excel. I'd reccomend it if you have alot of verticle and steeps to ski.
Mar 4 2010 9:51PM
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johanblaze
Posts: 4987 - Karma: 345
ON3P Billy Goat's. Then Bentchetlers and JJ's.
Mar 4 2010 11:27PM
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johanblaze
Posts: 4987 - Karma: 345
But for the record.. I am a fan of the Obsethed even though I usually like a fatter and more rockered ski. They charge, stomp landing switch in pow, have a good sidecut, and rip chopped up snow as well as they rip pow.
Mar 4 2010 11:30PM
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iFail
Posts: 2066 - Karma: 65
I was afraid when I bought LL2s(which got warrantied for these).  They are great skis, probably the best powder jib ski out of powder in any other condition(I've skied lots).  Much better than Chetlers out of pow and better at cliffs than Chetlers were.  Try them then trash them if you didn't like them! Even if it wasn't that thought out, it works better than most pow jib skis.  Plus stiffness, it turns easily from the rocker and charges better than the vast majority of pow jib skis, which are medium to very soft flex.
Mar 5 2010 12:23AM
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Half-Blood
Posts: 1770 - Karma: 385
Have you ridden the LL2/One Life? They are a very versatile ski, and destroy everywhere. They were my one quiver ski last year from park/pow/big mountain/even some urban. That ski can handle anything. The 3 stage rocker is the best part of the ski, allows for a stiffer ski that can still butter/press/ollies/nollies ect. It is a great ski, it may take a few runs to get used to but after that there is nothing it cannot handle.
Mar 5 2010 12:47AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
4frnt CRJ's

the tips are real soft but they can hold an edge pretty well since they have side cut and normal camber underfoot. i use them more than my all mtn skis now. plus, pay some respect the the man.
Mar 5 2010 12:51AM
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Jamestown
Posts: 4002 - Karma: 51
He already bought Bibby's....
Mar 5 2010 12:55AM
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Rafe
Posts: 254 - Karma: 13
How did you get Bibbys for 518? I just bought some too and that's not what I paid.
Mar 5 2010 1:26AM
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the-big-lepowski
Posts: 1212 - Karma: 541
evogear.com marked down for $625, then their winter sale brought it down another 17% :)
And yes, I've ALREADY BOUGHT THE MOMENTS, so unless you want to recommend me a mounting spot...
Mar 5 2010 9:43AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
i didn't see tha tyou said no to these but htey hold an edge surprisingly well. you could go with the icelantic nomads too though. those have a lot of sidecut and people love them on the east coast.
Mar 5 2010 10:13PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
Yes, I have ridden the one life. The new life does everything you just said a lot better.
Mar 5 2010 10:32PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
I did ride them, in many different conditions.
Mar 5 2010 10:34PM
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Half-Blood
Posts: 1770 - Karma: 385
I guess we just differ in opinion, the New Life is a great ski but I would rather keep that ski in pow and bc jumping. I think they are both great skis, but if you don't like the One Life that is your opinion and I respect that. Everyone has their likes and dislikes.
Mar 6 2010 12:02AM
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iFail
Posts: 2066 - Karma: 65
one lifes or ll2s? there is a big difference, but to each his own.  I can understand people not liking that shape if it's not fitting of their style easily(I'll admit getting back on them after most of the season on 202 Lotus 138s felt wieerrrd).
Mar 6 2010 1:47AM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 314
Have you ever ridden one lifes??? They are amazing!
Mar 6 2010 1:17PM
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