So just got back from demoing some of next years stuff,
195 JJs - 5mm wider all around with a thicker core profile meaning its slightly stiffer, less hooky than the 185, great for charging down but still really nimble in the trees and with the same playability of the 185. Favorite ski in the test, absolutely loved them.
163 TST's - Girlfriend tested these and liked them but just not as good as as the 175 JJs.
184 Rocker 2 - This is actually a cool ski, now I havn't tried the hellbents but I took out the obsethed and hated the front half of the ski (pretty much a hellbent). This in my mind is what the hellbents/pow jib ski should be. Still rips it around, obviously not as good as JJs in chop/crud but still handled it really well. But the tips/trails are so jibby. You can put a lot of flex into them but they spring you out really well. Lots of snap to it. Spins really well too, only thing I didnt like was kinda felt thuddy on landings but might just be my technique. I tried the 184 and it was super fun, would prefer the 192 at my height but it really surprised me. The honeycomb thing reminds me of surface style rocker in the tips, its slightly tapered too.
188 S7 - Same as years before and a lot of you probably have skied this already, really liked it but the tip is just far too floppy, im not that aggressive but it just dusn't cut through chop well enough. If your gonna buy these get the Super 7s come in a 188 and a 195 next year. More nimble than the JJs but just not quite as good imho. Still a super nice ski but definatley get the Super7s.
184 Mantra's - Probably a good ski for some but not for me, probably really good for maching on groomers and stuff but didnt seem to do anything out of the ordinary. Likes to go fast and hard but didn't feel as stable as the wider skis for charging hard.
179 Obsethed - Again same ski as last year, thought it sucked, tip is far, far to floppy not very nimble and just gets knocked around. Would probably be sweet in fresh but sucked at everything else. Personal opinion though.
Park Skis
181 Step-ups - These things are fucking sweet, sidewall construction, rep mentioned 186 length too but not 100% sure on that, race base is super fast, its really stable on jumps, carves super nice, spins well, seems fairly light weight for line too. But the tips and tails are still buttery, kinda feels like a snappier Anthem, as easy to butter but not all soft and washy. Favorite park ski just ahead of the T-Halls. Flex is hard to describe but I guess but its awesome. Thoroughly recommend.
Alpha 1s - Same as last year, Cool ski, but I definitley prefer a traditional centre mounted ski for park, was mounted at +3 though, but skis pretty well on groomers.
T-Halls - Loved these, just the right flex, stiffer than I expected them to be but they seem to just butter differently than normal skis, the hinge point seems further back, easy to hold it in a press but took a few goes to get used to.
Pipe Cleaners have AR50 construction but didn't test them.
177 Ace of Spades - Good ski, really stable, carves nice. Butters OK for a "stiffer" ski, felt pretty heavy though but then there were some mondo demo bindings on these with what seemed like a huge metal plate underneath.
Wall- Nice ski, carves well, stable but just not fun to mess around on really, but then it was mounted at +3 too, retarded on a symmetrical ski.
All though the AoS and the Walls are good skis, the Step-ups are just what these skis should be.
Not that anyone on here is probably interested but the new Elan Amphibios are dope as hell for a carving ski, two sets of edges one is rockered one is not. Tried the Waveflex 14 and its super nice feels soft to help initiate and a nice feel but plenty stiff enough, very torsionally strong. This is not a soft ski but still forgiving. The edges are really cool and the rocker side definitley helps in soft stuff, want a pair as my instructing skis.
Also tested the Fischer Progressor 10+, really nice ski, more precise than the Elans, I'm too light/not aggressive enough to really get the best out of them though, gotta give it a bit more. SC4 is supposed to be a better ski but didn't test it.
I know a lot of these skis arnt new but thought I'd share my input anyway and gives you an idea to compare I guess. Got to test these is 35cm of new so take that for what you will.
Major props to Big White and all the Reps for opportunity and the good times.
