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February, 2025

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Surface one life's and line sir francis bacon. riding creatively

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karky
Posts: 49 - Karma: 27
hello everyone! this is my first post around here.

i've got a question for your general thoughts on two different skis:
the surface one life (2010's) and the line sir francis bacon

i picked up the one lifes recently at a price i couldn't ignore. i put in some research and figured they'd be a great playful ski. though, as i think about it now, i see that the bacon is also known to be wicked playful.

i'm 6'1", around 170lbs. I ski northeast, specifically northern Vermont. i'm looking to ski the mountain creatively and have fun with it. i want a ski that's going to be playful yet capable of taking me to new heights. i'm going to be taking the ski off the trails as well as on the trails a bit. i am willing to sacrifice a bit of all mountain capability, seeing how i've got a pair of ar6's.

i guess my main concern is the stiffness of the one lifes. i realize that due to their rocker they're going to be mad playful, but i also see Pollard throwing his bacons around completely grooving.

any thoughts?
14 years ago
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
its not the ski that makes someone ride creatively its the person on them.

to reiterate in the words of fat joe, "keep in mind whenever the 9 spit, its only as good as the nigga behind it"
14 years ago
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karky
Posts: 49 - Karma: 27
oh i agree completely. it is entirely up to the skier.

though, certain skis will inspire different styles for sure.

i'm just curious for any thoughts or experience on either ski so i can narrow down which one sounds like me.
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
I own both (Bacon's my are fathers).
Bacons at 182, are soft, very playful.
One Lifes at 189, are stiff, also playful..

Steeps and charging:
One Lifes: Rock at it, couldn't ask for a better ski for big mountain ski.
Bacons: More of a powder ski, it can handle the steeps, I just prefer the Surfaces more.


Powder and powder play:
Bacons: Great float, great for stomping, etc...
One Lifes: Great in slashing, the rocker helps with everything, I enjoy buttering in the powder.


All mountain: Both can handle almost just as equal.


Overall, I prefer the One Lifes.

It's not the best review on performance. It's been awhile.
14 years ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21098 - Karma: 8,543
Your post was really hard to read but I think I get the gist of it.

My take: Keep your One Life's, especially if you got them for cheap. I promise you'll enjoy them.

1. You live on the east coast so I'm not sure why you want a 112mm or 115mm waisted ski in the first place.

2. Why spend the money to get a new ski when you have a dope ski already?

3. I've never skied the east coast, but the stiffer ski will perform better at speeds on hardpack/crud.

4. If you want a "mad" playful ski for the east coast , look for a not so powder specific pair of skis.
14 years ago
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karky
Posts: 49 - Karma: 27
thanks for your reply!

what i'm gathering is that even though the one life is a stiffer ski, it's definitely still pretty playful because of its gnarly rocker? does it truly ski much shorter?

and these are going to be helping me more in the off-piste. i appreciate your review. however, i do live in the northeast and am curious how you find the one lifes on hardpack? unfortunately, no matter what i do over here there will always be a decent amount of hardpack to encounter. it's not at all a priority, just curious how they fair.
14 years ago
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karky
Posts: 49 - Karma: 27
hey man, thanks for your advice.

i'm going wider because even though i am east coast, i'm up north and there's a lot for a wider ski to handle in the off-piste
and the idea would have been to resell these. when i say playful, i meant for the kind of intended conditions these skis would be riding. i've already got a pair of armada ar6's that are great for on-piste.

i guess i've just got a bit of uncertainty. i always want to make sure i've got what i'm looking for, even after i've done lot's of researching. thanks man.
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
It skis shorter for sure. The contact surface on the One Life is about 90 cm.

As for hard pack, they're fine. It was my only ski last year (before I got them, I was on the Bacons).
With it being my only ski last year, I did ski them till mid-April. I'm able to initiate quite the turns on them, along with jibbin around the mountain (no park). The ski is fine, 112 is a great waist. Great for an all mountain/powder ski.
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
https://newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/493589/

Check the thread out. I enjoyed the outcome of the topic discussion a lot. It also gives you insight into other skis out there.
14 years ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21098 - Karma: 8,543
If it helps, I have the 4frnt CRJ's, and even on the iciest of days (by CO standards), you can hold an edge with them if you have the skill. They're really soft skis too. I still say you should keep the One Life's though. I want a stiff rockered ski myself, i just can't afford jack shit right now.
14 years ago
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karky
Posts: 49 - Karma: 27
hey muchomango, thanks for mentioning the crj's. i checked them out and they seem pretty cool. though, the more i've thought about it, a softer ski may come with some downsides for me personally. though i can never run them off till i try 'em.

for now though i'm definitely much more reassured with the idea of the one lifes. a stiff rocker is gonna be a great time.


also, thanks rudager for linking me to that thread! it was a great run of ideas and discussion. it definitely helped me clear out some thoughts and concerns.
plus, what you have said about the one lifes is great. i feel like i'm gonna love messing around on the mountain. now that i've gathered some perspective on them, they sound like they're gonna be perfect for me. i love riding whatever i can find in a new way. from what i know, the one lifes are light and quick, yet capable. also sounds like they might be rather nimble.
ultimately, it's what i'm gonna make with them. i can't wait to get out on the snow. just need to work on some bindings.

i know this changes topic a bit, but where do you have yours mounted. i'm thinking either on the boot line or just a bit back from there.
14 years ago
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,257
hhahahah that was actually incredibly relevant
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
You are very welcome.

I have my 189's mounted back -2
i luv it
14 years ago
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karky
Posts: 49 - Karma: 27
is that -2 from true center, or the running surface center. as far as i understand, there's a difference between the two on the one life.
14 years ago
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,642
from center
14 years ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21098 - Karma: 8,543
that's why i was saying to go with the one life's. they'd be better for the east coast. the CRJ's are more of a western ski. the soft flex on 'em would make them not so much fun on the ice coast.
14 years ago
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jamodeo
Posts: 3040 - Karma: 663
i would listen to this person
14 years ago
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9240 - Karma: 5,630
You should try and find a pair of elizibeths and then watch some videos of garret russel
14 years ago
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