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Anyone on here try race skis?

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Krokodile
Posts: 350 - Karma: 40
Just curious because I was on shitty rentals until I got park skis, so I've never rode them.  I'd be down to give racing skis (not racing mind you) a shot to see what they're like.  Are they noticeably faster?  How do they feel handling wise compared to a park ski?
Oct 4 2011 12:17AM
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SteezoSaurus
Posts: 2630 - Karma: 2,670
For the most part, racing skis are going to be far less playful than park skis. The edges do have a tendency to hook up quiet a bit more which will add stability, but inhibit livelyness such.

The only reason you should be buying race skis is if you are a racer. Do not buy if your looking for something that's good for a daily driver.
Oct 4 2011 12:25AM
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Krokodile
Posts: 350 - Karma: 40
I see.  Definitely didn't plan on dropping any cash on a race setup, just genuinely curious about a type of ski I'm not familiar with.
Oct 4 2011 12:26AM
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SteezoSaurus
Posts: 2630 - Karma: 2,670
Understandable.

They would definitely be different. Just keep in mind that there are alot of different aspects out there in the ski world that you may wanna try. I would lean more towards the direction of an all mountain pow ski though.

Oct 4 2011 12:30AM
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SteezoSaurus
Posts: 2630 - Karma: 2,670
Understandable.

They would definitely be different. Just keep in mind that there are alot of different aspects out there in the ski world that you may wanna try. I would lean more towards the direction of an all mountain pow ski though.

Oct 4 2011 12:30AM
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_Jesus_
Posts: 2070 - Karma: 260
Yes, they are faster, they are infinitely stiffer, they are mounted farther back. Slalom skis are made for short quick turns (and thats obviously what they are good at) while GS skis make faster arcs. Super G skis are like jacked up GS skis, they will make a lot larger arcs and are generally harder to maneuver for obvious reasons. Lastly, Downhill skis are just ridiculous. You cant expect much less than pure speed in a race ski that generally ranges from size 190-215. All of these are much faster than non-race specific skis.

and like I said, all of these varieties are super stiff.
Not sure if that was the response you were looking for..but thats what race skis are like.
Oct 4 2011 12:41AM
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j_hamborg
Posts: 561 - Karma: 747
If you ever think that you are carving hard on your twin tips, you are not. Race skis, or race inspired skis are insanity. So much fun! You have to be a strong skier to get the potential out of the ski but once you do they are hilarious.

Oct 4 2011 10:56PM
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123

I've taken race skis in the park. Never tried jibbing with them, but on jumps they are shit.

They will kick you back because the long tips catch the wind sending them up.

Oct 4 2011 11:13PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9226 - Karma: 5,442
I wish I had a pair with perfectly tuned edges for ice. I'd carve so hard...
Oct 4 2011 11:18PM
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j_hamborg
Posts: 561 - Karma: 747
LOL radius 13m Crazy!!

Oct 4 2011 11:21PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
I have to pair of 'race ski' some old elan speedwave , very sick but they are very sort now :( and some salomon sc, might buy a pair of salomon 3v when i have the money.
Oct 4 2011 11:26PM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
races skis are alot of fun on a groomer, going ultra fast and not having any chatter, getting super low to the point ur hip is almost dragging on the ground, anyone who disagrees either hasnt tried them or cant ski them properly, problem is as an everyday ski they get boring after 2 hours on a groomer and are a bitch to ski on anything but a groomer or bumps. i have a pair of head xrc, they are 170cm, 14m radius, 68 underfoot, really really fun..for about 2 hours, then i get my fattys out again
Oct 5 2011 12:37AM
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LiveSnowJKS
Posts: 199 - Karma: 10
i used to race before i moved over to freestyle..racing skis are more controllable when carving but less giving and obvious the butter is non existant.  they are not very practical though unless you race. but i understand the curiosity
Oct 5 2011 2:43AM
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idskithat
Posts: 1314 - Karma: 154
i would wanna take a pair and just haaaaaaul ass down some groomers, taking super intense carves
Oct 5 2011 6:42AM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
Race skis are so much fun.
My quiver:
Click for larger image

I race ski cross so I'm on gs skis a lot, but yea, they're fast and fun
Oct 5 2011 9:29AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,274
race skis are super fun

slalom skis are incredibly fun to go carve the shit out of some really tight turns and gs skis are great to go super fast and make massive arcs. remember though that gs skis have a turn radius of 27m normally these days whereas park skis are like ~18m so your gs skis are gonna make a hell of a bigger turn so you need to be careful of the edges hooking up
Oct 5 2011 9:36AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
if you enjoy carving, you should definately give em a try, i got myself a pair of fischer RC4 skis and they blow my twintips away when it comes to carving hardpack, especially on ice you'll learn to love the razor sharp edges and consequentially the insane amount of edge hold :)
Oct 5 2011 10:02AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
I've got a couple sets of race boards:
2004 191cm Volkl P60 WC GS @19m
2011 187cm Volkl Racetiger WC GS @27m
2011 165cm Volkl Racetiger SC @13.6m

The GS boards I used for racing skicross and shit they're fun. Super stable at high speeds and you know when you hook up an edge at 80+km/h that it's going to hold
Oct 5 2011 10:38AM
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Pee_and_Ski
Posts: 1869 - Karma: 57
if you can get on pair they are fun, you can fly
Oct 5 2011 11:41AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6713 - Karma: 11,477
depends on your definition of liveliness or playfulness... can you butter a WC slalom ski, not really. But does it turn skiing into driving Porsche GT3, hell yes. If you don't think that is playful, then something is wrong with you.

Skiing a boring groomer instantly becomes more fun with race skis. Get a used pair from a swap just to keep around for certain days. You will dig it for sure.
Oct 5 2011 11:42AM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,296
Raceskis are awesome. Especially when it's icy/hasn't snowed for a couple days. When the slopes are really hard you go incredibly much faster than on park ski's.

Nothing more fun than carving down a black slope on race ski's. You should defo try them out, it's incredible how much more grip you have. On my park ski's I have no edges whatsoever and can only carve a little, but on my GS ski's, dayum!
Oct 5 2011 12:38PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9226 - Karma: 5,442
also it'd be nice to have a fast base versus my partially destroyed bases on my park skis. If i could find some for cheap i'd consider but then i'd end up with two pairs of skis that i'd be bringing around. plus NJ isn't exactly diverse in snow conditions. but then again, normal skis are perfect for it.
Oct 5 2011 12:45PM
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BrownBomber
Posts: 675 - Karma: 446
Race skis are not fun at all to freeski in. Ya, they mob deep, and you have crazy amounts of controll over the ski compared to any park ski.

Take them off the groomers tho, and they turn to garbage. there heavy as fuck, so thats death in powder, and extra tricky in the park. But like, when i was little i would ditch out on training and hit the park on my slaloms, and throw like 7's and shit, obviously nothing switch, and no rails, but still worth it when i was sick of training.

And to the guy who said Super G's are like powered up GS skis, and that Downhills are 190-205. You sir, are dead wrong. GS skis are like 185, where Super G are around 200, depending on the weight and strength of the skier. They are also much heavier, stiffer, and much harder to skate on. (alot of younger kids start, skate, and fall down before the first gate cause they arent used to their skiis) Downhills are no shorter than 215 to the serious racer.

Dont Talk about that which you dont know.
Oct 5 2011 3:50PM
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j_hamborg
Posts: 561 - Karma: 747
Well, up to this point everyone has just been stoked to share their experiences. But then the arrogant racer asshole has to show up and remind us all why we don't like racers in the first place. A bunch of know it all pricks. No one gives a fuck about your lame boner 720s on your race skis. No one.
Oct 5 2011 4:40PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6713 - Karma: 11,477
You sir, need to stay up on current events. For 2012/13, FIS will approve new rules governing the radius and length of men's GS (35m, 195cm), SG (45m, 210cm) and DH (50m, 218cm). No changes to slalom.
Oct 5 2011 5:10PM
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BrownBomber
Posts: 675 - Karma: 446
Alright, asshole, I was sharing my experience too. That they suck in the park, but shit can still go down. Wasn't a claim. And yes, when i was 12, all my tricks where penciled. most kids where.

Secondly, ex-racer. I wouldn't be surprised if half the people on Newschoolers raced at one point in there life. So to make a sweeping generalization like that about racers makes you the prick, not me.

Ill admit that last line was pretty unnecessary, but you kinda blew this one outta the water bro.
Oct 8 2011 4:37PM
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