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Powder/offpiste ski for European Alps

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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
Hi guys

I'm in the market for a new pair of skis (including bindings) for my 3 weeks on the Alps this year. I will try to do as much offpiste as possible, perhaps even some treelines as well.

I have little offpiste experience but I'm a good skier overall. I'd like a somewhat versatile ski that will work well offpiste (#1), but does good in treelines and can still hold itself on groomers (can still turn properly :-))

I'm 184cm and about 80kg


I'm going to demo a couple skis this winter and buy a pair that I like. Suggestions would be great!

Thanks
Jan 23 2012 7:39AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6704 - Karma: 11,276
Give our Atomic Access a look. 100mm waist width, so it has a decent amount of float but still quick edge to edge while on piste. Wood core, Step-Down sidewall construction with rockered tip (allows it to float easily) but still has traditional camber under foot for performance on piste. Look at the 181 and 191 for a guy your size. Definitely should be a ski on your list to check out.
Jan 23 2012 9:00AM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
Check out the Salomon Shogun
Jan 23 2012 9:05AM
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nagelthebagel
Posts: 205 - Karma: 36
189 K2 Obsethed
185 Line Mr, Pollard Opus
185 Armada JJ

Jan 23 2012 9:38AM
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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
I currently have Line Anthem's (made the mistake of thinking I'd be good at park... I'm not even close to being athletic enough ;-)) and they're slow as hell. Are the other models you mentioned better when it comes to their base?

Perhaps it's a bit of a defect in the bases but I doubt it. Last year, I had to hotwax them every 2-3 days for onpiste use...
Jan 23 2012 9:40AM
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Nicko1981
Posts: 527 - Karma: 180
Liberty Helix 187 (or 182). 105mm underfoot, stealth rocker in the tip, bamboo core.

Powder magazine's skier's choice etc. Probably my favourite ski.
Jan 23 2012 9:46AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6704 - Karma: 11,276
Anthems have extruded bases which are naturally slower and do not absorb wax well (if at all). Hot waxing them is almost useless. For extruded bases, there is a rub on called Maxi-Glide which will help when applied on a daily basis.

All of the skis mentioned above use sintered bases, which when cared for, are much faster.
Jan 23 2012 9:53AM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
Where you going in the alps bro ... Look at anything between the 100-110 waist width +armada JJ, as that can still rip groomers, gives great float and is nimble in the trees
Jan 23 2012 1:32PM
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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
Doing Tignes in 2 weeks (some 200cm base atm), Mayrhofen 2 weeks after that (160ish I believe) and then last but not least Sankt Anton with a massive 500cm snowpack right now. Stoked!
Jan 23 2012 2:24PM
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Pete88
Posts: 70 - Karma: 37
Have a look at the Bentchetlers and the AK JJs... At your height i'd def go over 190.... Wish Armada had released the AK when i got my JJs as i'd like more length, I'm 6ft.
My friend has the bentchetlers and loves them, I love my JJs... Both have been great this season in Tignes, from knee deep upto waist deep powder. 

Jan 23 2012 3:25PM
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jdubbs.
Posts: 728 - Karma: 119
Hey man. Check out Majesty. I have the Dirty Bear skis and they are phenomenal. They are great for everything. If you want something that is a "genuine free ride machine" check out the Ace's. The Lumberjacks are made for grazing through some great pow and the superiors are also made for all terrain greatness. Personally I would get the Lumberjacks but they are all highly regarded skis. If you want to get them my public code is JW2012. This will get you 25% off of all products from www.majestyskisusa.com
Thanks
Jan 23 2012 4:08PM
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jdubbs.
Posts: 728 - Karma: 119
Hey man. Check out Majesty. I have the Dirty Bear skis and they are phenomenal. They are great for everything. If you want something that is a "genuine free ride machine" check out the Ace's. The Lumberjacks are made for grazing through some great pow and the superiors are also made for all terrain greatness. Personally I would get the Lumberjacks but they are all highly regarded skis. If you want to get them my public code is JW2012. This will get you 25% off of all products from www.majestyskisusa.com
Thanks
Jan 23 2012 4:09PM
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jdubbs.
Posts: 728 - Karma: 119
Fucking glitchy interwebs = double post
Jan 23 2012 4:10PM
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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
Hey

What makes you say the AKs are preferable? Aside from the length that is. Because from what the Armada site says, they're stiffer (not so much a problem) but also have a longer turn radius (of course they do) and seem more suited for big mountains rather than the stuff I see myself doing (offpiste/sidepiste/trees and then groomers)

I do have to say, the Atomic Access and Bent Chetler and the Armada JJ's all look great. Will definately check to see if I can demo them

On a related note, seeing as you've skied in Tignes (or are located there?): can you give us some tips on where to go? Places to find people we can maybe tag along with? Were not exactly experienced in the BC and since there's only 2 or 3 of us most likely, it might be good to have more company for safety and to find the best places to ski.
Also, what are the best ski shops? Do you know shops that allow me to demo these skis for a few days if I'm interested in buying?
Jan 24 2012 4:02AM
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nagelthebagel
Posts: 205 - Karma: 36
I wouldn't really recommend AK JJs for europe, since there arent many big open lines you can charge with it. Also he said that he wants ski trees, so he would benefit more from the smaller turn radius from the normal 185 JJs I think. Bentchetlers are dope 2!
Jan 24 2012 4:25AM
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Nicko1981
Posts: 527 - Karma: 180
I can hook you up with a demo on the Liberty Helix while you're in Tignes if you want? PM me if you're interested.
Jan 24 2012 5:31AM
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Pete88
Posts: 70 - Karma: 37
The Ak JJ has pretty much the same dimensions as the Bentchetler but with a tighter turn radius. I've hand flexed it but it didn't seem much stiffer than my JJs, would have to ask someone who's skied them about the difference.. Main reasons for getting picking them would be the added length and width.

The shape and the rocker of both skis mean they turn on a penny off piste, on piste you can carve turns easily, shorts and bumps are obviously harder, but still easier than on my old Seths from 05.06..

As for Tignes skiing, the whole face on the right hand side of Tichot lift, up from Val Claret is sick....
Jan 24 2012 9:56AM
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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
Awesome, thanks a lot for the info!

What about bindings for these things, does anyone have tips for that?
Jan 24 2012 10:31AM
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Jaggy_Snake
Posts: 2287 - Karma: 1,418
I'm going next week. Can't wait to ski that pow.
Jan 24 2012 10:31AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6704 - Karma: 11,276
Are you serious, aren't many big open lines in Europe? Big open lines = Europe
Jan 24 2012 12:03PM
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meowmo
Posts: 319 - Karma: -102
atomic blogs i would check out but i hear they are totally dead feeling...
Jan 24 2012 4:10PM
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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
I am currently in tignes, and have been looking for the Armada JJ's all over. One shop left I can try tomorrow, but one guy told me they're sold out in all of France.

Couple questions:

- What is the quality and durability of Coreupt ski's, the Slasher in particular? Of the skis I tried that one stuck out... tried the Salomon Czar and K2 Kung Fujas but I was hardly impressed
- any other ski's worth trying out? I can't seem to find a whole lot that would suit me, it seems
- This is a long shot, but can anyone confirm that I will be able to find Armada JJs or Coreupt Slashers in Mayrhofen or Sankt Anton am Arlberg in Austria? Going to those places in 2-3 weeks (respectively), but I'm not sure if I should "risk" not buying skis now...
Feb 7 2012 11:15AM
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Pete88
Posts: 70 - Karma: 37
Hey, try giving Labo shop in Bourg Saint Maurice a call if you're set on them... They had them in there 2/3 weeks ago, they speak pretty good English.
http://annuaire.118712.fr/Savoie-73/Bourg-saint-maurice-73700/Laboshop-%28reality%29-0479415331_2E0050F00000R20700T20560G

My friends got the Coreupt Pows the other day and has already got a coreshot in them that he didn't even feel when he did it. So not sure if that's due to him being a retard or soft bases...

Good Luck! They're definitely worth it


Feb 7 2012 12:56PM
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SlurrP
Posts: 172 - Karma: 26
182 4FRNT Turbo. Tip/tail early rise and camber underfoot. wiley miller shreds it in AK. it's my everyday ski in Vail, CO. frigging rips. you will not be disappointed with 4FRNTs customer service or the durability of the ski either!
Feb 7 2012 1:15PM
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codma
Posts: 69 - Karma: 11
Bent and JJ`s are similiar skis and are awesom skis! no doubt on that.. but u can also go wiht 4FRNT Renegade there are many goods words for 4FRNT Renegade!
Feb 7 2012 2:23PM
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SlurrP
Posts: 172 - Karma: 26
Renegade is an amazing ski. pivots like none other in the trees and just watch a POV video of Hoji to see how it handles off piste
Feb 7 2012 6:12PM
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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
no luck finding the JJs... will try in mayrhofen. the line Pollard Opus looks good too, will look for that as well
Feb 10 2012 5:39PM
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TheGrudge
Posts: 113 - Karma: 10
one shop had next season's armada skis... think it was called something like buba... 125ish fat, rockered, massive pow skis. not what i want but they look amazing!
Feb 10 2012 5:40PM
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