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December, 2024

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New powder ski opinions

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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Hey,

So I'm thinking about a new powder ski for this season, at the moment I have Volkl Chopsticks and Gotamas, I find the Chopsticks to be great in powder, but a pain to ski everywhere else, and actually a little short at 185, and the Gotamas are wrecked after a low snow season in Chile. I'm 6'2" 185lbs and ski fast, jump off stuff and occasionally spin/flip. The ski will be skied solely in Niseko, Japan.

At the moment I am looking at a ski that's 190cms + and about 120mm underfoot, relatively stiff, twin tip would be ideal but not essential, frontrunners are Squad 7s, AK JJ, Blizzard Bodacious, Volkl Shiros. I think at the moment I want the squad sevens the most, but they are fucking expensive, and I am not sure whether I can get pro form on them.

Anyhow, any ideas or feedback from people that have skied a few of those skis would be great.
Sep 2 2012 5:08PM
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Dubins
Posts: 174 - Karma: 33
I havnt skied the ak's but I bought them anyway... If you've skied the 185 jj and loved it as I have, then a really just couldn't see a reason that making that a bit longer, stiffer, and giving it better float could be bad! I've heard its not really the big mountain charger it's made out to be but it retains alot of the regular jj's playfulness... But it defiantly has more charging capabilities than the 185
Sep 2 2012 5:14PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Yeah I definitely like the look of the AK JJ, I did like the 185s, but they felt super small/soft, I hear the tips of the AK JJ are still pretty soft, but that's not such a problem as they will solely be for Niseko, I will probably get something narrower but stiffer for Portillo next year, maybe some more Gotamas or Cochises.
Sep 2 2012 5:18PM
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NEIL-YOUNG
Posts: 317 - Karma: 423
i love my opuses

Sep 2 2012 5:48PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
Skis take a look at:

ON3P Caylor :191 @ 146-120-138  TR 27m
http://www.evo.com/skis/on3p-caylor.aspx#image=52661.Size.LengthCM_171_Image.jpg



^There is a really good review in this.






Icelantic Gypsy: 190 @ 152-125-147  TR 25m
http://www.evo.com/outlet/skis/icelantic-gypsy-2012.aspx
Heard this ski kills the powder and the hardpack.
http://icelanticboards.com/skis/gypsy/


I've heard of both of these skis and they kill it as a Jib pow ski.
 


Sep 2 2012 6:27PM
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Dubins
Posts: 174 - Karma: 33
Yeah the opus at 192 or the chetlers would also be sick for Japan... I was under the impression people took softer skis but I don't know why I think that haha... The new bubbas in pow are amazing but the ak offers more versatility!
Sep 2 2012 8:25PM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
If I could only take one pair of skis to Japan I would take a pair of moderate flexing, twin rockered, 120ish underfoot mounted with Dukes/Guardians. Out of the skis I have skied that fit that description two skis that stand out for me are the rocker2 122 and ON3P Caylor, there are reviews of both in blog quoted in my sig.
Sep 3 2012 12:52PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
I forgot to say The gypsy is lot like the K2 Hellbent (in the tip and tail) but really stiff underfoot. It's suppose to allow high speed it the chop as well as the pow. I didn't get to ride it but we had icelantic rep always showing them off on the mountain. Wish I could of rode them. They sick
Sep 3 2012 2:23PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Caylors and Opuses, look sick, bit more jibby than some of the others I was looking at, but that's not so bad. Finding On3p in the Uk is proving difficult though.
Sep 3 2012 2:24PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2835 - Karma: 5,534
Message ON3P. If your gonna be working for the mountain they should be able to give you pro-deal.
Sep 3 2012 2:52PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Thanks for the heads up, just messaged them.
Sep 3 2012 4:50PM
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jfrauen
Posts: 183 - Karma: 35
I ski the AK and I love it. It does anything I want it to do such as huge drops kickers and floats super nice in the deep pow. The only thing I would change is my binding setup. I have fks180s and they are super suck as well but I now want a touring binding on them just sayin
Sep 4 2012 10:01AM
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 49
Armada Magic J? That's what I bought to replace my chopsticks after demoing a pair of JJ's last year and wishing I had either gotten the bigger size or the contact point in general was further out since I love charging in the pow and making stupidly huge sweeping turns.
Sep 4 2012 7:06PM
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rylee.the.jedi
Posts: 410 - Karma: 368
I just bought the magic j as well and they look super dope and good stiffness for charging it seems
Sep 4 2012 7:18PM
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SloanKettering
Posts: 691 - Karma: 465
i would recommend sir francis bacons. they rip in the powder but are also designed to not bounce around on groomed.
if you really want something that will perform amazing in power and be able to switch over to the groomers the fischer hybrids might work.

Sep 4 2012 7:19PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
fight club
Sep 4 2012 7:48PM
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SlurrP
Posts: 172 - Karma: 26
If you aren't 100% about a twin-tip (which it doesn't sound like you are, Rossi Squad 7 is a flat) then the 4FRNT Renegade might be up your alley. It does not suck. At all.

Plus then you aren't buying a ski made in China...
Sep 5 2012 1:36AM
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TheWakes.
Posts: 685 - Karma: 235
190 Armada Magic J
Sep 5 2012 1:38AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Do you want symmetrical or directional as far as shape goes?
Sep 5 2012 3:12AM
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phreshpow
Posts: 834 - Karma: 133
I'm 6'5 and just got a pair of 189 Pettitors they measure out to like 193cm or something though cuz K2 uses small tape measures (jk actually just measure a different distance than most other companies, so they always measure out to be longer than their given length). I have yet to ski them, but the camber profile, sidecut and flex look/feel so sick. Just another ski I thought I'd throw in the mix. Good luck!
Sep 5 2012 3:35AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Magic J is a bit big, want something just a little more versatile, like I said, I think 120mm is about right for me.

I do ski switch in pow a bit, but I think a directional ski is what I want, the chopstick's tail was just a little excessive,

To the guy that said the squad seven is flat tailed, I thought there was still a twin tip there, just squarer than the S7s pintail?

Cheers again guys.
Sep 5 2012 10:19AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Something like a Billy Goat more than a Caylor then?

BG is 145/118/128, directional, but with tip and rail rocker. Its pretty stiff too, right up there with a Squad 7.
Sep 5 2012 12:34PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,403
yet actually stable unlike any of the 7 variations
Sep 5 2012 12:37PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Yeah the BG does look more like what I'd want, haven't really looked at the ON3P range much, as getting hold them seems like it'll be a pain.
Sep 5 2012 12:39PM
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Dubins
Posts: 174 - Karma: 33
What about the atomic automatics? Never skid em but they seem like a sick directional pow ski
Sep 5 2012 12:43PM
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