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June, 2025

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How important is the flex of a ski?

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cagro25jay25
Posts: 84 - Karma: 45
Is the stiffness or softness that important on a ski. I've only owned one pair so I'm very sure what I like. Which flex is better for what and what is bad and good. About soft and stiff flexed skis?
12 years ago
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JAHBRADOR
Posts: 3165 - Karma: 18,897
To hit large jumps from Nov-Feb, stiff flex. To play around/spring skiing/smaller features, soft flex.

This is not set in stone but its a general guide.
12 years ago
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cagro25jay25
Posts: 84 - Karma: 45
Does it really matter then if I ski more all mountain and alot of bumps and a ton of glades ( I don't go in the park that much) so what would be better for what I ski?
12 years ago
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Mordecai
Posts: 620 - Karma: 401
there are some reeeeaaaalllly soft park skis out there, you're gonna want to avoid those if you ski mostly all mountain, but beside the really extremely soft ones, most skis of medium-stiff flex should be fine for all mtn/bumps

the only real difference is gonna be how much ice and big jumps you ski, where you'll want something stiffer
12 years ago
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cagro25jay25
Posts: 84 - Karma: 45
Thank you for the clarification. Any suggestions for skis that would be good for alot of trees and bumps that will also shred pow and groomers.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61964 - Karma: 126,855
For park its all personal preference. A solt ski is nice and forgiving, 10x easier to wash out on sketch landings but then fun to jib around with. Stiff ski is less forgiving but you'll be able to stomp everything kinda deal. Again, personal preference. I've always liked a ski with a soft tip but stiffer underfoot, stiff skis just feel weird to me but thats just my preference.

Now for shredding outside the park, soft skis CAN be fun in super deep pow (shredded some ep pros for a year and they were SO FUN in deep snow but really lacked on cliffs and steeps) but overall a stiffer pow ski is 10x more fun.
12 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,324
Everyone has their own preference. Demo different skis and see what fits your style more. The more playful you are the softer flex you want. If you want to do some high speed charging you will want something stuff. I have a soft and a stiff set up to pick from depending on the mood I am in and what kind of terrain I'm going to ski.
12 years ago
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50Kal
Posts: 2836 - Karma: 5,551
Op whats your size and budget for skis? Sounds like your a east coast shredder looking for something in the allmnt department. Give out some info and people will post up some skis to check out.
12 years ago
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cagro25jay25
Posts: 84 - Karma: 45
do it all and jay has the best glades so something good for that. I want something playful and versatile. Some thoughts were the atomic ritual or alibi or the line blend
12 years ago
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cagro25jay25
Posts: 84 - Karma: 45
I'm 15 5'10" and 135 lbs
12 years ago
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Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,546
So spot on with the pow ski. So many kids on this site thinking they are going to be buttering around like they are in the park, and popping pillows like in the movies. When in reality they are going to be scratching for scraps, and charging through chunder after a six inch dump at the resort.
12 years ago
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cagro25jay25
Posts: 84 - Karma: 45
Any suggestions?
12 years ago
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