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What type of skis would you guys recommend for someone who skis powder, drops, and groomers but not park? I want something that's great for powder and hitting drops, but will also do okay on groomers. I don't really ski park, although I might start. Any advice?
I have the blogs and they rip hard. I even took them on park lane at keystone and performed perfectly on the 30ft jumps. They were actually more fun than my park ski
Pretty much comes down to what terrain you'll be skiing the most. I would recommend getting a big ski designed for off-piste because if you're a good skier you'll be able to ski anything on the groomers, but off-piste is where you really want the right skis. I have K2 Obsethed (179cm, 117mm waist, lots of rocker), they're great for everything off-piste and can rip the groomers too once you get used to them (though you'll have a hard time controlling them on groomers at first if you're not used to wide rockers), so if I was in your place I'd go with something similar to that. Nice and wide to absorb the drops, lots of rocker to float in pow, big and strong enough to charge hard on the steep faces. Some models to consider (not sure if they are all still in production, but if not there will be a successor) would be K2 Annex, Atomic Bent Chetler, Armada JJ, Liberty Helix or Double Helix, Moment Bibby Pro, and Nordica Patron.
That said, I don't ski park, and I doubt you'd want something that big if you are going to be skiing a lot of park. If you're going to be doing a lot of park and a lot of off-piste you'll really want two pairs. But if you're not that serious yet, and just want something that'll be good for everything, go with an all-mountain twin tip, or something between an all-mountain twin tip and a park ski, like the Line Chronic. But keep in mind something like this will not float in pow as well, won't absorb big drops as well, will be hard to ski on the really steep faces/spines, etc, so if you're serious about off-piste you'll definitely want a dedicated off-piste ski.
I've only skied the JJs for a few runs so maybe I'd think otherwise if I skied them more, but although they're fun and playful, they don't feel powerful enough on the steeps to me.
I ski the blend for my daily driver and it's insanely nimble on the mountain and also playful for all the side hits out of the park. Maybe a 100 underfoot isn't quite wide enough for the deep deep days but still. I've also heard wonders about On3p's Jeffery. Really any wider ski that still has a bit of camber and some decent side cut is going to rip on groomers. Not sure if you plan on tricking those drops or skiing switch at all, but if you're just bombing you'd probably be better off skiing a ski with a flatter tail such as the moment Governor.
I have the Armada JJ 185 and in the pow its the most fun ski I have ever skied but everywhere else its just alright. It does great in the chop and crud. It hates ice but every ski does. On the groomers its not bad. Also it feels pretty flexy and playful it does not feel stiff and hard charging. Honestly I would consider a more traditional ski like an ARV which is basically a wide fully cambered ski with some rise in the tip and tail...It can ski the pow well and it can handle everything else well too. The new one seems like it could be pretty stiff too which I like. There's a lot of great skis out there, you need to tell everyone what you ski and all that jazz. Not just, hey I want new skis. There's...
Race skis
deer valley groomers on a pow day gaper skis
powder skis
all mountain skis
big mountain skis
park skis
old school garage sale straight long skis
carbon fiber skis
wood core skis
wood core plastic hybrid core skis
cap skis
sidewall skis
google.com for skis
and ramble on long enough to lose your interest and earn a negative reply skis
As I said, I only skied them a few runs, and it was also with demo boots, so I might change my mind if I got to ski them more, but my Obsethed feel more powerful on the steeps to me.
i'd say go for a longer ski with significant tip rocker, decent camber underfoot, rather stiff and somewhere in the 100-120mm range underfoot depending on where you ski and how much pow/hardpack you ski ...
personally i ski on coreupt born to drop skis and love em for what you have just described...
Volkl Mantra.
Wide enough to handle pow but still narrow enough to tackle groomers. Metal topsheet for when you want to charge. Good enough for Volkl's big mtn pro riders.
If you are gonna go volkl mantra, I'm going arv ti, which handles pow/chop way better Thant the Mantra because of both the twin tail and the amount of rocker on the tip, and carves pretty close to as well as the Mantra.
I know I'm a noob to NS but...
Go with the Bacons. Early rise in the tip and tail make it easy in the deep snow and the longer effective edge makes it easy on the groomers. At a 108 underfoot, its a one-ski quiver. I've skied them from Mt. Creek ice to Canyons 20" pow and they've never let me down.