Earlier today while tuning my skis and shit in preparation for the beginning of the ski season, I noticed my Line Afterbangs were completely separated on the tip between the edge and sidewall. The opposite ski had had rivets put through it last season because of de-lamination. This was the second pair I had gone through since purchasing these skis 2 years ago. Line was kind enough to replace the first pair after they were destroyed.
I will admit that I ski pretty god damn hard, and put my skis through a lot of, for lack of a better term, shit. I bought the Afterbangs because they were advertised as being a pretty tough ski that could handle all sorts of shit. I have nothing against Line or any brand, as I realize any ski will break if pushed hard enough. But before these, I have gone through at least one pair of park skis every season becasue of this exact problem. De-lam on tips and tails, edge separation, etc... I'm sick of having to buy new skis every year.
Unfortunately my 2010 K2 Obsetheds had to be retired this past spring, after FOUR SEASONS of fucking ABUSE. Those things were unreal. They were my every day ski, and held up in deep ass pow, park, anywhere. I loved them o m g <3
Their replacement is the Icelantic Nomad (the exact pair in fact that Leigh Powis filmed with in WE, on concrete, urban, dumpster jibs, slush, pow, etc.) The bases are stained to shit but fully intact. I'm stoked to find out how badass of a ski these are. But I don't want to forget what could be the inevitable.
FUCKING DE-LAM. IT HAPPENS TOO OFTEN.
I have never, and will not ever, pay full price for a pair of skis, because no matter how soild a company thinks their ski is, there is honestly no telling when it will break. That is just what I know from experience, and maybe I have bad luck, or maybe I'm doing something very wrong, but I really wish that skis would just last, you know?
Ski technology is really truly amazing when you think about it. It's a wonder that you can drill a few tiny screws into flimsy ass piece of wood and it will let you beat it to shit in really the most extreme conditions imaginable. I have nothing but respect for builders and innovators in the ski industry, creating cool new shit that allows me to enjoy skiing. I just kind of wish my skis would stop SPLITTING APART.
K2 has been putting rivets in the tip and tails of their skis forever. That seems very common sensical to me, and as much as I am a fan of the skis that companies are putting out these days, ie. ON3P, Surface, Line, etc, I see myself drifting back to K2 for that reason alone. They make cool ass skis that make the entire mountain their bitch. Those god damn rivets kept my Seths together for hundreds of the best and worst days of my life and I am honestly so grateful for that.
What is the point of this thread? Good question. I just needed to vent some shit maybe. I want to know does anyyone else have this problem? Someone may reply with "oh shit you must be landing wrong or something" but no sir that is not the case, I'm pretty damn good at my shit. Just frustrated, that's all.
Anyways, ski on my good friends, enjoy everything that this season has to offer, on and off the slopes, and I hope your beloved equipment remains intact for the duration of it.
Jordan
