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Help me pick a ski: Revision Talisman, Armada B-Dog Alpha X, ???

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Park_Mho
Posts: 351 - Karma: 390
Hey NS,

So I am in the market for a new pair of planks. I am 5'9" and 140 pounds and I ski mainly park and groomers. I ski 40% rails, 40% jumps and about 20% everywhere else on the mountain. I ski on the east coast, so there is no powder, but we do get lots of ice, crud and shitty snow in general. I'm currently on the Line Chronic's, but I feel they are a bit short at 171 cm and they honestly feel boring. They are not soft enough to butter, but not stiff enough to charge comfortably. I also don't have any good shops around me, so basically you guys are my only resource for trustworthy information.

I am looking for a soft, playful and really poppy ski that I can rip groomers with and carve. I want to be able to hit 30-40 foot jumps comfortably and ski rails with stability.

I am currently looking into the Revision Talisman, Armada B-Dog and the Alpha X, however I am COMPLETELY open to any other suggestions.

TLDR: I'm looking for some new soft and playful skis. I need stability for jumps as well as groomers.

Thanks
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Mar 3 2015 11:20PM
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Tamas
Posts: 550 - Karma: 842
Dude im 5'9" 160lb and couldnt imagine riding bigger than 171-174.

But anyways HG skis have been looking sick. and id also look into Vishnu skis.
But Nordicas OMW are super fun for east coast too.
Mar 3 2015 11:27PM
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Park_Mho
Posts: 351 - Karma: 390
TamasDude im 5'9" 160lb and couldnt imagine riding bigger than 171-174.

But anyways HG skis have been looking sick. and id also look into Vishnu skis.
But Nordicas OMW are super fun for east coast too.


Those look nice, but are way too expensive. I also heard that the nordicas have durability issues
Mar 4 2015 9:33AM
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Tamas
Posts: 550 - Karma: 842
Nordys older skis were kinda trash but they really stepped up in durability over the past 2 years.
Mar 4 2015 11:25AM
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supersquid
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 2,545
b doga are gonna be really fun and playful, do you like rocker or do you prefer camber. also the on3p kartels are kinda stiff but seem to be a great ski plus you can get them in a 98 or 106 underfoot
Mar 4 2015 12:13PM
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Park_Mho
Posts: 351 - Karma: 390
Duckonquackb doga are gonna be really fun and playful, do you like rocker or do you prefer camber. also the on3p kartels are kinda stiff but seem to be a great ski plus you can get them in a 98 or 106 underfoot


I like something a little bit wide (90-98) underfoot with some rocker in the tip and tail. How do the B Dogs carve? Are they stable underfoot?
Mar 4 2015 1:30PM
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BenWhit
Posts: 4654 - Karma: 3,256
unfortunately, you really aren't going to find a soft, playful ski that "rips" groomers. Softer skis are going to chatter at high speeds and won't be able to handle crud. I'm currently on a 182cm Alpha 1 and they have a solid enough flex profile to get what i want out of them on groomers. I bought them because I couldn't find the Alpha X anywhere. If i were you, I would opt for the Alpha X.
Mar 4 2015 1:31PM
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Park_Mho
Posts: 351 - Karma: 390
BenWhitunfortunately, you really aren't going to find a soft, playful ski that "rips" groomers. Softer skis are going to chatter at high speeds and won't be able to handle crud. I'm currently on a 182cm Alpha 1 and they have a solid enough flex profile to get what i want out of them on groomers. I bought them because I couldn't find the Alpha X anywhere. If i were you, I would opt for the Alpha X.


I dont really expect the ski to rip. I should have worded it differently, but I just want a ski that can hold its edge and at least decently carve. My main concern is weather the B Dogs can carve well at all, because the elf shoe sidecut looks really different.
Mar 4 2015 1:56PM
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Charlie*
Posts: 198 - Karma: 579
Park_MhoI just want a ski that can hold its edge and at least decently carve. My main concern is weather the B Dogs can carve well at all, because the elf shoe sidecut looks really different.


Id look elsewhere if thats what your looking for. I have the B dogs, and they don't carve all that great and edge hold is pretty minimal. Your on the right track talking about the elf shoe shape, but they also have alot of rocker. The contact points are pretty far back so you end up sliding out on alot of turns (especially on hardpack) If you plan on using them on rails, once the edges underfoot start to wear away you basically have no edge grip at all - thats where I'm at with these skis so far. I'd recommend to you the ski that I almost wish I had bought instead...the Armada t halls. Camber design, but a soft flex pattern. The edges are much more likely to hook up and be noticeably more stable on jumps. If your set on the B dogs, definitely size up, your gonna need as much active edge as you can get, and since the contact points are so far back, theyre less stable (and not as good at absorbing impacts) on big jumps...in my opinion
Mar 4 2015 2:21PM
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Park_Mho
Posts: 351 - Karma: 390
Charlie*Id look elsewhere if thats what your looking for. I have the B dogs, and they don't carve all that great and edge hold is pretty minimal. Your on the right track talking about the elf shoe shape, but they also have alot of rocker. The contact points are pretty far back so you end up sliding out on alot of turns (especially on hardpack) If you plan on using them on rails, once the edges underfoot start to wear away you basically have no edge grip at all - thats where I'm at with these skis so far. I'd recommend to you the ski that I almost wish I had bought instead...the Armada t halls. Camber design, but a soft flex pattern. The edges are much more likely to hook up and be noticeably more stable on jumps. If your set on the B dogs, definitely size up, your gonna need as much active edge as you can get, and since the contact points are so far back, theyre less stable (and not as good at absorbing impacts) on big jumps...in my opinion


Thanks a lot! Looks like the B Dogs aernt what they seem to be. +K
I will definetly take a closer look at the T Halls
Mar 4 2015 7:19PM
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supersquid
Posts: 1430 - Karma: 2,545
Park_MhoI like something a little bit wide (90-98) underfoot with some rocker in the tip and tail. How do the B Dogs carve? Are they stable underfoot?


Well like I said the Kartels come in a 98 underfoot. And for the bdogs I haven't ridden them but ik there a more park specific ski but they are wider. I don't know about ripping groomers but they could handle come powder. And there on sale for like $450 on either evo or the backcountry I can't remember
Mar 4 2015 11:18PM
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Burgy
Posts: 414 - Karma: 630
Im 5'9" 170lb and i ride the Talisman at 176 you should size up a bit, when I got bigger skis butters became a lot easier imo. but hey what ever works for you. if the chronics are too stiff for you, then I think the talismans will be too. The Talismans are not supper soft and but not supper stiff. on the other hand I can butter on them cause they got that nice rocker, and they carve well on the East coast, even though I center mounted.
Mar 4 2015 11:37PM
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,582
I wouldn't get a super rockered ski if you are looking for east coast capable edge hold. it simply wont happen without something like eliptical sidecut or Rossignol's rocker design. Im on the camber bandwagon myself (even though I own completely rockered, banana shaped skis, but hey they still hold an edge better than race skis) simply because its time tested and works. a friend of mine is sponosred by RMU, and picked up the Diams. I rode them, and they are one of the most fun skis out. I loved them. Seriously take a look into them. They are exactly what you are looking for because he has the same preferences for skis as you aside from having edge hold undefoot
Mar 5 2015 12:14AM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9292 - Karma: 60,981
for what you listed as priorities i can say id def suggest the talisman, ive really been liking mine. shoot me any questions you have on them

i can't really comment on the b dogs cause ive only used them once but i feel like the elf shoe or whatever and the early rise isn't going to be much help on typical east coast snow

im a huge fan of armada though and would never advise against them (in the realm of park and freeride/style at least)-- id suggest the t halls though if you want a soft playful east coast ski and are going armadas

my 2 cents
Mar 5 2015 8:46AM
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Park_Mho
Posts: 351 - Karma: 390
Thanks to everyone above me ^ +K

I leaning more towards the Revisions and T Halls now. I kinda like rockered skis a little bit more just because the east has been getting a lot of snow recently and conditions are super unpredictable.
Mar 5 2015 12:09PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9292 - Karma: 60,981
Park_MhoThanks to everyone above me ^ +K

I leaning more towards the Revisions and T Halls now. I kinda like rockered skis a little bit more just because the east has been getting a lot of snow recently and conditions are super unpredictable.


word i feel you. just in case you don't know, the talismans do have some nose rocker (no tail rocker)
Mar 5 2015 12:25PM
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Park_Mho
Posts: 351 - Karma: 390
Titsandwich11word i feel you. just in case you don't know, the talismans do have some nose rocker (no tail rocker)


Wow, just noticed that after you told me. Is there any reason for the rocker only being in the tip? Do they ski switch weird?
Mar 5 2015 12:44PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9292 - Karma: 60,981
Park_MhoWow, just noticed that after you told me. Is there any reason for the rocker only being in the tip? Do they ski switch weird?


im a biased person to answer this question because nowadays i strongly prefer skis that are a bit more directional. honestly, unless youre a park rat that is literally skiing switch about half the time i think symmetry and tail rocker are disadvantages. no, they don't ski switch weird at all, and the lack of tail rocker, at least in my mind, lets you finish turns more strongly and gives you a stronger tail to ride stuff out on

so in my opinion having only nose rocker is the best option. people will of course vary in opinion on that

PM me if you wanna ask more questions on the talismans
Mar 5 2015 1:04PM
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BubsDemps
Posts: 63 - Karma: 117
I had alphas for a year and a half. They are a super durable ski but all of sudden just start falling apart. They also are a bit heavy too if your looking for a lightweight ski, and super wide underfoot.
Mar 5 2015 2:59PM
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