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May, 2025

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Old skis FLEX

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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
To the other op with the Olin skis, remount and have some fun. So these skis below I got for $40 and while that might be high, I'm digging the graphics. Bought these to fuck around on groomer days beginning and end of season. Also was a fun project to occupy me for a week or so. These skis were made the year I was born so literally I will be skiing skis the same age as me which is pretty cool imo.

Skis: Olin RTS Decade (1990), made in USA
Length: 205cm (I have an ego complex)
Dimensions: tips (86 mm), waist (64mm), tails (79mm)
Flex: stiff af; tips (8-9), underfoot (10), tails (9)
Turn radius: I used a calculator and it came out around 39m? There's practically no sidecut so I believe it lmao
Condition before refurbish: POOR. Fully rusted edges, base burn, top sheet scratches, unfilled previous mounts, top sheet core shots, duct tape residue, filthy; no delam, no cracked edges

Revitalizing these was a consuming task. The edges took forever to get the rust off as it was quite thick and kept clogging my file. I epoxied and plugged the previous mounts; shoulda used gflex cuz the JB weld dried white and is slightly visible. I figured the new mounts would cover it up but to avoid getting too close to the old holes, the plugged holes ended up being visible.

Here's some before pictures showing how fucked these skis were, although they don't even do justice.














Before and after a little base work. Shout out to @DominatorJacques videos. Comparison side by side.

I used West Systems g-flex with dye to fill in these huge chips. Coulda done a better job but it's fine.









After I removed most of the rust and sharpened the edges and epoxied the chips, I also gave em a good wax. Dominator renew base prep hot scraped, then reapplied and allowed to harden overnight. Scraped and then applied half and half of dominator bullet and zoom wax and did my whole waxing process. (yeah I want these puppies to fly).

Also used car scratch remover and ceramic coat to beauty these puppies up. Worked ok. (courtesy of @Greg_K in a Pugski post I found). Also thanks to Greg as I found a post of his recommending SPX which is why I went with the Look SPX 10 for cost and narrow brakes. Asogear is the bomb btw.

Thanks to @quagsire for answering my questions about the mounts. Used binding freedom mount templates for the axial2. The heel piece was about 2mm off vertically so I marked higher a bit and it was dead on. Very happy as the boot line is quite close to the manufacturer line too even with remounting.















And here's some retro ads for amusement








I actually found these on ebay.



smoking isn't so bad



And ski reviews haven't changed. The skis did it all back then so why did we need improvements? Geeze.



6 years ago
16 1
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
And thanks to K2 skis for replying to my question about the mount line (before I saw the sidewall marking). But fuck off I'm riding these bitches. Kinda surprised they bought a company and then just didn't keep their records on skis.


6 years ago
17 1
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-eREKTion-
Posts: 1632 - Karma: 10,987
I have a shitload of that base material at work and use it for base repairs sometimes. It actually looks dope on a black base to have a square of speckled material.
6 years ago
7 0
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OregonDead
Posts: 7074 - Karma: 26,621
205cm is pretty legit dude
6 years ago
4 0
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oldmanski
Posts: 3615 - Karma: 27,061
HAHA, I have a few pairs of some older K2's from around this time. Ive thought about tuning them and taking them up with me to ride on a nice groomer day. Dig the adds you added to this post too, flashback in time.
6 years ago
6 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
Nice dude! Those kind of ski are stivot and pivot. You skid them to the direction you want to go, then lock in the edges.
Skied those kind of skis for years a many. Because I am not tall, I stuck with 195 range back then.

Had you asked me about the rusty shitty edges, I would have told you to wrap some 220 wet sand paper around a stone or file and work it wet to get down to steel again first. This way you save the diamond stones and or files.
I use that method to get a machine factory tune softened so the file will cut. Can do with a diamond stone, but it takes a huge toll on the stones.

You can see me do that here at 38:00. Check it out,


https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/849783/Ski-Tuning-How-To-By-Hand-Park-Special
6 years ago
5 0
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a_burger
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 21,143
Pride and joy (on the left ignore the trash on the right)

6 years ago
17 1
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ScootSkiLyfe
Posts: 1072 - Karma: 5,762
a_burgerPride and joy (on the left ignore the trash on the right)



kind of a flex
6 years ago
7 0
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Greg_K
Posts: 963 - Karma: 2,791
You’re ready for retro day now! Lol
6 years ago
3 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
Greg_KYou’re ready for retro day now! Lol

Gotta' have a onesie for Retro or Gaper days!




6 years ago
9 0
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GrapeHunter
Posts: 2406 - Karma: 8,779
Hell yea dude!! I saw this thread and I was like “hey... I made this thread not this guy!” Awesome skis, where’d you pick them up?! I’m hoping to be able to remount my olins to my boots and get them cleaned up to ski this year. They should be super fun, I originally just bought them because they would make cool wall art, but I’m thinking that they might be fun day groomer rippers. I will update. Enjoy bro!!!
6 years ago
4 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
grantlewis_dntmHell yea dude!! I saw this thread and I was like “hey... I made this thread not this guy!” Awesome skis, where’d you pick them up?! I’m hoping to be able to remount my olins to my boots and get them cleaned up to ski this year. They should be super fun, I originally just bought them because they would make cool wall art, but I’m thinking that they might be fun day groomer rippers. I will update. Enjoy bro!!!

Haha I saw some killer dynastars on shopgoodwill.com but the shipping was outrageous. But my compulsive need for skis overwhelmed and I got em on ebay for $30 instead. Very pleased.
6 years ago
6 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
So tested these out the other day and they were pretty chill. A little weird not having the ski shape I'm used to but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. They definitely need a base grind but probably not worth it for these.

Question though: did I tune these bad? Haven't had this happen in years but when I was skiing, every once in a while these skis wanted to do their own thing. For example, if I wanted to make a turn greater than practically straight, one ski would continue straight but the other would do the turn. Almost like a runaway ski. Very scary if going fast and almost wiped out cuz of it. Is that my tune or the skis?
5 years ago
3 1
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OregonDead
Posts: 7074 - Karma: 26,621
BST_PoliceSo tested these out the other day and they were pretty chill. A little weird not having the ski shape I'm used to but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. They definitely need a base grind but probably not worth it for these.

Question though: did I tune these bad? Haven't had this happen in years but when I was skiing, every once in a while these skis wanted to do their own thing. For example, if I wanted to make a turn greater than practically straight, one ski would continue straight but the other would do the turn. Almost like a runaway ski. Very scary if going fast and almost wiped out cuz of it. Is that my tune or the skis?


That shape seems like it might just be super hooky. I’d dutune the edges a lot though especially in the tips
5 years ago
1 0
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freddi323
Posts: 11 - Karma: 47
Just got new old stock skis myself. Sadly the seller didn't know the Story behind this
skis. 190cm and no holes in it. Even got the original bindings with them, but im not sure if its smart to use them.



5 years ago
9 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
freddi323Just got new old stock skis myself. Sadly the seller didn't know the Story behind this
skis. 190cm and no holes in it. Even got the original bindings with them, but im not sure if its smart to use them.




Don't use the bindings but those skis are super sick!
5 years ago
11 0
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GrapeHunter
Posts: 2406 - Karma: 8,779
freddi323Just got new old stock skis myself. Sadly the seller didn't know the Story behind this
skis. 190cm and no holes in it. Even got the original bindings with them, but im not sure if its smart to use them.




Holy crap dude!! Those are sick!! Where’d you get them from, and how much?! Amazing piece of history
5 years ago
5 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
BST_PoliceSo tested these out the other day and they were pretty chill. A little weird not having the ski shape I'm used to but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. They definitely need a base grind but probably not worth it for these.

Question though: did I tune these bad? Haven't had this happen in years but when I was skiing, every once in a while these skis wanted to do their own thing. For example, if I wanted to make a turn greater than practically straight, one ski would continue straight but the other would do the turn. Almost like a runaway ski. Very scary if going fast and almost wiped out cuz of it. Is that my tune or the skis?

Base bevel.
5 years ago
5 0
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freddi323
Posts: 11 - Karma: 47
grantlewis_dntmHoly crap dude!! Those are sick!! Where’d you get them from, and how much?! Amazing piece of history

Some dude had them in his garage and Sold me the whole stuff (Skis, bindings, and poles) for 30€.
5 years ago
2 0
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xxACIDTRIPxx
Posts: 5980 - Karma: 8,185
freddi323Just got new old stock skis myself. Sadly the seller didn't know the Story behind this
skis. 190cm and no holes in it. Even got the original bindings with them, but im not sure if its smart to use them.





Awesome!!
5 years ago
2 0
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Bdoobz
Posts: 838 - Karma: 4,899


The beginnings of my collection
5 years ago
4 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
DominatorJacquesBase bevel.

Picked up some new tuning supplies for edge work and gonna fool around with these for spring skiing. What bevel would you recommend for these skis? All my skis have 1deg but not sure if that would apply to this type of ski. Should I go more acute on them?
4 years ago
2 1
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
Rotten_TrumpkinsPicked up some new tuning supplies for edge work and gonna fool around with these for spring skiing. What bevel would you recommend for these skis? All my skis have 1deg but not sure if that would apply to this type of ski. Should I go more acute on them?


A 1 degree base bevel should be just fine on any old ski like that. You will be able to stiviot, then lock to turn.
Good luck!
4 years ago
0 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
Rotten_TrumpkinsPicked up some new tuning supplies for edge work and gonna fool around with these for spring skiing. What bevel would you recommend for these skis? All my skis have 1deg but not sure if that would apply to this type of ski. Should I go more acute on them?


I used to ski a pair of these!
https://www.facebook.com/roy.powell.524/videos/4199413176754288/https://www.facebook.com/100000569426372/videos/4199413176754288/https://www.facebook.com/roy.powell.524/videos/4199413176754288/

**This post was edited on Feb 7th 2021 at 9:44:48am
4 years ago
0 0
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,605
having grown up skiiing stuff like that I dont have much nostalgia, just happy I dont have to ski them anymore ;)
4 years ago
5 0
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oldmanski
Posts: 3615 - Karma: 27,061
anders_ahaving grown up skiiing stuff like that I dont have much nostalgia, just happy I dont have to ski them anymore ;)

Grateful to be skiing the current design of sticks now, hard to believe what we use to ride.
4 years ago
4 0
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10074 - Karma: 76,332
DominatorJacquesA 1 degree base bevel should be just fine on any old ski like that. You will be able to stiviot, then lock to turn.
Good luck!


Are you a fan of detuning tips and tails or should I keep them sharp?
4 years ago
2 1
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
Rotten_TrumpkinsAre you a fan of detuning tips and tails or should I keep them sharp?

You can dull the tips and tails if you want to. I'd ski them first though. Even then, not much. Can help with slarvability.
4 years ago
2 0
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