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Playful Stable Charger for touring ski

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Distancedave
Posts: 22 - Karma: 42
I kind of doubt this exists but I'm looking for a charging a stable skis, that is still playful. I'm quite heavy and tall so any lightweight touring skis are totally useless for me, so I've just accepted touring with heavier skis and don't really care at all about weight. I'm planning to use this skis end/post season mostly for touring. I am the kind of person who tours for the downhill, and not to check off a peak, so I'm not willing to sacrifice downhill performance. It's fairly unlikely I will be using them in any deep or even soft snow so am looking for a thin (maybe 100mm range) and on icy, cruddy, spring snow I wouldn't mind a damp ski. I would also like to avoid a super stiff and tradition shaped ski because in bad times, I'd like to use this ski playing around the pistes or dabbling in the park a bit too. Also to note, I'm in Europe so some brands like 4frnt, on3p, moment, liberty, icelantic are ahrd/impossible to get.
To sum up my usage purposes:
80% touring accessed freeride
10% piste when everywhere else sucks
10% park for some simple tricks

Some ideas I had already and would be happy to hear some opinions on these:
Nordica Enforcer 100
Nordicer Enforcer Free 104
K2 Mindbender 99Ti
Faction Dictator 2.0/3.0
Faction CT 2.0
Salomon Qst 99

I have a Black Crows Anima, which I really really love for real winter and powder, but its width and rocker isn't ideal icy spring snow.
Mar 26 2020 8:59PM
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animator
Posts: 4552 - Karma: 26,250
DistancedaveI kind of doubt this exists but I'm looking for a charging a stable skis, that is still playful. I'm quite heavy and tall so any lightweight touring skis are totally useless for me, so I've just accepted touring with heavier skis and don't really care at all about weight. I'm planning to use this skis end/post season mostly for touring. I am the kind of person who tours for the downhill, and not to check off a peak, so I'm not willing to sacrifice downhill performance. It's fairly unlikely I will be using them in any deep or even soft snow so am looking for a thin (maybe 100mm range) and on icy, cruddy, spring snow I wouldn't mind a damp ski. I would also like to avoid a super stiff and tradition shaped ski because in bad times, I'd like to use this ski playing around the pistes or dabbling in the park a bit too. Also to note, I'm in Europe so some brands like 4frnt, on3p, moment, liberty, icelantic are ahrd/impossible to get.
To sum up my usage purposes:
80% touring accessed freeride
10% piste when everywhere else sucks
10% park for some simple tricks

Some ideas I had already and would be happy to hear some opinions on these:
Nordica Enforcer 100
Nordicer Enforcer Free 104
K2 Mindbender 99Ti
Faction Dictator 2.0/3.0
Faction CT 2.0
Salomon Qst 99

I have a Black Crows Anima, which I really really love for real winter and powder, but its width and rocker isn't ideal icy spring snow.

I wouldn’t call any of these skis “playful” except for the CT 2.0 which wouldn’t be a great option for icy conditions given its softer flex. Check out the Faction Prodigy 2.0/3.0. 98/106 underfoot, they’re super fun. I have a 2.0 and it’s rock solid on hard snow but has a good amount of rocker so it’s real fun in the park and finding side hits/trannys. 2.5mm edges as well so it’s real durable
Mar 26 2020 9:41PM
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Distancedave
Posts: 22 - Karma: 42
animatorI wouldn’t call any of these skis “playful” except for the CT 2.0 which wouldn’t be a great option for icy conditions given its softer flex. Check out the Faction Prodigy 2.0/3.0. 98/106 underfoot, they’re super fun. I have a 2.0 and it’s rock solid on hard snow but has a good amount of rocker so it’s real fun in the park and finding side hits/trannys. 2.5mm edges as well so it’s real durable


Thanks for the suggestion. And unfortunately that's exactly my dilemma. I'd like a solid ski for icy spring in the high alpine of the Alps, but would still like to have fun with it.
I did consider the Prodigy 2.0 too, but then in a recent video it looked really really loose and floppy. Is that the case? It certainly looks much softer than the CTs
Mar 27 2020 5:00AM
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FaunaSkis
Posts: 607 - Karma: 6,577
We might be a small euro company but, having started on Newschoolers, its members were our target with our designs, so I'd like to throw our hat in the ring with the Pioneer. It's 105mm underfoot at 184cm (tape pull length), 2/3 of the ski is a stiff camber with a directional GS sidecut for stability & suspension on hard snow and the ends are softer, tapered rockered sections for when there is fresh. With the majority of the weight in the portion underfoot, the swing weight is low and the overall weight is low at 1.7kg/ski but Blister said "The suspension / damping of the Pioneer is quite good for its weight." It has the extra thick bases and edges the inacessible US brands you named and a real focus on quality of construction through the small, specialist factory we used. If you've any questions or concerns about the skis shoot me a DM.

**This post was edited on Mar 27th 2020 at 9:48:59am
Mar 27 2020 9:48AM
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animator
Posts: 4552 - Karma: 26,250
DistancedaveThanks for the suggestion. And unfortunately that's exactly my dilemma. I'd like a solid ski for icy spring in the high alpine of the Alps, but would still like to have fun with it.
I did consider the Prodigy 2.0 too, but then in a recent video it looked really really loose and floppy. Is that the case? It certainly looks much softer than the CTs


No it’s not and I thought so too. I have a prodigy 2.0 and a ct 2.0 and the prodigy is wayyy more stable
Mar 27 2020 10:50AM
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Shl
Posts: 21 - Karma: 28
You should definitely check Atomic Bent Chetler 100. Not too heavy, directional twin tip, hrzn tech for soft snow performance. It’s my one ski quiver, I’ve spent most of time touring on them but they work super fine on piste too. There are also few guys making crazy stuff in park on them, check @dennisranalter and @karpielbulecka on instagram
Mar 27 2020 4:42PM
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paige.
Posts: 1932 - Karma: 924
ShlYou should definitely check Atomic Bent Chetler 100. Not too heavy, directional twin tip, hrzn tech for soft snow performance. It’s my one ski quiver, I’ve spent most of time touring on them but they work super fine on piste too. There are also few guys making crazy stuff in park on them, check @dennisranalter and @karpielbulecka on instagram


This was my suggestion as well! I've spent a lot of my season touring on the Bent Chetler 100s and been very happy with them. I find that they're a very predictable ski. You can drive them hard, but they don't punish you for taking a more relaxed approach. I don't find them to be a super playful ski, but they're definitely happy jumping off of things - plus with a slightly more forward mounting point, and the extra mass you have on me, they would become quite a bit more so.
Mar 30 2020 12:29AM
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Distancedave
Posts: 22 - Karma: 42
paige.This was my suggestion as well! I've spent a lot of my season touring on the Bent Chetler 100s and been very happy with them. I find that they're a very predictable ski. You can drive them hard, but they don't punish you for taking a more relaxed approach. I don't find them to be a super playful ski, but they're definitely happy jumping off of things - plus with a slightly more forward mounting point, and the extra mass you have on me, they would become quite a bit more so.


Thanks for the info. I've heard they have a big mounting range. Where did you mount your's?
Apr 4 2020 6:13PM
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
FaunaSkisdirectional GS sidecut

**This post was edited on Mar 27th 2020 at 9:48:59am

What does that even mean? Just state is has an X meter turn radius.

as for the OP, what skis do you have now that you like for the conditions you want to ski these skis in? you could also look at skis aimed more at the 50/50 crowd, these will generally be around 2000 grams per ski instead of around or over 2200 grams and provide a decent compromise between skiing well in most conditions and being light enough to not totally suck uphill.
Apr 5 2020 12:12AM
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Shl
Posts: 21 - Karma: 28
DistancedaveThanks for the info. I've heard they have a big mounting range. Where did you mount your's?

I have mine on +3 (so -4,8cm from center) but after this season I feel I’m more into touringthan jumping so I’m changing bindings to ATK R12 and moving them back a little, maybe on +1/+1,5 from recommended.
Apr 5 2020 8:19AM
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FaunaSkis
Posts: 607 - Karma: 6,577
TheWeazWhat does that even mean? Just state is has an X meter turn radius.

I meant to put the number in aswell, It’s 22m at 184cm. The ‘GS radius’ description was to give people who’ve ridden race skis a better idea of the kind of turns the ski will want to make, from past experience rather than just a number.
Apr 5 2020 8:47AM
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paige.
Posts: 1932 - Karma: 924
DistancedaveThanks for the info. I've heard they have a big mounting range. Where did you mount your's?


I just went with the recommended line. Haven't felt the need to tweak it from there.
Apr 28 2020 6:48PM
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-arc-
Posts: 943 - Karma: 3,320
This title is the pure definition of an oxymoron.
Apr 28 2020 8:04PM
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NotEnoughSkiing
Posts: 93 - Karma: 455
Agreed -- this is an odd combo to ask for but it would be awesome if it existed. I think you can pick any 2 of those options as long as "Charger" & "Touring" aren't selected together. All other combinations I think there's viable solutions for.
May 5 2020 1:49PM
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Distancedave
Posts: 22 - Karma: 42
NotEnoughSkiingAgreed -- this is an odd combo to ask for but it would be awesome if it existed. I think you can pick any 2 of those options as long as "Charger" & "Touring" aren't selected together. All other combinations I think there's viable solutions for.


Well I'm not actually looking for touring ski. Mainly just a playful but stable charger (if that works) for hard snow. Just saying I would probably use them for some touring as well. With a cast system most likely.
May 5 2020 5:03PM
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NotEnoughSkiing
Posts: 93 - Karma: 455
I have a friend that setup a Blizzard Cochise for light touring with emphasis on downhill for this. They are heavy (you will be in smoking shape touring with these - I don't think you'd want to do a multi-day hike with them for instance) but I think it really checks off all the rest of your wishes.

I have a pair too and will sling them on my back with a backpack. They ski shorter than they look -- I have the model with the blue graphics back when they maxed out at 185cm length I think. Go long especially if you don't plan on skiing many trees with them although I think regardless of length you'll find them to be more nimble over time than what you might expect.

They probably have the best tips for ripping through stuff you may encounter in various popular touring chop.

I've done well with them now that I have about a dozen days on them but I'm limited to resort sidecountry. They are wider than what you are looking at too so for freeride terrain you may actually welcome that over your other choices. To me the extra 10mm width vs the NE 104's is not bothersome for front side performance.
May 5 2020 6:20PM
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Bended_Toenail
Posts: 1417 - Karma: 10,220
J skis slacker looks like it will be sick. I'll prolly get one come fall
May 8 2020 10:24PM
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