Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

New Pow Skis

profile picture
ljackstar
Posts: 114 - Karma: 233
Hey Gang,

Looking for some new pow skis after I sold my 2017 BG last season. My biggest issue with them was the stiffness and lack of float, just didn't feel like I was floating even on the deepest days of the season, and I could use something more playful.

My main skis are a set of pre-production 2018 Elan Ripsticks. They are easily the best skis I've ever ridden, and if Elan was still making the 116 version I would probably just buy those, but alas here we are. I am 6'5", ~225lbs, and consider myself an expert skier (15 years now). I exclusively ski in the Albertan Rocky Mountains. So I still need something kinda stiff, but not so stiff and heavy it doesn't float.

Couple of options - Sell the Ripsticks and buy a ~106mm underfoot ski for a one ski quiver (probably just get the 106 Ripsticks, or the J Skis Vacation)

or

Keep the Ripsticks and get a new set of pow skis for the fresh snow days. This is the option I am leaning towards obviously, and here are the skis I'm considering:

Black Crows - Anima
Moment - Wildcat
Faction - Prodigy 4.0
Icelantic - Saba Pro
J Skis - The Friend

So my question: Should I go with a one or two ski quiver?
And if I go two skis: which of the 5 above should I get?

**This thread was edited on Dec 29th 2020 at 3:48:48pm
Dec 29 2020 3:47PM
3 0
profile picture
WoFlowz
Posts: 7902 - Karma: 63,944
First off you can never have enough skis even when in crippling amounts of debt. Second of all you want a stiff soft true pow skis I’d recommend k2 catamarans they surf in soft snow and are more freestyle oriented.
Dec 29 2020 3:52PM
6 0
profile picture
ljackstar
Posts: 114 - Karma: 233
WoFlowzFirst off you can never have enough skis even when in crippling amounts of debt. Second of all you want a stiff soft true pow skis I’d recommend k2 catamarans they surf in soft snow and are more freestyle oriented.


Thanks I'll check those out - Definitely want something surfy, I'm pretty bad at anything freestyle though - I just need something that will let me crush pillow line and steep trees.
Dec 29 2020 4:00PM
2 0
profile picture
WoFlowz
Posts: 7902 - Karma: 63,944
ljackstarThanks I'll check those out - Definitely want something surfy, I'm pretty bad at anything freestyle though - I just need something that will let me crush pillow line and steep trees.


Yeah I love the asymmetrical design of these and marksman super fun in soft snow but both have enough of a twin to land switch on hard pack and pow, Ik a guy who’s skied catamarans in the park even. But the early rise in the tip and tail and rocker keep it soft enough to swish in trees.
Dec 29 2020 4:02PM
1 0
profile picture
Non_State_Actor
Posts: 4810 - Karma: 17,052
2 ski if you can manage it. It allows you to go fatter on a pow ski. If you have 96 and 116+ that should cover all scenarios.
Dec 29 2020 4:23PM
3 0
profile picture
MPoub
Posts: 479 - Karma: 987
Reckoner 112/122? Personally skied the 112 and it was a lot of fun, super playful but their carbon braid made them ski very nicely
Dec 29 2020 7:43PM
2 0
profile picture
shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
bro. you werent floating on the billy goats? either youre lying and weigh 600lbs or you just werent keeping your speed up. billy goats absolutely slay anything soft and deep, but there is a bit of a learning curve.


i would say keep the ripsticks kand either go for the saba or wildcat. i personally am a huge fan of how loose full rocker skis ride (ie the saba pros), but just depends on your style
Dec 29 2020 8:59PM
4 0
profile picture
ljackstar
Posts: 114 - Karma: 233
shin-bangbro. you werent floating on the billy goats? either youre lying and weigh 600lbs or you just werent keeping your speed up. billy goats absolutely slay anything soft and deep, but there is a bit of a learning curve.


Maybe I just wasn't keeping my speed up, but I think in general that charging style wasn't for me. I definitely remember bottoming out on a fresh pow day when we got 45cm overnight 2 years ago at Louise.

In general I want something more surfy and playful though - It wasn't until I got my Ripsticks that I realized how fun it is to just fuck around on skis, and that I didn't need a 40* slope to have fun.
Dec 29 2020 10:07PM
2 0
profile picture
shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
ljackstarMaybe I just wasn't keeping my speed up, but I think in general that charging style wasn't for me. I definitely remember bottoming out on a fresh pow day when we got 45cm overnight 2 years ago at Louise.

In general I want something more surfy and playful though - It wasn't until I got my Ripsticks that I realized how fun it is to just fuck around on skis, and that I didn't need a 40* slope to have fun.


interesting.

If thats the case (as someone also coming off/still riding billy goats) id say youd enjoy full rocker, or rocker flat rocker skis. i know i have a blast on my ghost trains.
Dec 30 2020 12:47AM
3 0
All times are Eastern (-5)