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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Looking for a light and playfull all-mountain twin tip

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RenetheRipper
Posts: 1 - Karma: 12
Hi there!

I’m Rene and I’m looking for some new skis. I know what I want from my skies, but the number of options is just overwhelming. Please share your knowledge and help me out of this maze of options!

I’m an advanced skier, mostly ski in the French Alps, 70% of the time off-piste (depending on conditions), but play around all over the mountain, in between the trees, on glaciers, on the sides of groomers, moguls and occasionally in the park (only small jumps and rails). So not much on-piste speeding.

I have a very playful skiing style, always jumping, grinding and spinning on every bump I can find on my way down. But when there is fresh powder, I’m in! And, recently got excited for tour-skiing. I’m looking for a ski that fits my style, enables me to do all those things, keeps me playful, is light and can do fresh pow.

I’m a light weight (65kg/143pounds) and not very tall (172m/5.6feet) and older than most expect (30). Features I want from my skies are: Flexible and playful, directional twin tip or with a small rise, a bit of camber, lightweight but durable and still enables me to carve a bit.

I did some googling and the following skies caught my interest:


Dynastar menace 98
Völkl mantra m5
Völkl blaze 98
Armada arv 96
Elan ripstick 96

I haven’t tried any of these skies except the Armadas. Very playful, lot of pop, I loved them! Until I got a bit of speed, then they start shaking and bounding. I was lucky enough to test them also in knee deep powder and they did pretty good! They don’t really float but the flex pops your tips out of the snow when needed.

I hope I have given you folks a good idea about what I’m looking for and you are able to give me some guidance through the maze of skis. Please let me know what you are thinking.
4 years ago
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h3nry.
Posts: 216 - Karma: 3,500
I have a pair of J skis allplays and I think that they would work well for you. The ski is pretty playful and has a width of 98mm. Its probably a bit softer than the armadas you tried, but they might be worth checking out.
4 years ago
3 0
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
What bindings / boots are you planning on using? A ski that can tour, ski playfully, is stable at speed, and you can take in the park is a pretty big ask.

If you want to tour on it I think line vision + shift is an awesome combo for what you want. If you are just gonna slap alpine bindings on it and not tour you have a lot more options. Mantra / blaze are pretty horrible to spin on and the mantra would be heavy to tour with. Awesome ski otherwise.
4 years ago
2 0
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TaposchtBra
Posts: 8 - Karma: 65
My maaan, get yourself the volkl revolt 104, pair it with the duke pt 16, mount it on team rec and you´ll have all your boxes ticked
4 years ago
9 0
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9try
Posts: 173 - Karma: 1,282
Sfb
4 years ago
4 0
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Malskispow
Posts: 53 - Karma: 601
The revolt 104 is what you want. Enough underfoot for pow, still playful but holds up. That’s your move I think!
4 years ago
5 0
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
iirc there is no such thing as blaze 98

I own the blaze106, quite fun ski for sure, especially for how light it is

menace 98 is NOT a tour ski, b m5 is heavy and not very playful, but chargy


you want a bent chetler 100, maybe a blaze 106 or 94. if going heavier ,look at the fischer ranger 102 FR, you can ski/land it switch, fairly light so can still clip on the skin. revolt 104 is also very fun, but you cant go as fast on it as some of the others, but it is FUN.

**This post was edited on Feb 10th 2021 at 12:38:13pm
4 years ago
3 0
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Ripline
Posts: 162 - Karma: 675
Reckoner 102!
4 years ago
2 0
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,056
RiplineReckoner 102!


i second this. definitely does not ski like its 102. id say it feels 95ish when carving. i can rip groomers on it, ski park, it's fast turning in the tight east coast woods and floats just fine in snow. It is fairly light as well. That paired with a duke12 (you dont need a 16 as you wont even make it on the ski with your DIN) or the shift13 will rock. pick up some G3 alpinist skins as well. All in you are looking at like $1000 USD.
4 years ago
1 0
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
Kind of a grumpy old man take here, but I still don't love the idea of a ski to use in bounds and for touring. Mostly cause of boots - bindings and skis have come a really long way. Skiing inbounds in a touring boot blows, walking in a 50/50 boot like a cochise also blows, and walk modes in general for a lot of inbounds abuse seem like the break and are a hassle. Anyway, having two dedicated set ups sometimes isn't practical and I probably just need to stop being a baby but I actually think it may be cheaper to have two set ups cause you'll end up destroying your touring stuff bashing it around in bounds all the time and you will have more fun with two set ups.
4 years ago
1 2
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7500 - Karma: 66,514
I never expected to say this, but I think the revolt 95 might do you well. Decent float off piste (or its size), pretty playful, does well in the park, and it can really lay down a mean carve. Touring is a different story though.
4 years ago
1 0
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RenetheRipper
Posts: 1 - Karma: 12
Wouw! Thanks for all the comments and tips! I’ll dive into the skies you all mentioned. I know what I’m asking is quite a stretch, but I wanted to know if It’s possible. I will mostly ski downhill, so if it’s to much of a compromise to have everything in one set I’ll find a solution for touring.

I don’t know much about bindings, so your advice is very welcome! I just want them to release and stay put when I want them too like I know from downhill bindings. And weight is something I take into account. I need a new boots too! They will be touring boots, probably Scarpa’s. But do they fit in downhill bindings as well?
4 years ago
0 0
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gilbertressel
Posts: 639 - Karma: 8,508
Anything under 100 waist is pussy shit, keep that in mind :)
4 years ago
0 1
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
I prefer pussy
4 years ago
1 0
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,056
ericformanSkiing inbounds in a touring boot blows, walking in a 50/50 boot like a cochise also blows, and walk modes in general for a lot of inbounds abuse seem like the break and are a hassle.

you have never tried the hawx ultra XTD then or a technica zero g tour. i have an hawx ultra 130s and a hawx ultra XTD 130 and im going to sell my ultra 130s as i dont need it anymore.
4 years ago
0 0
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
Ha I own the zgtp as my touring boot. I really don’t like skiing in bounds with it compared to my mach1s. Apart from them feeling nice dangling off the lift. That being said, it could be the skis also. I have shifts on my vision108s so could try em in the mach1s and zgtp and see if I can tell a big difference.

pretty sure if I skiied them in bounds constantly too eventually those lil wire bands would snap so I’m all in on the two boot two ski set up for maximum longevity
freeskibum82you have never tried the hawx ultra XTD then or a technica zero g tour. i have an hawx ultra 130s and a hawx ultra XTD 130 and im going to sell my ultra 130s as i dont need it anymore.
4 years ago
1 1
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
freeskibum82you have never tried the hawx ultra XTD then or a technica zero g tour. i have an hawx ultra 130s and a hawx ultra XTD 130 and im going to sell my ultra 130s as i dont need it anymore.

I own both thoose atomic boots. the hawk prime 130s has sooooooooooooooooooooo much more power for me.



I spent sunday on the deacon v-werks + XTD 130, like its an amazing boot for sure, insane how light, but I can make them fold like.... well something foldable :p



Im probably like 260-270lbs with ski gear and tall'ish, guess that doesnt help.

For misc freeride stuff though? yeah XTD 130 is awesome but when your on edge pushing max G's at 60mph, quite often 60mph+++++ yeah its just not there.
4 years ago
0 0
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,056
ericformanHa I own the zgtp as my touring boot. I really don’t like skiing in bounds with it compared to my mach1s. Apart from them feeling nice dangling off the lift. That being said, it could be the skis also. I have shifts on my vision108s so could try em in the mach1s and zgtp and see if I can tell a big difference.

pretty sure if I skiied them in bounds constantly too eventually those lil wire bands would snap so I’m all in on the two boot two ski set up for maximum longevity

I guess that is true. longevity plays a role. Love my Vision 108s. I almost put a dukept16 on it but just couldnt add that weight to it so i stuck with a pivot 12.
anders_aI own both thoose atomic boots. the hawk prime 130s has sooooooooooooooooooooo much more power for me.



I spent sunday on the deacon v-werks + XTD 130, like its an amazing boot for sure, insane how light, but I can make them fold like.... well something foldable :p



Im probably like 260-270lbs with ski gear and tall'ish, guess that doesnt help.

For misc freeride stuff though? yeah XTD 130 is awesome but when your on edge pushing max G's at 60mph, quite often 60mph+++++ yeah its just not there.

I will agree with you there. at high speeds the XTD folds like it's a 110 where my 130s holds just fine. But for mini golf lines inbounds it's enough. I gotta ask.. WHYYYYYYYY think an xtd 130 and a deacon vwerks are a good combo. lol
4 years ago
1 0
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,213
freeskibum82I guess that is true. longevity plays a role. Love my Vision 108s. I almost put a dukept16 on it but just couldnt add that weight to it so i stuck with a pivot 12.

I will agree with you there. at high speeds the XTD folds like it's a 110 where my 130s holds just fine. But for mini golf lines inbounds it's enough. I gotta ask.. WHYYYYYYYY think an xtd 130 and a deacon vwerks are a good combo. lol


Also, this is stupid, but the zgtp is actually impossible to put on if its cold. I spend a lot of time yelling at them. Grumpy old man take. The visions + zgtp ski INSANELY well for weighing like 2900 grams combined. First air on them felt real strange.
4 years ago
0 0
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,604
freeskibum82I guess that is true. longevity plays a role. Love my Vision 108s. I almost put a dukept16 on it but just couldnt add that weight to it so i stuck with a pivot 12.

I will agree with you there. at high speeds the XTD folds like it's a 110 where my 130s holds just fine. But for mini golf lines inbounds it's enough. I gotta ask.. WHYYYYYYYY think an xtd 130 and a deacon vwerks are a good combo. lol


I was like ... lets go lightweight sunday! and conditions snow was superfast/hard, but sun came and you could really grip I was probably the fastest, on the lightest setup though for sure, gotto say they folded so it was super sketch, but never really gave out fully

Also my regular atomics was wet from 6-12? days of straight skiing, and I might have forgotten to dry/warm it from the day before... and it was wet/cold/meh :p I have quite a few boots, but my cochise dyn 130s a buddy has loaned, my regular 110 park boots a buddy has loaned not returned, I couldnt find my backup boots in basement for thoose... I didnt wanna use my new il moro as I haven't really skied them that much or finished blocking them, ... so Im like yeah XTD 130 + deacon v-werks, this is is a good idea, they are both light, this will be a good idea. also because they are dry and I could find them ;)

Beeing male I shouldnt have to justify stupidity.
4 years ago
2 0
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