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November, 2024

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Best freeride/freestyle/pow/touring ski?

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jovantang
Posts: 14 - Karma: 46
Hey guys,

I've currently got the line chronics, blends and TW pros. I'm looking to get rid of the blends and TWs to get a freeride/pow ski. I ski around local mountains in Vancouver (Cypress, Grouse) and multiple times in Whistler every season.



Looking for something that I can ride pow in, hit cliff drops, slash, throw some 360s in. Mainly going to use it when I hit the backcountry or when it dumps hard. Potentially try touring in also.



I've got recommendations like:

QST 106

QST BLANK (112 underfoot)

ARV JJ 116

Atomic Bent Chetlers (100-120 underfoot)

Thanks in advance.
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Dec 6 2022 2:21AM
2 1
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migidimigi
Posts: 438 - Karma: 3,168
Haven't had a chance to try all you mentioned but I have big boy 120 bents for the same reason. They are super light for the size and easy to pivot, slash and cruise in pow and slush. I would probably go down to bent 110 for more versatility, the 120s are quite a big boats in harder snow.

my brother has older JJs and he likes them a lot even on groomers. New JJs are propably a lot lighter so even easier to pivot.

out of the ones you mentioned qst 106 and bent 100 are probably the worst choices as they are so narrow and more hard-snow oriented. I would go much wider as you already have your park/groomer skis
Dec 6 2022 3:19AM
1 3
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BingPow
Posts: 572 - Karma: 5,576
ngl if i was you and wanted something that would float a bit better than just your average skis, I would sell the chronics and the TW pros too, then look into getting Jeffery's, Season's Nexus, Moment Frakenski or Deathwish
Dec 6 2022 8:37AM
0 1
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
QST's are pretty directional. I've heard a lot of good things about them but I've also struggled with Salomon durability in the past. If you are used to center mounted park skis and want to bring a similar style to natural terrain and powder get a more symmetrical ski like the JJ's or Bent 120's
Dec 6 2022 11:02AM
0 1
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Dilldoes
Posts: 761 - Karma: 5,853
Liberty Origin 106 should be on your list.
Dec 6 2022 11:55AM
2 1
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Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,507
So there’s this ski company named after a Hindu god…
Dec 6 2022 12:23PM
3 4
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Burrito
Posts: 1864 - Karma: 930
BC 120s are super good as fatty touring sticks, though kick turning with all that tail can be annoying. I've heard good things about Moment's touring lineup - mostly the Deathwish/Deathwish Tour or the Wildcat/Wildcat Tour. I've been curious for a while about WNDR Alpine, too, though I've never ridden any of their skis.
Dec 6 2022 12:30PM
0 0
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X_MEMESWERVE_XX
Posts: 3648 - Karma: 29,707
JITYSo there’s this ski company named after a Hindu god…


JITY has stepped up as the "get Vishnus" guy
Dec 6 2022 12:41PM
3 0
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Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,507
CowboySkibopJITY has stepped up as the "get Vishnus" guy


The only ski worth buying 🤷‍♂️
Dec 6 2022 3:05PM
3 1
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X_MEMESWERVE_XX
Posts: 3648 - Karma: 29,707
JITYThe only ski worth buying 🤷‍♂️


Hard agree
Dec 6 2022 3:11PM
1 0
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BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9401 - Karma: 68,885
blank is a very underrated ski in my opinion
Dec 6 2022 5:07PM
1 0
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NikolaB73
Posts: 163 - Karma: 1,393
A wise man once said that the Big Horn makes the whole mountain your playground. We designed a new layup for the Big Horn with Freeride World Tour Champion Isaac Freeland that preserves its playful nature while improving its ability to hold up to the highest speeds and largest airs on the mountain. What we’ve developed is the perfect balance between the confidence to shred anything and the playfulness to jib to your heart’s content. Available in 96, 106, and 114mm widths the Big Horn has a full poplar wood core with layers of biaxial carbon fiber wrapped in vibration dampening rubber sandwiching the core
Dec 6 2022 8:11PM
2 0
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tomatonater
Posts: 853 - Karma: 2,774
Look into the JJ UL’s. My boss has a pair and compared to my regular JJ’s is pretty wild. They’re obviously not as stable at speed as mine are but if you’re looking to get out and do a little touring it’s certainly a good option. Or get the reggy JJ’s and fucking rip
Dec 6 2022 8:56PM
0 0
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jovantang
Posts: 14 - Karma: 46
tomatonaterLook into the JJ UL’s. My boss has a pair and compared to my regular JJ’s is pretty wild. They’re obviously not as stable at speed as mine are but if you’re looking to get out and do a little touring it’s certainly a good option. Or get the reggy JJ’s and fucking rip


I think they're a little too overkill width wise
Dec 6 2022 9:54PM
0 0
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sashko
Posts: 223 - Karma: 742
jovantangHey guys,

I've currently got the line chronics, blends and TW pros. I'm looking to get rid of the blends and TWs to get a freeride/pow ski. I ski around local mountains in Vancouver (Cypress, Grouse) and multiple times in Whistler every season.



Looking for something that I can ride pow in, hit cliff drops, slash, throw some 360s in. Mainly going to use it when I hit the backcountry or when it dumps hard. Potentially try touring in also.



I've got recommendations like:

QST 106

QST BLANK (112 underfoot)

ARV JJ 116

Atomic Bent Chetlers (100-120 underfoot)

Thanks in advance.


What binding are you going to use?

And regarding your list:
QST Blank and ARV JJ are considered heavy (2.25+ g per ski) for touring. But some of Salomon's pro athletes use Blanks + Shifts as their touring sticks.
I have yet to ski in BC, but I heard that snow is heavy and dense there. I suggest getting skis 2+kg per stick as a 50/50 pair (Atomic bents are too light for resorts with BC snow, but it's my assumption, not my personal experience).
Also, check K2 Reckoner 112, Faction CT/Mana 3 and Moment Deathwish/Wildcat.

I owned ARV JJ and Wildcat. And they are awesome pow skis. You can't go wrong with any.
Dec 7 2022 4:55AM
0 0
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Pablo_Sanchez
Posts: 698 - Karma: 5,552
Reckoner 112
Dec 7 2022 10:47AM
1 0
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ICary
Posts: 325 - Karma: 806
Look into the Line Blade Optic 104 or 114 may be something that interest you. Sounds like it may check off everything you want. I was looking for a similar ski and those were on my list. Ended up wanting something a little lighter and went with the Line Vision 98 route.
Dec 7 2022 11:19AM
0 0
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nielsgetts
Posts: 28 - Karma: 209
Just throwing another option out there but the icelantic nomad 105 would do everything you're looking to do very well and when, or if you want to try out reverse camber which I highly recommend the saba pro from icelantic is 107 under foot and would also be a great option.

**This post was edited on Dec 8th 2022 at 1:55:01am

**This post was edited on Dec 8th 2022 at 1:55:50am
Dec 8 2022 1:52AM
0 0
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