Replying to Saying Farewell to Skis

My philosophy with skis has always been to buy the cheapest used skis that I could mount the cheapest used pivots to and put a smile on my face. October 2021 I found myself in search of some new park skis. I ended up scooping some ON3P Kartel 96s from a few years back for 300 bucks, the most I had ever spent on park skis. I had always been skeptical of ON3Ps and wasn't sure if id even like them after a few seasons on Icelantics but I kept an open mind and tried something new.

Over last season and so far through this season, they have become MY skis. they've been spray painted, sharpied, broken and repaired over and over. Everywhere I go people ask about them both park skiers and otherwise. They've moved out west with me and they've made several amazing trips. They've defined my skiing and my identity at my local resorts. Last weekend I noticed a crack in the top sheet developing behind the heel piece. It didnt take but a couple runs for me to realize that the crack was not just the topsheet but all the way through the core wood. Its the end of the line for these ON3Ps.

For some reason putting these skis down has been really hard. Despite having bought replacement skis I still find myself tempted to grab them when I go out even though i know theyre hanging on by a thread. It genuinely feels like a piece of my soul has been taken from me. Many of my buddies tell me how perfectly mated those skis were to me and my style. As broken and goofy as they were, they were a part of my skiing. And while I could go buy a custom pair of jeffrey 96s to replace them, I know they will never be quite as special as my Kartels. They were and are truly one of a kind. So heres to my Kartels and all of those skis over the years that have been there for us over and over again.

With that said if anyone has any kartel/jeffrey 96s 181-186 laying around I have a home for them haha!