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!

What park skis do I buy?

profile picture
_jakeharp
Posts: 6 - Karma: 27
I am 6’ 2” 170lb. I am looking for a ski that will be great for rails/butters/jumps. I already have an all mountain ski that I have been skiing park with, I want to upgrade to an actual park ski that is center mounted. Curious what you guys think would be best for length, width, brand, etc.

I’ve been looking at the Line Tom Wallisch pro skis 2023 178 cm length. But I’m worried if I center mount them they will be too short for my height. Drop any suggestions or advice, thank you.
Jan 10 2023 5:52PM
1 8
profile picture
steez_apprentice
Posts: 844 - Karma: 5,762
First off, don't get TW pros. They are not flexible enough to butter if you're really focused on that unless you are already well- versed in buttering. I always recommend Armada Bdog's at 180+, you'll find that they are a great ski for those 3 that you mentioned. Armada in general has a great lineup of park skis as well if you want to look into them as a brand in general, ARV and Edollo both are great options. I would recommend getting larger than 178cm, I'm 5'9 140 and I ride 181 ON3P's and they feel amazing. K2 Poachers or their Reckoner 102's are also great options, and Surface has a good lineup of park skis on their website. As for width, I usually like to stay under the 110 underfoot range, but that's just personal preference. If you have other questions feel free to ask away
Jan 10 2023 6:01PM
13 2
profile picture
steez_apprentice
Posts: 844 - Karma: 5,762
there's also countless threads asking the same question, just look at the replies there
Jan 10 2023 6:01PM
9 0
profile picture
buck_nasty
Posts: 239 - Karma: 1,311
Strongly recommend the Armada B-Dog in 180 since that's the longest they make. I'm 6' and love mine.
Jan 10 2023 7:02PM
4 0
profile picture
Woody.
Posts: 428 - Karma: 4,701
I’ve really been enjoying the Sego Big Horn. 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. Hope this helps!
Jan 10 2023 7:05PM
25 1
profile picture
Christian_Bale
Posts: 1873 - Karma: 21,047
Really doubt thats true, based on the fact I (and many others) can butter on poachers, which have got to be stiffer than two pros.
steez_apprenticeThey are not flexible enough to butter if you're really focused on that unless you are already well- versed in buttering.
Jan 10 2023 8:09PM
8 0
profile picture
steez_apprentice
Posts: 844 - Karma: 5,762
Christian_BaleReally doubt thats true, based on the fact I (and many others) can butter on poachers, which have got to be stiffer than two pros.


really? I heard the poachers were similar to K2 Presses, which is how my homies learned to butter on those a few years back. All the TW kids I know find real trouble buttering in them compared to something like a Bdog
Jan 10 2023 9:04PM
1 0
profile picture
armchair_skier
Posts: 2270 - Karma: 28,448
steez_apprenticereally? I heard the poachers were similar to K2 Presses, which is how my homies learned to butter on those a few years back. All the TW kids I know find real trouble buttering in them compared to something like a Bdog


prolly cause they cheeks at skiing
Jan 10 2023 9:07PM
10 0
profile picture
KilaTsunami
Posts: 2949 - Karma: 28,100
Keep lurking n you’ll find ur answer
(it’s not TW pros)
Jan 10 2023 9:43PM
6 0
profile picture
BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,185
178 is too long tbh, go with a low 170 to be safe, you'll have a bad time on 178
Jan 10 2023 9:47PM
4 19
profile picture
skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7798 - Karma: 21,735
Moment Frankenski, Liberty Helix 88 and Volkl Revolt 90 are all symmetrical park skis designed specifically to be center mounted. Personally I prefer a symmetrical ski for park. I'd look at those in 180+ cm. Armada ARV or Bdogs, Line Blend, Vishnu Wet are all great options too.
Jan 10 2023 9:48PM
4 0
profile picture
s.j.mitchell
Posts: 409 - Karma: 2,202
BrotherB178 is too long tbh, go with a low 170 to be safe, you'll have a bad time on 178


Skiing 170s at 5’9” will make you ski like a complete idiot
Jan 10 2023 10:24PM
5 5
profile picture
Ball_Sacker
Posts: 127 - Karma: 1,082
Definitely go with a ski size above 180, also TWP are not the ski your looking for. Armada bdogs or edollo would be good. Also factions prodigy 1.0 or 2.0 fit your description.
Jan 10 2023 11:07PM
2 2
profile picture
BigmoneyMatt
Posts: 1545 - Karma: 1,185
s.j.mitchellSkiing 170s at 5’9” will make you ski like a complete idiot


U must be an east coaster cause where I grow up skiing 160 is the norm... For a tall guy low 170.
Jan 11 2023 12:24AM
1 11
profile picture
PimpChimpin
Posts: 1287 - Karma: 12,570
I prefer the sego big horn it makes the whole mountain your playground. I can attest to this
Jan 11 2023 1:38AM
7 0
profile picture
BrownSnow
Posts: 125 - Karma: 543
i have a pair of edollos they are pretty buttery and they are durable as a mf
Jan 11 2023 4:45AM
0 0
profile picture
SlitherySnake
Posts: 1168 - Karma: 8,612
i have a set of jskis joyrides in the plastic if you’re interested

182 length in the level 1 subway map topsheet
Jan 11 2023 4:51AM
3 1
profile picture
jumpman101
Posts: 162 - Karma: 1,000
Moment frankenski by far so buttery
Jan 11 2023 8:09AM
1 0
profile picture
LOOK_at_me
Posts: 241 - Karma: 2,130
Jan 11 2023 8:15AM
10 0
profile picture
SchizoSkier
Posts: 2742 - Karma: 29,725
Yeah this is true, I learned to ski on poachers and I had no problem buttering them. I also have no problem buttering super stiff skis like Jeffrey’s or even TW pros cause I learned on poachers. Might not be a great idea to get a wet noodle as ur first park ski cause it might be hard to actually get good buttering form down for later skis. That’s just my logic tho, I’ve always told my friends who are getting their first park skis to go with poachers or ARV 96 or something
Christian_BaleReally doubt thats true, based on the fact I (and many others) can butter on poachers, which have got to be stiffer than two pros.


steez_apprenticereally? I heard the poachers were similar to K2 Presses, which is how my homies learned to butter on those a few years back. All the TW kids I know find real trouble buttering in them compared to something like a Bdog
Jan 11 2023 9:05AM
0 0
profile picture
IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
You're 6'2" so id go 180 or longer. Read some reviews, that'll help you narrow it down.

https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/Newschoolers-Ski-Test-Park-Mountain-Skis-2023
Jan 11 2023 2:22PM
0 0
profile picture
SteezMaster68
Posts: 182 - Karma: 2,140
steez_apprenticeFirst off, don't get TW pros. They are not flexible enough to butter if you're really focused on that unless you are already well- versed in buttering. I always recommend Armada Bdog's at 180+, you'll find that they are a great ski for those 3 that you mentioned. Armada in general has a great lineup of park skis as well if you want to look into them as a brand in general, ARV and Edollo both are great options. I would recommend getting larger than 178cm, I'm 5'9 140 and I ride 181 ON3P's and they feel amazing. K2 Poachers or their Reckoner 102's are also great options, and Surface has a good lineup of park skis on their website. As for width, I usually like to stay under the 110 underfoot range, but that's just personal preference. If you have other questions feel free to ask away

with all due respect this is not necessarily true. The TW Pro is a fantastic park ski and especially shines on jumps. Yea it’s not the best for buttering but it is still very capable of buttering
Jan 11 2023 2:36PM
4 1
profile picture
Canis_lupus
Posts: 597 - Karma: 6,145
189 keys
Jan 11 2023 3:23PM
4 0
profile picture
steez_apprentice
Posts: 844 - Karma: 5,762
SteezMaster68with all due respect this is not necessarily true. The TW Pro is a fantastic park ski and especially shines on jumps. Yea it’s not the best for buttering but it is still very capable of buttering


I've heard great things about TW pros, especially with jumps as you named since they are definitely a comp-type ski, but with line's questionable durability in mind and the fact that although they are capable of buttering, they are on the much stiffer end of parks vs. something like a chronic if we were to go with a line alternative.
Jan 11 2023 8:29PM
0 1
profile picture
Canis_lupus
Posts: 597 - Karma: 6,145
In all seriousness I would listen to @steez_apprentice he’s got good suggestions. If you decide to go with something else tho go with something that’s 180+
Jan 11 2023 10:40PM
0 0
profile picture
jimbobs
Posts: 240 - Karma: 2,471
Poacher 184's fit your description pretty well. They are slightly stiffer than most other park skis though.
What you should look for is a ski with a healthy amount of rocker and a medium flex, so you're not fighting to press the ski, but also not washing out on every jump.

At 6'2 (188cm) 170lb you should probably be slightly above 180 length on modern park skis. I would pick skis that are a few cm shorter than you. Approximately 182-185 range. Also keep in mind most skis are 1-2cm shorter than advertised.

I love my mid-fat park skis (96mm waist) for the east coast. Some people prefer skinnier, some prefer wider. Ask yourself how you like the width you're on now, and what you want out of this new ski, and pick a width based on that.

Couple options you could look into:
Armada EDollo, BDog, ARV96
Icelantic Nomad 95
Vishnu Plus, Key
ON3P Mango 90, 100
K2 Poacher
Sego Bighorn 96
Volkl Revolt 95
JSkis Allplay
Jan 13 2023 12:38PM
3 0
profile picture
maaattt
Posts: 2483 - Karma: 30,254
Head Oblivion 94, hella camber and pop, just the right amount of early rise. AND, it's got Heads WC Rebel race base so it's fast as fuck

Head doesn't get a lot of love here, which I get, but the Oblivion line is definitely worth checking out
Jan 16 2023 10:58AM
1 1
profile picture
SlitherySnake
Posts: 1168 - Karma: 8,612
buy my skis you little shit
Jan 16 2023 1:19PM
1 0
profile picture
SteezMaster68
Posts: 182 - Karma: 2,140
steez_apprenticeI've heard great things about TW pros, especially with jumps as you named since they are definitely a comp-type ski, but with line's questionable durability in mind and the fact that although they are capable of buttering, they are on the much stiffer end of parks vs. something like a chronic if we were to go with a line alternative.


Yea you would be right about durability… first week I had mine they suffered a cracked edge which lead to a full delam and whole edge separating (then later completely ripping out) across the entire length of the underfoot. But other then that they ski fantastic. They also butter surprisingly well- I would place them in the mid range of stiffness. I’ve skied chronics and the TWP butter better. Also for comparison I ski arv 96s too and they are stiffer/less buttery then the TWP. However it’s mostly in the TWP nose, the tails are significantly stiffer. But it creates this very nice balance between a comp style ski that you can go big on but at the same time it can be playful and more lowkey

**This post was edited on Jan 17th 2023 at 10:35:08am
Jan 17 2023 10:33AM
0 0
profile picture
ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6382 - Karma: 69,372
If you're thinking about TWalls, get Revolt 95s, probably in 181. Way better durability and just better all around for that kind of compy kind of park ski, and I learned how to butter on them, so yea they can butter.

Other people and threads have plenty of other better options, you'll find the right ski my dude
Jan 17 2023 1:12PM
1 0
profile picture
Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,472
╙█████▌ ██████

╙█████▌ ██████`

╙█████▌ ██████¬

╙█████▄ ▄▓██▄ ██████

║█████▄ .███████▒ ▓█████`

╟█████▄ '███████▌ ▓█████¬

╟█████▄ '▀███▀Γ ▓█████Γ

██████⌐ ▓█████⌐

██████⌐ ▄█████▀

██████ ▄█████▀

"███████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████▌

╙█████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████▌

╙▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀██████▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀██████▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

██████ ▐█████▌

└██████ ╔█████▌

╙██████ ╓█████▌

╙█████▌ ╓██████

╙█████▌ ]██████

╙█████▓██████

╙██████████

╙████████

╙██████

╚████

╟██

`
Jan 23 2023 9:54AM
0 1
profile picture
Jacob.millz
Posts: 210 - Karma: 717
Im 5'8 and I want to get vishnus wets for park. Would 171 be my best option for mostly rail skiing on the east coast?
Jan 24 2023 9:13AM
1 3
profile picture
Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,472
Jacob.millzIm 5'8 and I want to get vishnus wets for park. Would 171 be my best option for mostly rail skiing on the east coast?


189 189 189 189 189
Jan 24 2023 9:14AM
2 2
profile picture
vroskii
Posts: 961 - Karma: 5,995
Jacob.millzIm 5'8 and I want to get vishnus wets for park. Would 171 be my best option for mostly rail skiing on the east coast?

I’m 5’6 and skied 171 .. a bit too small for me ngl so I got 177s
Jan 24 2023 9:15AM
6 0
profile picture
Jacob.millz
Posts: 210 - Karma: 717
JITY189 189 189 189 189


r u deadass?
Jan 24 2023 9:16AM
0 1
profile picture
Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,472
Jacob.millzr u deadass?


I’m as dead as an ass can be
Jan 24 2023 9:21AM
1 3
profile picture
Schoess
Posts: 2076 - Karma: 24,825
These will be great skis for you in the first day and a half before they delam and explode
Jan 24 2023 9:39AM
3 0
profile picture
Jacob.millz
Posts: 210 - Karma: 717
SchoessThese will be great skis for you in the first day and a half before they delam and explode


the vishnus? has this ever happend to u?
Jan 24 2023 12:29PM
2 2
profile picture
Vish-shoe
Posts: 1949 - Karma: 14,472
Jacob.millzthe vishnus? has this ever happend to u?


Actually, yeah get the lines
Jan 24 2023 12:37PM
1 1
All times are Eastern (-5)