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Biffbarf
February, 2025

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Ski for firmer days

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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 6,691
Ive made this thread before in the past and my indecisive non committal self is still in a battle of choosing a ski. My brother let my try his armada strangers which are ways away from my dynastars in performance(different type of ski), and its a good thing I tried them to figure out where im leaning. Love the strangers for carving and mellow bumps, but for being 5’11 and 185 more or less depending on the year, I need something with a bit more backbone in the steeps/steep bumps and chop…. Probably the biggest failure of the strangers as that terrain almost felt as though I was over powering the ski. Curious if something like a sender free 100 would do the trick or something else. The poppy feel to the strangers was amazing, but like I said, virtually no backbone or structure… couldnt hold its weight in chop.
6 days ago
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snorman
Posts: 168 - Karma: 873
Grow a backbone and get a ski with a real backbone: sender free 118. Shit rips everywhere all the time.
6 days ago
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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 6,691
snormanGrow a backbone and get a ski with a real backbone: sender free 118. Shit rips everywhere all the time.

How are those for charging pow. Those could easily fulfill my fat ski needs.
6 days ago
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snorman
Posts: 168 - Karma: 873
SmokedGoudaHow are those for charging pow. Those could easily fulfill my fat ski needs.


So unbelievably epic. Best resort powder ski on the face of the planet. Blow through absolutely everything yet still possible to slash and pivot in trees or tight stuff (you do have to work for it) but when you get going fast they just monster truck over everything. I skied them as a single ski quiver for 2 seasons - no regrets.
Mount them -2 or -3 from rec imo to make sure you can drive through the tips.
6 days ago
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Liamsasd
Posts: 183 - Karma: 944
Sounds like you need a blend
6 days ago
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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 6,691
snormanSo unbelievably epic. Best resort powder ski on the face of the planet. Blow through absolutely everything yet still possible to slash and pivot in trees or tight stuff (you do have to work for it) but when you get going fast they just monster truck over everything. I skied them as a single ski quiver for 2 seasons - no regrets.
Mount them -2 or -3 from rec imo to make sure you can drive through the tips.

Yeah I demoed a pair of bent 120s a few seasons ago when I was a much weaker skier but after being on mfree 108s for a couple seasons, my fear with those is going on em and bein like wtf is this weak shit. Now im hella considering the rossi’s and 186 is a really appealing length for me.
6 days ago
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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 6,691
snormanSo unbelievably epic. Best resort powder ski on the face of the planet. Blow through absolutely everything yet still possible to slash and pivot in trees or tight stuff (you do have to work for it) but when you get going fast they just monster truck over everything. I skied them as a single ski quiver for 2 seasons - no regrets.
Mount them -2 or -3 from rec imo to make sure you can drive through the tips.

Guess another question I have is the poppiness and willingness to go in the air that the ski engages versus others given its slightly heavier weight vs other skis at that width.
6 days ago
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snorman
Posts: 168 - Karma: 873
SmokedGoudaGuess another question I have is the poppiness and willingness to go in the air that the ski engages versus others given its slightly heavier weight vs other skis at that width.


If you want it to go in the air and there is a bump, it will go in the air. If you do not want it to go in the air it will not go in the air. Does not get bucked around, but with your desire (and input) it will bounce and play. Obviously not as easily as something lighter because this is a tank of a ski, but something lighter will not plow through chunder anywhere close to what this one can.
It is very stable in the air because of how symmetrical it is. Keep in mind i am not someone who is slashing all over the place, so I like these characteristics, and I like monster truck skis.
6 days ago
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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 6,691
snormanIf you want it to go in the air and there is a bump, it will go in the air. If you do not want it to go in the air it will not go in the air. Does not get bucked around, but with your desire (and input) it will bounce and play. Obviously not as easily as something lighter because this is a tank of a ski, but something lighter will not plow through chunder anywhere close to what this one can.
It is very stable in the air because of how symmetrical it is. Keep in mind i am not someone who is slashing all over the place, so I like these characteristics, and I like monster truck skis.

I mean I was basically lining pow in january, deep pole plant to get up but generally leaning to the fall line as much as possible but deep chop once february came around even in dynastars had me wanting more of a tank than those since I tend to find speed any moment I can. Sounds right up my alley.
6 days ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21101 - Karma: 8,557
SmokedGoudaYeah I demoed a pair of bent 120s a few seasons ago when I was a much weaker skier but after being on mfree 108s for a couple seasons, my fear with those is going on em and bein like wtf is this weak shit. Now im hella considering the rossi’s and 186 is a really appealing length for me.


Huh? The Mfree 108's are absolutely stiff skis. They're the stiffest in the mfree lineup, and made for the FWT
6 days ago
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snorman
Posts: 168 - Karma: 873
ThaLoraxHuh? The Mfree 108's are absolutely stiff skis. They're the stiffest in the mfree lineup, and made for the FWT


aint got shit on the sender free 118.
6 days ago
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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 6,691
ThaLoraxHuh? The Mfree 108's are absolutely stiff skis. They're the stiffest in the mfree lineup, and made for the FWT


Nah theyre wildly surfy… stiff in essence, but a bit too playful n pivoty for super stiff. Also they dont hold edges. Epic ski for like 4 big days, then after that its riskin it for the biscuit. 20 plus days so far without a tune on em for me and theyre wildly skiddish… but straightlining is fun
6 days ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21101 - Karma: 8,557
SmokedGoudaNah theyre wildly surfy… stiff in essence, but a bit too playful n pivoty for super stiff. Also they dont hold edges. Epic ski for like 4 big days, then after that its riskin it for the biscuit. 20 plus days so far without a tune on em for me and theyre wildly skiddish… but straightlining is fun


I never called them super stiff, but they're one of the stiffer wide skis on the market. I agree on the surfy feel, but thats because of the shape, more than the flex. I actually like the funny dichotomy of them being both stiff AND surfy. Those two words rarely go together in a ski description.

I disagree on the rest though. They're one of the best carving 108ish skis I've ever skied on, but I think the stock tune sucks... and may be a big part of what youre feeling. I have about 20 days on mine as well, with the new 2.0 hybrid core. They were wayyyy better after a proper tune
6 days ago
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SmokedGouda
Posts: 1193 - Karma: 6,691
ThaLoraxI never called them super stiff, but they're one of the stiffer wide skis on the market. I agree on the surfy feel, but thats because of the shape, more than the flex. I actually like the funny dichotomy of them being both stiff AND surfy. Those two words rarely go together in a ski description.

I disagree on the rest though. They're one of the best carving 108ish skis I've ever skied on, but I think the stock tune sucks... and may be a big part of what youre feeling. I have about 20 days on mine as well, with the new 2.0 hybrid core. They were wayyyy better after a proper tune

Ahh well the new ones might be a lot better in the edges/structure. I have in total about 100 days on my pair which were from a few seasons ago. Been 20 days since the last tune…. Shoulda mentioned that haha

**This post was edited on Mar 11th 2025 at 12:03:07am
6 days ago
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HumanGenius
Posts: 371 - Karma: 324
line blade optic in 96 has been great for icy carving and good in chopped up soft snow. Had them out in Utah last week and new snow over a foot overwhelmed them a bit since they are only 96 but they got along great with
5 days ago
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