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Overall I'm not really impressed with this ski. They do have some significant strengths, but for me the cons outweigh the pros. For BC jumps or 100% backcountry they'll work well, but if you're planning on skiing variable conditions in-bounds (or spring BC) I'd recommend looking elsewhere. I just think there's a lot of skis that flex about the same and are way damper and more torsionally stiff. It's hard to beat the weight, but for most people that isn't going to be a huge concern. I personally won't be buying another pair, but I do know a lot of people that love the sugar daddy/pimp, so try to get a demo or talk to someone you ski with before making a final decision. Take my opinion with a grain of salt--I like my skis damp to the point where I can't feel small bumps, and if I can flex them by leaning all the way forward they're soft enough. I got a deal on these and decided to give it a shot, and I'm not disappointed....but not particuarly stoked, either.
Performance
For what I got these for (touring), they do their job well. Not great, but acceptable. In untouched powder they ride really smooth and feel nice and neutral at the recommended mounting point. They'll float effortlessly once you get to speed, and all you have to do is give them a little power to dive under or shoot some snow up. Lean forward hard and the tips will go under, get backseat and the long tails will let you wheelie. For being 99mm 193's, they're super light and work great if you're skinning or hiking a lot. This is where my postitive review will end.
If you encounter wind crust, chopped snow, or ice, these skis are not good.....at all. Super soft tips=lots of chatter at any speed on tracked or variable snow, making it nearly impossible to really drive the ski through anything. Hit a patch of ice and they're not torsionally stiff enough to really hold an edge like I would like them to, so it'll send you bouncing across the chunks. The two times I've skied these in-bounds I really haven't enjoyed them, but I suppose that's why I use them out of bounds.
Value
I got them for $400 brand new, so I'm not complaining! If you can get a deal on these they might be worth it, but I think there's a lot of other similar skis that are more affordable. If you need a light, soft mid-fat twin, then your options are limited and this might be the way to go.
Fit
At 6' and 160lbs, the 193's are working pretty well for me as an AT ski. They're easy to skin on, plane out pretty well, and because they're a twin they don't actually ski like 193's. Due to the massive tips, I'd say the running length ends up being close to a 186 non-twin ski. They can be a little tricky in tight spots, but I think it has more to do with the soft tips than the length. If you're on the fence over which length to get, go bigger on these.
Characteristics
Hand-flexing, these skis seem really weird. The tips and tails are suuuuper soft, and they're medium-stiff underfoot--probably a tad softer than the Seths. Get them on snow and they behave as you'd expect, but you don't feel any funky flex points. They start semi-stiff (relative) underfoot and gradually taper out to really soft tips, kind of like PR's. In fact, that's probably the best ski I can think of to comare these to.
Durability
So far I haven't had any durability issues whatsoever. After hitting a number of rocks, I have one small core shot that I'm pretty sure I got while walking across a patch of rocks with my skis on. The topsheets look new, but this probably has a lot to do with the rough finish and cap construction. They haven't become dead foam noodles like I had expected, so as far as cores go they're holding up better than any Salomon foam ski I've had.
i am 6ft, 200lbs. and ride hard. this has been a great all mountain ski for me. i have used them almost everywhere. and there is no defaults in them. Recomended.
Performance
so far so good! I am not hitting rails with these skis. but if you really lean into them and push hard they stick like pb to the roof of your mouth. with the 103mm waist this ski does charge.
Design
the look is alright. the skis together make a outline of a chicks face.
Value
great deal
Fit
192cm is a long ski. but if you like to go hard, it will help you
Characteristics
enough softness for pow, but strong enough for the groomers
Durability
this will be my second winter with these, and there is next to no damage. again no rails for these bad boys, but edges are still strong and the they have not softened.
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