Me: 165lb agreessive skier, 40-65 days per year since moving to aspen 6 years ago.
Quiver: old 168cm stockli laser sc, 177 cm head monster 88, 186cm Nordica hell and back, 185cm line supernatural 108 and 185 cm line influence 115
Boot: 26.5 Fischer rc130vacuum w booster strap,
Background: I was looking for a new ski to replace my aging hell and back and maybe my 108 which I like but don’t love. Thought the enforcer 100 sounded ideal, but between the short TR and the forward mount point, it was too responsive to pressuring the Tips as I like. I mentioned this to a retired Nordica dealer, and he said I should try the original enforcer. Same exact shape as my trusty he’ll and back but with a much beefier construction of full wood core and 2 sheets of titanal. He happened to have a pair new in the wrapper. So I bought them last summer, and didn’t mount them all season due to low snow and then just laziness. The second to last day of the season had excellent conditions and dying to try them, I had the, mounted for closing day.
Review:
Wow, that construction changes the feel dramatically from my hell and back. On firm groomers they held an edge and tracked better than my monster 88. They were smooth and supriwingly quick edge to edge. More so than my hell and back. And smoother, damper and more solid than any ski I’ve ever been on except maybe the Kastle mx98. But that ski was such a beast, it kicked my ass. The 21m turn radius of the enforcer works well for me who is definitely a mere mortal. A couple of skiers in town ski the mx98 in the 194 and not sure how they do it.
As for bumps and more variable terrain, they were more challenging to ski than my monster or hell and back. Th monster gets its ease from its shorter size and th hell and back from its less firm flex. But considering it was my first few hours on the ski, it handled everything i there at it- bumps, packed pow steeps and a bit of slightly tracked out and set leftover fresh.. In the more challenging conditions, I could see the benefits of a tiny bit of tail rocker. I’ll detune the tail a bit to help the release next season. I’m also going to make sure I’m as strong as possible before getting on them early season or warm up on my easier skis. Over 2300g.per put them 10-20 percent heavier than a new ski design wo any taper as well thus the swing weight is a bit much as well.
Those same design elements have their advantage as well. They have insane grip w a full running length not decreased by taper. The weight gives them stability through roughed up end of day spring groomers that actually scared me how fast I was going. The skis were calm and confident, me not so much.
The takeaway is that a 6 year old ski design has way more stability and grip than today’s lighter skis in my opinion. But the cost is more energy and effort to ride them. Here’s hoping I have what it takes because they were a blast.
Quiver: old 168cm stockli laser sc, 177 cm head monster 88, 186cm Nordica hell and back, 185cm line supernatural 108 and 185 cm line influence 115
Boot: 26.5 Fischer rc130vacuum w booster strap,
Background: I was looking for a new ski to replace my aging hell and back and maybe my 108 which I like but don’t love. Thought the enforcer 100 sounded ideal, but between the short TR and the forward mount point, it was too responsive to pressuring the Tips as I like. I mentioned this to a retired Nordica dealer, and he said I should try the original enforcer. Same exact shape as my trusty he’ll and back but with a much beefier construction of full wood core and 2 sheets of titanal. He happened to have a pair new in the wrapper. So I bought them last summer, and didn’t mount them all season due to low snow and then just laziness. The second to last day of the season had excellent conditions and dying to try them, I had the, mounted for closing day.
Review:
Wow, that construction changes the feel dramatically from my hell and back. On firm groomers they held an edge and tracked better than my monster 88. They were smooth and supriwingly quick edge to edge. More so than my hell and back. And smoother, damper and more solid than any ski I’ve ever been on except maybe the Kastle mx98. But that ski was such a beast, it kicked my ass. The 21m turn radius of the enforcer works well for me who is definitely a mere mortal. A couple of skiers in town ski the mx98 in the 194 and not sure how they do it.
As for bumps and more variable terrain, they were more challenging to ski than my monster or hell and back. Th monster gets its ease from its shorter size and th hell and back from its less firm flex. But considering it was my first few hours on the ski, it handled everything i there at it- bumps, packed pow steeps and a bit of slightly tracked out and set leftover fresh.. In the more challenging conditions, I could see the benefits of a tiny bit of tail rocker. I’ll detune the tail a bit to help the release next season. I’m also going to make sure I’m as strong as possible before getting on them early season or warm up on my easier skis. Over 2300g.per put them 10-20 percent heavier than a new ski design wo any taper as well thus the swing weight is a bit much as well.
Those same design elements have their advantage as well. They have insane grip w a full running length not decreased by taper. The weight gives them stability through roughed up end of day spring groomers that actually scared me how fast I was going. The skis were calm and confident, me not so much.
The takeaway is that a 6 year old ski design has way more stability and grip than today’s lighter skis in my opinion. But the cost is more energy and effort to ride them. Here’s hoping I have what it takes because they were a blast.
