• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

laine

I ski like a girl. Fast.
Skier
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
729
Location
Palm Springs
The more I research skis, the more options get added to my list to fill in the mid-70s to mid-80s gap. This is dangerous. :eek:

So curious to hear any thoughts on the Head Super Joy vs. the Supershape iRally vs the Supershape iTitan. I'm 5'1", 112 lbs, advanced, and ski in Tahoe, and I demo'ed the Super Joy in a 158, mostly looking for something for early season/drought season here. I'd probably be looking at the iRally or iTitan in the 156, but it's pretty tough to find unisex skis to demo in my size, so I was wondering if anyone out there has an analysis of the similarities/differences of those, particularly compared with the Super Joy.

I've read some reviews/comparisons between the iRally and iTitan, and based on my wants/needs, I think I would lean towards the iTitan, but it's just one of the many skis on my unfortunately growing consideration list.

Thanks!
-laine

If anyone is curious, also on the list:
Head Total Joy
Head Super Joy
Head Supershape iRally
Head Supershape iTitan
Kastle MX74
Kastle MX84
DPS Foundation Uschi 82
DPS Alchemist Cassiar 79
Blizzard Black Pearl 78
Nordica Astral 84
Renoun Z-Line 90
 

mike_m

Instructor
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
385
Location
Summit County, Colorado
Each of the Heads have great hard-snow grip and are very good skis for the right person (i.e., the weight of the skier makes a big difference). The Rally and Titan are much burlier skis and much less nimble than the Superjoy. At your size, most people prefer the Superjoy. Depends on what you like underfoot. For what you are looking for (hard-snow grip), the Heads are probably superior to the other skis on your list (possibly excepting the Kastle 74s).

If you liked the feel of the Superjoys, buy them!

Good luck!
 
Last edited:

Tricia

The Velvet Hammer
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
27,297
Location
Reno
If anyone is curious, also on the list:
Head Total Joy (versatile)
Head Super Joy (nimble and turny)
Head Supershape iRally (grrr turny)
Head Supershape iTitan
Kastle MX74 (Smooth turny)
Kastle MX84 (versatile, power)
DPS Foundation Uschi 82 (nimble, versatile playful)
DPS Alchemist Cassiar 79 (I'll let you know)
Blizzard Black Pearl 78 (Versatile, turny, poppy)
Nordica Astral 84 (damp, versatile)
Renoun Z-Line 90 (smooth, versatile, smoooooth)
To answer your question in the original post, I like the Super Joy for its nimbleness, and the iRally for its grrrrrr. The way you ski, I think you would enjoy the iRally.

On the list, I put my quick description in parenthesis
 
Last edited:

surfsnowgirl

Instructor
Skier
Joined
May 12, 2016
Posts
5,765
Location
Magic Mountain, Vermont
Each of the Heads have great hard-snow grip and are very good skis for the right person (i.e., the weight of the skier makes a big difference). The Rally and Titan are much burlier skis and much less nimble than the Superjoy. At your size, most people prefer the Superjoy. Depends on what you like underfoot. For what you are looking for (hard-snow grip), the Heads are probably superior to the other skis on your list (possibly excepting the Kastle 74s).

If you liked the feel of the Superjoys, buy them!

Good luck!

This............ While I found the super joy to be very capable on the hard stuff, I didn't care for how air light it is. I'm a big fan of the titan and i own the rally. I weigh 175lbs so I think what you said is perfect
 
Thread Starter
TS
laine

laine

I ski like a girl. Fast.
Skier
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
729
Location
Palm Springs
Thanks all. I'm trying to remove options from my list, but it's hard when I read reviews that talk about how capable a specific ski it. Since I clearly can't try them all, I appreciate your input/feedback.

@Tricia - Those quick descriptions are helpful. I think I'm going to take the Total Joy and Astral off the list, The iTitan too, based on the comments above.
 

Tony S

I have a confusion to make ...
Skier
Team Gathermeister
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
12,616
Location
Maine
Thanks all. I'm trying to remove options from my list, but it's hard when I read reviews that talk about how capable a specific ski it. Since I clearly can't try them all, I appreciate your input/feedback.

@Tricia - Those quick descriptions are helpful. I think I'm going to take the Total Joy and Astral off the list, The iTitan too, based on the comments above.

Having skied the Uschi, courtesy of Tricia, I'd consider scratching that one too. Very nice ski, but not at all a groomer specialist like some of the others on your list. I think of it as the narrower half of a two ski quiver for someone who always gravitates to the ungroomed, no matter how good the cord
may be.
 

Philpug

Notorious P.U.G.
Admin
SkiTalk Tester
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Posts
42,624
Location
Reno, eNVy
Having skied the Uschi, courtesy of Tricia, I'd consider scratching that one too. Very nice ski, but not at all a groomer specialist like some of the others on your list. I think of it as the narrower half of a two ski quiver for someone who always gravitates to the ungroomed, no matter how good the cord
may be.
I cannot disagree with you and the current Uschi 82..The upcoming one has much more horsepower but I still don't think it is what @laine is looking for, now...the Alchemist Cassiar 79...I will let @Tricia expand on that ski since she is on them today.
Holy Catfish!!!
 

Uncle-A

In the words of Paul Simon "You can call me Al"
Skier
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Posts
10,893
Location
NJ
The more I research skis, the more options get added to my list to fill in the mid-70s to mid-80s gap. This is dangerous. :eek:

So curious to hear any thoughts on the Head Super Joy vs. the Supershape iRally vs the Supershape iTitan. I'm 5'1", 112 lbs, advanced, and ski in Tahoe, and I demo'ed the Super Joy in a 158, mostly looking for something for early season/drought season here. I'd probably be looking at the iRally or iTitan in the 156, but it's pretty tough to find unisex skis to demo in my size, so I was wondering if anyone out there has an analysis of the similarities/differences of those, particularly compared with the Super Joy.

I've read some reviews/comparisons between the iRally and iTitan, and based on my wants/needs, I think I would lean towards the iTitan, but it's just one of the many skis on my unfortunately growing consideration list.

Thanks!
-laine

If anyone is curious, also on the list:
Head Total Joy
Head Super Joy
Head Supershape iRally
Head Supershape iTitan
Kastle MX74
Kastle MX84
DPS Foundation Uschi 82
DPS Alchemist Cassiar 79
Blizzard Black Pearl 78
Nordica Astral 84
Renoun Z-Line 90
You have the Z 90 on the list and it is the widest of the group but the rest of the skis are more like the Z 77? Would that be a better selection for a light weight like yourself?
 
Thread Starter
TS
laine

laine

I ski like a girl. Fast.
Skier
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
729
Location
Palm Springs
You have the Z 90 on the list and it is the widest of the group but the rest of the skis are more like the Z 77? Would that be a better selection for a light weight like yourself?

I did think about the Z-77 - but everyone raves so much about the Z-90. I should be able to demo the Z-90 later in the season, so will see how it feels and if the narrower ski might be better. I don't think I'll have the chance to demo the Z-77.
 

Muleski

So much better than a pro
Inactive
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
5,243
Location
North of Boston
This might be helpful. I'll stick to just two skis, the Rally and the Super Joy. I actually exchanged a number of PM's with @surfsnowgirl when she was looking at the Rally, and I think she's been quite pleased with that ski. I have five female skiers in my immediate family, all of whom are very skilled skiers. Extensive backgrounds, high level racing, etc. I'll specifically discuss my wife's experience, and my sister in law's, and then add some impressions from the three others that you may find helpful. Based in my discussions and impressions, I would consider limit the search to those two skis, as I think both would be great possibilities.

Our adult kids both work in the business, one lives in the Tahoe basin, one in CO in the Rockies. My sister in law lives in Steamboat. WE split time between the East and West.

Three seasons ago, our son handed a pair brand new, just released 163cm Super Joys to my wife. She's about 5'4" and 130 lbs. She's can ski, ski anything, and is both precise and fast. She knows what she likes. She laughed when she first lifted them, because they were so light. Our son, who knows his stuff {to say the least} told he to ski them. We were in CO for 10 days. Well, it took her about six turns to fall in love. We had everything that week in terms of snow. Old snow, hard snow, and about four nights of 4" to 8" of fresh snow. We skied everything for terrain. So....think cruisers, groomers, steep bumps, some trees, a lot of wide open spaces. Steeps. I kept asking if my wife wanted to switch skis, and she said "Nope, I think this may be the best all round ski that I've skied in a LONG time." Her impression is that the ski has a huge "sweet spot", much more so than it's marketed to. It's billed as a "carver", and it does that and a lot more. She is now on her fourth pair. We have a connection, full disclosure. She skis close to 100 days a pair, and then passes them on, with a lot of life in them. She has her original pair as lean snow/rock skis.

My sister on law is about your size. Maybe 5'2" and 115 lbs? She is on, I think her third pair of Rally's. She loved the ski and has stuck with it. Very similar to my wife. Both raced back in the day. Both have taught. Both know how to work a ski. And both can get them up on edge. Both bend the skis into a variety of turn shapes. And both tend to pull these skis about 80% of the time, despite having a lot of other skis. My wife has a pair of Santa Ana's that she normally skis when the snow is deep. They have never really become the daily driver in the West, as she loves the Super Joy's. She has Patrons for when the snow os really deep, but frankly they barely get used.

My sister in law and wife have the same BSL. They have swapped skis, and both have the opinion that if they had tried the other ski, they would have been perfectly happy on it. My wife feels that the Super Joy is more lively, has more pop, and is more fun......in everything. Including skied out snow, and windblown snow. The "lightness" is not a factor. My sister in law seems to think the Rally is "smoother" which I think is more damp. She likes to pretty occasionally side, skid, and starve her turns, and the Rally does that all.....as well as serious carving. My wife tends to be on edge.

The two younger women, who are both about 5'4" and 135 lbs are "alligned" with other ski companies. However, our daughter has borrowed her Mom's skis a number of times "just to try these things out." She's "OK with her skiing", ex NCAA captain who skis well over 100 days a season. She thinks the Rally is an incredibly versatile ski, and if she were with Head, would likely have a pair....BUT, she loves ski on the Super Joy. Comments like "This is SO much fun, so quick. Wow." Our son's GF has a similar background. And coaches full time. She has the exact same opinion. She's with another company, but feels that Head makes great ski. If the boots would work for her {they don't...her foot}, she probably would be with them. She's skied Mom's SJ's in Tahoe, in the East, and in CO.

Same verdict. With a skilled skier, who drives the ski, they work. I frankly think they BOTH work. I'd try to demo BOTH, maybe on the same day. If you can get on some harder, older snow, and perhaps a bit of fresher snow, or a bit skied out.....perfect. But I'd also be real comfortable recommending either "cold turkey." I don't think you can go wrong, and I rarely say that about any ski.

They're both a lot of ski for the money, and easy to resell, if needed.

BTW, none of this crowd can stand any of the other Joy series skis. Not fans for whatever reason. Other choices for wider skis. I own a Titan. I love it. I'm 200+ lbs, and I, too, "am OK with my skiing." I also ski an i.speed {the Rebels ski}and have for a number of years and pairs. Also picked up an i.Race last spring. I would not recommend a Titan for you. Particularly not in your length.

Good luck. Lot of great skis out there. These two among them. Lots of thumbs up in our family.
 
Last edited:
Thread Starter
TS
laine

laine

I ski like a girl. Fast.
Skier
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
729
Location
Palm Springs
This might be helpful. I'll stick to just two skis, the Rally and the Super Joy. I actually changed a number of PM's with @surfsnowgirl when she was looking at the Rally, and I think she's been quite pleased with that ski. I have five female skiers in my immediate family, all of whom are very skilled skiers. Extensive backgrounds, high level racing, etc. I'll specifically discuss my wife's experience, and my sister in law's, and then add some impressions from the three others that you may find helpful. Based in my discussions and impressions, I would consider limit the search to those two skis, as I think both would be great possibilities.

<snip>

Good luck. Lot of great skis out there. These two among them. Lots of thumbs up in our family.

Wow, @Muleski, that was an excellent and thorough write-up. I really appreciate the input from you and your family members. Incredibly helpful and insightful.
 

Muleski

So much better than a pro
Inactive
Joined
Nov 14, 2015
Posts
5,243
Location
North of Boston
@laine, hope I don't sound like too much of a fanboy, fanhusband, fandad. Not my intent. Just happens that I do know some women who are real happy with those two skis. Actually know quite a few more. I have thinned down my "quiver", but I could ski on four different pairs of skis when my wife is on her Super Joys, skiing the same terrain the same way. Or my sister in law on her Rally's. I know women, BTW who teach on either ski. Experienced Level 3's.

If I had more "intel" to compare with something else, I'd ask and post. I don't! HaHa!
 
Thread Starter
TS
laine

laine

I ski like a girl. Fast.
Skier
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
729
Location
Palm Springs
@Muleski - not at all. Your post is one of the reasons I'm on this forum, to learn from other people's experiences.
 

Pequenita

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Aug 5, 2017
Posts
1,613
Hey, so I'm curious as to why you're interested in the Foundation Uschi, but not the Alchemist Uschi, but also interested in the Alchemist Cassiar.

I skied the Alchemist Uschi a few weeks ago, and they were okay. They were too long (probably not a problem for you) and I was skiing in different terrain than what you're looking to do with them.
 
Thread Starter
TS
laine

laine

I ski like a girl. Fast.
Skier
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
729
Location
Palm Springs
Hey, so I'm curious as to why you're interested in the Foundation Uschi, but not the Alchemist Uschi, but also interested in the Alchemist Cassiar.

I skied the Alchemist Uschi a few weeks ago, and they were okay. They were too long (probably not a problem for you) and I was skiing in different terrain than what you're looking to do with them.

Well, I was initially just interested in the Foundation Uschi 82 because, frankly, it has a lower price point. I also read the long-term test on the site. I hadn't really thought about the Alchemist Cassiar 79 until @Philpug tempted me by bringing a pair back from Utah that happen to be my size. So hoping I can demo them in the next month or so.

But I am curious about your experience - too long can be a problem for me given I'm 5'1". What terrain were you on? Aren't you a Tahoe skier?
 

Pequenita

Making fresh tracks
Skier
Joined
Aug 5, 2017
Posts
1,613
Well, I was initially just interested in the Foundation Uschi 82 because, frankly, it has a lower price point. I also read the long-term test on the site. I hadn't really thought about the Alchemist Cassiar 79 until @Philpug tempted me by bringing a pair back from Utah that happen to be my size. So hoping I can demo them in the next month or so.

But I am curious about your experience - too long can be a problem for me given I'm 5'1". What terrain were you on? Aren't you a Tahoe skier?

I'm a bit lighter than you, though, which I think does make a difference if we're the same ability. I did two runs at Alpine, in Wolverine Bowl and maybe lower Idiots or thereabouts, in pretty warm snow. Basically, I couldn't get it to make a quick enough turn, and I felt like I was on my heels. Incidentally, I didn't really like the other DPS ski that I tried (the Foundation Yvette), either, and had the same problem with feeling like I was too much in my heels. I could have been having a bad day, although the 3rd ski I tried from a different manufacturer, was also too long, a 162, but I loved it, other than it felt long. One more thing, I may have been spooked by the 158 length in the DPS's, even though the length of my regular skis is 156.
 
Last edited:

Sponsor

Staff online

  • jimmy
    Mixmaster
  • Andy Mink
    Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
  • Dwight
    Practitioner of skiing, solid and liquid
Top