SkiEssentials has posted their full review:
And winner of Ski Magazines Gear of the Year for Men's Ski...
https://www.skimag.com/gear/gear-of-the-year-2020
Expect to see these soon in an upcoming Cage Match.
Expect to see these soon in an upcoming Cage Match.
Ahh, the wait for a cage match is killing me! I need to order a set before pro inventory is gone. An ex-racer like myself at my shop said he really liked the GT86 but also seemed to think that for a big guy like me (230+lbs) who likes to go fast on groomers that I might like the Brahma 88 a bit more. More stable and more comfortable at high speeds on the hard stuff. Thoughts? I suspect I'd probably be very happy with either, this would be my ski to bring on trips out to the Rockies.
When you free-ski are you more likely to turn a lot or just do some high-speed cruising? If you're more of a turn guy (like me), I think you would prefer the 86 GT.
Thanks Noodler, I like to rip some fat gs/sg arcs and lay trenches! I think you're probably right on the Fischer for me.
So many good skis, not enough $$
Thanks Noodler, I like to rip some fat gs/sg arcs and lay trenches! I think you're probably right on the Fischer for me.
So many good skis, not enough $$
The length of these might make a real difference. The 175 length reviewed, I'm told, is a lot more turny than the 182. I know of a Fischer shop that favors the 182, because they like what @MNskier likes: "to rip some fat gs/sg" turns, with a ski that handles both groomers and some powder/crud exceptionally well - option to charge.
Similarly, for me the Brahma had that wow factor, in that it rips groomers with big turns or short turns, your choice, but also is a standout in bumps and not too deep off piste. (I've known folks who abuse this ability by using these as their powder ski, short-turning a lot.)
So if @MNskier wants the ski to also handle bumps in a super way, then the shorter 175 GT might do that - I'll have to see for myself or be told "yes" by others - but the Brahma, in say, 180 or longer for a big guy, definitely will. It's probably more fully all mountain, whereas the GT 86 seems to be more frontside biased, with a wonderful powder/chop difference.
I agree with Ski Otter's thoughts above. I have skied both skis, especially the Brahma which I own. I am a big guy, 6'4", 240 lbs and I was on the 175 cm RC One and it was definitely too short for me. Didn't like it in moguls, its pretty edgy and stiff, and heavy. It felt almost like a slalom ski to me ( I have a 175 cm Rossi slalom ski that I have taken into moguls) as its very turny and will carve a short radius turn. It wants to be on edge to turn, and feels very precise. I had the RC One in soft spring snow, so it was not in its element the day I tried it. I would like to try the 182cm sometime, but it is not a ski I would look to take out west, unless I planned to stay on groomers only. It will handle some off piste due to its width, but roughed up groomers is as far as I can see it excelling at off piste. Others (who are smaller) have a much better impression of the ski off piste.
The Brahma on the other hand, is an off piste ski that can lay trenches on the groomers. Its coming from the opposite direction as the RC One. The Brahma is a ski I would take out west for sure. In the 187cm length I own, it doesn't do short radius turns, but it pivots really easily and will slarve a short radius turn with the best of them. If I zipper line "slarve" through moguls, the ski is fantastic. The Brahma handles high speed GS turns excellent and feels like a powerful, stable ski. Its squarely in the all mtn category with very good carving chops.
As a shameless plug to MNskier, I have my187cm 2018 Brahma's ($250) for sale at this thread, for cheap $$. I had to choose between keeping my Salomon X-Drive 8.8 and the Brahma, and the X-Drive had multi norm bindings so I can use my other boots. So the Brahma's are for sale.
https://www.pugski.com/threads/blizzard-brahma-2017-18-187cm.15283/
Truth. Buy one ski that excels at what you do most, and rent the other one that excels at something else for the days you do something else.Perhaps I’m asking too much from one ski.
Soon.Can someone who's been on these Fischer 86:s and the Salomon Bolds give a brief comparison?
Can someone who's been on these Fischer 86:s and the Salomon Bolds give a brief comparison?