Tester: Age 55, 5’10”, 145 lbs. Level whatever, part-time instructor, working on PSIA level 2. Likes everything and thinks bumps are fun rather than obstacles.
I am looking for a wider crud and powder ski to replace (or possible complement) my Head Rev 105’s. I am likely replacing my Rev 85’s with a Renoun Z-90, though the DPS Cassiar 87 Alchemist (maybe Foundation) are also candidates.
Nature did not cooperate with soft snow conditions. It last snowed earlier in the week, and the lower elevations got warmed up above freezing so there was some refrozen crust, while the upper mountain wasn’t too bad. So, I took this as an opportunity to see how these wider skis did in less-than-favorable conditions, which is kinda what I wanted to do, anyway. I took all of these skis on the same route: double back bumps and crud on 7th Heaven (the Meadows and Cloud 9), groomer to Tye Mill chair, over to the back side (bumps on Corona Creek/Sneaky Chute) and then steepish, scraped out black on Shooting Star. Jupiter lift back to the front side, Roller Coaster/GunTower bumps down Tye Mill and flat run out on Promenade back to the base.
Under normal circumstances I would not have gone up 7th Heaven after the first run. While the top half was skiable, the bottom half was refrozen crust and coral and not much fun. I would have wanted my Rev 85’s with some metal, if anything, but it was definitely “good for you” snow. So perfect for testing a powder ski, eh?
By the time I got to the demo tent at 9:15am, most everything was out, except for a few park skis. Well, that and a Wrenegade 108 in 189. Note, I usually ski something in 177 for frontside and low 180’s for wider skis. However, ON3P make skis with bamboo cores, and the 189 was actually pretty light under my feet, did not feel unmanageable.There’s also a lot of rocker, so it was pretty easy to get it to turn. At that length it offered a lot of stability and helped ski through the crud, even the crusty stuff. I could kind of ski bumps, but not really. This ski wants to go down the fall line. I noticed that I could put it on edge, but when I wanted to tighten up the turn radius, at the end of the turn my outside ski wanted to continue down the fall line, diverting from where I was guiding my inside ski. Stil, I was surprised how well I was able to steer this bad boy.
Next I sized down and got on the Wrenegade 108 in 184. A little more turntable, but pretty much the same thing. The Wren 108 in 184 was the only ski I fell on a few times, for some reason the tip got caught on some crud and didn’t want to come around to start a turn. I think the extra length of the 189 allowed the tip to glide over chop at the start of the turn better than the 184. No better in bumps than the 189, still very solid and wants to go, go down the fall line, and go fast. The Wrenegades don’t feel burly, but they ski burly. They are sold, stable skis that can turn you into a meat missile if you are not on your game.
This was good information for me; made me realize this wasn’t what I wanted, not enough finesse-ability for me.
I next tried a Kartel 96 in 186 (it’s what they had available). Kartel are more twin-tip, center mounted, jibbing-oriented and playful. The 96 is a new width, with a different sidecut than in the past. When I tried Kartel a couple of years ago, I felt they wanted to springboard me off every bump. This time, I felt more planted, and the Kartel has a nice feel underfoot, you can carve them easily - but then on moguls, you can quickly pivot them around. I mean, I could change directions really quickly, even on a 186. They can make a much rounder turn than the Wrenegade, and they are almost as stable on the frozen crud as the more directional Wrenegade.
I then tried a new, wider Kartel, the 114, again in 186. (They make a 181 as well) but it was out. A little slower edge-to-edge than the 96, but not that much. Still felt light for the size, very easy to ski, very responsive to input. Actually pretty fun ski. The wider Kartel was much friendlier than the Wrenegade, it makes a great powder and crud ski if you also want playfulness.
Finally I got on the Billy Goat, first in 189 and then in 184. Two years ago, the 184 felt comfortable and the 179 was freaking amazing. This year, they didn’t have the 179 for the demo tent. The rep advised that unlike the other ON3P’s the Billy Goats have an asymmetric tip taper, which they incorporated last year and supposedly makes it easier to for the tips and tails to engage and release. The upshot it there is a definite Right and Left ski and they advised not to mix them up. They also changed the sidecut to improve hardpack performance. I had lots of fun with the both the 189 and 184, the edge going to the 184 for my size and weight. It’s supposed to be a powder ski, with a width of 116, but man, these can carve and hold an edge. They are very smooth engaging and releasing, capable of beautiful brushed turns. They are better at bumps than the Wrenegades and Kartels, and just about anything else as wider or much narrower. If you look at the width you might think it’s a wider ski than needed for most days, overkill for anything but a big dump. In reality they are versatile for a lot of conditions, they reward good technique but aren’t demanding at all, one of the most accessible wider skis I’ve ever been on. I ended the demo day thinking I could have fun all day on a Billy Goat, even on a day like today with no new snow and lots of refrozen crud.
Winner of the day: Billy Goat, 184. I may still consider the 179, however wouldn’t need to stress about if I bought the wrong length if I got the 184.
I am looking for a wider crud and powder ski to replace (or possible complement) my Head Rev 105’s. I am likely replacing my Rev 85’s with a Renoun Z-90, though the DPS Cassiar 87 Alchemist (maybe Foundation) are also candidates.
Nature did not cooperate with soft snow conditions. It last snowed earlier in the week, and the lower elevations got warmed up above freezing so there was some refrozen crust, while the upper mountain wasn’t too bad. So, I took this as an opportunity to see how these wider skis did in less-than-favorable conditions, which is kinda what I wanted to do, anyway. I took all of these skis on the same route: double back bumps and crud on 7th Heaven (the Meadows and Cloud 9), groomer to Tye Mill chair, over to the back side (bumps on Corona Creek/Sneaky Chute) and then steepish, scraped out black on Shooting Star. Jupiter lift back to the front side, Roller Coaster/GunTower bumps down Tye Mill and flat run out on Promenade back to the base.
Under normal circumstances I would not have gone up 7th Heaven after the first run. While the top half was skiable, the bottom half was refrozen crust and coral and not much fun. I would have wanted my Rev 85’s with some metal, if anything, but it was definitely “good for you” snow. So perfect for testing a powder ski, eh?
By the time I got to the demo tent at 9:15am, most everything was out, except for a few park skis. Well, that and a Wrenegade 108 in 189. Note, I usually ski something in 177 for frontside and low 180’s for wider skis. However, ON3P make skis with bamboo cores, and the 189 was actually pretty light under my feet, did not feel unmanageable.There’s also a lot of rocker, so it was pretty easy to get it to turn. At that length it offered a lot of stability and helped ski through the crud, even the crusty stuff. I could kind of ski bumps, but not really. This ski wants to go down the fall line. I noticed that I could put it on edge, but when I wanted to tighten up the turn radius, at the end of the turn my outside ski wanted to continue down the fall line, diverting from where I was guiding my inside ski. Stil, I was surprised how well I was able to steer this bad boy.
Next I sized down and got on the Wrenegade 108 in 184. A little more turntable, but pretty much the same thing. The Wren 108 in 184 was the only ski I fell on a few times, for some reason the tip got caught on some crud and didn’t want to come around to start a turn. I think the extra length of the 189 allowed the tip to glide over chop at the start of the turn better than the 184. No better in bumps than the 189, still very solid and wants to go, go down the fall line, and go fast. The Wrenegades don’t feel burly, but they ski burly. They are sold, stable skis that can turn you into a meat missile if you are not on your game.
This was good information for me; made me realize this wasn’t what I wanted, not enough finesse-ability for me.
I next tried a Kartel 96 in 186 (it’s what they had available). Kartel are more twin-tip, center mounted, jibbing-oriented and playful. The 96 is a new width, with a different sidecut than in the past. When I tried Kartel a couple of years ago, I felt they wanted to springboard me off every bump. This time, I felt more planted, and the Kartel has a nice feel underfoot, you can carve them easily - but then on moguls, you can quickly pivot them around. I mean, I could change directions really quickly, even on a 186. They can make a much rounder turn than the Wrenegade, and they are almost as stable on the frozen crud as the more directional Wrenegade.
I then tried a new, wider Kartel, the 114, again in 186. (They make a 181 as well) but it was out. A little slower edge-to-edge than the 96, but not that much. Still felt light for the size, very easy to ski, very responsive to input. Actually pretty fun ski. The wider Kartel was much friendlier than the Wrenegade, it makes a great powder and crud ski if you also want playfulness.
Finally I got on the Billy Goat, first in 189 and then in 184. Two years ago, the 184 felt comfortable and the 179 was freaking amazing. This year, they didn’t have the 179 for the demo tent. The rep advised that unlike the other ON3P’s the Billy Goats have an asymmetric tip taper, which they incorporated last year and supposedly makes it easier to for the tips and tails to engage and release. The upshot it there is a definite Right and Left ski and they advised not to mix them up. They also changed the sidecut to improve hardpack performance. I had lots of fun with the both the 189 and 184, the edge going to the 184 for my size and weight. It’s supposed to be a powder ski, with a width of 116, but man, these can carve and hold an edge. They are very smooth engaging and releasing, capable of beautiful brushed turns. They are better at bumps than the Wrenegades and Kartels, and just about anything else as wider or much narrower. If you look at the width you might think it’s a wider ski than needed for most days, overkill for anything but a big dump. In reality they are versatile for a lot of conditions, they reward good technique but aren’t demanding at all, one of the most accessible wider skis I’ve ever been on. I ended the demo day thinking I could have fun all day on a Billy Goat, even on a day like today with no new snow and lots of refrozen crud.
Winner of the day: Billy Goat, 184. I may still consider the 179, however wouldn’t need to stress about if I bought the wrong length if I got the 184.
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