Hi, I go to Colorado every year to visit family and friends and have been for 20 years plus. On good years I get about 20+ full days of skiing a year. Sometimes less. I am 6'-2" and 180 lbs. and an avid cyclist. I ski all over the mountain but mostly love the steeper terrain of the advanced and expert areas. That means dealing with moguls, chowder, crud, windblown and wind affected snow etc. I like to have fun on the mountain and explore the terrain so I do get into the trees quite a bit but also the above treeline terrain (off the ridge at Loveland). I like skis that are fun and easy to turn and responsive with some pop / feedback when turning but also appreciate stability when on edge and going through variable snow. I Use a wide range of techniques any give day depending on the situation so smearing and quick direction changes combined with carving. I prefer to ski upright and balanced but also drive the shovels at times. I ski all day so like skis that are fun and disappear under me. Do no like chattery tips at all (a la Soul 7).
Not interested in a quiver so need a ski that handles everything (I know everyone does) in Colorado.
All that said I have tested quite a few skis over the past few years. Some were in great shape others quite beat up.
Here is a list:
2012 Rossignol S3 in 184. (98 Width) Fun Ski, Medium Easy to turn. Really good in the powder. Overall and do everything good ski but not great pop. Sometimes it felt agile sometimes it did not. Good, solid resort ski I guess.
2012 Volkl Kendo in 177 and 184. (88 Width) It was an ok ski. Fun in wide open groomers but in variable snow a bit heavy feeling. Not fun in the trees at all or the moguls. Stable but felt a bit heavy and cumbersome. No agility.
2014 K2 Annex 98 184cm: (98 Width) Did not like this ski. Felt a bit dull. Not that easy to turn. Stable but not versatile. Not fun. Felt heavy. Not agile. Tail too sticky for me.
2014 Rossignol Sin 7 in 180. (98 Width) Felt more like a ski for beginners. Not exciting, easy but did not like to be pushed. Did not hold a great edge but ok. Like a detuned version of the Soul.
2014 Rossignol Soul 7 in 180. (106 Width) Liked this ski at first but the firmer the snow and the higher the speeds the worse it got to the point of being unusable. Tips chattered like crazy. At slow speeds it was great even held a good edge in firm steep snow (better than the Sin 7 for sure). Fun ski, easy to use using a variety of turn shapes, but limited versatility. Easy to ski and my choice for lighter people and or those who like to ski slower/controlled. Questionable topsheet durability.
So I started looking for wider skis that could turn but had a more stable feel.
2015 Nordica Patron in 185. (113 Width) Wow. Loved the ski. It was EASY for me everywhere even in steep Moguls, windblown steeps. They read my mind. Sometimes I wished for longer length but most times, specially in the trees and moguls the length was perfect. Felt good at ALL speeds. Easy edge to edge for me and easy to smear/slarve. Wow. I though it was as easy as the Soul 7 but WORLDS better in stability and composure no matter the speed. Felt DIALED.
2016 Atomic Vantage 90 CTi in 184 (90 Width) Superb ski in the groomers. Easy to ski but the tail felt sticky or catchy on the steeper, mogguled up terrain and in the trees. Tips a bit chattery at high speeds at times on firm snow but controlled. Felt like the ski had light tips but heavy tail. Not great balance but could carve up a groomer superbly. Overall limited versatility for me.
2016 Icelantic Pioneer in 182. (96 Width) Ski felt boring and a bit dead/heavy. Had a limited type of turn and speed range where it felt somewhat fun. Did not impress me at all. Not good in the moguls or trees or the steeps. Not great versatility.
2014 Nordica Steadfast in 178. (90 Width) Reeally good ski. Felt good almost everywhere and at all speeds. Not great in the moguls or trees but good. Easy to ski but stable. Good at most speeds. Really liked it. Would be my pick no question if I mostly stuck to groomed terrain.
2016 Moment Deathwish in 184. (112 Width) This ski surprised me a LOT. it could do everything well. Kinda felt like the Patron but grippier/edgy. Can carve but also release easy as well (similar to the Patron) and therefore handle any terrain. Dabbled with it in pow and felt maneuverable and easy. Firm snow, no problem. Gave me a feeling of always having enough grip. It was Easy and fun ski. Tips might be a tad soft but that what probably makes it good in pow. Tough choice between this and the Patron. Patron felt more composed at times. Both were easy to ski for me and easy edge to edge/smear/slarve, skid whatever.
I was surprised that my two Favorite skis were both wider than 110mm. They really did not feel wide or cumbersome at all. On the contrary. They were VERY easy for me to ski but felt secure and agile even in dicey terrain. Felt I could trust them and forget about them. The Patron disappeared more under me than the Deathwish because I could always feel the edges of the Moment (not entirely a bad thing) but it was never an issue.
I am pretty much decided on the Patron but would be happy on the Deathwish as well.
Still open to suggestions of which other ski I should try so please feel free to recommend me some skis.
Thanks in advance!
Not interested in a quiver so need a ski that handles everything (I know everyone does) in Colorado.
All that said I have tested quite a few skis over the past few years. Some were in great shape others quite beat up.
Here is a list:
2012 Rossignol S3 in 184. (98 Width) Fun Ski, Medium Easy to turn. Really good in the powder. Overall and do everything good ski but not great pop. Sometimes it felt agile sometimes it did not. Good, solid resort ski I guess.
2012 Volkl Kendo in 177 and 184. (88 Width) It was an ok ski. Fun in wide open groomers but in variable snow a bit heavy feeling. Not fun in the trees at all or the moguls. Stable but felt a bit heavy and cumbersome. No agility.
2014 K2 Annex 98 184cm: (98 Width) Did not like this ski. Felt a bit dull. Not that easy to turn. Stable but not versatile. Not fun. Felt heavy. Not agile. Tail too sticky for me.
2014 Rossignol Sin 7 in 180. (98 Width) Felt more like a ski for beginners. Not exciting, easy but did not like to be pushed. Did not hold a great edge but ok. Like a detuned version of the Soul.
2014 Rossignol Soul 7 in 180. (106 Width) Liked this ski at first but the firmer the snow and the higher the speeds the worse it got to the point of being unusable. Tips chattered like crazy. At slow speeds it was great even held a good edge in firm steep snow (better than the Sin 7 for sure). Fun ski, easy to use using a variety of turn shapes, but limited versatility. Easy to ski and my choice for lighter people and or those who like to ski slower/controlled. Questionable topsheet durability.
So I started looking for wider skis that could turn but had a more stable feel.
2015 Nordica Patron in 185. (113 Width) Wow. Loved the ski. It was EASY for me everywhere even in steep Moguls, windblown steeps. They read my mind. Sometimes I wished for longer length but most times, specially in the trees and moguls the length was perfect. Felt good at ALL speeds. Easy edge to edge for me and easy to smear/slarve. Wow. I though it was as easy as the Soul 7 but WORLDS better in stability and composure no matter the speed. Felt DIALED.
2016 Atomic Vantage 90 CTi in 184 (90 Width) Superb ski in the groomers. Easy to ski but the tail felt sticky or catchy on the steeper, mogguled up terrain and in the trees. Tips a bit chattery at high speeds at times on firm snow but controlled. Felt like the ski had light tips but heavy tail. Not great balance but could carve up a groomer superbly. Overall limited versatility for me.
2016 Icelantic Pioneer in 182. (96 Width) Ski felt boring and a bit dead/heavy. Had a limited type of turn and speed range where it felt somewhat fun. Did not impress me at all. Not good in the moguls or trees or the steeps. Not great versatility.
2014 Nordica Steadfast in 178. (90 Width) Reeally good ski. Felt good almost everywhere and at all speeds. Not great in the moguls or trees but good. Easy to ski but stable. Good at most speeds. Really liked it. Would be my pick no question if I mostly stuck to groomed terrain.
2016 Moment Deathwish in 184. (112 Width) This ski surprised me a LOT. it could do everything well. Kinda felt like the Patron but grippier/edgy. Can carve but also release easy as well (similar to the Patron) and therefore handle any terrain. Dabbled with it in pow and felt maneuverable and easy. Firm snow, no problem. Gave me a feeling of always having enough grip. It was Easy and fun ski. Tips might be a tad soft but that what probably makes it good in pow. Tough choice between this and the Patron. Patron felt more composed at times. Both were easy to ski for me and easy edge to edge/smear/slarve, skid whatever.
I was surprised that my two Favorite skis were both wider than 110mm. They really did not feel wide or cumbersome at all. On the contrary. They were VERY easy for me to ski but felt secure and agile even in dicey terrain. Felt I could trust them and forget about them. The Patron disappeared more under me than the Deathwish because I could always feel the edges of the Moment (not entirely a bad thing) but it was never an issue.
I am pretty much decided on the Patron but would be happy on the Deathwish as well.
Still open to suggestions of which other ski I should try so please feel free to recommend me some skis.
Thanks in advance!