I’ve been dealing with (read: SPENDING) a local ski shop that has done me right at every turn in my (our) recent return to skiing. I have asked them for advice on a “resort powder” ski for someone like me who is at best an intermediate but someone who hasn’t skied in a very long time that I can pair with my Liberty Evolv90 to make a excellent 2-ski quiver for someone who holds a season pass at The Summit at Snoqualmie. I stick to groomers and edges mostly and imagine this will remain the case for my skiing career. But I will see powder days and will travel to places that may see substantial powder and I want to increase my skills so I can enjoy it when I get it. I will more than likely not be chasing big pow days but would like something that keeps me in the game even a place gets a good dump.
They told me that I need a forgiving ski that can also handle groomers well and even ice and can also plow through crud. They said that 100 underfoot is fine for our area and no more than 110-ish is all that is practical as a Snoqualmie resort ski. The skis they recommended for my application were, in alphabetical order, with a synopsis of their description of each:
Blizzard Rustler 10 - Very Easy to ski in soft snow and very forgiving, but capable of going all over the mountain and helping you progress off-piste. Our #1 pick for intermediate skiers new to resort powder who are looking to improve their skills.
K2 Mindbender 108 - Forgiving and very good in both powder and crud. Rails groomers. Another good ski we like better at larger resorts than The Summit, so they can stretch out a bit. Excellent for progressing intermediates.
Liberty Origin 106 - Forgiving, easy-turning ski that excels is soft snow, floats extremely well and would be our choice if we had to ski deeper pow on a one-oh-something. Also very good on groomers and the best in trees or steeps. Nimble.
Nordica Enforcer Free 104 - Perhaps a touch more demanding than the rest here, but still easy to ski and highly recommended for progressing intermediates. With experience and increased skills, this could be the highest performing ski of the group. Rocks in all conditions and all surfaces.
Rossignol Soul 7 HD - The easiest ski ever made for newbies tasting their first powder. Opens up a whole new world quickly, even for low-intermediates. Can get a little unstable on harder snow or at speed, but outstanding in every other way.
Here are some negatives I've heard about each:
Rustler 10 - Hooky in mixed and skied off snow. Needs to be turning all the time.
Mindbender 108 - Topsheets ding up easily. Really is a lot of ski for small areas.
Liberty Origin 106 - Maybe too light in crud.
Nordica Enforcer Free 104 - Not much.
Rossignol Soul 7 HD - Chattery and unstable at speed and on hardpack.
Do you all have experience on any of these skis? I'd love to hear your input, especially as it concerns the shop's descriptions of each ski and also of what I have heard about their possible negatives. Thanks!
They told me that I need a forgiving ski that can also handle groomers well and even ice and can also plow through crud. They said that 100 underfoot is fine for our area and no more than 110-ish is all that is practical as a Snoqualmie resort ski. The skis they recommended for my application were, in alphabetical order, with a synopsis of their description of each:
Blizzard Rustler 10 - Very Easy to ski in soft snow and very forgiving, but capable of going all over the mountain and helping you progress off-piste. Our #1 pick for intermediate skiers new to resort powder who are looking to improve their skills.
K2 Mindbender 108 - Forgiving and very good in both powder and crud. Rails groomers. Another good ski we like better at larger resorts than The Summit, so they can stretch out a bit. Excellent for progressing intermediates.
Liberty Origin 106 - Forgiving, easy-turning ski that excels is soft snow, floats extremely well and would be our choice if we had to ski deeper pow on a one-oh-something. Also very good on groomers and the best in trees or steeps. Nimble.
Nordica Enforcer Free 104 - Perhaps a touch more demanding than the rest here, but still easy to ski and highly recommended for progressing intermediates. With experience and increased skills, this could be the highest performing ski of the group. Rocks in all conditions and all surfaces.
Rossignol Soul 7 HD - The easiest ski ever made for newbies tasting their first powder. Opens up a whole new world quickly, even for low-intermediates. Can get a little unstable on harder snow or at speed, but outstanding in every other way.
Here are some negatives I've heard about each:
Rustler 10 - Hooky in mixed and skied off snow. Needs to be turning all the time.
Mindbender 108 - Topsheets ding up easily. Really is a lot of ski for small areas.
Liberty Origin 106 - Maybe too light in crud.
Nordica Enforcer Free 104 - Not much.
Rossignol Soul 7 HD - Chattery and unstable at speed and on hardpack.
Do you all have experience on any of these skis? I'd love to hear your input, especially as it concerns the shop's descriptions of each ski and also of what I have heard about their possible negatives. Thanks!