Individual Review THE Renoun Z-90: I had to know... is it THAT good?

[Philpug]

The Monster 88 is one of our reference skis in the catagory, truly a stellar ski, IMHO the beauty is in the simplicity of the design...as the the Monster 83. As good as the current Monsters are, the upcoming 18/19 models are acutally better, hard to beleive but they are.

 

[crgildart]

Could have sworn I saw somewhere, possible @Philpug's review that the Z-90 was surprisingly good in the bumps. I guess I misread that if HS and MJP seem to give it poor marks there. I'd agree I don't like the fatter tailed skis I've tried on bumps, but if soft and round enough I might like something I haven't tried yet in that regard..

 

[Philpug]

Could have sworn I saw somewhere, possible @Philpug's review that the Z-90 was surprisingly good in the bumps. I guess I misread that if HS and MJP seem to give it poor marks there. I'd agree I don't like the fatter tailed skis I've tried on bumps, but if soft and round enough I might like something I haven't tried yet in that regard..

Where I also tend to prefer more taper in the tail, I had no problem with the Z90 in the bumps.

 

[SBrown]

Could have sworn I saw somewhere, possible @Philpug's review that the Z-90 was surprisingly good in the bumps. I guess I misread that if HS and MJP seem to give it poor marks there. I'd agree I don't like the fatter tailed skis I've tried on bumps, but if soft and round enough I might like something I haven't tried yet in that regard..

As for me, I often end up on something long and fattish in the bumps, so 174 and 90 is easy in comparison, wide tail or not.

 

[crgildart]

Where I also tend to prefer more taper in the tail, I had no problem with the Z90 in the bumps.

There is a difference between "have no problem" and good in the bumps. I "have no problem with" just about any good ski in the bumps getting through them, all day long. Yes, after a fresh morning I'm also usually on something mid 80s plus in the leftovers and bumps. But many are not what I'd call "good" in the bumps..

 

[razie]

The Monster 88 is one of our reference skis in the catagory, truly a stellar ski, IMHO the beauty is in the simplicity of the design...as the the Monster 83. As good as the current Monsters are, the upcoming 18/19 models are acutally better, hard to beleive but they are.

I don't feel the 83. Got one on a good deal, skied it a bit, I just can't quite seem to be able to find its niche... 88s are awesome!

 

[HeluvaSkier]

I don't feel the 83. Got one on a good deal, skied it a bit, I just can't quite seem to be able to find its niche... 88s are awesome!

I'm trying to figure out where an 88 fits into my quiver given the presence of BOTH a 178 and 186 MTN 95.

 

[razie]

I'm trying to figure out where an 88 fits into my quiver given the presence of BOTH a 178 and 186 MTN 95.

It's a lot more camber I think - the Pro MTN, if it's a Motive replacement, has a fair tip rocker? The 88 was something between but closer to the Sentinel 95s than the Motives 95s...

edit/nb these guys say the new one has tip rocker... http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/2017-2018-head-monster-88/3 - I've skied the old one...

 

[cantunamunch]

I'm trying to figure out where an 88 fits into my quiver given the presence of BOTH a 178 and 186 MTN 95.

Damper option for refreeze days?

 

[Ron]

The Monster 88 is one of our reference skis in the catagory, truly a stellar ski, IMHO the beauty is in the simplicity of the design...as the the Monster 83. As good as the current Monsters are, the upcoming 18/19 models are acutally better, hard to beleive but they are.

the new Monster 83 is a fantastic ski

 

[Tricia]

the new Monster 83 is a fantastic ski

I got on that at Mammoth and was blown away by how much fun it was.

 

[Ron]

** right! Head is putting out some very good skis. Off topic I know but the V8 & V10 are also some of the top ski's I clicked into.

 

[HeluvaSkier]

@Philpug
Recommended Line = 795mm
Sunday's Test = 780mm
Next Weekend's Test = 770mm

As a follow up, I skied the 770 mount point today and while it did not alter how the tail reacted, it made the tip engagement a bit ambiguous compared with the 780 mount point. I think ski preferred to be skied at the 780 spot as that seemed to put me easily over the sweet spot in the middle of the ski.

 

[Philpug]

I will try 780 also and see how that is.

 

[Kiki]

Today I took my new (to me) z90s out for the first time. I like them though it will take some adjusting to ski them well. They felt smooth.

I am a lower intermediate skier out on groomed green and some blue terrain.

On fresh groomed not very steep terrain they were amazingly easy to put on edge and do nice wide s turns steadily. They felt good. I was smiling.

When I went on steeper narrower bumpier terrain I found it hard to control speed and get them to do narrow turns easily, but they seemed to flex over the bumps more gracefully than my stiffer volkls (flair 81). It surprised me how they seemed to accept the bump and move on.

Note the z90's ive gone up in length from eye level on my flairs to just over my head on the z90s. This is likely impacting my experience.

Compared to my flairs the front end feels lighter and i had no trouble managing the front tips (sometimes when i am tired in my flairs my front tips get caught in each other and feel heavy)
But it is harder to do a hockey stop and manage the back end.

Usually at end of day the reason I have to quit is my knees hurt. Today i quit because my hamstrings were sore. Knees feel good. Happy to have happy knees but worried my stance may be off why would my hamstrings hurt?

 

[ski otter 2]

One is an early-season rock ski.

....

VIST will be hard to find... Black Crows are one I had a shot to demo about a week ago and passed it up... I guess I can swing by the shop and grab a pair.

I'd like to second the Black Crows Orb, but in a specific length, 183.4, in this case a "sweet spot" length, at least for me - maybe somewhat like the 188/30 FIS GS ski, over the 183/30. The next shorter Orb, maybe 177, was good as more of a bump ski, but the real standout was that longer one (me 150, 5"10").

(Note: I also loved the Monster 88, but have only tried the version before they changed it.)

The Orb is unlike all the other Black Crows skis, I was told repeatedly. For one thing, it's stiffer, designed for advanced to experts.

 

[Chubb]

I will try 780 also and see how that is.

Have you tried this on your Z-90's yet?

 

[Michael V]

Into my 3rd season on the Z-90's. These skis are ridiculously good. Are they the best at everything?... NO.. are they an awesome 1 ski quiver for the east coast.. I think, YES!

I can't rock the moguls, and zipper line it, but I can kind of hit anything on the mountain with these skis and feel confident that I have the right ski for the job.

Now, I'm heading to Utah next month, and while I feel that my Z-90s will perform as expected, I'm wondering if I should Demo if we get hit with 8+"? ...

 

[Chef23]

Into my 3rd season on the Z-90's. These skis are ridiculously good. Are they the best at everything?... NO.. are they an awesome 1 ski quiver for the east coast.. I think, YES!

I can't rock the moguls, and zipper line it, but I can kind of hit anything on the mountain with these skis and feel confident that I have the right ski for the job.

Now, I'm heading to Utah next month, and while I feel that my Z-90s will perform as expected, I'm wondering if I should Demo if we get hit with 8+"? ...

I am in Utah right now skiing on Rossi E88s and they are great for the conditions. Unless we get 12” + I will probably stay on them.