I did the DPS demos a few days ago. And today at Snowbasin they had another demo day. I have been looking for a low tide ski for a while and I finally got arround to trying some out.
About me: lvl 8 skier 215 lbs. Lookin for a mid 80mm width ski to ski with the kids, ski and hopefully improve on bumps and just have fun during high pressure. I ski snowbasin and its corn season.
Quiver:
Nordica El Capo 185 cm w/ PX 15 binders - all around fresh snow
Head Monster 98 184 cm w/ Marker Griffons - all around no fresh snow
So here's the reviews
Head Titan Super Shape 170cm
Got on this ski first up. The groomers were crispy and this ski can carvem. Turn initiation was on point, like the head feel. It had a bit of a serious aura about it. It does well in short to medium turns dead easy. Long cruising turns were there as well. I was concerned about the length but 170 was plenty of ski for me on the icy groomers. Did not need a longer length unless I want to prioritize longer turns. Took it through some not softend moguls on my second run. I really picked my way down but did work up the gumption to ski 5 moguls fluidly near the bottom. I am convinced the ski will be more than adequate for bumps, and it wasn't a fair test. These things were coral reef.
I was looking to take the monster 88 next but it was still out so I decided to try
Atomic Vantage 90 TI 184 cm
Not what I expected from this ski. It felt both too light and too stiff and under damped. Turn initiation should have been more positive but it sucked on this one. Once I got it on edge it was very powerful feeling but the ski seemed to do strange things and did not want to hook up consistently. The damping was not there at all either - It bounced all over on the icy groomers. I never took it in the bumps. The best part of it was the Warden 13 binder, that thing was really nice and solid.
After that the Head Monster 88 came back
Head Monster 88 177cm
These were like coming home. The monster 88 as very good on piste and was versatile in terms of how it could be skied and fun on the icy front side runs. This thing holds an edge. It was easy to ski em slowly, but they really come alive at speed. The dampness and tip seemed to initiate well and absorb terrain. The feel was exactly what I have come to expect form Head. When I took it onto a groomer in the sun it really came alive. The 88 did well in the softening bumps in my typical style which is basically turning on every other bump and going over a few tops as well to get there. Its basically a narrower, softer and more user friendly version of my Monster 98. I like the 177 in this ski as well, it felt like the right length for me.
Fischer Pro Mtn 86 TI 175
I hopped on these next. The tips are stiffer than the monsters and the ski feels more in touch with the snow. This is one of the better bump skis I have been on in the last few years. And it inspired me to ski some zipper line for the first time in a few seasons. On the softening groomers, the ski really felt good at low and moderate speeds, I could ski these with the kids an love it. Once I opened things up a bit, I over powered the ski. The tips would intiate but the ski would not hold consistently at speed in variable snow. I talked to the rep and he told me there was a 182 length out on the hill and to check back.
Volkl Kenjo 182
Good all mountain ski. The tips pull you in nicely, the ski seems to prefer cruising to short turns, edge grip was good for some still icy north facing groomers. It did well in the bumps, a slightly quicker than the Monster 88. One the run outs it was stable, plowed through like a free ride ski and was fun to cruise back to the lift.
Fischer Pro Mtn 86 TI 182
The right length for me. Rocked the bumps (slightly less quick and snappy than the 175), but held much better on the icy scraped off groomers. Great turn initiation, the snow feel was wonderful and I could ski fast or slow. This is what an all mountain ski should be.
Salomon XDR 88 Ti 186
Easy power. They ski slow so well on the groomers. It made me feel like my technique was better than it is. I did a final run with my kids and the feel so smooth and just ski so well slow. And then they come up to speed and its like these are fun on the groomers. They hug the snow, blow through chunder and the grip is all I will need on Utah ice. In the bumps, they are between the Fisher Pro Mtn and the Head Monster 88. I have a feeling that this will be the best of class in powder as well.
Summary:
I found three awesome skis that more than meet my goals for a mid 80s low tide Utah ski.
About me: lvl 8 skier 215 lbs. Lookin for a mid 80mm width ski to ski with the kids, ski and hopefully improve on bumps and just have fun during high pressure. I ski snowbasin and its corn season.
Quiver:
Nordica El Capo 185 cm w/ PX 15 binders - all around fresh snow
Head Monster 98 184 cm w/ Marker Griffons - all around no fresh snow
So here's the reviews
Head Titan Super Shape 170cm
Got on this ski first up. The groomers were crispy and this ski can carvem. Turn initiation was on point, like the head feel. It had a bit of a serious aura about it. It does well in short to medium turns dead easy. Long cruising turns were there as well. I was concerned about the length but 170 was plenty of ski for me on the icy groomers. Did not need a longer length unless I want to prioritize longer turns. Took it through some not softend moguls on my second run. I really picked my way down but did work up the gumption to ski 5 moguls fluidly near the bottom. I am convinced the ski will be more than adequate for bumps, and it wasn't a fair test. These things were coral reef.
I was looking to take the monster 88 next but it was still out so I decided to try
Atomic Vantage 90 TI 184 cm
Not what I expected from this ski. It felt both too light and too stiff and under damped. Turn initiation should have been more positive but it sucked on this one. Once I got it on edge it was very powerful feeling but the ski seemed to do strange things and did not want to hook up consistently. The damping was not there at all either - It bounced all over on the icy groomers. I never took it in the bumps. The best part of it was the Warden 13 binder, that thing was really nice and solid.
After that the Head Monster 88 came back
Head Monster 88 177cm
These were like coming home. The monster 88 as very good on piste and was versatile in terms of how it could be skied and fun on the icy front side runs. This thing holds an edge. It was easy to ski em slowly, but they really come alive at speed. The dampness and tip seemed to initiate well and absorb terrain. The feel was exactly what I have come to expect form Head. When I took it onto a groomer in the sun it really came alive. The 88 did well in the softening bumps in my typical style which is basically turning on every other bump and going over a few tops as well to get there. Its basically a narrower, softer and more user friendly version of my Monster 98. I like the 177 in this ski as well, it felt like the right length for me.
Fischer Pro Mtn 86 TI 175
I hopped on these next. The tips are stiffer than the monsters and the ski feels more in touch with the snow. This is one of the better bump skis I have been on in the last few years. And it inspired me to ski some zipper line for the first time in a few seasons. On the softening groomers, the ski really felt good at low and moderate speeds, I could ski these with the kids an love it. Once I opened things up a bit, I over powered the ski. The tips would intiate but the ski would not hold consistently at speed in variable snow. I talked to the rep and he told me there was a 182 length out on the hill and to check back.
Volkl Kenjo 182
Good all mountain ski. The tips pull you in nicely, the ski seems to prefer cruising to short turns, edge grip was good for some still icy north facing groomers. It did well in the bumps, a slightly quicker than the Monster 88. One the run outs it was stable, plowed through like a free ride ski and was fun to cruise back to the lift.
Fischer Pro Mtn 86 TI 182
The right length for me. Rocked the bumps (slightly less quick and snappy than the 175), but held much better on the icy scraped off groomers. Great turn initiation, the snow feel was wonderful and I could ski fast or slow. This is what an all mountain ski should be.
Salomon XDR 88 Ti 186
Easy power. They ski slow so well on the groomers. It made me feel like my technique was better than it is. I did a final run with my kids and the feel so smooth and just ski so well slow. And then they come up to speed and its like these are fun on the groomers. They hug the snow, blow through chunder and the grip is all I will need on Utah ice. In the bumps, they are between the Fisher Pro Mtn and the Head Monster 88. I have a feeling that this will be the best of class in powder as well.
Summary:
I found three awesome skis that more than meet my goals for a mid 80s low tide Utah ski.
- The Head Monser 88 - If you live for speed and want a ski that is supremely confident in firm snow and crud slaying
- Fischer Pro Mtn TI - If you want a wonderful mogul ski that is going to perform all over the mountain
- Salmon XDR 88 Ti - If you want to ski slow in the morning with the tiny people and then be able to rip all over the mountain int he afternoon.
