realskiers

The S3 is a great ski for sure, and it is popular in these parts--I'd think in the 178cm it'd be a dang near perfect New England Tree ski for folks who ski at slightly less than Mach 1 speeds in this terrain (like me, for instance).  It's serviceable on soft groomers, too.  Not a bad choice.

One young guy (son of a fellow patroller) who skis with me from time to time skis the Icelantic Shaman 161cm in all conditions!  And he flat out rips--he raced for Castleton State up in vermont for 4 years.  He has excellent technique, and he's also fast and fearless off piste and in the air.  I've skied with him in the sketchiest woods at Killington and around our local little hill-I can't believe the performance he gets out of those skis (from powder to the scratchiest of surfaces).  He tells me his whole crew is on these skis now as their 100% time skies--and swears by the short length in the Shaman.  In fact, for him the short length and it's concomitant short turn radius is the key to that ski's versatility.

Wouldn't be my pick for a 1 ski quiver, but I have to admit, he makes a convincing case for them. 

The S3 has me thinking....I don't know, I think it'd have to be a little more hard snow worthy to by a 1 ski quiver candidate around these parts.