Mike:
I had (actually, still have) the Watea 84 and it does east very well. We had a day at SnowBasin a couple of years back where it had rained and then frozen. Off-piste was like cement, and it really handled edging on that well. It is pretty soft, so probably doesn't handle hard-charging fast skiers well (but I'm not one of those).
But I agree that 78 (like iM78) might be better all-around for east, especially for faster skier.
Jim,
We all get a little crazy about getting the "right" ski, and, this thread is all about a theoretical compromise. From what I've read, the Watea 84 would do pretty well for an eastern ski for a high percentage of skiers seeking a one ski quiver. My thinking was getting a ski for an eastern everyman and something with a hard snow focus might be better.
Not sure why you bought the Watea 84. Upon my return to skiing, now 7 years ago, a first purchase was a ski with very similar characteristics as your Watea. Machette Sin, similar to a Volant. I was going west and wanted a all-mountain ski, my first shaped ski. I was a noob, not the sophistacated ski guru I evolved into now. I skied it on hard frozen trails at Blue for 2 years, and, only got off it when I wanted a PMTS approved carver. If the Sin lacked holding power on ice, so did the technique of the guy driving it. I last used it with Gary at Holimount. In late spring, we skied first day in the rain, the Sin did great in soft snow. We had a really hard freeze overnight, and, both Gary and I had all we could handle on the first runs. Not sure any ski would have proved magical. As soon as it softened, the Sin came back to life. Long way of saying that a soft snow ski can work in the east, and, on some day's, it will just thrive.
PS - High Angles still has the same Sin, fully polished Stainless Steel top, looks really cool as I saw it at the Gathering. I once did a post here stating I'm still sorry I did not keep it.
Are you keeping the Watea?
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