New (old) Magnums!

[Perry]

Just bought some SS magnums 177 for $270.  I'm 6'2" / 196 and currently on the Rx 8 at 170 (bought from Greg here on the forum)  I figured at that price if I don't like them I can sell them on ebay and get my money back.  I would love to hear feedback on this ski.  I believe Jim and Patprof ski them. 

Also as a relative newb to the sport - only 6 years - wondering what I will notice about the increase in length.  I have stayed shorter working on technique and ski parallel now except for an occasional dreaded stem right at initiation of some turns.

I'll let you know just how scratched up they are when they come.

[jim-ratliff]

Perry:

Ron posted some information in another thread.? I got to ski mine yesterday and really liked them. I hesitate to write ski reports because I'm not nearly as competent? a skier as the other guys here, but they are soft enough to easily ski slower and are still torsionally stiff enough to be skied faster than I ski.? The best summary was that I just felt like they made me a better skier.? Turn initiation was easy, feel was stable, just a good all-around ski.

The ski they replaced for me was a stiff 66mm waisted ski (Head i.SL Chip) and I don't feel like I lost anything at all in going to a wider waisted ski.? I believe that both Ron and Gary skied Ron's pair last week and also were quite impressed by the ski.

BTW, I am 5'11" and about 185 and I got mine in a 170 length.? I think you could have skied them in a 170 but can't imagine the 177 is too long given that they ski so easily.? They will ski easier than the RX8, I think.? As far as length, longer skis are typically suggested for greater stability at speed or to better the support the weight o the skier, so I think they will feel a little more stable than the RX8 because of the wider waist and the longer length.

[Perry]

Thats pretty much what I had guessed.  I will let you know how they work out.  should arrive today

[Ron]

Perry, great deal and the perfect length for you. The Mag is a great ski and you will really enjoy them. Super versitile and just plain fun!

[Perry]

They came  and they are better than I thought they would be.  Both bases are fine with not even a significant scratch/mark.  One topsheet has two small 1.5 - 2.0 cm separations on the top edge just in front of the binding on one side.  One edge had a little rust.  Other than that, just normal use and a fading 177 marked on the top from the ski shop.

Ok for edge tuning.  I have been hot waxing (they got some last night) and I want to start tuning the edges.  What would be recommended.  I am a 7-8 skier using mostly PMTS technique, and will go to my first camp in Feb.

1 or 0.7 on the base?
2 or 3 on the edge?

[ToddW]

Perry,

Congrats on the new boards.  As an east coast skier, you'll appreciate 3* on the sides to help hold an edge on firmer snow.  Anywhere between 0.5* and 1* on the base is fine depending on how responsive you want the skis to be and to what degree you tip "with authority."

Ron or Gary,

You guys have skied both the magnum and the classic supershapes.  What're the pros and cons of each?  (I've only skied the original supershapes.  I have a blast on them, but then again I don't know what I may be missing...)  I've read reviews of each ski, but I've never seen a head on comparison and contrast of the two.

[midwif]

Hi Todd
going to go out on a limb here. I haven't skied the magnums, but heard lots of feedback over the last week in Steamboat. Both Jim and Ron said it has a HUGE sweetspot. And is a more forgiving ski than the supershape without giving up much in performance. I think you should demo. Seem like a really sweet ski that works with a large variety of skier.
I am sure others will chime in. I saw the difference between Jim's skiing between last year and this on two different skis. He looked completely different on the magnum. Could handle steeper terrain and some bumps which would have thrown him last year.
GregMerz and Ron both have the ski and only have good things to say about it. Now, if Ron isn't ready to sell a ski after skiing it twice, YOU KNOW IT"S GOOD!
Hey Todd, think about doing this next year.
Lynn

[jim-ratliff]

Now, if Ron isn't ready to sell a ski after skiing it twice, YOU KNOW IT"S GOOD!

A ringing endorsement of a ski if ever there was one.   

[Ron]

Lynn, excellent job on your assessment IMHO. You hit it dead on. I call them my bedroom slippers, huge sweet spot, easy turn initiation, very stable and damp but not overly damp with lots of playful energy, snap and pop. Jim was skiing them beautifully. If you aren't skiing them on real hardpack, the 1:2 is fine. If you are really aggressive an want a grabby ski, go to 3.

[jim-ratliff]

They came? and they are better than I thought they would be.? Both bases are fine with not even a significant scratch/mark.? One topsheet has two small 1.5 - 2.0 cm separations on the top edge just in front of the binding on one side.? One edge had a little rust.? Other than that, just normal use and a fading 177 marked on the top from the ski shop.

Ok for edge tuning.? I have been hot waxing (they got some last night) and I want to start tuning the edges.? What would be recommended.? I am a 7-8 skier using mostly PMTS technique, and will go to my first camp in Feb.

1 or 0.7 on the base?
2 or 3 on the edge?

Perry:

If you are a carving maniac like Todd then 0.7 base and 3 edge.?
Based on Gary's recommendation (and the fact that noone has ever nicknamed ME carver), I am going to stick with 1 degree base and 2 degrees side.

The other thing I was surprised by is how well they do in soft snow and even boot deep powder because of the slightly wider waist and softer shovel.? And, in spite of the softer shovel, they don't get deflected and tossed around in cut up snow, they still slice right through it.? Think slicing butter, not bull-dozing through.

[jim-ratliff]

Ok for edge tuning.? I have been hot waxing (they got some last night) and I want to start tuning the edges.? What would be recommended.? I am a 7-8 skier using mostly PMTS technique, and will go to my first camp in Feb.

1 or 0.7 on the base?
2 or 3 on the edge?

Perry, where are you staying at Sol Vista?  Did you find any kind of deals?

[Perry]

Thanks for the input.  I thought I was going to get to ski today but we have Southeast 50 degree rain.  Much of the interesting terrain where I ski is closed and my 19 yo son decided to sleep in (Big Surprise!! I did the same thing at his age and I am now understanding the saying that "youth is wasted on the young.')  So - no report on the magnums.

Thanks for the input on tuning.  I will start with 1 and 2 and may experiment with .7 on the bottom.

Jim - we are staying at the Mountainside at Silver Creek.  If you haven't found a place let me know.

[ToddW]

Lynn,

Thanks for the intel on the magnums.? I appreciate your journeying to far off Steamboat just to acquire this info? ? (There's soft, fluffy powder to be had in the Northeast at the moment, so I know that powder had nothing to do with your travel.)