Two and Three Ski Quivers

[jbotti]

Let's face it, a one ski quiver just doesn't cut it. It was a fun discussion but is is a long ways from reality for everyone on this forum. So in getting back to reality what are the two and three ski quivers that make sense? I have to be honest and say I think even with a 2 ski quiver I would still feel like something was lacking. It's when you finally get to a 3 ski quiver that I feel like you start to have most of the bases covered. So here are my quivers:

2 ski quiver:
Head Icon TT 80 (now 800)
Icelantic Shaman or Ski Logik Ullrs Chariot

I find this to be quite lacking. I chose the TT 80 because it is such a versatile ski and more versatile than a ski I enjoy sking more the Head SS Kers. But the SS kers is not very versatile. It is a great hard snow slalom carver and it's too stiff for bumps and not great off piste in general. So it's not a great ski for a two ski quiver. The TT 80 is a great bump ski, and it's actually pretty nice in 2-5 inches of fresh and it will carve great on hard snow and with 3' side it will slay ice. I feel like you need a powder ski in a two ski quiver so I threw in the Shaman and the Chariot (which I have yet to ski but a pair is on its way). The Chariot seems much more versatile and may not be as good in super deep snow but will clearly do better in all other conditions versus the Shamans. For the right skier (me) you could easily go Head SS and IM 78's or maybe a Movement Jam (not skied them yet) with the idea that these could be your deep snow skis as well. In some ways I like this quiver is better but for the really deep days having the Shamans would be uber fun. Hence the absolute need for a 3 ski quiver!!

3 ski Quiver:
Head SS Kers
Head IM 78
Icelantic Shaman

Now here we get all the bases covered. The premier slalom carver, my favorite mid fat do everything ski and my favorite deep snow ski. You could easliy go Movement Jam in the middle or Kastle MX 78 and you can throw in any deep snow ski you like better (Chariot, Cochise, Kastle BMX 108 etc) (I threw in the cochise as an example, I personally would not choose a ski with tail rocker).

To me once you get to a 3 ski quiver, it's hard to make the case that you need a fourth which is not to say that having 4, 5 or more can't be fun in many ways), but it really isn't necessary.

So what are your two and three ski quivers?

[HighAngles]

OK - Now we're talking - and I totally agree with your sentiments.  I would also still find a 2 ski quiver lacking for the West.  I think the 3 ski quiver is exactly where you need to be and anything more does become overkill.  Of course you need to have a rock ski for each position so owning 6 skis is absolutely understandable, right?    (then why is is that I still have 10 in my active quiver? - I have some serious work to do)

My 3 ski goes like this:
Hard-pack: <80mm underfoot, 10-14m radius, 160-180cm, at least a 45/30 tipcut/tailcut
All-terrain: <95mm underfoot, 14-18m radius, 170-190cm, at least a 40/25 tipcut/tailcut
Deep-snow: >95mm underfoot, 18-22m radius, 180-200cm, at least a 30/15 tipcut/tailcut

With those requirements in mind, my "go to" skis are:
Hard-pack: Blizzard G-Power FS (167cm), 72mm underfoot
All-terrain: Scott Crusade (179cm), 92mm underfoot
Deep-snow: DPS Wailer 112RP (190cm), 112mm underfoot

Unfortunately I have too many others to choose from and last season the ski I used the most was the Stockli Rotor 76 (19 days).  The Scott Crusade was just behind (17 days).  I had 32 days on my all my hard-pack skis put together and only 11 days on the deep-snow skis.

I also have, ahem, SL racing skis when I feel like really punishing myself.  I aspire to be able to ski those well and do them justice, hence my involvement in PMTS.

[Liam]

Yep-well I'm actually thinking of down sizing and running a true two ski quiver this season:

Skinny Ski =: Blizzard magnum 7.6 or Head Peak Pro 78/ 84
Chubbier Ski: Rossi S3 in a 186cm or the Blizzard Bonafide in a 180cm   this ski will replace my Icelantic Nomad SFT 181cm

If I get a third ski it will be a Icelantic Pilgrim 179cm--probably with an AT binding.

Any thought or advice on this??

[HeluvaSkier]

Ideal quiver? 4 skis.

185-190cm stock GS ski; 27+m radius [unsure about this new 35m business]
165 stock SL ski; ~13m radius
180cm all-mountain 75-85mm waist; 16-18m radius; carving bias but softer in flex than a race ski
185-190cm 100+ waist powder ski; 21-29m radius depending on the ski; rocker/rise optional; no reverse sidecut

Rock skis go without saying... so as you recycle skis that fit the above list, you save a few here and there as rock skis.

[Gary]

I'm going to start a business...

Ski Caddie Service...anywhere on the mountain...."sir, your requested ski for this drop"? 

Ok guys...At 155 lbs......

the only two I'm taking the mountains are:

My hard snow, groomed snow, mixed snow, broken snow, crud snow, 3D terrain and boot high powder....Kastle MX78

All else....my Rossi S3 98underfoot (soon I hope to be replaced by my DPS 112rp)

As my daughter once said to me after spending the day at Disney, "I'm just perfect with myself"!   
 

[GreenTrails]

3 is a good number. 

Hard snow - antique solomon crossmax  These are on the condemned list and need to be replaced.  Suggestions?
Most days - Watea 84
Soft and fluffy - Bluehouse Maestro

About my skiing - Small NE mountain, plenty steep, nice woods, not enough moguls.  (that a fair description Liam?)   Probably get in 50 days this winter.  That's somewhere around one day for every year I've been on skis :0

[jim-ratliff]

3 is a good number, but 2 pair of skis/bindings in a sport tube flying to Utah is a heavy load.

So my plan for this year.

Hard snow (eastern):    Head SuperShape Magnum
Most days (east/west): Ski Logik Ullr's Chariot
Hard Snow (western)    Watea 84 (with bindings from the UC's).

[midwif]

I'm feeling under quivered

Obviously, I need to demo more skis so I can participate in these kinds of conversation.

I haven't even demo'ed the skis I bought for hard snow skiing (progressor 8's).

So little time, so many skis.

Lynn's list

Volant PowerCarve
Head iC160
Head iC160 Light
Head XRC 1200
Head EveryThang
Fischer Muanga 84
Fischer Progressor 8+

so little time -- so many skis

[midwif]

Hmmm, someone"s been editing my posts.
Ullr???

Okay, I plead guilty to all but the XRC 1200.
bought on Ebay for my son.
I have never been on them.
Just read the reviews and liked the price.

L.

[HeluvaSkier]

Just added another pair of 165cm Fischer RC4 SL's to the fleet today.

Had to replace the pair I bent and **** the edges on last year...

Brings me up to:
203cm Fischer WC SG
188cm Fischer WC GS 27m [my favorite]
183cm Fischer WC GS 23m [real WC stock from a Canadian Ski Team member]
183cm Fischer WC GS 27m [still not sure why they make this ski]
165cm Fischer WC SL
165cm Fischer WC SL
186cm Nordica GSR 21m [FUN ski, but not fast]
165cm Nordica SLR [favorite all-purpose WNY short turner]
186cm Nordica GSR 21m
165cm Nordica SLR
180cm Rossignol CX80 Ti
180cm Hart Stage1 [Pulse]
184cm Stockli Stormrider DP Pro

Still have a bunch of older unmounted race stock skis, but most aren't worth more than being a cruiser or teaching ski anymore... GF has a quiver too, but I don't ski her stuff because she worries that I'll break her skis [which is a valid concern].

[Svend]

Sort of a two-and-a-half ski quiver:

Hard snow -- Fischer Progressor 9+, 175cm (best carver I have ever been on)

Soft snow / all mountain -- Dynastar Mythic Rider, 178 cm (would buy this one again in a heartbeat, but longer)

And then I have an older pair of Nordica Mach 3, 178 cm, that I bought for peanuts in Banff, and am leaving at my sister-in-law's place in Calgary to use when I travel out there on business....no rentals needed.  These are surprisingly versatile, and can handle boot-high powder, crud and soft spring snow with aplomb.

I don't have need for a powder ski, as I don't spend enough time in powder country to justify the cost.  I have needed one maybe 4 days in the past four years -- definitely not a big requirement for me.  If the heavens open up during a trip, I will happily rent a pair.

All things considered, the little quiver works well for me, and I'm totally happy with what I have. 

[Gary]

Helluva...you crack me up...I luv the term "fleet"! I remember a few seasons ago I was at Whistler and along one of the runs I could see from the chair, an Olympian competitor testing out what looked like 30 pairs of skis. His trusty minions would haul him up about 500 vert. behind a snowmobile, and down he'd straightline it to the next pair of skis.

Yup....I could see you doing that....line those bad boys up and just rip down for the next pair...so funny!

Svend...Absolutely makes sense to me. Those Nordica which was the first time I've ever skied that ski...is totally amazing and for what you paid....heck...that's awesome for skiing up to boot high and like you said...if ya get the big dump....ya rent a pair.

I'm hoping you get to do that this Dec in Park City....so are you taking both Fischer and Dynastars there?

"Fleet" saying it still makes me chuckle...hey there Missy Lynn....looks like you and JB are in the same league too....I mean the 3 of you could start a ski rental business! 

Best, G

[midwif]

While I still have those skis in my possession, doesn't mean I actually ski them.
Heck, I even have my LaCroix straight skis from the year zero.

Then came the Volant Powercarves.
Had those about 3 seasons, then after taking a PMTS camp about 10 years ago, purchased iC160's.
Those and the female version made their way to daughter, sister, daughter in law...., you know, the trail of inheritance!

Glad to be off the Every Thangs. I am not going to let anyone ski those. I think they are done. A give away.
So, Ullr, I have a  2 ski quiver.

L