Help me find my next ski....

[Ron]

now I'll really makde yo dizzy,

I bought the 94
Gary bought the 84
I bought the 84 (not gary's) and sold them
I sold my 94's to Gary.........

Now considering 78's but the more I look into it. the more I am thinking to just keep the LTD's not much is really better. If I coud score the XXL's, now that could be a fun one....

[gregmerz]

The end of last season there was a thread on Epic wherein Dawg was touting a possible Stockli group buy.? He might have a line on Stockli's...

[Gary]

Ok you Skiaholic....the buy for those  Watea 78's with bindings...$350 is unbelieveable...

You've got one heck of a magic wand to find prices like that.

Hard deal to walk away from AND it's so well reviewed......AND you're familar with the Fischer Watea line having skied the 84 and 94....

What's not to  like?

G

[Ron]

no bindings. Concerned that there is not one review at Epic...... That's including the dealers. This usaully means not impressed or they felt it was more of an intermediate ski.

[jim-ratliff]

From a reputable source of ski reviews.  Sounds like an ideal description for you, but may well get overlooked or overshadowed by its wider brethren when people are looking at wider skis.
Did I hear light and quick as part of Peter's review and as part of Ron's requirements?



If the RX Fire 8 is an ideal 1-ski-quiver for groomer technical specialists, then the Watea 78 is its analog for all-mountain-oriented skiers who spend some time on the groomed and in occasional mogul fields. The skill requirements are not daunting, but the 78 delivers well at the high end. Another top all around ski in Fischer's superb lineup. Stable, light, quick and versatile.

[jbotti]

Ron, I like railflex bindings, and the plate gets you a little higher up which I like as it helps your hard snow carving. With stiff skis, IMO any lift makes them a little more difficult to manage in off piste conditions. I think it really comes down to what you will use them for most. One thing is for sure, the raiflex is awesome for finding the best mounting point on the ski and in many ways that advantge makes up for any disadvantage.

They are definitely rocking skis, but also always expensive.

I will also put in my two cents on the Watea 78. I like the IM 78 much better. I like the tighter turn radius and it is a much better hard snow ski, and i found them equal off piste except in bumps where the IM 78 was way better. I ski the IM 78 in the 171 length and I love it. It's an amazingly easy ski and very versatile.

[Ron]

john, I owned the IM78 but didn't care for it. to me, it was overly damp with not enough pop and energy.? A true crud buster and very good at all turn shapes, just not the fun I lilke. I will wait till something really thrills me. The descriptions of the 78 aren't overly exciting but good, not that I give credence to ski rags but I think ski mag reviewed it as a womens ski.? I am looking at:

Blizzard magnum 8.7 or 8.1
nordica Top fuel and nitrous
12' tigershark- I am calling Peter tomorrow...
legend 8000 (thanks Greg)
Stockli XXL (thanks John)

I need help

[midwif]

Yes Ron, you do need help.
There are many different medications these days
to help you with that OCD issue.....compulsiv ely buying/selling skis.
 

[jim-ratliff]

Lynn:? Shame on you, the stock market was up almost 300 points today on news that Ron was looking for another pair of skis.

Ron: I have a thought.? Recap the skis that you have had the last two years and what you liked and disliked about them? I have a feeling that your ideal ski may already be in there somewhere, but you were looking for something different at the time that you owned it.? If not, at least it will provide an interesting summary of what you like and dislike about various known skis and might suggest something to someone.

SKI did list the Watea 78 under the women's section but described it as a Unisex ski.? I would still listen some to the RealSkiers review below, especially since you and Gary seem to like the Watea family (I didn't realize they didn't have any metal in them, just carbon reinforcement channels).? I may try some Watea 84's while I am at Steamboat, just to know the difference.? The iM78 is pretty damp, I agree, as damp as an old pair of K2 Axis X that I used to have (maybe even more so).  I like damp skis, but maybe need to ski an un-damp for comparison.

[midwif]

Lynn:? Shame on you, the stock market was up almost 300 points today on news that Ron was looking for another pair of skis.

I am properly chastened.

NOT

[jim-ratliff]

I am properly chastened.

NOT

I have heard that you were very PROPER.?

NOT

But I still really enjoy skiing with you.?
And SHAME on you for hijacking Ron's desperate thread pleading for help.? ?

[Philpug]

I have been here...It really is like an addiction...The High of a purchase keeps you going. I am better now.. I have passed it along to Ron, now I deal with it vicariously through him.

The big question is...when will he sell the Goats.

[Glenn]

Lynn:? Shame on you, the stock market was up almost 300 points today on news that Ron was looking for another pair of skis.

LMAO!!!!!! 

Ron,
I saw Nordica was on your list. I only skied my HotRods twice last season...due to purchasing them late in the season. A fantastic ski IMHO and I can't wait to test them out in some more traditional "New England" conditions. I beleive the HotRod is very similar to the Jet Fuel...sans some type of metal that runs the length of the ski? IIRC, I think SeirraJim skis a Nordica.

I want to say the skis have been unchanged for the last few seasons. I think the 09's are the same as the version I bought last year.

http://www.sierraskis.com/Nordica-Hot-Rod-Nitrous-System-16507.asp

Not a bad price with bindings....

[jbotti]

I will put in my $.02 on some ski brands and in particular Nordica and Volkl. Clearly any time we generalize we run th risk of making statements that will prove to be incorrect. Having said this, I do think that both Nordica and Volkl with their skis that are designed for some amount of hard snow carving, in general make skis that are overly stiff, with way too much metal and they have flex patterns that are not conducive to bending the ski via pressuring the tips. In particular, Every Volkl ski under 94mm underfoot that I have been on in my opinion are just horrible skis for someone who carves most turns and has their wieght balanced on the forwrad part of the ski in transition or throughout the turn. I absolutley hated the Tigersharks and the AC40. I have not ben on the AC 50 but I expect more of the same. I iwll say that if one weighs 220 or more, and has great technique, these skis may be OK, but everyone I know that is at the ex WC racer level in general has the same views that I have on recreational skis with too much metal. Nordica IMO is gulity of the same thing in many of their mid fat skis that are designed for good hard snow performance. I do think these skis often work well for people that don't edge lock carve the bulk of their turns.

In general cap skis with large amounts of metal IMO produces a flex pattern that I don't wnat to go near. As well, race laminate skis with too much metal often produces the same issue.

Just my $.02.

[Gary]

J.....I'm putting my $.02 to make $.04 and would agree with you totally on both the Nordica and Volkl....never meet one I liked enough to buy. Have found them a lot of work to get them to arc. I always thought it was due to my weight...but those babies tired me out.

Probably the very reasons I've truly admired Head and Fischer performance.

I prefer to have me work the ski than the ski work me!

Geez...and I thought it was just me.. Great insight J.

Gary