Fischer Flow Flex Plate

[buck]

I was wondering if any one has had any experience with the new Fischer Worldcup RC with the new Flow Flex plate? I have owned a couple pair of the Worldcup RC's and loved them but is this new plate a good thing or a bad thing? The new ski seems somewhat softer and deeper flexing, maybe more of a recreational ski and less of a race ski? I was offered a deal that was too good to pass up on a pair of the 07's,  my old RC's are now for sale. I called the guys at the Ski Depot after the fact, they said I should have moved up a length from 175 to 180. Let me know your thoughts, I hope I didn't make a mistake!

[Barrettscv]

Hi Buck,

These skis may just be arriving in stores and only a few industry people have tried it.

I have an older WC RC with the universal plate. Like you, I'm sceptical about the new plate until I hear some first hand reports.

You could use a 180cm, but I enjoy a 175cm and I'm a bit heavier than you. For Midwest skiing, a 175cm is fine.

Cheers,

Michael

[Ron]

You could even go to 170 if you are an agressive carver. I am 6' 175 and ski on 170's. I don't see any advantage to going to a longer ski for groomed hardpack terrain. No offense, but I guess you could go to 175 with your weight but I doubt you would see a difference

[buck]

I demoed the 07 ski last spring but they still had the older universal plate on them. I skiied the 175 and the 180 and prefered the 175. I just don't know what kind of effect the Flow Flex will have. I use the ski primarily for racing and I'm worried about the turns becoming too round? I didn't consider the 170, I feel the radius is too small even for our slalom like GS courses here in the midwest. I like the stability at speed that ski's in the 175cm plus range offer.

[Ron]

IF you llike a very stiff ski, and it sounds like you do, then the flow flex is not going to be the binding for you. I haven't seen it but it sounds like a Free Flex ty binding which is on my SS's. You can lock it out if it's the same binding.

[buck]

I believe it is a different binding than yours, there is no provision to lock it out. I called Fischer's customer service, they claim the ski should ski similar to the old universal plate model. The difference being this ski (Flow Flex) will stayed glued to the ground better in rough icy courses and no be knocked off edge as with the past model. They claim the flex is the same but it feels softer with the more even bend. We shall see, its finally cold enough to make some snow and ski this weekend!

[Ron]

Interesting, is it now standard on race stock?

[buck]

Nope, that was the first thing I asked. If its such a great innovation why isn't it on the race stock ski? Didn't get much of a response, I guess someone skiing a FIS legal ski doesn't need the extra advantage of the Flow Flex! I would bet your more likely to see this added to the RX series instead!

[Ron]

raised eyebrow!  I doubt the revelation! That starting to sound a lot like, "softening" the flex or "added forgiveness".....

[buck]

I had the chance try out my 07 Fischer Worldcup RC Flow Flexs (175's) yesterday, very nice but they are more recreational than the original model with the universal plate. I bought this ski as a Nastar race ski for use on our tight midwest GS courses. I can honestly say this ski will become my everyday ski, it was very enjoyable (I liked it better than my Supershapes!)! It definitely has a softer feel, has much more turn shape versatility, is easier to turn and is much more forgiving than its predecessor. Stability is good but hard to compare verses the old ski, I feel that the Flow Flex ski should indeed be skied a little longer, had I had the chance to demo this ski prior to purchase, I would have opted for the 180cm, I'm still happy on the 175cm. If I don't sell my 05 RC's before the first Nastar race I'll ski the two back to back in the course and see which one is faster, I'm betting on the old ones! There is so much talk about how good the Fischer RX8's are, I would bet that with this Flow Flex plate, the new RC is a better ski for more aggressive skiers!

[Ron]

Buck, if you think the SS is soft, then yes the 8 will seem even softer to you. glad to hear you got some snow time in!

[buck]

Its fake snow, we'll take what we can get!

[Ron]

what year SS is that?

[buck]

The Supershapes I skied yesterday are 2007's, I also have a brand new pair of 2006 SS's in 170cm that I'm selling. Don't ask, its  a long story!

[Barrettscv]

I had the chance try out my 07 Fischer Worldcup RC Flow Flexs (175's) yesterday, very nice but they are more recreational than the original model with the universal plate. I bought this ski as a Nastar race ski for use on our tight midwest GS courses. I can honestly say this ski will become my everyday ski, it was very enjoyable (I liked it better than my Supershapes!)! It definitely has a softer feel, has much more turn shape versatility, is easier to turn and is much more forgiving than its predecessor. Stability is good but hard to compare verses the old ski, I feel that the Flow Flex ski should indeed be skied a little longer, had I had the chance to demo this ski prior to purchase, I would have opted for the 180cm, I'm still happy on the 175cm. If I don't sell my 05 RC's before the first Nastar race I'll ski the two back to back in the course and see which one is faster, I'm betting on the old ones! There is so much talk about how good the Fischer RX8's are, I would bet that with this Flow Flex plate, the new RC is a better ski for more aggressive skiers!

Excellent evaluation! (I can happily keep my older RC's without calling Ski Depot for a replacement)

Cheers,

Michael