66 to 90 ....score!!!!

[Gary]

Where: Bristol Mountain, upstate NY
Conditions: frozen granular, ice pack and 4 -6" of marble granular snow along the edges

I started the day with the Head SS given the hard pack snow and they were just fine skiing the frozen ice pack and scraped off in the middle making medium swing turns to GS turns.....very fast snow, very fast. Playing in the 5" along the edges, I couldn't believe how difficult short turns, 2 footed skiing on the 66 width waist in that marble granular snow along the edges. I had everything I could do to keep my feet together.....way tons of work. Most of the skiers found making high speed GS turns the easiest way to get down the mountain...I was looking for more. I've skied the SS in boot high powder with ease....this stuff was kicking my butt!

I postulated a theory in my brain one lift ride up. I thought today might not be the optimum carving conditions along the edges with a craving ski....it felt more like a surfing day given the snow conditions. Yes, surfing, now don't get me wrong, I try and carve all my turns, but let me explain what I mean.

At Steamboat this year I purchased a pair of Icelantic Pilgrim skis, 127-90-117 dims in a 169 length. They are twin tips and ski so much like a slalom ski a bump ski, and a GS ski...they blew my mind, totally impressed. Their turning radius is 17 meters and I had a ball with them in the broken snow, bumps and powder at Steamboat.

But wait....I'm talking hardpack, ice, marbles, crud, pushed up marbly snotty, nasty grab you skis and your underwear snow along the edges. So....half way through the ski day, I decided to grab the Pilgrims to see how they would perform.

Holy habernashy.....thes e things blasted through the marbly granular ice balls with ease, carving, each turn, like heat seeking torpedo's, they carved short arcs, long arcs and even felt solid on the hardpack ice surface. Wow.....I was blown away. Sure, the SS would have made it through the day but the FUN factor where I like to ski in the piled crud along the edges.....the Icelantics ate it up with extreme confident feedback and solid edge hold. The FUN FACTOR was BACK!

What amazed me most about this ski is that I could get it up on high edge angle where it feels like I'm skiing a slalom ski....criminy....9 0 underfoot.

There just has to be magic in the boards....who wudda thunk??

So....it would appear for me....that I have the PERFECT 2 ski quiver.? For me, it's all about being smooth with my turns, playing in the good stuff along the edges, and having confidence the ski choice is the right tool for the day.

Mission Accomplished.

Best,
Gary

[Ron]

yeah! thats exatly what a wider underfoot skid does in piled, crappy crud snow. that pilgrim is an awesome ski that transcends the typical wider ski performance envelope. I am pretty hooked on the nomads myself. My new, go to ski for everything but hardpack as well.

[Philpug]

There just has to be magic in the boards....who wudda thunk??


Best,
Gary

[Raising hand a la Arnold Horshack]Oh Oh...Mr. Casarra....pick me..pick me..I know this one...[/Raising hand a la Arnold Horshack]

[Gary]

Yes yes yes my fellow carving, scarving, bumping, jumping fellow ski maniacs....

I once doubted the potential greatness and versatility of such a wide underfoot ski....I tip my hat and acknowledge I live, I learn, and remain your most humble fellow Real Skier.

I still live to carve, but I can honestly say....don't doubt it till ya try it. If you get a chance to demo a twin tip, wood core ski....try one...oh yeah....have the credit card ready!



Best,
G

[Philpug]

Yes yes yes my fellow carving, scarving, bumping, jumping fellow ski maniacs....

I once doubted the potential greatness and versatility of such a wide underfoot ski....I tip my hat and acknowledge I live, I learn, and remain your most humble fellow Real Skier.

I still live to carve, but I can honestly say....don't doubt it till ya try it. If you get a chance to demo a twin tip, wood core ski....try one...oh yeah....have the credit card ready!



Best,
G

Now...what about Alice? When does she get her fat skis? I hope before JH

[Philpug]

Yes yes yes my fellow carving, scarving, bumping, jumping fellow ski maniacs....

I once doubted the potential greatness and versatility of such a wide underfoot ski....I tip my hat and acknowledge I live, I learn, and remain your most humble fellow Real Skier.

I still live to carve, but I can honestly say....don't doubt it till ya try it. If you get a chance to demo a twin tip, wood core ski....try one...oh yeah....have the credit card ready!



Best,
G

Sounds like someone read "Green Eggs and Ham" Welcome to the dar...errr Fat(ter) side.  Now, let's talk about Rockers...JBotti, want to start?

[midwif]

Phil
Isn't it sleepy time for you???

[Philpug]

Phil
Isn't it sleepy time for you???

You would think, I just have lousy sleep habits. I't not just Ron's couch.

[Gary]

Actually I was just talking to ALice about that very issue. I just brought up her Dynastar Exclusive Legends...75 underfoot. Did both of our skis with warm weather wax since it's in the 50's today and tomorrow. Still raining out now so thought we'd head up first thing in the morning.

i suggested she ski those a run and then we go up to the Demo Yurt to see what they have in fatties and twin tips for the light weight gals. Should be fun if she's up for it.

With soft snow conditions, should be perfect testing. Will post if anything rings her bell!

Best,
G

[Perry]

Nice post and nice review.  I have seen the ski and love the graphics and wondered how they skied.  Thanks for posting.

[Gary]

Thanks Perry.....if you get a chance to demo a pair, I'd be interested in your review. They really handle like no other fat or mid-fat  ski I've skied before.

Having owned the IM77,IM 82, Watea 84 and 94....the Icelantic Pilgrim exceeded all on snow performance of the aforementioned skis.


Ain't ski evolution a wondrous thing!

Best,
Gary

[SnowHot]

Thanks Perry.....if you get a chance to demo a pair, I'd be interested in your review. They really handle like no other fat or mid-fat? ski I've skied before.

Having owned the IM77,IM 82, Watea 84 and 94....the Icelantic Pilgrim exceeded all on snow performance of the aforementioned skis.


Ain't ski evolution a wondrous thing!

Best,
Gary

Thanks for the info, Gary.  A friend has the Watea 94, and loves it, but I'm thinking of filling the gap in my quiver between 67 and 99.  something in the 80's low 90's is likely what I'm looking for.

Perhaps Ron can sniff something out for me, eh?

[Perry]

Thanks Perry.....if you get a chance to demo a pair, I'd be interested in your review. They really handle like no other fat or mid-fat? ski I've skied before.
ok, but I wonder if he has ever skied the Watea 94?
Having owned the IM77,IM 82, Watea 84 and 94....the Icelantic Pilgrim exceeded all on snow performance of the aforementioned skis.
Well, that settles that question!!!!!!

Ain't ski evolution a wondrous thing!

Best,
Gary

Now on my demo list and yes ski evolution is wondrous, but, just when I think I will score on a cheap new set of Watea 94's, someone makes me want a brand new set of Icelandic Pilgrims

Also, I don't know how big Alice is, but her current ski may well be equivalent for her that the 90 is for you.  There is an interesting thread over on Epic regarding this.

[Gary]

You're correct Perry...Alice's 106 lbs on her 75mm waist would float as well as my 156 lbs do on the 90mm waist. We've actually experienced this in knee high snow a few years ago at Aspen.

When we're talking about fat skis, my recent experience really help clarify what I really wanted in a fat ski. Some posts back when I owned the Watea 84, I really liked the skis performance in crud, groomers, bumps and some shin high snow. I did feel the ski was lacking a little zip and a little float for the deep stuff....and maybe just a bit too damp for the way I like to ski. My experience with the 94 showed me a different ski. Not sure whether it was the length 178 or the dims, but I had a heck of a time keeping the edges at high edge angles in snow below the ankle. Obviously, I don't need those kinds of angles in deeper snow but I wanted more from the ski.

Finding that ski no matter what make or model...a ski that allows you to change little of your skiing skills ski to ski I think is key. If someone would have asked me whether I thought I'd be skiing a twin tip, my first reaction would have been, no, there's so many other choices out there. I am fortunate to be able to enjoy that 2nd ski and to get a good number of days on the snow. Having that second ski pumps up the fun factor when conditions significantly vary.

As far as Alice's next choice, I'd even like her to try a twin tip next time the conditions merit a demo. Hey, yea never know..

Keep us posted on your Ski evolution and good luck!

Best,
Gary

[Philpug]

What is Alice's BSL? Lola will have her Eos's with her in Jackson, I am sure she will let Alice try them.