Sweet at 98

[Gary]

In my mad search for the perfect powder ski, well maybe not so perfect but let's say versatile enough I struck out with the JJ's. My bad for not demoing them...yes I broke the first cardinal rule.

At my weight of about 158 lbs, I ski the Kaslte 78's up to boot high snow with no prob....still I wanted that big board when chasing Ron through the side country or dropping into pow fields at Jackson.
The factors I wanted were fun, complaint, versatile and a ski the I could carve. Too much to ask for 98 underfoot.....not so much.

The Rossi S3 hit the spot.
The first thing I noticed right away was how easy it was to drift. Dropping into lines that were narly, drift away. Anywhere I elected, they just were so easy to do so. Carve indeed, high angle no problem, speed no problem or no limit I've found so far. Bumps, even though the RS testers didn't give it any acknowledgement for bumps, I've been skiing bumps the past 2 days and they are a blast especially in the soft bumps. Stability...I was near the bottom of a ungroomed run with broken snow and bumps. I pointed the skis downhill, centered myself, made sure they were flat on the snow and just ripped away. They were unphased by all the varied terrain they were eating up....rocker steady so to speak.
For a ski with a 20m turning radius, they can be finessed around very quickly. If you've got good feet, the serve you well. I even hit some skied off end of day today and just drifted through it and hooked the edges up right after. With a 1 base and 1 sidebevel, I was astonished how well they held edge.

It may not be for everyone but gang, this ski is a workhorse that gives more love than you give it!

Best, G

[Perry]

been reading other reviews on this ski since I knew this one was coming and you echo much of what is out on the web.  Pretty wide consensus that this is a great floater with a lot of stability that can be skied on groomed.   NICE!  Something I would like to demo.

Perry

[Gary]

Hi Perry....having skied with you and knowing you like to carve a ski as well as float it,  I too think this would be a great demo. Also the Blizzard One....could be another great demo.

In what I've expereinced so far with fatter skis, it seems something around 98 under foot could be the perfect sidecountry skii...for sure for me. The versatility I got from the S3 was totally unexpected.

Hmmm...ya might want to see if the "Boat" has Rossi and Blizzards for demo. See you there!

G

[Perry]

Gary
Demo at the boat - already on my list of things to check...and yes, the Blizzard is also on my list.

Just curious, what factors both in what you have read, heard and especially what you have personally experienced have gone into your interest/desire for a ski with some Rocker. And part 2 - I am curious what you and others on the board think about the various types of rocker.  I have the general concepts but not clear on the specifics.  I guess I have been a traditional biased skeptic, but I am warming to the idea.  As far as tip rocker, certainly makes intuitive sense that it would benefit float (I have been water skiing, kind of the same concept to me)

[Gary]

Great questions Perry and glad you're going to demo...here's my take..

When I first saw video's of skiers on rockered skis I noticed it looked like their skis had suspension and aborbed the off piste punishment. That's what got my initial interest but here's a quick list:

Absorbtion and suspension that takes the harsh hits out of broken terrain.
Climb action traction: In skiing crud and pow, I used to be concerned about tip dive or what chunk of snow was luking out there to knock me over...rocker tips, climb up and over all that.
The tail of the rocker allows for such an easy transition turn to turn sliping and sliding
And with the S3....I can carve these bad boys....and all the above.
Interesting we're starting to see some degree of rocker technology show up in frontside skis by Rossi and K2...I mean carving skis.
There are varying degrees of rise on the rockers...Ron has pretty much educated me on this...and having seen the different skis in the shops, owned the JJ's and the S3's, I've seen it first hand. The larger rockers with more rise and fatter widths are clearly more suited (for me) on big pow days above the knees. They still can be skied sidecountry or even frontside but I believe lose versatility and complianece for in certain conditions. After you demo you'll either like the feel or not depnenidng on your ski skills. I'll place my bet now...I think you're gonna love them!

G

 

[Ron]

opinions here will certainly vary.....

Its really a matter of what you like. "Rockers" now encompass a pretty large variety of iterations... they range from very slight, usually referred to as early rise, this just means very little rise with just a little run (rise is the height of the rocker or distance off the snow vertically and run is simply the length of the rise and how far down it extends) to full-on reverse camber, double rockered skis like Pontoons and no camber double rise like a hellbent.  Most rockers now incorporate more run and less rise which is a more versitile ski. A lot of rise is great for pow days but can be knocked around (deflected) in firmer variable stuff. A few skis are now moving the Sidecut points further up on the tip creating more surface contact for on edge skiing. The result is even more versitility for off and on piste performance. 

I like them because they are fun, most are snappy,energetic and jibby. They turn crappy  or dense snow into powder. Super fun, easy to pivot in trees and play around with turn shape. I would still grab my Kastle 88's or 78's for all day groomers but these skis are just a blast. You can take a skier with moderate skills and they can have fun on them or put an expert on them as well.  THey are easier to ski and use much less effort in heavy or piled stuff for sure.  You have to see if they are for you.

[Perry]

Gary
The absorbsion and suspension aspect is one I did not figure - interesting
When you say that you can carve them, I know it isn't the same sensation as the Kastle, so how would you discribe that as far as fun factor for a groomer.  Just as fun but different, or close but still a blast....you get my drift.  The reason I am interested is I would buy these as my out west ski and with Gloria (who we need to convince to demo something like this) I end up spending 50 - 75% of my time on the groomers, so I need something fun enough to make it worth the $$.

And now that I am a quasi bump skier, same Q for the bumps.  My guess is that if they can be pivoted, it may help in some respects for the bumps as long as they don't wash out.

Ron,
From what you and Gary are saying, I am guessing that a ski with tip rise/rocker with a traditional tail would loose some of the greatest benefit that these skis have for trees, powder and other off piste skiing. true?

[Ron]

perry, if you are skiing 75% of the time on groomed, stick with a traditional ski IMHO or just an "early rise" ski like a Sultan 85/94, Rossi S86, Sali shogun, fisher 94/98 (I think the new 94 has some sort of rise), K2 Aftershock is getting very strong reviews BTW and has a bit more run to it; but it works well.  Some others too. The rocker is almost non-exsistent on mnay but its just there .  All in all, tough to beat a MX88 or MX78....  Just saying! 

AS far as trees go, with the tail, I don't really like a lot of tail rocker, I like to be able to work the tail depending on what I am skiing so a little is OK but not really a big fan of tail rocker. Tail rocker in deeper snow is ok as it has more contact with the snow and actaully become a tool.

Tip rocker really rises up over irregular or piled snow which then makes the surface area of the ski work easier. Some people prefer a ski that cuts through crud rather than surfs it. Again, its what you like and what you are skiing.

[Perry]

perry, if you are skiing 75% of the time on groomed, stick with a traditional ski IMHO or just an "early rise" ski like a Sultan 85/94, Rossi S86, Sali shogun, fisher 94/98 (I think the new 94 has some sort of rise), K2 Aftershock is getting very strong reviews BTW and has a bit more run to it; but it works well.? Some others too. The rocker is almost non-exsistent on mnay but its just there .? All in all, tough to beat a MX88 or MX78....? Just saying!?

Ron, true enough, my dilema is that what I want to ski with other friends is more like 75/25 the other way.  Kind of want a 2 ski quiver. Am I talking myself into 3!?

[Ron]

well depending on the conditions the MX88 or the sultan 94, are great choices. You aren't going to be using this as a true powder ski so it needs to be versitile. The mid 90's IMHo offers this versitility. The mx88 is a ski that is uber versitile and belies it's width. Phil can comment on the Sultan 94 but he liked it enough to buy it for himself.? Even the new Kaslte 98 is a possiblity but my guess the sultan 94 is better. I would throw that Blizz' One in there since it's a touch more stiff and stable at speed than the S3 but again, it depends on what you want it for. If you want fun and are willing to give up some performance, the one, OTW, you go with a ski like the Sultan 94

[Perry]

Thanks, that is helpful. So, on my demo list for now
S3
The one
Sultan 94 - demod the 85 last year but it didn't really count since they only had the 172 - too short
Fischer 94/98 - I have the RX8 170 that I am going to sell (with great sadness because it is really fun) and I like the brand

any other suggestions

[Ron]

THere's ALWAYS another ski to demo but you have a good start.  On the S3 and The one, go with the 178/ 177 repsectively.

[Perry]

So Phil,
What about the Sultan 94?

[Perry]

So there is a Ski Haus in Steamboat with the S3, I would consider Demoing the 186 length (6'2" and 195 stark necked at night).  Phil, I am guessing they would also have the Sultan to demo.  Do they carry Fischer?

[Ron]

Phil works at Start Haus!  Ski Haus is at the boat.  You are actually right at the cutoff line for both the s3 and the One.  The longer S3 just adds rise and a big floppy tip.  Blizz shows the max weight for THe One at 195.... so back to the Sultan 94 for you!