I think I need an intervention!

[Barrettscv]

Hi again Gang,

Well, I've been considering a replacement for my Dynastar Intuitive 74 as my soft-but-not-deep snow ski. Last year I demo-d the Monster 88, among 3 other skis. The Monster was the most versatile ski for soft snow, and the one ski I would own "if I lived within two hours of a big mountain and I can own only one ski".

Well, I pulled the trigger again.

I'll have a pair 175cm Monster 88's with Mojo 15 bindings in 10 days. I guess I'll give my Initiative's to my son.

So my usage will go like this;
Fischer WC RC: 112-66-97mm - 90% hard snow with 10% boot-top deep snow in places.
Volant Spatula: 120-125-115mm - 90% soft & deep snow with 10% "packed powder" while in transit to the deep stuff.
Head Monster 88: 126-88-112mm - everything else, this will usually be some soft, some firm, some deep.

Guess which ski will see the most usage? This also means I can travel with two (not three) pairs. If the weather indicates no new snow, the Volant stays home. If the weather indicates a good chance of deep snow, the Fischer stays home.

Cheers,

Michael

[jbotti]

Clearly you do!! Having said this they are awesome skis and they are fun skis on groomed terrain and very functional in deep fresh snow.

Just to make any of us sick who have paid retail for skis, how much did they set you back and are they used or new. BTW, the mojo 15 is a very light binding and perfect for this ski.

It's amazing that an 88mm ski is now a midfat!!

Enjoy!!

[Barrettscv]

Just to make any of us sick who have paid retail for skis, how much did they set you back and are they used or new. BTW, the mojo 15 is a very light binding and perfect for this ski.

It's amazing that an 88mm ski is now a midfat!!

The Monster 88's were new-in-the-plastic with bindings for $500 and I will pick these up next week; it's the most I've ever spent on skis. The Volants are a close second, These are new-never-seen-snow for $415 with Marker Titanium Speedpoints installed & this includes delivery. My sons new RX8 were $350 plus $45 delivery last year. My Dynastars were new for $300, with Rossignol Race 140 bindings installed & delivered. My daughters new RX8 were $220 without bindings, this included delivery. My WC RC were new-in-the-plastic for $200, including delivery.

The Monster 88 as a midfat? for a 215 plus Lbs skier, it's true. The midpoint between the 66mm Fischer and the 125mm Volant is 95.5mm? .

Cheers,

Michael

[Ron]

You are my hero!  Nothing wrong with a killer deal like that!  That is a great ski and you will love them....

[jim-ratliff]

Well, lets see, you could be doing drugs or you could be doing alcohol or you could be emailing pages in the House or the Senate.

But instead, you buy skis that you don't need at prices that you can recoup whenever you choose to, and your "habit" requires you to be outside and to be active.  And you ENJOY both the buying and the skiing.

Yeah, I see your point; we need to get you onto drugs or something.

    

But I don't think you should "unload" your old skis on the kids.

[jbotti]

BTW Michael, I just saw a pair of Fischer Prohetes (106mm underfoot) on Ebay with bindings for $450 new, just in case you decide to sell your Spatulas or do some more trading.

I am still impressed with your trading. Has anyone ever suggested a job on Wall Street? JB.

[Brendan]

Very impressive!  Where are you guys getting such great deals?  What sites on ebay?  Would love to know.

Thanks Brendan

[jbotti]

Brendan, Here are the Prohetes on Ebay. They are brand new with Tyrolia Railflex LD 12 for $450. It's an excellent deal if someone is looking for some Big A-- powder skis.

http://cgi.ebay.com/FISCHER-PROHETE-POWDER-SKIS-05-06_W0QQitemZ250036297030QQihZ015QQcategoryZ62182QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

New RX 9's are also on sale for $488 with bndings (i believe LD 12's as well).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fischer-skis-NEW-RX-9-2006-w-Railflex-system-170_W0QQitemZ280036590963QQihZ018QQcategoryZ62182QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Lastly ski-depot, www.ski-depot.com has chaep closeout ski from last year which include Elan, and Fischer race skis, Elan Ripsticks, M777,M666, Fischer RX8's and Rx9's and a variety of other skis including some twin tips all at very good prices.

If you are looking for IM 72's they are some cheap ones on Ebay:
Thse are in a 177cm length, but they may have them in other sizes. Thses are $328 flat. I'm sure you can get an LD 12 binding for $100. It's a good price for a good ski. I would contact Evogear which has them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2006-Head-Monster-iM-72-Skis-177-cm-NEW_W0QQitemZ260038496979QQihZ016QQcategoryZ62183QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Barrettscv]

Well, lets see, you could be doing...? ...But instead, you buy skis that you don't need at prices that you can recoup whenever you choose to, and your "habit" requires you to be outside and to be active.? And you ENJOY both the buying and the skiing.

Hi Jim,

Well, your summery is true. Two years ago after skiing at Snowbird I realized that I was way overweight and needed to exercise. I was able to lose 35 Lbs in 6 months and dreamed of skiing with every visit to the Gym and during every trip to the bike path. Will skiing help me live longer & healthier, I hope so.

Now that the quivers in my family are becoming optimized, I will probably slow down on the trading activity. During the last 10 years technological progress in the ski industry was vast. Each new model was substantially better than the gear made just a few seasons earlier. Progress is still there, but it will be a while before the hard-snow skis improve beyond the RX8/Supershape benchmark. Mid-fats and wider skis are continuing to progress rapidly, but will I need to trade-up from the Monster 88 or Spatula to satisfy my skiing needs? The answer is no, not for the next three years. If I owned only one ski, I would probably upgrade every year to get the latest one-ski-quiver, but that's not my formula.

Thanks for the kind words.

Michael

[Gary]

Congrats Michael...

I'm thinking for inbounds skiing groomers and up to knee high, the Fischers and Heads should be your Beaver Creek companioins.

I'm sure you're pumped up about getting out on those 88's as I am my 82's.

Glad you're focused on staying in shape too...makes the skiing all that sweeter! My home gym has ski pictures and some trail maps up on the wall for exercise motivation. Really looking forward to letting em hang out there!

Hey bud, I'm sure you deserve those new boards for yourself........so. ....what DID ya by the little lady?


Congrats again,
Gary