Mammoth/Sierra Pow & Crud Ski Recommendations

[Wannaskipownow]

Been searching/reading forum threads for many weeks, and with so many good choices, looking for any feedback or suggestions to narrow my search for the ultimate Sierra cement pow/crud slayer.

Me: 5'10", 210 lbs ("big boned"/not fat), neither an ex-racer nor coach, been skiing 30 + years, get 50+ days a year mostly Mammoth with some Utah/Canada trips, pretty decent technique, "aggressive" skier more into power than finesse (my friends call me "the bull) but no pro and at 52, don't have the energy I did at 30.

Looking for something with a 110+ waist, prefer a flat tail and early rise tip with medium+ flex and like a ski with energy and "snap", but don't want something too stiff. Generally ski most of the top, Chair 22 and Chair 9 trees, so want something that is also turny and will also hold an edge on the windbuff.

Been skiing a Fisher Watea 101 (192 CM), pretty good in the fresh but kind of light/soft for the day after cut up/heavy mank typical in Mammy.

Sop far have narrowed the focus down to:

Last years Atomic Big Daddy (cheap deals out there)
The new Atomic Atlas (not many reviews anywhere)
Dynastar XXL
K2 Darkside

Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[BSS]

Have you considered 196 Lhasa?

[MTT]

Have you considered 196 Lhasa?

Or the 186 if you want to turn more in the real tight Technical terrain @ Mammoth

[hutash]

Have you considered 196 Lhasa?

Obviously not, or his search would be complete.

Seriously, try the Lhasa Pow it is just about the perfect mammoth ski.

[otto parts]

x4, you've pretty much described the Lhasa.
186 if you want a bit turnier, 196 if you wanna let them run.
or the 191 if between.

go here and have them under the tree: Huge AT Sale: Lhasas, Dynafits, Factors, Superblasters - Teton Gravity Research Forums

[irul&ublo]

Been searching/reading forum threads for many weeks, and with so many good choices, looking for any feedback or suggestions to narrow my search for the ultimate Sierra cement pow/crud slayer.

Me: 5'10", 210 lbs ("big boned"/not fat), neither an ex-racer nor coach, been skiing 30 + years, get 50+ days a year mostly Mammoth with some Utah/Canada trips, pretty decent technique, "aggressive" skier more into power than finesse (my friends call me "the bull) but no pro and at 52, don't have the energy I did at 30.

Looking for something with a 110+ waist, prefer a flat tail and early rise tip with medium+ flex and like a ski with energy and "snap", but don't want something too stiff. Generally ski most of the top, Chair 22 and Chair 9 trees, so want something that is also turny and will also hold an edge on the windbuff.

Been skiing a Fisher Watea 101 (192 CM), pretty good in the fresh but kind of light/soft for the day after cut up/heavy mank typical in Mammy.

Sop far have narrowed the focus down to:

Last years Atomic Big Daddy (cheap deals out there)
The new Atomic Atlas (not many reviews anywhere)
Dynastar XXL
K2 Darkside

Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Buy a pair of Explosivs. You will rip the crud.

[Wannaskipownow]

Yes, been curious about the Lhasa, will demo next week if we get the dump expected, appreciate the feedback guys.

[Bandit Man]

I'd say an XXL...

Spent the better part of my skiing life hitting Mammoth and would say that since you get crud and windblown much more than pow (what does the pow last at Mammoth these days...2 hours after the top opens?), that is what I would pick. Plus, they will rail the big wide groomers you eventually drop into to get back to any of the lifts that matter.

[Dudley]

I havent skied the lhasa... but I DO enjoy my Katana's out that way and will echo the sentiments that the XXL is a blast as well.

[johannus]

I'd say an XXL...

Spent the better part of my skiing life hitting Mammoth and would say that since you get crud and windblown much more than pow (what does the pow last at Mammoth these days...2 hours after the top opens?), that is what I would pick. Plus, they will rail the big wide groomers you eventually drop into to get back to any of the lifts that matter.

and there you have it. pow lasts 20 minutes off the top.

[liv2ski]

Mammoth is my home mountain and at your size, I think the XXL is a good call. However, if you want some of the newer rockered skis, I am thinking the 190 Bibby or Night Train would be a better choice. I bought some 190 Praxis Back Country's and I am hoping they are my go to skis on days where there has been some fresh snow over night, but I know it will be pretty much tracked out in two hours.

[The Dad]

190 Moment Ruby should be in the mix as well. At least, that's what I bought them for.

Unless you want to go full reverse/reverse.

[LightRanger]

I'd put the 188 SideStash on your list over the Darkside.

But given your weight/technique, 194 XXLs or 196 Lhasas would be better.

Or Movement Goliaths.

Edit: Or 191 ON3P Wrenegades. That's what my buddy is picking up for his everyday Mammoth ski.

[Beyond]

Have owned both XXL's and Lhasas. Would pick Lhasas for most places, but the dampness and beef of the XXL's work better in Sierra Cement.

[Wannaskipownow]

and there you have it. pow lasts 20 minutes off the top.

Thanks for the responses, will demo some Lhasa's next week for sure and I know Footloose has got some XXL's in their demo quiver. It's interesting that neither Footloose nor Kittridge is carrying anything much over 100 cm as they consider them too specialized for their mainstream customer base and P3 only has twin tips. I'll likely buy off the interweb anyway.

You Mammy skiers know there is always pow to be found in the trees off 9 and 13/14 for the 30 minutes after the top gets harvested in 20 minutes. :rolleyes2

Monday might be the best day of the year so far for pow, hope you all get some.

[Wannaskipownow]

Monday might be the best day of the year so far for pow, hope you all get some.

Not to hijack my own thread and turn it into a Mammoth is going off thread, but the latest forecast has got me tingling:

NEW UPDATE BELOW FROM HPC FOR MAJOR SNOW EVENT FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SIERRA SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...5 DAY QPF FROM HPC INDICATE THAT THIS WEEKENDS STORM COULD DROP BETWEEN 5 AND 6 FEET OVER THE CREST BY SUNDAY NIGHT WITH THE HEAVIEST PERIOD SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.....A GENERAL 1 TO 3 FEET IS EXPECTED ABOVE 6000 FEET AND WITH UP TO 4 FEET OVER THE CREST POSSIBLE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

[Adamantium]

Not to hijack my own thread and turn it into a Mammoth is going off thread, but the latest forecast has got me tingling:

NEW UPDATE BELOW FROM HPC FOR MAJOR SNOW EVENT FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SIERRA SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...5 DAY QPF FROM HPC INDICATE THAT THIS WEEKENDS STORM COULD DROP BETWEEN 5 AND 6 FEET OVER THE CREST BY SUNDAY NIGHT WITH THE HEAVIEST PERIOD SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.....A GENERAL 1 TO 3 FEET IS EXPECTED ABOVE 6000 FEET AND WITH UP TO 4 FEET OVER THE CREST POSSIBLE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.I feel terrible for everyone that can't stay in town for Monday/Tuesday. Just horrible :FIREdevil

[Wannaskipownow]

190 Moment Ruby should be in the mix as well. At least, that's what I bought them for.

Unless you want to go full reverse/reverse.

I don't think a full reverse/reverse makes sense for mammoth....given how fast it usually gets tracked, even mid-week, and i really like a stiffer tail for some snap out of the turn.

[hutash]

The top may get tracked out in 20 minutes, but there are stashes to be found for days after (at least on weekdays.) The beauty if the Lhasa is it kills the pow, but is still fun to ski in the cut up that lasts for days afterward. It is sweet on Mammoth wind buff because it holds an edge well, and is still fun to ski the groomers back to the lift, which besides 23 you have to do for most lifts.

I am heading up Saturday or Sunday, but it looks like roads may be an issue. With all the state budget cutbacks, I hope they have more then one plow working.

[dynodonkeyaltabird]

lotus 120s. best crud ski i have ever skied. awesome in anything soft. hopefully eclipsed by my yet to be mounted lhasas, but we shall see.

[Wannaskipownow]

The top may get tracked out in 20 minutes, but there are stashes to be found for days after (at least on weekdays.) The beauty if the Lhasa is it kills the pow, but is still fun to ski in the cut up that lasts for days afterward. It is sweet on Mammoth wind buff because it holds an edge well, and is still fun to ski the groomers back to the lift, which besides 23 you have to do for most lifts.

I am heading up Saturday or Sunday, but it looks like roads may be an issue. With all the state budget cutbacks, I hope they have more then one plow working.

That's one of the greatest things about mammoth, you can have 40,000 people on a weekend and all the usual spots are tracked in 12 seconds yet there are so many unbeaten paths around the hill with pow stashes days later. Let's keep that to ourselves.:rolleyes:

I am planning on driving up Sunday myself, should clear up or taper off late in the day. FYI, I hear Caltrans is operating per normal other than the days they are shut down (I think every third Friday) but snow levels this storm look to much higher than last week so hopefully dry roads well past the grade from Bishop to maybe Crowley.

Monday and Tuesday and the rest of the week should be SWEET before the hordes start descending. I'll keep an eye out for some Lhasa's in the lift lines and hope to be on a demo pair myself! So many good recommendations, so little time. Thanks.

[hutash]

I will be on my Bro 183s since I haven't mounted my dynaduke plates(still waiting for the dynafits).

183's are a nice Mammoth ski at least for my size (170lbs). Not as good in pow as Lhasas, but decent, and yet are great everywhere else on the hill in all conditions (except glare ice, but still skiable.)

So if you see anybody on PM Gear skis ask fro change, they odds are good they will be a maggot.

[02sedona]

Might want to check out the 185 Line mothership. A lot more playful than a 187 XXL and still solid enogh to rip at speed. It has replaced my 186 legend pro riders. Everytime i ski them I find them more fun and a great all around ski.

[Wannaskipownow]

Might want to check out the 185 Line mothership. A lot more playful than a 187 XXL and still solid enough to rip at speed. It has replaced my 186 legend pro riders. Everytime i ski them I find them more fun and a great all around ski.

I had the Line MS near the top of the short list but then was concerned about them being a tad too stiff/planky. I might be mistaken as at my size I ought to be able to flex any ski...it's just how much they flex back on my aging body.

I demoed a pair of Legend Pro's at Aspen Highlands last year and thought they were a bit too stiff, so I am really looking for the fine line between not too noodlely and not too stiff. (Then again, we got so hammered and stayed up half the night cougar hunting every night that it might have had allot to do with my lack of energy).:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

That's why a more medium flexing ski seems to be more versatile and attractive for me, not to sound like a total gaper pussy. I'll give them another look, thanks.

[Wannaskipownow]

I will be on my Bro 183s since I haven't mounted my dynaduke plates(still waiting for the dynafits).

183's are a nice Mammoth ski at least for my size (170lbs). Not as good in pow as Lhasas, but decent, and yet are great everywhere else on the hill in all conditions (except glare ice, but still skiable.)

So if you see anybody on PM Gear skis ask fro change, they odds are good they will be a maggot.

Will definately keep an eye out for the Bro loving maggots on the hill. By the way, just saw this good news on the Mammoth forum, assume it applies to 395 as well:

Caltrans Meeting

The State Caltrans Director informed the Town that there will be no disruption of snow clearing operations as a result of the state furlough program.

[Beyond]

Enforcers?

[whyturn]

Super 7's with Dukes, Im biased. Just rode them 12/12, great all around ski