Touring on the Rockered Gotama?

[gskis]

Am I crazy for considering this as an option? Or is it a good idea? i know the rocker is pretty mild but i jut dont know how mild it has to be for a survivable everyday touring ski.

[Wetdog]

I have a friend who mounted his with Dukes and is just starting to do back country with them, though he has no reference from having toured on other skis, he has had no issues. I have done some short tours on my Praxis Powders which are full revers camber ski like the Gotama and they work pretty well in soft conditions. The Gotama is not a light ski, and its rocker is more than subtle, it is quite pronounced and continuous, so doing serious long distance touring in variable conditions like having to skin and traverse on steep firm snow could be a challenge, and the weight would be a factor in serious vertical or long distance tours, but as a resort crossover ski for soft snow, it would be great.

[gskis]

thanks, i have the '09 gotama so i know about the weight issue but it isnt really that bad. for me it will be my daily driver that i go touring on maybe 5 times a year (hopefully more but doubtful haha). i dont really know the conditions i will tour in but im sure many of them will be late season so some less soft snow im sure. i will most likely go a different route i am just wanting to know more to make a good decision. do you know if the new one is any livelier than the older one? it seems less responsive than it could be, especially in softer snow...

[Wetdog]

I haven't ridden the new one, but from what I have heard it skis very differently from the old one, which stands to reason as it is a whole new ski. I do hear of a lot of people putting AT bindings on them though. I think for any earning your turns duties as long as you are not going too far with them, they would be fine.

[hardboiled]

I toured all winter/spring on '10 goats with dynafits. Yep they're pretty heavy -- noticeably heavier than my buddy's 08 goats with dynafits, although mine have jondrums' DynaDuke plates which add ~5 oz/ski I think. that said I put some long days in on mine (12+ miles 5000+ vert). the rocker was not an issue for me skinning, and that includes plenty of steep (prob 30-35*) skintracks, traverses, firm/slippery conditions etc. obviously ski crampons help when the track is difficult to manage.

anyway I think it's a great 'crossover'/one ski quiver ski. coming off a lighter weight touring rig (coombas) I appreciate the improved downhill performance and miss the light weight. big fan of the new goat overall. I skied the 05/06 model for the last few years as my resort ski and I think the new version is better all around.

[PNWbrit]

You are crazy...... for worrying about it.

It'll be fine.

[liv2ski]

Am I crazy for considering this as an option? Or is it a good idea? i know the rocker is pretty mild but i jut dont know how mild it has to be for a survivable everyday touring ski.

If you already have them, then ya, go for it. I bought Praxis Back Country's, which have similar dimensions to the new goats, front rise/rocker looks similar but the BC's have less tail rocker (well none) which I think is better for a touring ski and they felt a lot lighter. Also the profile of the tips and tails is more tapered than the rounded off goats. So look at the BC's if you haven't already bought the goats is where I am going. If you have them already, I think you'll be fine.

[seanpistol]

Retarded question...... Gotamas aren't even rockered enough to call them rockered.

[GPendleton]

Trying this setup this coming winter - will report how it goes...