Crinkle
11-24-2003, 08:36 AM
So I headed up to Loveland Sunday to give a rip on their demo day. It was $35 for the lift ticket, all the skis you can ride, and a $9 lunch voucher, not a bad deal. The catch was that it was cold as balls up there. When I arrived in the parking lot, it was -4F. Not including wind chill, which I heard later from a patroller was-50 further up the mountain.
What I have been skiing for the last 5 years: East coast and New England, just moved to Colorado last year did 40+ days on 1998 Salomon X-screams 187cm. Needless to say I haven’t skied anything wider than the 64mm waist that I have right now. So skiing fats was a priority and just to see what is out there.
Its obvious to say I have been getting killed in powder and crud for the past year, sinking and getting kicked around like a red headed stepchild. So I have to get a new pair of sticks this year. I have a pair of Salomon 1080's 181cm unmounted right now, so to figure out whether or not to mount them was one of my reasons for going.
I did 2-5 runs on each ski. Depending on how the first run went. If I didn’t like it, I took it back after 2. There was not much open so I pretty much did the same 3 runs over and over, due to limited cover and high winds. I focuse on how it behaved in a few bumps, quickness to turn, stability at speed, and fun factor.
The conditions: 0 deg F, snow was windblown in some random spots, icy, and frozen groomers.
The skier: 5'10" 175lbs
the skis:
Salomon 1080 181cm:
Since I have been considering keeping this ski, I skied it first. I took 3 runs, which were my first runs of the day. It was SUPER turny and well balanced. It was very maneuverable and turned on a dime. Even though the demo bindings were heavy and mounted back, I still felt forward on the ski constantly. If I could I would keep this ski for bumps and the trees on tracked out days, I would, but I can't afford more than one ski this year and I definitely need the upgrade from my current skis. Didn’t feel very stable at speed or on ice, but then again that is not what it was designed for. I am not a park skier, but I took it off a couple small jumps and it was fun and provided smooth landings.
Salomon Pocket Rocket 185cm
I had to take a run or two with these to see what everyone raves and rants about. Of course there is now powder to be found. Ok in the soft stuff, very turny as well. I thought the 1080's were more stable at speed than the PR. Of course I am not use to skiing fat skis, right now I am on 64mm waist and these are 90mm. So it was odd trying to get on edge. As soon as I was up to speed these were chattering all over place on groomers, which I know they were not designed for, but I figured they would be pretty sloppy at speed in chop like "they" say. I can see how they would be a fun powder ski, but I still think they wouldn’t hold up very well at the speeds that I ski, even in powder.
Head Madtrix Mojo 186cm
What a cool ski. Definitely stiff enough to handle chop and hold a good edge when it’s nasty (in a bad way). Quick to turn and well balanced, similar to the 1080, but with much more weighty feel to the ski. I was impressed by the stiffness of the ski and how it held and edge in hard conditions, would probably be killer at speed in soft stuff. If i could get 2 skis this year, this would be one of them, for powder @ 90mm waist.
Head Monster iM 85 179cm
Oooohh “High tech ski” This was the ride of the day for me. The first run on an icy groomer, this thing just carved it right up. I was super impressed. It did take a little more energy to get this baby to turn at slower speeds than I expected, probably due to its width and being groomed snow. The monster hauled with incredible stability at speed. I took this ski for about 3 runs and actually went back later to try it at 186 but it was out, so I took this one out again for another 3 runs before calling it quits. I can’t wait to get this into some pow and chop.
Atomic R:ex 177cm
I wanted to try more skis around the 85mm waist, because after I skied the PR, I felt that 90mm would be too fat for an all around ski for my preferences. I don’t know if it was a lull in the day for me or not, but I did not enjoy this ski all that much. It seemed to have a small sweet spot and didn’t like the rough conditions. It was skittish on the ice and did not want to hold and edge let along carve a turn for me. It is a burly ski, more so than the other 2 that I skied (head and fischer), but it wasn’t what I was looking for. Light in weight and pretty easy to turn.
Fischer FX 8.6 Big Stix Fti 190cm
Ski with the longest name as well as the longest length ski that I took out all day. I wanted to ski it in a 180, since I do spend a lot of time in the trees and in some tight situations, but they didn’t even bring it in a 180. Another ski that I was very impressed with, especially considering its size. It was buttery smooth and very maneuverable, stable at speed and slightly lighter feeling than the Head. It is a tough call between this ski and the head for me. It was very quiet and held a great edge on harsh snow and ice.
That is my take on these 6 skis. If I could have 2, it would be the Mojo and the Monster. If I could have 3 I would take the Fischer in addition to these. Maybe next year or later this year if things turn around I will be able to afford an addition to my “quiver” and get a true powder ski
Looks like I will be shopping around for the Head monster iM 85, so if anyone knows of any deals let me know. If I cant trade in my 1080’s at a shop for store credit, I will be selling them soon.
What I have been skiing for the last 5 years: East coast and New England, just moved to Colorado last year did 40+ days on 1998 Salomon X-screams 187cm. Needless to say I haven’t skied anything wider than the 64mm waist that I have right now. So skiing fats was a priority and just to see what is out there.
Its obvious to say I have been getting killed in powder and crud for the past year, sinking and getting kicked around like a red headed stepchild. So I have to get a new pair of sticks this year. I have a pair of Salomon 1080's 181cm unmounted right now, so to figure out whether or not to mount them was one of my reasons for going.
I did 2-5 runs on each ski. Depending on how the first run went. If I didn’t like it, I took it back after 2. There was not much open so I pretty much did the same 3 runs over and over, due to limited cover and high winds. I focuse on how it behaved in a few bumps, quickness to turn, stability at speed, and fun factor.
The conditions: 0 deg F, snow was windblown in some random spots, icy, and frozen groomers.
The skier: 5'10" 175lbs
the skis:
Salomon 1080 181cm:
Since I have been considering keeping this ski, I skied it first. I took 3 runs, which were my first runs of the day. It was SUPER turny and well balanced. It was very maneuverable and turned on a dime. Even though the demo bindings were heavy and mounted back, I still felt forward on the ski constantly. If I could I would keep this ski for bumps and the trees on tracked out days, I would, but I can't afford more than one ski this year and I definitely need the upgrade from my current skis. Didn’t feel very stable at speed or on ice, but then again that is not what it was designed for. I am not a park skier, but I took it off a couple small jumps and it was fun and provided smooth landings.
Salomon Pocket Rocket 185cm
I had to take a run or two with these to see what everyone raves and rants about. Of course there is now powder to be found. Ok in the soft stuff, very turny as well. I thought the 1080's were more stable at speed than the PR. Of course I am not use to skiing fat skis, right now I am on 64mm waist and these are 90mm. So it was odd trying to get on edge. As soon as I was up to speed these were chattering all over place on groomers, which I know they were not designed for, but I figured they would be pretty sloppy at speed in chop like "they" say. I can see how they would be a fun powder ski, but I still think they wouldn’t hold up very well at the speeds that I ski, even in powder.
Head Madtrix Mojo 186cm
What a cool ski. Definitely stiff enough to handle chop and hold a good edge when it’s nasty (in a bad way). Quick to turn and well balanced, similar to the 1080, but with much more weighty feel to the ski. I was impressed by the stiffness of the ski and how it held and edge in hard conditions, would probably be killer at speed in soft stuff. If i could get 2 skis this year, this would be one of them, for powder @ 90mm waist.
Head Monster iM 85 179cm
Oooohh “High tech ski” This was the ride of the day for me. The first run on an icy groomer, this thing just carved it right up. I was super impressed. It did take a little more energy to get this baby to turn at slower speeds than I expected, probably due to its width and being groomed snow. The monster hauled with incredible stability at speed. I took this ski for about 3 runs and actually went back later to try it at 186 but it was out, so I took this one out again for another 3 runs before calling it quits. I can’t wait to get this into some pow and chop.
Atomic R:ex 177cm
I wanted to try more skis around the 85mm waist, because after I skied the PR, I felt that 90mm would be too fat for an all around ski for my preferences. I don’t know if it was a lull in the day for me or not, but I did not enjoy this ski all that much. It seemed to have a small sweet spot and didn’t like the rough conditions. It was skittish on the ice and did not want to hold and edge let along carve a turn for me. It is a burly ski, more so than the other 2 that I skied (head and fischer), but it wasn’t what I was looking for. Light in weight and pretty easy to turn.
Fischer FX 8.6 Big Stix Fti 190cm
Ski with the longest name as well as the longest length ski that I took out all day. I wanted to ski it in a 180, since I do spend a lot of time in the trees and in some tight situations, but they didn’t even bring it in a 180. Another ski that I was very impressed with, especially considering its size. It was buttery smooth and very maneuverable, stable at speed and slightly lighter feeling than the Head. It is a tough call between this ski and the head for me. It was very quiet and held a great edge on harsh snow and ice.
That is my take on these 6 skis. If I could have 2, it would be the Mojo and the Monster. If I could have 3 I would take the Fischer in addition to these. Maybe next year or later this year if things turn around I will be able to afford an addition to my “quiver” and get a true powder ski
Looks like I will be shopping around for the Head monster iM 85, so if anyone knows of any deals let me know. If I cant trade in my 1080’s at a shop for store credit, I will be selling them soon.