Gotama vs Fischer Big Stix 106

[Summit]

I was in the store today messing with some Gotamas, Explosivs, and Big Stix 106s.... the Explosivs are definately stiffer than I want, but the 170cm Big Stix seemed as stiff if not stiffer than the Gotama 176cm. The Big Stix seem to have virtually the same surface area though they are shorter because the Stix are 5mm wider in the tip and 1mm wider in the waist and tail and sacrifice less surface area to their shorter smaller rear twin tip (which seems to be high enough to allow some backwards landings and maneuverability in the steep and narrows, but not so big that you sacrifice tail diggin maneuverability).

What this woudl suggest is that the shorter Big Stix would be better in the crud and at speed while at the same time being more maneuverable in tight spots.

This almost makes me want to buy the not Volkls!

Any thoughts or is my reasoning all JONGish?

Keep in mind me testing these skis is a virtual impossiblity... nobody up here is planning to demo them afaik...

[fez]

I cant compare the Big Stix and the Gotama, but i do have the Big Stix 106 from two seasons ago and they are not much of a crud buster.

They rock in ANY type of untracked snow. Doesnt matter how deep or how light or how windblown. they rock.

Once it gets pretty tore up, they don't really necessarily go exactly where you wanted them to. Sometimes one ski or the other wants to go off and see whats over there. A habit that can be a bit distracting at speed. The BS arent really all that stiff in the tip, combined with the acreage, seems to let the snow put quite a bit of leverage on the ski.

I ski the BS backcountry and in the morning on powder days. But the day after it dumps and the afternoon of resort powder days, i'll usually switch to my volkl G41 (yeah, the old green ones) now THAT is a crud busting machine.

so if i had to choose just one of the skis you mentioned, id go with the explosiv.

[altagirl]

I have Big Stix 106 and they don't come out unless there's untracked to be found. They're perfect in powder, but like fez said, they start wandering if it's cruddy. I also switch to G4s the day after it snows.

[dude_le_skibum]

busted a hole lot of shit on em. wood sidewall might look good but....

chipped the top deck big time within 5 days of ride
busted sidewalls with 20

but it might be me...


http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10361/normal_P1010101.JPG

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10361/normal_P1010104.JPG



onthis one you dont see it real good but its under the toe piece of the left one

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10361/normal_P1010207.JPG

there is your chip



http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10361/normal_P1010125.JPG




arty50 has a pair too, have you ridden em ?

[dude_le_skibum]

argh. i posted in the wrong thread...

[altagirl]

Well, I've busted two pairs of 106s. (Blown sidewalls both times.) The first time they warrantied it, the second I just epoxied it back together and said the hell with it. They're only for powder anyway... I used them today on windbuff and powder and they're so sweet. :D Then I hit about 10 really soft bumps on my last run - let's say they really shouldn't leave the realm of fresh tracks.

[iskibc]

I've used my 106s in untracked, chopped, and hard. They were fine in all conditions. On the icy hardpack they weren't super responsive, but I still had no trouble swinging my 190s around. They obviously shine in soft snow and pow, but haven't run into any problems in other types of snow.

[altagirl]

I will say that on groomers - they're fine too (great if it's soft). But once there's chunky stuff they just become a lot of work for me to keep in a straight line and I want my G4s.

[Arty50]

Originally posted by dude_le_skibum
arty50 has a pair too, have you ridden em ?

Please don't remind me that I was a stupid bastard and didn't get them mounted in time to ski them last year. Or that I cancelled my trip to LL this summer...

As soon as we get a little more coverage though, these babies are getting broken out. I'll be the heavyweight tester. 6'2" 235 lbs.

Check out the Rev's review (http://tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2627). He took his out on a post work tour yesterday.

[Brewski2]

During my one day demo on the gotmas the snow went from light and fresh to heavy, skied up crud. I definately did not enjoy the afternoon as much as the morning! They are wide enough to float over alot of chop but can easily get tossed around if you aren't really watchin yourself. I did love em(just bought some 183s:D ) but like some people said about the 106s, they are mostly for deep and fresh. I'll use my asteroids for every thing else. Hey dude le skibum, is that damage warantee-albe? Those pics made me cringe!

[dude_le_skibum]

yeah, without any questions

[Brewski2]

Thats cool. Was it through a shop or direct with volkl? You're from montreal eh? Mmmmmmm smoked meat sandwiches(homer drool)

[dude_le_skibum]

shop

[Summit]

Good stuff! Keep it coming! I was going to buy the Gotamas but they were out in everything but 183. Bastards! They shoulda made more. What a bunch of fucktards... they knew this ski would be hot.

So I'm getting Explosiv 173s and am considering a Fischer Big Stick 106....

now the qusetion is which to put the Naxos on!

[iskibc]

Originally posted by SummitCo 1776
Good stuff! Keep it coming! I was going to buy the Gotamas but they were out in everything but 183. Bastards! They shoulda made more. What a bunch of fucktards... they knew this ski would be hot.

So I'm getting Explosiv 173s and am considering a Fischer Big Stick 106....

now the qusetion is which to put the Naxos on!

are you a midget?;) Go with the exploders for the naxos.

[Summit]

Why exploders for naxos? why not the fatter skis?

[Spamhelmet]

yeah summit. why so short gotamas?
unless your a paralyzed midget i would not go for the short (176cm).
get the 183.
they are light and swing surprisingly well in the bushes.

[Summit]

i'm a quadraplegic midget


i just like my skis short mmmkay?

[Spamhelmet]

duh.
i am short.
i have a short.
i like it short.


still, 176=short.


:)

[subtle plague]

get yourself some real skies like the Big Daddy. :D
It solves your length problems for it only comes in 193cm :cool:
Who cares about height and weight. Its all about balls as jamie Pierre would say hrr hrr. (im 1.80m and 150 pounds)

[Summit]

plague: well there is your problem... measuring yourself in pounds and in meters... fackin weirdo!!!!!!!!!!!:p

[FreakofSnow]

Huh, interesting take on the 106's. I just got a pair and am planning on skiing them most days at Bridger. I'll report back. Somehow I find it really hard to believe that they can't bust crud.........we'll see.

[iskibc]

Originally posted by FreakofSnow
Huh, interesting take on the 106's. I just got a pair and am planning on skiing them most days at Bridger. I'll report back. Somehow I find it really hard to believe that they can't bust crud.........we'll see.

Nice pick-up Freak! You're going to love 'em. They are a fun ski all around (pow, chop, heavy snow, etc.). What length did you get them in?

[FreakofSnow]

Ended up finding last year's model for 350 bones in a 180cm, so I went for'em. I was debating the 190 but with that price it was had to beat.

I know they are going to rock the casbah, the rest of you must have girlie legs. :D

[fez]

Freak,

I'm not saying you cant ski them in crud, just that they are a bit sketchy skiing fast in crud. While my G41's are like riding rails in crud.

But if you see a guy dressed all in gray with a giro helmet with chinguard (black, all possible stickers removed) on either G41's or BS106 with freerides and Denali xt's, say hi.

[FreakofSnow]

We'll definitely have to rippit this year fez, surprised we haven't run into each other yet. Don't take this the wrong way at all but, I still cannot swallow the fact that you are saying that the 106 can't handle crud. Hmmm, fat wide surface, chop, that thing is going to be like a plow, busting chunks left and right...keep on moving right on through. All the reviews I ready said just that, so it must be true right ;)

Anyway, I also noticed you mentioned you were rocking the Denali's. I have a pair that i skied most of last year with my XXX's. I have to say that I think your feelings toward pow only on the 106's have a lot to do w/ the Denali. I love those boots, but they ain't meant to be really cranking down in the crud when you really need the control. I can't tell you how many times I was in a turn maching through crud and they would just noodle out on me. ANyway, we'll see ya soon.

[fez]

well shit dude, the first season i skied the 106's i had garmont super g's and linkens on em. Denali's are much stiffer (esp fore and aft :D ) than that set up.

After 10 yrs of only tele, i decided to lock the heels down last season.

I wouldnt say you can't ski crud on em, just that they are a spectacular powder ski and an ok crud ski. The G41's however are in my opinion the best crud buster ever made, and an ok powder ski.

My impression of the 106 is that the huge, not especially stiff shovel lets them get deflected easily and causes them to wander some. The G41 is much stiffer in the shovel and not as wide as the 106 so it slices through more.

Just like to pick the right tool for the job!

[altagirl]

Originally posted by fez


I wouldnt say you can't ski crud on em, just that they are a spectacular powder ski and an ok crud ski. The G41's however are in my opinion the best crud buster ever made, and an ok powder ski.

My impression of the 106 is that the huge, not especially stiff shovel lets them get deflected easily and causes them to wander some. The G41 is much stiffer in the shovel and not as wide as the 106 so it slices through more.

Just like to pick the right tool for the job!

Exactly.

[steepconcrete]

I have to totally question the comments about 106's not being able handle crud. I ski hard and fast pretty much all the time, in Oregon mind you-- we have the cruddiest crud of all crud. This is my 3rd year on them and I have both 180's and 190's. The 190's are solid whenever it is soft. I have DiamiarII's and Denali's on the 180's and have had no problem resort skiing trashed 2pm mashed potato muck other than the boot slop and weird lean.

I guess it depends on you definetion of crud. altagirl made it sound as if she considers crud borderline moguls..

I consider crud as tracked, but not yet skier packed soft snow.

[altagirl]

Originally posted by steepconcrete
I have to totally question the comments about 106's not being able handle crud. I ski hard and fast pretty much all the time, in Oregon mind you-- we have the cruddiest crud of all crud. This is my 3rd year on them and I have both 180's and 190's. The 190's are solid whenever it is soft. I have DiamiarII's and Denali's on the 180's and have had no problem resort skiing trashed 2pm mashed potato muck other than the boot slop and weird lean.

I guess it depends on you definetion of crud. altagirl made it sound as if she considers crud borderline moguls..

I consider crud as tracked, but not yet skier packed soft snow.

Definitely different definitions. I guess I don't see why you'd call tracked but not yet skier packed soft snow crud. That's just cut-up powder to me. To me the whole word "crud" means it isn't good. Tracked up powder is still good.

Crud, to me, is once it's lumpy, uneven, definitely been packed down some - hell, probably sunbaked too. Just not moguls yet.

edit: Oh, and I will say I like them in thicker snow even more than fluff. (Not saying that I like thick snow better than fluff, just that the skis REALLY shine in heavier snow.)