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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Review: Kneissl Tanker

    Me: 5'9" 145 on the scale. I like to consider myself to be decent.
    Skis: 180 Kneissl Tankers mounted on the line w/ mojo 15s
    Location: Bridger, AKA bumps, trees, chutes and straightlines
    Similar skis that I ride: 183 Gotamas, 191 Ants, 176 Big troubles.
    Boots: Garmont Andrenaline
    Underwear: Soiled. (post use)

    What I was looking for in a ski:

    Daily Driver when there is no new snow, or minimal new snow. Able to handle everything, that includes bumps, drops, jumps, groomers, trees, chutes, etc. Need to replace my Big troubles.

    First day out: there was no new snow. Everything was icy, and I am not at all used to fresh edges. (i.e. I havent tuned my big troubles, other than wax, in 40+ days of use) These skis basically kicked my ass. I was used to a wide version of a park ski with soft tips and tails, and I used to make finesse turns and find the best line through the moguls. I got on these things and learned that moguls are no match for them. They skied the fall line, not the bump line. They railed on groomers, but scared me everywhere else kind of.

    Second day was much much better. 2+inches fell around the mountain, and made everything significantly softer.

    Bumps: Once I understood these skis, I could ski bump lines like I had never imagined. If I want to ski the normal bump line, I can ski the line. If I dont want to ski the line, I can go wherever the hell I want and still be in total control. These things are not amazing in the moguls in the traditional sense, but once you find the line you want to take, they will rock it. I used to wash out on the tails all the time, that is no longer.

    High speed choppy bumps: GS turns all the way. I used to straightline this stuff because my tips would be too deflected in the chop. If I wasnt doing that, I would just make dinky turns that were sketchy if I went too fast. Now I can just arc a carve at any speed. I can make the dinky turns too, but what fun is that?

    Top speed: Found a 50 foot 45ish degree straightline with a small drop in the middle and a long sustained run-out full of choppy bumps. First time I went down this thing I made a couple of turns at the top, and then gav'er. I soon realized that these skis dont have I speed limit that I could find. So far anyway. Skied it again, straight off the top and pointed the whole thing. So much fun. As long as these skis are on the ground, I could not max them out. So confidence inspiring that I felt entirely comfortable doing it again and again. Seriously, these skis felt like cheating.

    Groomers: Suck at slow speed carving. High speed they carve ruts. Decent edge to edge, great for the width. The Big Troubles were probably better at holding a harder edge on the groom, but not by much.

    Drops and jumps: Did a few things about 5-10 feet that I have had some previous experience with. These things stomp landings just fine. Not only that, but I can recover much quicker than I used to on the Big Troubles. The stiffer ski definitely takes much less time to bring everything back together. On the jumps, I am not always very clean. Bridger doesnt have a park, so we hit natural features that are only consistent in that they throw you off weird. I had a lot of landings that were 80-20 plus in terms of weight ratios on either ski. The platform is very stable and I did not crash when I maybe should have. Not as much pop as the big troubles, but I am more than willing to sacrifice that for stability.

    Also, their spread-eagle-ability is fantastic. That is CRUCIAL because it is the only thing I can do off of a jump.

    Other things:
    -Hop turns were significantly more difficult for me. This is probably because of the longer length and increased stiffness. Time will tell what happens.
    -Like I said, the slow speed groomer carvability is bad. Like, bad to the point that you might fall over if you try too hard.
    -Side hill roller coaster traverses always suck. But they were a little worse than normal due to stiffness and their inability to hold a really solid edge on the slope.
    -They are very hard to find.
    -The ants might not see as much use as they have in the past. I will ride them tomorrow in comparison.
    -Still need to ski in softer snow.
    -I feel like a much better skier on these skis.

    Conclusion: If you can find a pair, buy them. In the words of 300HP, T@NKERS R00l!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Last edited by single; 01-07-2008 at 10:21 PM.

  2. #2
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    Nov 2005
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    well said. I will add that this ski is a totally different build than a flexy park ski. On a softer park ski, really throwing your weight on the ski and tip can cause it to wash out. On a metal/metal layup board like these, you can just stomp on the ski as hard as you can, like, pornstar hard. I also recommend a 2s 1b bevel on them, makes the ski more precise and initiates better on ice. dont detune the tip and tail at all. once you start driving the tips hard, they will hook up (somewhat) better at slower speeds. glad you like em man. awesome review with the background and all.
    Hunter
    Quote Originally Posted by 3centshort View Post
    I figure when he realized he was still 10-15 feet off as he flew the K his asshole puckered so hard it ate his nuts
    Quote Originally Posted by iceman View Post
    In the other scenario, you would be like "Peanut Butter, cool, fuck I'm stuck HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME oh fuck I'm screwed, but at least I have time to think about how screwed I am. I guess that is a blessing. FUCK NO IT'S NOT A BLESSSING I'M STUCK AND I'M DYING.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Truckee, CA
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    8,784
    Pix?

    additionally, this plank was on my short list 2 seasons ago when i was first starting to get new gear.

    bummer was that they aren't available anywhere in Cali and when I called around the closest place to demo was Colo and then they didn't have the Tanker!

    bummer.

    I ended up with AK King Salmons, instead. Love 'em.
    "Man, we killin' elephants in the back yard..."

    https://www.blizzard-tecnica.com/us/en

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    MT
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    I am sitting here waiting for my car to warm up so I can drive to the mountain. I will bring the camera this time.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Big Sky
    Posts
    622
    I just picked up a trashed pair of 190's ..... I will report back when they fall apart

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
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    CNJ
    Posts
    608
    Are these the ones that were on eBay for like $150? I wanted those so bad, but couldn't justify buying them right now with a bum knee. Kind of kicking myself for not just storing them away for a bit after reading your review. If those are the ones you got, sick deal for what sounds like a killer ski for you.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    North Vancouver
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    6,457
    So are these the same as the old black topsheet Tanker? Or a new ski?



    graphic ain't so good.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    1,147
    Heh, T@nkers.... I have two pair of the black sheet T@nkers. I say your review is spot on, but I believe the new Tanker is stiffer and has some differences from the old. I skied on some Praxis yesterday in untraked pow. So I would probably make the worst ski reviewer ever because I can't really tell you the difference between a Praxis and a Tanker even though they should have the same difference as say a long board versus a fat ski. I noticed I needed to lean forward so much more on the Praxis since the front half of the ski was out of the snow whereas the tips on the Tankers dive in pow. I would love to review Shane McConkey's Spatula manual again to see what technique would make the Praxis come alive.

    I also mounted tele-bindings on my old Tankers. We'll see how that goes.

    Anybody notice how thin the p-tex is on the tankers? I billygoat fairly regularly, but I'm a little surprised to see how little p-tex I have left on the bottom of my ski.

  9. #9
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    Oct 2006
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    Quote Originally Posted by connersw View Post
    Are these the ones that were on eBay for like $150?
    yeah, they were. Thanks to whoever posted that up!

    And they are the old black tankers. I took some video today, but I need to figure out what to do with it...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
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    Quote Originally Posted by single View Post
    yeah, they were. Thanks to whoever posted that up!

    And they are the old black tankers. I took some video today, but I need to figure out what to do with it...
    You're welcome Interesting review, thanks.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
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    Your review sounds exactly like how I felt getting to know my explosivs.
    Is it radix panax notoginseng? - splat
    This is like hanging yourself but the rope breaks. - DTM
    Dude Listen to mtm. He's a marriage counselor at burning man. - subtle plague

  12. #12
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    Oct 2006
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    First yootoobing ever. Shaky handheld-ness, but it gets the point across. Filmed with a point and shoot digi cam. Gotta give credit to my crazy friend chris who followed me.

    We got 2 inches of dust on soft crust, so it was a good day. I kept crashing though, I think I was tired from yesterday. I managed to get my first double ejection in 20+ days first run of the day. Right on Bronco face in front of the lift

    Last edited by single; 01-08-2008 at 06:50 PM.

  13. #13
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    Sep 2005
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    maybe I didn't give them a chance, or maybe skiing them tele is a big difference, or maybe I'm just a pussy, but they are the only ski I ever got rid of because I didn't like them. They felt dead.
    "fuck off you asshat gaper shit for brains fucktard wanker." - Jesus Christ
    "She was tossing her bean salad with the vigor of a Drunken Pop princess so I walked out of the corner and said.... "need a hand?"" - Odin
    "everybody's got their hooks into you, fuck em....forge on motherfuckers, drag all those bitches across the goal line with you." - (not so) ill-advised strategy

  14. #14
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    Oct 2006
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    cottonwood
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    yeah who got those 190s on ebay.. i missed those by about 5 mins..

  15. #15
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    Per pix request, my ghey pic on tankers. Usually I don't have my knees together like a fairy, but this is what the camera got. stand on em and hold on.
    Hunter
    Quote Originally Posted by 3centshort View Post
    I figure when he realized he was still 10-15 feet off as he flew the K his asshole puckered so hard it ate his nuts
    Quote Originally Posted by iceman View Post
    In the other scenario, you would be like "Peanut Butter, cool, fuck I'm stuck HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME oh fuck I'm screwed, but at least I have time to think about how screwed I am. I guess that is a blessing. FUCK NO IT'S NOT A BLESSSING I'M STUCK AND I'M DYING.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    115
    Anybody grab Iggyskier's he had for sale about a month ago?

  17. #17
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    Oct 2006
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    Rode the ants today in comparison. There were 2 new inches, and 4 in the last 24 hours. Very low visibility. All I can say is that 80% of the time I would have much rather been on the tankers. The ants wander a lot more due to the waist, but the ants obviously shined where there was deeper snow because they floated more. Also, any decent huck on the ants is easier. Period. Like strapping cadillacs to your feet. Straightlines are even easier on the ants as well. But in the incy, scraped out moguls, I skied extremely poorly in comparison to the tankers. Looks like the ants are only going to come out when there is 8+ inches and I want to ski big lines.

    Again, the visibility could have had a lot to do with it, but these skis do not overlap like I thought they might. Ants are really a much bigger ski, end of story, even though the running length is similar.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    Quote Originally Posted by slasher View Post
    Anybody grab Iggyskier's he had for sale about a month ago?
    They're waiting for me to pick them up at my office in Calgary. Will post pics and a review once they kick my ass.
    It doesn't matter if you're a king or a little street sweeper...
    ...sooner or later you'll dance with the reaper
    -Death

    Quote Originally Posted by St. Jerry View Post
    The other morning I was awoken to "Daddy, my fart fell on the floor"
    Kaz is my co-pilot

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by 300hp View Post
    Per pix request, my ghey pic on tankers. Usually I don't have my knees together like a fairy, but this is what the camera got. stand on em and hold on.
    Hunter
    your knees arent together the OP on the other hand though....

    thats some pretty damn good skiing

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    SE Idaho
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    Those Tankers were mine at one point. I loved them. The Core shot dead center was mine. I loved them but felt I needed something a bit longer and sold them to buy a set of Nordica blowers. I've been hunting for some 190's but have settled on a set of Blizzard Titan 9's in a 188 which ski a bit softer but still maintain most of the qualities of the tankers.
    Driving to Targhee

  21. #21
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    Oct 2003
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    I bought the black topsheet Tankers in 190 the year they came out, based on a recommendation from the Prof. Skied them tele for a season at Mammoth, then picked up another pair that I mounted with Freerides. One of the best, all-conditions skis ever IMO. Tip is a little low profile, but the slightly softer flex up front makes up for it. I've found them to be really tough skis, with a versatile shape and no real speed limit.

    I still have one pair mounted tele. But I acquired a pair of 195 cm 240 flex Iggy FCs, which have the same basic shape (125/93/xxx) but are a little stiffer and longer, generally burlier, and attack the hill with much anger. I would highly recommend that Tanker-philes keep their eyes out for the FCs.

    Tanker = One of my all time favorite skis. Glad you like them.

  22. #22
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    Feb 2006
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    Skiattle
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    can anyone here compare the tanker to a 183 im103 or a 186 legend pro?

  23. #23
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    less damp than a LP, more rebound out of a turn. Slightly better on sheet ice, not quite as stable at mach (in the 180 length) Tanker makes a more rounded turn, LP more of a longer "s" carve due to shape of sidecut. Neither are particularly floaty skis, but the bigger tip of the LP helps get on top of mank, the low cut tanker busts through it.
    H.
    Quote Originally Posted by 3centshort View Post
    I figure when he realized he was still 10-15 feet off as he flew the K his asshole puckered so hard it ate his nuts
    Quote Originally Posted by iceman View Post
    In the other scenario, you would be like "Peanut Butter, cool, fuck I'm stuck HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME oh fuck I'm screwed, but at least I have time to think about how screwed I am. I guess that is a blessing. FUCK NO IT'S NOT A BLESSSING I'M STUCK AND I'M DYING.

  24. #24
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    Forgot to mention that I've been told there is a layer of rubber in the lay up that contributes to dampness.

  25. #25
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    Oct 2006
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    Update... Tails are starting to delam. There was a SMALL seperation on one ski when I got it in the mail, and I dont think it is really growing yet. But I looked at the other tail today after a significant huck to hardpack, and it is delamming quite a bit. Almost the entirety of the "twin-tippedness". Time to break out the JB weld and pop-riveter.

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