Thread: Icelantic Shaman vs. Volkl Goat

After finding my perfect all-mountain ski last season, the volkl bridge. I have moved on to bigger things, new powder sticks. I've narrowed down my search to the Gotama and the Icelantic Shaman.
I am 190lbs, 6'
level III, meaning -> I like to ski relaxed 15-20m radius turns.I mostly ski steep technical tree lines, but also open bowls. I don't hit to many airs, but would like a ski that could handle some just incase i sack up someday. this ski would be used for the rare eastern pow and two 1 1/2 week trips to jh and snowbird. If you could say which of these two skis would work better for me that would be great. Also I'm not sure what length I want, and if you could reccomend a good cheap binding that at least goes to 16 in din.
Thanks guys, and if you need to know anything else just say so.
EDIT: what about the Obsethed?


EDIT: Everything above remains the same, but I have changed the two skis from Goats, and Shamans, too the Obsetheds and Rossignol S7s.

Originally Posted by Sloafer11'

Also I'm not sure what length I want, and if you could reccomend a good cheap binding that at least goes to 16 in din.


Thanks guys, and if you need to know anything else just say so.

I would recommend the 190 Gotamas.

And I'm not sure that good, cheap, and 16+ din binding belong in the same sentence. Do you really need 16 din anyways if you aren't going to huck or race?

I was going to say Shaman, until you said 2 1-1/2 week trips to JH.

Goats for sure.

I was asking about 16 din bindings because have been told that the higher din bindings are better quality and are made of better quality materials.

Originally Posted by Sloafer11'

I was asking about 16 din bindings because have been told that the higher din bindings are better quality and are made of better quality materials.

This is generally true, but because of that, don't expect cheap. Look for some used 916s or p18s if you want to go that route without breaking the bank, but they're hard to find.

Originally Posted by Sloafer11'

I was asking about 16 din bindings because have been told that the higher din bindings are better quality and are made of better quality materials.

I'm close to your dimensions and self-described level and ski Gots 183 during trips to Alta and love them; the 190's are better in the open bowls, but you sacrfice a little in the steeps/narrows (in my defense, I bought a pair of Bros 188 for the open terrain).

As far as bindings, I have a pair of STH 12's that work great. The STH 16's are metal-reinforced in the toe piece as well as the heel, but your weight is under Salomon's recommended minimum. The guys on this site with much bigger cojones than mine jump huge cliffs and need the extra DIN (they're more likely to get hurt by the ski releasing than not releasing). For humans like me, I think it's better to fall in the middle of a DIN range than at either extremes of the spring setting. You'll also pick up a fair amount of weight with the all-metal bindings, which makes climbing harder for people like me who spend most of the year at sea-level. That being said, if you're serious about starting to huck big jumps (and don't need a pitcher of beer to convince you to do so), you may need the extra DIN.

In any case, my two cents having recently gone through a similar emasculating decision wherein I pulled the trigger on STH 12's instead of 16's. Good luck!

If it's powder performance I would go with the Shamans, I own the 173 and love them on a powder day they skid deep snow great and handle the snow once it gets tracked out and are fun when the groomers are soft. I have spent a spring day on the 184 and its a great ski as well. The Shamans are also great in spring conditons. However if you are looking for all around performance and plan on tacking only one ski with you on your trips out west get the gotams, If you take two skis the shamans would be a good combo with your bridges. Also if you decide on Shamans let me know I may be selling my last year 173's with px 15 bindings to get this years shamans. http://www.levelninesports.com/icela...cm-p-4184.html

NOTE THE EDIT. THE OBSETHEDS LOOK LIKE THEY MIGHT BE THE SKI FOR ME.

Just get look PX 12's plenty of binding for most

Gots...

will perform all around. East coast pow days, trips out west.

IMHO Gots can do it all.

I was looking at mine in the garage yesterday...they dont even look remotely fat underfoot anymore...seem "normal".

bump . .

Bump.... I need more info on the obsetheds.

If you've already got the Bridge for everyday, why don't you go with something truly FAT, with newfangled cambers and rockers and what such. Something like a dp lotus, iggy FFF, one of the new bluehouse skis, moment comis, etc. Comis sound like they might suit you for the pow days...big skis are simply more fun, don't shy away.

Originally Posted by altaski85

If you've already got the Bridge for everyday, why don't you go with something truly FAT, with newfangled cambers and rockers and what such. Something like a dp lotus, iggy FFF, one of the new bluehouse skis, moment comis, etc. Comis sound like they might suit you for the pow days...big skis are simply more fun, don't shy away.

that is not an option simply because these skis would be used primarily in the east, namely Sugarloaf. A place where during the very seldom powder day the main mountain is skied off within an hour and a half of opening, and the local stashes are plundered 45 minutes later. The mountain simply isn't big enough (and to think its a big resort for eastern standards!). So I need a ski that can handle tracked up pow and crud once the mountain is skied. If i skied more than 2 weeks a year out west i would have ventured into the super-fat world years ago, but for now, i am contented with merely the fat.


with all this said, i would like to ask about the Rossignol s7:
(145/115/123 + with 20mm/40cm -i think- of rocker in the tips and tails + an 18m turn radius + reverse sidecut in tips and tails) i think i would like this ski, yes?


I have decided to eliminate both the gotama and the shaman from my list , I think its time to instead taste the forbidden fruit of rev. camber. So, now it is down to the S7 and the Obsethed. The S7 has more girth and rocker (better powder performance), plus the 18m radius is what I'm looking for. But I'm not sure how the reverse sidecut on the tips and tails of the S7's would react to my skiing style. I dont' know what the radius of the Obsethed is (helpful if you could tell me). I like the idea of easing myself into the powder ski genre with something as subtle as the obsethed's 105mm waist and 15/20 rocker, but will I be wanting more girth and rocker.

Answers would be hugely appreciated. . . . .

Really really liked my Thugs in trees and choppy shit (almost flat camber and solid at speed).

Originally Posted by Sloafer11'

I have decided to eliminate both the gotama and the shaman from my list , I think its time to instead taste the forbidden fruit of rev. camber. So, now it is down to the S7 and the Obsethed. The S7 has more girth and rocker (better powder performance), plus the 18m radius is what I'm looking for. But I'm not sure how the reverse sidecut on the tips and tails of the S7's would react to my skiing style. I dont' know what the radius of the Obsethed is (helpful if you could tell me). I like the idea of easing myself into the powder ski genre with something as subtle as the obsethed's 105mm waist and 15/20 rocker, but will I be wanting more girth and rocker.

Answers would be hugely appreciated. . . . .

Hooray! If you're on the bridge, you will be wanting more width from your pow ski than the 105 on the obsethed, granted the tips are huge, but it's just not the same. Something like the new '09 Armada JP vs. Julien would fit the bill a bit better. I would have to say that I used to ski b-squads in the east and found myself wanting more. Sometimes it was less about the width and more about the "surfy" feeling you get out of these newer designs. Even in a couple inches of fresh, the pow-specific designs make it feel DEEP. The S7 might get you there too, though I'm not really sold on a ski designed by a skateboarder.

Either way, if the mountain gets really tracked out, just swap em for the bridges.

Originally Posted by altaski85

Hooray! If you're on the bridge, you will be wanting more width from your pow ski than the 105 on the obsethed, granted the tips are huge, but it's just not the same. Something like the new '09 Armada JP vs. Julien would fit the bill a bit better. I would have to say that I used to ski b-squads in the east and found myself wanting more. Sometimes it was less about the width and more about the "surfy" feeling you get out of these newer designs. Even in a couple inches of fresh, the pow-specific designs make it feel DEEP. The S7 might get you there too, though I'm not really sold on a ski designed by a skateboarder.

Either way, if the mountain gets really tracked out, just swap em for the bridges.

You raise a good point in the fact that I can just switch out the pow sticks to my bridges, seeing As they surf cruz like no other. And I see that the obsethed wont be as great in the pow as a more specific ski, I guess I'm just not used to the whole quiver idea. I think I may go with tv s7, I'm not sure I want to jump from the bridge ( biggest ski I've ever had) to super fat rev/rev, I like the s7 concept aswell. But as I said before, I think I need more info on the way the s7 will ski and react to my style. Also, I have skid shorter skis all my life, and even the 177 length will be quite a bit more than I have ever skied. I grew this year put of my 169 bridges and am now 6' I don't know if should go longer. What are the benefits of having a longer ski. And since I dont charge, are there any drawbacks to having a longer ski for my self explained style.

I'm hoping someone who has skied the S7 can chime in here, but it looks like the running length on those is going to be super short, because of the reverse sidecut at the tip. I wouldn't shy away from the longer length.

I haven't seen or flexed a S7, but you should consider the Pm gear 186 Brocker.
Splat & Stroup are laying up some different flexes. So the ablity to have the same ski shape with varying stiffness is nice.
Md9 slayed the graphics.
Thick bases and edges
Splat's hoping to have a bunch of demo centers again this season.
What ever you decide if you make it out UT way stop by Solitude and take a pair for a test ride.

-Bro Pimp-

Originally Posted by skifishbum

I haven't seen or flexed a S7, but you should consider the Pm gear 186 Brocker.
Splat & Stroup are laying up some different flexes. So the ablity to have the same ski shape with varying stiffness is nice.
Md9 slayed the graphics.
Thick bases and edges
Splat's hoping to have a bunch of demo centers again this season.
What ever you decide if you make it out UT way stop by Solitude and take a pair for a test ride.

-Bro Pimp-

well, I'm glad you brought this option into my life. I have been talking to splat and pechelman and really am liking the brocker/lhasa pow.

Originally Posted by altaski85

Hooray! If you're on the bridge, you will be wanting more width from your pow ski than the 105 on the obsethed, granted the tips are huge, but it's just not the same. Something like the new '09 Armada JP vs. Julien would fit the bill a bit better. I would have to say that I used to ski b-squads in the east and found myself wanting more. Sometimes it was less about the width and more about the "surfy" feeling you get out of these newer designs. Even in a couple inches of fresh, the pow-specific designs make it feel DEEP. The S7 might get you there too, though I'm not really sold on a ski designed by a skateboarder.
.

Sage designed the ski, Cab and Howell did the graphics. Since you probably have no clue, Sage is an insanely talented skier.

Skifishbum; I am trying to come down in Dec to ski at Alta/Bird. If that happens I would like to come over and demo the Lahsa in a 196. Hopefully you guys get some early snow.

Originally Posted by 2FUNKY

Sage designed the ski, Cab and Howell did the graphics. Since you probably have no clue, Sage is an insanely talented skier.

Haha, you're right, I have NO IDEA who sage is. I meant the marketing bullshit involved with the whole sin line from Rossignol, not the shape or design...which I was suggesting he look into.

Go/run back to the Goats. I'v been on them all, Rosignols are close but not quite there, yet.

Originally Posted by bedoe69

Go/run back to the Goats. I'v been on them all, Rosignols are close but not quite there, yet.

Why do you say that? i.e. give me some reasons . . .