Thread: Help me decide on an AT ski

Looking for an AT ski to set up with some barons. I've narrowed it down between the BRO 174 stiff which I've found nothing but rave reviews for and the Rossi Phantom 97 in a 178. Haven't found much info searching here or elsewhere on the rossi but my local shop guy who has always done me right highly recommended them. The BRO's are a bit cheaper right now and I'm not a huge guy, 5'8" 145 so I think the rossi's might be pushing my limits. Both seem like they should tear up anything I throw at them. Any reason I should pick the rossi's or should I go with the BRO's? Thanks Mags.

what kind of touring are you doing? how much vert? whats your skiing style?

Mostly day tours around Nor Cal (shasta, lassen, castle lake). I'm a pretty decent skier, enjoy skiing lower angles in the trees when things are uncertain but am trying to push myself to improve on the steeps as I enjoy those a lot more. Not to the point where can straight line them but I do enjoy some speed and the occasional huck. Will also use this setup out the gates at some of the tahoe area resorts.

To give some perspective I've spent a fair amount of time on the BD voodoo's and definitely want something a more stable at speed and a little more float in pow.

How did you come to decide on those two skis?

What else did you try?

I'm definitely lusting after those bro's too, but there are basically no reviews for people around our size and weight...and i usually ski mid 180s....i just want something stiffer and shorter.

I've been renting AT setups as this is my first season skiing the bc. I've skied a lot of BD and a few K2's and I've yet to find anything that skis pow well yet still charges through just about anything else you can throw at it given the variable conditions I've been in thus far.

Came to these skis because from what I've read the BRO is legit in fitting what I'm looking for, while my local ski shop guy who is usually spot on was really high on the rossi. It's been next to impossible to find first hand info on the rossi though.

There is a powderpig review of the 174 soft bros. He is a smaller guy.

My girlfriend (5 10 135) skis (40+ days per year in the BC meadow skipping to 14ers) a 174 soft and thinks it is about perfect.

I (5 10 165) ski (40+ days per year in the BC meadow skipping to 14ers) a 179 stiff and think it is about perfect.

I honestly don't think I am going to buy a ski that is not a Bro for the foreseeable future.

odds are the bros are more durable bases/edges then the rossis. If you hit lots of sharp rocks in your area that can be an issue

I guess I'm still in the EC camp where I feel like every ski tears it up in the pow because I get at it a little less (about 25 days in legit pow this year, all on midfats, no rocker etc).

Have you ever seen a G3 - El Hombre?

That could be another decent choice.

I'm the same height and a little heavier than you. I tend to do bigger days 5000ft +, ski aggressively and like to huck. I really like my old 184 sugar daddies as they are really light, but recently switched to 184 movement goliath sluffs... really nice ski, wood core for durability but still a reasonable weight, the big tip makes breaking trail nice and it's difficult to sink when skiing pow. pretty sure they come in a 174 as well.
Whatever you pick weight is definetly something to consider, you'll be able to do more laps and not be as tired at the top.