Thread: Praxis Powder Boards. Anyone tried the 205s?

I'm looking to buy a pair of powderboards as my backcountry ski. Mounted with sollyfits or dynadukes
Me: 6'1" 180lbs, 20 yrs old. (205 with full backcountry day pack) I like to think I'm quite technical despite no race background. I like to ski hard and fast. I'm not much for spins or flips but I do like drops less than 30ft. I probably spend half my time in the glades and the other half on more open terrain.

Any thoughts on the 205s versus 195s for a guy like me?

Cheers and thanks in advance!

I've been looking to hear how they handle too as I'd love a big ol pair of em.

Pickin' up some 195's soon, but would still like to hear how the 205's are in comparison.

Dude - powboards as a BC-ski is not the best of ideas. Very little skin contact due to the CCR, no sidecut for steep skin-track side hilling, etc... And they are not light.

Powboards as an inbounds ski, well that is another story. Amazing ski.

My 2 cents...

Thoughts? Do a TON of squats.

And to echo what UCL said, I mounted my 195's with Dukes and had skins on them a handful of times, mainly in side/slack country situations. The reverse/reverse thing really doesn't work well for anything outside of really easy skinning and the weight catches up with you quickly even if you're fit. They dont really fit on a pack and the tails make it tough to stick them in the snow. The thing that eventually made me take the Dukes was that these skis absolutely ROCK in pow and crud but for anything else (and we get a lot of everything else in the Sierra), they're not the call.

Is it doable, sure but there are definitely better choices, especially if this is your only touring rig.

Thanks for the info guys, I guess this means I'll have to hang on to my 196 lhasas, I was gonna sell them to my brother. Powder boards for stupid deep days where the uptracks aren't too difficult, and Lhasas for the rest. Or maybe the powderboards will be reserved for more sidecountry...
Now it's a matter of 195s or 205s

Originally Posted by Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer

Dude - powboards as a BC-ski is not the best of ideas. Very little skin contact due to the CCR, no sidecut for steep skin-track side hilling, etc... And they are not light.

Powboards as an inbounds ski, well that is another story. Amazing ski.

My 2 cents...

I skin often on my 195 PB with dukes, they ARE a heavy combo, but this whole problem with skinning in firm conditions has never really been an issue for me, but then again I ski in Utah

I think it's a good slackcountry ski, but don't like my PB inbounds that much, only if its real deep, they are just a bear to ski groomers.

Originally Posted by mtbkr

Now it's a matter of 195s or 205s

edit: I'm 5'11" and 180 and have never wished my 195s were longer.

i think it sounds like a very heavy set-up. for soft snow, i think that an R/R ski is and would be a good and fun option for touring. gimpy used to (and maybe still does) use the original powderboards for soft snow touring in the slt environs.

Thanks for the info guys. I figure as long as I'm at least a little more fit than the rest of the group I'm skiing with, the heavy boards will be okay

FYI: http://tetongravity.com/forums/showt...ds#post3027801

I have a pair of Praxis Pows mounted with Dukes (also have skins I've never cut nor mounted on the Praxis). Thinking of selling. In very good condition. Maybe one small scratch on the base and some nicks in the topsheet in the expected spots from 15 or so days on them in the pow/sidecountry.

Make me an offer for the whole shooting match? Skis, bindings, skins. You pay shipping or preferably pick them up in Bay Area or Tahoe.

I see it opposite of you guys---

Been skiing these for awhile now (85s and 95s). They are an amazing ski in the right situation. Funny thing is I'm FAR more inclined to find myself in "the right situation" when in the BC then I am inbounds. In fact, as an in bounds ski I find they have some redeeming qualities but are far from ideal.

Currently, I have one pair setup with Dukes, and they are a heavy setup. However, if you are touring with them in the conditions they are meant (soft snow) I think they tour 100% fine. I don't have any problems sidehilling or with the contact patch but then again, I'm usually breaking trail too...not playing on a "set" skin track.

They are really great for bootpack access "slackcountry" and short tours. Big, high verticle days are better on something like the 138/120/112 w/dynafits. (not that I know from experience...)