Thread: Which Fat, Rockered, All-Mountain PNW Ski? <$700

What ski do I want? Budget = $700

All-round, do-everything ski with good crud ability and good in Oregon's heavy snow. I'll buy powder boards next year.

Me = born in the 1960s, skiing 40 years, post-back surgery, former elite amateur cyclist, still going hard, 160#, 5'10", typically refuse to ski when it's too wet or too icy, get 50+ days/year, ski all terrain at Bachelor, Crystal, Stevens, Ashland, Baker. Lots of touring experience, but buying an inbounds/slack-country ski. Learned to ski at old Shasta ski lodge. I have been skiing mostly tele, some alpine, length between 175-180. I have switched to mostly alpine AT. I am moving from 175-180 to middle 180s.

Recent skis that I have liked: Volkl Mantra, Dynastar Mythic Rider, G3 El Hombre, PM Gear 174 Soft.

Recent skis that I don't like: BD Verdict, K2 AntiPiste (tele), G3 Tickets.

Current boots: Dalbello Krypton Pro ID, BD Method

Current bindings Marker F10 Tour, Jesters.

Candidate Skis:

Volkl Katana 183 141/111/131

ON3P Vicik 186 134/104/124

Praxis Mountain Jib 183 134/111/129

Moment Belafonte 182 135-106-124
(perhaps Bibby Pro?)

PM Gear would be great, but out of budget. (Sorry, Splat. The Bros will go to a friend for free.)

Or suggest something else, or find me a deal. Thanks. And thanks for all the excellent feedback on my jacket thread. PM to ski in Bend. We'll burn one.

i know you mentioned rockered and this ski is not but the line prophet 100 is an amazing all around ski. i have a set of this years and have skied from everything from man made snow in maine to deep powder days at snowbird handles all conditions with ease. carves great handles speed well very playful and is very light. Ive skied mt bachelor (not on the prophets) and think they would handle very well out there.

if your set on getting something with rocker check out ON3P Billygoats. Built like a powder ski but very versatile.

hope this helps.

^ Prophet 100. OK. I'll add it to the list. It seems like it has mixed reviews here.

I have talked to ON3P and they steered me toward the Vicik. Billy Goats are tempting, but not an everyday ski.

i have both. the billygoats only get used in powder days but it could be used almost in all conditions.

in my personal opinion the prophet is one of the best skies i have been on.

Originally Posted by whacked

Volkl Katana 183 141/111/131

ON3P Vicik 186 134/104/124

Ka Ching! I'd go for the Kats, given the snow density and your mission, but lot of folks love the Vicik's. Suspect they're less beefy, so may run to your taste. If you like Mantras, the Kat is a fat Mantra with rocker.

I ski Stevens / Baker mainly and I'm looking for a comparable ski > report back when you ride the Vicik. Some more snow and a demo day would be nice! i've been on Mojo 90's and Pocket Rockets, both great skis but the heavy snow crushes them and that's where the rocker would seem nice. Do the prophets float in the deep heavy stuff?

Originally Posted by Beyond

Ka Ching! I'd go for the Kats, given the snow density and your mission, but lot of folks love the Vicik's. Suspect they're less beefy, so may run to your taste. If you like Mantras, the Kat is a fat Mantra with rocker.

Yaaaaaaaahhhh....Noooooo


And if god forbid they aren't beefy enough, they can be made beefier. Volkl won't do that for you.

Originally Posted by klikboom

I ski Stevens / Baker mainly and I'm looking for a comparable ski > report back when you ride the Vicik. Some more snow and a demo day would be nice! i've been on Mojo 90's and Pocket Rockets, both great skis but the heavy snow crushes them and that's where the rocker would seem nice. Do the prophets float in the deep heavy stuff?

I was a Prophet lover, but the Vicik is what I wanted the prophet to be quite honestly.

184cm Fat-ypus D-Sender w/Early Rise. 139cm contact length w/6mm of camber. 144/112/130. Nice solid flexing ski with a large sweet spot. Great quiver of one ski.

I love my wrens as an everyday ski. Great in all conditions. I'm the same size as you and chose the 181s. On DEEP days i wish I had the 191s, but they make a killer everyday ski at 181.

Fat-ypus D-Sender check. That's a good looking ski.

Wrens scare me with lots of reviews saying "too stiff" and a bunch of pairs flogged quickly. I understand that ON3P will make a less stiff pair on order. Perhaps that is on the list as well.

I'll bring my Praxis bias to the table. Given the stated parameters, I'd suggest adding the Praxis BC (which is almost misnamed as it really is a great PNW all around ski) to the list. Get 10% off with the right codes. EPIC should do it. Or become a fan of Praxis skis & use the Facebook code (which IIRC is FACEBOOK) which I think is still on the Facebook Praxis Skis page. BCs in 190 and one pair of 180s look to be in stock at about 630.00 or so (plus shipping I think) after the 10% code discount.

As other have noted, ON3Ps were also born and bred for this kind of mission in the PNW. The pair of Wrenegades I skied for a couple runs a few weeks back were nice skis.

I was nervous about the wrens because I'm no badass skier, but I find them easy and tons of fun to ski. I've never once thought they were too stiff. I think most people get the 191s and the 181s are probably much more manageable.

What length in those skis you liked? If you're ok on 174 bros then yeah the wrens might be a handful, even 181s, ON3P aren't messing around with those.

The ski that came to mind when I read this was the Wrenegade. Your list of requirements seems almost identical the the manufacturer's description.

Why not check out the Armada JJ? Your weight (~160) seems to be about right on for the people who enjoy the ski the most. I'm in Europe which also receives lots of wet, heavy snow and it floats quite well through it... The only problem will be finding some before they inevitably sell out.

The only weakness I've found with the ski so far is pure ice and straightlining and super high speed through choppy snow. Other than that, I've been a happy camper--also ~160lbs and 5'10"--the 185cm model has been great.

Bro174s are nice skis, but I would moving into the 180s is part of my plan.

OK, so the list is growing. I lean toward ON3P, Praxis and the other small ski companies. ON3P are Oregon product, other things being equal, I would support that. Here's what you have said:

Approx. 135/105/120
ON3P Vicik
Armada JJ
Praxis BC
Line Prophet 100

Approx. 140/110/130
ON3P Wren
Volkl Katana
Fat-ypus D-Sender

While we have had a fantastic, powder-filled early season here in PNW, we do not usually ski powder every day or even every week. Do I want one out of the fatter category for everyday, all-round use?

ON3P 181 Wren...you are done with your search.

I have owned Katana's, Goats, etc in the distant past. The Wren is lighter (or at least skis lighter), more responsive, and has an awesome rocker profile up front for your manky, thick snow...but also can destroy crud.

Keep in mind, the 181 from ON3P is more on par with a 185 or so in Volkl (generalizing, but you get the point). Also keep in mind that a ski with a waist width of 110 to 115 isn't really considered fat anymore, especially on this board.

I have been on Motherships (111 waist) for three years, and that was my everyday ski. I now am on 191 Wrens, and that is even fatter.

my two cents.

Prophet 115 186
EHP 186

I know Surface does not have a lot of traction around here but I want to be the first to say that I really like my Live Life. At 110 underfoot for the 181 they seem to be the perfect all around ski for me. They float really well skiing down as well as skinning up since they have the Early Rise and Low Profile rocker. Once you get past the center mount situation they are amazing.
I liked them so much I bought a second pair to mount up Tele. People have been mounting them fairly far back but I think it is a mistake. I mounted mine minus 2 and think that they could actually benefit from moving forward a hair bit.

As for on piste ability they far outperform the Anti-Piste(I had a pair). They turn on a dime when you dont have them very far up on edge. Once you lean them on over they hook up like a race ski. They really carve well!

PowTron: What do you say to those who feel the Wren is "too stiff"?

Perhaps you're style or taste gives you the view that no ski is too stiff?

I would buy the Wrens in a second, but fear misjudging the flex. I don't want to be tossed around by the ski. Lots of smooth skiing and fast turns are my style. I love trees. I make big, open-S type GS turns in powder fields.

Thanks to everyone for your continued feedback. This is great.

Also, I'm 160# soaking wet. Physically, I'm still recovering from injury. Maybe Wrens are just too much ski for me?

I have 183 Katanas from two years ago, which were flat cambered when new and develop slight natural reverse camber from use. I used those on inbetween and shallow powder days at Stevens, Crystal, Baker, and Alpy. I'm pretty happy with them as an all-mtn ski with a soft snow bias. They do absolutely rail on groomers and are very loose iin powder with great float, although the latest breed of uber-rockered skis are a bit easier on real deep days. Haven't skied the other boards in question.

I'm ~185#'s as a point of reference.

p100 and p115 has the metal to dampen heavy loads on your back... Goes for anything with a sheet of titinal

Also, the blog or access from Atomic.. Very fun skis

S7........