Thread: G3 Highball - I can't slow down! (But in a goood way) 190 Highball

What a sick ski!, shredding in deep PNW pow at baker this ski performs and pushes you off the edge. Fast, big, aggressive turns, lands like a dart with pillow, suspension technology, and it skins up with ease and big strides.

Just skied, chalky dry pow and slide down some spines, and pillow ridges and the rocker is more pronounced than you think, but it still has a stiff tail, that locks in your landing with the strength off a ski that is made of metal, but isn't (Titanal decking) but with the lightness of TUA wood core ski. One of the best jumping skis ever! They just want you to go faster, bigger, higher than before. LOTS OF POP! Also ski's backwards/switch real nice, high speed groomers are also fun, being able to rail turns in any condition on the hard pack. Overall my feelings are strong that this ski is the answer! I can't wait to open it up when it gets a little deeper! Good swing weight in the air, for tricks or just going huge, this ski can handle anything you want to give it! John - 6"2 - 200lbs, fast, strong, aggressive skier.

Can't believe I haven't heard about this ski till now. This has the dims and qualities I described in a "who makes this ski" thread a while back.

Where is the mounting point (distance from tail)?

What other skis do you like mang? Oh and what part of the country/resort?

Got rocker, camber, and tail upturn pics?

Just looking for a profile shot.

Here is a good vid that shows the rocker profile

Originally Posted by iscariot

Can't believe I haven't heard about this ski till now. This has the dims and qualities I described in a "who makes this ski" thread a while back.

Where is the mounting point (distance from tail)?

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ht=G3+highball
I hear good things

Watched the vid. Rocker and tails look just about perfect.

190 g3 highball/sollyfit

Quiver of one if it flexes like an ehp.

Originally Posted by iscariot

Quiver of one if it flexes like an ehp.

Just flexed one about an hour ago.

FRIGGIN STIFF!

I have a pair of 2006 194 LP's (the really stiff ones) and these are just about that stiff. I've never skied the EHP's but have fondled them recently and these are very similar in flex. The thing I really noticed is that they are stiff right through to the tip. No flappy clown shoes here. They would nuke crud. Nice smooth rocker profile (very subtle/almost flat through the middle with more pronounced early rise than the EHP and a slightly higher tip profile than the EHP). Going off the dims they should be in the low 30's for radius.

If I didn't have Praxis RX coming I would give these a very hard look.

Too bad about the stiff flex running through the tip. One of the things I love about the ehp is that the tip is a bit softer for the first 5 to 10 cm, so that it planes rediculously quickly and in very shallow snow.

I haven't had a problem busting through chop with the slightly softer ehp. But the highball does have the turned up tail for switch landings that I like.

iscariot, guess I should be more specific,

I meant more that it was stiff through the front section of the ski as opposed to something flappy like a JJ or Super 7 etc.

The first 10-15 cm's on these is still a bit softer to get it planing like an EHP but the front section of the ski is still burly like an EHP from what I can remember. These have quite a bit more rise than an EHP and a much wider tip so if anything they should plane even easier.

From what I can remember from your other thread these are worth a look. They strike me as being a lot like the praxis RX minus the camber. I don't have the RX in my hands yet so I can't compare flex.

Iscariot, I should be going back to the shop where I fondled these on Friday. If I remember I will bring a tape and measure the mount point.

Your looking for straight pull from the tail?

Probably too stiff for my little A but it still sounds like fun. Plus how gangSTAR is it that they come in 5cm increments?!

Originally Posted by Westslope

Iscariot, I should be going back to the shop where I fondled these on Friday. If I remember I will bring a tape and measure the mount point.

Your looking for straight pull from the tail?

Yah, straight pull form the tail would be great if you can get it.

Roger, will report back Friday night.

What length are you looking for for the mount point? I was looking at the 190. They also had what looked like 180's but that was it.

I'll investigate the flex a bit better as well.

BTW iscariot, where do you live? For some reason I seem to remember from another thread that you live in Calgary. If so you're in luck because I was looking at them at MEC.

Originally Posted by Westslope

Roger, will report back Friday night.

What length are you looking for for the mount point? I was looking at the 190. They also had what looked like 180's but that was it.

I'll investigate the flex a bit better as well.

BTW iscariot, where do you live? For some reason I seem to remember from another thread that you live in Calgary. If so you're in luck because I was looking at them at MEC.

190 would be the length.

Yup, spending time in Calgary/Golden.

Crazy busy right now, so living vicariosly through the web, and can't get to MEC. I gain my freedom after christmas.

Thanks in advance for any info you can get.

It is nice to see G3 getting a little much needed attention/ press on TGR IMO.
I have skied G3 skis for the better part of the last 6 years (skied / or own 5 models) and have found them to be both fun and very well made skis. I currently own the Tickets (front side carver out of production) and the the Manhattan (PReviously owned the Reverend and sied the RT and EL Hombre'). The Manhattan falls into the same category/ dimensions as the K2 Sidestash and Movement Trust, but stiffer all over/ espeically the tail. I am interested to hear peoples opinions on the Highball, as it is a ski that I am interested in purchasing/ possibly trading my Manhattans for if the opportunity arose.

Me 6'4" / 210# meadowskipper on NTN/ TX Comps

Just went to check these out at MEC today. Really nice looking ski. Continuous rocker is fairly mild... more than the Katana, less than the Gotama... looks pretty nice. Flex is very stiff, but I wouldn't go as far as race room LP stiff. The topsheet said something about titanal, which would be awsome if it's accurate, but the ski felt like it would have a fair amount of pop in it, which I usually find is subdued in skis with metal in them.

I would love to try these, but another pair of skis is not in the cards.

They also had a 97mm waist version of the ski (Infidel) that had the same camber profile and stiffness but had a more traditional tip shape where the Highball and a bit of taper/reverse sidecut in the tip and tail. Could be an interesting versatile touring option at that length.

Ok, for those interested the boot centre on the 190's is 82cm from the tail straight pull and 105.5 from the tip straight pull.

Had a more thorough investigation of the flex and stand by my earlier comments. Not quite raceroom LP stiff but definitely no softer than a 193 EHP. The flex is very linear from tip to tail with no "hinge points" like a JJ. Think one big elliptical curve. The flex is pretty stiff all the way to the tip but with the mild rocker, long early rise and big tips, planing shouldn't be an issue.

Would have taken profile pics but it was pretty busy and I had my 6 month old with me. You can see it pretty good in the vid above anyway.

Good looking skis too.

Originally Posted by Westslope

The flex is very linear from tip to tail with no "hinge points" like a JJ. Think one big elliptical curve. The flex is pretty stiff all the way to the tip but with the mild rocker, long early rise and big tips, planing shouldn't be an issue.

100% agree with this.

Originally Posted by mn_teleskier

It is nice to see G3 getting a little much needed attention/ press on TGR IMO.
I have skied G3 skis for the better part of the last 6 years (skied / or own 5 models) and have found them to be both fun and very well made skis.

Agreeeeed I think they are a pretty sick company, but dude this is like the first progressive ski they have had in a while. Not to mention the first real fat ski. Their mounts are too traditional but it's good to see them being more forward thinking.

Finally got to mec to check out the highball.



HO.LY.SHIT.




Hand flex is VERY similar to the EHP. Dims and flex are pretty much what I dreamed, if I could design a ski. The mounting point (and sidecut) (82 cm from tail) is a bit back of where I'd mount personally. One of the things that I love about the EHP is that the mount is relatively forward or centred; call it new school freeride. Flat camber. The early rise reminds me more of the Gotama than the EHP, still a great shape. The tail rise is shallower, more subtle.

If the side cut was a bit more centred on the Highball, and the mount point was about an inch and a half forward, it would be Excalibur.

This ski is like a twintip EHP, the mount just needs to be a bit more forward to make this a new'er school freeride ski, like the EHP, Renegade, etc...For all the mags who loved the EHP, but moved the mount point back, this is the ski for you. At the very least, go check it out. Very worth your while.

I will likely pick up a pair at some point. Definitely keeping an eye out for demos, I'd love to get on a pair of these.

If you find somewhere that demos them (in the Calgary area, preferably), I'd like to hear about it, please.

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

If you find somewhere that demos them (in the Calgary area, preferably), I'd like to hear about it, please.

I will definitely post about it here if I can find them, and I'll pm you.

I also would be curious to try these. Apparently they have titanal in them

I think Lou's does G3, you might try giving them a call.

Mountain Magic in Banff does as well but I've never been there so don't know what they're all about.

There's Vertical Addiction in Canmore. Cool shop but they're pretty small potatoes so I can't see them doing demos.

Glad you got to check them out iscariot! Those and the Infidels are surprisingly stiff and burly. My Brother in law just picked up a set of the Infidels to ski tele on.

I had the pleasure of riding some of these last weekend. They're really awesome!

One of the easiest to ski, yet full speed manageable skis with a full, continuous rocker and a fairly conventional sidecut I ever skied. G3 nailed it in this category.
Not exactly what I was looking for -I'd like to have a more aggressive Tail and more edge traction (not grip, but willingness to follow a given turn and edge course. If you know what I mean). But this ski is probably the best compromise I ever skied in the category of full rocker and traditional sidecut.

If you're interested in a more detailed review and are capable of German, click here: http://www.powderguide.com/forum/sho...=8162#post8162