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

Originally Posted by Knut

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.tetongravity.com/forums/s...light=highball

Shit... I already wanted a pair of these, and now I REALLY want a pair.

By the way... you linked this thread, within this thread... copy+paste error maybe?

Just picked up a pair mounted with Onyx in 185 for touring and slackcountry. Keen to see how it rides. I like the subdued rocker.

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

By the way... you linked this thread, within this thread... copy+paste error maybe?

knut probably wanted to link to here: http://www.powderguide.com/forum/sho...58&postcount=1

Yap. A rather dump c&p-error. Thanks, selle. I fixed it also in my post.

@shorty: if you'll need more detailled impressions, let me know

Originally Posted by Knut

Yap. A rather dump c&p-error. Thanks, selle. I fixed it also in my post.

@shorty: if you'll need more detailled impressions, let me know

Impress away! I'm pretty confident this is the ski I want but I can't afford it right now... but I'd always like to know more. I'd also really like to demo a pair but I emailed G3 a couple of weeks ago asking about demos and they didn't reply.

Edit: google translator is hilarious... I have no idea what that review says... lol!

G3 demo fleet is being filled out right now. Schedule for that should be published shortly

^^^ Good to know... thanks.

Originally Posted by Shorty_J

Edit: google translator is hilarious... I have no idea what that review says... lol!

Indeed! I especially love the "hard dick" sentence! YoY

I'll try to summarize:
Incredible stiff for a full rocker. And full rocker -in G3 slang SweetRise camber line- really means full: no flat spot whatsoever. But the reverse camber is not very pronounced. Progressive increase towards tip & tail. It has quite some early taper, but again, with very mild radius. rather subdued but quite early starting. The sidecut is less pronounced, than the data says.

On groomers, the ski's well controlable, holds the edge nicely and has quite some traction. If you're willing to use quite some carving angle. At low angle, it will rather drift. Super-easy to initiate a turn any time and drifting well. But due to the subdued reverse camberline, you can rest on your shins and let the ski go normally. It's a little nervous but far from being work.
But more interesting is anyway the performance in uncombed snow. Floats like hell. You'll really need to produce a lot of tip pressure -like if you'd want to do a nose butter, to produce some kind of tip dive.
Tracked is no issue, the stiffness makes it cut other tracks like butter. rather high speed limit, too. The double titanal deck makes it well dampened. But it's not a straightline weapon like a Scott Pure or Legend Pro, turn initiation is too easy and fast, to achieve that.
Slaveability is great. Not in the range of a reverse/reverse, but excellent for a classic sidecut.
That's helping it's manoeuvrability in narrow terrain. Spontaneous direction changes are rarely a problem. Huckability is also great. The Stiffness and the balanced stand allow controlled landing all the time. Hard tailgunning however, will lead to tail wash-outs. Something you cannot avoid in a reverse shape.
Also due to that, it does not have a strong pop out of the tail. Aggressively accelerating by pressing the tail at the end of a turn doesn't work well with the Highball. And it doesn't either build a lot of traction/drag on the edge, like e.g. a Katana does. Things I personally love in a ski and miss a little here.

This ski unites agility with stability in an -to me- unseen way. No tendency for hooking up while still being very playfull.

Some pics:

^^^ Thanks!

Any updates or other reviews on this ski? Anyone skiing them tele? They look like a good shape, thinking about pulling the trigger.

Blast from the recent past, but interesting ski... reminds me of a skinnier Renegade with more sidecut. They also have the wider Empire this year.

http://www.genuineguidegear.com/gear/skis/empire

Looks like the Highball has a big brother this year.



Highball (190) and Empire (193) for the ultimate quiver of two?

I ski patrolled at lake louise on the 185 highball for the better part of last season and they changed my life! These things crush crud like it's their job. Stiff as a board and fast as hell. Damp and stable but still have pop. I mounted them 2cm forward of the recomended line and i think i struck the nail on the head. The stiffness and low rocker profile tends to drive the ski through the snow instead of over it which was disconcerting at first but after a couple of laps i realsied it just meant more faceshots. The bases are solid ( not k2 solid but good enough) which is key in the rockies. The perfect ski for mixed conditions but not for the faint of heart. First lap on them i nearly broke my leg. Ski them or they WILL ski you! No ski i would rather own.

Oh, and as for the empire. Looks like a killer ski but what genius decided to put a white top sheet on a powder ski?

Originally Posted by Louise Lifty

Oh, and as for the empire. Looks like a killer ski but what genius decided to put a white top sheet on a powder ski?

One who thinks it might be used for touring? A wide ski like that can CARRY a lot of snow on board, which sucks. White keeps the snow from melting into a sticky mess, so that it slides right off.

Originally Posted by Louise Lifty

I mounted them 2cm forward of the recomended line and i think i struck the nail on the head.

Berry interdasting.


The only thing that made me question this ski is that the mount placement/sidecut placement is very traditional; I prefer the mount a bit more central on the ski, a la the EHP.

What bindings are you using for touring?

http://www.departmentofgoods.com/g3-...e-highball-ski

Temptation.

All sizes of highball on BackCountry.com. $423.47.