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Thread: Review: Praxis Protest, 187cm
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03-16-2012, 03:59 AM #1
Review: Praxis Protest, 187cm
I may have missed something, but I was surprised not to find more reviews up on the Protest, though certainly there are lots of comments scattered around various threads. It seems like the Protest is such a staple around here that maybe it's just one of those skis that everyone feels like they sort of know it.
I don't find it to be the easiest ski to try to describe. With pretty much every ski, the more time on it, the more you adjust and get used to it. But this seems to me to be even more true of the Protest.
Anyway, here's a stab at a review:
http://blistergearreview.com/gear-re...praxis-protest
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03-16-2012, 10:04 AM #2
Nice review JFE24. It's good to read your review (as you said, not much out there on this ski - besides references to it in the wootest thread)...
You might consider posting up the text of the review here.
My fiancee should be getting her first days on the 163 cm version (9 mm narrower throughout than the 128 waist on all other lengths) this weekend. Mounted with sollyfits.
Lotus 138 Pure performance is mentioned in the Protest review.
I assume you'll be posting up a Lotus 138 review at some point?Aggressive in my own mind
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03-16-2012, 10:20 AM #3
hoarhey - if your fiancee is ripping around on Protests, it sounds like you are making some solid life choices.
And yes, definitely a 138 review, just want more time on it in the right range of conditions.
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03-16-2012, 10:34 AM #4Registered User
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Last edited by auvgeek; 03-16-2012 at 10:44 AM.
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
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03-16-2012, 10:39 AM #5
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03-16-2012, 10:47 AM #6Registered User
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Well, since you guys typically do a "first impressions" post, I'll do the same. Keep in mind I only skied the Protests for like 1/2 a day before swapping back to my L138s. Correspondingly, I had no learning curve with the 138s, which is opposite of most people's experience.
Last edited by auvgeek; 03-16-2012 at 11:00 AM.
"Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
photos
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03-16-2012, 10:51 AM #7
auvgeek - i should add that the increased rocker in the new 3.2 rocker actually very much ADDS carvability on firm snow compared to the rocker 2's that you have, since the sidecut is basically flat, and its super stiff, the rocker gives you a rounded edge to carve.
sorry to go off topic, but the speculation on that post is speculation only IMO.
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03-16-2012, 11:00 AM #8Registered User
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Awesome! Super pumped to hear that.
Okay, I better stop talking about the L138 in the Protest thread before kidwoo tracks me down and makes me repent."Alpine rock and steep, deep powder are what I seek, and I will always find solace there." - Bean Bowers
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03-16-2012, 11:27 AM #9
The 187 Protest is the most fun ski I've been on in the pow. It reminds me a bit of my old Powders but I can drive the ski and it's a better on hardpack traverses and runouts back to the lifts.
I was considering the 196 (which I'll get next year) but this is fine for very high speeds and it turns on a time. It's been a blast this crappy Tahoe season when I've need to zip around or over the numerous boulders, rocks, shrubs, logs, etc.Every man dies. Not every man lives.
You don’t stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing.
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09-13-2012, 12:00 AM #10
I can finally - and with great pleasure - add to this thread.
Disclaimer! I've only had 3 days on my Protests, but probably did 30k+ vert each day.
Protest 187, medium flex, carbon lay-up. Mounted with STH 14s on the dimple.
Me: 6'1 x 175, middle-aged non-slayer who loves to go fast on long pitches.
Conditions: Reasonably diverse; from 8" of light pow to chopped up cream cheese gack (thankfully just the bottom 50-100m vert in the afternoon).
Those of you who've helped me out with info will know, that I've had an irrational attraction to these skis. Something about the shape just seemed so right. At the same time, I was a bit intimidated by their massive 128mm and short, shallow sidecut. Not to worry, it took me one run to feel completely at home. They just inspire complete confidence.
In quite tracked out powder, they could still be driven at high speed or be skied more upright and relaxed. Very little deflection, and importantly no hookiness whatsoever.
On smooth, wind-affected powder I felt no speed limit and could carve them hard in giant arcs. The tips would vibrate (can't call it flap) a tad, but they remained smooth and confidence inspiring.
In light powder, well they are just dreamy. As fast as you want to go, any turn shape, as delicate or hard as you want to, they just do it.
I didn't have any issues on traverses or icy wind-scoured ridges. Surprisingly good edge-hold considering their width.
They are definitely not titanal freight trains a la LPs, but have that distinctive lively-yet-damp feel characteristic to carbon.
Hopefully I'll get to ski them in corn soon. I'm sure they'll go well, but then what doesn't in corn?
Thanks for listening. Hope this might tempt others to give them a go. It was quite the revelation for me.
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09-14-2012, 06:32 PM #11
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09-16-2012, 04:24 PM #12
Hohes, I was being good - promise!
The Craigieburn Range had surprisingly good stability. We got 3ft or so over the whole cycle, whereas the Ragged Range farther west apparently got 6ft or so, and the Mt Cook area 10!
The patrollers were very happy with the state of the snowpack, and I didn't see any signs of instability - except for very sporadic pinwheeling on the lowest 50 meters of sun-baked slopes in the afternoon.
Here's a wee taste of what we got; North Peak (2000+ft of vert) in the afternoon sun.
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09-26-2012, 10:34 PM #13
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