Thread: Ski Quiver Slots/Characteristics

Originally Posted by marshalolson

1. dedicated powder ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 138mm waist, reverse/reverse)
2. everyday inbounds ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 115mm waist, plenty of sidecut aka 20m, tip and tail rocker)
3. soft snow backcountry ski w/ tech bindings (190cm 120mm waist, tip rocker, stiff, straight, flat tail)
4. early season ski (78mm waist, 15m radius, race carve style)

meh... 3 skis is easy:
1. dedicated powder ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 138mm waist, reverse/reverse)
2. everyday inbounds ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 115mm waist, plenty of sidecut aka 20m, tip and tail rocker)
3. soft snow backcountry ski w/ tech bindings (190cm 120mm waist, tip rocker, stiff, straight, flat tail)

so is 3 skis:
2. everyday inbounds ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 115mm waist, plenty of sidecut aka 20m, tip and tail rocker)
3. soft snow backcountry ski w/ tech bindings (190cm 120mm waist, tip rocker, stiff, straight, flat tail)

so is 1 ski
2. everyday inbounds ski w/ alpine bindings + tech bindings ala inserts (192cm 115mm waist, plenty of sidecut aka 20m, tip and tail rocker)

Originally Posted by marshalolson

meh... 3 skis is easy:
1. dedicated powder ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 138mm waist, reverse/reverse)
2. everyday inbounds ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 115mm waist, plenty of sidecut aka 20m, tip and tail rocker)
3. soft snow backcountry ski w/ tech bindings (190cm 120mm waist, tip rocker, stiff, straight, flat tail)

so is 3 skis:
2. everyday inbounds ski w/ alpine bindings (192cm 115mm waist, plenty of sidecut aka 20m, tip and tail rocker)
3. soft snow backcountry ski w/ tech bindings (190cm 120mm waist, tip rocker, stiff, straight, flat tail)

so is 1 ski
2. everyday inbounds ski w/ alpine bindings + tech bindings ala inserts (192cm 115mm waist, plenty of sidecut aka 20m, tip and tail rocker)

This is the type of answer that has meaning!!! Thank you sir Marshal! High marks all around.

Originally Posted by gointhedistance

This is the type of answer that has meaning!!!

Especially if you know which ski company he works for

Just kidding Marsh.

Ordered by waist width...

1. Mantras with alpine binders for early season rock skiing
2. K2 Coombas with dynafit for longer tours
3. Wailer 112RPs with barons
4. Kuros with alpine binders for the deepest days

Frankly, the 112RPs are the tool of choice for anything but long tours, 2+ feet of sierra cement, or when the rocks are starting to poke through.

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Especially if you know which ski company he works for

Just kidding Marsh.

I see the underlying marketing twinkle in his eye - and accept it...

Good advice and good skis coming from him - had to give a shout out. Now where's my free pair?

If you're serious about getting a lot of vert outside a resort in the spring and summer, 4 skis is a likely minimum (although you could get away with one resort ski).

- sub 90mm waist for mountaineering (tech bindings)
- 115+ for bc pow (tech)
- sub 105 for resort hardpack/park (alpine)
- 115+ for resort pow (alpine or hybrid)

^^ I agree. Though I think it's quite possible to axe the sub 105 ski if you tour for freshies whenever it hasn't snowed in a while or if your pow ski carves pretty well. I don't have a resort ski under 115 in my quiver, and I don't feel like I'm missing something.

The biggest problem I have with this thread is that you can either go vague (PappaG) or you go super specific (Marshal). Vague is a little boring, but there's no way to go specific without having a specific ski in mind. Skis are so subtle and complex that it's hard to pin down how they're going to feel by specifying a length, flex, weight, sidecut, shape, materials, etc. I think splat once said that 1 mm additional width anywhere along the ski will make a noticeable difference in how a ski feels. So in order to be specific, you either have to have a specific ski or a modification to a specific ski in mind—which is what you were trying to avoid when you started the thread.

Not digging on anybody, just some thoughts.

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Just kidding Marsh.

ha, you bastard

anyways, those are my actual skis, and pretty much all i own, and i don't feel like i am ever missing anything.

if i worked for a different brand, the categories / ski profiles would be the same, with ultra minor tweaks to the specifics only (i.e. moment donner party w. alpine, jag shark w. tech, bibby w. alpine), but those class of skis stay the same with their design and purpose.

if I worked for DPS that'd be all I owned too.

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

if I worked for DPS that'd be all I owned too.

i mean i don't own a pair of every single DPS makes. i easily could, and plenty of our employees do.

I, however, own exactly 4 pair of skis as indicated in my first post. each ski has a very specific purpose.

so take that

rock ski-- Super Bro
resort charger--Vicik
resort tree--Billy Goat
resort pow--Cease and Desist
ob tree pow--Pillow Fight
ob face pow--?????????

120mm for powder. inserts to go tech in backcountry or alpine inbounds. no compromise pow ski for the real days.

99mm for anything but deep days at the resort. would be good to tour with in spring but i need skins.
carves as well for me as anything skinnier, if thats all there is. gets around the mountain hunting stashes.


for me two would do

Alright, I'll play by the rules..

1. Xplosiv

2.........

3. Spatula


#2 is the tough one. From what I own now I think I'd go with the 185 Cochise. 108 underfoot, slight tip + tail rocker but flat underfoot, straightish sidecut.

What fills that spot could be debated and there's definitely room for a much lighter ski in the mix somewhere, but within the parameters of this game that's my answer...

Let's just assume inserts or plates on everything so binding combos are a non-issue.

1.Something 95-100mm which is somewhat stiff mounted alpine (volkl bridge or moment pbj)
2. 110mm ish stiff tip or moderate rocker with dukes (on3p wren/ moment jag shark, ect)
3. 115-120mm pow ski with tech, probably 5 point or pintail. ( armada jj, on3p BG, moment bibby)

I think the top 2 make a perfect NZ or travel quiver.

Easy.

By order of importance/preference

1. Lhasa 186cm, 112mm waist, early rise. Barons. Soft days, resort, SC, mellow BC.
2. Solly 179 Twenty-Twelve, 91mm waist, early rise tip and tail. FKS. Every-no-deep-day resort ski. Ideally this slot would have been occupied by a 180cm Moment Tahoe 95mm waist, early rise, but they were sold out and I liked the Twenty-Twelve when I demoed them. The upside is they're salomon's so they'll be spanked out in 40-50 days and then I can buy the moments!
3. Solly Thruster 171cm. 83mm waist. Traditional camber. Snow drought, bumps.

Also rans;
4. Fatypus D-Sender 174cm. 112 waist. No ER. Griffons. Soft resort days with a 50/50 chance of rocks. Soft trees. Soft bumps, never mind; see 1 & 2. Anyone want to buy these?
5. K2 Outlaw 185cm with ghey cowboy graphic straight skis. Gaper day, early season blue cruiser conversation starter.

As someone who used to be a huge quiver whore...I have definitely come along way.

At this point I would totally content with:
1) Everyday Soft-Snow/Powder - 40cm tip rocker, 25cm tail rocker, 115-120mm waist, traditional mount, medium stiff flex (191cm Billy Goat)
2) Mess Around/Park - 40cm tip & tail rocker, 108-112 waist, progressive mount, medium flex (186cm Jeffrey)

Besides that, everything else is just a bonus. If I was skiing untracked all the time, I could see adding something bigger, but I'm not and once it isn't untracked, I now much prefer a 118mm waist to a 128mm waist. Plus if designed correctly, I get more than adequate powder performance from a ski that is 118mm underfoot.

And I can ski a 110mm waisted ski on the west coast comfortable pretty much anytime. I can think of one a handful of days in the past several years where it was hard enough that I would want to step down to something in the 95-100mm range, but it is rare. I've spent some pretty hard days on skis in the 110-115 range and never had a serious problem.

**It should be noted, too, that I say this now as someone who doesn't own a single pair of personal skis. I have 20+ pairs of skis available to me at any moment and am often on skis that have been tweaked or modified for testing purposes...so if the circumstances were different my answers might be a bit different. But if right now I had to fork over personal cash for a quiver, I would be fine with the skiing just the two pairs all season.

I have spent the last two seasons clearing out my fleet. I'm with Iggy on the conversion to a 2-ski quiver, though my #2 would be a directional ski b/c if I am spending much time backward, something is awry. My daily driver does everything I want almost all the time. Med-stiff, tail taper, a little tip and tail rise, 109 underfoot (185 Humpback). Effortless transitions from rink to crud to pow and back. Brainless in the woods. For those rarer times I want more float, I go a little wider, but don't need huge. More tail taper for this purpose keeps me tips-up. Wide, sharky tips for float, crud comfort and to draw me cleanly into the turn, narrower, straighter tail for easy adaptability (185 George). If I weren't on our own products, I can think of a number of great options from others like Praxis, ON3P, PMG and DPS I would be all over for a 2-pair quiver. Lhasas, BGs, Lotus 120s, Freeride, RX and BCs are outstanding examples of the craft these days.

Since this is turning into "what skis from your company is your quiver", I'll play.

1) Everyday, inbounds freeride, speed, speedcheck, tight trees, straightline, pow, "pow" weeks after last snowfall, less than 10% of the day on groomers but if so going fast, 115mm waist, 190cms, 41m progressive radius (29, 55, 35), tip and tail rocker.

2) Touring. Same functional geometry as 1), but 102mm waist, 180cms and a glass/carbon layup.

3) Real pow. 151-135-145, 194cms, glass/carbon layup.

I could ski all year on my #1 choice, but would then either put inserts in them for dyna/fks or get over the mental obstacle of skiing tech bindings inbounds/every day.

If I skied regularly where I'd spend more time on groomers, I'd likely ski a 25m radius, 114mm waisted, carbon/glass, tip and tail rockered ski instead. Gives up a little slarve and charge for more fun at medium speeds and lighter weight for goofing around. Or maybe even go for a 107mm waist.

From a guy that doesn't have unlimited skis:

Ideal quiver:

1.
No new snow, early season, etc.
80-99 underfoot, 20-30m sidecut, ~190cm, slight twin tip if possible. FKS 180

2.
Everyday, west coast style.
105-115 underfoot, 20-30m sidecut, ~185cm, tiprocker, slight twin/small tail rocker, tapered tip.
Dukes/Guardians.

3.
Pow.
115-125 underfoot, 25-40m sidecut (depends on shape) ~185cm, full rocker or large rocker camber rocker profile, tapered tip and tail.
Dukes/Guardians.

Another option could be inserts for FKS on #1, DynaLooks on #2 and #3, two pairs of FKS and one set of Plums/Dynafits.

Current Quiver:

Fatbro's (112mm), Renegades (122), and race skis. (EDIT: also have mantra's, explosivs, shiros, and blogs available) All with alpine clamps since I currently have no time for the back country.

1. Head Jo Pro 176 cm: 84 mm waist mounted dead center with head mojo 15s. Pretty stiff park ski used for the park, bumps, and Midwest groomers.
2. Line Blend 178 cm: 100 mm waist mounted at the all mountain line with Dynastar Early Tram AT binders. Go to ski for daily use out west except for super deep days and touring capable (have not actually toured with them yet).
3. K2 Hellbent 179 cm: 122 mm waist mounted +5 cm with Salomon z12s. For deep inbounds days out west.

I live in Ohio so it's absurd I have 3 sets of skis. I can't possibly justify more skis.

Originally Posted by gointhedistance

So I thought this deserves it's own thread outside of the other quiver threads because I want people to share their opinions on the types/style of skis that fulfill a quiver - not the specific brand/make/model of skis themselves.

So... What makes up your ideal quiver?

How many skis make up an ideal quiver (all things considered - varied conditions, skiing style, cost, location, etc)? **Limit 1-3 for this conversation.*

What classification/style of ski/binding combo for each said slot above? (Pure carve, all-mountain jib, all mountain carve, powder, touring, etc, etc) (Low Tech, AT, alpine, MFD, etc).

Feel free to share personal info that sheds light on your choices; i.e. height, weight, location skiing, social security number, credit card number...

Me:

Four sets of sticks

1 - Directional carve ski, stiff, w/ waist of 85-95mm. Alpine binders. In bounds, groomers, cruddy crud, low snow.
2 - Touring ski, stiff charger, to excel in med depth pow to variable snow. Low tech binders. BC, sidecountry days.
3 - Pow Day play toy. 120ish. Alpine binders. Inbounds, resort accessed/bootpack sidecountry. DELETED**
4 - Powder masher. Something that rips big, deep and fast lines without 2nd thought. Low tech or AT ? Can't decide...

Edit: 3 COMBOS ONLY!!
If you disagree - or have other opinions, let them be known. Ready... Go!

Well for where I ski (Mayrhofen in Austria) we have a selection of Europe's best parks so that kicks off my choice with a stiffer than average freestyle ski, good for hitting up big transitions and jibbing around the mountain when you fancy, our "One" ski for me fits this bill perfectly. We've also got some fantastic terrain that is best accessed with skins and can encounter some shitty snow conditions so something stiff, wide and with rocker is called for, preferably with a waist of 120mm plus and duke's on. Lastly I'd want something to play on for those days where you're looking up the mountain and not 100% sure what to expect, ie twin, stiff, normal camber, 100mm ish under foot!

OK....per the rules of the thread....

125mm waisted pow ski, flattish underfoot w/ both tip/tail rocker,
110mm waisted all around ski, camber underfoot w/ tip rocker only,
100mm waisted all around ski, regular camber, no rocker.

Alpine bindings on the 125mm and 100mm, backcountry bindings on the 110mm.

But I all think it is relative and depends on where you ski the most. ie. Whistler is a big mountain with a variety of conditions encountered from top to bottom. You need one ski that can pretty much do it all in day. I have a seasons pass at Mt. Baker. Baker is a great mountain, awesome terrain, tons of snow that can get a bit heavy, but it is not all that big (the laps are pretty quick). So if you ski 40 – 50 days on a smaller mountain, then 2 – 3 skis it can get a bit boring.

I get there early (cause I have to cross the border early to avoid waits) and park right beside the lift, and may switch planks a couple of times a day.

So now I am up to a 5 ski quiver for next year…..all with Jesters except for the Rubys (Barons):

182cm Moment Comis (160/135/145) for deep days,
186cm Moment Night Trains (140/123/135) – haven’t skied yet – for a chopped up pow, soft days, jibby, rippin’ around hitting stuff,
190cm Moment Bibbys (143/118/134) – haven’t skied yet - for charging chopped up pow laps inbounds,
180cm Moment Rubys (141/111/129) for sidecountry,
178cm LibTech NAS Freerides (137/100/123) for ice/no new snow/park/firm days,

Some quiver overlap...eg Bibbys and Night Trains. But it's only money.....and I bought them both on sale (approx. $350 for each) which is like one pair for $700 new. And the NTs will be a different feel (more centered) than the Bibbys. Fun to switch around in a day.


K

Rock skis = 95-105mm underfoot. used and with time abused (currently ON3P Vicik)

Early season race carver/hard pack/no snow in 15 days ski = $75-90mm underfoot. A thoroughbred (currently DPS Cassiar 80SL)

Everyday charger. Big mountain fall line ski with Dynaduke set-up = 100-115mm underfoot. Great for touring and/or boot packing (Currently DPS Wailer 105)

Inbounds soft snow fun jibby type ski. Fat weight no issue. Alpine clamps. = $$$110=125 underfoot. Kinda for those days at the Bird when you feel like lapping the Cirque or Gad 2, and not hiking Baldy. (Currently MOMENT Night Train)

Strict powder only ski $125+ underfoot. Maybe, reverse/reverse. Taken out only on those few bottomless days. (Currently MOMENT Ghost Chant)

I believe in minimalism. I also only ski where mechanical power takes me to the top. Fuck that tour shit.

1) powder day and up to 2 days after:
- pow sticks. 130+ waist
(Moment Comi 186)

2) >2 days after previous snowfall
- all mtn. 105ish
(Goats 183)

3) boilerplate / groomer only
- race sticks or LBs
(AK Pro 184, Atomic ARC 211s)

My three ski quiver as of the moment (I'm on the east coast):

Dedicated hard snow ice skate 70-80mm - added mid-last winter in a gesture of surrender to the cruel snow gods

Everyday ski ~90mm - This one gets the majority of my days

Aspirational powder ski 105-120 -This one gets most of my days in my rich fantasy life