What's missing from my touring quiver?

[Lindahl]

Not that you need more options, but look at Down skis too - shoot SiST or geo a message if you want. They've hooked up mags in the past.

I picked up a second-hand Countdown 4 this last season and think its an awesome do-everything touring ski. The one I have is rocker/camber/rocker with a similar low profile to a Cochise or a Salomon Q Lab - way different sidecut though. The last two seasons it went full reverse camber, but next season its back to rocker/camber/rocker (fuck yeah!). They are also introducing a second softer layup option that makes it even lighter than my 8lb ultrastiff version. It'll still be a good flex - I'd guess similar to PM Gear stock flex, or Praxis Med/Stiff+.

I skied it in a ton of conditions this spring: ultragrabby windslab, frozen rime-ish, perfect corn, deadlock crust, 2' of dreamy powder, 8" of sluff-away powder over inconsistent firm snow (old mini rollerballs?), tracked out chutes (doh!), avy-debris-strewn heavy powder, and more. I can't imagine a better ski to use for such a variety. The lack of shape makes it damn good in really wierd conditions. It slarves super predictably. Was skiing way faster than my partners down 45-50 degree firm and grabby windslab above a no fall - it just released so well, without giving you that pintailed washout feeling. I expected to get some of that with the 120-102-107 dimensions, but I was surprised that it just doesn't feel like a pintail in that way - won't spin you around. In powder, it definitely has that surfy feel and floats really well. It doesn't quite feel like a 115mm+ ski, but its damn close, while doing everything else much better. The construction they use is pretty sweet. Bomber bases and you can really haul balls on it, even inbounds. Similar to PM Gear in that respect. Does not ski like a lightweight ski at all.

Honestly, I'm thinking about picking up a backup pair, I like it that much. Add a Carbon Megawatt, Carbon Kusala, or Lotus 120 Pure, and you're set. Maybe add an 88mm ski too for the long distance summer stuff - like that Zenoxide, but not so sure about that, since it does those conditions so well anyway.

[tuco]

4frnt Raven
G3 Zenoxide 105 or maybe an old Manhatten(I know where you can score some for cheap)
Movement Shift(too narrow?) or an old Goliath(I know where you can score some even cheaper)
Carbon 192 Big Bro, unfortunately not part of presale going on now.

[DropCliffsNotBombs]

I have a pass, but more than 2 hours at the resort usually bores me. I prefer the solitude, the exercise, the adventure, and the snow out of bounds.

You and me both, buddy!

[SiSt]

Since people are starting to chime in, I'll mention that our annual presale starts on July 1st.

ISBD, thanks for the mention. The new rocker is in between what you've been skiing and last year's full reverse. Smoother than yours, bigger sweet spot than last year's. The lighter version is not significantly softer than the normal one, but we've softened the tail a little on both versions. Weight difference is about 300+ grams per ski, but I've yet to weigh the final production version.

[GeezerSteve]

Skins or scales? That is the question.

Skins and scales. That is the answer for 50%+ of tours I do.

[Quadzilla]

Let's start a touring ski demo co-op this winter. With El Nino coming, we might need skis that can handle warm, thick snow... I have 28.5 Vulcans so hopefully you can fit the bindings. i'm not surprised that the Justices are too planky for TLT6s. I don't think Bode's race boots could bring most BD skis to life. Unless you want to buy my Quadrants, you might have to admit that your ski choice is limited by the softer boots. You are probably the guy that Voile Charger or V6 is made for.

Coomback 114. Hmmm.

Thanks for the K2 link. Pretty impressive ski as explained by Hattrup and looks like a great Tahoe ski busting crust and heavier snow. My concern is that my TLT6's won't be enough boot to ski the 114 with authority. Also interested in the sizing. Looks like K2 has changed the sizes and I wonder if they still measure long or the new sizes are true to measurement. So is the new 184 the same as the old 181. WTBS, I have had good luck with K2 skis, my resort skis are K2's and have plenty of miles on older Coombacks in the BC. My gut feeling is that this ski is going ski our terrain very well but a 184 with my boots maybe a bit of a mismatch especially if the skis are actually bigger than a 184. Plus probably weigh a lot.

Maybe just drop back to a 105ish where I know my boots will perform and call it good. Not real keen on having boot quivers. Right now got one pair of Alpine boots, one AT and one Tele. My TLT6's actually match pretty good with my 185 BD Justice. But a BD Justice is kinda a odd ski. It has cap const with very rounded sides with makes the ski ski loose and slippery on soft snow and powder but has terrible grip when edge is needed like a couple of inches over firm. So if the skis are kept as a powder specific only the boots can handle that. But after a full season on TLT6's they are great on the up, good skiing powder and good skiing a smaller ski like a Nanuq. But, for me not enough skiing mixed tough conditions with a big ski.

[wooley12]

" What's missing from my touring quiver?"

With that many choices, I'd say ability. But that's just me.

[Lindahl]

" What's missing from my touring quiver?"

With that many choices, I'd say ability. But that's just me.

What are you, anti-quiver or something? Heretic!

Burn him at the stake!

[lepistoir]

Moderation?

Moderation will make you go blind, they told me. Besides, I'm a gear whore and love shopping. Now, in addition to discovering several good options for the ski niche I'm trying to fill, I also realized I need a pair of RAX, a waxless Tele/Tech setup and apparently goats and a gun. Thanks all!

[lepistoir]

" What's missing from my touring quiver?"

With that many choices, I'd say ability. But that's just me.

When you want to build a ski bonfire to Ullr this fall, I've got you covered.

[wooley12]

What are you, anti-quiver or something? Heretic!

Burn him at the stake!

No, just maybe more eclectic. Not the current quiver but you get the idea.

[rob stokes]

Prior Husume XTC, 1900g in 181.

Really good all round all condition touring ski.

[Micol]

s ui cidez

[DoWork]

Jesus OP. You've got all those skis and still don't consider any of them to be good all around everyday do-it-all touring skis??


The answer is so simple though. For a stable and competent but super playful ski that you can pick up on literally any fucking day and be ready for anything just get a pair of 185 Worth Magics.

I'd go through the whole Worth Magic double carbon schpiel but I'm super busy at the shop right now and really don't have time. Just wanted to give you the basics and say that they made me feel 100% comfortable selling veneer BG Hybrid Tours, Fat Bro Hybrids and like 3 other pairs of awesome skis. They are seriously all I ski now except in really big bumps. They have that camber, flex and sidecut that let you really dig in and use your edges when it's a 2D surface day but the rocker profile but they somehow still stay so loose and playful you really can make any move at any time. They also straightline like a motherfucker and slice through chop better than any other ski period. They DO NOT DEFLECT.

I fucked around and thought I was doing myself a favor by putting together a lighter setup but I wasn't. It sucked. Skinny skis fucking suck dick in variable snow, there is no way around it. Fuck. That. I'm there for the skiing, not a slightly more pleasurable suffer fest. Now I am just planning on stockpiling this ski as much as I possibly can since nothing else I've been on does it all like this. Some are better in a single aspect, but none can fuck with it on all levels- that I've tried anyways.


Cheers OP. Gotta love a first world problem like that.

[tuco]

DPS Powderworks Lotus 120. Ultralight core, flat tail(limited edition-not the special edition which is just a topsheet. Saw these in a mailer, they are not on the website). Only the Lotus line is available in Powderworks editions(can't remember if the 150 is included off hand tho)
Wailer 112 RP2 looks better (straighter) than W112RPC imo

Edit to add: Powderworks skis are Spoon 150 and Spoon 120 available for the summer dreamtime sale starting on July 15, so I'm sure they will be on the website shortly.

[lepistoir]

^^^
Is that like the PM Gear Powdork Lhasa 191 Fat (the slightly poorer man's LOTUS 120)?

[iggyskier]

The steeple has the shape/camber/rocker nailed in every way. The missing element is the weight. 189 is 2300g per ski

Just a heads up to clarify - the weights we put out there back in January were done with a heavier bamboo material than we use on the touring skis. We ran out of it before SIA, and rather than just try and assume what the final weight would be, we went ahead and posted the weights with the heavier, natural bamboo we use in our non-models for our catalogs. Since we talk to our buyers at SIA, they were all aware the final production Steeple weights would come in lighter than listed, so we didn't think it would be a big deal. The carbonized bamboo we use on our touring models is considerably lighter, so once those skis go to production at the end of the month we will update the weights to the final production weight.

Even so, we still use 1.8mm thick 4001 bases, 2.5mm x 2.5mm edges, UHMW sidewalls, and a 100% bamboo core on all our tour skis, so if you are looking for the lightest ski around, there are better options out there. We still feel going down is a lot more important than going up. Just our take at least...

[iscariot]

DPS Powderworks Lotus 120.

If only DPS did a long low pro rise a la the ehp, volkl, and just about every other ski company that has figured out rocker, instead of that janky j bend they currently call a rocker.


Flame away.

[XXX-er]

Is it really a rocker or just a turney- uppey tail, you want me to go all conway on your worthless ass?

In any case digging the hybrid lotus 120 its my new hammer and everything looks like a nail

Be nice if it was lighter but I like how it skis > the 112

[tuco]

Is it really a rocker or just a turney- uppey tail

,
Huh?

you want me to go all conway on your worthless ass?

Hugh would love for you to conway his ass!

Be nice if it was lighter but I like how it skis > the 112

Looks like it's Summer Dreamtime for you!

[XXX-er]

lotus 120 tail ain't flat but it ain't really rockerd a-la 112 either, I skied it last weekend on rain soak glacier smoo and altho it could have been lighter ... loved it

I'm sorry but you are just not really very flame worthy either, not much worth flaming anymore since rog left

[tuco]

OK, I guess you missed the part where I said it was in a catalog called Summer Dreamtime, which means they are next years skis, which means you didn't ski this model on a rain soaked glacier last weekend. The catalog is right in front of me and it clearly states Flat Tail in the description, they are a model in limited supply with an ultralight core, not their regular core, so also lighter than what you skied, hence why I said "Summer Dreamtime for you".
Get it.... got it.... good! Now that that is cleared up, should I start the flaming?

[XXX-er]

Yeah I got you were talking about an update on the 120, of course I was fixated on my own experiance but go ahead and flame so I can try & turn it around on ya

[tuco]

Flamin's not my game, man. Hugh's a flamer tho, PM him
I don't blame ya, I'd be fixated if I went glacier skiing last weekend too, sumbitch
I think DPS addressed 1 of the downfalls of the 120, and that was that stupid twin or half twin(Iscariot mentioned 1 and the other is price)

[XXX-er]

I got some old red ones new/cheap and was entirely surprised by how much I love them everywhere, they are my new hammer and everything looks like a nail but I think next time I bring the lighter stokes cuz I am just a week old fuck

And Hugh is just misunderstood eh?