New Head Monster i.M 88

**kb1dqh** · 07-30-2005, 04:00 PM

Anyone have any beta on this? Their site is talking about a "liquid metal" core. Is that just marketing or are we talking about a ski that's going to be significantly different than the Monster 85 (which is a sick ski)? -kb

**Arty50** · 07-30-2005, 05:40 PM

The 88 was out last year too. I don't know if it had a liquid metal core, but perhaps that would explain how a friend bent his last year. FWIW, he liked them up until they bent. But that's just one person's experience, and every run of skis will have some that bend/break/etc.

**PacRimRider1** · 07-30-2005, 05:54 PM

Just checked and I'm still getting the 04/05 info at head.com. Where are you finding this?

**kb1dqh** · 07-30-2005, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by PacRimRider1

Just checked and I'm still getting the 04/05 info at head.com. Where are you finding this?

Here is where I got it:

http://www.untracked.com/?highlight=...ferrer=Froogle

**PacRimRider1** · 07-30-2005, 06:07 PM

Thanks. From what I know about the past monsters, that site's description and the coupla 05/06 pairs I saw on the mountain last season, they are a traditionally built ski (i.e. sandwich constuction-wood, glass & metal.) This would leave me to assume this Liquidmetal deal refers to an alloy that they would rather not give a name to. It most likely Cu 131 or something along those lines, which from my exprience in lacrosse shafts is as good as titanium (perhaps better depending on what it's used for) but more importantly cheaper.

Going along with what Arty said, Ti does tend to bend when put under enough stress, while alloys tend to break. I don't think this is something to be conserned about, however.

**FigureEleven** · 07-30-2005, 06:57 PM

Oooh... and it has Twintip Technology!

Marketing BS is exactly that... BS. That said, I have only heard good things about this ski. Too bad it doesnt come a bit longer than 186.

**PhysicsMan** · 07-30-2005, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by PacRimRider1

...This would leave me to assume this Liquidmetal deal refers to an alloy that they would rather not give a name to. It most likely Cu 131 or something along those lines...

Jake, PacRim - It's this:
http://www.liquidmetal.com/applicati...p.sporting.asp
http://www.liquidmetal.com/news/dsp.multimedia.asp

I'm pretty good friends with one of LM's main technical weenies, but the truth be told, any advantages to incorporating Liquid Metal (TM) in a ski are pretty much totally hypothetical at the present time, so, I'd regard the presence of liquid metal as an irrelevant factoid and see if you like how they ski, how rugged they are, etc.

Tom / PM

**snocat** · 07-30-2005, 11:50 PM

They've been using it in their tennis rackets for a few years. Not sure what the liquidmetal does or if it's marketing hype, but they're great playing rackets, Agassi, Safin, some of the top guys use them.

**comish** · 08-01-2005, 06:54 PM

Didn't ski the, just fondled them in the shop last year. Sandwich construction. Limited size range with big differences between sizes. I think about 10cm between sizes. MUCH softer than the Monster 85. Mrs. Comish was skiing 179 85's and liked them alot until she delamed both tips. Just got a call that her new 88's are in.

Don't know squat about Liquid metal.

**Shin-to-Win** · 08-08-2005, 11:14 PM

I skied the 175's during a demo day at Crystal. They didn't have the 186, but the rep assured me that the 175's were enough ski and that's the length he skis them in (he is a ripping skier and over 6ft 200lbs). I was pre-disposed to dislike them but toook them for a few cruisers and crud busting runs.

On the curisers, they dug trenches, in the light chop, they were competent, but the length and significant sidecut made me feel like they had a speed limit. I couldn't power through at speed like I would have on a set of Bros or Exploders. In a longer length, they would have been $$$$. A solid choice for a do-it-all-except-float-the-pow ski. Not my first choice for crud busting in heavy slop, but capable in variable conditions and they don't give up anything on the groomers if that's your thang.

**lph** · 08-09-2005, 09:11 AM

fondled them at the shop as well. I will also add, significantly softer feel than the old monsters.

Local kirkwood snowboard ripper put some freerides on them. Hadn't skied in 10 years and bent them both within a week on what sounded like a smallish huck, can't remember the whole story. anyway he did not replace the monsters, went with a completely different ski. FWIW.