Thread: Shoe's Super Nobis vs. NKO review.

Alrighty, now that I've gotten more than a few days on the Super Nobis’s to really get a feel for them and their capabilities in all types of conditions, I figured it's about time I throw up a review. The other ski in my quiver is the No Ka Oi, so there are comparisons between the two throughout.

First, the nerdy skinny:

skis:
194 Dynastar Super Nobis (117-90-109) w/Look ZR's no-lift
193 AK No Ka Oi (120-84-110) w/Rossi Pro 180’s 10 mm lift.

me:
5'10", 170ish, and like to ski fast.

Pow:
This past Saturday, I was on the SN’s, and Punani and I had the chance to grab 3rd and 4th tracks respectively down Zach's at Kirkwood on a powder day. Normally, Zach's is THE groomed black diamond run at KW that everyone and their grandma hits (i.e. its usually gaper pinball) but this day it was blessed with about 8 inches of pow windbuffed to a creamy smooth consistency and there was nobody on the slope, so it was finally time to let ‘em rail non-stop to the bottom to see if I could hit their speed-limit……..I could not…..I pushed off and straightlined the first 50 yards or so to gain momentum and then started arcing big GS turns. These are easily the most stable, smooth pow sticks I’ve ever ridden. I could easily fully pressure the tips of this ski in the middle of a pow turn (remember, though I don’t weigh that much) and it just holds and holds and the stiff tail accelerates you into the next turn. I can do this a little on my No Ka Oi’s as well, but their sidecut makes the ski hook around…here, with the SN’s and their lack of sidecut, they just held the line I pointed them at. The sensation really was akin to a race GS ski on hardpack, but in powder. You could really lay ‘em over, stand and pressure the front of the downhill ski, and drag & dip your uphill hand & hip in the pow, and then rebound back up, lay’em over the other way, and lean in for more. For a skier of my build, they’ll go as fast as I want them to in powder with no chatter, no instability, and no unpredictability. Heaven.

Crud
Here, a lot of what I mentioned above holds true for cut-up crud as well, but when the crud becomes say a day or two old, and becomes baked and hardened a little, I’d rather be on the No Ka Oi’s. I found that the NKO’s will not deflect as much as the SN’s and will hold a more stable edge when the shit gets bumpy, rutted out, and variable. The SN’s are still great here, but this is where the NKO’s really shine, so I just prefer them in these conditions.

Steep, Technical shit
Billygoaty type stuff. Both of these skis are super stiff and hold a great edge on steep ice but the lack of sidecut on the SN’s give me a little more confidence. All the sidecut in the NKO’s cause them to bow and bend a lot to get the entire edge in contact with the slope while billygoating, sideslipping, and hop-turning down steep, rocky stuff, whereas the straighter SN’s give some more predictability. Plus the SN’s lack of sidecut make them MUCH easier to pivot, sideslip, and bust out a few quick short-swing turns around obstacles when necessary….I was actually really surprised at how well the SN's do this with all their girth and their marketing hype as nothing but a high-speed AK mountain ripper....the SN's are really maneuverable in tight spots as well. The NKO’s don’t like to sideslip and pivot and want to carve everything, so there’s a lot more work to do with them when billygoating technical stuff.

Other Stuff….(getting tired of typing )
Hardpark/Groomers: NKO’s rail like no other, but the SN’s hold a surprisingly good edge as well. The SN’s would probably be a little better here if I had some lift on them.

Bumps: I actually like the SN’s here. I was surprised to find that I can ski a zipperline on them…again, must be the straightness. The NKO’s don’t like the zipperline, but you can cruise at mach speed across them GS’style, if ya got the balance.

Mojo: Both their relatively obscurity gives them high mojo…maybe not so much as an Iggy or DB or something…but they’re up there

Summary
Pow: Super Nobis
Crud: NKO
Technical Shit: Super Nobis
Hardpack/groomers: NKO
Bumps: Super Nobis for fall-line, NKO for fast GS style
oh and air: Super Nobis…more stable & predictable when landing.
oh and lastly, durability: bases on the NKO’s have definitely been standing up better to rocks .

You can just give me those worthless NKO's then. Yeah I always do that.



But, if you had to keep one or the other what would it be?

Originally posted by DINMS

But, if you had to keep one or the other what would it be?

oh man i dunno...that's a decision that would keep up me up at night

I spent all of last on the NKO as my only board. This year so far has been split equally 50/50.

I'm leaning towards the SN though (but maybe with a little xtra lift for better hardpack performance)

Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces


I'm leaning towards the SN though (but maybe with a little xtra lift for better hardpack performance)

I change my mind...the NKO's.

shit....maybe one foot with an NKO and the other with a Super Nobis?

Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces


Bumps: I actually like the SN?s here. I was surprised to find that I can ski a zipperline on them?again, must be the straightness. The NKO?s don?t like the zipperline, but you can cruise at mach speed across them GS?style, if ya got the balance.

I new I heard those bumps whispering to you:

"Tyrone we miss you, we love you, come to us and let our tight rut line embrace you"
________
DR-Z400S

How can I find this guy at all convincing when none of his skis have a green robot on them?

Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces
I change my mind...the NKO's.

shit....maybe one foot with an NKO and the other with a Super Nobis?

You should try that. Me and fiddler did one moster cross and one 85 im and it wasn't weird at all. You get speed with the stiffer faster 85im and check your speed and turn with the cross....

Your conclusions are spot on with my comparison between the Rossi XXX Gordy Stock and the B3's.

Originally posted by DINMS

But, if you had to keep one or the other what would it be?

well, since this thread was bumped. Update on your question: I'd definitely choose the SuperNobis. It's now my everyday ski...I'm using it even on hardpack days. The NKO is still a ton of fun...I'm just finding that I prefer a straighter ski.

second that on the NKO. i was on a 180 and also found them hooky in places I didn't want that - steep and trees. i thought it was the twin tipped tail as well as sidecut. was thinking of trying the king salmons.

the nko rips on GS turns but not with the heart pounding of my older G4s - now being enjoyed by gforce. overall - i liked the ski but not enough to keep it. superhigh mojo marks for sure. still waiting to give my new xplosivs a go.