Thread: What ski is right for me?

Yes, it's time for another one of those threads.... I have searched, but would like more info. My original Gotamas are pretty well exploded, so I think that it's time for me to start looking for something new before they're gone. I love the Gotamas and am leaning towards finding another pair, but I'm guessing there's probably something better out there.

I'm a decent skier, like to ski fast, but I lack in the power department. I would probably call my skiing more lazy than powerful.

What I don't want:
-Reverse Camber/sidecut - This is going to be a pretty much every (good) day ski and don't think reverse anything would be too good. I'm not opposed to flat
-A much bigger waist - See above
-Stiffness - Stiff skis serve their purpose, but I would like something of medium flex
-Lots of sidecut - I don't need help carving
- <185 or >190ish

What I want:
-Something that slides on hard pack and in pow - This was something I loved about the Gotamas. I could throw them sideways whenever and didn't have to worry about hooking.
-Fairly easy turn initiation - I ski in the trees most of the time
-Something that matches my bindings - I can select from gold and black or red and white
-Something that I can buy from a store. No customs.

Things I'm considering, in order. Feel free to compare and contrast.
Gotama - either new vintage or older vintage
VCT/EHP - 190, not the 193
JP vs Julien - Too jibby?
Seth Vicious - smaller waist and more sidecut bother me though
Ant - Too big to turn in the trees?
Scratch BC - Small length, small waist bother me
1080 Gun - umm... Not sure

Any other 100-105ish waisted skis out there that I should be considering?

You'd probably like the 186cm Prophet 100s: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=75214. I absolutely love them in the trees. They have, however, a pretty ample sidecut (33.5) and are a little stiffer than most of the skis you've mentioned.

Other than that, the Guns (fairly soft, by all reports) and Gotamas would seem to work.

I got a couple friends on VCTs (one 182 and another 190), they seem to love them - and the guy on 190's uses em essentially everyday. construction seems bomber to boost. Seems like a good option.

I heart my p4s. not a really stiff or soft ski, medium flex, fun to play around with at low speeds, but still pretty stable at speeds. My everyday ski, unless I'm just riding park.

soft bro's?
some were in gearswap

Fischer Wateas?

Big Daddies? (The ones with 107mm waist) I know you can find killer deals on the first gen models. I LOVE mine.

mojo 105 if you are pretty soft on your feet, and like to smear turns every once in a while.

hmm... I hadn't thought of the mojos or p4s, maybe I'll have to go fondle some this weekend. Mojo 105s are a lot different than the older 103/super mojo, right? I couldn't find much here, but it seems like I saw that they were lighter and softer. I like to smear turns a lot because lots of times, I have no other choice. I should have mentioned that when I say 'trees', I mean EC trees and brush piles.

Big Daddies are out because I need a very turnable ski and they weren't for me.

edit - nevermind, I found your comparison Marshal. But damn... 1050 retail.

Originally Posted by crashnburn'd

But damn... 1050 retail.

look around man. they can be hd for alot less than that. vicious just sold a pair for $400. only problem is the bases are made out of warm butter... hit alot of rocks? then maybe not. but the skiing of them sounds like a really good match to your style.


edit: and you might check THISout:

I'll be watching this thread since I think I'm looking for pretty much the same ski that you are. The Fischer Prohete is also on my list.

Originally Posted by marshalolson

mojo 105 if you are pretty soft on your feet, and like to smear turns every once in a while.

This sounds interesting to me - but I'd definitely want to demo it first. I tried the Mojo 90 and hated it compared to the im88, which I bought and LOVE. But I've been thinking about what to do when the time comes to replace the Gotamas I have for the fatter side of the quiver and I've been wishing there was just a fatter im88 - they rail, but then smear turns right when I want them to. They're so predictable and easy, it's like cheating.

Never skiied the 105's, but just flexing them they don't feel all that soft. Sure the 103's are burlier, but I found the 105 flex to be still quite meaty, much more so than my older Gotamas. The flex of them seems quite similar to this years Gotamas.

Altagirl....Why no love for the 90's? Too soft?

Originally Posted by marshalolson

hit alot of rocks?

Rocks, stumps, fallen trees, small children. This may be a problem as I'll probably run over all of them at least once in a given day. They're worth a look though.

I'm also gonna be watching this thread as I need something versatile enough to ski on pretty much everyday and would fill the hole between my PE's and Pow +'s

You can watch all you want, but most likely what you'll see is me waffling and then skiing on Gotamas that have the edges falling off.

Check the thread in gear swap, cheap p4s (I think they might be out of the 181s though), and they also have some of the most durable, bomb proof bases I've ever been on!

Originally Posted by laseranimal

I'm also gonna be watching this thread as I need something versatile enough to ski on pretty much everyday and would fill the hole between my PE's and Pow +'s

Perhaps there should be some sort of club? The "I love my pow+ but don't have the balls, skill, strength or snow to ski them regularly" club.

Originally Posted by bryanthebold

Altagirl....Why no love for the 90's? Too soft?

Maybe that was it. I really expected to like them - a friend just bought a pair and she loves them. But they just didn't feel as stable and seemed more chattery than the im88. Though in general, I think the 90s fall into the category of skis that were designed with a more center mounted position in mind - which I rarely like.

Originally Posted by AKbruin

You'd probably like the 186cm Prophet 100s: http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=75214. I absolutely love them in the trees. They have, however, a pretty ample sidecut (33.5) and are a little stiffer than most of the skis you've mentioned.

Other than that, the Guns (fairly soft, by all reports) and Gotamas would seem to work.

When did 30+ become a lot of sidecut? And that number is wrong. BC.com has it at 18.9.

I know it's under your 185 limit, but how about 184 Squads?

Originally Posted by Dromond

Perhaps there should be some sort of club? The "I love my pow+ but don't have the balls, skill, strength or snow to ski them regularly" club.

I'm not just a member I'm the president

Originally Posted by WWCD

When did 30+ become a lot of sidecut? And that number is wrong. BC.com has it at 18.9.

I thought "sidecut" was measured in millimeters as the difference in width from the tips to the waist (for the prophet: 133.5mm - 100mm = 33.5mm). Whereas, 18.9 meters is the ski's "turn radius." I could be confusing the terminology or measurements though.

As for "a lot of sidecut," I meant relative to the wide-waisted all-mountain/powder ski class, i.e., Seths, Gotamas, etc. For example, the 184cm B4s (which are awesome skis, by the way) have a turning radius of 25m.

I got ya.

Those two words are interchangable to me.

Originally Posted by WWCD

I know it's under your 185 limit, but how about 184 Squads?

I had thought about those because of the flat tail, running length is similar to the other skis listed. I don't think I'm really looking for a ski to charge on... More to dink around and have fun.

P4's. absolutley love them in any condition