Review: 191 ON3P Wrenegade

[Shorty_J]

Got my first day on these today and thought I'd do a preliminary review.

Summary:

Skier info...
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 155 nekid
Age: 34
Boots: Flexons w/ #6 tongue and booster strap
Mount: -1cm from recommended with Dynaduke plates for 293mm bsl
Hand flex: Stiff. Feels similar to my well-loved LP's.

Skis I liked: 186cm raceroom LP, 181cm Coomba, Spat's, 178 Wailer 105 F2, 178 Rossi XXX
Skis I disliked: 179 Bro, 186 S3
Skier ability: LEEEEEERRRRRROOOOOOOYYYYY!!!!

Conditions: tracked powder, wind sift, wind-hammered semi-ice, crud, groomed.

Background: I was looking for a powder/crud ski that was manageable in all conditions because skiing the spats on the groomers back to the lift was exhausting and terrifying, and I wanted something I can open the throttle on a little more in open spaces. I initially debated the Billygoat but I wondered to myself if the reason I didn't like the S3 was possibly the 5-point sidecut and/or the short turning radius. I talked to Scott on the phone and settled on the Wren.

For the mount, since one of my main intended uses for this ski is powder, and the recommended line had a lot of tail behind it I was thinking about going -1cm. I did some measurements to find my mount location using the "Ball of foot on centre of effective edge" method and got -1cm as well... I figured that was a confirmation of my gut feelings and mounted there.

The review:
First run was mild angled wind-buffed powder covering some old tracks from yesterday and I was smiling right away. I initially found myself getting locked into a large radius turn, but corrected my balance point and more heavily weigted forward and SHAZAM! There is absolutely zero tip hook and any turn shape and size is possible.

Throughout the day my initial findings were confirmed... a very forward weigting on the skis and they can do anything you want... carve, slarve, slash... anything. The snow wasn't very deep but because the tip engagement is so smooth and there is no hookiness, I didn't have to worry about bad things happening by getting into too agressive a position. Trees were no problem to negotiate, even in the longer length, but I didn't get into anything too tight today.

These things own crud. Full stop.

Inconsistent snow in some areas had me quickly transitioning from wind-sifted powder to wind-buffed semi-ice, and this transition gave me some problems in the form of brutal chatter as I tried to skid on this surface while the edges bit and released. I'm not sure yet, but I may detune the whole ski a touch since I don't intend to use this ski much on firmer days. This shouldn't affect the skis performance for it's intended use, but should make it more forgiving for changing and variable conditions. I don't know if that transition would be any easier on any ski so maybe I shouldn't bother.

On groomers, these ski definately hold and edge very well. I was happy for the added stand height of the Dynaduke plates because I felt a lot of torque on my ankle trying to put the 114mm waist on edge. I also found that it doesn't initiate a turn on hardpack the way a ski with normal cambre would, and I had some difficulty carving different radii of turns. I'm either too light to push the ski hard enough to do this, or because the tip doesn't engage like a cambred ski it's just harder to weight the tip in the way I'm used to in order to change the carve radius. I might dial this in with more use.

The flex feels stiff but forgiving... the ski seemed flex when it needed to and I never felt like I was going to get bucked to due terrain irregularities. It is far more damp than I expected given there is no metal, and this is a very pleasant finding for me as I prefer a damp ski to a poppy ski. There might be less carbon in mine since I asked Scott for a very slightly softened ski... he'll have to chime in on that as I'm un-sure if that's how they accomplished this.

Other notes:
- Even at -1, I still feel like there's a lot of tail to this ski. I intend to just get used to that.
- I hit a fair amount of stuff today, and I either got lucky in the way I hit it, or they are using really durable base and edge material at ON3P because there's almost nothing to see in terms of damage.

I guess I haven't been on a tonne of skis, but overall, even after only 1 day I would already say that this is probably the best all-around single ski I've ever been on. I am most excited about it's ability to make wind-slabbed snow fairly easy and super-enjoyable to ski... this bodes very well for the areas I frequent.

Thank you very much to everyone at ON3P for making this excellent ski! Very rewarding!

[unpossible]

Thanks for the writeup Shorty_J. I mounted at 0 and definitely feel like there is a lot of tail, but I can't say this has bothered me, in my use yet. Also, I mounted with Jesters and can't say I have had any issue with putting them on edge on the groomers (unlike the Billy Goats; where I feel like I would have liked the added height from mounting them with Dukes; may remount).

[PowTron]

Pretty much spot on review to my experiences on them over the past couple times of trying them.

Kick ass skis, and I am for sure going to get some. It charges almost as well as my Motherships, but are WAY more forgiving and "slarveable".

[BigLineSeeker]

I have a few days on mine and have similar comments; my only issue is that I find the tip and tail really hooky on groomers. I am going to detune the tip and tail and seel how they ride tomorrow. I love them everywhere except for the hard stuff right now so I hope a little edge prep will make them perfect.

[Shorty_J]

Mine were clearly de-tuned at the factory before shipping. I find the tail sometimes holds on pretty hard, but I don't find the tip hooky on hardpack at all. Hopefully a little de-tune addresses your concern.

[klauss]

I have my 191s mounted +3 out of necessity due to previous mounts. Had em at 0. Liked them there and to my astonishment still like them at plus three. I'm a sucker for this ski. If I had to choose one ski, this is it. Does not feel hooky at all to me, but just enough radius to rail groomers. Deffinitly feel confident at speed on hardpack among other conditions. I have some 195 Motherships now too and after one day skiing em, they feel way more hooky/turny than the Wrens. Like the MoShips a lot too though.

[skiborsy]

I have about three days on mine so far and haven't noticed any hookyness, either (mounted on the line with FKS). I've actually been pretty surprised at how willing they are to slide the tail given the lack of tail rocker. Definitely enjoying them so far and can't wait to get em out in some deeper snow!

[sklar]

i detuned the tails on mine a little bit, and they are money

[Long duc dong]

Nice review.

[dumbledore]

I have three days on mine including one tour in the Alpental backcountry.

191cm mounted on the line with Dynafit F12s.

Bottom line: these skis slay when you are charging. If you get lazy they will own you.

[Driver]

"Slarving" has become quite trendy these days...

Detuning the tails? To "slarve"? This is a middle of the quiver ski, in my mind this should have a full edge. I also have yet to have full edges hurt me in pow on any ski. Edges don't matter in pow. But they are good if you know how to lay down turns on anything semi-firm. Detuning tails can be good if you want to perfect the art of the skid turn.

[Fatfish]

^^^^^ Or if you want an easier release out of a carve if the tails normally lock down. Or to fix a bad tune!

[Shorty_J]

"Slarving" has become quite trendy these days...

Detuning the tails? To "slarve"? This is a middle of the quiver ski, in my mind this should have a full edge. I also have yet to have full edges hurt me in pow on any ski. Edges don't matter in pow. But they are good if you know how to lay down turns on anything semi-firm. Detuning tails can be good if you want to perfect the art of the skid turn.

For me, this is going to be my powder/crud ski. I like having the stiffness to use if I feel like it, but being a lightweight, I can't always bend the ski into a tight enough carve for all situations... so a slarve is a necessity.

[Fatfish]

So, just bought a pair of these. Bit of a Jongish question but, they were mounted on the line for a 326 bsl and I have a 311. Do you guys think I should re-mount or maybe I can get away with occupying the old ones? I did see that Klaus still enjoyed them at +3, so that sounds promising.

[undertow2]

I have last years Wrens and by far the best ski I have been on... Mine was mounted on the line, which I know is the recommendation... I do believe there was some discussion about this in the past and Iggy did not recommend going off the mark... Could be wrong, but am pretty sure he said on the line...

[unpossible]

326 to 311 is a pretty big difference, unless they were mounted for Dukes, you aren't going to get that much adjustment (even then I am not sure its gonna work). Depending on the binding I'm thinking you will be able to remount and still be on the line, if not +/- 1cm forward/back.

I mounted mine on the line as that is what Iggy recommends.

[Fatfish]

Okay, thanks. They are Jesters and I am hoping they may work because of that long ass adjustment track. Guess I will wait and see.

[unpossible]

You should be able to figure that out by following the instructions for the binding templates here: [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153971"]Binding Mount Paper Templates - Teton Gravity Research Forums[/ame]

Do it on a piece of wood or something, should give you an idea of how the holes lineup.

[BigLineSeeker]

Okay, thanks. They are Jesters and I am hoping they may work because of that long ass adjustment track. Guess I will wait and see.

If I was to mount mine again I would have gone at -1cm from recommended. With the tip rocker the rec. mounting point seems too far forward for me.

[DHogg]

Pretty much spot on. My only complaint with my wrens is that I have some decent topsheet chipping, but its weirdly only on one of the 4 topsheet edges.

[Shorty_J]

Still loving these at -1, and I am even more convinced that this is the best ski I've ever been on. Absolutely amazing in powder and crud, and I finally had an opportunity to really open them up on groomers and the hold on like a whore to a crack pipe.

I still think they prefer softer groomers to very firm conditions, but that might just be because I'm too much of a lightweight to bend the ski.

I also have a little bit of top-sheet chipping but it's very minor, and the edges and bases seem to be made of something super strong because I have almost no markings at all after a fair number of hits.

Going from 326 to 311 bsl would result in only +0.75cm, so not too much... but as I stated in the original review, there is still a lot of tail to this ski at -1. FWIW.

[klikboom]

Any touring review? How heavy do they get on the way up? Any folks tried the wren's then the Viciks?

[unpossible]

^^^ Ottime tours on them and claims to love them (with Dukes). You can PM him for more feedback probably.

[dravis9000]

if they are drilled for jester , i just picked up some powder boards with a 312 bsl
drilled for a jester , im 326. schizo binders were all that was available , used the jester holes [+2]and the schizo let me dial them in . the chance to ski them at all reasonable mounting points is also a plus. this is the only way i found out i like them at 97 not the suggested 99cm.

[Shorty_J]

Any touring review? How heavy do they get on the way up? Any folks tried the wren's then the Viciks?

Don't own Vicicks (yet) but I'm taking the wrens touring with Dyanfit Comforts with no brakes on Dynaduke plates. Setup weighs a hair under 3kg/foot, so not light, but not super heavy either either. Weighed a hair under the my coombas with the same bindings but with brakes, so it can't be too bad. Skis alone weight about 2.4kg.... then there's fastners, etc.

This is for some low angle meadow skipping... talk about overkill!

Will report my findings on tourability.