192 DPS 138 Flex 2 Rocker 3.1 Review

[JeffreyJim]

Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205
Skier Type: Washed Up
Previous Skis Liked: Praxis 185/195, EHP 186/193, ScratcH BC, Gotama
Mounted: On the line
Boot: Krypton Pro/Flexon 8 Flex

Conditions: Windblown 12-16", Blower 20+", Semi Tracked soft crud at JH/Teton Pass

Review: I pulled the trigger on a pair of 138s in hybrid construction to replace my Praxis (thin base from tons of use/bad grind). For the record, Praxis are my all time favorite pow ski. I went hybrid partially due to cost and partially because I wanted something a bit heavier than standard DPS stuff to help with deflection. When I pulled them off the shelf at Green Mountain Sports the first thing I noticed was the incredible amount of attention to the finish of these skis. The bases were flat and true as a race ski, the structure of the base was quality and I dug the new matte red top sheet.

In short, these ski similarly to Praxis but are more lively, more explosive and want to go faster. As expected, they plane quickly and smear very easily. I found myself "overskiing" them as they do not need as much input as Praxis...almost like I went from a standard 911 to a 911 GT3.

I did notice myself skiing them slightly more "off my heels" than I like for stability reasons. If I got over the front of the ski (and with the amount of rocker, you CAN get all over the front of the ski), the tips got squirly and felt like they would want to dart and wander a bit. It wasn't a huge deal but I think I might move the mount point back slightly. I need more days to decide. For what its worth this is strange for me...usually I end up liking the most forward mount position I can get without getting noticeable tip dive. (I ski more off the center of the ski than drive the shit out of the tips) I believe this "problem" is due to the incredible amount of rocker. If they were to keep the rocker shape the same but just reduce the amount (bring it a tiny bit flatter...but not like the old rocker) I think it might help this problem.

I've never been one to ski tracked out/in bounds "pow" well on a ski larger than 115ish under foot. I guess it's my old bump skiing background. I'm not going to say I "slayed it" on these in crud/semi tracked conditions but I certainly skied better than on praxis. And yes, you can actually semi-carve them (seriously!).

One thing that was VERY impressive to me was the quality of the base Stephan uses on his skis. I tagged more than a few rocks and there is barely even a scratch.

Overall, they are great!!! Good work!

EDIT:

Rocker profile of DPS vs Praxis: DPS has more rocker in the tip (greater amount when skis are placed together...by a LOT), more of a flat spot under foot, and perhaps a slighltly less rockered tail. Praxis rocker/camber is more progressive and continuous but there is not as much "splay" in total.

Shape: Praxis has a gradual taper from the fattest point (in the middle of the ski) whereas DPS has a whole lot more "going on". Slight sidecut under foot, a very pronounced "pintail" shape in the tail and less rounded shaping in the tip.

[skadams.ca]

Nice review - the Praxis 195 have been my go-to for 3 seasons now and are far and away my favorite ski. Nice to hear a review of the DPS line from someone with the same Praxis affinity.

Sounds like the DPS are more of the same good stuff and might just take a gouge from my wallet one of these days....

[JeffreyJim]

Praxis vs 138 Hybrid are pretty similar in my opinion. If I was skinning a lot I'd pick up the carbon 138s and never look back...but I'm really not.

138s want to go higher speeds, slightly more agile feeling and seem to "mean business" a bit more whereas the Praxis are a bit more surfy and damp feeling. I like them both and honestly will probably pick up another pair of used (but in good shape) Praxis once my 95s are totally dead.

[Maker]

i am kicking around Rocker 3 vs Rocker 2. what are your thoughts on versatility as a resort pow ski. I am thinking Rocker 3 is just way too much for 99% of the time.

[JeffreyJim]

I'm the wrong guy to ask.

There are plenty of guys that just KILL IT on really fat uuber rockered stuff in bounds on any sort of pow day...I'm not one of them.

I'm not saying it is impossible (did it this weekend), I'm just saying I feel I lose some precision and sort of have this "flailing" feeling...like I can't put my skis exactly where I want them. (EDIT: In tracked/crud type of snow...in pow this paragraph does NOT apply)

This is where skis like the EHP, 120, Bibby, Czar etc seem better suited to me...in bounds pow. Still enough "fun shape" and rocker but sidecut for crud/harder snow.

Now...if in bounds mean spinning a few laps while its deep then jumping out a gate or something like that then there is no question what the call is.

EDIT: Rocker 2 vs Rocker 3 wont determine "in bounds pow vs out of bounds pow". If you can ski rocker 2 in bounds and have fun you'll say the same thing about rocker 3. Yes, they are different (by a good amount) but either you can handle reverse sidecut or you cant in bounds...rocker profile isn't going to be the big factor here.

[Chris Knight]

Just wanted to say thanks JJ. I think I picked up my Prax95s around the same time as you and like them a ton as well, but as a 120 owner and big DPS fan, have always wondered about the 138 v Praxis Pow direct comparison. Meant to be in a position to do said comparison (Death Match) myself, but it just never happened. Thanks for taking the time to write your thoughts down.

[Maker]

i hear you on the r/r for inbounds. my thought is that rocker 2 may handle cut up pow better by being lower to knife through the snow vs bounce over it. plus I believe rocker 2 has a greater flat spot under foot.

anyway, thanks for the input.

[JeffreyJim]

Somebody else can correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure rocker two doesn't have THAT much more of a flat spot under foot...(if any more of a flat spot)

Fully rockered is fully rockered...smple as that. If it's a true R/R type of ski (or hybrid R/R ski) there isn't going to be much knifing no matter what. Praxis have a very slightly amount of rocker (considering they are fully reverse camber) and there is no "knifing" going on there.

It's not that these dont charge over cut up pow or anything...they do a great job. It's just a lot of ski to be dealing with and the lack of sidecut makes things a bit weird. It comes down to the fact you turn differently on hard snow than you do soft snow with any r/r ski...thus when the conditions are mixed you are caught between two techniques

Just my .02 cents

[natty dread]

I mounted mine minus 4.5 cm back.
I can drive the ski better and and and you can ski them less from the heel and more over the ball of the foot. Also I found the tips to be much quieter.
Made a big difference from -1.

I think tip shape plays a big role in "knifing" versus deflecting or diving.
My praxis pows dove on me all the time. Big tips on those.
My spats and 138s almost never dive.

[dingjong]

If a guy gets tipdive on Praxis, well, are you skiing 8 feet of 2% blower all the time?

Or may be you way some 485 lbs?