New wide skis for someone who doesn't get modern skis

With a few months in the Alps coming up I'm looking for some new skis, 108+ for lift served, possibly with a little sidecountry skinning.

It's been a long time since I bought any skis, skis have changed and I'm having a hard time getting my head around how some shapes will ski. My last wider skis have been Head M103s and Volkl Sanouks (yep, both pushing 20 years old). I love both but they've both got hundreds of days on them, skis techs tell me the bindings are dangerous, the M103s have a blown sidewall and the Sanouks are floppier than a bowl over overcooked ramen. Obvs very different flexes but I don't have an issue adapting to that.

My ideal ski would be an amalgam of those 2: ever so slightly softer (ok, less punishing) than the M103 but with a flexier, higher tip so it doesn't submarine in pow; long edge contact; 108+ underfoot; fairly straight (I'd guess both those skis have turn radius above 40m) as I ski a lot of big vertical runs and it takes forever if you make lots of turns and don't stay in the fall line; enough weight not to be deflected in chop. It seems skis like that aren't made anymore - everything seems to have a radius in the low-mid 20s, silly short edge contact, and big tail rocker (which looks ugly af to me, I have a hard time believing even its mother would love it). And no foam or honeycomb cores.

Is there anything out there like this? I like to drive and bend the ski, I don't want to smear turns or sideslip big faces at speed. Am I missing the point of how the modern shapes ski? Do I just need to get with the program and change the way I ski? Anyone have suggestions of skis I should be looking at? 165lb and pretty tight technically. Mostly looking at past seasons' models because I'm a cheapskate. I feel the old guy yearning for yesterday's tech.

FWIW skis I've been eyeing are the Head Kore 117, Dynastar M-Free 118 and Nordica Enforcer 116 but none of them feel like quite what I want. I've got a short lightweight touring setup and some Coomba (102 underfoot?) in 188 (which I'll likely sell if I find a wider, more lively ski I like) already so have those bases covered.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

Icelandic Nomad 105

Look into Heritage Lab FL113. Possibly the shape you are after. 39.5r at 187cm. FL105 too. Not cheap but more than fair. Outlet deals pop up just not likely this time of year.

Great project to support if you can cough up the dough for “retail.”

https://heritagelabskis.com/products/fl113

^^^ agreed with the heritage lab recommendation.

Not sure about the Nordica, but I don't think the m-free 118 and the kore 117 are what you want.

A blizzard cochise or bodacious (if you can find a used pair) might fit your criteria. Most of the straighter, more traditional skis out there are pretty stiff, and often only come in 190+ lengths. Unclear if that's what you want, but if it is, there are a few options.

I feel like this is a situation where I would be looking at a cochise or a a Corvus. Both are flat. They claim to have short radius but that’s due to how they look on paper. I think my Corvus is just as happy making 40m turns at Mach 2 as it is at 20m turns at Mach 1

I like my HeritageLab C113s, but it doesn't look like they're in stock. They're more directional than the old school DPS, but can still slarve and have good float.

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...dicated-Thread

I'd throw in Katana 108 in the discussion. And add not to stare too hard in stated sidecut radii. Dynastar MPro 108 could be a candidate, as well as the recently discontinued LPR 105 in all its iterations...

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Originally Posted by SoVT Joey

I feel like this is a situation where I would be looking at a cochise or a a Corvus. Both are flat. They claim to have short radius but that’s due to how they look on paper. I think my Corvus is just as happy making 40m turns at Mach 2 as it is at 20m turns at Mach 1

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I was going to suggest the Corvus. They don’t feel like a short radius ski and the tail checks the box as well, nearly flat. Heavy/stiff enough to not get deflected. Wood core with metal. If you size appropriately they are surprisingly good in deep snow 12-18”.


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10-15 years ago there were more skis like this. I like what I see from Heritage Lab, but you won’t find much if anything on sale.

A bunch of barely used Bodacious have been popping up lately. If you wanna save money this might be the best bet. I absolutely love these skis, but they do feel wide and I don’t use them as much as I want to because of that feel. You might not mind this, some others have daily driven them.

If you wanna get with the program and try a “more modern” ski, I really like Moment Wildcats for their blend of traditional feel with modern capabilities. I put “more modern” in quotations because the design is actually well over a decade old. When Moment changed it, all the fans complained and then Moment reintroduced the older shape. It’s stuck around since. 27m radius in the 190 feels pretty straight to me, I havent tried the shorter lengths. It’s not unheard of people your size going with the 190s. The 190 Wildcats aren’t that much more ski than 186 Bodacious in my opinion. They are significantly lighter although definitely more ski.

I own and love some skis already mentioned such as Bodacious, Pro Riders, and Monster/Katana 108s, and I love the Wildcats for their blend of this traditional straight charging feel but in a giant park ski design. I admit this ski might be too radical for your style though.

You might have to disregard the turn radius listed on paper. Sometimes skis are listed at 25m, but can easily ski more straight. You might like Armada Declivity X in 186, but it’s got a lot of taper. Again, could be too radical for you.

The way half of people are talking about the Blade Optic 114, this modern ski might work, but again could be too radical. A lot of people have said it wants to go straight.

Liberty Evolve 110 looks aight, but short radius

Praxis Rx…


fact.

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Originally Posted by Mulletizer

With a few months in the Alps coming up I'm looking for some new skis, 108+ for lift served, possibly with a little sidecountry skinning.

It's been a long time since I bought any skis, skis have changed and I'm having a hard time getting my head around how some shapes will ski. My last wider skis have been Head M103s and Volkl Sanouks (yep, both pushing 20 years old). I love both but they've both got hundreds of days on them, skis techs tell me the bindings are dangerous, the M103s have a blown sidewall and the Sanouks are floppier than a bowl over overcooked ramen. Obvs very different flexes but I don't have an issue adapting to that.

My ideal ski would be an amalgam of those 2: ever so slightly softer (ok, less punishing) than the M103 but with a flexier, higher tip so it doesn't submarine in pow; long edge contact; 108+ underfoot; fairly straight (I'd guess both those skis have turn radius above 40m) as I ski a lot of big vertical runs and it takes forever if you make lots of turns and don't stay in the fall line; enough weight not to be deflected in chop. It seems skis like that aren't made anymore - everything seems to have a radius in the low-mid 20s, silly short edge contact, and big tail rocker (which looks ugly af to me, I have a hard time believing even its mother would love it). And no foam or honeycomb cores.

Is there anything out there like this? I like to drive and bend the ski, I don't want to smear turns or sideslip big faces at speed. Am I missing the point of how the modern shapes ski? Do I just need to get with the program and change the way I ski? Anyone have suggestions of skis I should be looking at? 165lb and pretty tight technically. Mostly looking at past seasons' models because I'm a cheapskate. I feel the old guy yearning for yesterday's tech.

FWIW skis I've been eyeing are the Head Kore 117, Dynastar M-Free 118 and Nordica Enforcer 116 but none of them feel like quite what I want. I've got a short lightweight touring setup and some Coomba (102 underfoot?) in 188 (which I'll likely sell if I find a wider, more lively ski I like) already so have those bases covered.

Thanks for coming to my ted talk.

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Like people have already mentioned, Heritage FL113 (45mR@194) or 105 (36mR@192). You'd probably enjoy either. I'm super biased, though.

Where do you live?

Sent fra min LE2123 via Tapatalk

I've had both the Head m103 and the Volkl Sanouk in the past - those are some wildly different skis...

I haven't skied most of the other ones mentioned above, but agree that current design has largely moved away from long radius, stiff charger type of ski.

Have you tried the Head A Star? Think of it as a modernized m103, some sidecut, some tip rocker, fairly flat tail, slightly lighter weight (by no means light), better in pow (but not a surfy dedicated pow ski). It crushes everything, isn't at all hooky, and wants to go fast, which it can do without any speed limit that I've been able to find.

I liked it so much I bought a second pair.

You won't "get" them without trying a few.

In no particular order: Blizzard Rustler 11, Nordica Unleashed 114, Völkl Revolt 114, Line Blade Optic 114, Black Crows Anima. All great skis, all have their own "character."

188 Corvus is one of the most stable skis I’ve been on. I don’t personally think it surfs so much, but that’s the nature of the type of ski you’re saying you like.

The Revolt 114 has been super enjoyable. Can surf/slash/ pivot well but at its heart is a big charger. A nice blend of the two characteristics . More tip flap than the Corvus on hard chunder but that comes with the surf ability . And if you want a soft tipped ski, you’ll get some tip flap.

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Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

I've had both the Head m103 and the Volkl Sanouk in the past - those are some wildly different skis...

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That’s what I was thinking as well, and also tells me that there are a very wide range of modern skis that the OP would probably be happy with. I’m thinking something like the Praxis RX might be a good fit.

Honestly you need to get on some of the “newer” shapes before you poopoo them. Even though a lot of them have a low 20’s tr, they are not turny by any stretch. You can detune about a 1-1.5” into the sidecut the straighten them up if needed, I do as I hate a ski that pulls me into a tighter turn than what I want.
Lots of good suggestions listed but honestly again, you need to get on new shapes. The ability to easily slide a ski at certain times is key. Esp slipping into steep tight chutes, tight trees, speed dump etc.
The Dstar Mpro 108 waxoff suggested is a freakin killer ski. Loves to haul ass, has a longer edge feel, will get loose when called on and is nice and damp but not overly so. For lift serve Alps type terrain it would be on my feet fosho!


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Also worth noting that the stated radius on a lot of new skis is often not really accurate. Plenty of skis with multi radius sidecuts that ski much longer than the stated number suggests. Also a bunch of skis where I'm pretty sure the stated radius is just a made up number that the marketing department decided would help sell the ski.

Thanks for all the suggestions which are much appreciated. I was writing a long reply and my phone ate my message then I fat fingered the saved version and overwrote it. :nonono2:

Will try again tomorrow when I’m in front of a pc.

I am not as tech savvy as the collective but I think of radius in ranges and not absolutes. Gives you a ballpark of how a ski prefers to be driven. I think a lot of folks here are a) strong skiers and b) skiing skis pushing the “mid 20s” in radius so we aren’t generally taking about super turny skis that are pushing the driver across the fall line. I recall old guard DPS folks hating the wailer 112s as an example. There are those and the 40m+ radius 120s and lots of options in between that crush the fall line and not fight back at you for not turning.

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Originally Posted by Mulletizer

With a few months in the Alps coming up I'm looking for some new skis, 108+ for lift served, possibly with a little sidecountry skinning.


Is there anything out there like this? I like to drive and bend the ski, I don't want to smear turns or sideslip big faces at speed.

FWIW skis I've been eyeing are the Head Kore 117, Dynastar M-Free 118 and Nordica Enforcer 116 but none of them feel like quite what I want.

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Wow, blast from the past. We skied together at La Grave a long long time ago. '02 or '03 maybe, along w/ Hop.

I was in a similar situation after stepping away from skiing for over a decade due to a location change and finding I liked surfing as much as skiing. Got back into the snow after moving to Japan 5 years ago.

I ended up picking up a pair of Head Kore and don't like them much at all, for the same reasons you listed above. They're fine but just kind of dead at speed and aren't a very interesting or enjoyable ski. They do many things fine but nothing well.

Switched over to the Dynastar M-108 last season and it's the best ski I've ever had. It can be driven hard through a turn, works in any conditions, and is generally just about perfect. I'd recommend it or the M-Free 118 since you'll be skiing bigger lines in France than I do in Japan.

Have a great winter and just get the Dynastars and focus your time and energy on getting extreme, Technique Extreme!

I have some 193 Head Supermojo that I don’t ski anymore if you want a backup pair.

Not to discourage you from trying something new.

Dynastar M-PRO 108
Volkl Katana
Heritage Labs FL113

Regarding the Mfree118, this is not what you are looking for, its a slasher.

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Originally Posted by waxoff

I'd throw in Katana 108 in the discussion. And add not to stare too hard in stated sidecut radii. Dynastar MPro 108 could be a candidate, as well as the recently discontinued LPR 105 in all its iterations...

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All the volkls freeride ski manage to feel tighter radius when you want them to be, and straighter when you want to be.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by waxoff

I'd throw in Katana 108 in the discussion. And add not to stare too hard in stated sidecut radii. Dynastar MPro 108 could be a candidate, as well as the recently discontinued LPR 105 in all its iterations...

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All the volkls freeride ski manage to feel tighter radius when you want them to be, and straighter when you want to be.

you can say that again.