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  1. #1

    Review: Bluehouse District

    Another early review to add to those already out there.

    Setup:
    187cm Bluehouse District
    Small Marker Dukes
    Boot center 83cm from tail (82cm-86cm is the range)
    Nordica Beast

    Conditions:
    30+ runs on groomed to hardpack in the last two weeks
    Loveland, CO

    Reviewer:
    5'10" 185lbs 31yrs

    Other similar skis I love (skis I'd give an "A"):
    190cm Gotama (05/06 generation)
    183cm Sugar (Teledaddy/Helidaddy/Janak)

    Overall Grade:
    B+

    Pro:
    Generally speaking, I like this ski. It's lively, fun, poppy, and turns well. On anything as soft as a groomed run (or softer, I assume), the shape and flex lend themselves to nice round medium length turns with good energy in and out. I would characterize it as a very "playful" ski. That's the overriding sensation. Playful. It's quite light, but not so light that it deflects noticeably. It's softer, but there's no tip flappage at speed. I think Bluehouse have done a nice job, and I think it'll prove to be a very popular tele, AT, and soft snow jib ski. The construction seems solid, no problems at this point. Slight topsheet chipping, nothing more.

    Con:
    The ski has enough shape that it always needs to be turning. I didn't like to make long radius turns or straightlines. It wasn't unstable when I tried, I just didn't know exactly where they were under me if I wasn't turning. Essentially I think this was the result of the only thing which I thought felt funny. Either because the mounting range is a little more forward than I'm used to (I do not ski on jib/park skis at all), or because the the tail might have just a little too much shape, I felt like I could *feel* a little too much tail, and that it didn't release quite as well as I wanted. I don't really think this is a major detractor, I just think it's a different feel. After a few more days and some time in soft snow, I might move the mount back to 82cm from tail to see if it helps. It's possible I'm just a little more forward in the ski than I'm used to. Since it's an easy ski to drive, I'm leaning towards this idea. For those of you who will jib and ski switch with this ski, 83cm-84cm is probably right on. I can't imagine being at 86cm from the tail, but maybe that's for a totally centered stance.

    Comparisons:
    In comparison to the Goats, the Districts are not quite as stable and solid feeling, but are much more lively and are a bit turnier. This District/Duke setup "feels" lighter by hand than my Goat/p14 setup.
    In comparison to the Sugars, the Districts are similarly easy to make short and medium radius turns, but don't have the same edging power as the stiff underfoot 99mm waisted Atomic construction.

    Comments:
    I have not yet gotten these where they belong, in soft snow.
    The Dukes are super solid so far. I have not yet toured with them.

    Final thoughts:
    For the $250 they cost via the intro promotion, these are a GREAT value and a good buy for anyone looking for a ski this size and shape.
    At $550 I think they'll serve jibbier/turnier skiers very well (go ahead and BUY), but the rest of you (non-jibbers) should demo first.

    EDIT: PLEASE SEE MY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS LATER IN THIS THREAD.
    Last edited by Chris Knight; 12-04-2007 at 01:58 PM.
    Everything is coming up Brady.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
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    Mr Brady has small feet.

  3. #3
    Hey! I do not!
    They're 304mm boots.
    I thought that was "average," but then, that's what they said about my other "parts" too, so maybe they're just being nice?
    Everything is coming up Brady.

  4. #4
    P.S. the Dukes are pretty easy to adjust, let me know if anyone is ever interested in demoing for a couple runs.
    Everything is coming up Brady.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
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    Clearly that was directed towards me and my non conformist duke ways...

    The adjustability was the only leg I had left to stand on, so if they are easy to adjust I will have to go back to my pre-duke marker's suck complete judgment call bandwagoning.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    184
    Nice review. Snow's too sketchy in interior BC to take mine out yet. You review makes me want to try em though.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Knight View Post
    I thought that was "average," but then, that's what they said about my other "parts" too, so maybe they're just being nice?
    I have a dvd for you. gratis.
    "It is not the result that counts! It is not the result but the spirit! Not what - but how. Not what has been attained - but at what price.
    - A. Solzhenitsyn

  8. #8
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    Nov 2001
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    11,329
    Quote Originally Posted by lemon boy View Post
    I have a dvd for you. gratis.


    Little Women?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    tiny men.
    "It is not the result that counts! It is not the result but the spirit! Not what - but how. Not what has been attained - but at what price.
    - A. Solzhenitsyn

  10. #10
    Great, I'll take midget porn anytime.

    Okay, here's a small addition/update to the review:

    Got another day in on the District/Duke combo, and what a difference that day made!
    I don't know if it's just me getting warmed back up again at the beginning of the season, the Districts breaking in a little bit, me getting used to them, or the 1-2 inches of new snow that softened things up a bit, but I had a gas on these today.

    With the hardpack gone and soft groomers with an inch of new snow on top to cruise, these skis went from "pretty fun" to "super fun" and from "mostly stable" to "without hesitatation." I no longer felt weird about the tail at all, and with just that little bit of softness on the surface, I felt like I was in total control of the ski, went as fast as I wanted to go, and didn't have to turn if I didn't want to (although I still did). It's still not an all mountain ski by any means (it's 103mm underfoot after all), but performance was way better with just a little bit of soft (and definitely "eh" on the hard hardpack).

    This seems to be echoed as well in Telendaboats Review

    I'm very encouraged that this ski is going to be stellar in the "soft to six inches" category of everyday skiing once the season shows up. The next test will be to see how it does in deeper snow (e.g. 10-12 inches) and see if they ski the way I like when it counts. I'll update whenever that happens (). So, I'm not yet ready to raise my grade from B+ to A-, but I am hopeful. Either way, I stand by my earlier comments - for the $250 intro price, these are a slam dunk. For the full $550 price (or whatever it is now), these are a great, playful, everyday soft surface ski which will appeal for AT, tele, and goofing around (read: jibij).

    The Dukes continue to rail as well as any alpine binding I've been on.
    No falls yet though, so the release part of the picture is still an unknown.

    In other news, it was colder than balls this morning.
    Last edited by Chris Knight; 11-28-2007 at 03:25 PM.
    Everything is coming up Brady.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    942
    I'm really regretting going with the 86cm freerided mount on these skis. I think if I was a bit farther back i could carve a little better. Who know? Even at 86cm I'm really impressed when I hit some soft snow. Mine are mounted Dynafit and i think they will be an amazing bc ski.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    184
    Just to be different, I have mine mounted at 84cm from the tail. I didn't have great conditions to try them (mostly hardpack), so I will wait another time to weigh in with my thoughts. I did find 1-3 inches of crud and windpack that the Districts handled with ease: I can tell that these will be more fun in softer, lighter snow. I agree with the description of these skis having pop and I was pleasantly surprised how they handled on harder snow (of course, these things are not intended for that kind of conditions -not great but manageable). Can't wait for better snow.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Seattle, WA
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    i was thinking of 84 for my AT boots and then letting my DH boots fit where they may (further back, they are longer) that would give me an all around at stance and a powder DH stance. i should say that i'm mounting freerides on here.

    any thoughts on this strategy? i was thinking of mounting later tonight or tomorrow night

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    I would hesitate to offer much comment based on my few runs with these. My sense when I was on them was that I might well go back another cm (using an alpine binding - it's what I had). I'm not familiar enough with the feel of the freeride to be of help. Previous comments about 83 being the sweet spot sound accurate to me. Sorry I can't help more.

  15. #15
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    Fuckin' tiny feet, that one.
    "All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring."

  16. #16
    They compensate for my large...



































    nose?
    Last edited by Chris Knight; 11-29-2007 at 10:13 AM.
    Everything is coming up Brady.

  17. #17
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    booooo don't dumb things down for the masses. You have a vocabulary, use it.
    "It is not the result that counts! It is not the result but the spirit! Not what - but how. Not what has been attained - but at what price.
    - A. Solzhenitsyn

  18. #18
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    Weanus?...

  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by lemon boy View Post
    booooo don't dumb things down for the masses. You have a vocabulary, use it.
    Ok, ok.

    "schlong?" No wait, that's just not true.

    What did I have originally?

    Oh yeah, "digits."

    No wait, wasn't it, "existential self-consciousness?"
    Last edited by Chris Knight; 11-29-2007 at 10:35 AM.
    Everything is coming up Brady.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Knight View Post
    "existential self-consciousness?"
    I find it hard to believe that your existential self-consciousness is small. After all you were a big proponent of the mind enlarging diaphanous reliquary.

  21. #21
    Quote Originally Posted by Odin View Post
    I find it hard to believe that your existential self-consciousness is small.
    Who said it was small? Quite the opposite - I said I must be compensating for my tiny feet.
    Everything is coming up Brady.

  22. #22
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    Thanks for the review. Mounting mine soon. Anyone mount them right on either of the recommended spots?

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Knight View Post
    these are a great, playful, everyday soft surface ski which will appeal for AT, tele, and goofing around (read: jibij).
    "goofing around" is my middle name.

  24. #24
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    thansk for the review I am planning on getting these as my main touring ski this year. Should be perfect since when I tour I am not planning on straightlining stuff.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    1,792
    Took mine to vail today. I can't say anything bad about them. They rock! Great float, turn both long and short turns well, rip through crud, even carved well on the icy lower runs. Very stable all around, no chatter today or the other days I've been out on them. Land short hucks really well. This is a very fun ski. I mounted mine 84 cm from tail, which fell right on the freeride line on the graphic.
    Ride Fast, Live slow.

    We're mountain people. This is what we do, this is how we live. -D.C.

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