Volkl Chopstick Question

[Knipping12]

Hey all, new to the forums here but I've read em for a long time. Finally decided to step it up and ask a question of my own. I'm 5'11" 155 (160 or so with gear I guess) and debating between the chopstick and hellbent to occupy the "fat-ass pow ski" slot in my quiver. From what I've heard the chopstick is pretty stiff and to be honest I'm not sure that I could handle 185 if it is, but definitely don't wanna go all the way down to the 175's. The alternative here is the 179 hellbent, which is obviously softer and bridges the gap between the two lengths (although from what I've heard it actually runs around 184cm). Unforunately the hellbent doesn't have the sick-ass symetrical sidecut that the chopstick does... so the question here is would a guy my size (and I would consider myself a pretty good skier) be able to handle the combined stiffness and length of the 185 chop, or should I just go for the hellbent instead? How stiff is the chopstick, really?

[Poop~Ghost]

You have 5 pounds worth of gear? I have about 5 pounds on each foot....

Chopstick - hands down unless you're skiing untracked all day. Hellbents are such noodles - I never got over that on the 189's... you feel every track/chop you cross.

And welcome to TGR - you better start manning up on your ski sizing.

[Knipping12]

You have 5 pounds worth of gear? I have about 5 pounds on each foot....

Chopstick - hands down unless you're skiing untracked all day. Hellbents are such noodles - I never got over that on the 189's... you feel every track/chop you cross.

And welcome to TGR - you better start manning up on your ski sizing.

5 lbs without boots... my bad anyway thanks for the input, I figure I'll probably end up skiing crud a bit in these too, so the stiffness probably won't be a bad thing in the end, and it seems that the bents are terrible in the crud.

[toast2266]

for whatever its worth, I'm smaller than you and ski 185 Kuros, and I'm not that great a skier. I never feel like they're too big, and sometimes feel they're too small - remember, rocker skis short.

[sandflea]

You might also want to check out the Surface New Life. 184 (151-122-151)

[Knipping12]

Okay, awesome help guys. 185 seems much less intimidating now (although I ride 178 line blends as my everyday-er, so it's not really a huge step up I guess). And I'll definitely check out the new life's.

[D(C)]

A 185 rockered ski should be no issue for you. 175 is snowblade short, even in a stiffer rockered ski.

I don't have experience on the Chopsticks or the 'Bents but am wondering why a symmetrical sidecut is particularly of interest. Also, what else is in your quiver?

[Knipping12]

From hearing how good the symetrical sidecut is switch in the pow I just couldn't help but be intrigued... and it's not really a quiver it's just a pair of PE's for the park and rails, general dicking around, etc. (so I don't have to worry about fucking up my bases/edges), the aforementioned '09 blends that I use all the time, and hopefully soon a wider, rockered ski for the powder days. I did check out the new life's also they look pretty nice, I'd like to demo some of these skis before I buy 'em though... I was also interested in the bentchetler, seems a like more of a bc jib and sounds like fun from what I've heard.

[Townicus]

Another thing to consider is your style. If you don't know how to turn, and go straight all day...forget the hellbent. However, if you know how to turn, bend a ski, and aren't just skidding about, hellbents are stable in crud all day. The tips start flapping the minute you aren't engaging the sidecut.

[Poop~Ghost]

Another thing to consider is your style. If you don't know how to turn, and go straight all day...forget the hellbent. However, if you know how to turn, bend a ski, and aren't just skidding about, hellbents are stable in crud all day. The tips start flapping the minute you aren't engaging the sidecut.

hmmm, I disagree because I feel like I know how to ski - but I just never enjoyed that soft of a ski.

That said, I do own 194 LPs - and bend them on occasion... and they are what I would call stable as fuck.

[Townicus]

hmmm, I disagree because I feel like I know how to ski - but I just never enjoyed that soft of a ski.

That said, I do own 194 LPs - and bend them on occasion... and they are what I would call stable as fuck.

Of course, I couldn't agree more. I skied LP's for 3 or 4 seasons and indeed they were more stable than the hellbent.... engaging them or not. My point is, the hellbents are stable.....just not so much when running the base through crud as you don't get the luxury of using the torsional rigidity of the ski. Indeed they are soft, and preference alone dictates whether someone will enjoy a ski like the hellbent. Engaging the hellbents sidecut, increasing the edge angle just increases what stability they do offer through their torsional rigidity. My 2 cents.

I have always been curious how the chopsticks skied...I considered them but thought the 185 would be a tad short...wish they made them 190 ish.

[ballinbu]

i have the 185 chopsticks and i'm 6' 180lbs... they aren't super stiff but you can definitely charge as hard as you want on them and not have to worry. every time i ski on em i have one of the best days ever.

[Knipping12]

every time i ski on em i have one of the best days ever.

That's some convincing shit...

[Knipping12]

Has anyone checked out the 2010-2011 Atomic Bentchetler? These babies look sweet! From reviews they sound super playful (the old models at least), guess I'll have to wait and try to get my hands on a demo pair or something. A little camber sounds nice too for the groomers.

[bridge]

I haven't skied the chopsticks but skied the 189 hellbents (mounted at +6) about 20 times this season. My first couple days on them I didnt really like them, (my daily driver is Armada Ants, which I can straight line pretty much anything without any issues), I thought the tips got bounced around alot, but once I got used to them I fell in love! The only time I have ever had tip dive is going up hill in about 2 ft. of funky, wind effected pow. They are really playful, you can slarve, like you would expect, but what was surprising was how well you can carve in pow, you can lock in and drive them. They arent the best in crud, but if you keep them on edge you can charge pretty well.
They also hold an amazing edge on groomers, better than my ANTS or my old obsethed which is really nice. They are really forgiving, which comes in handy when you come up short on a landing. The only thing I can complain about is I hate when I have been skiing pow all day and have to ski to the bottom on bump out groomers because I want to just lay them flat, which they dont like to do on groomers.
Conclusion: Jibbalicious, very fun, playful and floaty, and once you get used to them, you can make them do whatever you want.