Review Praxis Back Country

[liv2ski]

^^^^Guys, as far as ski size, I would really buy the 190 with your builds. I am 5'10" and 200lbs and there is no way I would buy the 180. I have never skied the K2s, so can't comment on the differences.
I am up at Mammoth a lot, but have only skied my BCs once this year in the big storm before Thankgiving If your going to be up there, have close to a 317bsl, let me know and I will bring them if I am up there too, so you can try them out.

[Sinecure]

My son is 5'5" and weighs 125. He's skiing on the 180s FWIW. He loves them. Got them to replace his broken 333skis.

[dynamike]

The 190 is 8.5lbs. This ski is getting some serious consideration for next year along with the Prior Husume (1lb. heavier and made right down the road)

[Jim S]

So I've had many more day tours on thse 190 carbon BCs with Dynafits in all conditions: slush, ice, dust on crust, pure dry pow one would encounter sking b/c.

I love them. Simple.

[farmer]

I was going to post my own review, but I saw this and I'll add it here instead.

Me: 200lbs, 6', complete hack
Skiing: 190 Praxis BC's (wood grain topsheet, not sure what year) w/ dukes / dynafit ft12's & inserts. BD Factors + intuition powerwraps for boots

Other Skis I like: 192 Bros
Skis I don't like: 190 Volkl Explosivs (too heavy)

I've had these guys out for about a half a dozen days on these so far this year, a few in the backcountry, the rest inbounds. Everything from hard ice to the snorkel advisory that Targhee had the last two days (best days skiing of my life, btw)

These were also my first skis with early rise, and I love it.

Lest go from bad to good.

On ice, I noticed them chattering a bit at first. If you really lean into them and get them on edge, it seems to go away. They aren't as fast as my 192's, but still not bad. I didn't buy them for ice though.

Had a couple days a week ago with ~6-12" on top of crust, and they were great. Much shashy-er than my 192's, the shorter running length and early rise makes it a lot easier to turn in the trees. It was also my first time on the dynafits, and it was a major improvement over touring with dukes.

The last two days were in DEEP pow at Targhee. WOW! It might have been that the snow was the best I've ever had, but the skis didn't hurt either. Easy to slarve around, I can stay foreward a lot more than on regular camber skis. So much fun I've still got a grin glued onto my face.

All in all, these puppies are light, fast and fun.

[papatroller]

Like many others, I too am trying to decide between the 180 and 190 in the 2012 Praxis Backcountry.

I am 6'1", 175-180 lbs, have a 330 bsl, and will ski the ski mostly mid-winter, soft snow, in the western US and occasionally in the NE (NH and Daks). I will only ski it in the backcountry and with a Dyna FT binder. It will be the widest and most rockered ski I have ever owned. This will be my ski for going on ski mountaineering objectives where I expect good snow and when I dont want to take my 84mm waisted spring mountaineering ski. In short, this will be my powder ski, but dedicated to the backcountry, which for me usually involves decently major ascents and not just lapping powder, though I am sure to use this ski for some of that too.

I want the 180 for the weight savings and for the approach/bootpacking.

I want the 190 because I feel this ski will ski short, especially with the raised tails and heavy rocker. I ski pretty aggressively generally and dont want to overpower the ski or feel that I am not able to float smear.

Basically, if people who have been on the 180 and are close to my weight and ski this ski primarily in the bc can tell me that I will still have fun and be able to slay pow with it, i will def go for the 180.

What do you all think? 180 or 190?

thanks much!!

I

[liv2ski]

190, the weight difference on the up, is worth the length on the down.

[leifar]

2nded. With Dynafits on the 190, it's just a light ski period. Completely in love with that ski after some full day expeditions and big lines in variable conditions. Easy ups and ripping downs, and I'm 6'2 190lbs.

[papatroller]

Thanks fellows!! Against Keiths advice, I went 190!!! I have other shorter, lighter skis for long tours, tight spots, down-climbs, thin couloirs, etc. This is going to be my fresh snow/big mountain rider!! Getting out of Chile in a week and getting stoked for the cold and snowy winter that is about to slam into the US!!

[toast2266]

Can anyone comment on the mount point for 180's? I see people on 190's are mounting at 104 or 105 - where does that fall in relation to the line?

[davieboot]

Thanks fellows!! Against Keiths advice, I went 190!!! I have other shorter, lighter skis for long tours, tight spots, down-climbs, thin couloirs, etc. This is going to be my fresh snow/big mountain rider!! Getting out of Chile in a week and getting stoked for the cold and snowy winter that is about to slam into the US!!

You blew it. I took Keith's advice and went 180. I typically ski a 188ish inbounds, 195 on pow days. I've had two seasons on 180 BCs in lots of conditions and they hold up great, and they are light. I went through the same debate you did, but I made the right decision. However, the 190s would be an awesome inbounds ski.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I had 180's. I'm 5'10" 180 lbs. For me they were phenomenal for billy goating, horrible crusts and steeps, but short (yet not at all bad) for other conditions. After 1.5 seasons I decided to replace them with something narrower for the conditions they excelled in AND something fatter and longer for when they snow is mostly good. Great skis in either length. At one point I considered keeping the 180's and buying 190's too, but I like trying different skis.

[dewam]

Toast, I gave my opinion of a tele mount for the BC 180 on this thread. I don't know where bc is marked now.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ighlight=dewam

Hopefully others have more info. Den

[toast2266]

Toast, I gave my opinion of a tele mount for the BC 180 on this thread. I don't know where bc is marked now.
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ighlight=dewam

Hopefully others have more info. Den

Cool, thanks. Even though I'll be mounting them for alpine, the discussion in there is helpful.

[DrGnarGnar]

Anyone have any experience with these and the black diamond converts? I'm trying to decide between the two.

[PeachesNCream]

Looking at these for a 50/50 ski. I made a post about looking for some MVPs but they're out of stock and no one seems to be selling. Read a lot of good reviews, even for people using them for the resort. My only hesitation is that they are 1800 grams so I worry I will overpower them at the resort at 6'3 and 205lbs? Mainly ski in the PNW and Idaho. Would be used for a 50/50 resort/touring ski. Mainly ski the trees, hardly ever charging in the wide open.

[grinch]

Email Keith. Maybe he's planning to make up a batch of longer mvp's or bc's. He made stiffer ones for a buddy that was interested in bc's because Keith happened to be making up a batch

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[skis_the_trees]

I used a 192 Yeti, which I think is just a narrow BC, as a travel one ski quiver mostly inbounds 2y ago then toured on them mostly last year. For my skiing style they work great, but I ski more trees than TGR charging.


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[PeachesNCream]

Email Keith. Maybe he's planning to make up a batch of longer mvp's or bc's. He made stiffer ones for a buddy that was interested in bc's because Keith happened to be making up a batch

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Great suggestion. Emailed Keith and he actually had just made a batch of mvps for the team riders and had an extra one and hooked me up with it. +10000 props to keith

[grinch]

Great suggestion. Emailed Keith and he actually had just made a batch of mvps for the team riders and had an extra one and hooked me up with it. +10000 props to keith

Good to hear. He often seems to come through

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