Results 201 to 225 of 272
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10-10-2019, 09:00 PM #201
I don't know about the stiffest, burliest, baddest ski ever but In the late 70s I had a pair of abused Head XR-1 Comps. They were very fucking stiff due to their innovative construction (one piece of heavy composite with some longitudnal air channels to shave a few kilos off). 25 years ago I had some early Elan 215 SGS that were what one would expect, something at the nexus of fun and scary. I felt it wasn't often safe to use them as intended. Eventually gave them to someone here who I hope had some thrills with them.
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10-10-2019, 10:21 PM #202Registered User
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10-11-2019, 04:12 AM #203Registered User
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10-11-2019, 09:59 AM #204
Theres 2 pair not very far from you now. I've bought 2 pair and gave 1 to my brother(both pairs sitting in CH). They most definitely belong on this list here. My top 2 runs ever @ the Bird have been on Mavens. Black Protos and B-day chutes, gold Mavens and just plain ol Kool Whip. If I were to go heli ski on a perfect day, I would choose Black Protos. Their problem was not the flex/sidecut ratio. It was the other thing you mentioned. Waaaaaaaaaaaay too much camber! Makes them a handful everywhere but soft
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10-31-2019, 11:44 PM #205Registered User
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- Oct 2019
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Does any manufacturer even make a ski like this for 2020, besides Blizzard with the Cochise and Bodacious?
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11-01-2019, 01:08 AM #206
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11-01-2019, 02:47 PM #207one-track mind
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- TRADE your heavy PROTESTS for my lightweight version at this thread
"My biggest goal in life has always been to pursue passion and to make dreams a reality. I love my daughter, but if I had to quit my passions for her, then I would be setting the wrong example for her, and I would not be myself anymore. " -Shane
"I'm gonna go SO OFF that NO ONE's ever gonna see what I'm gonna do!" -Saucerboy
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11-01-2019, 04:39 PM #208
In addition to above:
ON3P Metal Wrenegade 108
Black Crows Corvus
K2 Mindbender 108
Armada Invictus 108
Armada Declivity X
Moment Commander maybe?
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11-01-2019, 06:45 PM #209Registered User
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- Aug 2014
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The 194 Commander 108 is stiff. Definitely qualifies. Not sure about the Declivity X and the Mindbender 108 TI though. I have yet to handflex mine, but they don’t review super stiff.
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11-01-2019, 07:10 PM #210
Mind bender in a 186 is a ripper I bet the 193 length is burly
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11-01-2019, 07:21 PM #211
Never flexed the declivity but it was totally fine ripping through stuff I’d normally make multiple turns down.
TBH the MB blister MB 108 reviews read more like someone trying to stick to the K2 line than my experiences with the 186. I don’t have any time on the 193 though.
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11-01-2019, 07:24 PM #212
What is the stiffest, burliest, baddest ski ever?
194 4Frnt Devastators are not that stiff or overly demanding to ski but they’re heavy as fuck and haul the mail. Anyone been on the new, ‘’15% lighter’’ version since Levinthal took over?
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11-01-2019, 09:01 PM #213Registered User
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- Oct 2019
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Thanks guys.
I think I've "narrowed" it down to:
Dynastar LP105
K2 Mindbender 99ti or 108ti
Armada Invictus 108
Volkl Mantra 102
I'm a little worried with the Mantra's durability, I have read a lot of stories about the Confessions falling apart after one good season.
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11-01-2019, 09:07 PM #214
Mantra 102 is a different construction than the confession. Mine were fine for a season btw, just some top sheet chipping you’d expect of a vertical sidewall ski
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11-01-2019, 09:20 PM #215
Still happily rolling on my 2012 lp105, they don’t have much pop left but otherwise still going strong.
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11-01-2019, 09:24 PM #216Registered User
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- Sep 2018
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I'm just sitting here with my 193 MB 108s and 116s waiting for snow to try so I can give some feedback. Exciting that the vashon brand has a ski on this list
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11-01-2019, 09:29 PM #217Registered User
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- Oct 2019
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The 191 K2 Mindbender 99ti was heavier and stiffer than the 193 108ti. Stiffer I understand, but I didn't expect it to be heavier. In hand, the MB 99 seems like a Monster 98 with more rocker and capwall construction.
Mindbender 99ti
LP105
Mantra 102
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11-01-2019, 10:38 PM #218
Don’t the Mindbenders have pretty soft shovels though?
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11-01-2019, 10:58 PM #219Registered User
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Ya, they do have a soft tip. Not as soft as I expected though, not nearly as soft as other k2s the past 10 years. I made it seem like the mindbender was in the same league as the Monsters, it is not. I'm considering it as a looser alternative to the racier Euro skis, but it should still haul the mail.
The LP105 does exactly what I'm looking for though. How do I buy one of those, are they special order only?
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11-01-2019, 11:25 PM #220
I’ve skied a couple of Factions that I think are worth mention, the Dictator was one of the most hateful skis I’ve ever been on. I will admit that I’m no where near man enough to drive those. Blister put it best when they said “the only people who have any business on that ski are the ones getting it for free”. Also the Prime was pretty shit, most likely my lack of ability but that was another one that only wanted to destroy your spirit, exploit your horrible technique, and crush fall line at a million mph.
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11-02-2019, 02:29 AM #221Registered User
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Only time people talk highly to me about the Dictators are when I’m on my 194 MX 98s and they think I want the burliest ski all the time. Playfulness is underrated in a ski.
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11-02-2019, 04:57 AM #222" ... I will do anything to go Skiing ... There Is no pride ... " (Miriam , 2005-2006 epic)
Dec21, 2016. LittleBigLost :
" I think about it everyday. It is my reminder to live life to the fullest. I get up early, go to bed late, 'cuz I got shit to do. Like I said, I'm 61. Not going to wait till I'm 81 to do stuff, ...
Get out there and do stuff!
Enjoy life to the fullest!!
See you on the slopes! "
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11-02-2019, 05:15 AM #223
I skied the Mindbender 108Ti 186 in spring slush and melt/freeze and thought it was legit on groomers hauling ass. I also liked the turning radius for a groomer ski. I DID notice a little bit of tip chatter (not carbon-fiber vibrations) but would be willing to tolerate it if it meant the ski was to also provide me with deeper-than-ankle-deep obligations.
But I have a designated pow ski and I want a crud/groomer ski. I ordered the Mantra 102 184 without any demo mainly because it was cheap, and it's a Volkl. If I was buying without a discount it would probably come down to availability and shipping costs for my needs.
K2 might very well reinvent their product with the MB series. It definitely wasn't a Line or a K2 of old. I thought it was fairly quiet, trustworthy, and predictable. And easy to release.
All that said, some Blister boys said the Mantra 102 would be their NZ comp ski. I don't think I'd compete on a MB108 over an LP 105 without ever having skied a Mantra 102 as a third reference.
The M5 Mantra swept the Japan women's FWQ last year... for whatever that's worth. She told me the M102 was too much ski for her.
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11-02-2019, 06:33 AM #224
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11-02-2019, 07:51 AM #225Registered User
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The VOs were the first pair of skis I owned (1987). I didn’t have a clue, and can’t recall anything about how they skied, but somehow made them work. The burliest skis I can recall spending allot of time on were Head Supermojos (the black ones with shuji graphics). At the time I was looking for a damp race ski feel with powder ski dimensions and these delivered.
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