Review: 190 Czar

[TCK]

For a year I searched for reviews, and could only find bits and pieces, so here goes:

Me: 25, skiing for 22 years. 5'9" 155 lbs. I can ski.
Skis I own/like: Praxis Mtn Jib, Praxis Protest, Rossi S3, etc
Skis: 190 Czar mounted with STH 16s in between the two lines.
Location/conditions: Opening day at Fernie. 20cms on top of 100 or so cms for the last week. Skied everything from knee to thigh deep, crud, icy shit, groomers, and alders!

I had a pair of the 182s when the Czar first came out, and loved them. But, just like everyone else, I thought they were a bit too short. I think the 182 makes a killer touring ski when paired with Dynafits, but as an everyday/pow ski, it skis just a little too short. Hence, when I heard about the 190 coming out, I was super pumped.

The review:
These things kill it! Period. In pow they are super quick and easy to ski, but have the stability of a 190cm ski. I was really shocked at how quick and easy they were to ski. I was prepared to loose some turn-ability by going up to the 190, but I didn't feel that was the case. My pow ski last year was a pair of Protests, and I would say that the 190 Czar is just as fun in pow as the Protest, but WAY more versatile.

Thanks to the medium tip and stiff tail/underfoot, these things powered through chopped up shit like a tank. When things got all bumped up, they were still super quick and fun to ski. Granted, they have a 54m turning radius, but they are still fun to ski in variable snow. They don't have the most rebound out of a turn, but they are still pretty lively for such a big ski. Again, I was shocked at how fun they were in pretty much any condition.

Groomers were pretty good. Again: 54m turning radius = no euro turns. They like to make big arcs. They hold an edge really well, and the tails don't wash out thanks to the twin (no rocker) tail.

Overall: These things are an awesome big day, jack of all trades. They are super fun in pow, charge through crud with authority, and handle harder snow with ease (where the Protest really lacks). I wouldn't ski them on an ice day, but for 70% of the days, I think they will kill it.

A few people have asked me for a comparison between the 190 Czar and my 188 Mtn Jibs. They are both super versatile, but I think the Mtn Jib wins out by a hair on versatility. They both ski similarly, but with a 28m turning radius (vs. 54m in the Czar) the Mtn Jib rails turns on the groomers. With a stiffer flex and no rocker in the tail, the Czar is more of a hard charger, and a little better in pow. The Mtn Jib gets a little bounced around in crud due to the medium-soft flex, but is pretty much the best everyday ski I have ever been on. Bottom line: both skis have their strengths and weaknesses, and they are both staying in my quiver. I have nightmares about the day when I break one of my Mtn Jibs. It bums me out that Keith isn't making them anymore.

[Misty_Fly]

how are we to trust your review? you're on the Salomon payroll!

this is effectively therefore big corporation covert advertising on (theoretically) independent forum.

BAN!!

*sound like sick sticks, jealous that you not only have a far superior quiver to mine (with far more impressive overlap) but will also be using it from time to time! in the unlikely event of a rocker2 surplus at the end of the season...

[TCK]

My friend, you are just butt hurt. It's okay though, I forgive you. But seriously, this is the ski I wish I had last year.