2014 Praxis Skis + review / mounting resource guide

[Ted Striker]

^^^ the tail on the BC is different from the Freeride - it has a subtle early rise that makes it a lot easier to break-away. They're similar in powder, but the BC doesn't have the chargy feel of the Freeride on harder snow.


...and I agree with everything schralph said.

[SchralphMacchio]

Well, Tioga should definitely be open by the time you get back. I would expect no snow anywhere in the Sierra below 8700' by that point though.

The Carbon version should be a different ride than the original all-glass version - and UCL and AKB both have glass. I haven't ridden the glass version, but I know enough about the significant changes in layup to know that they won't feel the same. I don't know who else in Tahoe has a pair of carbon 190s ... seems like most of those guys I know who would have done it went for the W99 or W112 instead.

[Driver]

Thanks Pisteoff. Will be glad for that tail in tighter couliors etc.

Scralph The W112 pure is also a consideration but leaning toward the BC for various reasons. I will be very sad if that's the snow level by then.... Would like to get Y couly on Levitt sooner rather than later but the lower car shuttle might not even work.

[hoarhey]

Thanks for your code, man

Well, I de-tuned both ends to the start of the side cut. Bastard file job.

First run was wide-ish turns in wind effected sun effected grabby bad snow. Tried work out how to let them run and how to pressure them. Just getting the feel. Downhill ski was hooking up hill a bit, plus other surprises, I generally did not feel so good. Doubt many people were though.

After that on other terrain and slight more consistent moist heavy snow and crusts: much better. Felt the power and smooth stability - that truckin feeling. Maintained power and momentum out of turns. Felt really solid and powerful. This could get dangerous. That was my initial reaction.

Almost hit a few small trees because I am so used to synapse-turning on 112 Wailers. Not the skis fault, just I need to change my habits.

[I ate some solid corn shit on a groomer coming home! Trying to rail some bumpy higher speed carves like I do on my Wailers and blew out both Dynafit Comfort toes. Bam! Skis were feeling great under me until then. Going to need a remount, which means buying new fkn bindings, rather than using what olds I had laying around].

Thanks for the initial impressions, and ouch on blowing out the toes and eating shit.

I was in tahoe this past wknd and skied s7 inbounds (Squaw, kwood), then wailer112's for a short tour.
Hope to get on protests this weekend (closing wknd at Jackson Hole), but may have to wait until next week.

[grinch]

Thanks for your code, man

Well, I de-tuned both ends to the start of the side cut. Bastard file job.

First run was wide-ish turns in wind effected sun effected grabby bad snow. Tried work out how to let them run and how to pressure them. Just getting the feel. Downhill ski was hooking up hill a bit, plus other surprises, I generally did not feel so good. Doubt many people were though.

After that on other terrain and slight more consistent moist heavy snow and crusts: much better. Felt the power and smooth stability - that truckin feeling. Maintained power and momentum out of turns. Felt really solid and powerful. This could get dangerous. That was my initial reaction.

Almost hit a few small trees because I am so used to synapse-turning on 112 Wailers. Not the skis fault, just I need to change my habits.

[I ate some solid corn shit on a groomer coming home! Trying to rail some bumpy higher speed carves like I do on my Wailers and blew out both Dynafit Comfort toes. Bam! Skis were feeling great under me until then. Going to need a remount, which means buying new fkn bindings, rather than using what olds I had laying around].

i've been following this to see how it went for you. couple days after i got my bc's i couldn't resist getting those protests. i just mounted my protests +1 and sounds like that should work. psyched. possibly snow tonight to try them. if your toes pulled out could you just install inserts? i think that might be the way to go for skis this wide. maybe i misread and you broke the actual binding toes though. good luck. side note; the bc's have been extremely versatile as a bc ski. ive had a range of conditions to try those, from waist deep heavy to chalk and dust on crust to mf crust. coming from my ehp/crj touring combo, the bc strikes a nice balance inbetween. floats as good as the ehp and maneuvers as good as the crj with alot less weight among other things

[neck beard]

Toe blow out = 'pre-release', just to clarify. On a chopped spring groomer.

It was a very early initial impression in crappy snow. So not worth much. But it was a good first impression.

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

Driver - you can borrow my 190 BCs if you want. I have them rigged with Dukes as I only ski them in-bounds as a daily driver. While I agree the Freeride is more of a "charger" ski, I would not say that a BC can't still crush chop and bumps. It is more of a question of the skier on those skis. For example, I suspect SM doesn't think they handle that stuff as well and want a stiffer/heavier ski like the 9D8 because he is a lighter, smaller guy. Makes total sense to be honest. But I think for your size the BC will still rip that kind of stuff. I have never felt myself getting bounced around on the BCs inbounds around Tahoe. Frankly, the only time I complain (not really even the right word) is pure hard groomer skiing. Then, man I just want 70mm race GS ski, but honestly the BCs will still will carve an edge as good as any other 106 waisted, rockered ski would.

But if you are really getting this for a touring ski, listen to SM and put Dynafits on them. You will like them a lot. BC would make an awesome single quiver touring ski. At least that is what I would do if I wasn't going Mustagh/Yeti/Wootest triple quiver Dynafits setup

[Driver]

Driver - you can borrow my 190 BCs if you want. I have them rigged with Dukes as I only ski them in-bounds as a daily driver. While I agree the Freeride is more of a "charger" ski, I would not say that a BC can't still crush chop and bumps. It is more of a question of the skier on those skis. For example, I suspect SM doesn't think they handle that stuff as well and want a stiffer/heavier ski like the 9D8 because he is a lighter, smaller guy. Makes total sense to be honest. But I think for your size the BC will still rip that kind of stuff. I have never felt myself getting bounced around on the BCs inbounds around Tahoe. Frankly, the only time I complain (not really even the right word) is pure hard groomer skiing. Then, man I just want 70mm race GS ski, but honestly the BCs will still will carve an edge as good as any other 106 waisted, rockered ski would.

But if you are really getting this for a touring ski, listen to SM and put Dynafits on them. You will like them a lot. BC would make an awesome single quiver touring ski. At least that is what I would do if I wasn't going Mustagh/Yeti/Wootest triple quiver Dynafits setup

Yes I think I am finally breaking down and getting a tech set up, and the BC sounds like the ticket. i will def keep the Freerides as my inbounds daily driver and for lift served backcountry, and I also still have dukes on the megawatts but it rarely snows enough in tahoe anymore for those . The BCs would never see a lift but good to know anyway that they can ski that stuff. Curious how they ski crust and mank in terms of tip dive and agility. I'd love to take yours for a spin if we have enough snow in a few weeks when I'm back up.

[SchralphMacchio]

Tip dive? What's that?

No magical answer for breakable wet crust - I still haven't figured out how to trust the tip and exaggerate unweighting the skis to get my tails unlocked in shit snow like that. The BCs will basically stay on top of any kind of soft unsaturated snow - you will also hear that statement from guys who weigh twice as much as me. Agile is the name of the game with that easy-to-release tail and hybrid tip early splay/rocker shovel. Look to see how little camber contact and edge contact length there is on that ski ... "agile." I don't like them on refrozen junk, sastrugi, or resort chop - 4.2 lbs per ski (with bindings) and softer tip/tail flex is not good enough for that stuff, which is where your Freeride/Guardian will excel.

I'm also not a very good skier.

You'll also have very little use for your Duke-awatts with a DynaBC setup. Despite the extra planing and speed capability of the Megawatts, you'll start to hate how they weigh that much more than the BCs where you're breaking boot-deep trail and wanting to save your energy for the 2nd or 3rd lap. That's where BCs with Dynafits kill it. (Actually, that's where a DynaWoo2 kills it)

[davieboot]

DynaWoo2, my new favorite ski term.

[Driver]

Haha yeah the megawatts are pretty much retired to in bounds. That was a redic set up and i actually toured all over the place on it for a few years with the old orange tecnica race shells you probably remember. Ha. Used them only 1 day this year... 1 shining actual 18" pow day.

[TeleThor]

Another recommendation for BCs as the ultimate tech setup. I purchased some 190s (carbon layup) this year that I absolutely loved touring. I inserted them for dynafits in the backcountry and telemark bindings inbounds. Pleasure in pow and they also handled chop, bumps, hardpack just fine. I'm not a small guy - 200 lbs or so - and never felt like they were folding up on me or unstable.
These skis are just so unbelievable versatile and easy to ski. Only thing I did was detune the tips and tails.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I miss my Praxis BC's. Wish they came in a 185.

[strawjack]

^ya, I'm with you on that. I wanted those boards, but didn't want the 190 for EC and the 180 is too short. I'm on a 191 now and would prefer to shave a couple cm off. Pulled the trigger on MVP 187...ya, I don't know...they're just like the BC, right?

[gritter]

Funny how the size never seems right - I want to get the Freeride but I want a ~178-180. 184 just feels like it will be too unwieldy, but I worry that the 174 will be too short to smooth out the bumps and perhaps lack some float in the soft. Perhaps I have to go for the 180 BC instead...

[Ted Striker]

The running length is shorter, because even though it's got a flat tail (i.e. no twin), the tail isn't flat - it's turned up for the last 15(ish) centimeters.

Personally, I'd like to see a 188 (split the difference).

[auvgeek]

^^Praxis measures a bit short. The 184 is prolly closer to 181-182. ON3P and K2 would prolly call it a 180, if the numbers mean that much to you. Just go for it.

[SchralphMacchio]

Praxis BC's. Wish they came in a 185.

^ya, I'm with you on that. I wanted those boards, but didn't want the 190 for EC and the 180 is too short.

Look into Countdown 6. Less tip and tail rise than the Praxis BC - but similar dimensions from width and sidecut, similar weight and flex. That Austrian guy who crapped all over the EC thread has a pair mounted Dynafit

http://www.downskis.com/ski-specifications/countdown-6

[adrenalated]

My 12/13 carbon 184 Freerides measure 183.5cm, straight tape. FWIW. That said, I have zero issues skiing them in tight spaces. 5'9" 140lbs.

Sent from my VS840 4G using TGR Forums

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Look into Countdown 6. Less tip and tail rise than the Praxis BC - but similar dimensions from width and sidecut, similar weight and flex. That Austrian guy who crapped all over the EC thread has a pair mounted Dynafit

http://www.downskis.com/ski-specifications/countdown-6

I've been considering those. I have Countdown 4's that I like a lot for spring/mixed conditions. I'm auditioning 187 MVP's now for winter/mixed conditions ski. Damn good ski, but the twin tip bothers me. Anybody ever cut the tail off a Praxis ski?

[auvgeek]

My 12/13 carbon 184 Freerides measure 183.5cm, straight tape.

Thanks for the hard data. My bad for the conjecture.

[Ted Striker]

My tape must've been broken

I coulda sworn my 184s measured about 182 straight, but I've bought and sold so many skis in the last few years that I could easily be mistaken.

FWIW, my 180 BCs (that I still own) are 179 straight pull.

[strawjack]

I've been considering those. I have Countdown 4's that I like a lot for spring/mixed conditions. I'm auditioning 187 MVP's now for winter/mixed conditions ski. Damn good ski, but the twin tip bothers me. Anybody ever cut the tail off a Praxis ski?

But how would you shred the switch...steeze...or steeze the switch shred, dude man?

[yellofin]

Isbd does 5 cm really make that big of a difference to you. My 186 whaler 99, s tour so well but I have a problem with the length, and the durability but that's for another topic in making steep kick turns in boot deep or more. I'm thinking the 180 bc would help me With my almost making it kick turns

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

If anyone wants to buy some 2013 Yetis in a Medium Flex with the stock graphic PM me. They are new, unmounted and in the plastic. I won them and am trading for Medium/Stiff, but Keith didn't have a pair so I just told him I would sell these and then buy a pair of Medium/Stiffs in the pre-sale. He is aware of this sale.

Keith emailed me that my cost will be $528 for the Medium/Stiffs in the pre-sale with my Praxis discount code, sales tax and no shipping.

Given I won the originals, I don't want to loose money on these so just looking to cover the exact cost. Basically, if you want 182 Yeti in Medium now, Keith doesn't have any in stock so I have the pair. Cost includes the 20% praxis discount code on top of the pre-sale cost.

EDIT: These are in Tahoe, so you if you are not Norcal and need shipping, just add in what shipping costs from Praxis directly as I am sure Keith will help and wrap and ship these for the purchaser.