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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    Cascadia
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    541

    Praxis Protest..just how cool is it?

    It is hot and muggy here. Climbing instead of skiing right now. Easy to forget how much work is involved there compared to skiing deep pow. Protest or any decent Pow ski for that matter

    So let me relive your best days on a pair of Protests. Tell why the ski is so good and how much you enjoy yours As mine sit unmounted against the office wall waiting for a glimpse of winter to arrive.

    Let's hear the best Protest sells pitch that will send us all running to buy a pair!



    (dane wanting to justify his new skis through the dog days of summer

    Do it now! Before I start writing my own stories of wild abandon, snorkle deep and oh so, so steep!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    In Your Wife
    Posts
    8,291
    The Protest is a great ski, put about 40 days on mine at Alta/Bird last winter. The design needs to be updated though, in my opinion. The tip shape could be revised to maintain it's pivot-y nature while also being surfier.

    With it's current shaping it's a ski that rewards a centered, neutral stance over a more forward, conventional stance unless you're mounting 2+ CM back of the dimple. The ski floats very well and is stable in deep snow, but the tip doesn't plane out as well as some other skis out there. Really depends on the kind of powder ride you're looking for.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Land of the Long Flat Vowel
    Posts
    1,092
    A revelation!

    Nothing else in skiing has ever made such an impression on me (I haven't skied the Powder Boards in bottomless fluff). And as a bonus, they're very, very versatile. They're not just 'the right tool for the job', they make you smile, change up a gear, do something different, be creative.

    They are absolutely incredible in powder, with no speed limit and no hooking tendencies. No tip dive goes without saying. A playful charger, I'd say, as it never locks you into a certain turn. It can rail through crud and chop, then be easily feathered through a big slide.

    We just came back from the NZ clubfields and very testing conditions: 1ft of light pow, well tracked, then a big melt/freeze = smooth cream cheese mixed with big blocks of HARD snow etc. Protests were perfect for it; they may have gotten bucked around, but never seriously deflected.

    Re Glademaster's comments, I'm no ski designer, but I'd mess very little with the Protest. Possibly a very slight narrowing of the tips (a'la Wootest 2.0), but then I've never experienced any hooking. I find the rocker very smooth and gradual, if quite substantial, meaning they plane up at low speeds and never dive, yet don't get squirrely when you let them run.

    6'1 x 170-175, 187 carbons mounted on the dimple, Scarpa Maestrale Mangoes. Average skills, above average age :-/

    Edit: Having found my type of ski, there a a few I'd really like to give a go: Praxis Powder Boards, DPS Lotus 138, Praxis Wootest 2.0.
    Last edited by Island Bay; 09-02-2013 at 03:51 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Cascadia
    Posts
    541
    Now we're talking the good chit
    Thanks IB!

    I've skied the last version (prior to the Spoon) 138 and am REALLY looking forward to the first runs on the Protest!!! Like that wasn't already so obvious

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Incline Village, NV (Tahoe)
    Posts
    5,438
    I skied my Protests the past two days. I looooooooove this ski. This and the GPO or Concept could make a solid perfect two ski quiver.
    Every man dies. Not every man lives.
    You don’t stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    17,749
    I find it hard to get enough time on them. Every time I click in, I blow a wad and have to go back to the car and change. I might need to think about baseball, or something.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    livin the dream
    Posts
    5,761
    I bought my 196s as a big day ski. I figured I would ski then once or twice a season, when there is 2 feet of fresh and the top is open, or, if I ever get that opportunity to climb in a heli. I thought the skis would be too much to handle if there was less than a foot of snow. I thought they would be too long for lower mountain trees on storm days. I thought I would have to go to the car at lunch to trade out planks due to skied out conditions.

    I was wrong.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using TGR Forums
    Best Skier on the Mountain
    Self-Certified
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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    SL,UT
    Posts
    255
    I love my 196 Protests in anything 3D. In 3D snow, I can ski them more centered and they will take a touch of forward stance too. Point and go. Look for that line that you would normally slash two or three turns and make it into one. So awesome.

    But if it gets hard or smooth, I prefer I more forward stance and the Protest does not. They will set a spectacular edge, but seems to take a bit more work to get back to the lift. Too much work to call fun, not a pain in the ass, I'd call them manageable. Preference issue more than anything.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Val d'Ayas, Italia
    Posts
    56
    Since all this is well known in certain circles, and posted all over the forum, I propose changing the direction of this thread to: just how cool is it to have BOTH 187 and 196 PPs?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Incline Village, NV (Tahoe)
    Posts
    5,438
    Quote Originally Posted by AyasFreeski View Post
    Since all this is well known in certain circles, and posted all over the forum, I propose changing the direction of this thread to: just how cool is it to have BOTH 187 and 196 PPs?
    I do. In tight trees on steeps or tight chutes I appreciate the 187; otherwise 196 is my go to for 'those' days.
    Every man dies. Not every man lives.
    You don’t stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    Land of the Long Flat Vowel
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    1,092
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim S View Post
    I do. In tight trees on steeps or tight chutes I appreciate the 187; otherwise 196 is my go to for 'those' days.
    I don't. Would dearly love to give the 196s a go on open, fast terrain, though.

    That said, I've skied my 187s extensively on open, alpine terrain, scaring the pants off my scrawny, middle-aged derriere, and never found their speed limit.
    Last edited by Island Bay; 02-18-2014 at 01:47 PM.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Val d'Ayas, Italia
    Posts
    56
    I've got two years on the 196, and two days on the 187. With the 187 so far I've slayed a super technical, super manky soft snow descent under a notoriously ugly gondola. Then I took them into my north facing sugar stash where the snow was much lighter and drier, and found myself wheeling out a little bit…probably 'just me' not being used to the shorter length.

    That said, I'm in the back left row of the choir, the tall one in the middle, singing about the greatest lines of my life on the 196.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    213
    I'm loving my 177s which I've had 20-30 days on this season. Although I often wish I had the 187s for open terrain the 177s absolutely crush trees and tight places. I feel like I can go balls out with reckless abandon through the tightest chokes knowing I can immediately throw them sideways to shut em down.

    I'm 5'8 140 and was on the fence about length because I knew I'd be touring on them. Guess I'll just have to get the 187s so I can put my indecisiveness to rest.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    The Chicken Coop, Seattle
    Posts
    3,163
    Basically summarizes my experience thus far. I mounted the 196 med-stiff carbon at 105cm from the tip with sollyfits and I've only used them with STH16 (haven't had the right day/trip to throw the dynafits on there). Centered in soft snow is pretty amazing...centered on hard pack, they work, but they feel pretty dead and it feels like they need more input. So transition to a forward stance and it gets worse. A forward stance on hard pack is like trying to penetrate a dehydrated asshole. They just won't cooperate. Not as bad as the wootest 1.0, but definitely not fun. Anything up to 12", I'm on my gambits. Over 12", the protest is dope. They should get some use this week.

    Quote Originally Posted by HighWest View Post
    I love my 196 Protests in anything 3D. In 3D snow, I can ski them more centered and they will take a touch of forward stance too. Point and go. Look for that line that you would normally slash two or three turns and make it into one. So awesome.

    But if it gets hard or smooth, I prefer I more forward stance and the Protest does not. They will set a spectacular edge, but seems to take a bit more work to get back to the lift. Too much work to call fun, not a pain in the ass, I'd call them manageable. Preference issue more than anything.
    wait!!!! waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait...Wait!
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  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    3,064
    I liked PB's better, sold Protests.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    17,749
    Quote Originally Posted by SupreChicken View Post
    A forward stance on hard pack is like trying to penetrate a dehydrated asshole. They just won't cooperate.
    Interesting metaphor.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    livin the dream
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    5,761
    Quote Originally Posted by tuco View Post
    I liked PB's better, sold Protests.
    How insightful....

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using TGR Forums
    Best Skier on the Mountain
    Self-Certified
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    Squaw Valley, USA

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Tahoe
    Posts
    949
    They rock in anything soft which is a given. Responding simply because I'm a little perplexed by some comments above about performance on firm. Makes me think it is a mount placement and/or edge tune issue.

    I am on 188 red camo protests mounted ~2.5cm back and have absolutely no issues carving high speed turns on anything but blue ice. Light/medium forward pressure against tongue of boot and there is just enough straight edge to set and carve a turn. Can weight back slightly and ski more centered stance and easily pivot/release them. They transition predictably through pretty much any turn shape and feel solid and perfect. Have not been on 196, but think I could easily love a pair of last generation 196cm protests. Have not been on current gen.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    in a van down by the river
    Posts
    2,769
    I love mine, probably my favorite ski, I tour on em I've tele'd on em and I will buy another pair if they ever die.

    I even let my friends have a go on them... and they always want a pair of them when they are done.
    I don't work and I don't save, desperate women pay my way.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Cascadia
    Posts
    541
    Been skiing mine recently.

    Impressive ski. 98% of a 138 for me in deep snow. And easy to get around on packed/groomed snow. As in way, way easier to ski going to and fro. Hard to notice you have a fat rockered board on hard pack. Nothing like the 138s getting back to a lift. I could likely ski these any day there is new snow on the ground.

    Today it was waist deep in places so they worked out well. Also now understand why Praxis did a GPO in a similar pattern/ rocker.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    3,064
    Quote Originally Posted by nickwm21 View Post
    How insightful....

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using TGR Forums
    I had the black and red camo. My brother had the first year when they changed them a couple years ago. I never mounted mine and sold them based off of skiing my brothers. There was just something off with those skis(for my style anyway). I don't know if it was overall too soft, if the tail was to soft or the rocker just came to far back, just didn't feel right. The black and red ones were stiffer and the rocker profile was better, IMO.
    Truth be told, it was a dark day when I sold my Protests. Something just had to go, and since I already had to 2 other skis in the over 130mm underfoot category it was bye bye Protest.
    The PB's on the other hand were a revelation. So smooth, buttery as fuck. Then I got them in variable conditions and mine eyes were open. Then I got them out in corn and slush and mine eyes were opened even further. I also find they carve on hardpack just fine.
    So, in short, I found PB more versatile than Protest. There is a reason why Down skis made the CD5 their "variable snow" ski, it's basically the same ski in a much smaller dimension.
    That enough insight for ya, friendo?

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    621
    Thought I'd chime in... Just skied a pair of the old Protests I picked up in the off season for the first time last night at freaking Snoqualmie Summit West and it may have been one of best times I've ever had in my life. Granted, there was about 30-40 inches of fresh but I've never had so much float and control before. Gliding along the top of the snow felt damn near frictionless with zero hooking or tip dive. When going through the chop it felt very controlled and stable. They were even tons of fun on the soft groomers. Gonna ski these things until they explode and then get a new pair.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Land of the Long Flat Vowel
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    1,092
    Quote Originally Posted by lrn2swim View Post
    Thought I'd chime in... Just skied a pair of the old Protests I picked up in the off season for the first time last night at freaking Snoqualmie Summit West and it may have been one of best times I've ever had in my life. Granted, there was about 30-40 inches of fresh but I've never had so much float and control before. Gliding along the top of the snow felt damn near frictionless with zero hooking or tip dive. When going through the chop it felt very controlled and stable. They were even tons of fun on the soft groomers. Gonna ski these things until they explode and then get a new pair.
    Freaky, ay?

    Lucky man!
    It sounds like the old Protests are a bit New Protest/Powder Boards hybrid, with longer tip and tail rocker and less side cut than the new ones. I'd snap up a pair in a heart beat, but it'd be hard to do from NZ.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Juxtaposition
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    5,733
    Quote Originally Posted by lrn2swim View Post
    so much float and control.... Gliding along the top of the snow felt damn near frictionless with zero hooking .
    Bout sums it up for me as well.

    But I'm not a good enough skier to make them a good ski in "versatile" conditions. Too much width on hard snow or well chopped for my physical form and technique.

    Wish the Wootest came in a 181... But I reckon the tour-weight rockererered GPO will meet that need of mine. It is a glaring gap in my quiver. I got Down 6's in hope, but they are a bit narrow underfoot and in the tip and so ski knee deep powder... not quite as joyfully as other skis.
    Life is not lift served.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Couloirfornia
    Posts
    8,871
    My pair are first gen. Delivered in November 2008 when Keith still called them "Hybrids."

    He gave you the option of "continuous-curves rocker" like the Powderboards or "recurve" (which was flat or slightly cambered with rocker on both ends, IIRC). Mine are full rocker like the PBs. Black snowflake topsheets. I'm guessing it's a unique pair based on what his volume was like then.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ernest_Hemingway View Post
    I realize there is not much hope for a bullfighting forum. I understand that most of you would prefer to discuss the ingredients of jacket fabrics than the ingredients of a brave man. I know nothing of the former. But the latter is made of courage, and skill, and grace in the presence of the possibility of death. If someone could make a jacket of those three things it would no doubt be the most popular and prized item in all of your closets.

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