Skis for the Trees

[stansonium]

I'm 6' and 175 pounds, been skiing on 2008 Line Chronics for the past few years, also have a pair of 2011 Rossi BC 125s

Looking to pick up some new skis this year, and see some great deals online. I am currently on the East coast, but this will (hopefully) be my last winter before moving out west. I also have one trip planned to Colorado this winter

I want a ski that's great off-piste, with priority being trees, bowls, then chutes

I've recently been getting lost in reviews, seems likely every ski says something like "Ski of the year! Floats like a powder ski yet rips like a carving ski for skiers that want the best of both worlds!"

Sounds great. Anyway I've been eyeing the 2014/15 Blizzard Bonafide. Two questions:
-What size Bonafide would you recommend?
-Any other skis to consider?


Thanks for the help

[neck beard]

First post, eh? Do you have any siblings?

What width are you after? How much float do you want? Do you like skiing with a pivoty centered stance, or shin-driven stance?

I have skied a lot of trees, here are some powder skis that have been very nimble and easy in the woods, from narrow to wider end of the spectrum:

Praxis BC - DPS Wailers - Praxis GPO Reverse Camber - Praxis Protests.

I am sure there are so many more, but that is what I have skied recently. The GPO RC is the middle-width, most-situations, ultra-nimble, floaty pow tree ski of choice for me. I seldom prefer anything else when tree skiing.

Never skied the Bonafide, but I'd guess it is not a powder tree ski first and foremost.

[whyturn]

I have tried a lot of models. For me the on3p billy goat is quickest I have ever been on in the trees. I'm sure others would be good too but I like that I can grab them and go with no second thoughts

[XavierD]

ON3P Billy Goat, Steeple 112, or Steeple 102. Whatever waist width and size fits your fancy.

[ScrewYou]

I went with the BG/Steeple this year for trees, but the trees where I ski are a little larger and wider spaced (for the most part) than some other places. You can watch videos online though, of people skiing BGs in deep tight trees, and you can tell how easily you can change direction and pivot. I cant wait to ski mine.

For the east coast I would go with something thinner however. A steeple 102 would be sweet, or a 4frnt gaucho. The gaucho has metal, but is about the same weight and actually softer than the steeple.

[eskido]

Concept

[LiveLarger]

DPS 112 wailer.

[steved]

Have only been on Peacemakers a couple times...last winter..but they seemed as though they'd be pretty good with its slightly firm shovel for any early AM windblown or crud.
However I'd sure like to try the others mentioned...

[utagonian]

+1 on DPS 112's, my go to tree ski.

Bonafide and others with low tips like to catch on shit under the surface, I prefer more pronounced tip rocker in the trees. I've never skied out east so ymmv.

[Wickedbrew4u]

112rp 190 carbon for you...but east coast maybe hybrid

I do need to check out the new BGs though

[Kopi_Red]

Atomic Automatic

[Damian Sanders]

I'm 6' and 175 pounds, been skiing on 2008 Line Chronics for the past few years, also have a pair of 2011 Rossi BC 125s

Looking to pick up some new skis this year, and see some great deals online. I am currently on the East coast, but this will (hopefully) be my last winter before moving out west. I also have one trip planned to Colorado this winter

I want a ski that's great off-piste, with priority being trees, bowls, then chutes

I've recently been getting lost in reviews, seems likely every ski says something like "Ski of the year! Floats like a powder ski yet rips like a carving ski for skiers that want the best of both worlds!"

Sounds great. Anyway I've been eyeing the 2014/15 Blizzard Bonafide. Two questions:
-What size Bonafide would you recommend?
-Any other skis to consider?


Thanks for the help

The Bonafide is an excellent all around east coast ski, very good in trees, medium density powder and small bumps, but still good on ice and decent at speed. You would probably like it in a 180cm.

[nyskirat]

+1 for peacemaker

[oftpiste]

geez.... this place is slipping. again.

the red ones are the correct skis for your needs.

[Shu Shu]

Concept

x 2

Its been my everyday EC ski for three seasons. Once you learn how to work the reverse sidecut underfoot (which takes all of about 2 runs) there is nothing that pivots faster in 3d snow. You'll start seeing tree lines that you wouldn't have even thought of before. Plus like all the awesome ski reviews say...it can also rip some pretty big turns on trails.

Also x3 or 4 on the GPO its not quite as fast as the Concept but it is a brainlessly easy ski (unless you are Blister) and lays down more conventional carves than the Concept on groomers

And x5 or 6 on the Billy Goat, its on the top of my lists of skis to try.

[sandflea]

I had the Wailer 112's and Concepts at the same time. The DPS's were a really good tree ski... but the Concepts were better for me. Also had the GPO's(normal camber), Concepts were better in trees.

[njfreeskier]

There are probably 100 something threads related to this, but the less camber the ski has, the easier it is to pivot and smear through the trees rather than carve around them. My go to ski of choice for tree skiing are praxis pows. They pivot on a dime. I would recommend something with full rocker, and lots of it.

Here's a sample of what I mean.

[PlayItLeo]

praxis pows

If there's any soft snow, these are the greatest tree ski of all times.

[oftpiste]

camber really doesn't have any bearing or impact whatsoever in deep snow unless you're on a stiff ski with a LOT of camber. Flex maybe, rocker for sure, but camber don't mean shit in the deep. other aspects of the ski are way more important.

[Lindahl]

camber really doesn't have any bearing or impact whatsoever in deep snow unless you're on a stiff ski with a LOT of camber. Flex maybe, rocker for sure, but camber don't mean shit in the deep. other aspects of the ski are way more important.

Disagree quite a bit. If the ski can't decamber due to combination of snow density, ski flex, and speed, it can make a huge difference in how a ski feels in powder.

In addition, a stiff low-rise reverse camber ski is extremely frictionless in deeper snow and can feel quite unique.

[oftpiste]

Disagree quite a bit. If the ski can't decamber due to combination of density, ski flex, and speed, it can make a huge difference in how a ski feels in powder.

In addition, a stiff low-rise reverse camber ski is extremely frictionless in deeper snow and can feels quite unique.

Fair enough. Guess what I was trying to suggest (poor though my language might have been) is that a little bit of camber is less impactful than other elements of the ski's design, shape and construction and maybe shouldn't be the deal-breaker when choosing a tree ski.

[GeezerSteve]

Atomic Automatic

+1 for the original Automatic/current Automatic 117 but maybe too wide for EC? Automatic 109 might be a nice EC tree ski.

[jmars]

x2...the auto 117 in the trees and on untouched deep are where they shine IMO....very fast.

I skied the 109 as well and enjoyed it too but wouldn't bother to own it.

[Pukesno]

How about a 2012 Rossi Super 7

(Shameless plug for my pair in Gear Swap)