Thoughts on nordica patron 185

**whyturn** · 01-25-2017, 08:55 PM

I searched but just statement like they rock
I have chargers of all variations such as
186 BG
189 spur
186 kusalhasa
183 G3 empire 127
191 h20 karencito

Really looking for a soft snow ski that won't be a lot of work on days I'm guiding or just tired
Out west pow trees and meadow skipping mostly. Found a good deal on em

Unless you can offer your suggestions for others with a deal I really don't care. I have skied a lot of skis and really just want easy
My kusalhasas are also easy so they work

**undertow2** · 01-25-2017, 10:17 PM

Why, I demod both the Patron and Helldarado and hated them... Both sucked at speed and the tips and tails were soft forcing you to control your speed if the snow was cruddy... Honestly the Blistergearreview on the Patron was spot on...

I don't know if you can get a deal on the Blizzard Gunsmoke, but I own it in a 193 and it blew the doors off of the Patron/Helldarado... Easy as shit to ski... Fun as hell... Kills it on the groom... Floats like a champ... And handles crud and makes for a really fun tree ski... And to top it off I got mine for $200 shipped to my door new...

**Climber Joe** · 01-25-2017, 10:18 PM

I had the patrons a long while back and I don't think they've really changed much. I found them be predictable, stable, fun, and really nice in the pow.

The flex isn't super stiff, but the tip profile is nice and low so they remain calm in the chop or variable snow.

I felt they skied a lot like a JJ, but much less turny.

**Bandit Man** · 01-25-2017, 10:40 PM

I own a 185 Helldorado. My buddy has the 185 Unleashed (BC version of the Patron). They are both fun skis. Not too far off from what you are looking for, IMHO. They have an 18.5-m turn radius and a more forward mount, which can be off-putting to bigger, powerful skiers.

They are fine on groomers, decent in soft crud, great in powder and trees. My Helldorados are my early season powders skis and they do fine for me in the heavy, PNW powder.

Agree Gunsmokes are a better ski, but harder to find a deal on those.

**Lord Thomas** · 01-26-2017, 12:25 AM

Liberty Origin 116 comes to mind based on your description

**kootenayskier** · 01-26-2017, 07:30 AM

I demoed the Patrons, back when Dynastar Huge troubles were my regular ski. Thought they skied very similar, as in an easy, do everything, all Mountain powder ski.

**whyturn** · 01-26-2017, 07:34 AM

Thanks guys. I have thought on some days I just want an easy ski. I do weigh 170 now. The blister review seemed to try to find ways not to like it. Blister is good sometimes but seems biased or this ski is not like the bibby...

**nickel** · 01-26-2017, 08:12 AM

i have the 193 unleashed (touring patron). I'm not wild about them but they are indeed easy to ski. Tip has a bit of a tendency to dive and way more tail rocker than what I prefer.

Kind of bland which maybe is what you're after.

**doebedoe** · 01-26-2017, 08:49 AM

I've found Nordica's mounts on this line of skis (patron, helldorado, el capo and even now the enforcer) about 1 to 2 cm too far forward. Demo'd the patron on a cruddy pow day and after we adjust clamp to -1.5 i found way less tip dive and still plenty of tail. Mounted my El Capos -2 and was very happy with that. If you like to ski more centered vs leaning over your tips regular mount point may make more sense.

**Bandit Man** · 01-26-2017, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by whyturn

Thanks guys. I have thought on some days I just want an easy ski. I do weigh 170 now. The blister review seemed to try to find ways not to like it. Blister is good sometimes but seems biased or this ski is not like the bibby...

If you weigh 170, I say go for it. Patron is a great ski if you weigh less than 180 lbs.

I mounted my Helldorado on the rear line. They ski great there. Not as long of a shovel as my other all-mtn skis, but rail soft groomers and still quick in trees and tight spaces. My buddy mounted his Unleashed on the same line. Those are his DD, but he skis 1st Gen Squad 7's on pow days (as a point of reference).

**BigLineSeeker** · 01-26-2017, 11:34 PM

I had El Capos in a 185 and the Unleashed Hells in a 193. I did not like either - found the tips too soft and kept getting thrown in the backseat.

I did own the Radicts for a while and liked those for some reason.

The Brahma / Cochise / Spur is my current quiver.