Make Skinny Skis Cool Again

**ClayCole** · 01-06-2018, 10:13 PM

So today I was ripping around A-basin on my favorite low tide skis. Some "Cheater GS" race skis circa ~2002 with an 18m turn radius but stiff enough that they don't get hooky. I love these on ice, chalk, bumps, etc. I don't care if I hit rocks since I only paid $250 for them with bindings.

I was having a great time, but the other rippers on their 95-115mm under foot skis made me feel distinctly un-cool on my 66mm under foot skis. Almost made me grab my emergency Katanas out of the truck to boost my ego.

Is there any hope for making skinny skis cool again or should I just trash my low tide skinny skis and break out the fatties?

**iamchappy** · 01-06-2018, 10:17 PM

Don't worry about it, I have plenty of old school racing skis much older than yours that rip.

**ClayCole** · 01-06-2018, 10:23 PM

But if you're ripping and no one thinks you're cool, are you actually ripping? I think that's the heart of the question.

Ski racers know they're cool because they have a race run time to prove how fast they are, the rest of us freeskiers only know we're cool if the girls smile at us and lift riders hoot and hollar as we ski under them.

**iamchappy** · 01-06-2018, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by iamchappy

Don't worry about it, I have plenty of old school racing skis much older than yours that rip.

I had out a pair of race stock 210 elan super g skis one day, I was shadowing a race course that the university ski team was training on, when I was riding up the chair with one of the team, they said with a very perplexed look, I've been watching you ski you look like a pro why are you skiing on beginner equipment, I laughed so hard..

**alpinevibes** · 01-07-2018, 10:21 AM

I'm finding the stiff, skinny and agile Brahma enjoyable for this shitty season so far in CO. I'd happily go skinnier while my local bro brahs flop around getting core shots on their new skis.

Lotsa dentists out with their DPS Foundations in these boney early season days...

**riff** · 01-07-2018, 10:36 AM

Volkl Dayglosiv ftw. It never gets old.

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**ADKmike** · 01-07-2018, 12:06 PM

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These were fun

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**t-the-east** · 01-07-2018, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by ClayCole

But if you're ripping and no one thinks you're cool, are you actually ripping?.

This is deep.

**bennettc14** · 01-07-2018, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by ADKmike

These were fun

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Hell yeah, I remember those bump missiles! Also liked the K2 Mambas.

**TAFKALVS** · 01-07-2018, 03:07 PM

I love grippy narrow skis.

**WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot** · 01-07-2018, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by ClayCole

........Is there any hope for making skinny skis cool again ......

paint 'em red ..... red skis are always cool

**Peruvian** · 01-07-2018, 04:54 PM

Came to read about skinny skis...left disappointed.

**ZomblibulaX** · 01-07-2018, 08:53 PM

^^^^^If you’re going that skinny, you need to look to biathlon:

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But seriously, skinny skis are unbeatable when conditions call for it. It’s just like having the right powslayer on a deep day, only, you know, without the pow.

**Like a Boss** · 01-07-2018, 10:57 PM

My widest ski is 80 underfoot. My next ski is going to be 71 underfoot. Wide skis are for dentists. But then again I live in CO, where snow is just a memory.

**old goat** · 01-07-2018, 11:02 PM

I have some non FIS GS skis--not sure what they are, I think maybe U18's, 180 something long (or short), radius about 21. Cost me 100 bucks with bindings and race plates. They're a lot of fun on firm groomer days as long as there aren't too many people in the way. Nice to have a race oriented shop in town selling used race gear. I don't think there's another shop in North Tahoe?truckee that sells anything under 80.

**PNW_Skier206** · 01-07-2018, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Like a Boss

Wide skis are for dentists.

Yeah except not...

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**ZomblibulaX** · 01-07-2018, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by Like a Boss

My widest ski is 80 underfoot. My next ski is going to be 71 underfoot. Wide skis are for dentists. But then again I live in CO, where snow is just a memory.

Whoa down, little buddy. It’ll be winter in February.

Maybe.

**Ted Striker** · 01-07-2018, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by ClayCole

Is there any hope for making skinny skis cool again?

Probably not, but skinny-skiing, and going to bullfights on acid... definitely.

**DropCliffsNotBombs** · 01-09-2018, 04:23 PM

"Never trust a ski that is narrower than your boot!"
Unless you actually LIKE pushing snow around with your boot buckles.

**Jonny Snow** · 01-10-2018, 08:50 AM

Skis around 85mm or so with a metal sandwich construction are usually very good on hardpack, but handle variable crap much better than a narrow race ski.

SB · 01-10-2018, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by ZomblibulaX

^^^^^If you’re going that skinny, you need to look to biathlon:

But seriously, skinny skis are unbeatable when conditions call for it. It’s just like having the right powslayer on a deep day, only, you know, without the pow.

ScottyB approves.

**swissiphic** · 01-10-2018, 03:12 PM

I dust off my circa 1990ish era 207 rossi 4Gs off in the spring to slay bumps. The relearning curve is always steep; hard to fully control with touring boots, late in the turns in bumps and watch catching those edges. Always a fucking blast. And, fun to compare and contrast the feel and technique with my present quiver which includes fatties like the k2 darkside and volkl kuro which are 164mm wide at the tip (not yet skied, can't wait to get on 'em).

I love skiing 'em all at the right times and in the right places.