Get Down with Down (skis)

[iriponsnow]

Awesome thx, and psyched they finally got back in the market. Curious when they put the weights up - CD has thicker edges sounds like.
Man, I’d like to get the lowdown and hoard a pair of cd104Ls, but not sure the budget is there for either. Hopefully they thrive and are around for a long long time

I know a guy....

[tang]

^^^ wasn't there a tgr group buy a few years back? how'd that all work? I picked up my cd104Ls here on gear swap, from tgapp - they're simply magic skis for me

[galibier_numero_un]

^^^ wasn't there a tgr group buy a few years back? how'd that all work? I picked up my cd104Ls here on gear swap, from tgapp - they're simply magic skis for me

Summer group buys before the pandemic. At the time, this was the only way to directly purchase for delivery to the US.

Some impressive changes for this year, especially in the area of robust consttuction/durability (base & edge thockness). New cores & epoxies.

... Thom

[Boissal]

Awesome thx, and psyched they finally got back in the market. Curious when they put the weights up - CD has thicker edges sounds like.
Man, I’d like to get the lowdown and hoard a pair of cd104Ls, but not sure the budget is there for either. Hopefully they thrive and are around for a long long time

Thicker base as well which was my only complaint on the CD104L. It took very little to core shot them, and I did a whole lot of that to my pair. The thicker edges won't do much for me, I think my current pair has seen a file maybe 5 times in 2 seasons.
Depending on weight of the new version I might regret not scoring an additional pair, they're by far my favorite touring ski off all time. I spend a fair bit time on the 114 as well but the 104 does 95% as well in high speed pow, and is clearly superior all around.
LowDowns didn't do it for me but I can't be on anything less than 100mm underfoot or which requires some effort to ski well.
Psyched to see Down back in the mix though, their skis enabled with 3 best seasons ever.

[PNWbrit]

^^^ wasn't there a tgr group buy a few years back? how'd that all work? I picked up my cd104Ls here on gear swap, from tgapp - they're simply magic skis for me

Yep. Super cheap. Sent to one destination then passed around regionally/locally by volunteer Mags if I recall.

I did hear that it got them in a shitload of trouble with Euro retailers when they found out that we were buying them at less than they could wholesale.

Great skis.

[tang]

Hopefully this is just a first prod run, cuz they're already out of some sizes, including 181 CD104L. I'm usually on a 185-190, but have the 181 in the "L" and the thing punches way above its weight and size. I don't really get it... magic skis

[Spyderjon]

........I did hear that it got them in a shitload of trouble with Euro retailers when they found out that we were buying them at less than they could wholesale.....

Not true as Down have only ever sold direct to end users. Down now has different ownership and the skis are made in Austria not Poland. I believe the factory that makes them bought the brand.

[phatty]

Not true as Down have only ever sold direct to end users. Down now has different ownership and the skis are made in Austria not Poland. I believe the factory that makes them bought the brand.

So it's no longer our mag homies running the show?

[PNWbrit]

Not true as Down have only ever sold direct to end users.

True.

A ski store near the base of the Midi - (Concept? - that I'd found was the most reliably willing to fill an unfamiliar US brand airbag cannister) had a shop full of their full range of skis for sale 6 or 7 years ago.

The following year when I went in they had none. I asked the owner why not and that was his exact reason. He mentioned other stores had taken the same view.

[pyromaniacman129]

That’s a bummer to hear. I facilitated the pnw Seattle group a few years back. Really want to get a new set of 196 CD114. I’ve beat my set to hell and back and they’re great skis.
I reached out to down on IG a few weeks back and their response was “the down team is down”


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[tgapp]

^^^ wasn't there a tgr group buy a few years back? how'd that all work? I picked up my cd104Ls here on gear swap, from tgapp - they're simply magic skis for me

Good skis huh. Glad they found a good home. Capable, stable, predictable, awesome across a huge range of conditions.

Stoked to see Down back in the game.

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[galibier_numero_un]

Thicker base as well which was my only complaint on the CD104L. It took very little to core shot them, and I did a whole lot of that to my pair. The thicker edges won't do much for me, I think my current pair has seen a file maybe 5 times in 2 seasons.
Depending on weight of the new version I might regret not scoring an additional pair, they're by far my favorite touring ski off all time. I spend a fair bit time on the 114 as well but the 104 does 95% as well in high speed pow, and is clearly superior all around.
LowDowns didn't do it for me but I can't be on anything less than 100mm underfoot or which requires some effort to ski well.
Psyched to see Down back in the mix though, their skis enabled with 3 best seasons ever.

I had the same experiences with the Lowdowns as you did. I got the 102s from @tgapp on a whim when I was in town. Weirdest skis I ever turned. Some folks love them.

Now the 104Ls ... amazing balance of weight, performance, and predictability.

The more robust bases are a welcome upgrade. The older bases reminded me of my Automatic 109s.

Reading their "About" page, the boys are back, and are loaded for bear:

https://downskis.com/pages/about-us

From this page:

Then the world was shocked with Covid, and so was DOWN. The brand went dormant for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, until another twist of fate had DOWN founder Geo and ski industry veteran Sigi (former co-owner and president of KÄSTLE skis; founder of ORIGINAL+ custom skis) connect. The plan
to re-ignite the somewhat dormant brand was born.

The historical change for DOWN: We are now a ski factory, with all processes from design, production, engineering, tooling, sourcing, shipping and quality in our own hands. This is unique, and sets DOWN apart from almost all our peers, who are not manufacturers. Production is re-established and DOWN is back for good.

... Thom

[iriponsnow]

More to come.

[pyromaniacman129]

I’ve heard back from down.
They’re interested in doing a group buy with us again. Judging interest and will help facilitate if there is enough interest. He said stock is flying off the shelf but they should be stable in Jan/feb

Who’s in?.


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[tang]

Yes, high interest in 1-2 pairs

[detrusor]

I’m in. Asking for a friend…seriously…how does the group think they would hold a tele binding?

[McDee]

Edit: just found it

[tauplitzalm]

So, quick hello to everyone here from DOWN skis - yes, we are officially back and I am happy to assist with any questions there are. I can answer more as we move, immediate info on a few questions raised are...

(1) DOWN is now located in Salzburg Austria; we have a full factory, internal engineering, tooling, everything.
(2) most of the original DOWN shapes I found exactly that - original. So no major changes here; improvements and upgrades come in a lot of small details; with top-level perspective being: IMPROVING DURABILITY (thicker bases, new resin system, top of the shelf PA (in American: nylon) topsheets. FINETUNING PERFORMANCE (notably internal wood core manufacturing, higher milling precision, slight tweaks to camber profiles). We now start with COUNTDOWNs (104s, 114s, in both regular and "L" versions); next in line are THROWDOWNs. And yes to those who have notices our IG photos, there are some black protos in the test currently.
(3) to the group by question: currently trying to sort that out - I'll get back to that later, but we can consider that for sure - main "price" question is acutally not product price, but what quick and affordable freight rate we can get. more on that in a bit.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR NOW!
Sig

[stuntmanbo]

Any plans of running a batch of SD115 189 ?

[tauplitzalm]

To the tele question - no prob and concern for ALL DOWN PRODUCT LINES
1) new COUNTDOWN SKIS all models (including "L" versions) have titanal binding insert
2) all new THROWDOWN skis will have hardwood binding insert
3) all new LOWDOWN AT skis will have titanal binding insert (identical to CD)
4) all new *black protos from photos* will have a lot of metal in them

[tauplitzalm]

Any plans of running a batch of SD115 189 ?

hey stuntman - nope, not for the near future.
CD114-196 and 189 are back in stock as per today though

[sk8rat6587]

Do you have much information yet on the new throwdowns compared to the old?

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[tang]

Good good! Quick ?… weights on the new LD and CD104L? Thx

[tauplitzalm]

Do you have much information yet on the new throwdowns compared to the old?

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same lineup, same shapes, same construction; different top sheet material (was lacquered ABS-TPU before, very soft material better used in snowboards which don't have the second ski as an enemy); now coming with top-of-the line PA topsheets (nylon 0,5mm).

4 models:

THROWDOWN 89 182
THROWDOWN 99 172
THROWDOWN 105 182
THROWDOWN 125 185

marketingwise, TD99-172 is now called such (was called TD105-172 before).

[tauplitzalm]

Good good! Quick ?… weights on the new LD and CD104L? Thx

LD87 159 2735 gr / pair
LD87 167 2850 gr / pair
LD87 175 2970 gr / pair

CD104 187 3990 gr / pair
CD104 L 187 3740 gr / pair (comm: corrected typo her; said 3990 before)

CD114 182 4150
CD114 189 4370
CD114 196 4620

updated in tech specs on the website now as well

thanks!