Blizzard ZeroG 105s95s 85s new for 2019

[NWFlow]

Not Lee, but I’d go 172; especially if that 174-178 is a resort/crossover ski length.

I now hove a couple handfuls of days on the 188; I’m 5’10” 200lb; and wish I was on the 180. The 188 is great for a open alpine runs, but can be a bit big in tight trees below the freezing level and route finding through chutes. Also a lot of ski for kick turning up steep stuff. Normally ski 186-190 skis.

I normally ski 185-190 as well. Also have 189 Atris mounted for touring and those are borderline unwieldy. if the new 105 is ok to be skied at a slightly shorter length than I am used to, I'll go for that and save the weight. Cheers, thanks for this response.

[Eluder]

Lee - what length would you suggest for someone 145lbs / 5'7" in the 105? For day tours and a bit of hut to hut in the alps. I normally ski something in the 174-178 range. Go up to the 180 or down to the 172?

I am the same size as you and have the 180 ZG105. The size is spot on for me. That being said my other skis are 184-186 other than a 177 Cochise but its the original ship and skis long.

[gregL]

5'8" with relative short legs and long torso. Love the 180 for skiing, wish it was about 177 for skinning. My alpine skis are 186 and 188.

[NWFlow]

Wish they'd just stuck with the 185!

[gritter]

Thanks all. Sounds like the 172 is probably a good call.
For anyone that might have skied both, how do you think this would stack up against a Countdown 102? I had a pair which were great in the soft but found the combination of lack of sidecut, length and pretty stout flex a bit hard work on harder surfaces / in tighter spots. Is the ZG105 going to be a bit easier going or much the same? I also considered the Raven, but the reviews and more extreme rocker suggest that it's probably at it's best in soft snow and given that this is a ski for the alps I thought the ZG could be a better match. A;so the Raven seems to be hard to get here in Europe.

[LA-73]

As title, anyone tried ZG108 in 192 size? Differences? Have tested 185 but it felt short. It was at a demo day, bindings where mounted +1cm so that might explain it?

[frorider]

I have the 192 ZG108, didn’t bother testing the 185 since I knew it would be too short for my intended purposes (6’3” 190 lbs). I recently demo’d the current version (188 zg 105) and was disappointed...it was perfectly OK but doesn’t have the same power and snap as my skis, which can be skied hard like a resort ski. On the other hand the 192 can be a pain on kick turns and I think the kinder gentler 188 ZG105 would be a better match to my F1s (demo day was on my maestrale RS’s).

[LA-73]

Thanks for sharing your experiences :-)

Where have you mounted, on the line?
And yes, I've understood that the new 105 is completely different. I've a Volkl BMT122-186 now and all though it's "OK" in deep pow it doesn't make me very happy anywhere else. I like yours "which can be skied hard like a resort ski" ...that's more what I also have in mind and hoping for. I reckon Volkl made a mistake not making a >190cm variant of the V Werks Mantra. That would be a killer concept.

[auvgeek]

I have the 192 ZG108, didn’t bother testing the 185 since I knew it would be too short for my intended purposes (6’3” 190 lbs). I recently demo’d the current version (188 zg 105) and was disappointed...it was perfectly OK but doesn’t have the same power and snap as my skis, which can be skied hard like a resort ski. On the other hand the 192 can be a pain on kick turns and I think the kinder gentler 188 ZG105 would be a better match to my F1s (demo day was on my maestrale RS’s).

Yeah, I have thought about picking up the 180 ZG 105 for use with a lighter boot, as an addition to, not a replacement for the 185 ZG 108. (My ZG 108s are mounted with SSL heels without an adjustment plate so I can't use other boots.)

I bet the 180 ZG 105 + Skorpius (or similar) would be a great light midwinter touring setup for me @ 5'11", 165#, but the 185 ZG 108 and Vulcans ski very, very well at a manageable weight with no speed limit I've found and not for lack of trying.

[Dshack89]

Not sure if this is the thread for this, but I wanted to pass some info along..I used to hate how touchy/hooky my 185 Zero G 85's were. I thought it was just the sacrifice of a lightweight ski. Just before giving up and selling them, I finally AGGRESSIVELY detuned the tips and tails (i.e., took a file at 45 degrees) and they now ski so much more intuitively. It's as if I have a totally new ski. I've taken them out the last 2 days in 4 - 8" of variable wind-assisted powder and they have been fantastic.

[KillerMonkey]

Found a good deal on the womens version of the zero g 95 and theres no difference between the mens right? I looked up the specs and it looks like everything matches.