Sorry, long post, but skip to the meat at the bottom if you've been on 2010-2013 Megawatts and late models BGs...
Calling on the collective wisdom to help me learn a bit more about my preferences. I realize they're "my" preferences, but many maggots have spent much more time on many more skis than me. I finally have enough A/B time on a few popular skis to provide relevant variables.
me:
- 39yo, 6'00, 220lb, big upper body, short legs
- can ski anywhere inbounds, but not a big sender.
- Like driving tips more than neutral stance.
- Ski 95% Mt. Hood, OR
- Haven't been on many skis since getting back in the groove 5 or 6 years ago and can't usually demo what I want when I want due to schedule restrictions
Skis I hated:
Bibby Pro 190 (the older, more popular layup)
- Couldn't figure this ski out. Bases were true and they were aggressively and progressively detuned as I tried to figure them out. Had lots of luck on soft groomers in a neutral stance, but on wind-scour or dust on crust, they were squirrely again. Biggest issues were tip dive in pow and difficulty controlling/predicting turn shapes in pow. Seemed very sensitive to stance and lean angle in a squirrely and unsettling way.
- If you guys were to tell me that these only really come alive with speed or that the mount is too progressive for a top-heavy dude that doesn't ski switch, I could see that.
- Boots could be a third variable. I'm in Rossi Allspeed 120s (sister boot to Lange RX 120s I think?). I've been wanting to try a stiffer boot.
ON3P Wren 98 (in its defense, I was on a size too small and was +1cm due to previous mount)
Skis I like:
Peacemaker 186
- love it as a slow speed, low tide tree ski or noodling around with the fam. Really easy and intuitive for everything. Jack of all trades, master of none
Gunsmoke 193
- love it if I'm not turning much, but otherwise it's a bit too much to throw around in cascade concrete.
- It didn't seem to love PNW leftovers. Best day I had on them was deep, dry, and arcing bigger turns away from the trees (go figure....)
Skis I love:
MX98
- my favorite 95-105mm ski in a 184, never skied the 194
- Serious, no sense of humor, no early rise, 2 sheets of metal, out-bonafides the bonafide and Monster 98, both skis I like a lot, but that weren't as serious as the Kastle. Also skied (and liked) Brahmas and Mantras in search of this ski.
- Crazy thing is that the tails will release and slarve on command, but absolutely rail and finish turns when on edge.
- Despite being serious, I don't understand why people say they'll punish sloppy form. I don't view my form as the greatest, and they've never given me a scare.
- Once the fresh snow gets over boot deep, my love begins to wane
Dynastar Speedzone 12ti
- for strict groomer duty as needed, but not so focused that I die if I chase my kid through the trees or bumps.
BGs (2017/18 - 189)
- Been waiting a long time to get on these on a pow day. It wasn't quite the instant euphoria TGR led me to expect, but it was sooooo much better than the bibby and 10 times more intuitive.
The Meat:
Most of the reason for writing this was the weekend I just had on the Megawatts, which included a few runs on BGs in the same snow. The MWs blew my mind all weekend. So pivoty. Floppy tips popped the stiffer forebody up and out of snow whether it was blower or tracked out, regardless of my attention to body position. Tapered shovels didn't get deflected by 2pm resort chop. Turn shapes were intuitive and predictable. Moderate camber wasn't noticeable in pow, but pleasantly noticeable on groomers.
When I A/B'd with BGs, I actually preferred the Megawatts by a very small margin, although if I had to pick one of them to be the wide ski in a 2 ski quiver, the BG would be the easy choice (much more daily driver potential 'round here).
Questions:
- Why aren't megawatts more popular? The reviews I dug up here all had similar feedback (i.e. people really loved this ski). Is this a black diamond (no real marketing? too backcountry focused to catch on at the resort? No consistently well-received line-up over the years?)
- What does my love for this ski tell you about my preferences? Serious question, because I figure several of you will know me better than I know myself. For instance, I wouldn't be surprised to hear something like: "You like a traditional mount and have put too much stock in what the internet tells you regarding ski size/flex and body weight. You're not a good enough skier to make use of a 190cm+ ski that's relatively stiff throughout. You like this ski because it's the first pow ski you've tried with serious tip rocker and super soft, tapered shovels, but one that retains enough rigidity the rest of the way down the ski to support your fat, sexy ass the way you thought only a 190+ ski could."
- The big one: what other skis do I need to try, either pow-specific or more versatile 115+ skis?
Thanks in advance for any lightbulbs. Also, WTB your old Megawatts...
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