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Thread: 50-50 ski for the Dolomites.
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11-15-2019, 08:33 PM #1
50-50 ski for the Dolomites.
My mom lives in Val Gardena and I typically visit once a year for 9-10 days. Right now those visits pretty much need to happen in late March. I travel with small kids, so hauling a bunch of skis doesn't work. I leave a couple pairs over there.
Looking for ski advice since the skis I like for CO tend to be more specialized and don't make sense for what I do in Italy which includes:
Skiing groomers with small children and septuagenarians.
Lift assisted touring, typically to access fairly steep, narrow couloirs, but sometimes more open "freeride" type terrain.
These activities frequently happen in the same day without going home to change skis.
Once a trip I'll take a whole day to do a longer tour that may include some semi-technical climbing and steep skinning with lots of kick turns.
I've been using some old Blizzard Bushwackers with Kingpins (which have been solid, fingers crossed...) and some old Lhasas if it snows a lot. The Bushwackers + Lhasas worked well when I was going in the winter and didn't have a kid who skied. But the last couple years I've wanted a mid-fat that is fun on piste and handles late-March mank when I leave the kids to ski with grandma and go do this:
I'm looking for something 95-105mm underfoot that weighs 3.5-4.5 lbs. that:
Needs to be fun enough on groomers.
Needs to have decent float and stability at a 180ish length (kick turn, kick turn, kick turn).
Needs to be fairly maneuverable in funky snow- no locked in tail.
No full reverse camber- need a little pop for linking hop turns.
Normally I wouldn't ask one ski to do all these things, so I've ignored all-rounder types. QST 99? Black Crows Navis? Head Kore 99? Other ideas? I'm not in a rush, but starting to look for deals.
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11-15-2019, 09:32 PM #2
QST seems like a good option. I haven't tried the 99, but I've been impressed with the versatility of my 106. They do well on firm, and surprisingly well in powder too.
I have the 188 which is a bit much for couloir skiing, but makes wide open terrain really fun. I think the shorter size would be great for the Dolomites.
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11-15-2019, 10:22 PM #3
I think there is a good shop in Selva/Wolkenstein for rentals that would most likely let you swap out with little penalty. If not there is a very good shop in La Villa in the next valley over. Swapping out would be a pain given the distance, but for a one time trip.... They carry the Blizzard ZG 95, which while not a sleeper pick is pretty capable for the Dolomites. No reverse camber for steep or slick/iced up shady couloirs and will be fine for mellow groomers on the Sella. I would want more underfoot if they have more snow (so far they are off to a crazy good start) but otherwise, 95 is fine. Might be pretty chatter-y if you're skiing with friends. But shepherding kids and older parents, it will be fine. The tail will release fine too in couloirs.
TL/DR I'd pick a ski for the couloirs as it'll perform fine for chasing kids/80 year olds on blue groomers.
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11-16-2019, 12:17 AM #4
I've skied the Zero G 95's. Great skis. And I own and love the 85's and 108's. But the 95's are definitely lighter than I'm looking for this application. Most of the approaches/climbs I do in Italy are short compared to what I do at home so I don't mind the weight. I would consider more Zero G 108's if I found a cheap pair. Not that fun on groomers, but solid enough for skiing fast in variable snow, and the best couloir ski I've ever used.
Also my 72 year old step dad still hauls ass. Skied Val di Mezdi with him a couple years ago and only waited for him on the traverse/hike. Here he is a few years back getting deep in some, uh, interesting clothing:
I need skis with a little beef so I can keep up!
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11-16-2019, 09:34 AM #5
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11-16-2019, 11:10 AM #6
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11-16-2019, 01:20 PM #7
How sturdy is the 105 compared to the 108?
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11-16-2019, 01:29 PM #8Registered User
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If doing lift assisted touring I'd probably be prepared to haul a little more weight than the blizzards for better performance on the downhill. bentchetler 100, line sickday 104, mantra vwerks?
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11-16-2019, 01:31 PM #9Rod9301
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I ski steep couloirs in all conditions, powder to corn to firm on Katanas.
Great skis
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11-16-2019, 01:56 PM #10
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11-16-2019, 02:03 PM #11
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11-16-2019, 02:40 PM #12Rod9301
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11-16-2019, 02:51 PM #13
I hear you. But it's just beyond what I'm willing to put up with. Plus I grew up skiing powder in tight east coast trees on skinny skis. It taught me how to load up my skis' tails to snap off quick turns without using much energy. I use this same technique for skiing narrow steeps, which are plentiful in the Dolomites. Doesn't work well without a little camber.
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11-16-2019, 03:07 PM #14
I’ve got a pair of bentchetler 100s in 180cm. Bought them for spring touring and steeps/couloir type stuff. Pretty good do it all ski, stable enough at speed but it really likes to make lots of short radius turns. Performed the best in corn. They’d get hung up in deeper snow.
Initially mounted them on the line, but moved them back a lot (I think around -4cm of recommended, don’t remember exactly). Lots of tail on those skis if mounted on recommended - the tails felt surprisingly locked in skiing steeps and alpine styrofoam. They skied much better mounted back for my style, the terrain and type of snow I was skiing. The edges came super sharp and definitely need a detune, unless you’re planning on skiing bulletproof ice.
I’m 5’10”, 185lbs and if I were to buy them again I’d go up in size. I’m considering selling mine if you’re interested!
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11-16-2019, 03:48 PM #15Registered User
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Hi,
sorry for my bad english but I only like to tell you that there is a shop in Germany where they sold the Zero 108 for 300 EUR.
AndI think it shouldn`t be to expensiv shipping the ski to Italy.
The pic is Canale Joel?
Best regards
Volker
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11-16-2019, 05:20 PM #16
I could see a pair of Commander 98 with shifts pretty much check all your boxes, no?
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11-16-2019, 05:59 PM #17
Pretty sure you’ve owned a pair or two before and really liked them - Praxis BC. Think there’s a pair of 180s in gear swap right now.
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11-16-2019, 06:23 PM #18
What the name of the shop? And yes, that's Joel.
Yup. Commanders would probably work well. I doubt I can get a new pair cheap. But a used pair might fit the bill
Excellent soft snow skis, from tight trees to nasty crusts. They float and smear like skis 10mm wider. But I think the tails might let go too easily on groomers for this application.
Thanks for the ideas, all. This is helpful for getting to know some skis I'd ignore. Looks like I'll have some decent options, so I can go after what's cheap.
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11-16-2019, 06:25 PM #19
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11-16-2019, 07:22 PM #20Registered User
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If you have a chance to try the BD Route 95's they might be worth considering. I demoed them inbounds on east coast groomers and found them to be much sturdier than you would expect.
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11-16-2019, 10:19 PM #21
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11-17-2019, 05:26 AM #22
I really like the Faction Prime 2.0
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11-17-2019, 07:59 AM #23
Good shout. https://uk.factionskis.com/collectio...15333743198243
The Whitedot Altum 104 is also spot on for your requirements. https://www.whitedotskis.com/collect...ucts/altum-104
And shipping them to Val Gardena is no problem. I can put any binding on them or I could just drill them for your Kingpins and you just swap the bindings over. Ignore the prices on the Faction/Whitedot websites as I can do Mags rates!
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11-17-2019, 12:27 PM #24Registered User
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Homepage of the shop is sport65.de in english too.
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11-18-2019, 05:53 PM #25
I've got 2018 ZG108 178cm w/ Vipec blacks mounted for 307mm I'm looking to sell
I've skied the regular BC Navis and liked it a lot; I think it would check your boxes. Not the burliest, dampest crud busting machine, but it rips groomers and was nice and snappy hopping around the steeps here at Highlands.
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