WTB new touring skis 105 width, Spring Deals?

[cat in january]

Tossed around if this should be in tech talk, but elected to put it here.

Me: 5’9” 160

Looking to replace my 178 Blizzard 108 0g I have used the past five years. Keeping Down LD90 for longer tours and Spring skiing.

I would like a width around 105 and length around 180. Skis will be EC powder skis and travel skis. I have really liked the 108 0g. Prior I used Nordica Hell & Back as a touring ski and Moment Jaguar Shark. I liked the strong edge for a touring ski of the Hell & Back, but not in powder. The Jaguar Shark was fun in powder, but limited in other snow and too heavy.

Skis I am looking at, but open to input. Probably in reverse order
Blizzard 0g 105 in 180
Kastle TX103 in 181
Scott Superguide Freetour 105 in 178
ON3P Billy Goat Tour 108 in 179

I much prefer new so I can keep the tune how I like and to limit the number of inserts. I tend to keep my skis for a while.

Anyone seeing deals at local shops or have a pair of minty ones to sell?

[rangerjake]

Yo Cat,
I’ve liked my Atomic BL 107 (182). Def worth considering with the above. Likewise Helio 105 (no personal experience but have the 116 and it’s impressive). I have a glut of 105-115 touring skis rn and may end up parting with the BL for no good reason- something has to go. They are in v v good shape, 10 days. 9/10. MTN mount @ -1 for 292mm. Not “on the market” so to speak, but figured I’d put it out there.

[singlecross]

Lionel at Happy Tunes in Carrabassett had some leftover NOS ZeroG’s the last time I was there a few weeks ago. Might be worth a stop.

What’s your touring boot bsl? I have some 175cm Scott Superguide 105 mounted for Dynafit at 304mm bsl if you want to try them.

[skibrd]

Possibly check out the K2 Mindbender Alliance 106C. Longest length is a 175, and it’s technically a women’s ski, it is bit shorter then you might be looking for, but it’s a heck of a ski. My only touring ski is the Mindbender 116c, which is the same construction but a bit wider, and I’m always wishing it came in a long 189 or short 190 so it could be my touring ski .


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[cat in january]

Hmmm message passed on rangerjake and singlecross.

I will look at the k2, but not a fan of the brand in the past. Too tight of a turn radius and guessing too soft and too heavy, but thanks for the suggestion

[ticketchecker]

Picked up the Volkl Blaze 106 in a 179. Not a featherweight but respectable. Super fun ski, has that volkl precision but served up in a smeary package. Corbett’s has them for $479 CDN right now


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[cat in january]

Good suggestion and have friends who like the blaze. Looking to go a bit lighter. Getting older and my partners are fitter than me

[jackattack]

BG108 tour is as “on sale” right now, $100 off. I really like them in soft snow and they ski pow very well for a ski under 110. I don’t see how you could go wrong with them for an east coast pow touring ski. If you’re thinking of using them in the resort, I’d strongly urge the 50-50 layup, but you won’t find that one on discount as it’s custom only.

[cat in january]

Thanks been eyeing those, but a bit of a cheapskate so looking around.

[cat in january]

Adding the Praxis BC in 180 to the list. Dentist price even on sale. Do codes work with those? Looks right, but remember way back folks being a bit underwhelmed.

Not as strong on the billy goat tour as I see they are asymmetric and I would like both edges in a touring ski

[jackattack]

Bg108 is not asymmetrical fwiw

[cat in january]

Thanks thought I read that someplace, good to know. Back to the top of the list, but a $450 0g 105 could beat it out

[MyNameIsAugustWest]

Adding the Praxis BC in 180 to the list. Dentist price even on sale. Do codes work with those? Looks right, but remember way back folks being a bit underwhelmed.

Not as strong on the billy goat tour as I see they are asymmetric and I would like both edges in a touring ski

I sold my BC 105s to Laps (stupidest thing I've done lately) and he's been killing it on them this year...maybe PM him? As I recall, he's about your size. I'm 6'0" and 185 and I didn't find them to be pushovers. Turns seemed automatic on them. I just didn't ski them enough to warrant keeping them and now I wish I had...

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I've skied a both Praxis BC's and Zero G 105's a good bit. The Praxis are better in soft snow. The Zero G's are better on hard snow and a good bit lighter. I'd pick the Zero G's unless the main application is skiing powder in trees. The grip on the Blizzards is pretty outstanding, while I found Praxis tails to be a little too washy on hard snow. The BC's ski pow like a wider ski, whereas the Zero G's are just sort of what you'd expect from a 105 ski with moderate rocker and taper.

[cat in january]

Right on isbd. This will be my main ski and needs to do a bit of everything. We have similar tastes in skis so appreciate the input. I have never complained about the 108 0g in pow so sure 105 will work. Anyone seeing a 180 0g or n sale local? Going to call some local shops. Edit did and they have the 0g in n my length on sale

Who knows mniaw may end up swapping money plus skis with laps. We were supposed to have connected this spring on Washington but looking grim

[I've seen black diamonds!]

The 105 is a better pow ski than the 108. It's noticeably looser, and I think it planes up quicker too. I also think the weight loss outweighs the fact that it is slightly less damp than the old version, although I can see how some would prefer the old construction. The only drawback for me is that 180 Zero G 105's have a longer tail that the 178 108's which makes kick turns slightly less automatic. But I think that the longer, turned up tail is a major reason they are better in 3D snow.

[FiveLarge]

I have never drilled 175 BD Helio 105...too short?

[SoVT Joey]

It’s too bad the vwerks mantra and katana are so far apart in waist width. Why can’t they make a 106 or so. But they are both on pretty good deals right now on Corbett’s.

I just put a kingpin on my 183 Corvus that is NOT a freebird, the regular one, it’s still light enough to tour on and it’s my favorite ski for every condition.

What I definitely would not buy: anything in the black crows freebird line, except a solis. I love my solis.

[jhyatt]

I was in a similar situation and got Line Sick Day 104. A little heavier but skis like a real ski, not a touring ski. Also can be found pretty cheap compared with the Praxis, etc. Sounds dumb but I have more fun on a cheap ski because I just go through rocks and stuff.
I wish for a Salomon MTN Explore 105. I love the 95.

from blister:

1446 & 1447 Line Vision 98, 179 cm (19/20)
1476 & 1490 K2 Wayback 106, 179 cm (18/19–19/20)
1477 & 1482 G3 FINDr 102, 184 cm (17/18–18/19)
1547 & 1551 Black Diamond Helio 105 Carbon, 185 cm (17/18)
1562 & 1566 Scott Superguide 105, 183 cm (17/18–18/19)
1605 & 1630 Line Vision 108, 183 cm (19/20)
1606 & 1641 Blizzard Zero G 105, 188 cm (19/20)
1642 & 1651 Renoun Citadel 106, 185 cm, (18/19)
1706 & 1715 Volkl BMT 109, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
1720 & 1747 Line Sick Day Tourist 102, 186 cm (16/17)
1733 & 1735 Blizzard Zero G 108, 185 cm (17/18–18/19)
1745 & 1747 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm (16/17–18/19)
1755 & 1792 Line Sick Day 104, 179 cm (17/18,–19/20)
1814 & 1845 Elan Ripstick 106, 181 cm (17/18–19/20)
1825 & 1904 Black Crows Corvus Freebird, 183.3 cm (17/18–19/20)
1843 & 1847 Head Kore 105, 189 cm (17/18)
1848 & 1903 Line Sick Day 104, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
1849 & 1922 Elan Ripstick 106, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
1898 & 1893 Armada Tracer 108, 180 cm (18/19)
1913 & 1943 Sego Condor Ti, 187 cm (18/19)
1923 & 1956 DPS Alchemist Wailer 106, 189 cm (17/18–18/19)
1941 & 1965 Fischer Ranger 108 Ti, 182 cm (17/18–18/19)
1950 & 1977 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (17/18–18/19)
1970 & 1979 Atomic Backland FR 109, 189 cm (17/18)
1980 & 2016 Liberty Origin 106, 187 cm (17/18–18/19)
1996 & 2012 Dynastar Legend X106, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2022 & 2047 Faction Dictator 3.0, 186 cm (17/18–18/19)
2026 & 2056 Black Diamond Boundary Pro 107, 184 cm (17/18–19/20)
2030 & 2039 Rossignol Soul 7 HD, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2036 & 2064 Salomon QST 106, 188 cm (18/19)

[plugboots]

I've skied a both Praxis BC's and Zero G 105's a good bit. The Praxis are better in soft snow. The Zero G's are better on hard snow and a good bit lighter. I'd pick the Zero G's unless the main application is skiing powder in trees. The grip on the Blizzards is pretty outstanding, while I found Praxis tails to be a little too washy on hard snow. The BC's ski pow like a wider ski, whereas the Zero G's are just sort of what you'd expect from a 105 ski with moderate rocker and taper.

Just adding I have the BC in 190, w/ carbon, veneer. I haven’t skied the Zero G, but the review is probably spot on. They are a great all rounder w/ better soft snow performance than a 106 should have.

[Laps]

Chiming in, BC is great as an all-around. I had a 0G 85 and liked it, but it was too light. If you have some tele boots I will bring the BCs to tux, hoping/thinking next week could be a good (and the last) oppportunity.


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[cat in january]

Thanks all went with what I know and got the zero g 105 on sale at the local shop. They had the volkl blaze on sale for $420 which is a smoking price for a ski a friend really likes, but I unspent some for weight loss. Comparing to old 108 they have a thinner build, more camber. Glad to hear design changes improve powder performance

[billyhoyle]

Thanks all went with what I know and got the zero g 105 on sale at the local shop. They had the volkl blaze on sale for $420 which is a smoking price for a ski a friend really likes, but I unspent some for weight loss. Comparing to old 108 they have a thinner build, more camber. Glad to hear design changes improve powder performance

I just picked up a pair of zero g 105s too...hoping to get out this weekend. They sure aren't soft to hand flex!