School me on race skis

[J. Barron DeJong]

I was contemplating getting a masters ~183cm/24m GS ski, but then the R87 was advertised and I thought that would be more suitable.

Had them out for the first time yesterday and so far no regrets, but… it was half a day, skiing with my 9 y.o. on only a few open runs, in 45 degree weather. So way to soon for any definitive conclusions.

I’ll probably still end up with the masters ski some point in the future, but likely not because of any actual need. Just want to know what a race ski feels like after not having been in one for over 25 years.

[toast2266]

Ok so those rossis I posted up thread at 27 meter radius in a 182. Probably just a stupid ski to have......but dude has had them listed for $150 for 6 weeks....and he still has them. Could probably get for a cool Benjamin.

I used to have BMX 105 with the metal in them. Stupidly I sold them last year. Now we have full on east coast manmade conditions only.

You're basically losing money if you don't buy them.

[skis_the_trees]

My plan is to go shorter and smaller radius than FIS skis (as noted above, I tried that a couple seasons ago and found them no fun at all).
Photo shows yard sale Stockli Laser GS 176cm, 22.9 radius.
I didn't get a photo since they moved to my ski locker, but also have Stockli Laser SL in a 168.

Both of the above are my low tide plan. I pretty much exclusively skied SL and GS skis from 2004-2009. In 2009 I got my first fat ski, a 90mm waist Ninthward that I would use on pow days, and ride the SL skis at all other times. The race skis made icy groomer more fun than other skis available at that time. I used to switch to SL skis after the pow was tracked out.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

You're basically losing money if you don't buy them.

Dude is selling them to me for $100. Done.

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[dcpnz]

Dude is selling them to me for $100. Done.

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Heck yeah!!

Make sure to report back after you get out on them.
I reckon you’ll have a blast

[RShea]

Bump. I know next to nothing about race skis. I already ski really fast and do it on skis that aren't really meant for ripping fast on groomers. It's never gonna snow again. I'm 170ish pounds and the shortest skis I own are 183 Katanas. My favorite skis are 187 HL FL113. Pretty stiff, directional, meant for sending......but huge for ripping groomers.

So many "race skis" for sale for cheap on CL/Facebook but I have no idea what to buy.

Figure if you want a Slalom ski- 11 to maybe 14 meter radius ( lengths are shorter 165 cm and lower to 150 cm (usually for a youth or woman that short) that turn on a dime, a cheater GS ski or many of the master skis that is from 15 to usually around 23 meter radius and 170 cm to 185 cm maybe. The last skis would be a FIS GS Ski usually (not many want a Super G or Downhill ski for) that will be 188 cm (women) up to 193 cm men's. and 30 meter radius. That is usually way too much of a ski for most looking for something fun unless they are going to be run at speed.

The FIS lengths and radius are listed each year in their official equipment document. They have changed the radius of GS skis a number of times over the years- mostly to a higher radius, but they were at 37 meter for a bit and dropped it back down a few years back now.

[gaijin]

I picked these up last year for 30 bucks and never even got them on the snow. ~186-188. r21 is the only spec printed on the ski. "FIS approved". They're heavy, like a volkswagen. I grabbed them for the bindings but once I got them home I was like "I'm not gonna pull these bindings, I wanna ski these first."

But we never got the ice I want them on. This is Japan, I'm not taking a ski like that onto soft groomers, I don't have the legs to release the tails. I've been skiing pow for the last two decades. I'm a soft bitch.

Am I gonna die? I grew up racing gates in HS. Freeride (ahem, "Extreme") comps in the 90s/00's. But now I'm a JP forest pow snob.

My bro said, "Just take them on a bunny run. Low angle." Well yeah, but then I get confidence, and I go faster... and then I can't stop.

[utagonian]

Be careful. A lot of the gs skis you guys are discussing are kids skis. They aren’t designed to take and adult’s weight and might fold when you need them not to.

[utagonian]

I picked these up last year for 30 bucks and never even got them on the snow. ~186-188. r21 is the only spec printed on the ski. "FIS approved". They're heavy, like a volkswagen. I grabbed them for the bindings but once I got them home I was like "I'm not gonna pull these bindings, I wanna ski these first."

But we never got the ice I want them on. This is Japan, I'm not taking a ski like that onto soft groomers, I don't have the legs to release the tails. I've been skiing pow for the last two decades. I'm a soft bitch.

Am I gonna die? I grew up racing gates in HS. Freeride (ahem, "Extreme") comps in the 90s/00's. But now I'm a JP forest pow snob.

My bro said, "Just take them on a bunny run. Low angle." Well yeah, but then I get confidence, and I go faster... and then I can't stop.

I have a pair of similar vintage 2002 Dynastar GS 21m skis that are pretty fun to free ski. Give em a try.

[dcpnz]

Be careful. A lot of the gs skis you guys are discussing are kids skis. They aren’t designed to take and adult’s weight and might fold when you need them not to.

Yes, I will concur ……

I previously tried a 176 Volkl which was essentially a u14 ski. Couple of times it did really fold and hook unpredictably which was uhh…… “exciting” …..and fricken dangerous.

That said my 170lbs and unrefined race skills are perfectly ok on Rossi 182 which is essentially a u16 ski.

If we stay in this drought in Colorado and I get some coaching and keep hammering the groomers on these things I might step up to a 185/27m.

[iriponsnow]

I have a bunch of 165s that need a new home if anyone is looking PM

[Mofro261]

The kid race skis above 180cm are solid tho.

[east or bust]

One of the kind of annoying thing with race skis is trying to find information online of what exactly you're looking at. I can go back to the mid 2000s and pretty easily find info on various all mtn/freeride skis, can't say the same for race skis.

Skiwald sold me some Nordica Dobermann GSRs back in 2021. Didn't really know what they were at the time but the few marketing blurbs I've been able to find describe them kinda like a masters ski, I think... They are a 2012 model and tout a 27m radius at 186cm. Honestly they're kind of perfect for what I was looking for.

Definitely beware of FIS GS skis from '12-13' through '16-'17, when the radius was increased to 35m.

[skaredshtles]

One of the kind of annoying thing with race skis is trying to find information online of what exactly you're looking at. I can go back to the mid 2000s and pretty easily find info on various all mtn/freeride skis, can't say the same for race skis.

Skiwald sold me some Nordica Dobermann GSRs back in 2021. Didn't really know what they were at the time but the few marketing blurbs I've been able to find describe them kinda like a masters ski, I think... They are a 2012 model and tout a 27m radius at 186cm. Honestly they're kind of perfect for what I was looking for.

Definitely beware of FIS GS skis from '12-13' through '16-'17, when the radius was increased to 35m.

Man... Corbett's in Ontario was hawking some of those Dobermann's for $99 back a few years. I was sorely tempted but resisted until they were no longer available.

More recently they had these Dobermann DH skis for cheap:

[J. Barron DeJong]

Man... Corbett's in Ontario was hawking some of those Dobermann's for $99 back a few years. I was sorely tempted but resisted until they were no longer available.

More recently they had these Dobermann DH skis for cheap:

You could really live up to your name.

[skaredshtles]

You could really live up to your name.

Fortunately I procrastinated long enough on the DH skis too.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Just got these 183 Fischer World Cup GS for $50. Gonna hopefully buy those 180 Rossi World Cup tonight for $100. The 183s will go to my taller buddy. The 180 Rossis are kids skis?

[S.B.]

I have a bunch of 165s that need a new home if anyone is looking PM

Do you have any Volkl SL skis? I got ~15 days in on a pair of ski swap racetigers before they gave up.

I hopped on them with zero racing experience and had a great time. Having plug boots helped a lot. Previously I had a pair of SL skis with GW bindings that I used with 130 flex touring boots and that didn't work very well. So if you're looking to try race skis having a beefy race boot will help out a lot.


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[bry]

Yo I love this thread right now. I've got 10 days in since early Dec skiing 99% groomers, been skiing a few different head cheaters for shits and am addicted: a pair of 2022 gs.rd in a 181/25r I snagged from sideline, some e speed pros in a 180/18r and another in 180/20r that was a late night impulse purchase in Nov . All feel the same to me in terms of their capacity to handle an adult pushing them and not folding. For context they make monster 88s and r87 comps feel decidedly more all mountain and even a little surfier to me. 180 is plenty of ski to me, I'm 6'2" 190lbs, 46y/o. The r87s feel as straight and smooth as the head gs.rds.

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[mr_pretzel]

Sick!

And green pivots?

[Skiwald]

I have a bunch of 165s that need a new home if anyone is looking PM

I’m also looking for some 165 SL skis and have enjoyed volkl SL skis in the past.


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[Skiwald]

One of the kind of annoying thing with race skis is trying to find information online of what exactly you're looking at. I can go back to the mid 2000s and pretty easily find info on various all mtn/freeride skis, can't say the same for race skis.

Skiwald sold me some Nordica Dobermann GSRs back in 2021. Didn't really know what they were at the time but the few marketing blurbs I've been able to find describe them kinda like a masters ski, I think... They are a 2012 model and tout a 27m radius at 186cm. Honestly they're kind of perfect for what I was looking for.

Definitely beware of FIS GS skis from '12-13' through '16-'17, when the radius was increased to 35m.

Glad to hear they worked out! Been wishing they were still in my stable the past month as we’ve been limited to mostly man made groomers.


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[RShea]

I have a bunch of 165s that need a new home if anyone is looking PM

Brands? Always looking for a pair of Fischer Slalom skis...

[RShea]

Just got these 183 Fischer World Cup GS for $50. Gonna hopefully buy those 180 Rossi World Cup tonight for $100. The 183s will go to my taller buddy. The 180 Rossis are kids skis?

The Rossis could be women's skis also?? Don't know for sure without seeing more details and do not follow Rossi as much as Fischer, Volkl, and some other brands.

A few years ago Former US Ski Team member A.J. Kitt I was told and read was skiing the Nastar Pacesetters Regional Trials on a pair of I believe Atomic Redster Women's GS skis...

The Tweener skis are just fine for lighter weight adults- know more than one that have skied them successfully being under 160 or so pounds.

I have an earlier pair of those Fischer GS Skis- 183 and radius of I think 21- 2003 to maybe 2005?? Different top sheet graphic. Also picked up from TGR a number of years ago older Head iGS 180 cm with I think 23 meter radius. Before the Super Speeds and Head really coming on strong in World Cup... Originally thought like some others I was just going to get them for the bindings, and maybe flip the skis at some point. But they were mounted so took them out and they ski great if you have a bit steeper Groomer East Coast than just a bump of a hill.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Bought these tonight on the right. They were listed as 180 I think, but they are 182. These are possibly kids/teen skis though and I'm gonna break them in half? They seems fucking stout as fuck.