Heritage Lab Skis - AM 50/50 Skis Have Arrived - Dedicated Thread

[couloirman]

How old is your toddler? They are top sheet destroyers until the age of ~7.

He’s two and a half. This is his first season.

[J. Barron DeJong]

Love what you're doing here. Getting back into skiing after quite a hiatus. The R87 looks right up my alley for garbage east coast conditions following my toddler around the mountain.

I don’t think there’s a real ‘right’ answer for which ski is best for a dad skiing with his toddler, but I don’t think an R87 would be my top choice. I’m getting a pair, but don’t expect I’ll be choosing them when out with my kid who’s now 8 y.o. They aren’t going to be very drifty/smeary, and with the large sidecut radius it’s going to want to make pretty big high speed turns.

When I started with my kids at 2yo I was using short frontside carvers, short length is easy to handle when maneuvering around a sprawled out kid, and the tight radius let’s you carve turns at low speeds.

[2FUNKY]

I don’t think there’s a real ‘right’ answer for which ski is best for a dad skiing with his toddler, but I don’t think an R87 would be my top choice. I’m getting a pair, but don’t expect I’ll be choosing them when out with my kid who’s now 8 y.o. They aren’t going to be very drifty/smeary, and with the large sidecut radius it’s going to want to make pretty big high speed turns.

When I started with my kids at 2yo I was using short frontside carvers, short length is easy to handle when maneuvering around a sprawled out kid, and the tight radius let’s you carve turns at low speeds.

Yeah, ai bought a pair of 4frnt codys for this. Twins make switch skiing easy. Short radius to skidder around with the kids and easy to maneuver around sprawled kids and gear.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Marshal Olson]

He’s two and a half. This is his first season.

Yeah dude, honestly, i'd say get some Revolt 87 or something for that!
However, if its more like... skiing with the kiddo a few laps, then taking a couple hotlaps by yourself during a hot cocoa break, then the R87 might be a good call!

[Marshal Olson]

As a Porschephile, I'm smellin' what you're cookin'.

I'm still thinking that 88 AM might be my jam and here's why; I think I'm looking for a ski that has a backbone while still being fun. I also realize that "fun" is an entirely subjective descriptor that usually gets associated to skis with big rocker and/or twin-tips. I tend to think of a ski that's full of energy, that can rail in low tide conditions, and still provide some amusement in either low angle or wind-blown chalk as fun. I also recognize that sometime 'fun' and 'charge' can't always coexist easily. And if forced to choose; I'd go with more charge than a fun-shape.

Given the Tahoe datapoint, the 188 AM might be the right ticket then, as that was a fun poppy, but more progressive ski. The R99 would be a smoothe/damper build and more directional, but stiffness wise, about the same up front and more tail (assuming I recall correctly, haven't skied a Tahoe in a long time).

Stoked to see reviews starting to flow in!!! Thanks for sharing everyone's experiences with these skis. Really appreciate it.

[lowsparkco]

I went ahead and mounted my 188’s on the line. I got a pair of those Salomon STH2’s from The House when they were running the coupon and decided to do that instead of the Kingpins. I kinda regret that decision after skiing them today because I could see touring on these.

I worked on the hill at Bachelor until about 3 and found out these boards were ready, I was so stoked to see them all waxed and ready to go that I changed back into some snow clothes to make a couple laps.

Conditions were pretty soft with a foot or so coming in over night, but it was real beat in by 3 and visibility was pretty poor.

As soon as I slapped them on to the snow I knew I was going to like them. The tip rocker is so subtle it’s really refreshing to look down at a 188 and know it’s going to ski like a 182 cambered ski. That’s pretty much how I felt it performed. The tips keep you out of trouble with soft bumps and deep drifts, but they aren’t clown shoes out there banging around every time you lean them over at speed. I did experience a little chatter at speed but it was really minor and not destabilizing.

They pivot and slarve turns well, but the sheet of metal and real wood core feel poppy and suck up crud allowing the rider to get on and off the gas at will. I didn’t find the tips hooky, but I kinda like hooky and never detune anything. I really feel the ski is a perfect compromise ski. It does 85% of what most quiver skis can do without being dog shit at everything else. Good job Marshall. This is the first ski I’ve really liked in quite awhile.

Edited to add: I couldn’t resist skiing them all day yesterday for an intermediate lesson. These really are a quiver of one. We didn’t have the conditions and I had other responsibilities, so I never really tried to get them up to real speed, but that’s not where this ski is going to excel. In my mind it has a speed limit, but that speed limit is probably as fast as I *should* be skiing. And it’s really fun to be on a true DD ski that can go any where.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Yesterday afternoon, first day on the 188 AM R99s. Great test snow, nice groomers, ice, scraped off piles of loose granular, smooth rime crust, creamy wind blown and skied out refrozen shit fuck.

They’re great and I clicked with them first run. Very smooth and responsive. Great edge hold for 99 underfoot, normally I would have skied my MX 83s or SS Pros on a day like yesterday. I didn’t notice any tip chatter, should say I couldn’t feel any, I wasn’t looking at the tips I was trying to avoid the tourist hordes and see in the dark. Took a final run from the top around 1800. Great skied out soft crud but it was skiing by braille with the dark and rime on my goggles. I just trusted that they wouldn’t do anything squirrelly and was rewarded with the best run of the afternoon. I like these, they’d make a great technical touring ski in steep and variable snow.

I’m taking them back today for 5-7” of snow that fell overnight. Will report back with powder and crud performance.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[lowsparkco]

Yesterday afternoon, first day on the 188 AM R99s. Great test snow, nice groomers, ice, scraped off piles of loose granular, smooth rime crust, creamy wind blown and skied out refrozen shit fuck.

They’re great and I clicked with them first run. Very smooth and responsive. Great edge hold for 99 underfoot, normally I would have skied my MX 83s or SS Pros on a day like yesterday. I didn’t notice any tip chatter, should say I couldn’t feel any, I wasn’t looking at the tips I was trying to avoid the tourist hordes and see in the dark. Took a final run from the top around 1800. Great skied out soft crud but it was skiing by braille with the dark and rime on my goggles. I just trusted that they wouldn’t do anything squirrelly and was rewarded with the best run of the afternoon. I like these, they’d make a great technical touring ski in steep and variable snow.

I’m taking them back today for 5-7” of snow that fell overnight. Will report back with powder and crud performance.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Good review. I think a lot of people that didn’t get a pair are going to be disappointed until next season.

[detrusor]

For toddler skiing a mid 170’s twin tip park ski is the way. Backwards in front of them? Check.

Following through the tree and little jumps? Check

Playing in the pipe (my kids loved that)? Check

Resale value (or send to skinepenem)? Check

Now for day one on the r120’s


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[lowsparkco]

For toddler skiing a mid 170’s twin tip park ski is the way. Backwards in front of them? Check.

Following through the tree and little jumps? Check

Playing in the pipe (my kids loved that)? Check

Resale value (or send to skinepenem)? Check

Now for day one on the r120’s


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

I teach the littles on a 172 cm Kastle MX89, but I agree a twin tip would be nice. I deal with the flat tail switch to be able to rail when I get a lap by myself.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

So today is 7” of new knee deep in wind loaded areas. Stiff with good body. These things are very capable in heavy crud at reasonable speeds, ie pretty fast.

Very predictable in heavy winblown snow as long as you ski them, these aren’t Soul 7s or MFree 108s. They’re better in skied out heavy crud than the MFree 108 but not as good as my 193 Corvus.

Really digging the versatility of this ski, smooth quiet and predictable in all snow types.

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[lowsparkco]

The more days I get on the R99 50/50 the more intrigued I am with the rest of the line up. I bet the Freeride Comp layups are a hoot.

[detrusor]

Took my 120’s out for a couple days at snowbird during this last storm cycle. On days after the big dumps to ski crud etc.

On groomers they leave trenches, very torsionally stiff…no real top end.

In the crud they busted through and we’re very stable.

Overall I liked them but wasn’t t blown away (sorry).

Considering putting em up on gear swap flat….


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Full Trucker]

I've got a couple solid days on the 185 AM R120s and I have to say... I'm super happy I pulled the trigger on these Bad Larrys.

I'm 6'2" 200lbs and what I would call an "expert mediocre" skier... I like skiing steeper stuff, pow hunting in the trees, I'm not a "charger" but I like to ski challenging terrain even though I don't always make it look pretty. No race background, and didn't start skiing until my late 30s (will be 50 in April). Current skis are 184 Atris and a 183 Corvus Freebird.

I got the skis out in some conditions that I think played really well to the strengths of this ski: a 7" dense for Colorado day at Monarch followed by a 16" lighter but still pretty heavy day at Wolf Creek. Both days were super busy with folks chasing storms so finding stashes of untracked snow was difficult to impossible, but conditions were generally good, deep, and soft—even with the higher moisture content from these latest storms.

It’s more ski than I'm used to, but not too much for me. After talking with Marshal I mounted them +1 cm from the factory dimple, based on what and how I ski and my goals for this ski. I think it was a great choice: while I was a little concerned I'd have trouble accessing the tip on this ski, the flex (combined with slightly progressive mount I suspect) made the ski still fairly easy to turn and pivot even in denser trees. The stiffness and weight of the ski helped it blast through the chop, even with the heavier / denser snow from these latest storms. It has a dampness to the ride that makes it super enjoyable to just point through soft cutup chop and bumps— the ski just wants to stay composed. When I was able to find a stash of untracked snow, it was super wind effected with a soft slab on top. The R120s handled this with zero issues, they cut right through said slab without being hooky or weird just nice turns all the way through that open bowl. I haven't skied a lot of skis, but in comparison to my Atris or the '13 Bent Chets I used to have I would not characterize this ski as 'playful' but any means. But what it does do is encourage seeking the fall line while providing a lot of confidence to push a little faster. I did find that when I'd get tossed around and wind up back seated the tails had plenty of support, even at my size. Predictably, when the shovels get away from you there's not a lot of control but I did find it relatively straightforward to recover. Remember, I'm a mediocre skier—I get tossed around regularly. But even at my speed and experience level I found them to be a really intuitive and predictable ski.

I really like them.

[detrusor]

Ok, going to put my am 120’s out there for sale. 2 days on em, mounted once for p15’s at -12. Pretty much perfect. If the fucking app still worked I’d have pictures….pm me you digits and I’ll text some over. Selling without bindings. $599…sold out. I’m thinking $400 plus shipping flat?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Marshal Olson]

Ok, going to put my am 120’s out there for sale. 2 days on em, mounted once for p15’s at -12. Pretty much perfect. If the fucking app still worked I’d have pictures….pm me you digits and I’ll text some over. Selling without bindings. $599…sold out. I’m thinking $400 plus shipping flat?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Sorry to hear they didn't click for you. Very curious your thoughts on em either way: Positives or negatives.
Please let me know if you'd like to try anything else... I know you have the FL113 coming soon too.

[2FUNKY]

Ok, going to put my am 120’s out there for sale. 2 days on em, mounted once for p15’s at -12. Pretty much perfect. If the fucking app still worked I’d have pictures….pm me you digits and I’ll text some over. Selling without bindings. $599…sold out. I’m thinking $400 plus shipping flat?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Care to post a mini review to possibly help others? Curious as to why they didn’t click with ya.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I’ve skied a bunch more on my AM R99s. I’ve had them in some terrible snow and great snow and everything in between. They’re not an exciting ski. They’re so predictable that some might think they’re boring. I think that’s fine for my skiing style these days on the days that I grab them. Very Stockli like, super smooth and stable.

How much different are the AM R99 than the Blossom Pure 99?


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[detrusor]

Hmmmmm

I didn’t dislike them, just wasnt blown away.

I skied them on 2 days between storms over Christmas at snowbird. They crushed cut up crud with incredible stability. Just stand on them and stay centered. On groomers there is absolutely no speed limit, laid big trenches on the way back to the lifts. Skied them a little in pow…not what they’re made for but totally acceptable.

Should be skied from the cuff, definitely don’t get in the back seat.

As stated above very damp and stable.

It’s not that they don’t click, just didn’t blow me away. I daily drive the 192 LP 105 and liked that ski better. Both are great.

Looking forward to the 113, I think it will be a better “fit” for my skiing style. I’m not so technically sound and flail my arms a bunch (just ask my kids) and probably rely on the ski to cover up my mistakes. Saying it out loud the R120 is maybe over my head…Im not good enough to push it like it needs to be to really come alive.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Marshal Olson]

Ok 10-4!
thanks for the notes.
I’ll ping the folks waiting on a pair for ya, and refer them along too!
cheers,
-m

[carlh]

I’m very tempted on a pair of r99s if I sell my woodsman 102s. 6’3” 200 and like to go semi fast when I have the terrain but alpental is rarely the right place for that. I currently have super goats for soft days, 191 goliaths and 192 woodsman 102s for low tide. The goliaths are a bit lacking in maneuverability for tight terrain but awesome in the alpine, the woods are fun in the soft but lacking edge grip. Will comp 188s have the same issue as the goliaths of wanting more space and speed than I have room for? I want something that can but doesn’t have to go fast

[Norseman]

What's your BSL? Welcome to try my r99 AM if the boot fits into the Pivots mounted for ~315mm. The offer stands for anyone reading here in W WA, for that matter.

Might give you enough familiarity with the shape to estimate the ride of the heavier build. I think they'll be sweet for Alpy, actually.

I'll be at Central with my daughter this Wednesday night, and (probably) Alpy Friday.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I’m very tempted on a pair of r99s if I sell my woodsman 102s. 6’3” 200 and like to go semi fast when I have the terrain but alpental is rarely the right place for that. I currently have super goats for soft days, 191 goliaths and 192 woodsman 102s for low tide. The goliaths are a bit lacking in maneuverability for tight terrain but awesome in the alpine, the woods are fun in the soft but lacking edge grip. Will comp 188s have the same issue as the goliaths of wanting more space and speed than I have room for? I want something that can but doesn’t have to go fast

I’m bigger than you. The AM R99 is what you’re describing. It’s still a high performance ski but you don’t have to go full throttle all the time


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Norseman]

I’m bigger than you. The AM R99 is what you’re describing. It’s still a high performance ski but you don’t have to go full throttle all the time


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

Yabbut you eastern guys ski nothing but champagne and powdered basalt

With how loose and easy the AM build is while still railing on high edge, I expect the heavy flavah to be chowder blasters with a little driftability and freight trains on edge.

TbD! Shit I'm stoked!

[carlh]

Thanks for the offer. I’m in a 320 28.5 hawx gripwalk. not sure if pivots go out that far. Hoping to head up Wednesday evening and might be able to make a central detour from our normal Alpy plan. Should also be up this weekend hopefully both days, one with my son in tow.

What's your BSL? Welcome to try my r99 AM if the boot fits into the Pivots mounted for ~315mm. The offer stands for anyone reading here in W WA, for that matter.

Might give you enough familiarity with the shape to estimate the ride of the heavier build. I think they'll be sweet for Alpy, actually.

I'll be at Central with my daughter this Wednesday night, and (probably) Alpy Friday.