Icelantic Saba Pro 117

[fencejack]

Picked up this ski on impulse but I haven't been able to find many reviews or discussions on it. Looking to see if anyone here has any first hand experience and what their thoughts are in comparison to other skis. I'm looking for a soft snow ski to compliment my Atris 105 when it gets deeper. I wanted something that can handle the deeper snow, be super playful, and very easy to pivot in tight areas but not be entirely unstable or demanding.

Any thoughts on this ski and comparisons to others would be appreciated. Thanks!

[japanada]

Sounds like you picked up the perfect ski. Fat and full rocker. A pow slaying machine.

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[eSock]

I tried it at the Blister Summit last spring on a pow day for a few runs and had a blast. Super fun and playful in powder but never felt too squirrelly or unstable.

[SnowMachine]

I almost picked up a pair, but ended up with Praxis Jedi Mind Sticks. The Saba Pro looks rad. It's my backup plan if I don't like the Mindsticks.

Let us know what you think after you get some days on them.

[fencejack]

I tried it at the Blister Summit last spring on a pow day for a few runs and had a blast. Super fun and playful in powder but never felt too squirrelly or unstable.

Anymore details on how it performed on different snow or skis you could compare and contrast it to? It's good to know it wasn't too squirrelly or unstable given it's full rocker. I expect it to be loose, especially on low to firmer snow but hoping it tracks well in deeper. Only time I expect to be on any firm snow with it would be getting back to lift.

[Qilimanjaro]

Can you compare it to the full reverse camber Nocta?

[eSock]

Anymore details on how it performed on different snow or skis you could compare and contrast it to? It's good to know it wasn't too squirrelly or unstable given it's full rocker. I expect it to be loose, especially on low to firmer snow but hoping it tracks well in deeper. Only time I expect to be on any firm snow with it would be getting back to lift.

Only got it for those few runs and wanted to experience them in their element pow so hard to say but my brief notes just said they were a ton of fun, didn't feel unwieldly, stable when running flat and carved well for reverse camber. Was my first foray into the rc world so I was mostly just enjoying the new feel/style.

[fencejack]

Can you compare it to the full reverse camber Nocta?

Here's a list that would be good comparing it to if anyone has experience:
-Black Crows Nocta (reverse camber version)
-4frnt Inthayne
-4frnt Devastator
-Moment Meridian 117
-Moment Chiptle Banana

I probably won't get a chance to test these out until January but I'll add any other details here that I find in the mean time.

[japanada]

Here's a list that would be good comparing it to if anyone has experience:
-Black Crows Nocta (reverse camber version)
-4frnt Inthayne
-4frnt Devastator
-Moment Meridian 117
-Moment Chiptle Banana

I probably won't get a chance to test these out until January but I'll add any other details here that I find in the mean time.

Don't forget the og, the hoji

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[fencejack]

Don't forget the og, the hoji

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I'll also replace Devastator with Renegade since that's what I meant. More in line with the list.

[HukuTa_KydecHuk]

Here's a list that would be good comparing it to if anyone has experience:
-Black Crows Nocta (reverse camber version)
-4frnt Inthayne
-4frnt Devastator
-Moment Meridian 117
-Moment Chiptle Banana

I probably won't get a chance to test these out until January but I'll add any other details here that I find in the mean time.

I skied Bananas for around 30 days. Tried Noctas and Saba Pros for several runs. Bought Inthayne for this season for a 115+ quiver slot. Bananas and Saba Pros are my least favourite skis. Saba Pros felt like a chop pow machine, however, in wet pow I wished for a higher tip height. Also this reflect rocker thing never clicked with me, in any condition besides pow I felt like on snowblades, maybe I should've tried them for more time, but that was all I got. You can find my comments about Bananas in Moment ski thread. I just really dislike the stiffness profile and how they behave because of it. Big ski, but feels like the sweet spot is very-very small on it. Noctas are probably the most demanding ski out of all listed, also the most versatile. Awesome heliski skis, from my point of view. For me they felt like a loose charger, but not really playful or freestyle friendly.

My favourite one, and one that is clearly missing from the list is Faction Candides 5.0, which are now Mana 4 (reshaped geometry, same stiffness and rocker profiles). That was a ski that can do it all for me: charge, jump, throw tricks, land switch, basically everything yet able to be stable and predictable in mixed snow conditions.

[fencejack]

I skied Bananas for around 30 days. Tried Noctas and Saba Pros for several runs. Bought Inthayne for this season for a 115+ quiver slot. Bananas and Saba Pros are my least favourite skis. Saba Pros felt like a chop pow machine, however, in wet pow I wished for a higher tip height. Also this reflect rocker thing never clicked with me, in any condition besides pow I felt like on snowblades, maybe I should've tried them for more time, but that was all I got. You can find my comments about Bananas in Moment ski thread. I just really dislike the stiffness profile and how they behave because of it. Big ski, but feels like the sweet spot is very-very small on it. Noctas are probably the most demanding ski out of all listed, also the most versatile. Awesome heliski skis, from my point of view. For me they felt like a loose charger, but not really playful or freestyle friendly.

My favourite one, and one that is clearly missing from the list is Faction Candides 5.0, which are now Mana 4 (reshaped geometry, same stiffness and rocker profiles). That was a ski that can do it all for me: charge, jump, throw tricks, land switch, basically everything yet able to be stable and predictable in mixed snow conditions.

Thanks for the input. What do you think the Inthayne gives you that the others (specifically Saba) doesn't? I hear Inthayne isn't really loose/surfy relatively speaking.

Your suggestion for the Faction is interesting since I hear some say the Faction and the Icelantic Nomad 115 are similar. I have heard durability issues with Faction skis. Any truth to that?

[HukuTa_KydecHuk]

Thanks for the input. What do you think the Inthayne gives you that the others (specifically Saba) doesn't? I hear Inthayne isn't really loose/surfy relatively speaking.

Your suggestion for the Faction is interesting since I hear some say the Faction and the Icelantic Nomad 115 are similar. I have heard durability issues with Faction skis. Any truth to that?

On paper, Inthaynes are interesting for what I'm looking for. Playful flat camber ski, that can charge. What I disliked about Saba is that it was only fun in pow. Stability in every other aspect was very questionable. Instantly reminded me of Surface New Life skis. However, I only made couple of runs on them, maybe I should've tried more and adjusted technique accordingly.

Can't compare Candides with Nomad 115, haven't skied Nomads. Faction quality is top notch since they moved to Atomic factory in 2021, before that - yes, there were huge issues with durability and QC. My beloved 5.0 from 2019 delammed in every possible spot, from tip & underfoot to tail.

[fencejack]

On paper, Inthaynes are interesting for what I'm looking for. Playful flat camber ski, that can charge. What I disliked about Saba is that it was only fun in pow. Stability in every other aspect was very questionable. Instantly reminded me of Surface New Life skis. However, I only made couple of runs on them, maybe I should've tried more and adjusted technique accordingly.

Can't compare Candides with Nomad 115, haven't skied Nomads. Faction quality is top notch since they moved to Atomic factory in 2021, before that - yes, there were huge issues with durability and QC. My beloved 5.0 from 2019 delammed in every possible spot, from tip & underfoot to tail.

Did you find the Factions pivot super easy in tight spaces? For example, I've tested the QST Blank and MFREE 108 which I found pivot super easy and is something I'm looking for in my next pair.

Also, I only plan to use these skis when there's decent snow. I have Black Crows Atris I'll pull out when it's a bit low. Do you think I'll have the same concerns as you regarding stability given that? Or is it only fun in deep deep snow?

[Pins and Skins]

Good deal on Mana 4s (and other Factions) at STP

https://www.sierra.com/item~p~2waga-01-184/

[fencejack]

For those that are Blister members, they did a brief review on the Saba Pro 117 that sounded pretty positive. I'm hoping they do a deep dive to get details around it.