New wide skis for someone who doesn't get modern skis

[2FUNKY]

Switched over to the Dynastar M-108 last season and it's the best ski I've ever had. It can be driven hard through a turn, works in any conditions, and is generally just about perfect. I'd recommend it or the M-Free 118 since you'll be skiing bigger lines in France than I do in Japan.

Have a great winter and just get the Dynastars and focus your time and energy on getting extreme, Technique Extreme!

Which one, Mfree or Mpro 108? They are pretty different. Pro is more chargey, has a longer ee feel, heavier and more damp than the mfree which is more playful but still has a high speed limit.
Agree with TAFKALVS, the Mfree 118 is not the ski.



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[El Chupacabra]

I picked up some 191 Katana last spring, with the dragon graphic. No pow skiing on them yet, but they do seem like something OP would like. Fun in slush, but what isn't?

[Mulletizer]

As before, thanks for the all the suggestions and advice.

Look into Heritage Lab FL113.

These look sweet, right up my street. Don't think I can pull the trigger on something that is not in hand (ie ready to ship right away) because a delay in production or shipping could really limit how much i can use them. Plus shipping US-Europe brings a tax bill that adds 25%-30% to the cost once all the handling fees are paid.

I feel like this is a situation where I would be looking at a cochise or a a Corvus.

Neither of these were on my radar. Corvus in particular look like they could fit the bill (and I know I'll be able to find a pair to try when I get to the Alps).

Where do you live?

GB normally, next year CH for Jan, Feb, March.

I've had both the Head m103 and the Volkl Sanouk in the past - those are some wildly different skis...

That’s what I was thinking as well, and also tells me that there are a very wide range of modern skis that the OP would probably be happy with.

M103 and Sanouks have very different flexes but both are pretty straight. I've no issue working with/adapting to different flex but I've never loved skis with lots of shape, going back to when "parabolics" were a new thing in the 90s. Maybe it's because I grew up on straight skis? Maybe I'm just weird. Or a mediocre skier.

Also worth noting that the stated radius on a lot of new skis is often not really accurate. Plenty of skis with multi radius sidecuts that ski much longer than the stated number suggests.

Good to know.

I have some 193 Head Supermojo that I don’t ski anymore if you want a backup pair.

Thanks, appreciate this. Probably a lot of effort to get a used ski from you in CO to Europe. But thank you.

Dynastar M-PRO 108.

This ski, right? Tempting. Black Friday deals to be had on them currently. Do they ski long/short/as expected? I'm thinking 192 might be more ski than I need, though 182 is a little less than I'm used to on the M103 (once you factor in rocker/turned up tails).

[Mulletizer]

Wow, blast from the past. We skied together at La Grave a long long time ago. '02 or '03 maybe, along w/ Hop.

I was in a similar situation after stepping away from skiing for over a decade due to a location change and finding I liked surfing as much as skiing. Got back into the snow after moving to Japan 5 years ago.

I ended up picking up a pair of Head Kore and don't like them much at all, for the same reasons you listed above. They're fine but just kind of dead at speed and aren't a very interesting or enjoyable ski. They do many things fine but nothing well.

Switched over to the Dynastar M-108 last season and it's the best ski I've ever had. It can be driven hard through a turn, works in any conditions, and is generally just about perfect. I'd recommend it or the M-Free 118 since you'll be skiing bigger lines in France than I do in Japan.

Have a great winter and just get the Dynastars and focus your time and energy on getting extreme, Technique Extreme!

That was a fun time! Did we tour up Lautaret together with Telepath, HOP and a couple of others? I thought I had pictures of that day to check but can't find them, maybe they were HOP's.

Kore have been ruled out. M-Pro 108 are in contention.

[auvgeek]

ON3P Wrenegade 110 Pro should be on the short list too. Hard to get, but I do think you’d dig.

https://shop.on3pskis.com/products/w...43878034112737

Can't speak to import taxes, but Black Friday is $100 off.

Maybe also consider the 192 Armada Declivity X?

The Corvus, like you said above, would be worth a look...although the radius is a bit short.

[tenB]

That was a fun time! Did we tour up Lautaret together with Telepath, HOP and a couple of others? I thought I had pictures of that day to check but can't find them, maybe they were HOP's.

Kore have been ruled out. M-Pro 108 are in contention.

If you like longer radius skis I’d steer away from the Mpro series. It’s sidecut definitely pulls you into turns but with it’s heft and stiffness it gets a bit hung up in steep technical terrain. Maybe it’s just me, but stiff heavy skis with a short turn radius can be sketchy af in those areas.

Corvus seems to fit more of what you’re looking for.

[bodywhomper]

So high weight is not a concern? My observation is that my 170cm volkl mantra 102 (amazing and versatile ski) with tele bindings is substantially heavier than my sons 189cm volkl 100Eight with alpine Salomon bindings. I feel like the heavy weight is a key attribute to the love that the mantra 102’s receive. My son loves his boards and seems to have no problems skiing them with speed and smoothness in very challenging snow.

[Velomayniac]

Maybe also consider the 192 Armada Declivity X?

192 could be long for OP in bumpy or technical terrain. They are super easy to ski everywhere else though, so could work. I prefer Wildcats or Bodacious, but Declivity X is the more versatile ski by a decent margin.

Lots of tip taper but the DX feel more traditional the more firm and the more bumpy the snow is. They are amazing on ice for their width, almost like a Volkl. In untracked snow they turn into a longer radius JJ, it’s pretty surprising actually. They rip untracked trees almost as well as Billy Goats. Great skis, IDK why I’m selling mine, I think I prefer more specific skis.

[2FUNKY]

If you like longer radius skis I’d steer away from the Mpro series. It’s sidecut definitely pulls you into turns but with it’s heft and stiffness it gets a bit hung up in steep technical terrain. Maybe it’s just me, but stiff heavy skis with a short turn radius can be sketchy af in those areas.

Corvus seems to fit more of what you’re looking for.

It’s just you. Never felt any of what you describe. Never pulled me into a turn or felt cumbersome in tight steep techy tree lines. They were more nimble than I expected coming off the Mfree108. They were detuned properly though.


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[Velomayniac]

It’s just you. Never felt any of what you describe. Never pulled me into a turn or felt cumbersome in tight steep techy tree lines. They were more nimble than I expected coming off the Mfree108. They were detuned properly though.


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I still haven’t tried either of these skis, MFree or MPro 108. I’m so far behind!

[treewell-dweller]

Just posted 180cm M-Free 118s in if you want to go that route.


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[CascadeCrudSkier]

Which one, Mfree or Mpro 108? They are pretty different. Pro is more chargey, has a longer ee feel, heavier and more damp than the mfree which is more playful but still has a high speed limit.
Agree with TAFKALVS, the Mfree 118 is not the ski.



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Good point, I'm riding the free and not the pro.

[CascadeCrudSkier]

That was a fun time! Did we tour up Lautaret together with Telepath, HOP and a couple of others? I thought I had pictures of that day to check but can't find them, maybe they were HOP's.

Kore have been ruled out. M-Pro 108 are in contention.

I don't remember the name of the peak but that sounds about right. I did some digging and found a couple of old photos.
That was a fun time, no plans for Europe this season but hoping to get out there in the next couple of years.

[arild]

As before, thanks for the all the suggestions and advice.


These look sweet, right up my street. Don't think I can pull the trigger on something that is not in hand (ie ready to ship right away) because a delay in production or shipping could really limit how much i can use them. Plus shipping US-Europe brings a tax bill that adds 25%-30% to the cost once all the handling fees are paid.


Neither of these were on my radar. Corvus in particular look like they could fit the bill (and I know I'll be able to find a pair to try when I get to the Alps).


GB normally, next year CH for Jan, Feb, March.




M103 and Sanouks have very different flexes but both are pretty straight. I've no issue working with/adapting to different flex but I've never loved skis with lots of shape, going back to when "parabolics" were a new thing in the 90s. Maybe it's because I grew up on straight skis? Maybe I'm just weird. Or a mediocre skier.


Good to know.


Thanks, appreciate this. Probably a lot of effort to get a used ski from you in CO to Europe. But thank you.


This ski, right? Tempting. Black Friday deals to be had on them currently. Do they ski long/short/as expected? I'm thinking 192 might be more ski than I need, though 182 is a little less than I'm used to on the M103 (once you factor in rocker/turned up tails).

PMd you.

[TAFKALVS]

If you like longer radius skis I’d steer away from the Mpro series. It’s sidecut definitely pulls you into turns but with it’s heft and stiffness it gets a bit hung up in steep technical terrain. Maybe it’s just me, but stiff heavy skis with a short turn radius can be sketchy af in those areas.

Corvus seems to fit more of what you’re looking for.

Have you skied the 192 M-PRO or are you just looking at numbers on paper? I disagree with your assessment entirely. I’ve got about 50 days on my pair now, it was basically the only ski grabbed from a quiver of 10+ pairs.

[byates1]

V week katana for 270$ in gear swap right now. Cannot go wrong with that

[tenB]

Have you skied the 192 M-PRO or are you just looking at numbers on paper? I disagree with your assessment entirely. I’ve got about 50 days on my pair now, it was basically the only ski grabbed from a quiver of 10+ pairs.

I demoed it a couple of days, and as 2Funky questioned it’s likely they were not de-tuned well. That being said, I definitely prefer longer radius chargers in the 108 category

[byates1]

Atomic pow plus

[Mulletizer]

That's the one! I think it was the Pic Blanc du Galibier, otherwise somewhere very near there. The peak in your second pic is the Grand Galibier. Strong mullet game in those days, I had Telepath to thank for that one. Still makes me sad that he's gone, it always felt like he was one of those guys I'd always be able to pick things up with.

[Mulletizer]

Atomic pow plus

[Mulletizer]

Update: I just picked up a deal on a new pair of this season's M-Pro 108 and pivots. Big extra discount for Black Friday, time limited so I needed to make a decision. Good enough price that it is worth taking a small risk on them - and a long returns period so I should be able have a chance to borrow/hire a pair to try before I drill them (and return if I can't get on with them). Hedging my bets a little.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

[skis_the_trees]

Did you go 182 or 192? If you can update the thread after using them that'd be a helpful reference point.

[Mulletizer]

Did you go 182 or 192? If you can update the thread after using them that'd be a helpful reference point.

182.

[auvgeek]

What size M103 were you on?

[Mulletizer]

What size M103 were you on?

183 M103s. I'm expecting the m-pro 108 in 182 to ski shorter than the 183 M103s because of the softer tips and slight tail rocker and taper. I was on the fence about 182/192; 182 seems short, 192 seems potentially a bit on the long side. I'd have taken 187 if it existed. If the 182 feel too short when I test them I'll swap them for something longer.