Atomic B5 vs. M:11

[jack7890]

I'm trying to decide between these two. Is it worth paying twice as much for the B5?

I'm 6'1", 188 lbs (w/o gear). I'm mainly ski in the NE but I get out west at least once a year, so I'd like a ski that can handle occasional powder. I'm no pro, but I would consider myself an expert skier with solid technique.

Thanks a lot for your help.

[seldon]

Personally, I face a similar dilemna. The decision as to whether to buy a crappy compromise ski vs. another crappy compromise ski plagues me constantly.

[Darkside]

Well, I hope you're going 152cm in either ski.

[joshbu]

www.epicski.com

Seriously. You'll do much better asking this there...

[trainnvain]

OK, I gotta ski this crap all the time, so I'm gonna chime in.

The Metron M11 was a ski that I hated unless I were to do 12m radius turns PSIAinmyass style all day. They were squirrelly going straight, either at speed or not. Large radius turns wanted to be smaller, they deflected and felt noodly in windblown and buffed crud, etc.

Now.....

The Metron B5, irregardless of the fact it shares an identical sidecut with the M11, was a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SKI. The extra guts they put into this ski (namely the elastomer separating the tip and tail channels underneath the mounting area to give it good return upon heavy loading) made it track better going straight, made it damp, made it want crank big turns, and made it fucking heavy as shit.

I would ski the B5 again (wouldn't buy it, thats me. It's not as versatile as they make it to be) Fuck the m11, what a ripoff. Made for skirtwearers with some money.

Bottom line, if you're a good skier who's gonna spend 15-20 days a year on the snow and you like just ripping groomed shit with a little helping of junky stuff, It's a good stick. If you tend to explore the whole mountain more (ie woods, bumps, crud, you name it), find something with less sidecut. It's not that one-ski quiver that Atomic markets it as.