Are you happy with your "specialty" ski purchase?

drjeff · Mar 19, 2008, 10:33 AM

This will in all likelyhood get me flamed pretty badly, but what the heck. Why not spend the $$ you'd spend on adding the to specialty side of your quiver and put it towards some lessons in your weak areas that you feel you need the specialty ski for??

Personally I'd much rather be darn comfortable in all conditions with 1 pair of skis, than getting the little mental second guessing going on when conditions change from what that specialty ski was designed for to something else. Just my opinion, now let my flaming begin

skifastr · Mar 19, 2008, 10:39 AM

At the risk of being contrarian I still just dont get the need for a "quiver" of skis. For the last ~10 seasons Ive been skiing with an all mtn / mid-fat / do everything ski in everything from waist-deep fresh, chowder, crud, trees, glades, spring corn/slush, groomers, bumps, icebumps, 4" of fresh over icebumps, dust on crust, whatever. My skis have been a Salomon Xscream, then K2 Axis X, and currently Dynastar Legend 4800 all of which are ~70 mm underfoot. (the 4800's really make me miss the Axes though). But overall Ive never felt like I was unable to do whatever I wanted to due to my skis (with the possible exception of aggressive carving on iced groomers). Maybe Im the proverbial neutered dog.

That said, Im still curious about this "flotation" thing ppl talk about

when they talk about fat skis and I made a whim purchase yesterday of a pair of Fischer Watea 94's. (read good reviews, found a decent deal and I guess money burns a hole in my pocket. Oh yeah, and I needed to do something with a pair of leftover bindings).

Maybe when I try them out on the next fresh-snow day next season (or this season??) I'll have an epiphany and revive this thread saying 'ok I get it now'.

[edit: I guess a sub-point would be, does one really need a quiver skis, or do we just like our toys. yeah, I thought so

]

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Mar 19, 2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjeff

This will in all likelyhood get me flamed pretty badly, but what the heck. Why not spend the $$ you'd spend on adding the to specialty side of your quiver and put it towards some lessons in your week areas that you feel you need the specialty ski for??

Personally I'd much rather be darn comfortable in all conditions with 1 pair of skis, than getting the little mental second guessing going on when conditions change from what that specialty ski was designed for to something else. Just my opinion, no let my flaming begin

My race skis are great in powder and crud...but my fat skis are better..My fat skis are good on eastern hardpack..but my race skis are better..

**Greg** · Mar 19, 2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skifastr

At the risk of being contrarian I still just dont get the need for a "quiver" of skis.

For the last ~10 seasons Ive been skiing with an all mtn / mid-fat / do everything ski in everything...

Your second sentence explains the opinion you have in your first.

2knees · Mar 19, 2008, 11:07 AM

very happy with my bump skis. Head Mad Trix. Great in bumps. I have no quiver. its my only ski so i have to make them work everywhere.

Rushski · Mar 19, 2008, 11:41 AM

Haven't had full use out of my midfats (last year's Blizzard Titan Eight). But they ski so well they can go out at any time and not just for light pow/crud. The usage I have had with them have made them worth it and will prolong the life of the rest of my (small) quiver.

Though my RX8s still are my best bet for groomers.

snowmonster · Mar 19, 2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skifastr

[edit: I guess a sub-point would be, does one really need a quiver skis, or do we just like our toys. yeah, I thought so

]

...it all started when I was a young boy and we didn't have the money to buy me a wagon named Rosebud...

Yeah, these are our toys. We don't need them but it surely makes going to the office bearable.

riverc0il · Mar 19, 2008, 3:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjeff

This will in all likelyhood get me flamed pretty badly, but what the heck. Why not spend the $$ you'd spend on adding the to specialty side of your quiver and put it towards some lessons in your weak areas that you feel you need the specialty ski for??

Personally I'd much rather be darn comfortable in all conditions with 1 pair of skis, than getting the little mental second guessing going on when conditions change from what that specialty ski was designed for to something else. Just my opinion, now let my flaming begin

No flaming here, that is a good point... most skiers really only need a one ski do it all quiver.

madskier6 · Mar 19, 2008, 3:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverc0il

No flaming here, that is a good point... most skiers really only need a one ski do it all quiver.

Agreed. But if an expert skier really likes to ski powder, there's nothing quite like a true fatty for those conditions.

deadheadskier · Mar 19, 2008, 4:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverc0il

No flaming here, that is a good point... most skiers really only need a one ski do it all quiver.

Absolutely true statement. I definitely only 'need' one pair of skis.

That said, I love having the option. While I can ski powder alright on my all mountain B2's, the difference is night and day when I get on the Axioms. The extra float allows me to not only ski though deep powder faster, but it also reduces the amount of energy needed, so I can ski longer and harder without getting fatigued. The latter part of that statement is what makes them worth it to have.

I'm hoping for the same in getting a ripper for groomers. The B2's pretty much suck on ice / skied off conditions.

Mar 19, 2008, 10:33 AM	#21 (permalink)
drjeff Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brooklyn, CT Posts: 3,064	This will in all likelyhood get me flamed pretty badly, but what the heck. Why not spend the $$ you'd spend on adding the to specialty side of your quiver and put it towards some lessons in your weak areas that you feel you need the specialty ski for?? Personally I'd much rather be darn comfortable in all conditions with 1 pair of skis, than getting the little mental second guessing going on when conditions change from what that specialty ski was designed for to something else. Just my opinion, now let my flaming begin __________________ Thrill you kids! www.cedarworks.com Last edited by drjeff; Mar 19, 2008 at 12:57 PM.

Mar 19, 2008, 10:39 AM	#22 (permalink)
skifastr Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Westford, MA Posts: 64	At the risk of being contrarian I still just dont get the need for a "quiver" of skis. For the last ~10 seasons Ive been skiing with an all mtn / mid-fat / do everything ski in everything from waist-deep fresh, chowder, crud, trees, glades, spring corn/slush, groomers, bumps, icebumps, 4" of fresh over icebumps, dust on crust, whatever. My skis have been a Salomon Xscream, then K2 Axis X, and currently Dynastar Legend 4800 all of which are ~70 mm underfoot. (the 4800's really make me miss the Axes though). But overall Ive never felt like I was unable to do whatever I wanted to due to my skis (with the possible exception of aggressive carving on iced groomers). Maybe Im the proverbial neutered dog. That said, Im still curious about this "flotation" thing ppl talk about when they talk about fat skis and I made a whim purchase yesterday of a pair of Fischer Watea 94's. (read good reviews, found a decent deal and I guess money burns a hole in my pocket. Oh yeah, and I needed to do something with a pair of leftover bindings). Maybe when I try them out on the next fresh-snow day next season (or this season??) I'll have an epiphany and revive this thread saying 'ok I get it now'. [edit: I guess a sub-point would be, does one really need a quiver skis, or do we just like our toys. yeah, I thought so ] __________________ 07-08 season: Dec 7-9 Stowe; Jan 1 Nashoba; Jan 5-6 Sunday River; Jan 19-25 Hokkaido, Japan; Feb 8 MRG; Feb 17 Burke; Feb 24 Magic; Mar 1-2 Bolton; Mar 29-31 A-Basin & Keystone; Apr 17-18 Stowe & Jay Last edited by skifastr; Mar 19, 2008 at 10:48 AM.

Mar 19, 2008, 11:41 AM	#26 (permalink)
Rushski Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nashua, NH Posts: 569	Haven't had full use out of my midfats (last year's Blizzard Titan Eight). But they ski so well they can go out at any time and not just for light pow/crud. The usage I have had with them have made them worth it and will prolong the life of the rest of my (small) quiver. Though my RX8s still are my best bet for groomers. __________________ "I remember - Shouts of joy skiing fast through the woods" -Neil Peart (Rush) "Afterimage" From Grace Under Pressure

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Mar 19, 2008, 11:07 AM	#25 (permalink)
2knees The big pig @ Forrest Park Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,728	very happy with my bump skis. Head Mad Trix. Great in bumps. I have no quiver. its my only ski so i have to make them work everywhere.