Rossi B2 vs. K2 Apache Recon

[kabelnicke]

I'm looking for an all purpose type of ski and these two are on my current shortlist. If you have any suggestions or advice on this matter, please let me know.

[Greg]

Welcome kabelnicke!

Demo. Add the Volkl Unlimited AC3 (predecessor to the 724 EXP) and Dynastar Legend 8000 to your list.

[kabelnicke]

Thanx Greg,
Demo is obviously the way! Tough from where I live though(London,UK)

[Greg]

Originally Posted by kabelnicke

Thanx Greg,
Demo is obviously the way! Tough from where I live though(London,UK)

London, eh? Have you seen this forum:

http://www.snowheads.com/

That site is based out of the U.K. Of course you're welcome here too.

[bigbog]

...a few that haven't been mentioned..
Elan's m666 love this ski....
Nordica has the Hot Rod, Speedmachine, and SUV lines....

[BeanoNYC]

Hi and welcome. I actually got engaged in London. It's a great town. I was talking to a salesman the other day and he recommmended the Rossi Zenith Z9. Might want to explore that option.

[RossiSkier]

Assuming you are speaking of the 2005/2006 models. . . Both the K2 Apache Recon (119/78/105 ) and the Rossignol B2 are great skis with the same 16M sidecut. The Recon is a wood core, as opposed to the foam core of the B2. Both skis rip. The B2 has a cult following and the Recon is just plain popular. I would scoop up the B2 in a heartbeat, but if you can get a good deal for the Recon, go for it. See if you can get a package deal with bindings. For the B2's, make sure it's Rossi AXIAL bindings. The Rossi AXIUM bindings are beginner or garbage binding, so don't dare put a pair of them on B2's. For the K2's, make sure it's a pair of high end Marker bindings. K2 and Marker are the same parent company. Don't know much about Marker bindings to suggest a set.

If you demo, try to find the right length for you. If you demo skis too short or too long, you will get the illusion that the ski don't perform well. Both skis rip, and rip hard.

p.s. If you're looking for value, the new 2005/2006 Rossignol B1 has taken the place of the B2 of previous years. It is now an all mountain wood core MIDFAT at 114/74/104. It is a bargin at my local shop at $300 and change.

[batman]

Hey RossiSkier, I'm looking for new skis this season and have narrowed it down to exactly the two models you mention, K2 Recon and Rossi B2. You sound very knowledgable and I'd like to hear your comments about these skis.

About me...

Physically, I'm male, 5'6" in height, weigh 125lbs, physically fit and strong. I ski mostly black, some double blacks, cruising runs as well as in the trees. Basically, I enjoy skiing all of the mountain. I ski mostly out west (Whisltler, Banff, Tahoe) and in Ontario (Canada) sometimes, also in Europe also and hardly never in Quebec or the east. I'm not sure what level I am because I've never really been rated. I would say 7 or 8.

I currently ski on Rossignol Mountain Vipers (188cm) which I purchased in 1994 or thereabouts. The vipers are great for almost all of the mountain although I find them a bit unwieldly for bumps or tight spots in the trees. I still love these skis, but tried shaped skis last year and found them much more fun to ski that the Vipers.

I've got it narrowed down to the Rossignol B2 and the K2 Recon models. I'm not sure about the lenght though. I was thinking about 165-170cm length. What do you think I would like or dislike about each ski?

Any feedback about how you think I would like each particular model would be great as well as feedback on the length also!

[volklyokel]

I was just in the local ski shop on Friday, faced with exactly this choice. I walked out of the shop having paid for a set of 167cm K2's (I'll pick them up this Friday). The Bandits are an awesome ski, no doubt. The B2 and the Recon are virtually neck-and-neck, in terms of what conditions and kinds of skiing they're designed for. So why did I pick the K2's?

I bought these exclusively for Utah skiing, which I do for a couple of weeks every year. These past several seasons have offered mountain conditions as varied as anything: some years have had great powder, other years gave no fresh snow at all & everything, including off piste, was hardpack or packed powder. So what I was looking for was a ski that can "do it all." I rode Volkl Vertigo G2's in 2003, and they were o.k. In 2004 & 2005 I was on P50's GS skis. 2005 was fine with those since there was no fresh stuff falling for the two weeks I was out there. But they really lacked in 2004 when the snow got deep and we had two 15"+ dumpings. I was restricted to the groomers which was a bummer, that year.

So, armed with the Fall issue of Ski Press (which has all the ski reviews), the riders who contributed to the tests gave the nod to the Recons in that they were: stable, have superior edge grip and they gave it high marks in the versatility department. Ski press reviewers, gave the B2 a review that either was the same as, or a couple of notches down, in all categories, from the review they gave the Recon. Having studied previous Ski Press reviews and demoed a few of those skis in past years, I feel pretty confident in their reviewing process.

Now, I've yet to ride the Recons, and so I won't really know until I give them the once through, especially out in Utah in March. I admit that I took a risk and bought without demoing, but I did so because the Recons are selling like hot cakes and I didn't want to be faced with the prospect of having waited too long, and not having been able to get a pair later in the season.

Background: I'm 5'-9" and weigh in around 180, but have been skiing pretty solidly for the last 5 seasons, but have been on and off skis for 30 years. My favorite Utah hills are Snowbasin, Alta/Snowbird, Brighton/Solitude & Deer Valley. I'll go down practically anything except cliffs. Here in the east I ride Volkl P50's (when I feel like going fast) and Six Stars (for fooling around). I enjoy Blue Knob and various small hills in southern PA. Its all warm-up for Utah.

Cheers - VY

[RossiSkier]

It's nice to have choices. Glad to hear that you Got your money's worth out of those Vipers.

The Apache Recon is an acclaimed ski. No doubt about it's performance. This ski is a monster and I have no doubt that you would love it.
http://www.skimag.com/skimag/buyers_...ki1122,00.html

Picking between the Recon and the B2 is like picking between a Porche and a Ferrari. The B2 has a cult following and I'm sure the Recon has something to that effect as well.

Biggest difference may be price. What's your best deal. The B2 (gulp) may actually be less expensive.
Don't let them put garbarge bindings on either ski.
It HAS to be a Rossi Axial for the B2's and a Marker Titanium Piston for the Recon.

For you, I would go short. Get the model in the 160's.

Both skis are champions, but the B2's are lighter. The Recon has a spruce core and the B2 is milled foam, and it's lighter.

GO FOR THE BEST VALUE!

K2 Apache Recon 119/78/105 - 160, 170, 174, 181
16.0 sidecut @ 174
Wood core
Retail: $800
Marker Titanium Piston Control Bindings
12.0 - $170.00
1300 - $190.00
14.0 - $230.00


http://www.k2skis.com/product/skis/p...sp?ProductID=2

Rossignol B2 113/76/103 - 148,158,166,174,182 cm
16.6 @ 174
Retail for $829, but you can get them for $600.
Milled foam core
Axial Pro Bindings
120 - $160.oo
140 - $200.00

Click