jaywbigred
Active member
I like a medium-to-shorter turn radius with energy, and must have good edge hold on ice.
I demo'd 6 skis this weekend:
Head iSuperShapes (blue), 163 - hated it. Maybe too short for me, but didn't hold an edge very well.
Rossi Strato 70ti - 165 cm - Was decent, not my fave, didn't seem to do anything too poorly. Good turn initiation.
Rossi Avenger 76ti - 170 cm - loved this ski, but it wasn't what I was looking for at all. This is a bomber that lays absolute rails, and at its ideal radius, is a gem. But it is anything but quick, and skiing it in a variety of radii is a LOT of work. The ski generally requires muscle, but if you give it to it, it gives back. I'll keep this in mind if I am every looking for something more burly.
Nordica Dobermann Spitfire Pro EDT XBI 2011 - 170 cm - I felt at home on this ski, it seemed to ski similar to my current carving skis (Nordica SUV 14s from about 5 years ago). Maybe that is mental. I didn't dislike it, it just didn't jump out at me.
Dynastar Contact Cross - I think they were the 165s - This ski seemed like a slightly more lively version of the Avengers. It wasn't as quick as what I was looking for, esp given how wide the tip is. It held a good edge.
Volkl Tigershark 8 - 168 cm - This was by far my favorite. Man, it was quick to initiate, and held a great edge through all the radii I tried. Its sweet spot is right in line with mine, something smaller than GS turns but bigger than slalom turns. You have to be nimble, bc it wants to initiate so quickly with both skis that it will cross you up. I almost fell numerous times because when I initiated my turn, my uphill ski would rocket into an arch. Like a lot of skiers without a racing background, I have to constantly work on making sure my uphill ski is involved the way it should be with initiating turns. The Tigersharks responded this way so much more quickly and easily than any of the other skis I tried or currently ski, and I loved it. They weren't as bomb proof as the Avengers, but they felt solid enough for me. The graphics were as bland as they come though. Just like my SUV 14's. Sigh.
Soooo, given how much I liked the Tigersharks, what else would you guys put on the list for me to try before I pull the trigger on something???
I demo'd 6 skis this weekend:
Head iSuperShapes (blue), 163 - hated it. Maybe too short for me, but didn't hold an edge very well.
Rossi Strato 70ti - 165 cm - Was decent, not my fave, didn't seem to do anything too poorly. Good turn initiation.
Rossi Avenger 76ti - 170 cm - loved this ski, but it wasn't what I was looking for at all. This is a bomber that lays absolute rails, and at its ideal radius, is a gem. But it is anything but quick, and skiing it in a variety of radii is a LOT of work. The ski generally requires muscle, but if you give it to it, it gives back. I'll keep this in mind if I am every looking for something more burly.
Nordica Dobermann Spitfire Pro EDT XBI 2011 - 170 cm - I felt at home on this ski, it seemed to ski similar to my current carving skis (Nordica SUV 14s from about 5 years ago). Maybe that is mental. I didn't dislike it, it just didn't jump out at me.
Dynastar Contact Cross - I think they were the 165s - This ski seemed like a slightly more lively version of the Avengers. It wasn't as quick as what I was looking for, esp given how wide the tip is. It held a good edge.
Volkl Tigershark 8 - 168 cm - This was by far my favorite. Man, it was quick to initiate, and held a great edge through all the radii I tried. Its sweet spot is right in line with mine, something smaller than GS turns but bigger than slalom turns. You have to be nimble, bc it wants to initiate so quickly with both skis that it will cross you up. I almost fell numerous times because when I initiated my turn, my uphill ski would rocket into an arch. Like a lot of skiers without a racing background, I have to constantly work on making sure my uphill ski is involved the way it should be with initiating turns. The Tigersharks responded this way so much more quickly and easily than any of the other skis I tried or currently ski, and I loved it. They weren't as bomb proof as the Avengers, but they felt solid enough for me. The graphics were as bland as they come though. Just like my SUV 14's. Sigh.
Soooo, given how much I liked the Tigersharks, what else would you guys put on the list for me to try before I pull the trigger on something???
