2008 Volkl Skis

[riverc0il]

I think that is really a matter of personal preference. I prefer a lower turning radius ski for the trees probably due to my specific style or turning. The other factor is even with a dedicated powder ski you generally have only a few runs in a given day that are completely untracked powder for which a typical powder ski would excel and the rest of the day is sloppy seconds or some packed down stuff. Lots of folks on TGR seem to complain about lower radius skis being "hooky" but I think that is a characteristic I enjoy in those conditions since I turn so much. My skis are very rarely, if ever, leveled straight down a fall line.

 

[koreshot]

But don't you want to go back to 179 Seth's for the woods, which are pretty turny skis (well at least compared to the Bros)? Though that tiny bit of rocker might make them pretty sweet in the woods, just enough so your tips an tails don't hook.

Correct, I want the 179 Seths cause they are 10cm shorter than the Bros. The around 20 meter radius (instead of 35 or whatever the Bros are) should make a huge difference on the harder snow. Love the Bros, perfect west coast one quiver ski, but their length is overkill in the EC woods and I am starting to get fed up with having to skid down the groomers back to the lifts. Ideally I would rather go with a shorter low sidecut ski for the woods, like the 176 or 183 Gotama, or a superfat 179 Bros but with a 200-250 dollar budget that would be hard to pull off.

Been reading about some EC tree skiers doing the 180cm Powder Plus tip/tail bend - supposedly it is an amazing setup for EC trees. I have a brand spankin new pair of 180 Pow+ in the closet, but finding it hard to bring myself to bend them. They are hella-heavy.

 

[big_vert]

This is west coast talk, IMO. I hate my 8800 in powder + woods, they just won't turn quick enough. 24m turn radius is too large for the east coast. I like my Aztecs with a 14m turn radius way more in powdery woods conditions. If you still want to skid your turns though your opinion may differ. But if there is deep snow in the woods skidding just kills way too much speed.

No doubt this is WC talk. I only bring my 8k's or Contact 9's to the hill in the East, no matter how deep the "powder". It's usually so heavy the the 8k's hook up as much as I need for the float. The 8800 is too much ski for the East as far as I'm concerned - very few places are big enough to let them air out, as I don't go past south-mid VT.

The other thing to consider is length. I found that only 7cm made a huge difference with 8k's at least. That's why I got my 8800's short - 168

 

[koreshot]

No doubt this is WC talk. I only bring my 8k's or Contact 9's to the hill in the East, no matter how deep the "powder". It's usually so heavy the the 8k's hook up as much as I need for the float. The 8800 is too much ski for the East as far as I'm concerned - very few places are big enough to let them air out, as I don't go past south-mid VT.

The other thing to consider is length. I found that only 7cm made a huge difference with 8k's at least. That's why I got my 8800's short - 168

West Coast talk ha? Tell it to these guys. Doesn't look like they are having trouble skiing EC powder on fat skis with low sidecut. (B-squads, Spatulas, Big Daddys, Bros, etc...). All pictures taken in Northern Vermont.

I don't claim that the B-Squads are the best EC ski, or that if I get a pair I will ski like these guys can, but I am saying that there is no way that a pair of 168 8800s would have anywhere enough float to keep me from sinking on a Northern Vermont powder day. Nor would I need west coast space to air 168cm 8800s out, IMO they are user friendly, easy turning skis. Actually, given my size, I would only consider the 178 8800s as an EC tree ski.

To each his own I guess. Some people like to dance their way through the trees, others like the carving feeling. Others just skip the trees altogether and jump off the nearest waterfall Some people are too heavy for skis 80mm wide to float them, others not. Aren't we lucky that ski manufacturers make every possible type of ski these days and we aren't all stuck trying to ski 210cm skinnys in the woods?

I will end my hijack now. I apologize.

 

[bigbog]

........(nice pics snipped..)I don't claim that the B-Squads are the best EC ski, or that if I get a pair I will ski like these guys can, but I am saying that there is no way that a pair of 168 8800s would have anywhere enough float to keep me from sinking on a Northern Vermont powder day....

....and especially in late winter/early spring....hanging up on bottom is a factor in NewEngland...
$.01
Steve