All Mountain Skis That Are Great In Moguls

[CS2-6]

After taking in all yalls input, doing a little research, and achieving a level of overthinking that astonished even myself, I'm looking for a ski that is:

-Mid-waist width (78-92mm)
-Mild tip (or tip & tail) rocker
-Cambered underfoot
-Long (>19m) turning radius
-Soft to moderate flex in the shovel. This is the most important parameter, but as you all know, is the most vague and variable to measure.

Short list:
"NEW" SKIS
-Armada ARV86 - maybe a little too much sidecut
-Atomic Punx Five - might be too soft
-Atomic Punx Seven - might be too stiff; they have very straight tips and tails (like mogul skis) with a more moderate sidecut underfoot; the idea being that this makes the ski less hooky
-Head Caddy - 20% tip rocker/camber/10% tail rocker is a neat design
-Volkl Bash 89 - flex? If it's the new Kink, it might be too soft
-Volkl Kanjo - flex?

OLD
-Armada Infamous
-Blizzard Bushwacker (some older models are soft enough, others too stiff)
-K2 Sight - no idea what the flex is like
-Rossignol Scratch - 2016 and later have too much rocker I think
-Volkl Ledge - flex?

I'm posting this for two reasons:
1) So if any of yall know of a good deal on any of these you might clue a clueless forum buddy in
2) If any of yall have any experience regarding the flex on these skis, you might share your thoughts and review

 

[Glenn]

Now that you've narrowed it down, I would demo. Many mountains offer demos out of their ski shops or a shop that's located in the base area. Cost should be under $100 for the day and they'll usually credit you that amount if you end up buying from them. Skiing a bunch of skis back to back gives you a great baseline on each.

 

[p_levert]

According to https://www.skis.com/Volkl-Kanjo-Skis/528403P,default,pd.html , the Volkl Kanjo is a moderately stiff ski. Check em out, they're sensational in the bumps. And they're great all over the mountain (groomers, trees, powder, etc.).

 

[Scruffy]

After taking in all yalls input, doing a little research, and achieving a level of overthinking that astonished even myself, I'm looking for a ski that is:

-Mid-waist width (78-92mm)
-Mild tip (or tip & tail) rocker
-Cambered underfoot
-Long (>19m) turning radius
-Soft to moderate flex in the shovel. This is the most important parameter, but as you all know, is the most vague and variable to measure.

Short list:
"NEW" SKIS
-Armada ARV86 - maybe a little too much sidecut
-Atomic Punx Five - might be too soft
-Atomic Punx Seven - might be too stiff; they have very straight tips and tails (like mogul skis) with a more moderate sidecut underfoot; the idea being that this makes the ski less hooky
-Head Caddy - 20% tip rocker/camber/10% tail rocker is a neat design
-Volkl Bash 89 - flex? If it's the new Kink, it might be too soft
-Volkl Kanjo - flex?

OLD
-Armada Infamous
-Blizzard Bushwacker (some older models are soft enough, others too stiff)
-K2 Sight - no idea what the flex is like
-Rossignol Scratch - 2016 and later have too much rocker I think
-Volkl Ledge - flex?

I'm posting this for two reasons:
1) So if any of yall know of a good deal on any of these you might clue a clueless forum buddy in
2) If any of yall have any experience regarding the flex on these skis, you might share your thoughts and review

I haven't read through all 5 pages, but your thread title seems a bit off: seems it should be "Park Skis that are Great in the Moguls".

If you want an All Mountain Ski, have you looked at Nordica Navigator 85 ?

 

[CS2-6]

Looking at a bunch of podium shots

Great analysis, by the way. Mogul skiers are really good about popping out of their skis and holding them up vertically immediately after their run before the camera leaves them. Seems like most of them fell right within the range you noted.

demos

That'd be great. I'll see what I can get on this season.

Volkl Kanjo.

Interesting... thanks for that. The reports of the flex seem to be somewhat conflicting

Nordica Navigator 85 ?

Thanks! Those look like great skis, but might have too aggressive a sidecut and a little too stiff for me.

 

[CS2-6]

I thought I'd go ahead and resurrect this thread with a final post, just to let any unfortunate soul who gives a crap know how the story ended.

I did a ton of research, got a ton of great information from a ton of knowledgeable and wise folks, did a ton of serious thinking, and ignored every blessed bit of it.

Back in November I came across a pair of lightly used (3-5 days at most) 168cm Dynastar Twisters with brand new Look Pivot 12s for a great deal (at Forerunner in Killington, VT). So I pulled the trigger.

This is was definitely a gamble that could've left me both frustrated and hundreds of dollars poorer. But I skied on them for the first time at Wolf Creek last January and I absolutely couldn't be happier. The folks who said that nothing skis the moguls like a mogul ski were definitely right. Once I got the feeling of really pressuring the front half of the ski at turn initiation, finding the zipperline has never felt more smooth and natural. Skiing the moguls has never felt better, and I can't imagine going back to all-mountain skis in the bumps after this. I mean, like the Frog Suit in Super Mario Bros. 3 type of upgrade. I love them completely.

A 66mm underfoot ski for someone who's primary ski location is the San Juans... and Wolf Creek in particular, the resort that boasts "The Most Snow in Colorado". How does Ullr and his ilk chastise such a brazen affront? I got two days on my brand new (to me) babies before we were bludgeoned with 39" of powder in 24 hours. So much snow that one of the lifts can't even turn until the late afternoon. So I was reduced to renting again (Volkl 90Eights, not a bad ski at all). But I was able to unsheathe the Twisters again in some nice soft bumps after a couple days when all that cursed powder got cleared away.

But then I always knew moguls specific boards wouldn't've ever really worked as a daily driver in Western Colorado. At the end of my trip in early January, a dude on TGR made good on an offer of unparalleled generosity he made back in August: he gave me a pair of 2011 Scott Missions for exactly $0 (although I did end up giving him a bunch of beer in thanks). A little research taught me this ski (which is actually made by Fischer) is incredibly great for crud and light powder. Furthermore, the set I got were in such good condition, when I took them in to have them tuned, the tech told me they didn't even really need it unless I was expecting to be on boilerplate anytime soon. I picked up a new pair of Look SPX12s on eBay for <$100, just in time for my last trip to Purgatory in late February. I had them mounted (Alpine Sports, Santa Fe, NM) while I got some turns in at Ski Santa Fe. On that same trip, I pulled a set of ski poles from the lost and found and had them cut them down to the appropriate size of 42" (Thanks again, you know who you are). So how does a completely free ski that I've never been on treat me? I loved it. Of all the skis I've ever been on, it's my second favorite (you know the first). Nice flotation, busts through crud, easy turn initiation, and flexible enough in the tips that I can still ski the bumps. Which was good, because The Powder Gods had not yet satiated their hunger for punishment, or maybe I just have difficulty receiving discipline, because after a day on my Twisters, we had to suffer through 36" of fresh at Purg. Dry your eyes, True Believers, I was lucky enough to get back on the Dynastars before I had to return to the slope-less wastes of Texas.

With a ton of research, a little dedicated searching, and the humbling generosity of a couple exemplary folks in the skiing community, I've ended up with a perfect (for me) and complementary quiver based on two skis that I'd never demoed or even seen. A big reason for that success is yall. Thank all yall for enduring my endless gaper questions and indulging my aggravating "analysis". This is a great place. I'm lucky to be here.