Ski buying advice needed

[jarckl00]

Hi - I am looking ot buy a pair of skis to use almost entirely in the Northeast. I am 40 years old, 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. Advanced but not expert level. Any opinions?

1) Nordic Steadfast 85 DC - 174CM
2) Nordic Steadfast 80CA - 174 CM
3) K2 Mindbender 90C - 172 CM
4) K2 Mindbender 85 - 170CM

Thanks!

 

[mister moose]

Lots of ski reviews here

Cage Match Comparison - 2021 K2 Mindbender 99Ti vs 2021 K2 Reckoner 102

What is 3 mm among friends? Well, since a millimeter is a mile in bootfitting, three of them in a ski width can be enough to create two completely different skiing experiences. In all fairness, the difference between the Mindbender 99Ti and the Reckoner 102 is not the 99 or the 102 waists. In...

www.skitalk.com

Comparison Review - K2 Mindbender 90ti vs 99ti

Who has skied both and care to comment first hand differences? Mostly front-mountain skiing. Primary trips are out West with some smaller ski trips to WV, NY built in Curious how the 99 handles front-mountain, not super hard-charging skiing, compared to the 90. thanks!

www.skitalk.com

Comparison Review - 88-90mm Narrow All Mountain Skis

88-90mm Narrow “All-Mountain” Skis I find 88-90mm width skis very versatile, as they can work nicely as a OSQ, as well as being a good middle ski in a 3SQ, complementing a narrow sport carver and a wide powder ski. I got to spend several days testing a few 88-90mm “All-Mountain” skis I had...

www.skitalk.com

 

[crank]

Ask that question on skitalk and you will get pages and pages of answers.

 

[wa-loaf]

Have you tried any of those? They would all be decent all mountain skis. The narrower ones will be better on ice. I have a Mindbender 90ti 184 that's my main New England ski. It's been a great ski except for the iciest days.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Have you tried any of those? They would all be decent all mountain skis. The narrower ones will be better on ice. I have a Mindbender 90ti 184 that's my main New England ski. It's been a great ski except for the iciest days.

I think 90 underfoot is about the perfect all-around northern northeast ski (though I'd go lower if I only skied someplace like Poconos, etc...).

I still have my Line Prophet 90s and they're my all-time favorite swiss-army knife ski, but now that I live out west I'm wondering if I'll use the Rossignol Soul 7s more.

 

[miskier]

I personally have Shaggy Brockway 90's. I am in Michigan, but most of the time we have the same snow as the Northeast. They cut through the crud with ease and have a strip of magnesium to help with vibration. https://www.skishaggys.com/

 

[TyWebb]

I am purchasing skis for my son - 15 Soph in HS - hasn't grown in a year 6'1 163lbs but who knows if he suddenly has a growth spurt

Excellent intermediate, can handle diamonds in New England - loves trees when available, getting into park and skis groomers with me looking for any jump he can find

Twin tips - do I go 173 or 181

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[tnt1234]

I am purchasing skis for my son - 15 Soph in HS - hasn't grown in a year 6'1 163lbs but who knows if he suddenly has a growth spurt

Excellent intermediate, can handle diamonds in New England - loves trees when available, getting into park and skis groomers with me looking for any jump he can find

Twin tips - do I go 173 or 181

Thanks in advance for your help

181 for sure.

 

[TyWebb]

181 for sure.

thanks tnt

Is there a reason behind this - sales guy says go with the 173 because more park/maneuverability oriented vs stability at speed. Are those the only 2 differences or more. I'm mainly concerned if he has one more growth spurt but not sure if that's valid

 

[skiur]

thanks tnt

Is there a reason behind this - sales guy says go with the 173 because more park/maneuverability oriented vs stability at speed. Are those the only 2 differences or more. I'm mainly concerned if he has one more growth spurt but not sure if that's valid

Even if he doesn't get any taller he is still going to put on weight.

 

[zyk]

Agree 181. I'm 5'5 165 pounds and ski 179. I do have a pair of 165 I like for tight tree lines.

 

[ss20]

Hi - I am looking ot buy a pair of skis to use almost entirely in the Northeast. I am 40 years old, 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. Advanced but not expert level. Any opinions?

1) Nordic Steadfast 85 DC - 174CM
2) Nordic Steadfast 80CA - 174 CM
3) K2 Mindbender 90C - 172 CM
4) K2 Mindbender 85 - 170CM

Thanks!

I am a ski instructor at Alta and I LOVE the k2 mindbender 95 Ti. It's the only ski I've ever owned 2 pairs of. Being 195 pounds even if you're not a true expert you'll want something with metal in it, hence the Ti version I recommend I wouldn't get the C.

I've always said anyone beyond intermediate needs *at least* 2 ski sets in their quiver, but the K2 Mindbender Ti has changed my perception. It's that good of a ski. And at a GREAT price point as K2 is trying to rebuild their image.

 

[tnt1234]

thanks tnt

Is there a reason behind this - sales guy says go with the 173 because more park/maneuverability oriented vs stability at speed. Are those the only 2 differences or more. I'm mainly concerned if he has one more growth spurt but not sure if that's valid

I'm 6'1, 180-ish and my 180s feel a little short. His light weight might be an argument for shorter, but I ski bumps, trees, no park, and 180 is the shortest I would ever consider.

 

[TyWebb]

TY gents - going to make the decision this weekend and leaning towards 181

 

[SteezyRob]

thanks tnt

Is there a reason behind this - sales guy says go with the 173 because more park/maneuverability oriented vs stability at speed. Are those the only 2 differences or more. I'm mainly concerned if he has one more growth spurt but not sure if that's valid

i know you've probably already bought the skis but fwiw..

shorter skis make for easier rotations, while longer skis give more stability for high speeds and landings. if your son is planning on using these skis solely in the park then he could go shorter, but if he wants to ski in the trees and do more all mountain stuff as well, then the 182s would have been the right choice to make.

 

[Hawk]

You don't want longer skis for the trees. You want shorter skis that have a tighter turning raduis. and if your concerned about float then just get them wider. I like the Salamon QST 106 for skiing powdery trees at sugarbush.

 

[SteezyRob]

You don't want longer skis for the trees. You want shorter skis that have a tighter turning raduis. and if your concerned about float then just get them wider. I like the Salamon QST 106 for skiing powdery trees at sugarbush.

oh yeah i dont know what i was saying.
short for park (sorta) and trees long for on piste

 

[TyWebb]

Thanks for the info Gents - went with the 181's - very good deal on last years inventory- son is happy and so is my wallet

 

[ColdRain&Snow]

I am a ski instructor at Alta and I LOVE the k2 mindbender 95 Ti. It's the only ski I've ever owned 2 pairs of. Being 195 pounds even if you're not a true expert you'll want something with metal in it, hence the Ti version I recommend I wouldn't get the C.

I've always said anyone beyond intermediate needs *at least* 2 ski sets in their quiver, but the K2 Mindbender Ti has changed my perception. It's that good of a ski. And at a GREAT price point as K2 is trying to rebuild their image.

Thanks for sharing this, I’m planning to demo these and the Nordica enforcer, in around the 90-95 range. Really looking forward to the season.

 

[njdiver85]

Thanks for sharing this, I’m planning to demo these and the Nordica enforcer, in around the 90-95 range. Really looking forward to the season.

LOL. If you are looking for a ski for the Northeast, do not take recommendations from a ski instructor at Alta where they got 900 inches of snow last season.