Skis for this year

[salsa2303]

Hi, im currently skiing the 05/06 saloman foil (158 cm) and am 5 foot 7 inches and weigh around 130 lbs. The skis are getting small on me so im thinking of getting new skis. Im not a big freeskier but do enjoy jumps and the pipe. I also really like treeskiing and backcountry. Im looking for an all around ski with some tip on the back that will fit me. Ive looked at different things and the ski that seems the best is the k2 silencer, although the b2 and b1 also look good (06). I also dont want to spend over 400 dollars on new skis. I have good bindings from my foils (rossignol scratch fs bindings). If anyone could tell me if i need new skis or if i should stick with my old ones and if i need new ones what i should get. Im also looking for a good site for skis from previous seasons.

[JustinSki223]

Silencers, b1, and b2s are so/so. I think you will be pretty unsatisfied with them do to their smaller underfoot (80 mm for the K2). If you like treeskiing and backcountry AND are already riding Foils (85 underfoot) you dont want to drop in width. I would reccomend a fatty LINE ski. Like the prophet 100 (100 underfoot) or the Chronic Blend (90 underfoot). LINE skis are specifically designed for Park, Pipe, and Powder. Also, the step up from the Foil is the 1080 Gun by Salomon but they are pretty pricey. From K2, you would probably like the fujatives (85 underfoot, designed for park, pipe, and pow).

I have the 06' 1080 gun with a 90 underfoot, 05' line invader with 84 underfoot, the 07' fujatives with the 85 underfoot, 05' Dynastar troublemakers 78 underfoot, and I recently skied the 07 line chronic blends with 90 underfoot as well as the 06' Dynastar nothing but troubles 78 underfoot.

Line is my favorite hands down...they are soft so landings impact is massively reduced but with that crazy macroblock core they dont shake and rattle at high speeds. All line skis have a "fatty base and edge" so they are virtually indestructable. The only complaint I have is that most of the lines my friends and I own, the topsheet always flakes and peels. This has no affect on your skis except cosmetic.

Try: REI.com, steepandcheap.com, overstock.com, and most importantly EBAY!

for ideas on good prices I got my Salomon 1080 guns and my K2 fujatives at REI.com for $200(retail 600-1000(guns)) and $180 (retial 500(fujatives)).

off ebay I got my Line Invaders for $155 (retail 450-550).

all brand new in plastic. Good luck on your choice this season!

[goatchee5138]

Remember that any ski you choose is going to have compromises. What i ussually tell my customers is rate your skiing in percentages like 50% on piste and 50% off piste. this is an easy way of deciding what type of ski you want or need.The foils are great in the park and bumps and trees. If you found you had plenty of float in the powder and trees than stick with something that fat under foot (82-88mm). Being 5'7" i guess you weigh about 140-170lbs. If this is true than you really do not need to go any fatter than 88mm, and if you do it is almost impossible to find a 90mm ski or above under $400 that is worth it. I would recommend a ski like the Fisher Maunga (82mm) or Rangi (88mm). Both of these skis are wood core (as opposed to foam like the rossi's) and they have a carbon fiber top sheet (I know carbon fiber for less than $400, impossible). I've tested both of these skis and found them far supperior to both the rossi bandits and the K2 silencer. the carbon fiber topsheet gives the ski torsional stiffness that the rossis and the k2's lack. and the wood gives the ski's construction integrity and aids to the life span of the ski. (if any of this is confusing let me know and i will clarify).
I hope this helps your decision, and if you have any other questions i would love to help.
Todd

[salsa2303]

thanks, ill check out the skis mentioned but do i need new ones or could i keep my 158 foils for another year?

[salsa2303]

what about the fischer watea skis? They are more expensive then the others but are the good? and the other fischers, the maunga and rangi, are they womens skis?

[goatchee5138]

When the Maunga, Rangi, Kahua, Atua, and Watea came out they were marketed as big mountain skis that had the same construction but different sizes and widths. the reason for this is they could market the same type of ski to different people. for example I weigh 200lbs and 6'00" tall and i ski the Atua witch is 186 cm and 96mm underfoot. The Atua skis the same for me as the Rangi will ski for someone 5'7" due to the shorter length and narrower waist. If i skied the Rangi it would sink because of my bigg butt and would be too slow because of my height, but for you, you would have a big mountain ski that can still be managed on the hardpack. What Fisher realized is that the main people skiing the rangi and maunga were women so last year they changed the graphic to be more feminin but the construction did not change. As retailers we had mixed feelings about it because it did help us sell to women but the guys, like you, were completly turned off by the graphics. If you can find the 2005,2006 graphic it is pretty cool, and a great price, right now we are selling them for about $375.
The best thing about the rangi is the construction. it is an extremely light ski (i put a/t bindings on mine for hiking because it is soo light) so its easy to through around in the park, but it skis everything from crud to ice to powder with the most confidence in its class. this is due to its WOOD CORE, and carbon fiber top sheet. I would really caution against going wider because it would suck for you when you decide not to hang out in the trees or bowls. The 96 is infact too wide for me in the hard pack so i bought a different ski for those days.
the Watea skis are this years replacements for the Rangi line. The Watea would be your choice. It might be a little bit stiffer but not too much. I skied the 94 with the same construction but and felt little differences.
Let me know if you need help finding any of these skis, or if you have any questions.
Todd

[goatchee5138]

Correction, The watea 84 would be your choice for this years ski.

[salsa2303]

ya im really considering the watea 84 but do you think i could ski my foils for another year and then get the fischers cheaper when they are older?

[goatchee5138]

Thats always a good question. The gamble lies on how well they sell. For example the Volkl Gotama's have sold out every year for the past 4 years. The same happend last year to the Atua and the Kahua. It ussually does not happen to Fishers but last year it did. I dont like telling people to wait becuase it there is always a chance, and we have not seen any production numbers on the Watea line yet. One good way to tell is look at the ski reviews in the magazines and see what the experts are saying(this is the only time i recommend reading those biased, single minded, money swayed reviews!). They ussually set the tones for the sales of the year. If the review is great and it wins awards in all the magazines, chances are you will miss out by waiting because the public places alot of importance on them. If you do decide to go with a Rangi or Maunga and want the "mens" graphic and cant find them for less than $400 let me know. I have two of both at the shop. The Rangi is $400 and the Maunga is $300.
How do your boots fit? I always ask people when they are looking to buy skis how their boots fit.

[bobski]

I can recommend the Fischer Rangi as all-moutain skis esp. for someone your size. I skied them as a demo a couple of years ago against the K2, rossis and Solomon 1080, they were clearly the best for me. Short enough for the bumps but wide enough for the crud and medium powder. They are ok for the park and pipe but I only go there once in while for kicks. Not great a high speeds but I do not hit groomers much so that is not an issue

Do not go for the bigger older Fischer all-mountains/powder, the watea, atua and the kahua, just because you are a guy. They are probably way too big for you. I outweigh you by 45 lbs, and probably 20 years!, and the rangi fits me well. The Rangi are "womens skis only" in the marketing sense.... except for the new graphics...the 05-06 model I have are dark brown with a yellow Maori pattern which are not overly girly, have gotten quite a few questions/complements on the lift. The 06/07 version is light brown and flowery...too much even for a secure guy like me.

You can grab the older Fischer Rangi on ebay for $300 with bindings...such a deal.