Too bad you didn't like the Rossignol Phantoms. They're on sale on Tramdock for? $495 at this moment.
That's OK, I won't mourn the lost bargain.? Scott (dawg from Epic) has a few really good skis for around $500 now too, incl. the Mythic and the Elan 888.? I've been chatting with him by PM and phone, and he's been giving some advice too.? Nice guy.
Terryl, remember that as a smaller, lighter person, you do not need the kind of waist that Svend needs to float (in any sense of the word ). Others could more eloquently give the equivalent between men/womens ski widths at the waist and powder float.
Sorry Svend, couldn't help myself. You look quite svelte in the pics.?
?Yeah, sure Lynn.? You sound remorseful as always?
.? Svelte my a**, I gotta lose about 40 pounds before I look svelte again.
Jim:
I've read nothing but excellent reviews about the Great One, incl. on the German site (they raved about it, which means something when the Germans get excited like that).? Good call! Question is, whether it is wide enough at 77mm for good float? My guess is yes, but we've gotta get the right length, then, eh?
Not planning on carrying four pairs of skis when we travel west, just the wide ones, so they have to be good in all conditions - powder, groomed, crud.? A one-ski travel quiver for western big mountains.? Supershapes will (probably) stay home, unless the forecast is for no new snow.? On the other hand, I suppose we could get a couple of double ski bags....
As for your width recommendations, that's pretty much what I was thinking -- mid-80s to 90s for me.? But I'm not sure about Terryl, though, whether she would need a 90mm ski to get good powder and crud performance.? She is almost 100 lbs lighter than I, after all.? I'll need some advice on that question.
BTW, I should add that you needn't limit recommendations for Terryl to women's skis.? Most of their graphics she finds to be too girly-cutesy, and often prefers the graphics of a unisex ski.? She can handle the performance of a unisex ski too (as being on the SS Speed indicates), and some (not all) of the women's skis are made softer and lighter, which may not be necessary.
As for buying the quiver -- Yes.? We'd get enough use out of a versatile wide all-mountain ski both here in the east, and in our trips west, that it would be worth it to buy.? The rentals for just two days cost us $170 already.? Doesn't take long to make up the cost of buying.? Plus we could use them at our home mountain, which is a place where we would otherwise be disinclined to rent.
Greg:
Thanks for the affirmation of the Mythic Rider.? I really liked that ski a lot -- never got piste-off with it?
, and was totally surprised by it's performance on groomed snow.? Very quick edge-to-edge, and great energy in the tail.? How do you find skiing the 178 wrt. short turns and agility? Still able to make quick turns? Change turn shape in mid-swing? I don't think I would go longer than 178 on it, or with any other wide ski for that matter, as I still would like to be able to use it here in the east on the short runs we have.? Anything longer than 180 would just be too long and cumbersome, is my guess.? Versatile is the name of the game here.
And thanks for invite to Steamboat to be my personal shopper.? Your fee will be fermented or distilled beverages - your choice.? ?
It would be good to hear from Phil.? I read one of his reviews of the Elan 888 from about a year or two ago, and that is a ski that I am interested in.? ?Highly recommended by Scott (dawg) as livelier and more energetic than the Mythic, but with great crud and powder performance.