Skis and Gear Discussion > Skis 4 Me -- Suggestions or Advice??
Decision time - Dynastar 8000 vs Watea 78 vs Head iM78
Dave T:
Tough decision ahead.
It is time to progress to a mid fat. Currently skiing Dynastar Intuitive 71 at 182cm (19m) and Volkl Supersport 6 at 175cm (16m)
I am a level 7-8 maybe 9 on a good day skier.? Short and chunky at 5'7" - 220 lbs
I am comparing the
Dynastar 8000 (2009 model) at 178cm? (19m)
Head Monster 78 at 177 cm? (15m)
Fischer Watea 78 at 181 cm? (17m)
According to Peter K's reviews these are all great skis.? The only signifcant difference are the turning radius.? I really like my current Dynastar's and am leaning that way.? ?
I ski the west, with about 50% offpiste.? I will occasionally run moguls but not often.
I welcome any opinion as to which ski might suit me best.
Thanks? Dave
jim-ratliff:
That is a roster of rather excellent skis. Not first hand experience, but I've heard that the Watea 78 is aimed at lighter skiers so you might check and see if you can validate that. I have the iM78 as well as a Watea 84 and I find that I have wound up enjoying (and using) the Watea 84 more than the iM78 because I like the lighter and livelier feeling of the Watea. I'm 5'11" and 190. The Dynastar has been a perennial favorite for a long time. Also, the Dynastar Contact 4x4 was a new ski last year (I think) that was reviewed really well (but with a 75mm waist vs. the 78-80 of the others).
I think the iM78 will feel more damp than the Dynastar 8000, so if you like the feel of the Intuitives then the 8000 may be the better choice. Don't believe there is a bad decision in the whole group.
Did you see Peter's comment on the Dynastar Contact 4x4 that said the the Dynastar Sultan 85 may be one of the few new skis that is actually worth waiting for. Most of the other really good skis are unchanged from last year.
jbotti:
I am biased but I have skied all the skis you have listed. Right away I would rule out the Watea 78. In my opinion it is not a great ski and the IM 78 pretty much dusts it in every category (the Watea may feel a little lighter). The 8000 is an excellent ski, but in my opinion it is less dynamic than the IM 78. It is a very solid off piste ski, but it won't bend and carve the way the IM 78 will. Skied with strong input where the ski gets continually bent in turns, I don't think there is a ski as good as the IM 78 (in the mid fat category) I also like the tighter turning radius. Off piste it is incredibly solid in crud and chop and the tighter turn radius really shines in bumps and in any terrain where short radius turns are necessary. I have also skied it in 2 foot of fresh snow it was excellent. The railflex binding is a big advantage as you can move the binding back 1.5 cm which is a better position in fresh snow.
I love the feel of Head skis and for the life of me I don't understand the most common knock on Heads that they are overly damp and lack snap and life. If you bend this ski it will give you rebound like no ski on your list.
Ron:
of whats listed, the Head 78 but I will add that if you are skiing 50% of the time off piste in western soft snow, but only occasionally run bumps, I am a little confused about where you're skiing. Tree's? what kind of off-piste conditions?? I would defintiely be looking for a true mid-fat, like the Sultan or a Icelantic Pilgrim, Line Prophet 90, Blizzard 8.7 and a few others in the 85-92mm underfoot category. All of the above have under 20 m tr. All are plenty quick and nimbe, there's really no dis-advantage over a 78-80mm ski unless you are only skiing manicured groomed.? My everyday ski is the Pilgrim, 90 underfoot which has a 19 m tr and it will perform better than the 78 in softer snow conditions overall and give nearly nothing up on the groomed.
jim-ratliff:
Clarification.? Of what was listed, I would pick the iM78 over the Dynastar 8000 for me.? But I was also factoring in your comment that you really like your current Dynastars for you.? My recommendation for you wasn't at all negative about the iM78's.
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