Gear and what I learned

[Gary]

I wanted to share some thoughts and hope you all might do the same.

What I learned about my gear evolution was that 84 underfoot is my go to "work horse" for all mountain skiing, especially out west.  I learned my MX78's performed WAY better with 32+mm underfoot, and the 84 versatility out performs 115 underfoot ( maximum versatility) no doubt in my mind for me.

I have to qualify by saying that m 84 underfoot in the 168 length has a 16m turn radius. So for hard, soft snow, crud, bumps, and even boot high, the ski takes it on and gobbles it up. The shovel and tail provide stability and forgivness....amazi ng combination.

Gotta say it was kind of an "evolution ephiphany".... ...totally surpassing my expectations.

Hows about you all....any gear suprises this season?

Best, g

[bushwacka]

Killing the skiing tryout at DCL on the longest fattest skis there 177cm Blizzard "the one". proving that gear really does not matter.

[jim-ratliff]

The fact that Jean Claude-Killy was a great skier on any skis doesn't mean that gear doesn't matter and it doesn't mean that he didn't select race skis that were the best for the task at hand.

Congratulations (again) on your success at DCL, but that doesn't support your conclusion.
     Maybe it made them take pity on you that you couldn't afford a pair of skis better suited to the tasks at hand??
 
Just kidding.  You would have killed it on any skis, thus my point.

[LivingProof]

Killing the skiing tryout at DCL on the longest fattest skis there 177cm Blizzard "the one". proving that gear really does not matter.

Josh,
I am curious to learn what a typical ski used by your peers (ha - if you have one) at the DCL competition. I would guess that in VT., L3 instructors would tend to be on something much more narrow, assuming the conditions would have been harder snow.

[LivingProof]

I wanted to share some thoughts and hope you all might do the same.

What I learned about my gear evolution was that 84 underfoot is my go to "work horse" for all mountain skiing, especially out west. I learned my MX78's performed WAY better with 32+mm underfoot, and the 84 versatility out performs 115 underfoot ( maximum versatility) no doubt in my mind for me.

I have to qualify by saying that m 84 underfoot in the 168 length has a 16m turn radius. So for hard, soft snow, crud, bumps, and even boot high, the ski takes it on and gobbles it up. The shovel and tail provide stability and forgivness....amazi ng combination.

Gotta say it was kind of an "evolution ephiphany".... ...totally surpassing my expectations.

Hows about you all....any gear suprises this season?

Best, g

G,
Would you be willing to clarify what you mean by "32 mm underfoot and 115 mm underfoot"?

Here's my take. Both of your skis are highly regarded Kastle's, the 78 for harder snow, the 84 for softer snow. I'd bet they ski in a very similar manner and match up very well with how you enjoy skiiing (non powder days) with respect to turnshape and speed. Said another way, they are you, you turner/cruiser you.
--
FWIW, of all the demo skis I used in Tahoe, the one that felt most comfortable in soft snow was the new Kastle LX 82. It's very close to my personal style so the second I got on it, my thoughts were "hey, I know this ski". The people I was skiing with commented on the upgrade of my skiing.  I failed to find love on a ski over a 90 mm waist and will continue to rethink my non-powder western ski for next season.

The truth is right in front of us, sometime we just get blinded by the hype of something new or different. Know yourself.

Is there any other sport where the participants self-identify with their equipment as much as skiers?

[bushwacka]

Josh,
I am curious to learn what a typical ski used by your peers (ha - if you have one) at the DCL competition. I would guess that in VT., L3 instructors would tend to be on something much more narrow, assuming the conditions would have been harder snow.

the guys in northern vermont are now adopting a 98mm skis as their everyday ski, but still keep skinnier stuff to teach on. The majority of the Examiners/DCL/and Level 3 in northern vermont ski in the woods and there for use what works really good most days there. I will always hold the firm belief that skinning on skinny skis is a self fullfilling prophecy that you will find hard snow because why would you try to find softer snow where your skis wont perform as well?  I have yet to be out skied by someone on carvers in the woods and Ill remain on my high horse untill that happens.

with that said most of the DCL candidates are not from here, alot are from smaller resorts and I got a lot of comment that my skis were the widest things they had ever seen for a couple of them they have never left the Mid Atlantic.

[bushwacka]

you also ski an extremely open mountain where its easier to ski skinny skis.

It was much easier to ski my progressors at snowbird than at stowe off trail. 

My skis also live at the bottom of the gondola does not take much to swap.

[bushwacka]

ummm sorry but that video is EXTREMELY open trees it also slow with out much turning going on. the fact the guy has no helmet means the trees are just not that tight. You would not see that at stowe ever.

http://vimeo.com/23796982

honestly in speed, closeness to trees, amount of trees and amount of junk on the ground its easier to ski out west. no I have never been to bachloer and I am not knocking. That snow drift photo looked really fun to ski but compared to our tree runs it would be easy.

there are some of the fastest tree I have ever caught on POV at 1:04 is really fast steep line, with a 8 foot drop in the middle that is pretyt much hidden on film

http://vimeo.com/37708212

[Gary]

Hey Mike...what I meant was that with the MX78 I went from pretty flat mounted (Marker Griffin) to 32mm riser and more Delta with the Head binding...made a monumental difference in performance of that ski. 112 (not 115, sorry)  underfoot is the waist of the DPS.

Actually the MX and FX perform different in two major respects....the FX is much more tolerant in bumps, crud, off piste...due to more compliant shovel and tail....and the additional width with no progressional side cut allow the ski to be skied much easier flat when necessary making it more predictable. What I really like though is that when pedal to the metal is applied, the FX response not far behind that of the MX.....where the MX gets the advanatage is in it's "wanna go fast" performance.

I do still have a soft spot and great desire to ski the DPS112 in crazy pow snow days....but you're right...how often do we get THAT lucky...still...it's my deep snow "binky"! 

AND yes...one other sport where the "right" equipment comes to mind Mike....golf....the other evil addiction! 

Best, G

[bushwacka]

does not make any of them smart. My point is it would be impossible to follow me with out a helmet. If you watch the video you can see time where I am clearly getting smacked with branches. A hat and goggles would get ripped off to easily.

I have never seen someone skiing where I am skiing with out a helmet ever.

we have trees so tight you can not get though them either but the real point is this we have the tightest most technical skiable trees anywhere simply put carvers do not work. People always post up video of people skiing wide open powder on old straight skis but that video does not exist here. Even the oldest crustiest locals will tell you that while they skied tree on straight skis and narrow parabolics that the new fun shapes have opened up line and speed to the best skiers on the hill. Having the tightest non skiable trees is like saying you have the fastest car with out an engine.

the easy way to settle this is to come to stowe and prove to me your skinny skis can hang here. I would put alot of money up just to make this happen.

[jbotti]

Not sure you need them even there. I just got back from the Heli ski trip in Greenland, with deep pow every day and the last thing you "NEEDED" was a rockered ski. I would even say that if you wanted to ski at speed in larger GS turns in some of the bowls or down some of the steeper faces, the last thing you would have wanted was the DPS 112. I skied the Icekantic Shamans the whole time and they were perfect.

I think BW is right in that the only place that skiers may "need" rocker is in really tight trees. Personally, if it is so tight that I need to twist, pivot snd steer my skis, I would rather not ski it. Max however can ski almost anything without needing to do that. Luckliy for me in Montana, I can ski fresh lines much of the winter without having to ski in ultra tight spaces. BW, come west young man!! There really is amazing terrain and skiing and you can actually breathe in some open spaces!!

[bushwacka]

it take less skill to ski wide open western powder, Id have to be stop being so elitist when everybody and nearly anything could ski it. If you do not ski tight tree here the powder last for 30 minutes if you do i can last literally all season, in some ways better than snowbird. In some ways snowbird can be boring compared to our do or die high speed skiing. Plus I get to live in a green lush mountain environment with cheap rent over scrub desert.

Rockered skis also encourage tipping in this terrain as well.

I have also yet to see someone ski here with pivoting or steering, again maybe a PMTSer as good as max can come and show me how I am wrong.

[bushwacka]

Not sure you need them even there. I just got back from the Heli ski trip in Greenland, with deep pow every day and the last thing you "NEEDED" was a rockered ski. I would even say that if you wanted to ski at speed in larger GS turns in some of the bowls or down some of the steeper faces, the last thing you would have wanted was the DPS 112. I skied the Icekantic Shamans the whole time and they were perfect.

sometime people justify their gear purchase so much to keep themselves believing that it was the "right" choice.

when I first saw this video I thought you were out of (for and aft) balance, stemming and lacked flow and dynamics, I doubted you even needed shamans to ski that but then again I actually do think you could have been more dynamic on something else

http://vimeo.com/41203703?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_content=cliptranscoded&utm_campaign=adminclip

this is very similar terrain/snow only difference is a hiked an hour to get to this point and less people were there before me. I think you can get more dynamicss and speed using a bigger board with rocker even in wide open easy to ski western powder.

http://vimeo.com/23227212

I am at 2:34, i am also followed later in the video.

the thing is judging by your picture I think your probably a better skier than me but the closemindness on gear and technique lets me excel at places your rigid teaching system and gear beliefs will not let you.

[jbotti]

the thing is judging by your picture I think your probably a better skier than me but the closemindness on gear and technique lets me excel at places your rigid teaching system and gear beliefs will not let you.


I highly doubt that I am a "better skier" than you. When I am comfortable, I have solid technique and on groomed terrain I can get big angles and carve very nice arcs. Putting it all together in all terrain and all conditions is much tougher. But perhaps my LT goals as a skier are different than yours. I Intend to ski all terrain in all conditions withouut pivoting and without twisting. I have seen it done and that is what I apsire to. Could I possibly ski more terrain with better form on skis that promote and or allow pivoting with much greater ease. The answer may be yes. But then, I am practicing every day in my skiing what I have worked so hard to get rid of. I am not saying that what I have chosen is right, the only way or even preferable, rather it is what I beleive will make me a better skier in the long term and it is the choice that I have made and continue to make. 

I will say that Heli skiing in terrain that has not been bombed is very different than letting them loose in a resort. You need to keep a tight line next to where other skiers have skied and for the most part you are turning exactly where they turned. Most of the time on the glacier we were skiing through and around large crevasses. If you start to ski outside the designated line, the gudes get very upset very quickly (as they should because safety is their key concern). I am not syaing that my skiing can't be more dyanmic, only that skiing in steep deep snow in the backcountry brings safety challenges that don't exist inbounds at Snowbird or in any resort.

[bushwacka]

eh my video was snowbird backcountry.....  no crevases but on the wrong day its just as dangerous as anywhere.

Nice thing is first one up there and since i am my own guide no need to farm snow.