Fat Skis as Daily Driver for East Coast?

another ski to look at is the Elan Apex - its 88mm underfoot and does everything you say you are looking for

The old name is the 888.  I saw some on sale at inside edge in queensbury a few weeks ago.

Thanks for the advice Ausable.

I read some reviews at epicski and they seem to be very well liked.  

I've evolved since my first post in this thread.  My Worth's (early rise, 100mm waist) are becoming my daily drivers.

As spring skiing is in our future... what say y'all about rocker/fat in for corny bumps?

Harvey wrote

I've evolved since my first post in this thread.  My Worth's (early rise, 100mm waist) are becoming my daily drivers.

As spring skiing is in our future... what say y'all about rocker/fat in for corny bumps?

My SF Bacons rock in corny bumps. 108 underfoot, early rise tip and tail.

Harvey wrote

I've evolved since my first post in this thread.

I'd like to think that skis have evolved rather than my opinion.

I've come around to the one ski quiver because the skis have limited the compromises. I've only skied on one ski for lift serviced all year and I suspect I'll continue to do that going forward. Don't get me wrong, fatter skis still can't rip on icy hard pack or frozen groomer tracks (see my feeble attempt today). But they can carve when there is non-icy solid groomers and packed powder. I try not to ski on frozen hard pack so it isn't the ski's fault that I made a bad decision to ski today.

So call me a convert to the one ski quiver though in an ideal world, you would ideally want a 3 ski quiver. But if I can save money, time, and hassle all while dialing in a single ski rather than three? I'm done tossing three skis into my car, one ski works great in most conditions and good enough in not good conditions. And bad conditions just ain't worth skiing.

My season consists of 15 days max, and when skiing the east coast I try to be selective and only hit the slopes for powder/packed powder/spring conditions. The SF Bacons serve me well at 108 under foot, and seem equally at home in the east or west under these circumstances.

riverc0il wrote

And bad conditions just ain't worth skiing.

Amen.

And if I were routinely skiing bad conditions, I'd probably select a different ski.

Brando at GP put an edge on my 106mm Humpbacks like you wouldn't believe. Ice is no problem for the right ski.

The best performance I have found in the east is a ski that is 85-95 under foot.  In stiff condition I like to go with medal and full camber under foot.  Those skis are 84  and they track well.  When it softens a bit I go with a wood ski.  Rise in the front rise in the back.  They are 91 under foot.   I do keep a 116 underfoot in my locker just for Thursday.

Larger than 100 in the east as an everyday ski IMO is hindering.  

That said I had a guy on teli who does not teli on a 101 Sunday blowing my doors off.

I was skiing Hickory this Sunday on a metal laminate 105 width ski...it's doable..but I think people have forgotten the ease and edge-hold of skinnier skies.

If I were only skiing east coast stuff- I'd do 90ish under foot, and stiffer.  Then I would do a 110-115 fun powder ski...not a big mountain destroyer.  My big ski is a little too much for the east, in that it just eats up the mountain really fast.  I think a good east coast powder ski should be wide and maneuverable though, so it can stay above a firm base and wiggle through trees naturally.

ml242 wrote

Brando at GP put an edge on my 106mm Humpbacks like you wouldn't believe. Ice is no problem for the right ski.

WOOT --- that Brando is a good boy


Tuesday was super soft here at GP, my Patrons were totally the right choice  ----- bring on the corn baby

For most east coast stuff, 85 width is plenty wide, If you are doing a lot of on piste hard pack groomers a pair of slalom race skis work well, but for varied terrain, 85 is my choice. If it gets soft or on a pow or snow day like last Thursday, 100 under foot. Wider than that and you ought to think about snow boarding.

PeeTex wrote

   If it gets soft or on a pow or snow day like last Thursday, 100 under foot. Wider than that and you ought to think about snow boarding.

That's  just silly ---- are you pretending to know everything??

campgottagopee wrote

Tuesday was super soft here at GP, my Patrons were totally the right choice  ----- bring on the corn baby

How many days on the Patrons and how are they working out? What bindings did you put on them? How about a review of the Patrons? I am wondering about Patrons vs H&B.

x10003q wrote

campgottagopee wrote

Tuesday was super soft here at GP, my Patrons were totally the right choice  ----- bring on the corn baby

How many days on the Patrons and how are they working out? What bindings did you put on them? How about a review of the Patrons? I am wondering about Patrons vs H&B.

Prolly 5 total days so far this year. When there's POW or soft corn my Patrons (w/ marker jesters) will be my first choice to ski on for the day. They're just too much fun to NOT ski them. Even in a 193 I can't believe how easy they are to ski, short turns, long turns, fast, slow, doesn't matter.....they're a blast and stable. One thing they DON'T like is anything firm, you'll wash out fast, and at speed (again if not soft) you'll get wicked tip slap, as in scary stuff. That said, they're not made for firm ...... that's what my Firearrow 84 Pros are for. In POW they are CHIEF!! Literally you can go anywhere on them no matter how tight the line.

I've never skied the H&B so I can't help there......HPD is a big H&B guy so maybe he'll chime in with more. I grabbed them on a whim this year during the blem sale, best 300 bucks I've spent in a while. Hoping to gettin many more days on them this spring.

campgottagopee wrote

x10003q wrote

How many days on the Patrons and how are they working out? What bindings did you put on them? How about a review of the Patrons? I am wondering about Patrons vs H&B.

Prolly 5 total days so far this year. When there's POW or soft corn my Patrons (w/ marker jesters) will be my first choice to ski on for the day. They're just too much fun to NOT ski them. Even in a 193 I can't believe how easy they are to ski, short turns, long turns, fast, slow, doesn't matter.....they're a blast and stable. One thing they DON'T like is anything firm, you'll wash out fast, and at speed (again if not soft) you'll get wicked tip slap, as in scary stuff. That said, they're not made for firm ...... that's what my Firearrow 84 Pros are for. In POW they are CHIEF!! Literally you can go anywhere on them no matter how tight the line.

I've never skied the H&B so I can't help there......HPD is a big H&B guy so maybe he'll chime in with more. I grabbed them on a whim this year during the blem sale, best 300 bucks I've spent in a while. Hoping to gettin many more days on them this spring.

Thanks for the update. I bought Fire Arrow 80s at the blem sale. I am having a lot of fun on them. Now I am looking for something like the Patron for snowier days.

x10003q wrote

I am wondering about  vs H&B.

been on the h&b all season. rails groomers ,hard or soft. rips soft snow. tip initiates easily, great tail,nice round flex,waits til i want to finish the turn,doesnt shoot or jet out of the turn.only flaw is it doesnt respond well to having the reins pulled in.

freeheeln wrote

x10003q wrote

I am wondering about  vs H&B.

been on the h&b all season. rails groomers ,hard or soft. rips soft snow. tip initiates easily, great tail,nice round flex,waits til i want to finish the turn,doesnt shoot or jet out of the turn.only flaw is it doesnt respond well to having the reins pulled in.

Likewise, I've skied H&B this season. Super responsive skis in almost all conditions-I still prefer my Atomic Crimson Nomads in heavier, pushed-around snow. The Hell and Backs are like rockets on groomed and packed powder surfaces. By and far the lightest ski I've ever had.

Thanks for the H&B updates. Any opinions about H&Bs and moguls or cut up/heavy snow?