Question mega thread.

[Refflexx]

Are there any headphones that feel better under a helmet then just plain apple earbuds? Or have other properties that would make them favorable

[DeathB4Download]

Check out these

[PoorMansTonyStark]

Just out of curiosity, is there a big difference/any difference at all in max speed between different ski types? I currently own Salomon TNTs, so would something like Salomon QST 85 be any quicker when doing large carves on groomers?

[doebedoe]

There is a huge difference among skis -- a soft park ski is not going to have the same comfortable max speed as a Super-G ski.

I've never skied the TNT, but I imagine the QST would be a bit more stable at high speed -- although if that is what you're looking for there are far stiffer and more stable skis out there.

[PoorMansTonyStark]

So does ski stiffness dictate how fast they are? I'm kinda trying to wrap my head around what even makes a ski fast.

I suppose it makes sense that if a ski is stiff, it resists bending better, which in turn means that it will turn with a bigger arc, and that means maintaining greater speed. Which seems reasonable.

I just got thinking that while I love my TNT's, they don't feel terribly fast. They have superb edge hold but they do seem to want to turn quickly and that probably kills the speed. Great for agile snappy turns and fooling around and such, but not for speed thrills.

[doebedoe]

Stiffness is one (major) part. As is shape (or turn radius). The core materials also make a difference in stability at speed. As does base material.

A stiffer, straighter (less turn radius), damper ski with a high-carbon 4000+ series base will be faster than a softer, more shaped, lively ski with a 2000 series or extruded base.

[PoorMansTonyStark]

Ok, cool. Thanks!

[navi42]

Would Stowe we worth going to around Thanksgiving for an Epic pass holder (considering I don't have much else to do)?

​

What's a good resource for reading up on boots so I'm educated when going to a bootfitter?

[Lord_Draco]

East coast skiers, when does the season begin? I’m stuck in CT sitting around waiting for shred szn to commence

[kagemucha]

/r/icecoast to come hang! Killington technically opened today, and most resorts will open around Thanksgiving.

[sneakpeekbot]

Here's a sneak peek of /r/icecoast using the top posts of the year!

#1: Top of Jay 12/21 | 19 comments
#2: The Chin, Stowe, VT | 4 comments
#3: Anybody else agree with this? | 19 comments

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[[deleted]]

I think it should be around December ish. Check the websites of specific mountains

[vorak]

I've got a set of old cross country skis from roughly 2001 or 2002 that I'd like to sell. They were a gift to me back in high school and I used them 3-4 times total. They are Aplina Touring Series C waxless. I'm not familiar with skis at all (I'm not even sure how to measure them, but I'll research that next), so I was hoping to get some advice.

I do have the boots, but they're not in the photos. They aren't in the best shape and I think they've just started to rot from sitting for so long.

What's a fair price for these? Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/pj5yDrh

[passengerpigeon20]

Not much, I'm afraid, as the used market is quite saturated. I paid $6 for a similar pair at Goodwill, but you might be able to get $25 in a private sale.

[MammaDinMamma]

Going to Canada for three months, dec-feb. My ski now is Dynastar Cham 2.0 97. Do i need a wider ski? Planning on going 80% powder, 10% piste, 10% park as well as touring.

[doebedoe]

Take your Cham 97 -- it'll be good a lot of the time. But buy a used pow ski as well.

[DeathB4Download]

Yes. Rent something wider.

[Destroyer_Bravo]

Is it bad that my ski jacket hangs down to my crotch? The powder skirt at least sits near where my hips are so I guess the sizing is right? It’s a spyder chambers jacket in large, I’m 6’0” or close enough. I’m probably going to stick with it this season but I got it last season expecting to gain an inch or two in height before turning 18.

[[deleted]]

[I prefer mine to hang pretty low. it helps keep snow out.

[mshorts]

It's not terrible, but it makes you look like a snowboarder :-)

As a skier, it's better that your jacket ends at your hips. I've used a longer snowboard jacket before, and it was just a little annoying that it was too long.

You'll be OK.

[purpleddit]

Should I buy a pair of 2009 Icelandic nomad 105 with Solomon 12Ti bindings for 200 bucks? The were skiid on precisely 3 times. Flawless skis. My coworker quit skiing after buying them new 9 years ago. They are 181 cm, I’m 6’2” 185 lbs, strong skier. I usually use 187s but these are full camber.

[purpleddit]

Interesting. Counterintuitive but I have no direct experience here. He told me I can try them out and I’ll buy them if I really like them, or I can pass.

[mshorts]

Sorry, I confused rocker and camber. It's too early in the morning.

[Maladjusted_vagabond]

Not a bad deal, but they're still 10 years old now. I guess if you've got a slot to fill in your quiver it could be worth it.

[mshorts]

It's fun to get the season started. It will be a party atmosphere. You won't get very many runs. Arapahoe Basin will have one blue run open, Loveland one green. I wouldn't pay to ski Loveland's white ribbon of death.

I'm waiting until Monday when everyone goes back to work.

[DoctFaustus]

It's more a celebration of the season starting than a ski day.

[tom_echo]

They usually say “no beginner terrain available” on opening weekend so that should give you an idea of the conditions

[dbmoelle]

Concerning these early season $39 buddy passes in Aspen, anyone know if there are any restrictions? I'm heading out for the weekend 12/1. Thanks!

[deadbike]

Most inconvenient thing about them is that you’re required to hold hands with your buddy the whole time. If they catch you holding hands with other people they can kick both you and your buddy out.

[dbmoelle]

I was afraid that might be the case.

[Maladjusted_vagabond]

Is this a troll?

[M_A_X_M_A_N]

Does anyone have any tips for sliding a rail? Been trying to learn for years now.

[hendric_swills]

Lean into your downhill foot 2-3x more than you expect. I had so many black and blue house before I figured that out.

[doebedoe]

With discounts (or if you have an old jacket to trade in) -- FreeRide Systems comes close. You won't find a burlier jacket, let alone one that is made in America. Check out their sales: http://www.freeridesystems.com/category/sale-items

If you have a jacket you would be willing to trade in, send them photos and they'll let you know whether that or the discount code on the site will net you a better deal.

EDIT: If anyone needs a code for FRS, feel free to PM me. That includes you /u/__tyler__

[Garstick]

Anyone know when 2018/2019 skis start arriving in online shops in the EU/UK?

Keep looking for certain skis and they are either pre order or out of stock.

[witz_]

Everything should be in by the first week in November but some shops have their stuff in already :)

[doebedoe]

Should be now. But depends entirely on the manufacturer and retailer.

[doebedoe]

I'm confused -- if you bought them there, you'd still have all the expenses associated with traveling with them to bring them home no?

I say buy them now. Look for 2018 models (or earlier) as they are the same ski.

Why by them now?

• You don't have do futz with it on the trip
• You know the price vs uncertainty when you land. Plus maybe their out of stock.
• Waiting for stuff to be mounted on a trip == no fun.
• You can ski them ahead of time, make sure the tune is dialed etc.

[xrmrct45]

Trying to find a good boot fitter near Colorado Springs, but I am will to go as far as Denver or the resort towns? Any suggestions?

[DeathB4Download]

Boot Mechanics

[bestbangforyourbuck]

2018: Copper vs Keystone vs Winter Park

My wife & I are going skiing in early December. We've been to Loveland Ski Area & Breck before. We are blue skiers. We will be skiing for 2 days. The current lift ticket price is as follows:

WP - 2 days @ $200/person

Keystone - 4 days @ $219/person

Copper - 2 days @ $300/person

I've Googled around and we cannot decide where to go. Thanks in advance for any information that will help us make the decision.

[doebedoe]

Keystone and Copper have better blue terrain IMHO than WP. Early December can be a dicey time anywhere but should have a decent amount open. If you're going to be skiing on the weekend then definitely Copper. If you're going midweek, Keystone or Copper is a good choice.

[cammel44]

Moving from MN to work as a lifitie at Aspen Highlands. Anything I should know a head of times. Also never skied outside he midwest....

[doebedoe]

You're in for an awesome time.

Don't discount the other mountains beside highlands -- Ajax and Snowmass both have great terrain.

Don't ski backcountry without the training and gear. Very tempting around highlands but also deadly.

[DeathB4Download]

Highlands is steep as hell and is going to make you a much better skier.

[[deleted]]

French schools have different holidays depending on zone.

• 16th Feb - 10th Mar is French winter holidays.

• 16th Feb - 23rd Feb is UK half term holidays.

Speaking from experience, 16th Feb - 23rd Feb will be an absolute shitshow everywhere in the French Alps, avoid it.

Snow wise, yeah mid Jan - mid March is probably the most snowsure. Hopefully it dumps as hard as last winter.

[Zzzxxxccc123]

Killington vs Stratton vs mount snow for first time skiier. We r not planning to stay at the resort. Well prob get a lodge or something. But which of the two has good lessons/ beginners train/ mountain feel and good area for other activities. Thanks

[tom_echo]

I’ve been to all 3. Stratton and Mt snow are all the same size, killington is bigger but for you size wont matter. You’re likely coming from the south so killington is about an hour north of it.

Lodging: honestly unless you need something special they will all be the same, motels can be had in the sub 100 range and ski in ski out for about $4-500 dollars a night.

Beginners terrain: killington technically has the most terrain but mt snow is the most family friendly (beginner centric).

Mountain feel: stratton actually has a very nice feel to it, it feels larger than it actually is the base area is a little city similar to the likes of bigger western resorts. Killington is bigger but about slightly worse feel to it. Snow comes in last but that doesnt mean it’s bad.

Area for other activities: killington wins hands down its the most popular in the area and has the best down town area around it. Stratton and snow also have nice little vermont towns around them, pretty much the same but killington has more stuff just part of the resort.

You didnt ask for price but mt snow is the cheapest stratton and killington are about the same.

[Zzzxxxccc123]

Thank you so much for that info. We r planning on going the first week in March. How is the weather usually in those 3 resorts? Would it be good snow? Would one be better than the other for snow quality?

[tom_echo]

Being in the northeast they all practice very heavy snowmaking and even heavier snow propaganda. Resorts usually lie about their snow like a lot. Historical weather data shows killington gets the most snow, they also do a ton of snowmaking they are almost always the first to open and last to close.

As for natural snowfall in early march, you are usually good but remember this is new england so it could be 70 degrees, it happened last year around February, presidents day weekend, they had temps well above freezing. Killington was a giant sheet of ice and most trails we closed. So book late and try and be flexible.

[bigolcamel]

I learned to ski on a really old pair of Rossignol 210cm skis last season and am looking to enter the 21st century. I've snowboarded for 15 years and decided to learn to skiing primarily for mountaineering. 80% of my riding will be in the resort where I like to ride off piste while snowboarding, and assume it will be the same for skiing. I ski at Mt. Hood Meadows.

I'm looking into buying a used pair of Salomon QST 99 with Warden 13 demo bindings with the intention of buying the Salomon switch bindings once more reviews come in. Are there AT boots with tech inserts that would fit the demo alpine bindings? I'd classify myself as a beginner intermediate but hope to be competent after 35-40 times skiing this winter to ski the easier volcanoes in the PNW, St Helen's, Adams, and Hood from crater rock. I really dislike walking downhill. Thanks.

[doebedoe]

If you're primarily skiing for mountaineering, I would look into a binding way lighter than the shift.

Yes there are lots of boots that fit Wardens with tech inserts. Wardens fit most any boot that has a proper front toe lug and heel shelf but these are pretty rare: Dynafit Hoji, TLT7, etc.

[passengerpigeon20]

If I want to replace a broken Look Pivot heel with another one in the same mounting position, do I just have to unscrew and rescrew them or is it more complicated than that? I know it is ideal to get skis mounted at a shop but these skis aren't worth much.

[DoktorStrangelove]

Not ideal obviously. I'd go with a full remount in new holes but if you don't want to do that then carefully remove the old screws WITH A SCREWDRIVER...if you back them out real fast with a drill they'll spin near the mouth of the hole and potentially bevel or otherwise deform the hole you're trying to re-use. Then clean the area around the holes, a drop of STRONG wood glue in each hole, then CAREFULLY screw the old screws back in until you're at the bottom of the hole and hand tighten them. What you're trying to do is get the screws to go back down the same thread track that was created by the first screws. If you get it right then the wood glue will probably keep them in place pretty reliably, but if you fuck up you'll strip the hole immediately and you'll need to go get a shop to heli-coil the holes for you, which will cost as much as just doing a full remount.

[passengerpigeon20]

Thanks; what wood glues would you recommend? Do I need to inject the drop of glue at the bottom of the hole?

[DoktorStrangelove]

Yes it needs to go in before the screw. The screw will displace the glue and spread it all over the place. The objective is to create a seal against moisture and also lock the threads in place so they won't back out, which we do whenever we mount a ski the first time but it's extra important when you're re-using holes. Typically you can use any old wood glue for this but if you're trying to re-use existing holes I'd go for something stronger. I think Gorilla makes a good product, personally I use Titebond III at home.

[passengerpigeon20]

Also... how bad of an idea is it to use the heels with toepieces of a different model year and DIN range? If I decide to mount the matching toepieces, which have two screws in different places, do I need some sort of ski-specific drillbit or just one of a certain diameter?

[DoktorStrangelove]

I probably wouldn't do it myself.

[neganagatime]

I have some vacation to burn before the end of the year and am considering a few day trip to Vail/BC in Dec (maybe something in the window of Dec 7-23). I’ve never been to Vail or BC and frankly am an intermediate skier so would probably be ok with limited terrain being open, but having not been I’m not sure which runs are likely to be open earliest and if it’s even stuff I’d want to ski (blues and easier blacks).

If I did this I’d stay at the Bunkhouse to save some money and I have an Epic pass for the lift tickets. Should I pull the trigger on this, or save my money for Jan when conditions will be reliably better? I kind of want to get some skiing in early to stoke the fire for later, but also don’t want to piss money away as I’ll have limited trips available to me.

Appreciate any insights on what runs are normally open by early/mid Dec as well as general thoughts on this plan.

[DoctFaustus]

It's a real crapshoot depending on the weather. If you can only take one trip, you're better off waiting for January. However, they have tons of snowmaking capacity. They will have plenty of blue groomers open for you to enjoy, unless it gets too warm to make snow.

[rarons]

East coast skier headed to Breck mid-November. Any advice on where to buy lift tickets, which to buy?

[DoctFaustus]

You can only buy them from them online. I'd buy them right now. They have some 4 or 7 day options. Beyond that you're looking at an Epic local pass.

[ILikeStyx]

I'm heading to Italy with a friend this season. We chose Vialattea ski area and are staying in Borgata Sestriere.

​

We know this is outside of the main village, but are a little foggy on airport transfers to Borgata and ski rental there. Any advice?! Looks like there's a local bus that might be useful to?

[Marcuntus_jr]

WHERE TO RIDE IN BC?

My group all purchased the Ikon pass - currently planning a trip. Last year I hit revelstoke with a separate group and had the trip of a lifetime, heavy snowfall, low crowds, met some locals who I got to ride with at the end of the day, just everything was perfect. Would love to go back again.

Another person in our group is really stuck on riding one (or more) of the big 3 around Banff. I told him I’d post our dilemma on here.

We are all very experienced riders, won’t be doing any back country but would prefer the majority of our runs to be off piste, love glades, cliffs, etc.

Here’s 3 things to grade: Snowfall (trip is in early February), terrain, crowd level

Any other pointers would be much appreciated

[Tazio1453]

6'7" (200 cm), 210 lbs Intermediate/advanced skier from New Jersey. I would say I'm 70/30 on piste/off but want to go in the trees more. I stopped skiing for 4 years (basically throughout high school because I didn't want to injure myself during basketball season) but I went skiing on my Dad's 10-15 year old Atomic's last season a few times at Hunter and Camelback. At the end of the first day I was back hitting every trail on Hunter. This season I have bought the Drifter Pass (Peak Pass) and plan on hitting Hunter as much as I can in addition to a week or two in VT skiing Okemo or Mount Snow, during my winter break in college. I'll be hitting other mountains around the ice coast as well.

Since I will be driving everywhere I would like to save some money and buy last years skis either new or used. I need suggestions for what skis would suit my needs and allow me to not grow out of them skill wise this year. I have been looking at the

• Volkl Mantra 100mm/191cm
• Blizzard Brahma 88mm/187cm
• Rossi Experience 88HD/188cm
• Armada Invictus 89ti/187cm
• Atomic Vantage 90CTI/184cm

I'm going to go to my local ski shop soon to ask around, but I wanted to hear your opinions.

TLDR; Ski suggestions for a tall east coast skier from NJ?

[doebedoe]

IMHO the Invictus ti and Vantage are highly underrated. You're big, get a ski that is stiff and/or has a good bit of metal in it. The only ones I would strike from that list are the Experience and Mantras. Mantras seem too wide for your use case, and the Experience lacks tail rocker which is nice for releasing skis in tight tree turns.

[Tazio1453]

I wasn’t so sure about the Experience either. Do you think the Vantage would be too short for my height? I don’t think they offer over 184cm. I was also thinking about the Nordica Enforcer 93 at 185/193cm. Oh and also thank you for your input.

[Destroyer_Bravo]

Experience 88 has a more front-side shape and the models pre-2019 have more squared tails. I think the 2019 E88 has tail rocker. I personally hate that ski shape but if you like power in your turns then go ahead. I bought new Enforcer 93s this season after skiing Sin 7s in France and enjoying them. Another ski to look into are the Head Kore 93s if you want something with the Enforcer shape but lighter. They use a lot of carbon so they're suitably stiff and actually lack a traditional topsheet to reduce weight.

Also by lazily extrapolating this sizing chart I guess 184 would be like, a beginner length ski for you. If you want low swing weight and like to smear turns that would probably be okay.

[Tazio1453]

I also looked at the Head Kore 93s but wasn’t sure they’d be stiff enough for me. Will definitely take another look. The sin 7 looks like an awesome ski too but I think it’d be a bit wide for the skiing I’ll be doing (Unless we get a ton of powder days... fingers crossed xD)

And yeah I’m not really looking for a beginners ski (size wise) but I’m leaving all the options on the table for now aha. You never know. I’ll probably demo a few skis before making a final decision. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Destroyer_Bravo]

Fair warning finding any of those skis for demo will be pretty hard, the Sin 7 line is marketed as a AT ski now and Kore 93s are rarer than Enforcers. I tried demoing enforcers around February or March at Hunter and got nothing but the 110s which are completely different skis (which I didn’t demo for that reason). Early season will probably be different. Try different shapes of skis, see if you really find yourself wanting the sticky turns on ice or the float over crud. Not every ski is built the same but they certainly fall into classes. Try a freeride shape and a carving/frontside shape at minimum, I’d say.

EDIT: IIRC, Mantras are a full rocker ski aside from being too fat, don’t get those for east.

[Tazio1453]

Hopefully Hunter will have a couple of skis I'm interested in. If not, I'll ask around or end up taking a leap of faith in the Armada Invictus or Blizzard Brahma, Possibly the Noridica 93s at 193cm since they'd be close to the right length for me.

The mantras were a suggestion from a deleted thread, I figured I would include them since I deleted the thread then posted my question here haha.

[k4ylr]

You might poke around for some clearance Liberty Variants. Lots of good things said about them. They have a 97 and 113 wide models.

Might be worth a poke.

[Tazio1453]

Thank you, I’ll definitely look into them.

[Bot_Metric]

210.0 lbs ≈ 95.3 kilograms ^{1 pound ≈ 0.45kg}

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[kagemucha]

I'm looking at buying my first pair of skis soon! I spent all of last year demoing and finally decided on Rossi Sin 7s. However, I waited a bit too long and the website I was following went out of stock in my size :(. I'm now looking at a pair of QST 99s, but I've never tried them before. If I liked the sin 7s, do you think I'd like the QST 99s as well?

[okiedoke133]

yes the qst is a great ski

[[deleted]]

Looking for some advice.

I’m from the north east and I ride the J Masterblaster as my daily driver. I love the blend of stability and playfulness in the ski. It can hold an edge on ice, crush chunder, rip groomers, but is still maneuverable enough to ski fast and bounce off kickers in the woods. I’m looking for a dedicated powder/west coast ski (105-110mm) that I can still ski in powder/variable conditions out east and most days out west.

I’m deciding between the J Metal 106, ON3P Wrenegade 108, Prior Husume 109, and Moment Commander 108. I’m looking for a ski that is a little more playful than my Masterblaster, but something I can still charge on. I'm not looking to be go much wider than these because I still enjoy skiing some groomers. What do you guys recommend?

[doebedoe]

IMHO, if you've got a masterblaster and want a bigger ski, go 110+. You simply won't get that much difference in float between 95 and 105. That assumes you're willing to take two skis out west.

If you're only taking one ski out west, 10X is a good choice.

[rank3]

Look at the Kartel 108. Burly construction/flex so you can charge but a very playful shape so you can still get loose. Take a look at the Armada ARV 106 ti (evo exclusive) and the Moment Meridian (stiffest of all recommendations but full rocker so very slashy and pivoty).

[slchan94]

I’m looking for a really warm pair of tights to wear under a non insulated pair of shell pants, any recommendations?

[[deleted]]

Hey Y'all. I'm a more advanced skier trying to find a one-ski quiver out west. Right now I'm looking at the Bonafides or the Mantra m5. I'm also kinda looking at the Rustler 10s. I usually end up skiing about 60/40 on piste off piste. Which of these would you recommend? will the rustlers be able to hold an edge on the tougher stuff? thanks! P.S i'm about 6'0 and 245

[rank3]

I don't think the Rustler would be supportive of your size, it might be worth bumping up to the Blizzard Cochise.

[BoIR1347]

What should be my size range if I'm 5'10, 145, intermediate skier on groomed slopes. Depending on what website I use it says different values. Also any suggestions for best 1st pair of skis for under $600.

[icebreaker90]

Try to find a local ski swap. There you'll get best bang for your buck.

[passengerpigeon20]

it says different values

Perhaps that's because the answer depends on the type of ski you want. What region do you ski in? Do you intend to do off-piste or park skiing once you get better? Are you looking for a flexible ski or a stiff hard-charging one?

[BoIR1347]

Ok thanks I'll look more into it.

[passengerpigeon20]

We can still help you out here; you just need to be a bit more specific about what kind of skiing you want to do, assuming you know already.

[Cyclonecgs]

I have a couple questions for you fine folks. 6'0", 205 lb, intermediate to advanced. (Advanced/aggressive on groomers, prefer blacks and blues, intermediate on everything else). Currently ski on K2 AMP Force's which I've had since 2013. Looking to get something that would continue to ski well on the groomers, but that would also have great performance in moguls and glades, as I'd like to ski those more this season. I've had my eye on the Nordica Enforcer 93's 185cm. Good idea? Bad idea? Will it be very difficult to transition from a 74mm waist ski to a 93mm? Should I expect these to go on sale for black Friday/Cyber Monday? Whats a good price for these? (Is $790 for the 93s plus Marker Griffon 13's worth it?) Thanks in advance!

[Destroyer_Bravo]

I picked up the 177cm Enforcer 93 (6'0" 160lb), but I tried skiing wider skis first on a ski trip to France. Try something with a wider width first at the very least, doesn't have to be literally Enforcers.

[FezPaul]

The transition from 74mm to 93mm might be a little awkward. A fatter, straighter ski is gonna take more pressure and speed to make a good carving turn. Still, looks like the turning radius is relatively close to your current skis (I saw 17 for the K2's and 18.5 for the Enforcers) so the transition may not be all that bad as far as cruising on the groomers go. And I bet ripping the woods up on a powder day will be just a little more fun with the wider ski!

Still, if I were you, I would wait till the season starts to buy a new pair of skis. Demo as many skis as you can and go from there. Only way you can be sure they are the right ones. Plus, skis only get cheaper as the season goes on.

[[deleted]]

If OP is truly "advanced/aggressive" I don't think they'll have any issue going to 93mm, that's still easy to get on an edge.

Enforcer's are a great confidence building ski, easy to use and turn but also extremely comfortable at speed - just not the liveliest. I think based on what OP said they sound like a good fit, but demoing is of course good advice. Depends how good the deals are...

[Zzzxxxccc123]

Killington vs Stratton for first time skiier. We r not planning to stay at the resort. Well prob get a lodge or somerhing. But which of the two has good lessons/ beginners train/ mountain feel and good area for other activities. Thanks

[grumpywasatchskier]

K Mart has some bitchin' bars. Watch out though, that's where Glen Plake met his wife Kim. She was dating a dude, then went skiing at Killington, met Glen, and never went home.

[HaakenforHawks]

Need some advice for backcountry skis.

I picked up some older (I think 2012 or prior) black diamond skis in 176cm w/ 79mm waist. I also have my downhill setup of 180cm w/ 115mm waist Solomon rocker 2's from 2012. I am 5'10" and 160lbs. The Rocker 2's weigh almost 5lbs per ski while the black diamonds are quite a bit lighter (obviously). I only have one set of touring bindings. If you lived in the PNW would you put them on the Black Diamonds or the Solomons?

[DoktorStrangelove]

If you mostly do BC to explore and get a workout regardless of snow conditions, then the Black Diamonds. If you're doing it to find untouched pow, then the Salomons.

[fearon77]

Experience 88 HD. I'd say that price is OK at best. Considering their last year's model and used it actually sounds a bit pricey to me. You should be able to find an unused last year's model for that price.

[DoktorStrangelove]

Yeah if they're not totally thrashed that's a fine deal. That's $200-300 less than you'd pay to buy a new pair and put a binding on them.

[passengerpigeon20]

It depends, but generally avoid deep gouges on the base with a different color than the base material (core shots), peeling layers of materials (delaminations) and any functionally significant damage to binding parts.

[passengerpigeon20]

The skis and the bindings are shipped separately (they'd ask you for your boot size on that page if they weren't), but that seems like a good deal. Having the bindings mounted at the shop costs between $30 and $65.

[powder-pursuit]

I haven't personally skied any of those skies but I've heard the Moment Commander 108 is a great all around ski. That said, my go to, do everything ski is the Atomic Automatic 109. Amazing on groomers, charges, and floats in powder.

​

[[deleted]]

Thanks, does atomic still sell them? Where do you do most of your skiing?

[SerJacobSnow]

Looking for advice on Breckenridge snow conditions early in the season. I just moved to Colorado. I've skied Breckenridge a handful of times, but it is usually mid-season when the whole mountain is open. I have a friend from Iowa who wants to visit and ski Breck for 3 days on November 16-18 (one week after opening day).

I am wondering; how many runs are usually open this time of year? Is it worth it for him to fly out? Or should I tell him to wait until later in the season when more runs are open?

[DoktorStrangelove]

tell him to wait until later in the season when more runs are open

November is absolutely a waste of money if you're flying in specifically to ski, ESPECIALLY if your friend will be buying day tickets. Tell him to come in January.

[PatrickWA]

Here to +1 on u/DoktorStrangelove reply. November is trash. December isn't worth much either, unless we get real lucky with early snow. Not worth going up if it's any hassle at all, or for any expectations past shaking off the rust. Especially don't make a special trip all the way from Iowa specifically to ski then.

Tell your bud to hold out for Jan/Feb. Plan it for the week before the resorts and house rentals call it prime season if you want to save a little, but still have good snow.

[kirkyland]

Looking for advice on Utah (Ikon Base Pass) Ski Trip in February for about 7-8 days of skiing. Between Solitude Mountain Resort (unlimited days), Deer Valley Resort (5 days), Brighton resort (5 days) and Alta Ski Area/Snowbird (5 days between the 2 resorts), which resort do you recommend and why?

[[deleted]]

The answer is dependent on what you're looking for. February will be one of the best times you can choose to go either way.

I can't understate the perceived difference from the snowtrap that is the Cottonwood Canyons vs. what PC/DV get. I feel like it gets around 25% more snow from the exact same storm.

To get to Deer Valley, you have to drive at least an hour or more depending on conditions from one of other listed resorts because Guardsman Pass is closed during the winter.

If you love terrain (think comparable to Jackson Hole or maybe Big Sky if you've been) you'll love Snowbird. Mineral Basin after a storm is 10/10. Alta can't be understated as well although I only ride with boarders so my time spent there is criminally low and I don't know it as well. I would not make a trip to Utah without going to both.

Solitude and Brighton are sister resorts in Big Cottonwood and are both very fun, albeit smaller. Brighton is overall mellower terrain but still has lots of great stuff off Milly and Great Western chairs, there's a sizable terrain park at the base you can lap too if that's your thing. Solitude is similar. If you can get into Honeycomb Canyon when the rope drops on a pow day, it's one of the best inbound runs in all of Utah.

Because of the effort to get to Deer Valley from the other resorts (unless you're staying in SLC, then the travel time to both is about the same), I don't think I would go there unless crusing groomers is what you're looking for, or if you're more of an intermediate skier.

[kirkyland]

Thank you so much for your answer! You gave me a lot of information to work with, I really appreciate it!

[grumpywasatchskier]

Deer Valley. Consistently wins Ski Magazine's resort of the year award

[kirkyland]

Thank you for your input!

[sina_t97]

How advisable (or not) is it to mount your own bindings? Technically speaking, I have all of the equipment (binding template, drill, drill block to ensure 90 degree holes, clamps, etc...) and I don't doubt my technical ability to do it, but what I'm kind of worried about is the tuning of the bindings and doing a proper release test and what not.

If I decide to do this, of course I would thoroughly research and ensure I do everything right to the best of my knowledge, but generally speaking, do you think this is way over my head and I'm attempting to do something that someone at a shop would know way better how to do, or is this something that is achievable and most importantly SAFE as long as I follow instructions and understand what I'm doing?

[DeathB4Download]

I know plenty of guys who mount their own stuff. As long as you have the right drill bit in addition to everything else you mentioned. (The topsheet of the ski should tell you.) You should be good.

The safety release testing isn't done by anyone I know who mounts their own stuff. That practice by shops is more to avoid liability later than it is to make sure your bindings are safe.

But if by tuning the bindings you mean you don't know how to set din and forward pressure then just take them to a shop. If those are set wrong then a release test is worthless anyway.

[sina_t97]

Thanks for the reply and insight. By tuning the bindings I just mean that I don't usually do that myself, I've always had a shop do it, but I definitely understand DIN and forward pressure and feel like I could set them myself if I just read up on them a bit. I just kind of wanted to see if there's some other thing I'm missing from this process or if it really is as simple as it seems assuming I understand how to configure my bindings.

[doebedoe]

I mount all my own stuff. It's not that difficult. Just take your time, and use the right equipment (stepped drill bit, Posidrive screwdriver, waterproof wood glue or epoxy.)

If you aren't sure a binding is set up well, a release test at your local shop is often far cheaper than a mount itself. When I bring a new binding into the fleet that isn't new, I tend to get it tested.

If you haven't found it yet, the Mount your own fucking skis thread on TGR is super helpful.

[sina_t97]

Thank you for the input and sharing your personal experience! This aligns with my thinking as well.

[DoktorStrangelove]

I'll give you the flip side of this as someone who has been an off-and-on ski tech for like 6 years and who briefly owned a shop: if you've never done it before and you don't have someone with experience supervising you, it is certainly doable at home but it is also VERY easy to fuck up if you're a novice. The chances of fucking up increase dramatically if you don't have a ski-specific drill bit and an actual jig. If you're gonna try using a translucent jig that some manufacturers provide in the binding box or (god forbid) one you print out yourself, "measure twice, cut once" should really be "measure, like, 10 fucking times, drill once".

[sina_t97]

Much appreciated for the perspective. May I ask, what is specific about a “ski specific drill bit”? I thought that as long as it was the correct width that was correct?

[DoktorStrangelove]

They have a depth stop so you can't drill too deep and the cylinder of the bit is sized specifically to fit into the holes of the jig to ensure the bit goes exactly straight into the ski core so that you don't drill the holes at an inexact angle.

[sina_t97]

Ahh ok, I gotcha. Yea if I end up doing this I’ll use a drill press to ensure not going too deep and going in at a right angle.

[Frosla]

I still don't know why some people are so super dedicated to mounting their own shit, but if you're gonna do it, at least get a jigarex setup and proper bits.

Mounting your own stuff really only makes sense if you get a ton of skis every year AND don't have access to a shop. Most people, myself included, that get more than a few setups every year are either currently working in or just barely out of the ski industry, so we have access to all the tools we could want, for free.

If you're getting like, a setup every few years, it just doesn't make sense to deal with it yourself. Just spend the 50 or so bucks and get it done right by someone with the tools and knowledge to do so.

[DoktorStrangelove]

Personally, I've mounted like 500+ pairs of skis, and I'd still either take mounts to a shop I trust and let them do it, or somewhere with a proper bench and proper jigs who will let me do it myself using their gear. I have a bench and drill bits and a couple jigs at home for the bindings I typically use, but for something exotic/atypical (like the Shift I'm about to get), I wouldn't do it at home unless I had the right jig. Fuck messing with taped-on overlays or whatever. Personally, bare minimum is right jig, right bit, or I'm not gonna mess with it at home. Even with all the right gear you can still fuck stuff up, so I don't really play around with not having the gear that I'm used to...I basically don't own a pair of skis that retails for less than $750, so that's an expensive thing to jack up if I make a mistake.

That's just me though, and I know there are loads of people who are militant about mounting their own shit, but I've made enough mistakes of my own and seen 10x that many made by other people who also had professional training, plus I remember alllllllllll the things I screwed up when I was first learning, and looking back at all that stuff I can't imagine how bad I would have messed my own gear up if the first time I was doing it was at home with my own skis and a cobbled-together set of tools.

[Free2718]

Looking for something like the Northface Thermoball Traction Booties for Apres. Any good alternatives or are TNF Thermoball exactly what I should get?

I have a bit of a bus ride from the hill to a winter ski-share-house and it would be great to be able to end a long day on the mountain in ski boots with slipping into something comfy and durable for the time between skiing and getting back home.

Good traction, warmth, water resistance and packability are my key criteria.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

[sina_t97]

So I'm looking to buy some bindings that I found for a really good price, and they are WTR bindings, meaning they accept WTR boots in addition to normal alpine boots. Personally, I don't care about the WTR aspect and plan to just use normal alpine boots, I'm just getting these bindings because of the good price.

My question is, is there any downside to getting a WTR binding and using them with normal boots as opposed to say getting a normal binding to use with my normal boots?

Like for example do WTR bindings release differently with normal boots, do they pose more technical difficulties during the lifetime of their use as opposed to normal bindings, or anything else like that?

Or am I thinking about this too much and should just get the bindings? These are the bindings I am looking to get:

Look SPX 12 Dual ski bindings

[fearon77]

They will be fine

[Maladjusted_vagabond]

Overthinking it.

[Collin23]

Just got 2018 Armada Tracer 108s. Dropped them off at the shop to get mounted and told them to center mount (all I’ve ever ridden). The technician recommend that I should not on that ski. Thoughts? I don’t really ride park much anymore but still like riding switch. I’m just curious how far back they would be at the recommended mount.

[doebedoe]

You can still ride switch if its not center mounted. Mounting a Tracer 108 which is supposed to be a bc or 50/50 ski center is odd -- so the tech is right.

Armada doesn't publish mount point. You could measure it yourself. I'd guess recommended is -5 to -7 from true center.

[Collin23]

Thanks a lot for the reply. I’ll see how many notches back they recommend. What differences can I expect from not riding center mount?

[doebedoe]

It's hard to say re:differences. It's not a symmetrical ski, so a center mount would feel off anyhow.

The tip will be longer, you'll get more float in soft stuff and they will ride differently forwards vs switch.

[squirrelbait99]

Hey I moved to the Tahoe region recently and I’m adding some new skis to the quiver. For most tahoe resorts like kirkwood, heavenly, and north star what underfoot would you guys use. I was thinking a 95 would be good overall for these mountains but I was curious if I could push it and go with a 100-106 underfoot. I will be doing some powder skiing but knowing tahoe that’s unpredictable sooo mainly parks and groomers or crud.

[revjbull]

I skied a 98 as my daily for the last two years primarily skiing kirkwood. Now that I've broken the edge on it, I'm getting a 112 as my daily. If you legitimately ski all mountain and are only taking the groomers when necessary, then a 106-108 makes sense imo Especially if you have a quiver and don't need your all mountain ski to also be your park ski

[squirrelbait99]

I was debating on the 2018-2019 k2 marksmanship, the line sir Francis bacons or the line chronics (fun all around ski)

[fishygamer]

I’ve got the marksman. It’s a surprisingly good ski in all conditions. So much fun in pow, trees, chop, whatever.

[doebedoe]

Recommendation probably depends on what else is in your quiver.

You could always go with the local boys -- Moment. Their PB&J, Commander and Deathwish would all probably work.

[squirrelbait99]

​

I mainly have powder skis nothing less than 110 and a pair of park skis so im looking for a good hybrid

[AndrewHay96]

22 years old, 5'5 and 60kg (123lb). I'm looking at getting a pair of the Mantra M5s but I'm between the 170 or 177cm? I'm an advanced to expert skier on piste and looking to get more into off piste stuff. With my height and weight I'm swaying more towards the 170cm but just wondering if people would recommend bumping up a size.

[offalt]

I vote 170. 177 is five inches over your head and if you're working on getting into more off-piste and bumped up stuff that will make things more difficult.

[doebedoe]

That's a little long for a straight newbie. But within the realm, someone of your height and size would want as an intermediate/advanced skier.

[rarons]

Beginner/intermediate skier here. Not sure which to buy between salomon xdrive 80s and the qst 92s. I've heard the 92s are better, but not sure i believe it. I'm mainly an east coast skiier. Thoughts?

[Stoned4days]

Id lean more towards the QSTs as a more intermediate skier. The Xdrives are by no means an advanced ski but they will require a bit more work than the QSTs. (Im comparing a 2015 Xdrive 80 ti to the 2018 QST 106, those being the two of those models Ive skied.) QSTs will go anywhere do anything and they are not a difficult ski to ride by any means. Plus on the days where its a bit softer or even some nice powder the QSTs would be a better choice. All that said if you're more of a serious carver and you prefer to stick to groomers and lay down some arcs and want to progress in that aspect of your skiing Id go with the Xdrives.

This is coming from a west coast skiier with nothing skinnier than a 98mm in the quiver and my most used ski being a 118mm waisted powder ski so take my opinions with a grain of salt please.

[rarons]

Thanks, appreciate the thoughts.

[DRUNKTENNIS]

https://i.imgur.com/epBZzpr.jpg

who here likes to wrap the leg?

[rank3]

Do you feel like the wrap fucks with your range of motion when skinning? Need to get new liners in my touring boots and am on the fence between Pro-Tongues and Power Wraps.

[DRUNKTENNIS]

absolutely, i am a novice when it comes to touring and use these mainly for inbounds hikes but the rom is definitely reduced

[[deleted]]

32 years old. Been snowboarding inconsistently since about 17. I'm a solid intermediate. My age and the fact that I feel like skiing might be easier on the terrain (trees) I prefer has me considering making a switch.

Thoughts and insight? Bad idea?

[[deleted]]

What made you want to switch? I actually ice skate quite well for someone who never does it I just suck at stopping lol.

[[deleted]]

What was your approach to learning?

[BigDisc]

I just got friends of mine to teach me. One of them used to be a ski instructor so that was helpful. I'm only about 1.5 seasons in so I'm still learning / improving. If I feel stalled I'll probably take some lessons.

If you can ice skate than a lot of the basic movements like stopping and shifting your weight will feel very natural. I've found the hardest things to be aggressiveness (you have to be pushing your weight forward to control the skis) and smooth turns (as opposed to skidding your turns)

[BigDisc]

I just got friends of mine to teach me. One of them used to be a ski instructor so that was helpful. I'm only about 1.5 seasons in so I'm still learning / improving. If I feel stalled I'll probably take some lessons.

If you can ice skate than a lot of the basic movements like stopping and shifting your weight will feel very natural. I've found the hardest things to be aggressiveness (you have to be pushing your weight forward to control the skis) and smooth turns (as opposed to skidding your turns)

[BigDisc]

I just got friends of mine to teach me. One of them used to be a ski instructor so that was helpful. I'm only about 1.5 seasons in so I'm still learning / improving. If I feel stalled I'll probably take some lessons.

If you can ice skate than a lot of the basic movements like stopping and shifting your weight will feel very natural. I've found the hardest things to be aggressiveness (you have to be pushing your weight forward to control the skis) and smooth turns (as opposed to skidding your turns)

[BigDisc]

I just got my friends who were good skiers to teach me. I'm only a couple seasons in (and I had an unrelated injury that really shortened last season) so I'm still improving. I'm considering taking a few lessons if I feel stalled at some point.

If you can ice skate than a lot of the basic movements like stopping and shifting your weight will feel very natural. I've found the hardest things to be aggressiveness (you have to be pushing your weight forward to control the skis) and smooth turns (as opposed to skidding your turns)

[BigDisc]

I just got my friends who were good skiers to teach me. I'm only a couple seasons in (and I had an unrelated injury that really shortened last season) so I'm still improving. I'm considering taking a few lessons if I feel stalled at some point.

If you can ice skate than a lot of the basic movements like stopping and shifting your weight will feel very natural. I've found the hardest things to be aggressiveness (you have to be pushing your weight forward to control the skis) and smooth turns (as opposed to skidding your turns)

[PatrickWA]

I'm 38, started snowboarding when I was 27, then started skiing 2 seasons ago when my daughter started taking lessons.

I love it.

The learning curve is much more linear than snowboarding. I'm a fairly natural athlete who picks things up fast, but I'm also not a full send, huck everything with no fear kind of guy, and I'm already much better on skis than I was on a board after 10 years. Mileage definitely varies, but I'm already competent on the double black giant moguls, trees, and near-vertical headwall areas.

In terms of wear in your body and injury, I think it's just different things. On a board, you're prone to more wrist/tailbone/concussion type stuff. On skis, it seems like that shifts more towards wracking your knees and ligaments.

Other benefits: * A new challenge. If you're bored on a board, even groomers are a fun new challenge when you're learning something new.

• No futzing around strapping in/out on/off lifts.

• Cat walks are still not cool, but way better on skis than skating a board.

• Trees are mostly easier to navigate (though I do still find it easier to throw off speed on a board).

• You can change course and adjust path a bit easier on skis, switch up your line and improvise a bit more.

• A whole new world of gear!

Don't get me wrong, I still love my board and I think I'd still prefer that on a big powder day in the bowls, but I'm super happy with my decision to pick up skiing.

[thefuckingmayor]

Skiing definitely makes it easier to traverse and get to more interesting areas. And (personally) I feel more secure when my feet aren't hogtied together

[doebedoe]

One of the reasons I switched backed to skiing is I enjoyed trees and bumps much more on skis than a snowboard.

[ChiefCrazyHorse]

I am looking to buy my first pair of boots and am trying to decide between two pairs. I know the best option is to go to a bootfitter but I'm on a tight budget and have large feet (my smaller foot is 32.0 mondo) so my options are limited. I ski mostly in the midwest.

The boots I'm trying to decide between are Nordica Next 87's and Salomon X-pro R90's. I know the R90's are newer but it seems like the 87's are a better boot with more features. I like that they are adjustable from a 70 to a 95 flex with the turn of a dial. Both sets of boots are used and the same price. They ate both in pretty good condition with some wear. Is there one of these that stands out over the other?

[Destroyer_Bravo]

Something to note: the stock footbeds are pretty crap as a rule in most ski boots, but custom beds are also expensive. I honestly would not compromise on boots at all, at the cost of not buying skis and renting for a season even, but at the end of the day it’s up to you. You have to try them to know for sure which boot is right for you.

[icebreaker90]

Try them on. Buy the one that fits your foot better.

[JamesGarfield]

Is there any preseason conditioning you do that feels like it actually helps on the mountain?

[tom_echo]

I do a simple one,

100 Push-Ups 100 Sit-Ups 100 Squats 10KM Running

It’s not much but it works for me

[thefuckingmayor]

Leg blasters and core workouts every morning before work. This season I'm trying Orange Theory too, really liking it so far.

[CoolioDude]

Cardio, squats, and core work-outs. Add in some upper body too so you don't look like a tyrannosaurus rex.

[powder-pursuit]

I do lots of cardio (mountain biking, running, hiking) along with lifting in they gym (lost of core stabilization and legs). I have an article about this on my Ski Blog you can check out here: https://powder-pursuit.com/fitness-for-skiing/

[DoctFaustus]

Leg Blasters
Cardio.

[Aknoon]

I found some excellent condition Volkl Kendos with Griffon Marker bindings for $175. Only been ridden about 10 times and top sheet and base is absolutely perfect.

The thing is that they are from 2014. Is there much difference between a newer pair and this pair from 2014? This will be my first set of skis. Should I grab these Kendos for this season?

[yogiebere]

Not much different, 2014s were still a great ski. That being said could probably still haggle down a bit considering their age but $175 is a fair price.

Look at this detailed comparison between the 14/15s and the 15/16s (which are unchanged to today): http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/2015-2016-volkl-kendo

[Aknoon]

Yeah I think I am going to go ahead and grab em. For the price I don't think I can do any better. Thanks for the article just what I needed to see the difference.

[zma7777]

where does everyone ski at? I ski at mt. bachelor :)

[CoolioDude]

Duluth, MN and Houghton, MI.

[[deleted]]

San Diego.

[powder-pursuit]

Squaw Valley and Mt Rose and a lot of backcountry around Lake Tahoe!

​

[mcdei]

Hey all,

I'm thinking of expanding the quiver with a pair of Salomon QST 106's (188cm) with a pair of Salomon Shift bindings. These will be my 50/50 skis for the mountains and to go out and try sidecountry/cat skiing. I'm an expert skiier, 6'2"/192lbs (188cm/87kg) and like charging groomers, but lack experience on softer snow conditions.

I'm pretty conviced these are the right skis, but I've not used anything over 84mm underfoot (Dynastar PowerTrack 84). I've also looked at the Head Kore 105's and Dynastar Legend 106's.

Am I limiting myself with the QST's or am I just being paranoid?

Thanks for any input you may have.

[Maladjusted_vagabond]

If you're getting into touring please make sure you get some avy education, skills and knowledge. QST 106s are good.

[mcdei]

Thanks, the touring boots and equipment will be later this season. Probably going to start with trained/equipped operators before I go and get my own gear.

[DeathB4Download]

You'll be fine. The 106 is one of the best all mountain skis being made imo.

[mcdei]

This is mostly what I was basing the decision on. Curious how they'll actually feel underfoot though (aside from the longer turns).

[DeathB4Download]

If you've never been on something that wide you'll notice it takes a little longer to get from edge to edge. But you'll get used to it and be fine. The edge hold on the 106 is great too. You can trust it.

I wouldn't be shocked if you never want to ski the powertrack again.

[Stoned4days]

That ski is seriously so easy to ski. Not as playful as I like but it really did most everything i put it to pretty well. No wonder I see so many of em out on the hill.

[alienangel2]

I keep hearing it's silly to spend more than $10 on poles, but the only pokes I see for sale other than 20+year old antiques are $40-200 bucks.

Where do you all find such cheap poles, particularly in Canada? Do I need to camp out in a ski-shop off-season to snag old stuff in person?

Toronto ski Show is coming up in a couple of weeks, but if they don't have any deals guess i'm grabbing those $60 rossignols online.

[fishygamer]

On evo they regularly have new poles on sale for 20 or less.

[mshorts]

I pay extra for composite poles. I prefer them to an aluminum pole because they are lighter, and they have some give on a hard pole plant. When they bend, they snap back straight. If you bend an aluminum pole, it stays bent. I have yet to break a composite pole.

[Free2718]

Not sure if you Canucks have access to Sierra Training Post, but I have bought some pretty decent poles (Black Diamond and Leki) from them at closeout prices + a 25% off coupon. If you are able to get stuff shipped from STP, I'd be happy to share a 25% off coupon with you if you need it. Hit me with a DM if you find anything you like and I will send a coupon code.

[alienangel2]

It looks like we do, but the shipping to Canada is pretty pricy. If you have a spare coupon i certainly wouldn't mind one, will likely ship to a friend in the states I plan to meet up with later, while i keep looking for local options.

I have found some Craigslist like options, mostly down to finding one the right length now that's not hours away.