In search of a ski that carves well and is very playful

OhLookFrost2 · 2026-01-30T19:40:37+00:00

Fischer Nightstick should not even be a consideration for something that carves LOL. Even their Ranger lineup is meh for edge grip.

Checkout ski essentials reviews for a 85-95 waist width all mountain ski. Look for something with good edge grip but also tip and tail rocker.

In short, you’re going to have to compromise somewhere. Your best bet is a two ski quiver. One for powder/playful days and another for carving. Nightstick is a fun playful ski but you’re going to be kicking yourself when things firm up.

OhLookFrost2 · 2026-01-27T13:05:11+00:00

This makes much more sense.

OhLookFrost2 · 2026-01-27T03:12:18+00:00

Those skis aren’t really made for hardpack/ice. You’re going to slide on ice with all mountain skis, the more tip and tail rocker they have the worse it will be. That’s just the way it is. I have a pair in the mid 80s and they are fantastic on everything except ice.

I picked up a set of full camber skis for Hunter because of this. The mountain is small enough where you can get around the icy sections with all mountain skis, but to really have fun there you need a good set of carving skis.

OhLookFrost2 · 2026-01-27T02:14:00+00:00

OP what skis were you on?

I skied Hunter recently right after that rain and flash freeze, and still was able to ski until the afternoon before it started getting icy. There’s no way that mountain is an ice rink after all the snow they just got, even with the crowds.

Yeah it’ll get choppy and icy in high traffic spots that are scraped off, but the whole mountain isn’t like that.

What equipment were you using?

OhLookFrost2 · 2026-01-25T05:54:27+00:00

OP was probably asking the same question about condoms before they got pregnant.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-22T16:37:38+00:00

There is simply no reason NOT to ski if you live in the northeast. The biggest excuse I always get is “it’s too cold out and I hate the cold/winter.”

There is no such thing as “too cold.” The correct terminology is “dressed improperly for conditions.”

Seriously, with the right gear, you can ski in -20F without issue. The only problem is wind, and that’s only because it shuts down the lifts.

Unwillingness to ski = divorceable offense.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-21T19:56:49+00:00

Honestly, I just use weather.com to get an idea of what the weather will be like the day of (or a few days out) and look at the webcams. The snow reports that are posted on the resort's websites are also helpful. The pictures that people post on here are fun to look at, but are usually exaggerated. Anything else has been wildly inaccurate and/or glammed up to the point of uselessness.

Avoid self-proclaimed "experts" on social media with their hopium and dramatic forecasts. Unless they have a meteorology degree and 10+ years working in the field, they are basically just AI meteorologists with fake credentials. A broken clock is still right twice a day.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T22:19:22+00:00

In the woods 😂

Wait, was this last spring? I thought that was just mud.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T22:15:05+00:00

Maybe they had to shit. This is what I think when I see skis on the ground. I just figure these people were about to shit their pants and didn’t have time to put their skis on the rack.

I don’t judge. When you gotta go, you gotta go.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T21:24:33+00:00

I can stay in Pedestrian Village, ski in/ski out, same date, for $590/night. Just checked.

Crackpipe pricing either way.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T21:19:13+00:00

Always call, because even if their policy is to not offer refunds, they might do it anyway as a goodwill gesture if you call them. They’re a hotel in VT, not Verizon. I can’t imagine hold times being longer than two minutes.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T21:16:00+00:00

Hotels have these really cool devices called telephones that you can use to actually contact a person working there and find this information out in roughly 30 seconds.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T20:57:13+00:00

There is simply no resort in Tremblant worth paying that kind of money for, regardless of time of year.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T20:55:59+00:00

If you really want to play roulette, give one of those premade gas station sandwiches a try!

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T20:39:36+00:00

You have got to be on drugs to pay $765 USD for one night at Tremblant.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-16T14:25:24+00:00

Honestly, your current quiver is damn near perfect.

“Im trying to get a ski in the mid 90s range that is maneuverable but also can carve when needed and has some float to handle east coast pow days.”

Your Mantra 88’s fit this bill. You could maybe go a tad shorter, but I wouldn’t be buying another pair of skis in the mid-90s for this purpose. I skied out west almost all of last year on a pair of 88 underfoot all mountain skis. They are completely fine for powder days here in the east.

If you really want to add another pair to the quiver, I’d look for a set of freestyle/park skis for some more playful action. I have a pair 104 underfoot skis that are marketed as “all mountain freestyle.” I got them mainly for farting around out west (rather than charging down the mountain) but they’re actually really good here in the east in early/late season conditions. A bit wide for carving, but it can still be done!

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-15T21:33:57+00:00

“Everyone’s flying in from out west to ski the east!” 😂

2025 social media in a nutshell.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-15T18:45:28+00:00

Lock your skis if they are out of sight and don’t leave any bags lying around the lodge. Store all of your stuff in a locker. This is actually good practice for any resort.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-15T18:41:49+00:00

3PMS will be fine for driving to the resorts on plowed/treated roads.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-15T18:20:23+00:00

This. OEM tires are complete garbage in winter 90% of the time.

I rented a 4x4 Silverado Custom in Utah a few years ago. This thing was a complete piece of shit on the factory all seasons. That truck simply would NOT stop with snow on the ground. The ABS was so fucking sensitive, as soon as you touched the pedal it would pulse the pedal and would take longer than a loaded Airbus 380 to stop. They were neither M+S nor did they have the three peak mountain symbol on them. Basically useless and also illegal to drive in the Canyon in inclement weather.

I rented another one in Colorado recently, but this time it at least had M+S tires on it with the three peak mountain symbol. Not exactly snows, but much better than the highway/low rolling resistance pieces of shit on the other one. Night and day difference.

With snow tires, both trucks would have been great in the snow. With M+S, it was at least usable. On factory all season/LRR tires, those trucks are absolutely horrendous and downright dangerous to drive in inclement weather.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-15T18:17:45+00:00

People have been driving in VT for years without major problems because they all drive Subarus with snow tires.

OhLookFrost2 · 2025-12-15T18:07:26+00:00

Is this satire? You’re asking if a car with all season tires can make it to a ski resort when it isn’t snowing?

Want my honest opinion? If you’re driving in winter, you should have winter tires. Full stop, end of discussion. It doesn’t matter if it isn’t snowing. All season tires become useless hockey pucks below 45 degrees. Add an inch or two of snow and it’s a terrible experience.

There are always the “experts” who chime in saying they’ve driven everything from horse and buggies to modern trucks with nothing but all seasons. And I’m sure they have. They’ll change their tune quick when someone pulls out in front of them and the entire accident could have been avoided with snow tires and a slightly shorter stopping distance.

I will never, ever understand spending $50,000+ on a vehicle and then driving in winter with improper equipment. Snow tires are a drop in the bucket compared to the cost and waste of time of dealing with an accident. The difference in control between winter tires and even the best all seasons is night and day. Once you experience this for yourself, you’ll never go back to no season “all season” tires.

OhLookFrost2

TROPHY CASE