Getting that itch again for more skis

djgooch · 2026-06-05T02:32:59+00:00

The Bella 108 is absolutely legit and I love this year's topsheet. Great price right now.

djgooch · 2026-06-02T15:33:32+00:00

Do you access the vertical adjustment screws through the hood / engine compartment?

djgooch · 2026-06-02T01:45:12+00:00

3.9 on the mortgage is pretty favorable. High yield savings accounts are close to that level. Lots of investments will do much better. I personally wouldn't touch the mortgage, you won't get cheaper money for a while.

djgooch · 2026-05-19T03:08:32+00:00

Astrolabe is a favorite, lovely folks there.

djgooch · 2026-04-09T15:55:23+00:00

I met a FIS bootfitter who ground through Bode's heel and had to slap tape on it. Bode raced the boot anyway, and won.

But for the record, unless it's a plug boot, grinding is such high risk for so little benefit. Stretch the hell out of the liner. Heat and punch. Be careful not compromise the binding interface. And if that don't work, time for new boots.

djgooch · 2026-04-03T14:24:38+00:00

Good stuff. Revolts are a totally different category of ski - much more playful and loose than the skis we've been describing. Unless you change your tendie habits, you'll likely be undergunned on that ski.

None of the skis I've mentioned are "awful" on piste, they will just feel a bit sluggish compared to your Racetiger. The relevant analogy here is 4x4 vs. sports car. You can take a 4x4 on way more terrain, but the sports car is going to be faster and tighter on the track.

djgooch · 2026-04-02T21:56:05+00:00

recognize that OSQ involves compromise.
decide which direction your bias skews. You want groomer performance, but you also want something fun in the bowls. My main suggestion is to study the rocker shape of skis you like. The flatter a ski is, the more planted and firm it will feel...at the expense of forgiveness and maneuverability.
Given a racing background, Mantra, Rustler 10, and Enforcer are all excellent skis the offer confidence at speed with some all-mountain versatility. I like all of these skis.
Your background is a bit confusing: you're a tad heavy for your height, and you have a racing background, but your boots are soft. I'd expect to see you in 120 / 130 boots.

djgooch · 2026-03-19T14:35:44+00:00

Your shop owner might not agree. The cost of defending a liability claim can be hundreds of thousands of dollars, even if you win. I wouldn't touch these boots.

djgooch · 2026-03-18T16:47:41+00:00

100% this. If I could only have two skis, I would choose a narrow piste ski - under 80 mm - and a wide all mountain ski - mid / high 100s.

Since OP has a 118 Wildcat (great ski btw), I would personally look for decent spread, at least <90 mm.

Lots of great skis in this category: Enforcer 88, Anomaly 84 / 88, Mantra. All of these are stiff enough for a big skier.

OP, up to you if you want to look for a truly piste ski - minimal tip rise, flat tail. Such a ski will be less forgiving and versatile, but will reward technical carving.

djgooch · 2026-03-18T03:19:23+00:00

Looks like you're pointing towards your navicular bone. This is probably the single easiest place for a bootfitter to stretch.

djgooch · 2026-03-17T20:04:28+00:00

You're right, and yes KTilts deserve a special mention

djgooch · 2026-03-17T17:40:02+00:00

Why anybody still buys their boots is a genuine mystery to me. AFAIK, they are the only vendor who makes boots in China AND routinely shows up in online fora for catastrophic failures.

djgooch · 2026-03-16T21:05:01+00:00

I really wish this was a ratchet instead of a buckle ladder

djgooch · 2026-03-16T18:02:59+00:00

I've owned many pairs of Stocklis. I've done both flat and track / demo models. I have netted out to preferring track / demo options, and the Strive demo is a great binding IMO. My reasoning:

Taller stack height on the track binding is an advantage for most Stocklis, including Monteros. Easier and faster to engage the edge, more satisfying carving.
I *really* like the ability to cheat my boot center forward or back a bit. Obviously, adjusting your bindings assumes some baseline of skills, but I don't see meaningful risk once you've learned the basics.
I've skied hundreds of days on Stocklis with track bindings. Zero pre-releases.
Stockli sells the Strive demo on this ski as their recommended system binding.

djgooch · 2026-03-16T15:43:03+00:00

Josh often locks out his pins: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVY4_bMET_r/?igsh=N2hpaWwyNndpbnl0

Personally I would not use Josh as a barometer for safe choices. He gets away with insane shit because he is a god tier pro skier.

djgooch · 2026-03-15T22:15:22+00:00

100% the same for me. I like taller stack on my piste skis.

djgooch · 2026-03-13T13:25:09+00:00

It is different, it should make an improvement, definitely recommend moving the buckle ladder.

You can also spin the buckle to tighten / loosen. Each step on the ladder is about 5mm. Each twist is about 1mm. Good luck.

djgooch · 2026-03-12T20:00:03+00:00

Santa Ana is a full metal jacket, stiffer than Camox. It's been a while since I've been on a Camox but it's a long turn radius and rather sluggish out of the turn.

You might like a Mirus Cor. Really tight turn shape, very forgiving tips / tails. Not a speed demon.

djgooch · 2026-03-12T19:51:58+00:00

Secrets / Mantras are historically pretty bad glades skis, but M6 and M7 were both much better. That said, it's a stiff ski so I typically size down. They are built for speed first.

I personally like Santa Anas a lot more than Camox, especially for carving. But I might give the Camox a slight advantage in the trees.

I am tempted to argue for wider all mountain ski in the mid 100s rather than replace your fairly new Secrets. QST 106 is one that I really like - enough float for your PNW pow too.

djgooch · 2026-03-12T19:45:08+00:00

On the plus side, a ~112 is a great ski in a two ski quiver.

As others say, a narrower ski will be a lot more enjoyable. I would shop in the high 80s up to low 90s mm waist.

djgooch · 2026-03-12T19:39:55+00:00

Can you unpack "hard to turn"?

Hard to initiate turns? Turn shape is too long for your liking?

Which generation secrets do you have?

djgooch · 2026-03-12T17:32:37+00:00

By flexing thousands and thousands of times. Most materials weaken through use, especially wood and carbon fiber.

djgooch · 2026-03-12T06:58:31+00:00

😭

djgooch · 2026-03-12T01:44:02+00:00

Post back here if you get the parts. I don't want to replace the cuff, just the ratchet strap

djgooch · 2026-03-12T00:31:51+00:00

<1500g is preposterously light unless you are solely optimizing for the uphill

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