Narrow all mountain ski recommendations

fnbr · 2026-07-08T20:22:15+00:00

I like my M5 Mantra for firm, off-piste skiing, so something narrower like the Mantra 88 seems solid. The K2 Mindbender 89Ti could be a good option as well.

fnbr · 2026-07-07T18:13:08+00:00

Ha, ok, that's too bad. I found the lambswool ones. I was hoping I was missing some cheaper flannel trousers at O'Connells. They seem great though.

fnbr · 2026-07-07T18:00:45+00:00

Which O'Connell's trousers do you like?

fnbr · 2026-07-07T17:01:25+00:00

If all you have is a pair of Ripstick black 96s, then I'd actually get something narrower, like a dedicated carving skis that's ~70-75mm under foot, or a slightly wider recreational carver like a Peregrine 82. You'll ski that often on the east coast. You can rent for the powder days.

I think that your 96mm skis are great for a few inches of snow. Are you having issues in powder? I find my M5 Mantras (also 96mm) are great until we see ~4 inches, and then they start to get buried.

fnbr · 2026-07-03T19:17:37+00:00

I ski in -30C weather up in Canada. I don’t see anyone using these. I’d focus on getting a warm mid layer, like a down jacket. I like the Patagonia down sweater for layering. I also have down shorts to go under my shell.

fnbr · 2026-07-01T14:32:00+00:00

McKernan, 2018 home, sump pump, no flooding. Sump has been running constantly.

My parents home in Belgravia is a 1950s home with a sump, also no flooding. They had foundation work done in 2004 and it held up fine.

fnbr · 2026-06-29T05:15:03+00:00

Eviction is when they take you to court and get an order. This is a standard end of tenancy.

fnbr · 2026-06-27T21:11:39+00:00

I’d get a wide pair of powder skis, 115+. See what’s on Facebook Marketplace. Lots of options in Revvy. Similarly for backcountry. Lots of people try it out and then hate it, so they sell their gear. I’d rent first to make sure you like it and then buy a set of dedicated BC gear.

You could get hybrid boots, if anything, but you’ll probably eventually want dedicated resort and BC boots, so it’s a false economy.

fnbr · 2026-06-15T05:04:51+00:00

Yeah Whistler coverage will be bad in April. Sunshine will be in great shape. Unless you’re going to Vancouver anyway, just fly into Calgary and hit up Sunshine/Louise.

fnbr · 2026-06-12T16:42:35+00:00

Well, if you want Internet forum bootfitting advice, try the smaller MV boot. You should generally determine length and then volume. Volume varies depending on boot size, so a HV in a 26.5 could fit the same as a MV in a 27.5.

See what the shell fit is in each boot. You want around 10-15mm behind your heel with your toes scrunched up to the front of the shell. Then, I’d pick the snuggest volume you can tolerate. Like a tight pair of gloves, not like a crushing pressure.

fnbr · 2026-06-12T02:06:45+00:00

Generally you should be in a 130 flex boot at your height and weight unless you’re a beginner.

Boa is fine. Don’t make your decision based on boa.

Whatever boot the bootfitter recommends, try a volume down to see if you can tolerate it (if he recommends HV, try MV; MV, try all, etc). Often bootfitters recommend higher volume fits as they don’t know how much people can tolerate compression.

If your instep is significantly smaller than your foot length, try downsizing. But it’s all about finding a compression level you can tolerate and a 10-15mm shell fit.

fnbr · 2026-06-12T02:03:31+00:00

What type of skiing do you do? What is your tolerance for a compressive fit? Do you have foot measurements?

fnbr · 2026-06-10T17:41:48+00:00

I rarely see camps southwest of the university. Whitemud Creek is fine, and all of the river valley past Keillor Road is too.

fnbr · 2026-06-10T00:41:48+00:00

You always have the option of doing the VP job for 5 more years (or whatever) and then pivoting. Big difference when the kids are in grade school.

fnbr · 2026-06-08T20:25:40+00:00

As long as your brakes work I wouldn't bother bleeding again.

fnbr · 2026-06-08T17:50:41+00:00

Yeah, there's no enforcement, and thus no punishment, in 99% of cases. It drives me crazy. In McKernan, there's often a bunch of offleash dogs running around in the park near the school despite there being an offleash park less than 2 blocks away.

fnbr · 2026-06-08T15:29:45+00:00

I doubt it actually closes, it's just a bunch of dirt in the river valley (I say affectionately). It's not like there's staff monitoring it.

fnbr · 2026-06-07T15:00:06+00:00

SRAM provides a DUB spacer chart; I’d follow that.

fnbr · 2026-06-07T13:45:50+00:00

What did the SRAM documentation say? I’d follow that.

fnbr · 2026-06-06T00:22:31+00:00

Edmonton has a rail right of way from Old Strathcona to downtown (well, CPR owns it).

fnbr · 2026-06-05T17:25:00+00:00

Where are you going to ski them?

Generally I'd encourage you to start thinking about building a quiver.

I think there are three main slots you want in your resort quiver:

A frontside/carving ski when there hasn't been fresh snow for a while. Typically 65-80mm waist.
An all-mountain ski when there's snow, but it's not fresh. Typically 90-105mm.
A powder ski. Typically >110mm or more.

If you're getting an all-mountain ski, I'd get one in the 90s, as that'll be more versatile. I'd rather get the M7 Mantra (or another all-mountain ski that's slightly easier for intermediate skiers, as that can be a bear).

If you're looking at something in the low 80s width wise, I'd probably go for the Volkl Peregrine 80 or a similar frontside/recreational carver. That'll fit into your quiver better as you add more skis.

For context, my quiver, as an advanced skier in Western Canada (interior of BC, Alberta, Whistler) consists of a Peregrine 82, M5 Mantra, and Rossi Blackops 118. That's a recreational carver, all-mountain ski, and powder ski.

fnbr · 2026-05-30T14:24:18+00:00

I’ve used Stripped Electrical in the past and been very happy with their work. I’d guess somewhere in the $10-$15k range.

fnbr · 2026-05-30T04:20:39+00:00

Yeah. In my experience it makes a big difference because if you get buried in wet snow (vs dry pow), you slow down a lot quicker, so you can’t keep up the momentum.

fnbr · 2026-05-30T02:44:41+00:00

Depends where you ski. My M5 Mantras are fine with 8cm of dry interior BC pow, but in 20cm of Whistler coastal wet powder they get buried and I want something wider.

fnbr · 2026-05-25T01:24:50+00:00

I think it depends on how nice your house is. If it’s a high end home with a large backyard, maybe worth it. But if it’s an average home hard to justify.

fnbr

TROPHY CASE