Ski of Choice?

Thanks for the firsthand evaluation. How are the new ones better for you? Do you miss the longer ski?

K2 generally makes noodles, which is why I don't buy some. People describe Atomic's R:EX as a stiff, burly ski that needs driver input. I find them very easy to throw around, easy to bend into an arc, very forgiving; just generally easy to ski. Hence, I'm going to stay away from skis that most people describe as easy turning, forgiving, etc. YMMV. Maybe I should have gone for the 191 R:EX, but I want something that's easy to turn in vaguely hairy situations.<br><br>Stats: 6'3", 220lbs. 188 Miras for the last two years, and 184 R:EXs that I've spent limited time on. Scarpa Denali XT boots. I'd call myself an intermediate skier, but more force than finesse.

I'm going to jump in and say that, like JibberD, I ski the 174cm K2 Shuksans. This year's model, but mounted tele with 7tm Tours. 5'-11", 170 lbs w/o gear.<br><br>I have really had a blast with this ski and despite our season out here this year, I have gotten quite a bit of lift served action - since I got them in Feb (Baker, Big White, Bachelor, etc.) - to try them out in a fairly wide variety of conditions. Lots of "off piste" but no back country tours yet.<br><br>I could see how Pbelitz would characterize the K2s as noodles, since they do flex easily, but he's got about 50 lbs on me. I have found that it's been much easier to set the edges on firm snow than previously (Tua Excalibur Mito) and in the deeper stuff I haven't been pushed around. I had fun in some wind crust down on Bachelor the other week, but felt they performed well. Overall, the geometry lets me point and shoot quite solidly.<br><br>It sounds like there may be enough folks out there to share some gear for an informal demo before you decide...<br><br>And Sam, yes they came with the "made in China" sticker, but the binders say "made in Germany". We're somewhere in between.<br><br>Anyways, just my $0.02<br><br>-Dave R

I love this web site! Thanks all for the 2cents. Any Shuksan, TM:X, Ledgend, Havoc, Crossbow users skiing this weekend that are dieing to try a pair of 184 B3s?

You asked:<br>How are the new ones better for you? Do you miss the longer ski?<br> <br>No I dont miss the length at all. While the waist of old and new Shuksans are similar I think the overall width of the shovel and tail add a good deal of float and stability to the new ski - it doesnt dive in deep snow like the old ski.<br><br>Length doesnt mean much to me anymore - heck I am having a heck of a lot of fun on my 178 bandits.<br><br>I also find the new Shuksan to be a much more stable ride and quite adept at handling rough terrain/snow. <br><br>Now if you like making really big arcs at Mach 5 down a 50 degree slope then it might not be the ski for you but I have found it to be a joy to ski on the 4 day traverses like the Spearhead, Ski Mountaineering in the Alps, and all over Snoqualmie Pass both in and out of bounds.<br><br>Something you might want to think about if you want max float and a lightweight ski is K2's Baker randonee ski that will be coming out next year. Same construction as the Shuksan but with the geometry of the K2 apache chief (98mm waist). Actually - pro ski in North Bend has a pair right now.<br><br>Again, I am 6'4", 190lbs so my experience with the ski would be much different from pbelitz. I guess I am somewhere in the advanced/expert realm depending on the visibility and my mood <br><br>Michael

There are actually a number of interesting "lighter" mid-fats coming out next year, the K2 Baker (reportedly out of the Axis AK/AK Launcher mold) being one. Atomic has the Kongur, same shape as the R:EX/TM:EX/TM:X but lighter, Dynafit has the Carbon 10.0, and Trab (FreeRando, Sintesi, and the Duo skis) will be available in the US. The '05-'06 K2's and Atomics have already shipped to some stores.