ski suggestions

I own a pair of Blackdiamond Crossbows (first year model) and always love them when I ski them. I do bring out the Launchers when the snow is deep though. Haven't found the Crossbows to stiff for touring or a long day of climbing. Mine have Dynafit tri-step bindings; makes the whole set-up very light if your concerned about weight at all. Good luck on your decision .

I had 1st year Crossbows. They skied wonderfully...a very nice 1-ski quiver. But...500 feet below the summit of Helens the ski blew and let go of the toe piece and I went flying...and then walking down 5300 more feet   &gt; hence- no more BD skis for me.<br><br>Michael<br><br>EDIT: I have since leaned how to repair a ski in that situation but - I dont think it would have helped here because the topsheet actually ruptured.

have been skiing k2 AK LAUNCHERS 180 cms long 119mm in the tip and 90mm underfoot with freerides for the past three years as a one quiver resort and backcountry ski. very stoked on this set up will get a new ski next season and most likely will go with the new K2 MT BAKER as it is the same mold of the AK LAUNCHER and same dimensions if I'm not mistaken but just a tad stiffer.

I have skiied Crossbows with Freerides for the past 3 years. They've been up to AK with me, in the Sierra's, all over around here, Colorado, Michigan backcountry (hee, hee)... They are a great all around ski. I like a stiffer ski and they are fairly stiff. One thing I noticed is that in heavy powder they don't like to dance around - you'll sink a bit due to the mid-fat dimensions. I found them to do well when I let them run a bit and made more of an aggressive, fast, medium radius turn in powder. While in AK I thought they wouldn't hold up to skiing the typical AK way - fast, large radius turns. They did well though, and you can really let them run in powder, yet maintain control.<br><br>I'm now the happy owner of a pair of dynafit FR 10's with TLT bindings and am extremely pleased with them. This setup is a LOT lighter, yet you can still really crank on them. Very forgiving too.

don't fool with crossbows, you need something wider for the bc. Get some work stinx or a pair of jac bc's. I have last years works - the red ones - and love them. My wife skis jills which I think are similar to jac bc's - she hardly looks at her old trusty green sumos anymore. Get some voile 3 pin hardwire for the bc. You won't be disappointed.

While I like the idea of a really wide ski for the BC in winter, the ones I've tried do not seem versatile. I do a lot of spring-early summer skiing, peak skiing, and some lift skiing. And those really wide ones just don't seem to fit the bill for corn, ice or crust, or crud-busting. That said I'd be willing to try out some suggestions. But right now the crossbows with a hammerhead binding are leading the pack.