Best BC Ski for Randonee

It is good to see that the Chogori model has been continued. I ponder whether it is the poor-man's Trab. Having never skied Trab, I cannot really say. However, what I have with the Chogori is a light and functional ski that works for my large carcass. I probably would have bought some Trabs, if not for the  arrogant and cheaply done free marketing on various Forums by the US Distributor and for the ridiculous pressure in email responses to my inquiries. Anyway, I spent $500 less on the Chogori compared  to the Trab, so I got FR 10s and Chogoris for what I would have spent on the Trab that I was considering.

My apologies if you did not like a reply to your product inquiry. Please send back a copy of the email response to mark@wasatchski.com so I may address what could have caused such pressure.   

Instead of buying 2 skis to do the work of one, you could purchase the Trab FreeRando for $599 (same price as the FR 10) and save buying the Choguri (the FreeRando is both lighter and wider), another binding and an extra set of skins.  Realized total savings: around $800. 

For $465 more than the Choguri you must have been looking at either the Duo Sint Aero or the Duo Race, both of which are over a pound lighter than the Choguri and of significantly different construction.

Instead of buying 2 skis to do the work of one, you could purchase the Trab FreeRando . . .

I've been trying this strategy this spring and summer, with excellent results. Sold two other pair of skis and replaced them with 178 Trab Freerandos; the skis have been great in everything from two inch windcrust to heavy pow to corn to ice.

My '03 K2 Shuksans have similar dimensions to the Trab Free Rando and not enough additional weight to be significant in my view. They cost $359 new. They ski well in all conditions and are versatile. I comfortably went back to the old Shuksans after my carbon-fiber FR 10 broke last winter (the ski was replaced by the Distributor). Glad to see Trab is catching up to the 21st century.

I am enjoying light boots- TLT 4- and my light 70 mm waist Chogori for a balanced setup. The ski waist dimension is important in regard to boot weight/ stiffness and required leverage to easily carve the edge. The Chogori/ TLT 4 is an enjoyable setup for me that is comfortable with classic skiing technique. The wide tail and very wide, flexible tip on the Chogori give a fat ski versatility to a relatively narrow-waisted ski.

My mid-weight Ski Touring 3-buckle Aeros are a good match for the 88mm waist FR 10 on soft snow. The Aero and FR 10 is certainly the better choice for Cascade crest deep and heavy snow conditions. Since I have the good fortune to live in the drier and sunnier Wenatchee Mtns., I anticipate that the lighter Chogori/ TLT 4 setup may be close to an all-around setup in the Wenatchee Mtns. The Chogori was great for spring/ summer corn on Mt. Hood and three times on Mt. Adams this year.

There are many posts in various Forums praising the FR 10. Except for the Distributor trying to sell Free Rando skis, there has been very little posted about the Free Rando.

I wouldn't be too quick to interpret lack of online commentary about the Freerando as an indictment of the ski, mine were the only pair I saw last year in the US, whereas I saw lots of FR10's.

TRABs rule! If they weren't so doggone expensive, and almost impossible to get discounted. MEC in Vancouver has begun selling them but up to now they have not been available in the US. Their factory is probably the highest tech ski factory in the world, I had the good fortune to visit it in April when bad weather chased us out of the backcountry to Bormio.

If you want a precision tool TRAB is it, if you are less picky, go with second best at lower price. They are THE ticket in Europe, probably not as well suited to USA dude mentality. It was similar with the Tour Lite binding a decade ago, nobody in the US wanted them, "too flimsy and unsafe."

End of religious rant. I'd rather be skiing.

According to the 2007 Gear Guide issue of Backcountry, the FR 10s have been softened in regard to the flex. This is to give them wider appeal, as I read it.

I do like my original FR 10 and rate them as having a moderate flex with enough stiffness. I found them to have the described dual radius capability- stable in medium turns and short radius when one cranks them. But I am heavy and fond of applying leverage to skis to turn. The problem with the FR 10 is the threat of another broken ski- I will not climb anymore on the top post on the FR 10 since that is what caused the heel scews to pull, which led to the collapse of the ski structure- it broke. I would really hesitate to travel far into the backcountry with the FR 10...but as long as I can crawl back from a powder stash to the snomo...if I want to cover miles, it will be on the light setup, Chogori/ TLT 4.

I share what I like, how it works for me and why I think so. The 'best' randonnee ski is a personal thing, like religion and politics.

So Trab is so great, I really do not know except what I read about the specs etc. A lot of it sounds impressive. A year ago I was close to ordering the Duo Sint Aero- it looks impressive according to specs and design that I read about. It is interesting to observe that the Distributor is so eagerly working for free advertising by posting on various Forums as the " US Distributor." So does one get deals if one posts in a similar manner?

I have a set of the original Tri Step toes that are clearly dangerous, as I experienced. The newer ones are very good, in my experience.