Skis 4 progression -- winner: Gotama!

Okay I don't ski, but one of my usual in-bounds partners does, about 12-15 days a year and he is not getting over the intermediate hump. 

I know he needs more days but it's not possible.  the problem is that he flounders in all but the lightest powder if there is more than 6 inches.

You can see how this is a problem, not just for him, nor just me, but for all people of the world interested in my happiness as well.

He skis 6 year old K2 Shuksans.   I will not diss them, as they are great at what they are supposed to do.  But they are far too stiff and cambered and straight cut for an intermediate to ski powder well enough to keep me from becoming angry.  Though he's had them long enough, he does not ski as if he owns them and so gravitates to the groomers.  Grrrrr.

It ought to snow a foot in Whistler over the weekend, so therefore on this trip there is an enforced demo policy.

Here is the list of the possible choices.  Please help a snowboarder out by narrowing this to what you think would make an otherwise competent intermediate instantly more able in the soft stuff w/o ruining all around ability.

oh and sizing advice -- he's bent on longer which I think is a problem -- 5'8" 190 lbs -- style smooth but hockey stance -- about what length?

thanks for the help!

HEAD MONSTER iM88 Dimensions: 127/88/112

HEAD MONSTER iM82 Dimensions: 122/82/108

K2 APACHE XPLORER Dimensions: 128/84/112

K2 EXTREME Dimensions: 118/85/109

K2 COOMBA Dimensions: 135/102/121

ROSSIGNOL PHANTOM SC 97 Dimensions: 130-95-115

ROSSIGNOL PHANTOM SC 80 Dimensions: 122-80-109

VOLKL MANTRA Dimensions: 133-96-116

VOLKL GOTAMA Dimensions: 133-105-124

i cant confirm from persomnal experience, but everyone i've asked loves both Volkl skis on your list.

That's a very nice list of skis but me thinks technique is the answer.
Either a lesson or self taught. I'd recomend some of the stuff written by
Lito Tejada-Flores.
Good luck, A lot of us have been in that spot and survived.

That's a very nice list of skis but me thinks technique is the answer.
Either a lesson or self taught. I'd recomend some of the stuff written by
Lito Tejada-Flores.
Good luck, A lot of us have been in that spot and survived.

For fixed heel, I like Eric & Rob DesLauriers book Ski the Whole Mountain, 2002, Mountain Sports Press, Boulder, CO. A good 2nd book for fine-tuning for crappy snow is R. Mark Elling's The All-Mountain Skier, Rugged Mountain Press, Camden, ME. They take Harb and Tejada-Flores into more modern fatter shaped skis. E&R make it easy. How do I know; skied fixed heel for the 1st 10 or so times in the last year; no problem making linked turns in knee to hip deep powder, breakable crust, corn, etc. And I only have skis that are 80 and 84 mm in the waist!!!!

Hey hankj

I have the Shuksan, in my opinion it's definitely not a powder ski. Too narrow in the waist and too much sidecut, so maybe your buddy isn't a gacker afterall! He's just using the wrong tool for the powder job.

I ski an AK Launcher for the powder 90mm in the waist and 174 cm. I gack on the Shuksans in the powder and manage to make some decent turns on the short, fat Launchers.

Get your pal on any pair of short, fat skis in the powder and he'll be a better skier. I bet this new breed of ski is decent on the hardpack too, unlike the old Launchers.

jibberD,  Yep ,fatties are helpful for sure but technique is the main aspect . I have no problems with my 185 cm Olin Selkirks same mold as older Shuksans. Same ski . To be honest I do like my old yellow work stinx better in powder cause they are much softer.

Acarey, Shocking just shocking that even a old gear monger like you has his limits. Better watch out Sierra trading post will red flag you.

Now Let's watch a little of this.