Ski length vs price

Blast it, I was 99% through a witty response to you all  when an errant surge tripped off my computor.  So will try it again, albeit more briefly.  Yes Scotsman, I'm currently on a pr of 09/10 185 cm Kilowatts - moderately fat with a little rocker.  At 195 and 6'2" wet, that length certainly isn't any too short; I could have gone down one size in length.  I like them so far, but only mounted them up last spring.  Even with dynafit bindings they are a little heavy.  Boot-wise I'm on some Dawson-upped Scarpa Lasers (with intuition liners, Raichle Comp tongues, booster straps and upper cuff mod's); I am awaiting a pair of the new Scarpa Maestrale's - presuming they'll fit.  My boot bias probably stems from having size 14 US (31.5, 49 euro), high arched feet.  This has created a painful problem over the decades, as few bootmakers (mostly being little delicate-footed euro's)  made boots large enough.
Though a bit tongue in cheek re. the 5% down, don't we all find ourselves adapting somewhat to whatever we buy?  But we'll get rid of them fast if we can't make them work and have $$ enough to make another selection?  I have to say in the last 50+ years of sking that I can number the skis on one hand with which the man-tool connection has been most sweet - when the skis felt perfect... the right length, flex, side-cut, etc.  And then I broke or wore them out.  Always a bummer that.
A true luxury for any skier is to have at least three pairs at ready.  1) Fat & soft for the true blower powder or what passes for 'powder' around the Cascades. 2) a mid-fat, maybe rockered, pair as our go-to boards for the more typical Cascade midwinter day of settling, dense, wetter snow, sometimes wind-affected,  crusted or windslabbed (doesn't sound all that good does it). 3) a shorter, shaped, razor-edged and maybe lighter, ice board for midwinter ice and spring & summer morning glazes and shallow corn.  But because that usually involves laying out several thousands of dollars, most of us don't quite get there - and if we do we're probably sleeping in the van again.  I'll also go so far as to say that any of you mastering our local Cascade snow, with all its variations, can most easily master any number of different make and model skis, so don't sweat the decision!

No variety for Scotsman...
It could be wind blown stucco with dried varnish ice patches and he would still be out on those Drifters. Wheeling it around like a shopping cart pushed down Capitol hill.

No variety for Scotsman...
It could be wind blown stucco with dried varnish ice patches and he would still be out on those Drifters. Wheeling it around like a shopping cart pushed down Capitol hill. 

I resemble that remark.
However I do so have a quiver.
S7's &barons= Resort & resort side country
Drifters & dynafits= winter and mush touring
Wailer 105& dynafits= Hardpack, windpack and spring.

However the Drifters are just a pale imitation of the S7 and I'd ski them everyday in every condition if they weren't so heavy.
DPS 112 RP could be my personal holy grail= Lightweight S7. I'm waiting for the review when they come in.

Joedabaker looked marvelous skiing those Super7's through the trees for the few weeks he had them but being a purist he just couldn't accept slarving instead of carving. For a few short days I thought I'd converted him and he had been born again but alas no!

BTW GerryH= I've heard some great review of those Maestrale's. Let us know what you think after you've skied them. I am currently waiting to hear what reviews the new Dynafit carbon boot get. If that could drive a superfat ski such as the Drifter or the DPS112RP then ski touring will never be the same again and Dynafit will have moved the goalpost forever.

Sorry for all my useless white noise. Perhaps when I am skiing 50 years I will have a more vast knowlege of gear.


.... someday gerry when you are skiing your kilowatts look down at them, they aren't a rockered ski, and to my knowlege they haven't ever been, but that's just my white noise. What would I know compared to your specific experience..... :

Black Diamond Kilowatt Telemark / Randonee Skis - 2010/2011 Specs Specification Description
Ski design Backcountry
Ski terrain Backcountry
Profile dimensions 127/95/115 millimeters
Sidecut radius (175cm) 22.5 meters
Ski camber Standard
Core Wood
Weight per pair (175cm) 3,800 grams
Bindings included No
Gender Unisex

Bummer tele.skier, you've shattered my delusion - in my senility I thought I'd been enjoying a bit of rocker.  The good news, I have it yet to look forward to!

YEAH! I'm a member of the "Fat Rocker" club. I'm a hack on ski's, but I love cool gear, and fat rockers are Bitchin' like a '68 Camaro, Man!