Help deciding between K2 Rictor or Aftershock

Hi TAY

Short story long:

My most usual snow buddy won a silent auction for his choice of K2s Rictor or Aftershock.  He's not sure which is the call.  If it was snowboards I'd be lots of help but skis not so much. Let me describe some vitals and the please chip in your two cents.

Type of skiing: these are to be everyday PNW resort skis

Ability level: gets down everything but not comfortable in less than totally optimal conditions on true double black.  Fastest on groomers.  Fastest on runs about as steep as the face of Hyak.  Trouble edging true hard pack.  Trouble flowing in all but lower-angle powder.  Can hit a rhythm pretty well in lighter, shallower powder on steeper slopes. "hockey style" stance and tends to force over flow but competently.  Shys from fall line skiing in favor of powering through check turns.  Gets down runs like International fine on powder days w/ powder skis but not charging, narrow runs and choke points though can problematic.

Size: 5 10", 200ish, decent-sized Buhda, short-limbed and naturally strong.  40 yo and probably won't advance past current state of decent competence.

Current quiver: 8 year old k2 Shuksans - I cringe when I see these come out on a powder day.  Shortish Gotamas - skis them fine in the deep but squirrelly on the groomed.

Rictor: 127/80/109 15m turn radius, relatively quicker and softer

Aftershock: 130/86/114 16m turn radius, a bit slower edge to edge and a little stiffer

I think in either he'll go 174cm

Goal is to increase fun and all-around  competence.  We ski pretty well together but a little bump in ability (which I think the right skis could do) would go a long way toward better ski days.

So what's the call?  Thanks very much!

Read here....good information.
www.wildsnow.com/6957/ski-test-review-backcountry-skiing/

Your skis aren't mentioned but the same principals of weight vrs performance vrs width/hardpack/powder apply.

I'd go fat myself especially if it's resort based skiing you are talking about.

Thanks for the link - very helpful

If he has the Gotamas for the new snow days, this is basically competing for the Shuksan's spot in the quiver.

Personally, I don't like rocker on skinny skis and I would probably choose the trusty old Shuksan of the three. Being a bigger buy, maybe he would appreciate the extra stiffness of the Aftershock and it would help give him more confidence to go faster in uneven conditions.

Type of skiing: these are to be everyday PNW resort skis

Goal is to increase fun and all-around competence.

Go with whichever ski makes him feel happy/comfortable/badass. Both skis should have floaty-enough shovels. Both skis can ski anything; the one with which he can ski the best is the one he thinks is best.

I'd go fat/stiffer, but see compelling arguments for both.

thanks for the help with the somewhat lame question guys. I like the idea that attitude matters. Fatter it is ....