Spring touring setup

A question for the folks who suggested the Blizzard Zero G - I've heard it is a fairly 'demanding' ski. Has that been your experience?

I second this request. I skied alpine style last weekend on my new zero-g 85's. I've not skied alpine style since 1983. It was a blast. I didn't miss my freeheel gear. Reviews say the zero-g is "demanding" but are otherwise nebulous. Like descriptions of wine tasting. Only thing I noticed is there didn't seem to be much tail coming out of a turn to slow down before the next turn. That could just be poor technique, I don't know. Can someone explain what "demanding" means for the narrow waisted zero-g's? I want to get better so I want to know what to look for when folks say this ski is "demanding". They carve like crazy. TIA

zero g 95s are on the stiff side for light skis, but I do not find my 185cms demanding at 190lbs. I like stiff skis with a long radius and these are only medium stiff and medium radius so they seem pretty easy to me. The feel like poppy front side skis and have a decently sized front to back sweet spot. If you are light they might be too stiff and buck you around, they are also a little bouncy in bumpy snow but that is expected on a 1200g ski that isn't a noodle.

I second this request. I skied alpine style last weekend on my new zero-g 85's. I've not skied alpine style since 1983. It was a blast. I didn't miss my freeheel gear. Reviews say the zero-g is "demanding" but are otherwise nebulous. Like descriptions of wine tasting. Only thing I noticed is there didn't seem to be much tail coming out of a turn to slow down before the next turn. That could just be poor technique, I don't know. Can someone explain what "demanding" means for the narrow waisted zero-g's? I want to get better so I want to know what to look for when folks say this ski is "demanding". They carve like crazy. TIA

I demo'd a pair a while ago, imo they aren't demanding- except that you can't be lazy with them.

While they have a bit of tip rocker, they're gonna hook if you're not making turns. You can't ski them flat on groomers. I guess what I'm saying: if you're a guy who skis exclusively in the backcountry and your skills are not that advanced (read: many recreational bc skiers are lazy and find themselves in the backseat whenever they hit untouched snow, and get bucked if they find variable conditions), you may want to go with something a bit more forgiving.

While they have a bit of tip rocker, they're gonna hook if you're not making turns. You can't ski them flat on groomers. I guess what I'm saying: if you're a guy who skis exclusively in the backcountry and your skills are not that advanced (read: many recreational bc skiers are lazy and find themselves in the backseat whenever they hit untouched snow, and get bucked if they find variable conditions), you may want to go with something a bit more forgiving.

You've described my G3 Zenoxide 93's, and me (lazy backseat driver), to a T. Not a marriage made in heaven, but I'm learning to live with them.

I second this request.

The Zero G skis (all of them, not just the 95) don't "ski themselves" - they are not pivoty and easy to ski in all types of snow. If that's what you're looking for you might want to look elsewhere. You need to be a decent skier with a grasp of the fundamentals and realize there are different ways to turn a ski. On the other hand, there's nothing I'd rather have on my feet in a steep and icy situation and I love mine.

Don't know about the others here, but I've de-tuned mine quite a bit. Rounded the edges at both tip and tail about 1" past the contact point, added about 1 degree of base edge bevel at the tip for another 3 inches, and changed the side edge bevel from 3 degrees to 1 degree. They still have better edge hold than anything else in the class and are more versatile than with the factory tune.

The Zero G skis (all of them, not just the 95) don't "ski themselves" - they are not pivoty and easy to ski in all types of snow. If that's what you're looking for you might want to look elsewhere.

So, with an eye toward "looking elsewhere," which of the skis on rover's original list tip the scales toward the "ski themselves" side of the spectrum? The K2 Wayback 96's?

Thanks for the tips on de-tuning. I've de-tuned my G3 Zenoxide's some but may need to do more (or just learn how to turn them).