Mike,D'hostie wrote:I don't pretend to know your business, but I can read, and from what I've read, it seems like the S112 isn't cutting the mustard for what you want. Trust me, I have its little brother, and love it, but I certainly don't ski it on piste and I know it's not the fastest ski in my quiver; it's particularly slow feeling on packed down trails.fisheater wrote: Mike, the reason why I am not looking at Objectives is because I have an S-112. The s-112 may not be as torsionally as rigid as the Objective, but they are in the same class. I certainly do not have the terrain that Phoenix or Connyro have. Even for the northern lower peninsula of Michigan a ski that can carry speed makes the touring for turns better. Actually you talk about the steep short ups and downs in your area. Picture something similar to that with finding some 200 to 300 foot down hills if you pick the right area. In my neck of the woods it might be 150 feet or so. A ski needs some speed in the rolls to be fun. That being said, we get 2 feet on occasion. The s-112 is fun to ski downhill in powder, and while not fast it is capable as a powder trail ski.
I might be dreaming of the impossible, but I really could use something between the USGI and the s-112.
I could go find the quotes but it seems you think it's a tad slow and not really at its full potential on hardpack. I get that. Pretty sure I said the same things long ago about my S98s. It's a wicked fun ski when we get big dump, but you know what else would fill that void? Yup. It would also do better than the 112 at the resort, I bet.
Thing is, I think you actually need two skis. There's no one that's going to do all that stuff you asked. Sorry. It just doesn't exist. Couple routes you could take, but I would prioritize here. What do you enjoy skiing the most? What do you wind up skiing the most? Seen as how I live in a similar environment as you but on the other side of Lake Erie, I bet I know the answer.
The options, as I see it, are such:
- Spend a lot of money on a trail ski which you'll likely use a lot, but won't fulfill all the requirements and won't be as much fun when you get a big dump. Keep skiing your S112 in big dumps and at the resorts, and live with the compromise.
- Buy a decent, used ski for the resort and stick with what you have. There are TONS of older shaped skis out there that will work great with your T4s. Look in the direction woods has gone.
- Spend a lot of money on a really sweet steep and deep ski that will still rip at the resort and get rid of your S112. Look around for a used or beater trail ski - old Karhus, S Bounds, whatever... don't be too picky. Anything in the mid-widths will be good and most anything from the last 10 years will be easier to handle dh than those USGI skis. Those things are bears. They are stiff though, I give them that.
Seen as how I'm in a similar environment as you, I'm trying to give you some reasonable feedback. The ski I grab 9/10 around my house to ski beat up hiking trails is my S78. It's tough, stable, reliable, and I bought it fairly cheap. Anything like that will work though. They are downhillable, but not a dh ski. They are decently fast. And you don't care that much about so you'll ski it over rocks and sticks and shit when the cover is thin.
Now when we get a big dump, I grab my S98s. But I also have a separate resort ski (2 actually). If I wanted one ski to cover both those bases, it'd not be any of the skis I have. The old Tua Heliums I have would be the closest, but they still aren't as good as a modern ski in terms of shape and geometry, and they are pretty stiff torsionally, but no where near what a carbon reinforced ski will be.
Thank you for taking the time for taking your time to put your thoughts down. They are really spot on. You are correct in your assessment of my opinion of the s-112, and I often wonder if indeed the s-98 would be a superior ski for my uses. However, I do enjoy the s-112 in powder, and it would be suitable if a made a foray into the the UP when it gets deep. For instance if I went to the telemark festival up in the Porcupine Mountains and hooked up with some skiers to yo-yo some backcountry. Even if everybody was in the group was on Vectors, if I could not hang, it would be me, not the skis. I might need to work a little harder, but it would be me, not the skis if I could not hang.
As for a resort ski to ski with my T-4's, I have that in my Volkl V-21 Vertigo skis. The used Hammerheads I mounted them with have not worked out. On the third turn I made in them I felt the spring fatigue out. Could not keep the ski on. I have new springs, but with all the fastener shops in my area which is only 30 miles north of Detroit I will have to mail order new binding screws. The thing is that I really am not interested in skiing the resort in my T-4's. I want to ski in leathers. There was a time in my life when I was on alpine skis all I wanted to ski was steep. Now my focus is to rip in leather boots. The T-4's just are not the same, and whether it's the Porkies, or Saugatuck Dunes leather is more fun in the rolling hills that lead to 200-300 feet of vertical, then more rolling hills.
So you are again correct when you state exactly what I ponder. Can I handle an Ingstad the way I would like on the downhill? If I could rip it the resort in all conditions? If I could I think I could ski it pretty well on them in the back country. If I bought a Falketind 62 would I be satisfied with it's trail performance? If it's trail performance was in the middle between the s-112 and the USGI I would be happy.
Which brings me to my trail ski, which I will ski most of the time near home. I really like the USGI. I have some trouble when the snow gets really thin and shiney. I think I have come up with a solution. I am going to mount my other USGI, and use it as my klister ski. I really like the USGI (ignorance is bliss), I think I can get by with klister instead of scales, so why not just use one of the two for the goo? I had been thinking of routering scales into my spare USGI, but I think I like the klister ski idea better.
Mike, I want to thank you again for pointing out your experience with some of these skis. I appreciate your analysis, and you are willing to take your time to offer a well thought out opinion. Most of all it is great to read your posts again.
Did those babies have a good Christmas?
