Member of the Month

JalmarKalmar
April, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

What skis?

profile picture
585.
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 77

Sorry NS I hate to make this thread. I have searched and havent really found the exact answer im looking for. Last year was my first year skiing and I rode 168 salomon spks from like 06/07. Now my friend is starting up skiing and wants to buy my skis. So I have been looking and reading reviews but I still can't quite pick the right ski.

I'm 5'7" 135lbs. Still learning how to ride in the park. I would say about 60% park 40% all mtn. I will not be hitting any 80ft jumps or skiing any deep pow anytime soon. I just learned how to slide some rails and boxs this summer so I need something that can take some abuse on rails but is still soft and playful when screwing around in the woods and on little side trails.

The skis I have been looking at are Armada AR6(08/09 or 09/10), Volkl Wall(08/09), Line Invader(08/09), also been looking a little into Salomon Suspect(09/10). Now I have read many reviews on the suspect and heard they arent durable at all. But is there a warranty or something that comes with the ski so if the edge snaps off I can send them in to get a new pair?

These are just a few of skis that I have been looking at. So can someone please help me make a choice on what skis to get. And answer the question about the suspects. Oh and please dont recommend the Line Afterbang, I'm not that interested unless someone tells me something amazing about them.

Thanks.
Oct 17 2009 6:48PM
0 0
profile picture
yeahitsdave
Posts: 1315 - Karma: 10
So, out of what you listed, the Walls are probably going to be more stiff than you are looking for. Its fun, but not as playful as you (seem) to want. The suspects are only going to be slightly softer and slightly more playful. This years suspects are (supposedly) better than last years as far as durability goes, from what I hear out of the salomon camp, the edge issues were more of a quality control issue (as the production was moved to china) than a design issue- that being said I still don't know how much I trust them, nor do I trust that salomon will warranty them if they break.

So now you're down to invader and ar6. Ar6 is soft, but more stable all mountain, invader is just soft. If you wanted something a little more stable all mountain from line, I'd look into the new anthem. More carbon than previous years that stiffens it up a hair but gives it sooooo much life. I'd also look into the atomic punx, just a hair stiffer than the ar6, but just as playful and fun skiing all mountain.

So, my recommendations, Anthem, Punx, AR6, in that order.
Oct 17 2009 7:31PM
0 0
profile picture
Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
I would say:
Punx, Anthem, AR6/Line Masterminds.

Also, God bless you for not wanting the Afterbangs.
Oct 17 2009 7:35PM
0 0
profile picture
pigglywiggly
Posts: 4482 - Karma: 305
well i just got back from my local shop and i flexed a ton of skis. suspects are really stiff, almost as stiff as walls. walls had way more pop. ar6s tip was almost or just as soft as the new anthems tip, but the ar6s tail was way stiffer. the ar6 is going to be much better all mountain because there is much more sidecut on the ar6 than the anthem, the stiffer tail, and its non symmetrical...there wasnt any atomics though.

on another note, im not trying to thread jack, but i just dropped of my ar6s at the shop to get mounted, and i forgot to mark the line on the ski where i wanted it mounted which is 1.5 back, and the only lines on the ski to mount is 2.5 and 5.0 back..i wrote it down on the sheet that i wanted it 1.5 back, but there is no mark on the ski that says 1.5, so do you think he may mount it 2.5 back by accident?
Oct 17 2009 7:40PM
0 0
profile picture
585.
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 77
Interesting I never even considered the Punx but now I am starting to take more of an interest in them and they seem to be more of a better fit for me. Thanks +k
Oct 17 2009 7:43PM
0 0
profile picture
Meggadoomer
Posts: 56 - Karma: 10
keep in mind that the anthem will be easier to ski fakie because it has symmetrical flex and it is a center mount ski. the invader is very soft and wont preform well outside the park.
Oct 17 2009 8:06PM
0 0
profile picture
585.
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 77
ok i have to bump this thread because i have another question. i read some reviews on the urban punx and just wanted to know if that is a suitable ski for me? thoughts?
Oct 27 2009 8:40PM
0 0
profile picture
pigglywiggly
Posts: 4482 - Karma: 305
never even flexed them but from what i heard, the urban's straight up soft. like just as or softer than incader soft. steer clear. id look in to the ar6, thall (more playful than ar6), anthem, punx, liberty LTE
Oct 27 2009 8:44PM
0 0
profile picture
585.
Posts: 4059 - Karma: 77
alright thanks, i have pretty much narrowed my options to ar6 or punx. leaning more towards ar6 right now
Oct 27 2009 8:53PM
0 0
profile picture
pigglywiggly
Posts: 4482 - Karma: 305
yep, thats what i got. im only 110 pounds and i could press the tips really easily in my basement haha. the tails are way stiffer though. if youre scared of them being too stiff, go thalls. i advice you just to stay with armada if having a symmetrical ski isnt important to you
Oct 27 2009 9:05PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)