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Soft or Stiffer Park Ski?

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CUSHKOMA
Posts: 171 - Karma: 655
When it comes to a park ski do you prefer it to have a softer or stiffer flex? I bought a pair of Atomic Punx this fall from the Virtika Pro Sale as I was looking for a pure park set up in an attempt to keep my Line Blends in better shape for all mountain ripping. These skis come from two completely opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of flex pattern though, and I'm not sure how I feel about the stiffness of the Punx after shreding on my Blends all last season. That being said, whats a solid park ski with a medium/soft flex pattern?

I'm 6'4 and weigh about 210. So preferably something in the 180-185 range and between 80-95 underfoot.
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Dec 17 2014 10:49PM
13 4
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profa_212
Posts: 8664 - Karma: 32,904
I thought the punx were a mid flexing ski?

But check out the Armada THalls...should be around the flex you are looking for.
Dec 17 2014 10:55PM
1 0
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qazwsxedc34
Posts: 2886 - Karma: 2,252
Stiffer skis are usually more stable at high speeds and are generally more responsive and durable. If you are always ripping and hitting massive features stiffer skis are usually better. Softer skis are also less poppy and aren’t as stable on large features. They are fun to jib with though.

The line chronic is a medium flex ski and I wouldn’t say the punx are super stiff.
Dec 17 2014 10:55PM
2 0
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Spiri7o
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 1,100
CONAIR_BUSCEMIStiffer skis are usually more stable at high speeds and are generally more responsive and durable. If you are always ripping and hitting massive features stiffer skis are usually better. Softer skis are also less poppy and aren’t as stable on large features. They are fun to jib with though.

The line chronic is a medium flex ski and I wouldn’t say the punx are super stiff.


great response! +K
Dec 19 2014 12:13AM
2 1
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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
Profahoben_212I thought the punx were a mid flexing ski?

But check out the Armada THalls...should be around the flex you are looking for.


this. the thalls are IMO the perfect mid flex no rocker park ski. they are stable going big but are soft enough to butter with ease. not to mention they are light as hell. armada really killed it on these i would give them a google or two!
Dec 19 2014 3:10AM
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ismael
Posts: 19 - Karma: 34
im confused, the mayority voted for flexy skis, but stiffer skis seems to be better cause they are more poppy, stable, also better for hitting big stuff, how would a flexy ski be a good ski if is not good enough to perform great in all of the park aspects? would a soft ski be good by being wider underfoot? would that compensate the stability for being soft?
(for xmpl: line TC on big jumps)

to be precise... is the flex too important, or is just personal liking?
Dec 30 2014 11:11PM
0 0
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gnarRat
Posts: 105 - Karma: 992
Armada halo 2s they are 95 underfoot and would be soft-medium flex for your weight. They have early rise and some rocker so they can shred in some pow, but they are also a main park ski, but if your looking for a ski strictly for park, these may not be the right ones.They rip all mountain.
Dec 31 2014 12:23AM
0 1
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
kitten factory rayzrblaydz. medium flex in the noses, stiffer tails. they rip all over http://www.kittenfactoryskis.com/14-15-rayzrblaydz/ go check them out
Dec 31 2014 1:10AM
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BaileyB
Posts: 589 - Karma: 160
I have ar7s, and previously had line chronics. The ar7s are much stiffer and I am considering going back to a softer more playful park ski as well, can anyone reccomend some?
Dec 31 2014 9:37PM
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,582
ismaelim confused, the mayority voted for flexy skis, but stiffer skis seems to be better cause they are more poppy, stable, also better for hitting big stuff, how would a flexy ski be a good ski if is not good enough to perform great in all of the park aspects? would a soft ski be good by being wider underfoot? would that compensate the stability for being soft?
(for xmpl: line TC on big jumps)

to be precise... is the flex too important, or is just personal liking?


alot of people find the fun from softer skis to outweigh the versatility of stiffer skis. Width does contribute to stablility, but with the TC's I wouldn't try anything over a 5 on 50+ booters and thats really pushing it. THe TC's are also torsionally soft, so they won't hold and edge or be structurally stable on big jumps either.
Jan 4 2015 10:32PM
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youngloaf
Posts: 216 - Karma: 733
You seem like a big dude, so I would go stiffer, if you jump a lot you'll want the pop of a stiffer ski, if you like to get jibby all day then look for a softer ski, a cambered ski forces you to keep your skills and techniques tight not sloppy like those on rockered skis.
Jan 4 2015 11:23PM
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emerson.hale
Posts: 67 - Karma: 28
If you want a soft to medium flexing ski go with the ON3P filthy riches THEY ARE INCREDIBLE.
Jan 5 2015 12:54PM
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assatrailz
Posts: 324 - Karma: 745
Flexir bruh I got the 2015TCs and there the most flexible ski iv ever used and there sick in the park.
Jan 5 2015 1:56PM
0 2
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7099 - Karma: 17,045
I would say both stiff and soft have there place. A stiffer ski is much better for bigger features where you are travelling faster. But they will be less playful at slower speeds. So if most of your skiing is in a hike park or a small rope toe park you may well find you prefer a softer ski as you are never hitting things fast. Just like any part of skiing how and what you ski is a big factor in what will work Best.
Jan 5 2015 2:47PM
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