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Stiff vs flexible ski in the park

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SleptUnworn
Posts: 3 - Karma: 87
First post on a forum ever so bare with me. I'm looking to get a pair of park skis for this season and I can't decide which skis to get. The main thing holding me back is whether to get a stiff ski, or a flexible ski. I'm not new to skiing, but I am new to the park. I won't be going of massive jumps, and I'll be starting on small rails. Anyways which kind of ski would be better for a biginner park skier like me. Stiff or flexible? Right now looking at line chronic for as a stiff ski and the volkl revolt as a softer one. Would love to hear your inputs on this and maybe some suggestions on a pair of skis I should look at.
Oct 24 2015 1:37AM
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katieking
Posts: 3 - Karma: 72
I ride Armada ARW - these are similar to the AR7's mens ski. A fairly stiff ski, and I think stiffer skis tend to give me more 'pop' for rails and jumps and feel like a get a surer landing on big kickers. Which as a girl I like my skis to feel like they give back what I put it (I feel like when I push down to pop, they push me back up). However, riding softer skis are more playful for learning to butter etc but I dont feel as stable on the rails.
Hope you find some you like.
Oct 24 2015 6:20AM
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,499
If you're a beginner in the park you'll probably want a medium stiffness ski. Something that isn't going to wash out on you and something that will be forgiving on the awkward landings while you're learning. How much do you weigh and how tall are you?

Line Chronic's aren't really that stiff, they're more of a medium flex, a stiff park ski would be something like the Armada Alpha X's or Fischer Nightsticks. I'm unsure what the flex is like on those Volk's.

Basically what you want is something cheap and medium flex/stiffness, the Line Chronic's would be a pretty good choice, Armada T-Hall's could also be an option they're a soft-medium flex ski but stable at the same time because they're full camber. Atomic Infamous are also a good choice and fairly cheap. The best way to decide is to demo some skis.
Oct 24 2015 6:28AM
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Jon_Taffer
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 5,383
for starting out, i would go a bit more on the stiffer side. personally, i love my skis more soft, but for learning stiffer skis are by far the better option. you will pop more and wash out less on landings. dont get something super stiff as that just wont be as fun for a begginner. out of your choices id go for the chronic. stiff enough to step your game up in the park but soft enough to learn butters and have fun all around the mountain
Oct 24 2015 9:31AM
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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,837
chronic are a great choice for a beginner park ski, but not the best you can get. id say look into the aforementioned armada thalls, and atomic infamous. they are both solid stable beginner skis that arent so still that they will buck you but not so soft that they will over bend. not to mention the price point is great.
Oct 24 2015 9:35AM
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jynx81
Posts: 359 - Karma: 479
I always get stiffies. I dont like soft skis they have a tendency to give out on me.
Oct 24 2015 10:17AM
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SleptUnworn
Posts: 3 - Karma: 87
Wow great advice! Thank you so much guys. Love this forum and the people out there willing to help! Wish u all the greatest conditions and the best snow this year
Oct 24 2015 10:22AM
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SleptUnworn
Posts: 3 - Karma: 87
NegromancerIf you're a beginner in the park you'll probably want a medium stiffness ski. Something that isn't going to wash out on you and something that will be forgiving on the awkward landings while you're learning. How much do you weigh and how tall are you?

Line Chronic's aren't really that stiff, they're more of a medium flex, a stiff park ski would be something like the Armada Alpha X's or Fischer Nightsticks. I'm unsure what the flex is like on those Volk's.

Basically what you want is something cheap and medium flex/stiffness, the Line Chronic's would be a pretty good choice, Armada T-Hall's could also be an option they're a soft-medium flex ski but stable at the same time because they're full camber. Atomic Infamous are also a good choice and fairly cheap. The best way to decide is to demo some skis.


I'm 5'10" and 165 lbs without any gear on
Oct 24 2015 10:27AM
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chicknfriedsteak
Posts: 984 - Karma: 4,691
Chronics are a great ski, and I'd reccomend them, but they aren't real stiff. I've been using them as my daily driver for the last the last few years and I love them. For a center mounted park ski they carve really well and despite what other people might say, they can handle some pretty high speeds without chattering of washing out. They even are decent in pow, although no where as good as a wider more rockered ski. They also are pretty durable, the topsheets chip like shit, but well that's a problem with any line ski. But I've skied these a lot of places where skis should not go and hit a lot of rocks and yet the bases are still in pretty good shape.
Oct 24 2015 11:26AM
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BCski95
Posts: 151 - Karma: 353
i had chronics for just under two seasons and i loved them they had a great flex for buttering but were still decently stiff. Compared to my new al dentes the chronics are so light and low swing weight.
Oct 24 2015 8:39PM
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Deepskier
Posts: 3267 - Karma: 4,819
Get something medium flex I really like armada stuff maybe some pipe cleaners or t halls but look into the Rossignol slats they are wide medium to soft flex and will mob in park, pow and all-mountain the are little heavy tho but once you upgrade to a light ski when its time you will be able to haul and future spin everything
Oct 24 2015 10:26PM
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Swandog7
Posts: 4955 - Karma: 9,019
The infamous might be a decent ski for you. Small early rise, medium flex so won't wash out but till help in awkward landings, and pops great. I would say try and get something with a similar flex as them, a medium stiff ski would be great. I wouldn't get a ski with a good a mount of rocker either. some small early rise would work well though
Oct 24 2015 10:34PM
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freewillie
Posts: 429 - Karma: 3,321
I would say getting a fairly light ski is something to think about too, it will make things easier 4sure
Oct 24 2015 10:53PM
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Rice
Posts: 311 - Karma: 2,228
what everyone else has said is on point.

I myself have the chronics, good all-round ski.

Just get your bindings centre-mounted, helps a tonne.
Oct 25 2015 2:30AM
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uturn
Posts: 183 - Karma: 380
My extremely biased opinion is to go for the volkls, they're awesome skis and are much lighter than the chronics
Oct 26 2015 9:48AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
If you are an extremely aggressive skier or have any sort of a racer background DO NOT get soft skis. You will hate the crap out of them. Get a good all mtn ski many out there do the research. Ski won't really make or break your park skills at this point
Oct 26 2015 11:54AM
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powderwhor
Posts: 380 - Karma: 725
J skis! Nice progressive flex, stable underfoot, soft in the tip and tails with a tiny bit of rocker and 5 point sidecut. Perfect all mountain park skis that can literally do everything. Just the right blend of stiff and soft.
Oct 26 2015 6:11PM
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Cranky
Posts: 6 - Karma: 24
Chronic are great skis. I defiantly recommend them. I've had them for 2 seasons and they can ski well on everything. They're light and you can butter on them pretty easily, but they still have a nice pop. They can also carve well and you will still feel in control even at high speeds.
Nov 5 2015 12:25AM
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EClay46
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 69
yup definitely something in the medium to stiff range, since your a beginner in park but your not a beginning skier I doubt you are going to be riding all park all day, a stiffer ski will give you some versatility and let you have fun all over the mountain.

Now a days with all the ski technology we have you can get the best of both worlds, look for something that is stiff with some kind of butter zone or tip rocker
Nov 5 2015 2:57AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
I'd go with something stiff. Chances are your not going to be in the park 100% fo the time and if you want to actually have fun elsewhere on the mtn stiff ski will win any day of the week. Soft skis are only good for one thing..park riding. So fi you have a few pairs of skis go for it otherwise go stiff.

Lot of options to choose. I'd personally go wtih Surface Park Blanks...cheap, high quality, and ride all mtn very nicely.
Nov 5 2015 9:39AM
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milo-mcsenderson
Posts: 602 - Karma: 7,542
EClay46yup definitely something in the medium to stiff range, since your a beginner in park but your not a beginning skier I doubt you are going to be riding all park all day, a stiffer ski will give you some versatility and let you have fun all over the mountain.

Now a days with all the ski technology we have you can get the best of both worlds, look for something that is stiff with some kind of butter zone or tip rocker


What kind of ski would provide this?

I am a competent big mountain skier and I'm going to be teaching on my season in Whistler. My everyday ski is Volkl Mantra 184 and I wear Dalbello boots (great combo) for general skiing.

I am also looking for a park ski, I own Line Blends ($200 with bindings for messing around on) but they're too wide and aren't centre mounted as they're ex rental.

I like the idea of getting Chronics and the above replies suggest they're great. Would love something playful but a decent stiffness for shredding round the piste but also off piste.

Also been looking at ON3P FR's.

I am 6ft 1 and 75kgs so what would people suggest?

(Sorry if I have jacked the thread but didn't want to clog the forum)
Nov 5 2015 10:17AM
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EClay46
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 69
MF-HARPWhat kind of ski would provide this?

I am a competent big mountain skier and I'm going to be teaching on my season in Whistler. My everyday ski is Volkl Mantra 184 and I wear Dalbello boots (great combo) for general skiing.

I am also looking for a park ski, I own Line Blends ($200 with bindings for messing around on) but they're too wide and aren't centre mounted as they're ex rental.

I like the idea of getting Chronics and the above replies suggest they're great. Would love something playful but a decent stiffness for shredding round the piste but also off piste.

Also been looking at ON3P FR's.

I am 6ft 1 and 75kgs so what would people suggest?

(Sorry if I have jacked the thread but didn't want to clog the forum)


Are you looking for a specific width? I was going to Suggsest the ARV's but I see you thought the blend was too wide? I've skied arv's a handful of times and I thought they were pretty fricking awesome, they do have more sidecut giving them a better turn radius than the blends. Another option could be the shredditor 92, if you're interested I might be able to get you an older pair of kung fujas if you'd like, shop I worked at was looking to sell them this past April, if they still are I could grab em for you
Nov 6 2015 1:00AM
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milo-mcsenderson
Posts: 602 - Karma: 7,542
EClay46Are you looking for a specific width? I was going to Suggsest the ARV's but I see you thought the blend was too wide? I've skied arv's a handful of times and I thought they were pretty fricking awesome, they do have more sidecut giving them a better turn radius than the blends. Another option could be the shredditor 92, if you're interested I might be able to get you an older pair of kung fujas if you'd like, shop I worked at was looking to sell them this past April, if they still are I could grab em for you


With the blends, they were just ex rentals I got cheap and they're too short and not mounted where I want them. It's nothing against the ski at all but the ones I have aren't right for me but we're perfect for messing around on. The ARV and Shredditor look like a decent middle ground between park and all mountain.
Nov 6 2015 5:58AM
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YoungWookiee
Posts: 681 - Karma: 393
MF-HARPWhat kind of ski would provide this?

I am a competent big mountain skier and I'm going to be teaching on my season in Whistler. My everyday ski is Volkl Mantra 184 and I wear Dalbello boots (great combo) for general skiing.

I am also looking for a park ski, I own Line Blends ($200 with bindings for messing around on) but they're too wide and aren't centre mounted as they're ex rental.

I like the idea of getting Chronics and the above replies suggest they're great. Would love something playful but a decent stiffness for shredding round the piste but also off piste.

Also been looking at ON3P FR's.

I am 6ft 1 and 75kgs so what would people suggest?

(Sorry if I have jacked the thread but didn't want to clog the forum)


I recommend you the filthy riches! i had a pair of 181s and i was 6,1 when i got them but im 6,3 now and i would go for the 186s now and then you should get them in 186
Nov 6 2015 6:41PM
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YoungWookiee
Posts: 681 - Karma: 393
MF-HARPWhat kind of ski would provide this?

I am a competent big mountain skier and I'm going to be teaching on my season in Whistler. My everyday ski is Volkl Mantra 184 and I wear Dalbello boots (great combo) for general skiing.

I am also looking for a park ski, I own Line Blends ($200 with bindings for messing around on) but they're too wide and aren't centre mounted as they're ex rental.

I like the idea of getting Chronics and the above replies suggest they're great. Would love something playful but a decent stiffness for shredding round the piste but also off piste.

Also been looking at ON3P FR's.

I am 6ft 1 and 75kgs so what would people suggest?

(Sorry if I have jacked the thread but didn't want to clog the forum)
4

I recommend you the filthy riches! i had a pair of 181s and i was 6,1 when i got them but im 6,3 now and i would go for the 186s now and then you should get them in 186
Nov 6 2015 6:42PM
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Yung_Feb
Posts: 122 - Karma: 529
Chronics are dope if you want a ski that rips outside the park as well as does everything in the park. They arent super stiff, but they dont chatter at high speeds and will definitely give you support you want. Im 6'4, 200 and they are perfect stiffness for me, I can flex them but they arent noodles
Nov 7 2015 3:12PM
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