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Recommend All MTN Ski for eventual touring

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tittyboi
Posts: 65 - Karma: 137
Alright NS stay with me. I haven't bought new skis in years and am finally thinking about an upgrade for this season. It will be evident that I am incredibly indecisive and incapable of making prompt decision of my own, and as such, will way overthink, overcomplicate, and overanalyze my decision, that once made will probably stand for another 5 years before considering new skis.

Now with that said, here is my current predicament:

I've owned a pair of Surface New Lives for probably 5 years now (think, wide 122mm waist with 3 stage rocker pow skis and alpine binders). I absolutely love these skis. I'm from the east coast and have only used them on the east coast. I have an original pair of FT booters that are nice for the park but shitty for all mtn even with stiffer tongues. I want to upgrade but money isn't there for new boots at the moment...anyways I digress...

This season is finally the year I think I will ski out west. It's been 8+ years in the making but I feel good about getting some solid skiing in with REEL powder and REEL mountains.

I finally have my pow skis hooray!! But they're pretty old and pretty beat up by now (let's just say I used them more on rails than on actual snow back east). So naturally I need newer skis!

And I really want to get into touring. But I don't have the money for bindings, new boots, safety gear, etc. I still want a powder ski, but something less bulky and heavy than the New Lives that I could eventually put touring binders on. I do have an old pair of FKS that have been sitting in my closet for 5 years which I can temporarily throw on. Here are the criteria I want in a new ski:

-around 105-115 in the waist with some rocker/camber combination
-twin tipper cuz I still like hitting jumps and the occasional park feature (kinda over rails at this point)
-light(ish) but doesn't need to be overkill carbon fiber light
-will eventually make a decent touring rig with skins and binders, but for now will be fun as a daily driver for glades, pow, and kicking around on groomers.
-For now I have a pair of alpine binders to throw on in combination of somewhat flimsy park boots that I can make due with until upgrading perhaps next season.

I've been thinking perhaps the Surface Daily? Or something equivalent. http://www.surfaceskis.com/hardgoods/mountain-creative/daily/index.html

What do ya'll think? Thanks so much for your help!
Dec 5 2015 12:28PM
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Beast.coast
Posts: 71 - Karma: 291
You just described the Atomic Automatic 109
Dec 5 2015 1:35PM
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tittyboi
Posts: 65 - Karma: 137
jack.brendelYou just described the Atomic Automatic 109


thanks those look pretty rad!

Any other suggestions?
Dec 6 2015 12:35PM
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Beast.coast
Posts: 71 - Karma: 291
Can't think of anything else
Dec 6 2015 4:17PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7408 - Karma: 11,040
Blizzard Peacemaker or Gunsmoke
Dec 7 2015 4:48PM
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sammy_JJ
Posts: 257 - Karma: 115
all of those and maybe the Faction 3.0
Dec 7 2015 10:32PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
those surfaces are pretty light for a ski of that size imo.

That said, have you ever skied a full rocker ski?

4frnt HOJIs or Devastators
Faction 3.0s
Volkl Ones

Unless you plan on riding a lot of bullet proof ice, I think full rocker is hard to beat.
Dec 7 2015 10:39PM
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tittyboi
Posts: 65 - Karma: 137
japanadathose surfaces are pretty light for a ski of that size imo.

That said, have you ever skied a full rocker ski?

4frnt HOJIs or Devastators
Faction 3.0s
Volkl Ones

Unless you plan on riding a lot of bullet proof ice, I think full rocker is hard to beat.


Yeah man Surface New Lives (not sure what they're called now?) full tip and tail rocker 122mm waist, symmetrical. I dig but lately I've been thinking a ski slightly more directional with subtle rocker for touring but i don't know!
Dec 8 2015 12:17PM
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Phog.
Posts: 516 - Karma: 184
if you are touring on full rocker skis its like snow shoeing on 4 inch pieces of plywood that weigh 10 pounds each. not worth it. if you have to have a one ski quiver i recommend a blizzard peacemaker or going with a directional ski. directionals can still hit jumps with the best of them, just no aggressive switch riding and a little less pop. i ride on nordica enforcers when I'm on a directional ski, and it charges harder through variable snow and bumps harder than any ski I've ever been on. used a shreditor 112 as a touring ski and that was borderline ok. vokl gotama could be good too. if you're skiing fast in pow you don't need so much rocker.
Dec 8 2015 10:05PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
tittyboiYeah man Surface New Lives (not sure what they're called now?) full tip and tail rocker 122mm waist, symmetrical. I dig but lately I've been thinking a ski slightly more directional with subtle rocker for touring but i don't know!


They still have cmaber underfoot if i recall correctly. Full rocker think of it like an upside down banana, no camber at all. Super playful, and depending on the model can still crush carving as long as its not boiler plate.

Phog.if you are touring on full rocker skis its like snow shoeing on 4 inch pieces of plywood that weigh 10 pounds each. not worth it. if you have to have a one ski quiver i recommend a blizzard peacemaker or going with a directional ski. directionals can still hit jumps with the best of them, just no aggressive switch riding and a little less pop. i ride on nordica enforcers when I'm on a directional ski, and it charges harder through variable snow and bumps harder than any ski I've ever been on. used a shreditor 112 as a touring ski and that was borderline ok. vokl gotama could be good too. if you're skiing fast in pow you don't need so much rocker.


Ive toured on full rocker as do many of my friends, Ive only had a hard time once, and that was on boilerplate windblown skin trail. Even then you just have to be very deliberate with where you pressure your weight. Got to make sure the weight is over your heels and youll be just fine. That said the peacemaker is a great, lighter weight do it all ski, with more of a traditional shape and ski style.
Dec 8 2015 11:02PM
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JibbaTheHutt
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,597
Line mordecai might be worth looking at, obviously a freestyle orientated ski but with the new cloud core the weight has been dropped so might be a good one for when you're ready to start touring.

114 underfoot so meets pretty much all your criteria to be honest.
Dec 9 2015 11:52AM
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powderwhor
Posts: 380 - Karma: 725
ON3P Jeffrey 114
ON3P Kartel 106
J Skis The Vacation 106
J Skis The Metal 106
J Skis The Friend 114

All of these are some of the best skis in the world, I swear on it. Handmade, 2.5x2.5 mm edges, UHMW full height sidewalls, sintered bases... the works. Out west, they will all crush absolutely everything including hardpack and park.
Dec 9 2015 12:00PM
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powderwhor
Posts: 380 - Karma: 725
All of those skis are directional twin tips, camber underfoot with tip and tail rocker (i.e. mustache rocker). Both have carbon stringers. Extremely playful and forgiving. But at the same time, literally no speed limit.
Dec 9 2015 12:04PM
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saskskier
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 9,984
japanadaThey still have cmaber underfoot if i recall correctly. Full rocker think of it like an upside down banana, no camber at all. Super playful, and depending on the model can still crush carving as long as its not boiler plate..


New Life's are flat underfoot. No camber.
Dec 9 2015 12:16PM
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skidemon22
Posts: 4417 - Karma: 1,935
I have the Volkl gotama with the marker duke for this exact reason. Awesome set up right there. Other wise the Salomon rocker 108 with the guardian binding is another worthy option too
Dec 10 2015 3:28AM
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tittyboi
Posts: 65 - Karma: 137
okay now here's a completely different direction. What are your thoughts on a regular camber, non rockered mid-fat ski? Like the Joystick These:

http://www.joystickskiing.com/products/skis/index.html

I can get a wicked good deal on em
Dec 10 2015 3:43PM
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*DOG
Posts: 239 - Karma: 466
on3p kartel 106 looks like a good option for you, great all mountain ski and also has enough rocker and is wide enough to take on a little pow. If you want something a little more touring based that will be better for touring later on id say atomic automatic 109 the only thing is they aren't full twin tip i don't think.
Dec 10 2015 3:45PM
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
tittyboiokay now here's a completely different direction. What are your thoughts on a regular camber, non rockered mid-fat ski? Like the Joystick These:

http://www.joystickskiing.com/products/skis/index.html

I can get a wicked good deal on em


That ski is a complete noodle and will be no fun outside the park.

As other have said I would recommend the blizzard gunsmoke, I was using it as my everyday ski until recently when my regulators showed up. it's 114 under foot, tip and tail rocker, stiff underfoot softer tips and tails so it is pretty stable but still fun. Also you can find last years or the year before that for like $350 online, and they haven't changed the ski in years.
Dec 11 2015 12:48PM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
tittyboiokay now here's a completely different direction. What are your thoughts on a regular camber, non rockered mid-fat ski? Like the Joystick These:

http://www.joystickskiing.com/products/skis/index.html

I can get a wicked good deal on em


I think full camber for anything but a pure carving ski is/should be a thing of the past. Im all for camber and flat tails, but tip rocker makes such a difference nowdays
Dec 11 2015 6:23PM
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