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EP Pro's vs. Hellbents (possible +k opportunity)

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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
6'0
170 lbs.
Class 3 skier.
Northwest skiing. (Hood, Baker, Steven's, Snoqualmie, ect.)

These will be used a a fairly general ski, basically everything minus park.
Probably putting a pair of jesters on either one.
I'm leaning more towards the EP's purely because I've fallen in love with my anthems, but I can be easily swayed.

I'm just looking for informed information of the differences of the skis from people who have actually skied them, not from twelve year olds who copied the specs from the websites.

Thanks.
Mar 27 2009 1:14AM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
from what i've heard, i have not ridden either one:

The Ep Pro- Basically a super flexy, more noodly and slightly wider version of the hellbent. I'd imagine that it floats a bit better and is like i said more noodly so it will be extremely fun for butters/presses etc. that noddliness has a down side. and it comes into play when it comes to groomers and bigger drops/jumps.
from what ive heard the bents are better at both jumps/drops and groomers just because they aren't as soft as the EP pros. and the Ep pros have more of a rocker therefore you are skiing on less of a ski, they come in a length of 185 but you are probably skiing on more of a 125-135 range.

The Hellbent- Like i said above^ virtually the same as the EP pro but stiffer (barely), less rocker and narrower (122 underfoot EP PRo is 127) I ski the Northwest too, Stevens is my home mountain and next year i am going with the bents as my powder ski. and im going to refer you to my friend "dr.derek" is his name on NS and he rides them and also rides stevens pass he could probably go more in depth but he rides them all the time, even in the park,

so i think that the bents are better all around but the EPs are better in powder


Mar 27 2009 1:51AM
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Fish_Sandwich.
Posts: 9108 - Karma: 16
I was considering helping you but I need to be ABSOLUTELY sure I'm getting that karma.
Mar 27 2009 2:18AM
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CFD
Posts: 1009 - Karma: 197
+k for a hilarious thread title
Mar 27 2009 2:46AM
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epic_line
Posts: 929 - Karma: 32
Ep are also lighter then the bents and feel like you're on a surfboard
Mar 27 2009 3:41AM
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s.bishop
Posts: 665 - Karma: 26
MT im wondering the same
Mar 27 2009 6:16AM
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
fine....karma whore.

7/10 now, 10/10 once you finish the job.
Mar 27 2009 11:18AM
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Z_rob
Posts: 3076 - Karma: 152
did i honestly not get any for something this long haha
Mar 27 2009 11:20AM
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
Click for larger image
Mar 27 2009 11:23AM
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
just kidding, i gave you a 10 too.
Mar 27 2009 11:24AM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,086
I've ridden both, the (189) bent's more extensively.

Obviously, the EP comes in only a 186 (a short 186 as it is). However, because of your height and weight, you need to pick between the 179 and 189 bents, which measure about 186 and 196 respectively.  The 189s are a little scarier in tight trees because of the length, but the added float and stability is quite nice.

Weight wise, the EP pros are certainly lighter. However, this comes with a super noodle flex which I overpowered a number of times while skiing them. I'm 5' 8" and 190, and I wouldn't trust them at speed or in chopped up snow.

The Hellbents are a little stiffer, especially nearer to the bindings. They also seem to do better in variable conditions and are less scary to go fast on because they have more support.

Both skis, though, are soft. When you land, the tips will balloon up in the snow, and sometimes they flex so much that it actually will stop you in a bomb hole and cause a nice punch front. They are both also rockered, which means that they are meh at best on hardpack and downright scary on steep ice. The soft flex only makes these conditions scarier.

However, if you are looking for an amazing powder ski, I would say the Hellbents might be the better of the two, because of your weight and height. Go with the 189s, and when it's dumping, you will thank Shane McConkey over and over for inventing rocker.




Mar 27 2009 11:29AM
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king.tubby
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 122
i own the EP's and, while i totally love them, they are not that versatile.  in anything soft, they are the most fun thing ever.  on "groomed" snow, they do alright,  definitely manageable though not great.  i find you really have to work to get the ski up on edge- its like a lot of pressure on your ankles or something, hard to explain.  and finally, in any sort of chopped up, refrozen, uneven crud, they pretty much blow.  very chatterry.  basically, the softness that makes them soooo much fun in the deep, pretty much makes them suck in variable conditions. IMO.
hellbents, i have not skied, but from what i have seen and read, perhaps they are a tad bit better for a "go everywhere" ski. 
sounds like you ski somewhere that gets lots of fresh snow most of the time, so maybe the EP would be good???
kind of a tough call. 
also, i should add that this has been kind of a lean snow year.  if i had had my EPs last winter, when it seemed like  everyday was a powder day, i would have skied them alot more.  this winter i have only busted them out a few times.
Mar 27 2009 11:54AM
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huge-go
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 33
I heard that ep pros are being stiffened up a bit for next season, so that should add a marginal amount all around skiability.
Mar 27 2009 2:33PM
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epic_line
Posts: 929 - Karma: 32
I'm going to buy next years ep pros... Can't wait
Mar 27 2009 5:21PM
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
too bad the graphics are only about half as good as this years....
Mar 27 2009 5:27PM
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Schoog
Posts: 279 - Karma: 10
i would go with eps just because they are lighter
Mar 27 2009 8:12PM
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whistlerpow
Posts: 115 - Karma: 10
you can check the nimbus guys shredding in pow on both of them. pollard in ep's and pep and andy on bents. get to it via line website. i have not skies ep's but judging by the video the bents look like theyd charge harder, better for big hucks etc, but the ep's look more surfy and slashy.
Mar 27 2009 8:35PM
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chazz.
Posts: 2721 - Karma: 23
Im 2 inches taller than you but weigh 170 as well. The only problem ive had with EP's is overpowering them. Sure, in powder of any sort, they ski like a million bucks. Same with hellbents. Whenever i was jumping though, or doing anything for that matter besides powder, the EP's were kinda just annoying because of the flex. Notice Pollard only uses them for powder....anyway if you are stuck on those two options id go hellbents, just beacuse of your size they will be more stable all around.
Mar 27 2009 8:58PM
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SHampson
Posts: 2355 - Karma: 1,180
god your insightful.
Mar 28 2009 2:10PM
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ski_DC
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 53
yo first off the EPs are 137 underfoot, not 127. i just skied them in some waist deep AK fluff, and they are the best skis i have ever used. so much fun. i am about 6'1 150 lbs, so i think they are the perfect size for me. they take some getting used to for sure, but once you do they are a dream. in pow i have never ridden anything better. they rule. so floaty and fun. also, it seemed like i landed everything i dropped with them. i was dropping 20-25 footers and stomping them, while usualy on my rossi BCs i am alot shakier. the flex is great, maybe a tad stiffer in the tails would be nice though. in my opinion, they can charge fairly decently as well. i am a pretty light guy, but they held up great in cement and chopped up crud. the tips flap a bit, but the skis seem to absorb everything. on groomers they are lots of fun, but again, take some getting used to. Even on ice they were ok. MUCH better than i thought. as long as you have a decent edge tune, youll be fine. if i didnt live in the mid atlantic, i would buy some in a heartbeat
Apr 1 2009 12:15AM
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ski_DC
Posts: 1347 - Karma: 53
my bad, they are indeed 127 underfoot
Apr 1 2009 12:18AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,398
your retarded, they are 127
Apr 1 2009 12:19AM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
I would help you but the karma system is dumb and I hate karma whoring.
Apr 1 2009 2:04AM
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
fine.
no karma will be rewarded or retracted for your response.


but you have to admit, have +K in the title does attract a lot more attention...
Apr 1 2009 2:09AM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
Honestly, if I added anything to this thread anyway it would just be rhetorical of what everyone else has already said. I think either would be a good option for you.
Apr 1 2009 2:22AM
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Big_Spence
Posts: 16177 - Karma: 4,352
fair enough.
your karma will remain at N/A from me.
Apr 1 2009 2:22AM
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Twig
Posts: 6336 - Karma: 57,070
Well I spent time on both skis (179 Bents and EP Pros) and as a result decided to buy the EP pro. It's lighter, I thought it was better on (Soft Swiss) groomers, and was more fun In the pow pow..
My review of the EP Pro:

At 6'0 170 and a type 3 skier however, I think the EP may come up a little short and soft, especially as I have heard northwest snow is fairly heavy (never skied there so maybe I have the wrong impression). 189 Bent might be a better option especially if you would want to 'charge' in any sense. 186 Moment Night Train/186/190 Moment Bibby might be worth a look too since they will be stiffer than either the Bent or EP but don't involve any extra length or (most likely) weight. I found the hellbent to be a little slow and heavy feeling on the hardpack, and the early taper on the EP pro reduces that and helps out in powder. The EP skis VERY short though. Personally I would look around outside these two skis if I were you, however if it is a straight up choice I think a 189 Hellbent would be the most versatile.


Apr 1 2009 3:11AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 149
The wrong type of attention.

I immediately change my attitude when +k is mentioned in the thread title - and it doesn't change in a positive way.
Apr 1 2009 3:27AM
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ncbabbs
Posts: 94 - Karma: -20
Alright, I ski with K2 Obsetheds, which are great skis. I have a friend with hellbents, and my brother in-law has EP Pro's. Here's what I know:
Hellbents:
K2 makes high-quality shit
Definitely big mountain boards, less soft than the EP's
Pow-slashers
Okay at skiing pow switch, not as good as the EP's
EP's:
Floaty as hell
Great at switch pow skiing
Buttery
Not stiff enough for sending it big on anything less than a foot of fresh

Both good skis, Hellbents more BIg-Mountain, EP's more Pow-Jib
Apr 13 2009 6:42PM
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Krook3d
Posts: 240 - Karma: 21
Personally havent ridden Ep's but i do own a pair of hellbents.
And i honestly can say that their a dream ski to have. Everytime i use them i just get happier and happier that i made the purchase. They absolutely destroy anything that comes in their path, whether it be groomers, crud, moguls, freshies or whatever! The only downside i would even bring up about them is when you are going high speeds on groomers, the tips get really choppy and it can be a bit scary, that being said i wouldnt get the Ep's just for that reason, (seeing as they are softer then bents) Like the first time i rode them there was about 5cm of fresh with about 2cm of crud and i have never gone so fast on a ski in those conditions in my life. To be honest this ski actually changed my life. And within the first day or two of riding i have never felt more confident when skiing in my life, they change absolutely everything. With this being said, dont think about getting them any longer, go out and buy them right now, I swear to you, you will not regret that purchase no matter what..
Apr 13 2009 10:43PM
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K_9
Posts: 879 - Karma: 10
if you like stiffer skis i suggest Surface live life 2, its super stable on groomed and crud but still has tons and i mean tons of rocker for flotation, if you like charging the slightest bit i would suggest these.
Apr 14 2009 12:58AM
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