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Surface New Life or K2 Hellbent

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J.S.
Posts: 359 - Karma: 74
So my old skis are pretty much trashed so I need a new pow ski. I'm 5'8, 130ish lbs and an expert skier mostly skiing Mammoth, but also a few Utah/Tahoe/PNW trips. I'm looking at both the 184cm 2011 Surface New Life (AB version-better graphic imo) and the 179cm 2011 K2 Hellbent. I'm leaning towards the Hellbent's because of the camber (I've never skied a flat camber ski). I'm worried about how the New Life's will handle on groomers getting back to the lift, but the New Life's are stiffer and will probably handle crud and chopped up stuff better. Which do you guys prefer? Have any of you demoed/skied both? Opinions?
Dec 5 2010 11:13PM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 316
So I haven't skied either but I have skied the onelifes and last years hellbents. The new lifes do actually have a tad of camber and you should hav NO trouble on groomers and they will destroy crud and pow. Hellbents are heavier and will just get tossed around in crud and heavier pow. Get the new lifes. I just got a pair. so sick. You won't regret it. Might want to get the 174s if you are going to be jibbing a lot.
Dec 5 2010 11:43PM
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beermuscles
Posts: 1821 - Karma: 100
I got the hellbents and i am so excited.

wish i went with the obsethed though at least at this point because of how huge the bents are. we'll see if my opinion changes once i get in deep pow though :)
Dec 5 2010 11:57PM
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beermuscles
Posts: 1821 - Karma: 100
i don't understand your reasoning for the hellbents getting tossed around in crud?
Dec 5 2010 11:58PM
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Loco-Deer-Slayer
Posts: 1400 - Karma: 675
surface makes good skis
Dec 5 2010 11:58PM
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J.S.
Posts: 359 - Karma: 74
bump
Dec 6 2010 12:44AM
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Candy
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 176
Click for larger image
Dec 6 2010 12:59AM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 316
Trust me they do. Suuuuper soft ski in heavy chuunky snow gets tossed around and eaten up. I am sure they are insanely fun in the deep stuff though.
Dec 6 2010 10:03AM
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AGOF
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 3,602

a lot of this depends on your skiing ability, i have skied some gnarly PNW crud on EPs and they were just fine, just an issue of getting over the tips.

Dec 6 2010 6:59PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21649 - Karma: 4,013
https://newschoolers.com/ns/forums/readthread/thread_id/582854/
Dec 6 2010 7:05PM
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KramerC
Posts: 619 - Karma: 21
Bents destroy crud. Sure there heavy and long but if you are a charger and not afraid to let them run they can carve some sick turns in variable snow. That said dont ski them unless there is semi fresh snow cause the suck balls on hardpack.
Dec 6 2010 7:16PM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 316
I have only skied bents once in icy crap so I probably shouldn't speak up too much but thats just what I have heard. They are sick skis just not what I look for in a ski.
Dec 6 2010 7:47PM
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AGOF
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 3,602
if you have heard this from newschoolers completely ignore it. most of ns cannot even make a proper turn. cue hate
Dec 6 2010 7:53PM
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AGOF
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 3,602
if you have heard this from newschoolers completely ignore it. most of ns cannot even make a proper turn. cue hate
Dec 6 2010 7:54PM
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Kirsakid
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 126
I have only skied the Hellbents but they are one of the most fun skis i have ever used, so floaty and playful get them so wonderful
Dec 6 2010 8:35PM
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J.S.
Posts: 359 - Karma: 74
Thanks everyone for your replies
Dec 7 2010 10:46AM
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
Thats a park ski though
Dec 7 2010 11:10AM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 316
surface pow skis are BOMBPROOF!
Dec 7 2010 9:20PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
are the new lifes the same as the old LL2s but with camber?
Dec 7 2010 9:23PM
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FNJ
Posts: 3026 - Karma: 110
^no, one lifes = ll2s
Dec 7 2010 9:26PM
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hollygrove
Posts: 7845 - Karma: 93
New Life is conceptually similar to the hellbent. Width, rocker are all similar however the New Life is stiff and the hellbent is a noodle. that should be your deciding factor here.
Dec 7 2010 9:29PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,465
i offer no assistance then.
Dec 7 2010 9:31PM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
I've got some New Lifes but am yet to ski them as we've got no snow. Just curious though, what did you think of the old LL2s?
Dec 7 2010 10:53PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
the only day i skied bents was last year on my friends for a few runs on hardpack, and i thought it was fun, not good at carving, but fun none the less

i would go with the surface. its good to support underground companies on NS because the larger corperations will make enough money anyways. support the small guys
Dec 7 2010 11:34PM
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yeahitsdave
Posts: 1315 - Karma: 10
I fucking love my LL2s. stupid floaty, solid on hardpack, playful but stable. slayed 3 feet of fresh for three days at steamboat the end of last season and just fucking smiled the entire time. havent enjoyed anything that much in a while
Dec 8 2010 12:17AM
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
Are they actually i have heard some bad stuff on pow skis to but its not like your gonna be hitting rails with them so they should last a lot longer then a park ski
Dec 8 2010 11:26AM
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beaskiro
Posts: 81 - Karma: 102
the surface will be stiffer and better all condition ski, but the hellbent will float better in deep pow. btw the new hellbents do NOT have camber under foot, they are a tad stiffer though, also the new ep pro has a little camber under foot now and quite a bit stiffer than the previous years check out this ski
Dec 8 2010 2:41PM
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sam.gillin
Posts: 905 - Karma: 316
My friends and I have skied over trees logs rocks.... etc. They are holding up great!
Dec 8 2010 7:29PM
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harmoon
Posts: 210 - Karma: 57
go with surface... so much lighter, i think 184 new lifes are like 9.8lbs a pair and hellbents are something like 11lbs? but besides that i have one lifes and you can ski SO fast in chopped up stuff and everything just explodes, i imagine new lifes are very similar if not more awesome. i had hellbents and they were fun, but my one lifes are more fun, the 3stage makes the ski pop out of pow and the stiffness makes them soooo poppy. new lifes are probably very similar so i would go with them, but you will not be dissapointed with either.
Dec 13 2010 11:34PM
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