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May, 2025

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Directional 70/30 playfull twintip that carves?

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ElectPuking
Posts: 3 - Karma: 15
Hi,

first post, long time reader!

I'm Tim, 6.1 and 180 pounds and I'm looking for a new pair of skis!
I have been skiing all my life, 1 to 2 weeks a year, mostly in the French Alps. Been skiing atomic nomad smoke ti's in 178 for a few years and still like them, but I want something more playfull and off piste.

Offcourse, I want a bit of everything and that's not easy...
I want a directional twintip that's playfull, allows me to have fun in the off piste between the pistes but also let's me charge hard and carve when I feel like it. I'm a technical skier, but don't want a ski that needs constant form and pressure. Sometimes just cruising with less experienced friends and stuff.

I had my mind set on blizzard rustler 9's but find a lot of mixed reviews(some say you can charge on them, others say it's as soft as a beginners ski) and experiences. And have doubts about the size (180188).

Any suggestions or input is highly appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!
5 years ago
2 0
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MPoub
Posts: 479 - Karma: 988
On3p jeffery (any width), line sfbacon (a lotta soft, a lotta wide, a lotta engaged edge)
5 years ago
3 2
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k_tivnan
Posts: 84 - Karma: 463
Rossi black ops. Stable but playful enough to mess around on. Great all around ski
5 years ago
7 0
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ElectPuking
Posts: 3 - Karma: 15
On3p is unobtainable in Europe, line sfbacon and black ops are way to wide under foot (even scares me 😂🤣😊)
5 years ago
3 1
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Greg_K
Posts: 963 - Karma: 2,791
The Rustler is definitely not a beginner ski as it’s quite stiff underfoot and a precise ski that rewards good technique. I’m similar size to you and skied the 180cm version last season as the 188cm is kinda long. Fun ski but found it too light for afternoon crud and switched to the 185cm Enforcer 93 and now the 187cm twin tip Dynastar Menace 98 for my daily driver type ski. The 187cm Menace 98 likes a bit of speed to get going but very stable at speed and carves very well.

Another one to consider in this range is the 184cm Fisher Ranger 94FR. Great carver and better length than the Rustler 9. Black Ops 98 is probably the BO mentioned earlier so it’s not too much wider than the Rustler 9 but solid, stiffer twin that’s good everywhere.

**This post was edited on Dec 29th 2019 at 4:54:07pm
5 years ago
4 0
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AndersHaugen
Posts: 1 - Karma: 26
PoubtvOn3p jeffery (any width), line sfbacon (a lotta soft, a lotta wide, a lotta engaged edge)

I love my bacons :)
5 years ago
2 0
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skidemon22
Posts: 4464 - Karma: 2,049
19/20 Faction Prodigy 2.0
5 years ago
3 6
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,299
The bacons sounds too wide, but they don't ski like it interestingly enough. Obviously it's not a slalom ski, but it turns quite quickly and will hold. It jitters at very high speeds over rough terrain but that's expected of anything of this sort.

But if you don't intend to do any tricks or anything like that and basically never ski backwards I'd look at non twin stuff, or at least not jibby park skier all mountain skis.
5 years ago
4 0
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crustyboot.420
Posts: 989 - Karma: 4,277
Atomic bent chetler 100?
5 years ago
2 0
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ElectPuking
Posts: 3 - Karma: 15
DrZoidbergThe bacons sounds too wide, but they don't ski like it interestingly enough. Obviously it's not a slalom ski, but it turns quite quickly and will hold. It jitters at very high speeds over rough terrain but that's expected of anything of this sort.

But if you don't intend to do any tricks or anything like that and basically never ski backwards I'd look at non twin stuff, or at least not jibby park skier all mountain skis.

Thanks everybody!

I have never skied park, don't intend to. But I do like to ski/land switch.

-Ranger 94 seems to be playfull enough, but like the rustler, perhaps a bit soft doe the afternoon crud?
-the black ops is double the price of the ranger, bit to crazy for the wallet.(rather use the money for a third week on the slopes)
-prodigy 2.0 looks promissing, but not a lot of reviews to read.
-bent Chetler has been suggested to me before, but I feel it's maybe to much ski for the time I spend on piste.

I'll read some more...
5 years ago
1 0
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Greg_K
Posts: 963 - Karma: 2,791
ElectPukingThanks everybody!

I have never skied park, don't intend to. But I do like to ski/land switch.

-Ranger 94 seems to be playfull enough, but like the rustler, perhaps a bit soft doe the afternoon crud?
-the black ops is double the price of the ranger, bit to crazy for the wallet.(rather use the money for a third week on the slopes)
-prodigy 2.0 looks promissing, but not a lot of reviews to read.
-bent Chetler has been suggested to me before, but I feel it's maybe to much ski for the time I spend on piste.

I'll read some more...


Ranger 94 is quite stiff and stiffer than most options, it’s just not the heaviest option so in afternoon crud it’s just okay. Skis like the Bent 100 and Sick Day 94 also lighter skis, so not demanding at all but not crud crushers.

If you want a crud crusher than a 187cm(actually measures 184.5) Dynastar Menace 98 is your ski. Hauls on the groomers and flies over crud. Not light but still easy to ski and playful.
The 184cm Fisher 102 FR is a heavier built ski than the 94FR and a great one ski quiver. Fantastic all-around ski that’s not too heavy(100 grams lighter than the 187cm Menace 98) but stiff and precise on groomers still.
5 years ago
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FaunaSkis
Posts: 630 - Karma: 6,846
I’d like to throw my hat in the ring with our Pioneer. From your description it sounds like a really good fit. It’s a pretty directional twin, but not so much it will feel weird to ski switch. It’s pretty stiff underfoot with a medium length elliptical side cut, allowing you to carve hard when you pressure the fronts of the skis and make cruisy carves if you’re pressuring it less aggressively. It’s got a decent rocker in the nose and some in the twinned tail, both with a taper for easy sailing on soft snow between pistes. At 6.1 and 180lbs you could easily handle the 184 length given it’s light weight and rocker, shortening the running length more akin to what you’re on now, but with more versaitility. If you’ve any questions, feel free to shoot. We’d love you to support our small company.
5 years ago
6 0
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,056
Just get the Line Chronic in a 185. It has grown over the years and become an all mountain ski while Line made the TWP basically the Chronic for park. I ski the east coast and it handles our firm conditions just fine.
5 years ago
0 0
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BayAreaJerry
Posts: 334 - Karma: 1,158
Wide skis are not scary, just a little more deadzone in between carves. You get used to it quickly, it really isn’t a problem.
5 years ago
1 0
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MPoub
Posts: 479 - Karma: 988
Look into Jskis. The metal, master blaster are both playful as far as all mountain skis go, twintip, and the graphics are just so sick
5 years ago
0 0
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powpatrol
Posts: 1756 - Karma: 11,455
Black Crows Camox
5 years ago
2 0
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ElectPuking
Posts: 3 - Karma: 15
I get the feeling you guys all like your skis wide! For the off piste I do, in the very groomed French Alps, I'm opting for a bit less wide. In the 90-95 range.
Ranger 94 fr tickles my phantasy....not to heavy, not to wide, twintip, carvs,.... (and cheapest of the lot).
5 years ago
0 0
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BayAreaJerry
Posts: 334 - Karma: 1,158
ElectPukingI get the feeling you guys all like your skis wide! For the off piste I do, in the very groomed French Alps, I'm opting for a bit less wide. In the 90-95 range.
Ranger 94 fr tickles my phantasy....not to heavy, not to wide, twintip, carvs,.... (and cheapest of the lot).


I also thought the same, but after getting a wider ski I dont think I can go back. They just feel so solid, and they float great too. I went from a 98mm to a 106, and the difference is barely noticable when turning, at least to me. The difference when landing and skiing off piste is massive though. We've already had ice, pow, and slush in Tahoe, and they(k2 marksman) have done great. the wider ski has been amazing in the pow, and has no problem getting through the slvsh. Pretty boof on the ice but thats to be expected when you get a ski like the marksman.

Have you thought about something like the Sakana? Built for carving but definitly not a groomer ski, and is really light.
5 years ago
0 1
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BayAreaJerry
Posts: 334 - Karma: 1,158
my mom has j skis master blaster and she loves them, idk about shipping to europe tho
5 years ago
2 0
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Shl
Posts: 21 - Karma: 28
I also recommend Bent Chetler 100, they’re only 100mm under foot, they are absolutely fine on piste.
5 years ago
1 0
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Rochey
Posts: 16 - Karma: 30
Faction Prodigy 1.0
90 underfoot
easy to carve
can go fast for a park ski
loads of fun!
5 years ago
1 0
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WHITEFISHNATE
Posts: 93 - Karma: 131
BayAreaJerryI also thought the same, but after getting a wider ski I dont think I can go back. They just feel so solid, and they float great too. I went from a 98mm to a 106, and the difference is barely noticable when turning, at least to me. The difference when landing and skiing off piste is massive though. We've already had ice, pow, and slush in Tahoe, and they(k2 marksman) have done great. the wider ski has been amazing in the pow, and has no problem getting through the slvsh. Pretty boof on the ice but thats to be expected when you get a ski like the marksman.

Have you thought about something like the Sakana? Built for carving but definitly not a groomer ski, and is really light.


I was coming to recommend the Sakana as well. I have the 174 and I LOVE it. I normally ski a 186, but dont miss the extra length at all. Super fun ski. Great at carving everything except for the hardest of hard pack. Super fun in soft snow, floats great with the 150mm tip, but only 105 underfoot so it doesnt feel super wide.
5 years ago
1 0
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