Woodsman 108 vs Wildcat 108 vs J Skis Hotshot vs BlackOPS Gamer

I would keep the Wildcat train rolling at full steam ahead.

Having one ski geometry (wildcat and wildcat108 are slight variations on the same theme, wildcat 108 and 108t is nearly identical besides weight) to deal with across nearly all conditions and uses = max predictability and the ability to focus on your skiing, not constantly adjusting between skis. Wildcat108s rally plenty hard enough and are a ton of fun.

The weight difference between the two models is pretty negliable for 2021 imho, though if you want a long ski the Woodsman108 in 192 is the way to go - it is a prob 3-5cm longer than the wildcat108 190 (182 wood is a tiny bit longer than 184 wildcat, the 187 wood = 190 wildcat).

I have lots of days on 2020/last years Wildcat108s and Woodsman108s. They are somewhat similar, yet quite different skis. Woodsman is the most chargy, wildcat a bit more flickable and easier to ski. I would not be overly concerned about the woods being too much ski at your weight.

I expect the 2021 version to be more similar than the ones I had/have though - as the weight (lower) and mount point (-.75cm) on Woodsman has been slightly altered. I sold my wildcats to go all in on the woodsman (also have woodsman 116s), but I would be very happy with wildcat108 and wildcats too - they are terrific skis (as you know).

I have not skied the Hotshot or the Gamer.

m-free 108 needs a mention and CT 2.0 and CT 3.0 2021?



I have the blackops 118, you know from before they made the new stupid topsheet and name.. + the m-free 108 + the CT's awaiting knee recovery so I can ski/compare :|

118 is pretty darn wide though.

guessing hotshot gonna be the most directional, I missed the first topsheet of them, and the 2 other ones are horrible, so... cant buy to compare before they get a cool topsheet again, first world problems right there.

kid-kapowI would keep the Wildcat train rolling at full steam ahead.

Having one ski geometry (wildcat and wildcat108 are slight variations on the same theme, wildcat 108 and 108t is nearly identical besides weight) to deal with across nearly all conditions and uses = max predictability and the ability to focus on your skiing, not constantly adjusting between skis. Wildcat108s rally plenty hard enough and are a ton of fun.

The weight difference between the two models is pretty negliable for 2021 imho, though if you want a long ski the Woodsman108 in 192 is the way to go - it is a prob 3-5cm longer than the wildcat108 190 (182 wood is a tiny bit longer than 184 wildcat, the 187 wood = 190 wildcat).

I have lots of days on 2020/last years Wildcat108s and Woodsman108s. They are somewhat similar, yet quite different skis. Woodsman is the most chargy, wildcat a bit more flickable and easier to ski. I would not be overly concerned about the woods being too much ski at your weight.

I expect the 2021 version to be more similar than the ones I had/have though - as the weight (lower) and mount point (-.75cm) on Woodsman has been slightly altered. I sold my wildcats to go all in on the woodsman (also have woodsman 116s), but I would be very happy with wildcat108 and wildcats too - they are terrific skis (as you know).

I have not skied the Hotshot or the Gamer.

Thanks, man! How would you compare the Woodsman with the Wildcat? In terms of playfulness? How is the tail of the Woodsman? Punishing if you are lazy?

anders_am-free 108 needs a mention and CT 2.0 and CT 3.0 2021?



I have the blackops 118, you know from before they made the new stupid topsheet and name.. + the m-free 108 + the CT's awaiting knee recovery so I can ski/compare :|

118 is pretty darn wide though.

guessing hotshot gonna be the most directional, I missed the first topsheet of them, and the 2 other ones are horrible, so... cant buy to compare before they get a cool topsheet again, first world problems right there.

Thanks! Read the review of the Dynastar on blister. Though it serms to be more playful than I would like it.

Blackops is in the list as there might be a narrower version coming next year.

In terms of quality on j skis at least in my experience it’s been bomber. I’ve skiied well over 100 days on the metals (no rails) and skiied over just an ungodly number of rocks even sometimes landing on them when they show up as a surprise :/. Literally no problems. Bases get scratched obviously but edges in tact and no core shots. Was at abasin the other day and they are realllll loose with what is open and it was just rocks on rocks on rocks and somehow the skis are completely fine.

my only concern with J for you is the flex could be a lil soft for someone your size but 189 hotshot could be pretty sick.

the M-Free 108 skis a lot shorter and is lot looser - on both hard snow and in soft snow - than either Wildcat or Woodsman. If that is a good or a bad thing depends on what you are after. M-Free 108s are a shit load of fun and forgiving in soft snow, but you would def need to get the 192 for your weight. I bought my M-Free 108s to try them, but kinda lucked out in having them as I banged up my left knee - so a more forgiving ski came in handy.

All three skis does very well on groomers (their differences / feel on grommers can be translated across most conditions imho), but they feel a bit different. Woodsman feel stronger (not better, just more solid - type longer effective edge solid), whilst M-Frees are looser but still with lots and lots of grip when on edge - with Wildcats somewhere in between. Woodsman are best when you attack a bit and shift your weight a bit forward, whilst I ski M-Free 108s a bit more centered - again with Wildcats being in between catering to either style. That is, all three skis can be skied from a centered stance or a aggressive stance, but as described is how I ski them to get them to perform the best for me. Your weight would probably make the skis feel quite a bit different than to how I perceive them - I am fairly light at 66kg w/o gear.

All are loose and fun in soft snow. I have not skied Wildcats this year (sold them), but Woodsman 108s are a lot more ski than M-Free 108s. They are both loose and fun at speed, but where M Frees are lot more forgiving imho and can def be skied more conservatively.

If you want something that is a bit more playful or better to dork around on, Wildcats is probably the better of the two (woods and wild). It is still a strong ski though, so it will def not be a noodly jibstick suitable for noobies regardless - just a bit less demanding than woodsman108s. It is not that the tails of either Wild/Wood is punishing - both are fairly strong and present, it is just that Woodsman's are bit stronger or more present (at lower speeds or if you get backseat) due to lower splay.

There's a ton of good info on these skis on TGR and Blister, though the lines between the Wildcat and Woodsman is probably even more blurred for this season due to the aforementioned changes.

Re the other thread - you need to be a very good and strong skier to describe woodsman108s as jibby though - new ski stoke or not, Wildcats a bit less so while M Frees are plug and play for freestyle extravaganza (coming from a directional, non jibby skier ;) ).

All are excellent skis imho, if for slightly different uses.

Jeffry108s skis more than a bit differently than all and pretty much require a centered stance, but are also very fun and intuitive. They are not for you if you want a ski that you can drive hard through the shovels.

A bit repetitive and long winded, but oh well ;)

ericformanIn terms of quality on j skis at least in my experience it’s been bomber. I’ve skiied well over 100 days on the metals (no rails) and skiied over just an ungodly number of rocks even sometimes landing on them when they show up as a surprise :/. Literally no problems. Bases get scratched obviously but edges in tact and no core shots. Was at abasin the other day and they are realllll loose with what is open and it was just rocks on rocks on rocks and somehow the skis are completely fine.

my only concern with J for you is the flex could be a lil soft for someone your size but 189 hotshot could be pretty sick.

Thanks! Size is actually something to consider. 189 Hotshot will probably be around 187?! So more like my Kartel 98...

kid-kapowthe M-Free 108 skis a lot shorter and is lot looser - on both hard snow and in soft snow - than either Wildcat or Woodsman. If that is a good or a bad thing depends on what you are after. M-Free 108s are a shit load of fun and forgiving in soft snow, but you would def need to get the 192 for your weight. I bought my M-Free 108s to try them, but kinda lucked out in having them as I banged up my left knee - so a more forgiving ski came in handy.

All three skis does very well on groomers (their differences / feel on grommers can be translated across most conditions imho), but they feel a bit different. Woodsman feel stronger (not better, just more solid - type longer effective edge solid), whilst M-Frees are looser but still with lots and lots of grip when on edge - with Wildcats somewhere in between. Woodsman are best when you attack a bit and shift your weight a bit forward, whilst I ski M-Free 108s a bit more centered - again with Wildcats being in between catering to either style. That is, all three skis can be skied from a centered stance or a aggressive stance, but as described is how I ski them to get them to perform the best for me. Your weight would probably make the skis feel quite a bit different than to how I perceive them - I am fairly light at 66kg w/o gear.

All are loose and fun in soft snow. I have not skied Wildcats this year (sold them), but Woodsman 108s are a lot more ski than M-Free 108s. They are both loose and fun at speed, but where M Frees are lot more forgiving imho and can def be skied more conservatively.

If you want something that is a bit more playful or better to dork around on, Wildcats is probably the better of the two (woods and wild). It is still a strong ski though, so it will def not be a noodly jibstick suitable for noobies regardless - just a bit less demanding than woodsman108s. It is not that the tails of either Wild/Wood is punishing - both are fairly strong and present, it is just that Woodsman's are bit stronger or more present (at lower speeds or if you get backseat) due to lower splay.

There's a ton of good info on these skis on TGR and Blister, though the lines between the Wildcat and Woodsman is probably even more blurred for this season due to the aforementioned changes.

Re the other thread - you need to be a very good and strong skier to describe woodsman108s as jibby though - new ski stoke or not, Wildcats a bit less so while M Frees are plug and play for freestyle extravaganza (coming from a directional, non jibby skier ;) ).

All are excellent skis imho, if for slightly different uses.

Jeffry108s skis more than a bit differently than all and pretty much require a centered stance, but are also very fun and intuitive. They are not for you if you want a ski that you can drive hard through the shovels.

A bit repetitive and long winded, but oh well ;)

Great input, thank you!
I generally like the ON3P feel, be that on groomers or soft snow. And the 192 Woodsman should bump up the stability in less then ideal conditions compared to my 190 Fat Cat. As long as they are not punishing, I'm not looking for a "jibby" ski for this slot anyway.
Leaning towards the Woodsman ... PLUS they have custom options.

Ruled out the M Free.

**This post was edited on Jan 22nd 2021 at 2:31:29pm

ericformanIn terms of quality on j skis at least in my experience it’s been bomber. I’ve skiied well over 100 days on the metals (no rails) and skiied over just an ungodly number of rocks even sometimes landing on them when they show up as a surprise :/. Literally no problems. Bases get scratched obviously but edges in tact and no core shots. Was at abasin the other day and they are realllll loose with what is open and it was just rocks on rocks on rocks and somehow the skis are completely fine.

my only concern with J for you is the flex could be a lil soft for someone your size but 189 hotshot could be pretty sick.

Thanks yo! Appreciate the stoke and feedback.

@Topsen 189cm Hotshot would definitely be the ticket for you. That ski is significantly beefier than the 183cm but still has a super nimble, smooth "shutdown-ability" that allows you to pivot and dump speed without the chatter of other stiff skis out there. You'll probably see a little bit of tip chatter when you're really charging, but the ski dissipates this energy so you never actually feel it, more of a weird optical thing but it skis how we want it and that's what matters.

Also remember we're the only company the offers a 100% money back guarantee AFTER skiing, so you can literally rip them up to 5 days and if you're not totally sold they're the best ski for you send them back for one of the other options listed here! I will say skis are selling crazy fast though and we only have a handful of 189cm Hotshots left for the season so order ASAP if you decide to go this direction. Thanks for considering!