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Soft Ski for butters that holds up in icier conditions

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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
I live on the east coast and work at my local mountain, but often head up north to vermont and newhampshire for better skiing. I have volkl kink 2013 version right now, but it doesn't have much flex. I mostly ski all mountain with occasional park but trying to get better at park. I was looking into the line blends due to their softness which sounds fun and playful but not sure how it will feel when skiing with the family on steeper and icier conditions. What are everyone's recommendations? Thankyou!
Jan 12 2022 9:21AM
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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
I am 5'9 140 pounds.

heres what I've come to for options:

Line Blend
4FRNT Switch
K2 Reckoner 102
Jeffery 102 (not sure if soft enough, help would be appreciated)
Line Honeybadger
Jan 12 2022 9:24AM
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vermontana
Posts: 479 - Karma: 708
A lot of being able to butter is technique more than ski flex, I think the reckoner 102 could be a good option for you though. My brother has them and they're playful but hold up pretty well skiing all mtn too.

I would steer you away from the Jeffrey (pretty stiff) and the honey badger (durability issues). Can't really speak to the others.
Jan 12 2022 9:58AM
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Jibguy_paul
Posts: 2 - Karma: 34
Volkl revolt 104’s
Jan 12 2022 1:44PM
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goatmaster
Posts: 373 - Karma: 2,392
Faction Prodigys. The noses are a bit softer. Still definitely not a wet noodle though. The tails are a fair amount stiffer though. This is great. It allows for easy nose butters, but still stable. Buttering is more about technique and speed than the flex of the ski. The stiffer the ski the more speed you need. At higher speeds a really soft ski can be harder to butter and a bit stiffer ski in my opinion. But if you are going 2 miles an hour a soft ski is much easier to butter.
Jan 12 2022 1:52PM
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Jems
Posts: 7241 - Karma: 93,072
pretty sure hg skis were made specifically to fill this role wish they were still up and going
Jan 12 2022 2:05PM
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 671 - Karma: 1,203
Icelandic nomad 95
It carves better than a pair or race skis
Has no chatter
Floats
With defined edges it’s still mint in ice
And once u ski em for like a couple weeks they are softer than my honeys
Jan 12 2022 8:36PM
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andrewdooks
Posts: 10 - Karma: 55
Bdogs
Jan 12 2022 9:32PM
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muffMan.
Posts: 2556 - Karma: 23,989
I actually ride the Jeff’s 102.

i suck at butters so take this with a grain of salt, but I have a much easier time on my CT 1.0 and reckoners 122. Not to say it can’t be done cause I have, but needs more finesses to it
LaxnateI am 5'9 140 pounds.

heres what I've come to for options:

Line Blend
4FRNT Switch
K2 Reckoner 102
Jeffery 102 (not sure if soft enough, help would be appreciated)
Line Honeybadger
Jan 12 2022 10:32PM
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,781
nomad 95 has entered the chat
Jan 12 2022 11:41PM
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jompcock
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 10,513
Wet + is like the only ski I use on the east coast while my other 5ish pairs of park skis collect dust
Jan 13 2022 1:13AM
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2470 - Karma: 11,226
lib teck ufo 95. the magnetraction actually helps on harder days
Jan 13 2022 6:36AM
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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
I'm definitely looking into Icelandic nomad 95s! They look sick for everything I want. I also liked the Armada Bdog but was worried it wouldn't holdup as well as I wanted it too carving all mountain versus the little park that I do
Jan 13 2022 7:32AM
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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
jompcockWet + is like the only ski I use on the east coast while my other 5ish pairs of park skis collect dust

Is this the vishnu wet you are talking about?
Jan 13 2022 7:51AM
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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
Brian.HenningIcelandic nomad 95
It carves better than a pair or race skis
Has no chatter
Floats
With defined edges it’s still mint in ice
And once u ski em for like a couple weeks they are softer than my honeys


are the nomad 95s pretty heavy? I saw the 161cm weigh around 3000 grams which seems on the heavier side per ski + bindings I want it to be able to spin pretty easily too. Other than the weight it looks like a great ski
Jan 13 2022 7:53AM
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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
andrewdooksBdogs


Are these a good all mountain ski too?
Jan 13 2022 7:55AM
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andrewdooks
Posts: 10 - Karma: 55
LaxnateAre these a good all mountain ski too?


Depends on your mountain, I know a guy who’s skied pow in them and they preformed surprisingly well. Way I see it is that they’re unreal park skis that can also rip the mountain. Have a good rocker and butter like a dream but the underfoot camber gives you what you need to make nice turns. Had them for a season and haven’t gotten tired of them, definitely recommend.
Also I’m from the east coast and ski on ice all year.

**This post was edited on Jan 13th 2022 at 10:43:58am
Jan 13 2022 10:42AM
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Twig
Posts: 6336 - Karma: 57,068
The best soft-ish ski I have ever tried on icey snow is the Season Kin. I've been skiing them on some really unpleasantly hard snow the last couple of days and they absolutely rip. They aren't super soft, but they have a decent amount of rocker and they're softer than the Jeffrey... I was buttering around on them just fine.
Jan 13 2022 11:28AM
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AMango99
Posts: 16 - Karma: 48
LaxnateI am 5'9 140 pounds.

heres what I've come to for options:

Line Blend
4FRNT Switch
K2 Reckoner 102
Jeffery 102 (not sure if soft enough, help would be appreciated)
Line Honeybadger


Blends defo don’t hold up on ice the chronically would be better
Jan 13 2022 3:00PM
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 671 - Karma: 1,203
I have the 181 cm and they’re lighter than my 177 honey badgers and a 161 would work if ur like 5’2”
Laxnateare the nomad 95s pretty heavy? I saw the 161cm weigh around 3000 grams which seems on the heavier side per ski + bindings I want it to be able to spin pretty easily too. Other than the weight it looks like a great ski
Jan 13 2022 3:39PM
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 671 - Karma: 1,203
Best ski ever made. Name one bad thing about it
KCoCMnomad 95 has entered the chat
Jan 13 2022 3:41PM
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,781
Brian.HenningBest ski ever made. Name one bad thing about it

I absolutely love the way they ski, and on top of that icelantic customer support/ warranty team was super understanding and helpful. they are a bit expensive as far as sticks go, but you get what you pay for. If i had to choose one thing that they arent great for its blasting through chop, but thats expected from a ski that is soft and light. not really a bash on the skis tho, cuz if they changed them to blast through chop better it would inherently change something that i love about them. i didnt see you had mentioned the nomad 95 before me, but yea we definitely agree on the fact that the skis rip and are awesome.
Jan 13 2022 4:13PM
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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
I’m definitely going to get the nomad 95! You guys have convinced me. Now for bindings lol. And how light are the skis?
Jan 13 2022 6:00PM
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 671 - Karma: 1,203
Idk how heavy they are but they are lighter than my honey badgers and longer so pretty light
LaxnateI’m definitely going to get the nomad 95! You guys have convinced me. Now for bindings lol. And how light are the skis?
Jan 14 2022 11:42AM
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,781
the 181s that measure to roughly 178are nearly identical in weight to the 177 badgers that measure roughly 175.5 they are both listed at roughly 1650g/ski
Brian.HenningIdk how heavy they are but they are lighter than my honey badgers and longer so pretty light
Jan 14 2022 12:16PM
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 671 - Karma: 1,203
mine are 2019s so could be different. Im not running the same bindings on both skis



KCoCMthe 181s that measure to roughly 178are nearly identical in weight to the 177 badgers that measure roughly 175.5 they are both listed at roughly 1650g/ski
Jan 14 2022 2:55PM
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,602
revolt 104
Jan 14 2022 3:07PM
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