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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!
4 years ago
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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
4 years ago
1 0
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vermontana
Posts: 500 - Karma: 770
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.
4 years ago
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Jibguy_paul
Posts: 2 - Karma: 34
Volkl revolt 104’s
4 years ago
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goatmaster
Posts: 374 - Karma: 2,433
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.
4 years ago
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Jems
Posts: 7804 - Karma: 102,223
pretty sure hg skis were made specifically to fill this role wish they were still up and going
4 years ago
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 678 - Karma: 1,273
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
4 years ago
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andrewdooks
Posts: 10 - Karma: 55
Bdogs
4 years ago
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muffMan.
Posts: 2936 - Karma: 28,160
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
4 years ago
1 0
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
nomad 95 has entered the chat
4 years ago
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jompcock
Posts: 1586 - Karma: 11,788
Wet + is like the only ski I use on the east coast while my other 5ish pairs of park skis collect dust
4 years ago
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2809 - Karma: 12,752
lib teck ufo 95. the magnetraction actually helps on harder days
4 years ago
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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
4 years ago
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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?
4 years ago
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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
4 years ago
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Laxnate
Posts: 9 - Karma: 20
andrewdooksBdogs


Are these a good all mountain ski too?
4 years ago
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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
4 years ago
1 0
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Twig
Posts: 6477 - Karma: 63,270
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.
4 years ago
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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
4 years ago
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 678 - Karma: 1,273
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
4 years ago
1 0
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 678 - Karma: 1,273
Best ski ever made. Name one bad thing about it
KCoCMnomad 95 has entered the chat
4 years ago
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
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.
4 years ago
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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?
4 years ago
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 678 - Karma: 1,273
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?
4 years ago
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
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
4 years ago
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BearsOnKetamine
Posts: 678 - Karma: 1,273
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
4 years ago
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,605
revolt 104
4 years ago
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