New Daily Driver Recommendations

BuriedDespotHey everyone, I'm looking for recommendations for a mid 100 mm freeride ski — specifically a ski that won't get knocked around in variable conditions as easily as my K2 Reckoner 112s do.

I'm 6'0" (183 cm), 150 lbs. I've only been skiing for 3 years but have progressed pretty quickly and mostly like to ski off piste, doing small jibs/spins wherever I can around the mountain. As I get better, I realized that I also have lots of fun charging as hard as I can down the fall line. My home resort is Kicking Horse in British Columbia and I try to make trips to the resorts around me throughout the season.

My current daily drivers are 184 cm K2 Reckoner 112s which I bought last year and ended up not loving in deep powder or variable conditions. I mounted them at -3.5 cm from center and it felt like my tips would often dive when the snow was deeper than the top of my boot, then when the snow turned to firmer crud/chop I had to dial things back because they felt pretty unstable when pushing the skis hard and I would get knocked around lots.

I'd like to sell my Reckoners and replace them with a mid 100 mm ski that would become my daily drivers, then possibly get a wider dedicated pow ski for the really deep days later on. I like to ride and land switch so something playful is important, but I also want something damper than my Reckoners. Basically, I want more confidence when blasting through crud but still want to maintain some playfulness for jibbing around.

These are the options I've considered so far:

-Line Blade Optic 104

-Armada ARV 106

-Volkl Revolt 104

-Nordica Unleashed 108

-Faction Prodigy 3.0

-Line Sick Day 104

Moment Deathwish 104s and Wildcat 108s would be on my list too but they're a bit more than I'd like to spend on a brand new pair of skis without demoing them and they're very hard to find used in my area.

Any insight is appreciated, thanks!

**This thread was edited on Aug 10th 2023 at 5:39:24pm

**This thread was edited on Aug 10th 2023 at 5:40:15pm

Non_State_Actorhttps://www.skiburger.com/

There's some availability of Deathwish and Wildcat models especially in longer lengths.

On3p Jeffrey 110 should be on your list as well?

BuriedDespotWhat's stopping me from pulling the trigger on anything from Moment or ON3P is that either of them would cost me $900-1100 CAD after shipping.

Right now the skis I mentioned in my original post are on sale for $300-500 each which is better for my budget currently.

BuriedDespotWhat's stopping me from pulling the trigger on anything from Moment or ON3P is that either of them would cost me $900-1100 CAD after shipping.

Right now the skis I mentioned in my original post are on sale for $300-500 each which is better for my budget currently.

PartyBullshiithttps://www.skiburger.com/products/22-23-deathwish-104?variant=42539239637178


only wish 104 is 190 length left. Not sure if you’re comfortable on a ski that long or not. 108 there is 174 only. Which is going to ski a little shorter on top of that.

there is the full size 116 cat available in 184 but as you mentioned both of those skis are going to cost you a tad over 900cad shipped

Non_State_ActorFair enough. I completely understand your situation. How far are you from the border?

thatsGSimilar build to you. Unleashed are mid, wouldn't get them. Have about 20 days on Prodigy 3, love them. If I wanted something stiffer, I'd get ARV 106

BuriedDespotWord thanks. After reading more about the ARV 106s they sound like they might be too stiff for my liking.

Definitely considering the Prodigy 3.0s. I've read a lot of things about them being a bit flimsy in chop though, which was my biggest issue with my Reckoners. Maybe I'm also just a shitty skier. But really that's the main thing holding me back on the Prodigy 3.0.

BradFiAusNzCoCa4FRNT devastator might be up your alley

hamsauceOne more thing to note about the ARV 106s- ive ridden older ARV 106s of a friend (a few years back, dont know which year) and they felt like just the ski you described. In recent years though, they have gotten way stiffer, but I admittedly havent ridden a pair with the updated flex. Maybe if you find a used pair or a closeout deal on an older pair that may be the way to go.

a comparable ski to the newer ARV would be a Jeffrey- the main difference being that the Jeffrey has much deeper rocker lines, making it slightly easier to initiate butters than the new ARV and in my experience, still very playful. Theres a reason the Jeffrey is one of the most owned skis on this website.

I do agree if you can find a wildcat 108 for a reasonable price that would be a perfect ski for you. I love my wildcat 108s for the very purpose you are describing.

The Sick Day is a questionable ski for that list in my opinion. They are much more of a 50/50 ski or a ski i would slap touring bindings on, and wouldnt be my first choice for ripping a big line.

BuriedDespotYeah I'm interested in trying them but the only models I can find are all going for about $550 CAD.

I actually would've highly considered the Jeffrey's at the sale price they're at now but they're sold out in my size. You're definitely making me interested in pulling the trigger on the Wildcat 108s, but it is a lot of money. Right now I'm stuck between those and the Blade Optic 104s which I can get for half the price of the Wildcat 108s.

Yeah I realized I shouldn't include the Sick Day in my list given what I'm looking for. The thing is, I don't know if I'm even capable of ripping big lines or if it's in my head that I was being held back by my skis (and obviously also my capabilities). I want to be able to charge hard but there's also a lot of places on my resort where you kind of just fuck around, go slow and be playful as you make your way down to the gondola. If the Blade Optic 104s or Wildcat 108s fit the bill for that, then it's just a matter of how much I want to spend, and at this point I'm getting major analysis paralysis lol.

hamsauceHonestly man, sounds like either choice will work for you. The blade optics gonna be a bit better through the chop, but since the metal is only underfoot, youl still get some play. The wildcats are a bit lighter and definitely a more playful ski, and are really fun doing big turns on and going fast. Both are easy to flick around.

since you arent 100% set on wildcats, sounds like the blade optics the winner- a little cheaper, still a great ski, and you will be able to progress in a ton of different areas. No wrong choice. If you have buyers remorse, just save up and buy some wildcats in a season or 2 after you progress some more.