The FX104 excelled on cold, midwinter chalk, where it was highly maneuverable and pretty effortless to whip around on jump turns. The FX104 was my first choice for those high-pressure swings when the winds had been ripping through the Tetons and the mercury was hovering around 0° Fahrenheit.
The designers of the FX104 had steep couloir skiing in mind, and, as expected, the FX104 was excellent on my first foray into the Once is Enough couloir off Cody Peak, in less than ideal conditions. The entrance was firm, and a lack of snow necessitated some careful billygoating.
In the gut, the snow transitioned into chalk and then to softer, slarvable snow at the bottom. The FX104 ate it all up. Toward the bottom, it was easy to slide the tails at the top of the turn before engaging the edge (and who doesn’t like a cream slarving?). The FX104 was predictable and dependable up top, then fun on the high-speed run-out.
On groomed snow, the FX104 held an edge quite well, but didn’t have the pop and energy of a carving ski. On Rendezvous Trail, I was able to set it on edge and just ride the radius of the ski as opposed to truly carving / bending the ski, and as such it felt somewhat dead. I would compare this lack of return to the feeling of the 10/11 Stockli Stormrider VXL, as opposed to a ski truly made to carve, like the Kastle MX88 or the Nordica Fire Arrow. (Disclaimer: I weigh only 145 pounds, and a heavier person might be able to bend the FX104 to get some return. I have no problem, however, bending other metal skis that are made for carving….)
All that being said, once the ski was on edge, the dampness inspired confidence to shred through Jackson Hole’s “unique” grooming patterns, and I could plough through any kind of mank that turned up as the snow warmed.
Which brings me to my favorite condition for the 104: spring corn.
This past season we had a bizarre spring at Jackson Hole, in which it was often too warm or too cold for ideal corn to form. As a result, early mornings were often too setup, followed by a small window of ideal corn before the heat took over and conditions changed to wet, heavy, late-spring corn. The ski was adept at navigating all of those conditions, and did especially well when the snow became very heavy and moist.
I attribute the predictability of the FX104 in variable conditions to both the straight shovels and the dampness of the ski. Where some skis with wider shovels may be pushed around and produce resistance in heavier snow, the FX104 steered true. I had no problem initiating turns, and as I mentioned earlier, at either high or low speeds the ski was stable through variable mank.
Ryan, great review. It’s fitting you reviewed this ski as I am considering it for my backcountry/soft snow ski for western Maine. From your Bio I see that you are very familiar with the area I generally ski, any of the resorts in Maine to a few trips a year to Mount Washington. I already have a pair of Fischer Progressors for front side carving and a pair of Line Prophet 98s for soft snow resort days. I am looking for a ski for deeper soft snow days and expanding my backcountry trips. Thinking about making the jump to some tech bindings and a binding freedom plate along with this ski.
I am a technically proficient skier with a racking background, 6′, 175 pounds, physically fit. I like stiff skis and carving when appropriate. Other skis that I am considering are the Cochise and Wailer 99. Demos are scarce in this area, especially the Kastle and DPS. I appreciate your thoughts on this, thanks.
Lucas,
Thanks for reading the review. I have not skied the Cochise or Wailer 99, but I am sure you have read our reviews of those skis. Here is my recomendation based on my understanding of the other skis you are asking about.
If you are going to be using this ski primarily for deeper days, my initial reaction is to go with the Cochise. I’m thinking you are skiing this more on resort pow days and in untracked soft snow in the backcountry than at Tucks in the spring. The Cochise has the widest footprint and is slightly more soft snow oriented with flat camber and a rockered tip and tail. I think this will be the best compliment to your current quiver.
If you are going to use this ski more for technical steep skiing in variable conditions (i.e. more Tucks than soft pow), I think the Kastle will be better. The flat tail and full camber is more predictable and reliable when making complicated maneuvers in higher consequence terrain.
The Wailer 99 will most likely overlap the Prophet 98’s while being slightly better in soft snow. I would personally prefer the extra 9mm underfoot of the Cochise for deeper days.
Hopefully you get the goods this year and can make use of the new sticks!
Thanks Ryan, unless you have any other suggestions, Coshise it is.
Has anyone gotten on the new 104 with early rise?? It’s on my short list but a demo is not an option and there aren’t too many reviews available.
To respond to a few comments: I have the FX104 with early rise. I use it with dynafit bindings. For comparison, my daily resort ski is the 2013 Line Influence 105. Although I don’t have a ton of time on the Kastle yet, I will say that I think there are a lot of similarities between the Kastle and the Line. I think the tail on the Line may be a little more forgiving, though I haven’t really take the Kastle in anything but soft snow, so it’s hard to say. I think it’s a great, nimble feeling skiing that traditionalists will love. That said, I also love the Influence 105, which replaced my gold buddha gotamas (another ski I loved). It would be interesting to see how the Supernatural 108 skis- it sounds awesome as well!
Very helpful thread. I’ve been skiing the FX 84 as a JH carver; tons of fun. Any side-by-side of the FX 104 vs. Kastle’s BMX 98 or 108s?
Any thoughts/comparisons between the FX and the Belafonte/Cochise. I have a 190 Bibby as my soft ski and looking for one other to function as the daily driver at Alta for all conditions shy of the Bibby. I have narrowed my choices down to these three.
Thanks
Craig,
Beware of the Cochise if you want to make a “traditional” carve. For all but the biggest turns, the Cochise like to be pivoted or skied from the center rather than driven from the tip. For that reason you don’t see a lot in Vermont anymore, despite being everywhere when they first came to the market. On a softer groomer day they are still fun so maybe fine for Alta, but I ditched mine in favor of the Katana for better hard snow performance. You can drive that ski from the tip like a race ski if you want, and what I love is that the tail is there when you want it, but can be pivot when you don’t need it.
I have skied the FX94, not the 104, but from my experience with that ski the FX is going to have a much more traditional feel. It likes to be driven from the tip and you will know the tail is there in a big way – at least I did on the 94. Not that its too long or anything, it just won’t pivot like the Cochise. Whether this is a great thing or a bad thing depends on the type of skier you are and what you want the ski to achieve.
As for the Belafonte, I have skied the 190 Bibby and also the 186 ON3P Vicik which is very similar to the Belafonte. Based on that experience, my sense is that if you like the Bibby and want something for harder conditions you will like the Bela and that it will have a familar feel. Personally, I’d rather have something with metal in it for a groomer ski.
AK…thank you for the reply. I just noticed this by fluke and you are right on the money.
I had the Cochise two years ago and was not the biggest fan as I missed the camber.
I will demo’ing the FX’s this weekend. Who knows maybe end up with a 94 and 104 and call it good.
I am tired of wide skis with rocker this and rocker that coupled with infrequent snow. Its time to just ski again. Thinking the FX’s and possibly next years Line Supernaturals may become the new go to’s.
Thanks again….great advice. Wish I had seen it sooner!
Craig,
Please let us know how the 104 skis for you if you find a pair to demo. It’s been slim pickings as far as reviews of the new 104 with a rockered tip. The ski continues to be on my short list despite my inability to try it out.
I too am very excited about the Supernatural based on the reviews here. I was a huge Prophet 100 fan but haven’t liked much Line has offered since.