Why can’t Praxis be an European company. I need here some Protests and Mvps to test. ;-)
Nice review as always. Personally I had expected that the Mvp is more Jib oriented.
Thanks, Euroskier. Really, the only surprise for me was how deep the rocker lines go.
More info about the flex would be helpful. The Praxis website lists 4 available flexes; I assume that Kevin’s pair was made in the “stiff” flex? If so, could you provide a comparison to some other skis so those of us who aren’t near enough the factory can get a better handle just how stiff the “stiff” flex is?
Don’t need a pair, but I bet the 196 Protest in a stiff flex would be money for pow-day charging.
Keith said that he’d locate this particular pair on the “stiff” end of the “medium/stiff” spectrum. These aren’t total beasts. But they are definitely stiff for such a centered ski that’s this rockered out. Line SFB? The MVPs are definitely stiffer. 12/13 Influence 115? MVP is stiffer. Kastle West 110? MVP as I recall, but Jason should answer that (he’s got the MVPs and West 110s with him). Fischer Big Stix 110? Definitely MVP. Moment Deathwish? MVP. Atomic Automatics? MVP. Bibby Pro? MVP, but now we’re getting closer. 191 ON3P Billy Goat? Probably the BG.
I’m having a hard time thinking of 110mm skis that have this much rocker that are stout, but don’t flex like the RC112s, either.
Excellent answer, as always. “Stiff” means different things to different people, so it’s really nice to have these types of comparisons.
Regarding your last sentence: Wrengade…or 186 Jeffrey (if you desire tail rocker)…maybe…?
Hopefully, we can find out for sure this season. Would love to ski the Wrenegade, and I’ve been very intrigued by the Jeffrey since I first learned of it.
I’m surprised by the weight of these skis. Do you know if there is anything different about the layup of Kevin’s ski versus the standard model? Praxis’ stated weight for the 187 tradtional layup MVP is 9 pounds, and my hybrid layup ones weigh in around 8.6 pounds. It seems odd that this pair weighs almost as much as a pair of Protests (2140 grams/ski as measured by Blister).
There could have been some differences in the core Kevin used, Ben.
But you’re right – looking at our measured weight for the Protests, I need to double check that, and will do so Wednesday morning. That weight for the Protest looks suspiciously light. Thanks for the heads up.
How would you compare the mvp with the katana? Which is a ski that I really like.
By the way, I read your review in the dps 99. I demoed the hybrid, at the same time as the bonafide, and I might ski differently, but I thought the bonafide skied a lot better. The 99 had a fee flaws, like dramatically straightening out a turn if you shift the weight back, grabby tips.
Hi, Rod – mostly, the MVP and the 191 Katana are very apples-to-oranges. (We’ve only skied the 191 Katana, which has a stiffer flex than the 184 Katana.)
The 191 Katana has no traditional camber, but full-length subtle rocker. The Katana has a far more traditional, directional mount than the MVP. The Katana is one of the best crud-busting skis I’ve been on, but there is nothing playful about it. We are really hoping to ski the 184 Katana this year, and that would certainly close the gap between the 191 Katana and the 187 MVP.
Jason and I both spent a good bit of time on the Bonafide, but found it kind of lifeless and very conventional-feeling. Our Blizzard contact thought that the flex of our particular pair might have been off, so we’re hoping to get back on the skis this season.
As for the 99s, I’m not sure that I’d call it a flaw of the 99s that they straighten out a turn if you aren’t skiing centered or driving the tips, but are getting back on your heels a bit. And the 5-point tip shape of the 99s might be more inclined to grap than a tip shape like the Bonafides, but a proper detune can usually go a long way to mitigate that effect. Neither Jason nor I had issues with the the 99s or the Bonafides in that regard.
Out of the this, the LSFB, R2 108, which would you say is the best on the groomers, and the most playful, poppy, etc. I like to ride pretty close to center, but im also a pretty hard charger as well.
Hi Jonathan,
These skis sounds a lot like our fave ski, Bibby 190 (except its 110 underfoot). I was thinking about buying last year’s Billy Goat in tour layup for some backcountry action. I was also thinking about buying the same bibby 190 and use it for backcountry (short tours) but then I read your review here and I’m thinking maybe I should go with the MVP. Your thoughts would be really appreciated as always. And I thank you again for introducing me to Bibby. And I got a ski for that I think you gonna love. Try Lib Tech Pow Nas. You gonna rock the groomers and hardpack andnice with that like you have never before. I bought the 181 but would have been happy w the 191 as well but I have a lot of skis in 190’s arena and I’m 5’10” , 170 lbs so I got it in 181 so tight chutes and trees. They turn on a dime!
Why can’t Praxis be an European company. I need here some Protests and Mvps to test. ;-)
Nice review as always. Personally I had expected that the Mvp is more Jib oriented.
Thanks, Euroskier. Really, the only surprise for me was how deep the rocker lines go.
More info about the flex would be helpful. The Praxis website lists 4 available flexes; I assume that Kevin’s pair was made in the “stiff” flex? If so, could you provide a comparison to some other skis so those of us who aren’t near enough the factory can get a better handle just how stiff the “stiff” flex is?
Don’t need a pair, but I bet the 196 Protest in a stiff flex would be money for pow-day charging.
Keith said that he’d locate this particular pair on the “stiff” end of the “medium/stiff” spectrum. These aren’t total beasts. But they are definitely stiff for such a centered ski that’s this rockered out. Line SFB? The MVPs are definitely stiffer. 12/13 Influence 115? MVP is stiffer. Kastle West 110? MVP as I recall, but Jason should answer that (he’s got the MVPs and West 110s with him). Fischer Big Stix 110? Definitely MVP. Moment Deathwish? MVP. Atomic Automatics? MVP. Bibby Pro? MVP, but now we’re getting closer. 191 ON3P Billy Goat? Probably the BG.
I’m having a hard time thinking of 110mm skis that have this much rocker that are stout, but don’t flex like the RC112s, either.
Excellent answer, as always. “Stiff” means different things to different people, so it’s really nice to have these types of comparisons.
Regarding your last sentence: Wrengade…or 186 Jeffrey (if you desire tail rocker)…maybe…?
Hopefully, we can find out for sure this season. Would love to ski the Wrenegade, and I’ve been very intrigued by the Jeffrey since I first learned of it.
I’m surprised by the weight of these skis. Do you know if there is anything different about the layup of Kevin’s ski versus the standard model? Praxis’ stated weight for the 187 tradtional layup MVP is 9 pounds, and my hybrid layup ones weigh in around 8.6 pounds. It seems odd that this pair weighs almost as much as a pair of Protests (2140 grams/ski as measured by Blister).
There could have been some differences in the core Kevin used, Ben.
But you’re right – looking at our measured weight for the Protests, I need to double check that, and will do so Wednesday morning. That weight for the Protest looks suspiciously light. Thanks for the heads up.
How would you compare the mvp with the katana? Which is a ski that I really like.
By the way, I read your review in the dps 99. I demoed the hybrid, at the same time as the bonafide, and I might ski differently, but I thought the bonafide skied a lot better. The 99 had a fee flaws, like dramatically straightening out a turn if you shift the weight back, grabby tips.
Hi, Rod – mostly, the MVP and the 191 Katana are very apples-to-oranges. (We’ve only skied the 191 Katana, which has a stiffer flex than the 184 Katana.)
The 191 Katana has no traditional camber, but full-length subtle rocker. The Katana has a far more traditional, directional mount than the MVP. The Katana is one of the best crud-busting skis I’ve been on, but there is nothing playful about it. We are really hoping to ski the 184 Katana this year, and that would certainly close the gap between the 191 Katana and the 187 MVP.
Jason and I both spent a good bit of time on the Bonafide, but found it kind of lifeless and very conventional-feeling. Our Blizzard contact thought that the flex of our particular pair might have been off, so we’re hoping to get back on the skis this season.
As for the 99s, I’m not sure that I’d call it a flaw of the 99s that they straighten out a turn if you aren’t skiing centered or driving the tips, but are getting back on your heels a bit. And the 5-point tip shape of the 99s might be more inclined to grap than a tip shape like the Bonafides, but a proper detune can usually go a long way to mitigate that effect. Neither Jason nor I had issues with the the 99s or the Bonafides in that regard.
Out of the this, the LSFB, R2 108, which would you say is the best on the groomers, and the most playful, poppy, etc. I like to ride pretty close to center, but im also a pretty hard charger as well.
Hi Jonathan,
These skis sounds a lot like our fave ski, Bibby 190 (except its 110 underfoot). I was thinking about buying last year’s Billy Goat in tour layup for some backcountry action. I was also thinking about buying the same bibby 190 and use it for backcountry (short tours) but then I read your review here and I’m thinking maybe I should go with the MVP. Your thoughts would be really appreciated as always. And I thank you again for introducing me to Bibby. And I got a ski for that I think you gonna love. Try Lib Tech Pow Nas. You gonna rock the groomers and hardpack andnice with that like you have never before. I bought the 181 but would have been happy w the 191 as well but I have a lot of skis in 190’s arena and I’m 5’10” , 170 lbs so I got it in 181 so tight chutes and trees. They turn on a dime!