2016-2017 SCOTT Punisher 110

Powder

The Punisher performed well for me in deep powder (more than 20”), and planed and floated beautifully thanks to its big shovels.

On the upper mountain at Mammoth, I headed to some powder fields off Climax for waist-deep turns in four feet of blower. After dropping a small cliff, I initially sank before the large, rockered shovels quickly began to plane, and on the following turns surfaced to the top 16 inches. As I actually tried to dig the Punishers back under to take full advantage of the deep, I only briefly succeeded before being lifted back near the surface. Tip dive isn’t something you’re going to have a problem with on this ski.

Garrett Altmann, Scott Punisher, Blister Gear Review
Garrett Altmann on the Scott Punisher, Taos Ski Valley. (photo by Michael Holmquist)

In depths less than 20 inches, the Punisher is right at home. The ski’s wide shovels provide ample floatation, and the stiffer tail permits wide open GS turns at both fast and slower speeds. Its stiffer flex results in a ski that wants drive and carve, rather than smear and slarve. This was most apparent when skiing trees, but also became noticeable while skiing the Sauza Spine in the West Basin at Taos. While applying a light speed check above a rock, I found the tail sinking in deeply, rather than smearing lightly near the surface.

Trees

Skiing the trees on Castor and Pollux at Taos, I found the Punisher to pivot easily and maintain its edge when skiing fast and staying forward in choppy bumps, but it isn’t particularly forgiving or easy when skiing less aggressively. In the untracked trees above Lift Shack Chute, I found the skis to be very stable and floaty at speed, yet more difficult to make smaller, quicker turns on chunkier snow and moguls than a ski like the RMU Apostle.

Airs & Landings

I found the Punisher to be very stable in the air and on landings. High-speed straight airs felt natural, cliff drops were solid, and I was sending big 3s whenever the opportunity arose. The camber underfoot permitted easy speed control on approaches, a fair amount of pop on take offs, and great stability on runouts. The rockered shovel ensured cushy landings on the front half of the ski, while the stiff tail allowed for control while skiing away. This was evidenced after dropping the cornice in Kachina Bowl, landing comfortably on soft avalanche debris, planing above the chop, and skiing away solidly down chute.

Garrett Altmann, Scott Punisher, Blister Gear Review
Garrett Altmann, Fabian Ridge, Taos Ski Valley. (photo by Michael Holmquist)

On flatter landings, I didn’t find the tips to absorb drops off cliffs as comfortably as the Coreupt Slasher. Whether the result of the ski’s differences in construction, width, profile, weight—or a combination of all of the above—the Slasher has a more damp feel than the Punisher when landing on soft snow, while the Punisher is much more stable when landing in firm conditions.

Park

In the terrain park, the Punisher was solid yet substantially heavier than the wider Coreupt Slasher. This provided a remarkably solid feel when popping single tricks and spins off jumps, but the swing weight became a limitation when attempting multiple-maneuver tricks and rotations. If you’re looking to use this ski for jibbing, I would suggest (unsurprisingly) a smaller size than the 189cm.

The Punisher’s edges also feature a large base edge angle of 1.6˚ to make the ski more forgiving on landings, boxes, and rails. It provides a more playful feel than a traditional 0 to 0.5˚ bevel, and I’m a fan.

The only downside I experienced with the Punisher in the park was in a 22-foot super pipe, when the rockered tip profile caused my edge hold to wash out on the vertical sections of the pipe walls. (Note to self: no tip rocker in the super pipe.)

Skiing Switch

The Punisher was equally stable and carved just as smoothly when skiing switch. The subtle tail rocker and substantial tail width easily initiated turns, while the gentle tip rocker enabled both speed control and an ability to carve while skiing backward. But since the ski is rather stiff underfoot and the tail rocker isn’t dramatic, I suspect the ski wouldn’t be ideal for switch landings in deep pow.

A Few More Comparisons: 189cm Scott Punisher vs. 187cm Moment Belafonte

The Punisher was most similar to the Belafonte in terms of stability. At high speeds, the Punisher was able to retain edge hold through variable types of snow and terrain. Scott’s remarkable construction is not remotely chattery or twitchy, maybe even less so than the Belafonte.

Probably the biggest difference between these two skis is in their respective sidecuts. With wider sections at both the tip and tail, the Punisher features more, the Belafonte less.

(189cm Punisher = 144-110-132mm; 187cm Belafonte = 135-106-124)

Even if these numbers don’t look much different, the Punisher definitely prefers to hook into (and finish) more rounded carves, and is less able to slither speed checks than the straighter Belafonte.

189cm Scott Punisher (144-110-128mm) vs. 187cm Coreupt Slasher (131-112-128mm)

Though marketed for similar applications (backcountry jibbing), the Punisher is much more versatile in variable conditions than the Slasher. I found the Punisher capable of charging and carving nearly all types of snow, while the Slasher performed best in softer conditions.

And the construction of the skis is significantly different. The Punisher features a traditional laminate and sandwich box construction around a wood core, producing a very durable and less chattery ski that is stable in all types of snow.

The Slasher also features a wood core with a similar, stiff flex, but is surrounded by a cap-like profile that is more prone to chatter and ricochet off harder snow. The Slasher’s lighter construction may be better in terms of swing weight for backcountry jibbing, but for skiing all-mountain terrain, the Punisher gets the nod in terms of construction, stability, and edge hold.

Bottom Line

The Scott Punisher is an extremely stable and versatile all-mountain ski that excels at charging in variable conditions. While capable of jumping and jibbing, this ski is ideal for someone with a racing background, or advanced and expert skiers looking to transfer solid carving technique to conditions off piste.

The ski can rail turns on groomers and windbuff, rip stable GS turns through chop, and offers a variable turning radius for every other type of terrain on the mountain. The modest dual rocker profile allows for easy turn initiation and edge control in a ski that is relatively forgiving—for its size and stiffness.

But when the fresh tracks turn to chop by lunchtime, I’m not sure that you can find a better ski to float over and charge through afternoon chop better than the Punisher.

You can now read Johannes Simon’s 2nd Look of the Punisher.

 

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65 comments on “2016-2017 SCOTT Punisher 110”

  1. One of the most descriptive and useful reviews about a ski I have ever read…Good work Garrett. I have a buddy in France who swears by Scott skis, and from the review of the Punishers, I can see why. People say Scott skis are some of the most unknown great skis out there, and built really well for several seasons of hard playtime….it’s good to see Garrett put a pair through their paces and describe their behavior so well. Thanks.

  2. Great review. I have four seasons (~100 days) on the original 182cm Punishers (89mm waist) and they just keep on going strong. Construction is top-notch and they have normal thickness, but very tough edges and bases. Variable-radius sidecut might be what makes these have such a versatile array of turn shapes. Can’t wait to try this new version.

  3. Tested the Scott line in Chamonix and was really impressed, looking forward to trying out this version of the Punisher. Thanks for a great review!

  4. Sounds like a realy good ski! Can you compare to the Cochise? Need a stable plank for variable conditions and I’ve been eyeing the cochise. I’m 190cm,75 kg intermediate skier in the alps.

  5. Great review.
    Demo’d the 2014 Punisher yesterday and I have to say – I was in love with them after half a run. They turn quick, feel light and are very responsive. I normally like a ski w/ titanium to keep it stable at speeds, but that wasn’t an issue w/ these. I went full out – they never chattered and I felt like I was digging a massive trench on the turns. The edges set and stay. There was plenty of crud from a recent storm and they ate it up. I can’t fully explain it – but they were just plain fun. I miss them already. I have been skiing Line’s for the last 6 seasons and I’ve never owned a Scott ski – but I think I will very soon.
    I have demo’d 12 skis this season and the only 2 that stood out and had me wanting them were the Scott Punisher and the Line Prophet 98. All the others were just so-so.

  6. Maybe a stretch, but do you have any comparisons to last year’s Bibby? Just picked up a pair – have yet to ski on it – but I’m starting to have buyer’s remorse after reading your review of the Punisher. Most important qualities I’m looking for in a ski: (1) Feels lively edge to edge. (2) Ability to crush variable snow. (3) Good balance between tight turns (trees) and charging (open steeps). 5’11”, 160lbs, aggressive expert.

  7. I am 6’4″ and 240. I ski bumps and tight trees at Vail and Keystone, and also spend time at A basin.
    Would you go Scott Punisher 189, Cochise 185 or 193, or MOMENT Belafonte, 187cm or the new Sir Francis Bacon in 190. I am an expert skier and love to ski Pallavicini at A Basin but at 43 I now ski it with less reckless abandonment that I did in years past.
    Look forward to your thoughts and suggestion.

  8. Just a follow up to my March comments.
    First off – I bought a pair about a week after that review – 183’s. I loved them that much. I’m 35 yo – 6’2 – 200lbs – variable expert (some days charging – some days just playing – no park though).
    Aaron – never skied the Bibby – sorry. But to your points – 1. Very quick edge to edge and they hold great on long open turns. 2. They transition well. I can set the edge on a groomer and duck into the trees and back to the groomer while holding that solid edge. Very predictable. 3. They are quick ski and I love them in the trees – no metal so very light and quick turning. I haven’t had them on anything crazy steep yet so I can’t really vote there. But on the moderate steeps – they have been great. (for reference – I’d consider KT22 at Squaw to be crazy steep) I’m not a fan of super long skis – but if I was getting into the crazy steeps regularly – I would have gone w/ the 189’s.
    M / Jason – I skied last years Salomon Rocker2 and wasn’t a huge fan. They were decent but to much rocker for my style. I am a die hard Line fan and the Bacon’s are a great ski. Overall the Bacon’s are a heavier ski and they feel it – they are not as quick edge to edge and feel better the faster you go. The Punishers are more playful than the Bacon’s in my opinion. When on the Bacon’s you have to stay more aggressive all the time to keep them in check. They are less forgiving then the Punishers. They are similar skis and different at the same time.
    For me it came down to what I do now. My hard charging crazy steep days are over for the most part and I spend my days for lack of a better term – playing around. I still go for it on some days – but its not a daily thing anymore. I skied the Cochise the same day I fell in love w/ the Punishers – on that day – they were my 3rd favorite (Line Prophet 98 was second). Cochise is a solid ski and quick all around but when I got hauling on a groomer they chattered a bit – they held well but didn’t feel as solid overall – compared to the Punisher or Lines. That said – the Line Influence 105 was the MOST solid at speed – those skis love to run on the groomers – but they were a lot of work when going slow.
    I’ve never skied any Moment skis so I’m not help there either.
    I’ve had lots of skis over the years and I’ve learned that what works for me – may not work for you. It’s all a preference thing. I still have my Prophet 115’s and plan to break them out this year. I’m sure they will feel heavy but some days you drive the Caddy – some days the Vette.
    Hope this info helps. Whatever ski you pick – hope you have a GREAT season.

  9. I am 6’4″ and 240. I ski bumps and tight trees at Vail and Keystone, and also spend time at A basin.
    Would you go Scott Punisher 189, Cochise 185 or 193, or MOMENT Belafonte, 187cm or the new Sir Francis Bacon in 190. I am an expert skier and love to ski Pallavicini at A Basin but at 43 I now ski it with less reckless abandonment that I did in years past.
    Look forward to your thoughts and suggestion.

  10. I have narrowed it down to either getting the 190 Sir Francis Bacon or the 189 Punisher. Your thoughts? I am 6’4″ and 240. I ski bumps and tight trees at Vail and Keystone, and also spend time at A basin.
    I am an expert skier and love to ski Pallavicini at A Basin but at 43 I now ski it with less reckless abandonment that I did in years past. Look forward to your thoughts and suggestion.

  11. Well boys I ordered some 189 Scott Punishers today! I will give you my two cents on how they perform once I get some time on them. Thank you for your help.

  12. 189 Punisher
    Age 40 6’4″ 250 pounds
    Expert skier, Days on skied on Punisher 4, average days skied each year 40 to 50
    Skied Punisher at Keystone and Breckenridge. So far very happy with the ski
    Skied on groomers that were soft to hard packed and the ski did not chatter and I could really rip downhill with confidence. Skied some midsized moguls that were rock hard with 3 inches of fresh on top. Ski performed well and did not have any issues with the wide shovel of the ski. The skis are light and I felt they performed as well in the bumps as you could expect a ski of this size. Epic day at Breckenridge 8 inches of new snow to start the day and dumping hard all day with plenty of wind. Skied Peaks 7 and 8 which means you get everything from very hard windblown snow, light chop to 16 inches of pow because of the wind. Ski performed well and provided plenty of float. I skied some very tight trees at both Keystone and Breck and could make tight turns without a problem. The only thing I have not skied is heavy chop but after being on the ski I think it will handle this without a problem. I think the ski is plenty big for skiing Summit County and Vail as we rarely get more than a foot of snow at a time. I may get a smaller pair skis 90 mm range for when the snow is not great and I have to keep up with my smaller friends and kids in the bumps all day. Over all I really like the ski and they were significantly better than my old skis for the one big snow day at Breckenridge.
    Old skis 2004 Gotomas 184 with 103 underfoot This model was twin tip and no rocker great all mountain ski. Background raced growing up until high school. Ex D1 football player. Side note I skied old skinny skis just fine until a buddy gave me the Gotamas in 2009 and I saw the light of new equipment also I have not skied on any other skies to compare to the punisher. I originally wanted to buy the Sir Francis Bacons but felt after reading reviews and talking to some folks that I was just too heavy for the Bacon.

  13. Follow up.
    Days on skies now 10 +. Skied the epic storm we had in Colorado last week with 29 inches of new heavy powder.
    Skies performed well I did sink a bit but at 250 pounds and 29 inches of snow this is to be expected. Skied well in the tight trees and open bowls. The ski is very stable. Once the powder was cut into crud this ski really shined. The ski has no speed limit in crud or chopped up snow. The ski also performs very well on groomed runs for making GS style turns and has no speed limit on groomers or I did not find it.
    If you are a bigger guy and want a stable ski that can handle a variety of things I think this is a good choice.

  14. Just rode the 14-15 Scott Punisher for a couple runs in foot-deep, cut-up pow at NEWSR/ESWRA demo days n Vermont after a foot of fresh over hardpack….It was probably the best ski for those cut up conditions I tried at the show. Great balance of mass, response, stability, agility, grip and power with a really useful feedback underfoot. Huge performance envelope..and darn good at either end of the envelope…not just “OK”..but really, really good. Good job Scott. I have not tried the newest JJs or the soul 7s yet, but skied behind a guy on new Soul 7s….and he was tip-flapping in places the Punisher did not, and I think I had better grip in transitions from pow-to-scraped-off sections than he did…but it could be the tune of the Rossi, or the skier…who knows. The consistent message from reviewers all over the place saying the Punisher is a great mixed-surface ski is correct. I simply though this ski was great and a potential one-ski-quiver for many ski areas.

    • Does anybody know if there are any changes other than graphics to the 14-15 Scott Punisher from the 12-13 and 13-14 versions?

      • 14-15 are the same other than the graphics – as told to me by the demo guy at Loon in late March. I got mine this time last year and got the previous year for a steal. Happy shopping.
        I am still loving my Punishers – 25-ish days on them this season. Zero regrets on getting this ski.

  15. Thanks bungyfish. I just picked up a pair of lightly used 12-13 Punishers with demo bindings for cheap. I’m looking forward to using them the rest of the season at Snowbird. They sound like they might be better than my Soul 7’s in variable Spring conditions.

  16. Hey Garrett,

    Have you had a chance to ride the new 2014 or 2015 RMU Apostle? How does it compare to the Punisher and the Bacon now that they stiffened the ski up a bit?

    Thanks a bunch for the solid review!

    • Patrick,

      The Apostle I’ve ridden (see my review) is starkly different than the Punisher since it features a 5-point design with the widest point at the front of the ski occurring much further down from the tip than the Punisher. I personally prefer the widest portion of a ski occurring at the tip, like the Punisher features, so that floatation is more quickly enabled in powder and crud, while a longer effective edge is available on groomers. I haven’t ridden the ’14-’15 Apostle or Bacon but will hopefully get on them this winter.

  17. Thanks a bunch Garrett for the heads up.

    I just pulled the trigger on a pair of 183’s. Im excited to tear the shit out of Alta this winter and putt these things through the ringer. From all the reviews I have read, I havent heard a single bad thing about these. They seam like a perfect daily driver for charging on everything from hardpack to crud and pow. We shall see.

    -P

  18. Does anyone have any thought on the recomended mounting position of the 183cm version and if so, why?

    I just picked up a pair and am super stoked to taker for a spin this weekend!

    • I mounted mine at +1.
      I measured them out and I don’t recall the exacts but boot center was approx -6 from ski center so I decided to go +1 off boot center. Compared to the demo’s mounted standard I skied – can’t say I notice a big difference but I wanted them a pinch quicker overall.
      Guy who mounted them (who knows my style a bit) recommended +2 or +2.5 but I was a chicken and couldn’t go that far.
      I ski all mtn – rarely go in the park – sometimes spin off a natural jump.
      Enjoy the new skis – I’m sure you’ll love them.

      • Hey thanks a bunch bungyfish!

        Yeah that was my next question, I was wondering how far away the Recommended was from True Center. I mean, some skis are designed to be mounted close to True center, such as the Bacon, but -6, then another -1……
        I was slightly confused when reading the 2nd Review of this Ski and seeing a recommendation of -1 on the 183.
        I also like to play a bit and spin, but dont want a ski that doesn’t feel balanced and fairly neutral just because it was mounted a bit further back. From Scotts description on their website, I’m kinda surprised that the recommended line isn’t further forward.

        For how good of reviews this ski has gotten from everyone that has taken it for a spin, their isn’t much of anything in the way of info on recommended mounting position. Thanks for the response!!

        • Sorry if that made no sense – I’m blaming the beers.
          Just to be clear – I am mounted at +1 – which is closer to center. I also have the 183’s.
          I’m not 100% that true vs boot was an exact difference of 6 – it may have been more actually. I know these are designed for an off center mount. I met one guy who had his mounted true center and he ended up moving them to recommended boot center because he “didn’t like the feel” of true center. Although he couldn’t tell me exactly what he didn’t like. But his statement was part of the reason I was a chicken and only went +1. Not knowing what or how you ski – I can’t really recommend but if I had to do it again I’d stay in the +1 to +2 range. (closer to center from rec boot).
          Good luck man – let us all know where you land and how much you love them.

  19. Hi Garret,
    thanks for the great review… just like all on blistergearreview!

    I was very tempted by the Punishers after reading this (and founding them at a good price), but worried they might be too stiff / charger?

    I’m 39, 141 pounds / 5’9″ intermediate (which is pretty vague) skiing Salomon Lords 177.
    I guess I’m used to that Salomon flex: can you compare the flex of the Punishers to, say, the Lords or Q-105?
    I was after a relatively easy going ski…

    Cheers,
    Luke

    • Luke,
      Despite it’s charging capabilities, the Punisher would be good for you if you’re looking to advance your skill level a bit. It has a predictable feel that, while probably being slightly heavier than the Lord (cap vs. laminate construction), is still fairly straightforward in maneuvering and will likely hold an edge more easily. The Punisher will be good at teaching you to carve more advanced GS turns on groomers, yet be capable of smaller turns at moderate skill level.

      If you’re content with intermediate skills, then stay with the Lord since it’s probably a bit easier to swing around and smear. But if you want to enjoy the feel of a good carve and be more proficient at skiing chop off piste, do yourself a favor and mount up a pair at 1cm forward and enjoy the ride.

      • Hey, Luke – Garrett’s got more time on the Punisher than I do, but I don’t disagree with anything he says. The only thing I’ll add, and that makes me a little nervous, is that you say that you’re looking for a “relatively easy going ski.” Granted, we only have time on the 189cm Punishers and haven’t skied the shorter lengths, but when I think of “relatively easy going skis,” I think the Quest 105 fits that description perfectly. But again, I think Garrett’s descriptions are on point, I just don’t want you to end up with more ski than you’re looking for.

        • Hi Jonathan,
          I’ve got the opportunity to buy a new pair 16/17 punishers 110 (183cm), and plan to mount them with a pair of salomon shift. I’m an aspiring intermediate/lower level advanced skier (183cm/70-72kg) who skis mostly in Norway and the European alps. I want to be able to use the skis both off piste and for short tours but also on piste from time to time. I’m curious how the Punishers hold up compared to for example the Salomon qst 106 18/19 and the newer 19/20. I’ve read the reviews of both these skis and take it that the 19/20 qst and the punishers share some characteristics especially when it comes to dampness and versatility.

          Cheers
          Jake

      • Garrett and Jonathan,
        thank you both for your prompt replies! Sorry couldn’t respond earlier.
        All valid points, and I tend to agree with all. I’m intermediate and I want to progress (if only my skills would match my enthusiasm… ) but although I’m in pretty good shape, I know I don’t have legs of steel, hence my comment about the “easy going ski”.

        I think both Punisher (183) and Q105 (181) could work TBH, with the Salomon being the safer option. Jonathan I read your review on the 105 and was also intrigued by that.

        I ski on eastern Alps/Dolomites, so not always guaranteed powder as in PNW – so the choice was also influenced by offers/prices, as this might not be my daily driver (but hoping for snowfalls like last year.
        So at the moment was looking at 2015 Punisher, 2014 Q 105 and 2014 Shreditor 102, but won’t have the chance to demo. Planning to mount them with a pair of Barons, as I’d really like to start get into some short touring / hink’n’ride.

        I’ll make sure to post back some comments if I end up getting any of these…

        Cheers,
        Luke

  20. Hi, I have been following this thread awhile. I have a set of Scott Reverse that are awesome on groomed on groomed and soft but am looking for a second ski for spring heavy snow on top of groomed. Late February and early March i ski Big White 6-8 days and there is often 4-6 inches of fresh snow on top of softt groomed, if its warmer it can be heavy and also choppy in the the afternoon. I am deciding between Scott Punisher and Rossi Soul 7. My specs are 51 years old, 5 ft 10 inches, 160 lbs, advanced skier and looking for a second ski for heavy snow to perform as easy and comfidently as my Scott Reverse performs on groomed with 2 inches of light snow. Any thoughts appreciated.. Cheers, Tim

    • Tim,
      First off – I still love my Punishers.
      I demo’d the Rossi line of Sin/Soul/Super a few weeks ago and they all ski the same for the most part. The only differences structurally is the widths (as far as I know) They have a real low swing weight and overall – for me – they are just OK. Predictable and easy to ski but a little too lightweight/chattery for me.
      If you are looking for a ski for fresh/choppy conditions I’d definitely go with the Punishers – but I am partial to them. Even more so now after skiing many other skis. But again – that could be my style and preference. Not sure what it is about the Punishers that is scaring you but some comparable skis that I’ve clicked into that I would put in that “chop” category would be the Volkl Gotama, Armada TST, Line Supernatural (92 or 100) and the Line Bacon’s.
      Good luck and let us know what you pick.

  21. Tim, I have not skied the Soul 7 but from friends and other reviews it is a soft snow ski. I love the Scott Punisher. I ski the 189 and I am 6′ 4″ and 250. You should have plenty of float on the punisher as it does well in all conditions from groomed, crud, to powder. For me personally I have some Megawatts for deep days but I am 90 pounds heavier than you and I am sure you will enjoy the punisher. I would consider the Punisher similar to the Line Bacon but a little burlier. I think you can have as much fun on the Punisher as the Soul 7 with a more versatile ski. I now ski three skis but for two years just skied the Punisher and Megawatt. I now ski the Moment Tahoe for groomed and no new snow bumps, Punisher on everything, and Megawatt on deep days. Good luck

  22. Thanks for the input Jake and Bungyfish. I am leaning more towards the Punishers. I have been trying to think about what I would like to add to my Scott Reverse, and really it comes down to more capability in spring heavy snow and the afternoon choppy powder/groomed skied up piles that result. I was most interested in trying the Soul 7 from reviews stating that it is an excellent fun ski and while the Soul 7 sounds like an excellent choice for soft and fluffy the Scott Reverse that I have performs excellent on fresh light snow with a groomed base. Most all reviews identify the Punisher as excellent for mixed and choppy conditions, Any feedback on whether it responds quickly and easily (nimble?) or whether you have to work at it? Not an easy thing to define, but for example I skied a Head 88 for about 5 years, and with the bindings at center I had to put a lot of effort into it, with the bindings 1 inch forward I could snap it around the mountain with ease. Cheers, Tim

  23. Some mount point advice, please.
    I just received my 183s, which I predict will go like hell (in a good way) at the NZ clubfields. Measured them up, and they’re 182cm straight pull, with recommended boot centre at 101cm, i.e. 10cm behind true centre – and that’s a lot in 2015, although they have very long, gradual tip rocker.
    I saw Garrett mention +1cm. Any other feedback on this? Very curious :-)

    • My 183’s are mounted +1.
      The guy who mounted them and knows my style recommended +2 or 3 but I couldn’t do it. I’ve been real happy with ski overall and my mount point.
      Met one guy who had mounted at true center and ended up moving them back to +4. Said they were to “twitchy” at center.
      Good luck.
      I’m going to demo next years Punishers in a few weeks. Not sure if there are any changes yet but looking forward to it.

  24. Thanks for a great review! Big fan of the Pun.

    Have a question re a Scott ski on the opposite end of the spectrum. Do you or your team have any experience w the Superguide 95? I’m looking at a touring setup and this ski has piqued my interest, but I can’t seem to find much on it.

    • Aaron,

      I’ve been putting time on the Punisher 95, Scrapper, and The Ski but have yet to try the Superguide 95. I’m heading to Europe for the next several weeks and have a few folks I’ll who have been putting significant time on the Superguide the past couple years. I’ll see what feedback I can attain for you and reply here if I hear anything. -G

      • Hey garret,

        Curious about your thoughts on the scrapper? Looking at the 115, seems to have less tail rocker than the punisher. Seems like a solid directional charger?

        • T,
          I’ve yet to put time on the 115, though I’ve ridden the Scrapper 124 extensively the past couple seasons. The Scrapper does have more directional charging capabilities than the Punisher in softer conditions, particularly due to a more reinforced tail section and a bit less rocker. I suspect the 115 will have even more so with narrower width and reduced surface area to float. The Scrapper 115 is at the top of my list for the upcoming season and I’m anxious to see how this ski performs.

  25. Hej Garret

    I am currently riding the Norwalk but looking for something similar between the width of the Norwalk and tst – 110 falls straight in between.

    I like that I’m able to point the skis and step on it, 21m turn radius, float. how would you say the punisher would compare?

    Thanks!

    • Christian,
      This Punisher loves to be pointed, stepped on, and charged. No problem with 21m turns. It will excel at these. Unlike the Norwalk and TST, which carry a tip profile that is not continually in contact with the snow [in firm conditions], the Punisher may feel like a lot more ski since the widest point of the ski is at the tip and will be making contact with snow most of the time. I prefer this for carving, and all around skiing, for that matter. The TST is more nimble for quick turns but I found it irritating to carry around 20+ cm of tip profile that only engaged in deeper snow.

      • Thanks Garrett!

        Sounds like a really interesting ski. Is it a lot stiffer than the Norwalk/TST?

        As the punisher has a lot of tail rocker while the TST has none, which is easier to ski in tight terrain?

        Really appreciate your input. I agree with your thoughts on the tiprocker, even though it didn’t bother me on the TST the Norwalk gets a lot of flap.

        Thanks again
        C

  26. hi garrett,
    i am planning to buy the scott punisher, but i am not sure yet about the length – i am 1,84cm(6’)/72kg (160lbs), pretty good skier in all conditions, just not so much into park/tricks. so i wonder what size you would recommend?
    thanks a lot!!
    lothar

    • I’d go with the 189cm if you’re just over 6′ tall [184cm]. The remaining question I’d ask is how fast do you like to ski? If you enjoy cruising fast and staying forward in all types of snow, then go long. If you find yourself in the moderate speed range, on groomers more than off piste, and in the back seat from time to time, go with the 183cm and learn to master it for a couple years before going long.

  27. thanks a lot for the quick answer! ok, sounds like i should go for the 1,89 then.
    usually i like to go fast and ski forward especially off-piste and in deeper snow. plus, sometimes i weigh 1-2kg more, and airbag and avalanche gear adds around 5kg.
    for the hardpack groomers i also have a race-carver and i still have the old punisher in 1,83 which might be still ok sometimes to play with on days with less snow… thanks for the great review and good advice!

  28. It depend where you ski. When I ski Breckenridge, A Basin, or Vail I love my 189CM Scott Punishers 110. While at a place like Keystone it is a little to much ski at times and for Mary Jane it can be a little to much ski at times. That being said last year I bought some 186cm Blizzard Peacemakers just for Keystone and Jane and while I am sure I mounted them wrong I was never that confident on them. I like the Scott Ski so much I am planning on getting the Punisher 95 to complement my Punisher 110 in a 189CM and getting rid of my Moment Tahoe and Peacemakers this year. If you ski a place like Mary Jane or Keystone all the time I would get the Punisher 110 in the 183 CM and if you ski a place like Breckenridge or Squaw Valley I would get the Punisher 110 in a 189 CM. I am 6’4″ 250 Pounds and while I don’t huck cliffs like I used too but I still push it pretty dang hard and never feel like the Punisher will let me down.

  29. hey, thanks a lot for the comments! unfortunately i don’t know these resorts, as i am usually skiing in europe (austria)! could you tell me the characteristics, so i can apply them to austrian resorts? also, it sounds like the combination with the old punisher could work well then, because it has more or less the same size as the new punisher95.

  30. 30+ days on Scott Punisher 110, 189 cm, mounted at +2 and after 20 yyears of skiing, many, many ski sets and five+ years of fririding, these skis still got my first place for everyday freeride skiing. Very pitty, that are discontinued!
    Advice-fir everybody taller than 176 cm, 189 cm lenght and mounting at plus 1,5-2,0 is the right configuration!

  31. Hey, Just broke my scott punisher 110 183 cm on some rocks :-/.
    Scott does not offer anymore this kind of ski in their line up ….
    have rent the new scott scrapper 105 to get them a try but was by far way of enthusiastic .Was definitely
    On hard groomers very stable and much better then the punishers but this was it….all the rest not even close to my punishers and to what i personally like.
    Tried then the nordica enforcer 110 … much better and much closer to my punishers but in my opinion not as nimble.
    All in all I was pretty much stoked about the all mountain performances of the punishers. From crud to powder to a bit of groomers …. exspecially the nimbleness of them was extraordinary and performed well in not perfect conditions.
    Now The season has just started , I m without skis and I really d ont have any idea which ski could work now for me , if not searching may be on line a old pair of scott punishers ?
    Would this be the best option or are actually other skis on the market with the same characteristics as the “old “ punishers ? Or may be even better ?
    Thanks so much for your help !

  32. I’ve been loving my punishers for the last 7 years and it’s high time I started punishing a new pair of skis! I’d get another pair if I could find any, but it seems like that ship has sailed… any suggestions on a ski in the same width range that’s similarly playful but charges crud as well as these?

  33. Salvador- The Scott Scrapper 105 has become my go-to, all-around charger the past two years. It’s slightly more forgiving then the punisher, as it’s a bit narrower and lighter, but still super stable. The Scrapper is available in 95, 105, 115, and 124. The 95 is super playful, holds well and excels in hardpack. The 124 is for full blown powder/big mountain. The 115 is an all mountain charger but may not be as nimble and fun on groomers. I may actually have a new pair of 189 punishers in my garage so if that’s what you really still want, let me know. Happy shredding

  34. Hi Garrett, impressed that you are replying 8 years after the original review, very cool. I can get hold of a pair of new 2017 Punishers, which after reading yours and Johannes’s reviews I am quite tempted to do. What you would say would be the nearest current equivalent ski? Would something like the Corvus be close? Or is it more akin to the Atris? Enforcer 110? Thanks

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