I suppose in this context you could go either way and say it’s a purposeful double-entendre, but’s it’s actually “piqued” not “peaked.”
Nice review. I’ve been wondering about Fischer’s latest stuff.
Hi Will,
I have read your review on the Völkl Bridge and was wondering how you would compare it to the Watea.
Cheers,
Mads
Hey Mads,
The Bridge falls in a different genre of all-mountain ski in my eyes, one more defined by skis that are suited for switch skiing and a more playful approach to the mountain in general. The Watea is going to feel significantly more locked down and more energetic (especially on groomers), thanks to its mostly traditional camber profile, where the Bridge is going to feel more forgiving and will be more willing to smear and skid turns. Both are good skis, but for two different sorts of skiers.
Will
Will, Thanks for the great review. I am putting it on my “to think about” list. I currently ski the JJ in a 185 for the powder days and a Kastle MX98 (pre tail rocker) in a 174. The Kastle’s are a great ski, but I wonder at 6’1″ and 165 if I just can’t muscle them enough to make them work for me instead of the other way around. On the groomers when I have plenty of room to make wide turns and mach speed, they are great, but in Tahoe, who the heck can ski like that every day? I was hoping to sell the Kastle’s and pick up a more playful ski to use when I am not on the JJs. These sound promising. I love to find stuff off-piste to ski, to take jumps off small 5′ jumps and such. I don’t do a lot of switch when I’m not in the park (I have AR7s for that). I was getting interested in the Bibby pros by their reveiws, but they are probably too close to the JJs. I have heard good things about the Atomic Theory, the Line Sir Francis Bacon’s, Armada TST, and the moment belafonte to name a few otheres. I tried the Mantras about three years ago and they felt dead to me. I think it was the metal. It was before they changed the shape. Sorry for the novel. Good for you guys and the great reviews. I love skiing. It’s the best…
Hi Tomas,
Really sorry I missed you comment until now. I would say you’d be fine with the 186cm Watea – it seems like a nice match for the sort of skiing you’re describing. As for the tails, no – they are wide, squared off, and pretty much completely flat (apart from a slightly turned up, rubberized notch added for skin compatibility).
Cheers,
Will
Hey Will,
Very interesting review, thank you. I’ve been following these skies for some time, and now I want to buy a pair. My question is what length do you recommend for me? I live in Chile, so I ski the Andes, especially in Portilllo, I also go to the US, Colorado, to ski some times, but mainly ski in Chile. I am 35 years old, love sports, height 183 cm, weight 80 Kg, have skied all my life (lets say 2 to 3 weeks every season), advanced to expert skier but obviously not a preofessional. I can ski any terrain very well (enjoy off piste in steep mountains, bumps, etc), but not interested in jumping off rocks, etc. I know there is not an exact answer to my question, but considering this info, what length of Watea 96 de you recommend? I suppose it would be either the 178 or the 186 cm, but help me with this decision, what do you say? thank you!! Tomás. And one other question: Do the wateas 96 have some rocker in the back or only in front?
Hey Will,
Currently looking for a second, well really third ski, to fit between a pair of 186 Bodacious, and skinny SL skis, What I want is a ski for resort skiing mainly on groomed terrain that will also allow me to go sidecountry when theres not much new snow or for those days when you get just a few inches of new snow. last few winters I’ve been happy skiing most of the season on the Bodacious, but I’ve been very lucky with the schedules as I’ve managed to be in the mountains, all the times that there’s been a decent storm. So I assume this winter I won’t be that lucky so I’m gearing to have a very capable piste ski.
Do you think I’ll be happy on the Ranger 96, as said it would be a 70% groomed – 30% side with not too much snow. Also regarding size, I’m 5’8″ and 165lbs, what size would you go for considering they won’t see deep stuff, for reference I’m comfortable with the 186 bodacious off-piste, but when railing groomers there are a bit of a handful, is hard to rest your legs the between laps when you have to straight point them to go back to the lift…
I have the Watea 96 and the 106. I live in Australia and ski often in Canada and Japan. Will’s description of the skis is accurate. The 106 is great for big deep powder days but the 96 will do them too, and everything else. Surprisingly nimble in the bumps and predictable on high speed groomers. I have recently put Marker Kingpins on them and have found they are fantastic for backcountry skinning. So I use the 96’s probably 80% of the time. They are undoubtedly the closest to a one ski quiver I have ever owned.
Peter H, Red Hill, Auatralia
I am curious about your thoughts on lenght. I am 5’9″ and about 183 lbs. I am by no means a true expert but I would say an expert recreational skier who sticks to frontside blacks and does them all well and frequently dabbles in trees shots , chutes and double blacks. trying to decide bewteen 178 and 186
Hi
The weight of these skis is with or without the bindings ?
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2072 & 2035 grams
thx
Hey Will,
I suppose in this context you could go either way and say it’s a purposeful double-entendre, but’s it’s actually “piqued” not “peaked.”
Nice review. I’ve been wondering about Fischer’s latest stuff.
Hi Will,
I have read your review on the Völkl Bridge and was wondering how you would compare it to the Watea.
Cheers,
Mads
Hey Mads,
The Bridge falls in a different genre of all-mountain ski in my eyes, one more defined by skis that are suited for switch skiing and a more playful approach to the mountain in general. The Watea is going to feel significantly more locked down and more energetic (especially on groomers), thanks to its mostly traditional camber profile, where the Bridge is going to feel more forgiving and will be more willing to smear and skid turns. Both are good skis, but for two different sorts of skiers.
Will
Will, Thanks for the great review. I am putting it on my “to think about” list. I currently ski the JJ in a 185 for the powder days and a Kastle MX98 (pre tail rocker) in a 174. The Kastle’s are a great ski, but I wonder at 6’1″ and 165 if I just can’t muscle them enough to make them work for me instead of the other way around. On the groomers when I have plenty of room to make wide turns and mach speed, they are great, but in Tahoe, who the heck can ski like that every day? I was hoping to sell the Kastle’s and pick up a more playful ski to use when I am not on the JJs. These sound promising. I love to find stuff off-piste to ski, to take jumps off small 5′ jumps and such. I don’t do a lot of switch when I’m not in the park (I have AR7s for that). I was getting interested in the Bibby pros by their reveiws, but they are probably too close to the JJs. I have heard good things about the Atomic Theory, the Line Sir Francis Bacon’s, Armada TST, and the moment belafonte to name a few otheres. I tried the Mantras about three years ago and they felt dead to me. I think it was the metal. It was before they changed the shape. Sorry for the novel. Good for you guys and the great reviews. I love skiing. It’s the best…
Hi Tomas,
Really sorry I missed you comment until now. I would say you’d be fine with the 186cm Watea – it seems like a nice match for the sort of skiing you’re describing. As for the tails, no – they are wide, squared off, and pretty much completely flat (apart from a slightly turned up, rubberized notch added for skin compatibility).
Cheers,
Will
Hey Will,
Very interesting review, thank you. I’ve been following these skies for some time, and now I want to buy a pair. My question is what length do you recommend for me? I live in Chile, so I ski the Andes, especially in Portilllo, I also go to the US, Colorado, to ski some times, but mainly ski in Chile. I am 35 years old, love sports, height 183 cm, weight 80 Kg, have skied all my life (lets say 2 to 3 weeks every season), advanced to expert skier but obviously not a preofessional. I can ski any terrain very well (enjoy off piste in steep mountains, bumps, etc), but not interested in jumping off rocks, etc. I know there is not an exact answer to my question, but considering this info, what length of Watea 96 de you recommend? I suppose it would be either the 178 or the 186 cm, but help me with this decision, what do you say? thank you!! Tomás. And one other question: Do the wateas 96 have some rocker in the back or only in front?
Hey Will,
Currently looking for a second, well really third ski, to fit between a pair of 186 Bodacious, and skinny SL skis, What I want is a ski for resort skiing mainly on groomed terrain that will also allow me to go sidecountry when theres not much new snow or for those days when you get just a few inches of new snow. last few winters I’ve been happy skiing most of the season on the Bodacious, but I’ve been very lucky with the schedules as I’ve managed to be in the mountains, all the times that there’s been a decent storm. So I assume this winter I won’t be that lucky so I’m gearing to have a very capable piste ski.
Do you think I’ll be happy on the Ranger 96, as said it would be a 70% groomed – 30% side with not too much snow. Also regarding size, I’m 5’8″ and 165lbs, what size would you go for considering they won’t see deep stuff, for reference I’m comfortable with the 186 bodacious off-piste, but when railing groomers there are a bit of a handful, is hard to rest your legs the between laps when you have to straight point them to go back to the lift…
I have the Watea 96 and the 106. I live in Australia and ski often in Canada and Japan. Will’s description of the skis is accurate. The 106 is great for big deep powder days but the 96 will do them too, and everything else. Surprisingly nimble in the bumps and predictable on high speed groomers. I have recently put Marker Kingpins on them and have found they are fantastic for backcountry skinning. So I use the 96’s probably 80% of the time. They are undoubtedly the closest to a one ski quiver I have ever owned.
Peter H, Red Hill, Auatralia
I am curious about your thoughts on lenght. I am 5’9″ and about 183 lbs. I am by no means a true expert but I would say an expert recreational skier who sticks to frontside blacks and does them all well and frequently dabbles in trees shots , chutes and double blacks. trying to decide bewteen 178 and 186
Hi
The weight of these skis is with or without the bindings ?
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2072 & 2035 grams
thx