Ski: 2019-2020 Sego Big Horn 106, 187 cm
Available Lengths: 169, 176, 181, 187 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 185.4 cm
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2080 & 2089 grams
Stated Dimensions: 136-106-130 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 136.5-107-131 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius: 19.5 m @ 181 cm
Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 65 mm / 68 mm
Traditional Camber Underfoot: ~3-4 mm
Core: Poplar + Carbon Stringers + Fiberglass Laminate
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -3.8 cm from center; 88.9 cm from tail
Boots: K2 Pinnacle 130 & Nordica Strider 120
Bindings: Marker Jester Demo
Days Skied: ~35
Test Location: Grand Targhee, WY; Taos Ski Valley, NM
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 17/18 Big Horn 106, which was not changed for 18/19 or 19/20, apart from graphics.]
Intro
Sego is an independent manufacturer that makes all their skis in Victor Idaho. You’ve probably seen the likes of Lynsey Dyer on their women’s skis, and while they do have an impressive women’s line (especially for an indie brand), they also have a full line of men’s skis.
(Listen to our GEAR:30 podcast conversation with the founders of Sego Skis.)
The Big Horn line is Sego’s all-mountain freestyle series, consisting of the Big Horn 90, 96, and 106. Luke Koppa and I have now both spent time on the Big Horn 106, and we’re both pretty high on the ski. So let’s take a look at why the Big Horn 106 stands out in the competitive all-mountain freestyle category.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Big Horn 106:
Tips: 5
Shovels: 6-7
In Front of Toe Piece: 7-8
Underfoot: 9
Behind Heel Piece: 8-7
Tails: 6-5
The Big Horn 106 has soft tips and tails, but they stiffen up very quickly as you get closer to the center of the ski. It’s not quite a hinge-y flex, but it does ramp up very quickly from a short soft section in the tips and tails to the stiffer midsection.
Weight
At just under 2100 grams per ski, the Big Horn 106 falls on the lighter end of the spectrum for ~105mm-underfoot all-mountain freestyle skis. It’s just a hair lighter than the K2 Marksman and Armada ARV 106, and over 100 g lighter than the ON3P Kartel 108.
For reference, here are a few of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for a few notable skis:
1941 & 1994 Faction Candide 3.0, 186 cm (18/19)
1950 & 1977 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (17/18, 18/19)
1980 & 2016 Liberty Origin 106, 187 cm (17/18, 18/19)
2032 & 2062 Line Sir Francis Bacon, 184 cm (17/18, 18/19)
2080 & 2089 Sego Big Horn 106, 187 cm (17/18, 18/19)
2101 & 2104 Fischer Ranger 102 FR, 184 cm (18/19)
2113 & 2140 Armada ARV 106, 188 cm (18/19)
2133 & 2134 Faction Prodigy 3.0, 183 cm (18/19)
2144 & 2153 K2 Marksman, 184 cm (17/18, 18/19)
2221 & 2245 ON3P Kartel 108, 186 cm (18/19)
2341 & 2318 J Skis The Metal, 186 cm (17/18, 18/19)
Shape and Profile
The Big Horn 106 does have a significant amount of tip and tail taper — more than the ARV 106 or Kartel 108, but less than the dramatically tapered K2 Marksman.
The Big Horn 106 also has pretty deep rocker lines and nearly symmetrical tip and tail splay. Overall, though, there’s nothing too outlandish about the Big Horn in either shape, flex, or profile, which is a good thing, since we’ve really liked a lot of skis that look, (on paper at least) very similar to the Big Horn 106.
Mount Point
We measured the Big Horn 106’s recommended mount point at -3.8 cm from center. That’s a touch more centered than some of the other skis in this class, but it is pretty similar to the recommended -4 to -5 cm that many skis in this class have. I’ll experiment with the Big Horn mounted at recommended, but will also try the ski mounted a few centimeters back.
NEXT: The Full Review
Great review. They had a Sego demo day at our local hill this weekend up at Snoqualmie Pass. I did not try that ski but tried several others like the Cleaver which was awesome. And the 120 waist semi-swallow tail Prospect in a 187, my wife skied 2 ladies skis same shape with unicorn on the tip one was a low-fat layup 92 waist RCR ski and loved them super playful and accessible….I think it’s called Up To is the name in a 174, then skied its big sister in a 110 waist with full lay up….Lindsey Dyer ski – super stout RCR ……
The 110 Sego women’s ski and the 120 waist men’s ski will be joining their relatives in the garage.
Sego makes some good skis….not too far away in Victor Idaho.
We are so excited ….Heidi may get the 92 & 110…..I’m all in with the 120
Skied these at a demo day in Big Sky this winter. Even as a decidedly directional skier these felt super intuitive and easy to adjust to. Loved the pop and stability on landings. Highly considering these for next year.
How did they do in variable??? Any tip flop
THANKS,
Guy
Hi there! How would you rate these against the Nomad 105 (normal)? I ski Chamonix, so a lot of crud when it’s not good. But want a poppy ski. When it’s good I ride the Nomad 125 – it’s awesome!
What happened to the deep dive comparison review Blister?
Hey Cy, I’m very confused with regards to pick the Sego Big Horn 106 or the K2 Marksman as my one ski quiver. I mostly do bumps, trees, advanced off trail terrain (inbounds though), and love to jump off of eveyrwhere in the mountain.
Given that profile, which would you go with? I think I might be leaning to the Marksman.
Thanks!
Hey Cy,
Great review! I actually picked these up as my go to BC skis because of this article. I was wondering if you ever mounted the skis back a few cm? I am going to put D fits on these and the recommended mount point just seems
to far forward. Was looking at going 2-3cm further back? Just curious to see if you tried that.
Thanks!
Hi Cy,
Thanks for the good review! This ski is on the short list for expanding my one-ski quiver to two, and I’m curious for your thoughts on it, even though they might also be addressed in the upcoming deep dive. I have a season pass at Loveland, and also like to hit the skin track there and do slackcountry laps around the front range. Right now my dedicated resort rippers are the Black Crows Navis 185s, and I feel pretty happy with them in most conditions, particularly in the wind chop and variable stuff that’s all over Loveland. I also like to drive them hard on groomers. Where the Navis falls short is powder performance and playfulness, and that’s OK. I just ordered some Shift bindings, but can’t decide what to put them on. I’d like something that will make a good counterpart to the Navis, meaning good in powder and fairly playful, but doesn’t completely suck on tracked-out runs and groomers, since they are inevitable at the end of the day. (Having tried the Origin 106, this last part ruled them out.) I’m curious if you have any rankings of powder vs. playfulness vs. groomer and chop performance between these skis (likely in a 187), the Candide 3.0, the Atris, the Kartel, or something else I should consider? I’m 5’11” and 190 lbs.
Thanks!