I rode lift 2 and entered the Castor trees. It hadn’t snowed in about five days, and conditions were firm, but the chop and bumps were fun and carvable. With a slight degree of hesitation, I entered a tight tree zone only to be rewarded with the Apostle’s remarkable maneuverability. My hesitation quickly became confidence as the ski proved to be able to turn when and where I wanted.
The traditional camber underfoot allowed the ski to perform like it was 160cm long, yet the rockered tip seamlessly initiated turns through the variable chop. Finishing out the remaining 300 meters of steep tree lines, I headed for even steeper terrain off the ridge.
Conditions off the ridge were a bit softer, and the prevailing winds had deposited a nice layer of windblown snow that had been chopped by other riders. I dropped the Juarez cornice into 4-6” of fluff and found the Apostle planing, floating, and driving any direction with ease. As the snow became more choppy and firm, the ski remained stable thanks to the wood core. The only shortcoming I noticed was, again, when I tried to load the tail at the end of long turns on firmer snow, and I found myself wishing for more length throughout the ski.
As the day continued, I made the hike up Kachina Peak. About halfway up I noticed that the Apostle felt light for its length. I typically would have noticed heavier skis by this point and begun alternating shoulders. With the Apostle, however, weight was clearly not an issue when hiking, and I suspect this feature would be appreciated in the backcountry.
At K-3, I could see smooth wind buff amid the otherwise wind scoured summit. I dropped in and carved multiple turns perpendicular to the fall line as I surfed the firm wind buff below the cornice, prior to dropping fall line. Once again the Apostle was very fun, stable, and nimble. It turned when I needed it to and was able to hold a solid edge on firm snow where a typical powder ski would likely have washed out.
As I dropped the fall line into the variable wind chop and breakable crust below, the rockered tip let me plane when needed. While I could have used a bit more width at times, having it would have compromised the ski’s maneuverability and weight.
After Kachina, on my way to ski moguls in Hunziker bowl, I boosted a hip jump. The camber underfoot let me pop into the air with ease and the rocker tail did not interfere. In the air, the swing weight was comfortable at zero gravity and allowed the ski to be tweaked in any direction. Upon landing, the rear section of the ski was not an issue on the smooth transition.
Once in the bumps, turns were as instantaneous as on groomers. The rockered tip limited my ability to drive the front end of the ski down the backside of the moguls and initiate carves like it did on groomers, but this is to be expected on any rockered, early-rise tip.
A week later I found myself in Crested Butte, Colorado. The scheduled Freeskiing World Tour stop of the “Crested Butte Extremes” had been canceled because of minimal snow, but the locals invited me to join the “Underground Extremes” taking place in lieu of the cancellation. Given the “underground” theme, I figured it was appropriate to represent the RMUs.
The morning venue took place on the Headwall. I arrived to firm, old snow on the ridge, which gradually softened as I descended. Fortunately, the Apostle was able to hold its own—and then some. They excelled when negotiating the abundant rocks that were present among firm moguls, and then diced through the smooth, steeper sections. Entering the cliff zone, I was able to inspect the diving board drop and then ski through the tight exit with confidence. As I exited the landing zone with high-speed GS turns, however, the lack of a stiff tail became an issue again as I was unable to stabilize this portion of the ski. This lack of tail felt like a poor fit for the firm, high-speed lower section, and I reluctantly swapped out skis for the competition later that day.
A few laps in the terrain park, however, proved to be a delight on the Apostle. The raised tip and tail permitted seamless transitions between forward and switch stances, and the low swing weight proved especially playful on high-speed rollers. The ski could also carve into large jumps, handle skillfully in the air, and again carve out turns following stable landings.
I agree on all points. If you move the mount forward by 1-2cm you can definitely feel the tail a bit more, it’s all really just personal preference.
Good review!
I wish I could have spent more than a morning on em at Breck this year. It was 5 deg F and Peak 10 was icy as hell. They absolutely hated that stuff. I bailed on em after 3 runs and went back to the Line Opus. I expect that when I moved over to the softer stuff they would have woken up and been a blast. Can’t say enough about the company though. I mentioned I wanted to demo and within 3 hours they had a pair over from the factory for me to ride.
Hey Garrett,
I had a couple questions regarding the 2013 model of this ski.
1. Did they change anything from the 2012?
2 I am 5’8″ and 155 and was wondering if the 185 would be long enough for me? I know you said you had conflicting views about the overall length of the ski. Is it that there is a large amount of rocker? And do you know the actual Tip-to-Tail length?
Great review and thanks!!!
Patrick,
I checked in with RMU, and yes, they’ve made a few minor changes (aside from graphics) to the 13/14 model. They’ve added additional dampening, while slightly increasing the overall stiffness (~5%). They’ve also added 165 and 195cm lengths to the size run. Additionally, they changed the mounting position on the core and the mounting marks from 12/13. The new weight is coming in at 7.8lbs in 175, which is about 4 oz heavier then carbon competitors.
The true tape measurement from tip to tip is on the 4’s, so the 195cm is a true 194, and the 185 is a true 184. My concern with the length being a bit short on the 185 was due to both the narrow profile at the tip, combined with the tip rocker. While this is pretty standard for five-point dimensions, I find the front 20cm of the ski fails to provide an effective edge when carving hard pack. If you’re 5′ 8″ and an aggressive skier who finds yourself charging off-piste conditions, I’d recommend the 195. If you you’re looking more for agility to take advantage of inbounds terrain and features, I’d go with the 185.
Hi Garret,
I’m 6’3″ and have been enjoying this ski for the past three years. It seems to work in everything for me, except for a few off days in Granite Canyon at Jackson hole. Will it still be as versatile in 195? I love the ski and am thinking about getting the new one due to core shots etc, but if there is something else out there that you think would be better I’ll give it a try.
TJ,
Given your height, I’d suggest going with the 195cm. There may be a slight reduction in versatility since you’ll be working with a bit more effective edge underfoot, but you’ll likely find the ski to perform better in chop and on groomers. I’d also suspect the longer ski would provide more stability at speed so I’d make the decision based on your ability as a skier. If you ski confidently and aggressively at times, go long.
From another ski review on this site-anyone have experience mounting it up for tele?
Is the 2016/17 version still unchanged?
How about a comparison too the Soul 7 or Line Bacon?
Hi Tjaard,
on the first part of your question: the 16/17 Version is still the same shape, yet with a slightly stiffer tip and tail. So you should read the review in a sense that the ski handles even better with that “soft-tail-issue” being mostly eliminated.
As you can see from ISPO and SIA Pictures, for 17/18 the Apostle 105 will get the shape of the Apostle 98 (i.e. less taper, more effective edge, more splay in the tip and more subtle – shorter and lower – tail rocker) and will get 1mm more in the waist and will return as the Apostle 106. In addition to the existing carbon and wood versions there will be a version with a metal sheet. I think the Apostle 106 – especially with the metal sheet – will be the better resort allrounder. However, I do not think that with the new shape it will shine as much as the current version in soft conditions.
I am not the biggest overall-fan of 5 point shapes, but I have spent several weeks on the current Apostle 105 shape (13/14 version – black & white with red rmu print) and it is the most fun ski with this shape I have ever been on and I yet have to ski a 185cm long and 105 waisted ski that does better in soft and deep conditions (it is only mounted at -6,5 behind the line, but never had any tip dive issues). I would call it the best 105 waisted soft snow ski I have been on so far (yet you should read the Blister Review on the liberty origin 106, which I have not been on, but which might even outshine the Apostle 105 in the soft and deep). If you look for a nimble, durable and energetic allmountain soft snow ski that is not too wide and floats extremely well for its width, this could be the ticket. If you are looking for a one ski quiver that handles variable snow better, but is still nimble, it might be worth waiting until next season’s Apostle 106 in the metal version or look at already existing options like the Moment PB&J or Black Crows Atris (there are many others).
Just picking your brains here. I destroyed my Apostles last season and just scooped some J Ski Metals. The Metal is more charger than the Apostle but less beefy than say the Supernatural 108…is that about right?
as a 5’10” dude at like 140, would you say to roll with a 185? I’m on a 179 right now.
If you’ve been on a 179cm, have you been totally content? If so, then don’t change. If you find yourself wanting to ski faster, make larger radius turns, or float more in soft snow, then 185cm is your solution. Given you’re height, I’d go 185cm they ski relatively short to begin with. Then again, I’m biased toward longer boards.
Any chance you had a chance to ski the apostle 106 w metal? If so would love to hear your thoughts on it. Thanks.