Intro
We recently published several of our reviewers’ selections for both 5-ski and 4-ski quivers. Now, we’re once again asking them to cut those down, this time to three skis.
As we state in all our quiver selection articles, there is no single perfect quiver for everyone. It all depends very much on where you ski and how you ski. So, our selections below should not be viewed as our answer to the question, “What are the best skis out there?”
Instead, these are our reviewers’ personal picks, along with their rationale for why they would choose them.
As always, we’re interested to hear what you’d pick for your own quiver, so let us know in the Comments section at the bottom.
More Ski-Quiver Guidance
For more general suggestions — as opposed to what we personally would pick — check out our Winter Buyer’s Guide. And for more detailed info on the specific skis we discuss in these quiver articles, be sure to click around to read our reviews of the individual products.
If you’d like to get our recommendations for assembling your own ski quiver, then become a BLISTER+ Member, submit your question via the Member Clubhouse page, and we’ll get you sorted out.
Four Questions
For each of our reviewers, we asked them to answer the following questions:
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and
when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Luke Koppa
(5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
Cutting down my 4-ski quiver to 3 skis, I’m opting to trim off my dedicated touring ski and make two of my other skis ‘touring capable’ but still pretty resort-oriented. As I’ve outlined before, most of my touring involves skinning at the resort during the winter and then a lot more backcountry days after the lifts stop spinning in April. However, my lift-riding days significantly outnumber my skintrack-walking days, so I’d prioritize reliable inbounds downhill performance over minimum weight for my uphill time.
Ski #1: Armada Declivity X 102, 180 cm + Cast Freetour
Same as before, the Declivity X 102 is my daily driver for the resort. There are lots of skis I can have a great time on for most days at Crested Butte, but the Declivity X 102 satisfies enough of my little nit-picky preferences to separate itself from the others.
In this quiver, rather than any normal alpine binding, I’d mount the Declivity X 102 with the Cast Freetour system to allow for some uphill travel. I think I’d also be fine with the Shift2, Marker Duke PT, and Tyrolia Attack Hybrid systems; however, given that this ski will likely see 50-70+ days at the resort, I’m going with the hybrid binding that I have the most confidence in on the durability front.
Ski #2: Black Crows Mirus Cor, 178 cm + Cast Freetour
This ski returns as my ‘fun carver’ for firm groomer days, more casual and/or playful off-piste days, and any other scenario where I want to maximize fun without maximizing the speed or steepness of the skiing / runs.
I’m putting the Cast Freetour on this ski as well, mostly for on-resort skinning laps. The main reason I opt to skin at the resort is for the exercise, but unlike some of the folks who lap me on a regular basis, I also very much enjoy actually carving turns on the way back down. The Mirus Cor is phenomenal for that part.
Ski #3: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + alpine binding
Still keeping my favorite resort pow ski. This is what I’d bring any time there’s more than a few inches of fresh snow, or when I just want to go fast and take chances. I could probably just mount this up with the Cast system in the event that I end up wanting to haul one of the heaviest possible ski + binding systems on the current market up a skin track. But if the snow in the backcountry is that good, I’d probably just be grabbing my powsurf board.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
The Majesty Superwolf, Salomon MTN 96 Carbon, and Line Vision 96 are all excellent dedicated touring skis that I love for most non-deep conditions. I’d miss them for longer days of skinning.
Then, most of the other skis I’ve mentioned in the bigger articles also apply here:
Dynastar M-Free 112, for nearly all the same reasons I love the Rossignol Sender Free 118.
For Ski #1: Salomon QST 100, K2 Mindbender 99Ti, Salomon QST 94, Faction Studio 2, Volkl Revolt 101, Stockli Stormrider 95
For Ski #2: Volkl Peregrine 72, Rossignol Forza 70°, Line Blade, Head Supershape e-Magnum, Fischer The Curv GT 85, Romp Sidehit 89
For Ski #3: Moment Wildcat 118, Volkl Revolt 114, Head Kore 118 Ti, Icelantic Nomad 112, Line Optic 114, RMU Apostle 114
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
We just got some more of Liberty’s Scope skis, and they do make a pretty compelling argument for 50/50 setups, given how light they are, but we’ll see what I think after long-term testing.
And then I don’t think they’d fit into how I’ve laid out this quiver, given how heavy they are, but I am very eager to get on the new Heritage Lab AM100 and AM110 that we just mounted up.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Now that we’re down to three skis, this feels easier, but each of these has at least one major compromise. Some top contenders:
Armada: Declivity X 102, Declivity 92 Ti, ARV 112 (or Whitewalker 116?)
Volkl: Revolt 101, Peregrine 72, Revolt 114
Salomon: QST 94 or 100, Addikt Pro 76, QST X
Line: Optic 96, Blade, Optic 114
Kristin Sinnott
(5’8”, 130 lbs / 173 cm, 59 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
Ski #1: Ferreol Explo 86, 174 cm + tech binding
With a tech binding mounted, the Explo 86 would be reserved exclusively for uphill travel and backcountry use. I’d miss skiing them more often, but I’m aiming to do more skinning at the resort this year, and most of my time in the backcountry lately has been in spring conditions — corn, refrozen crud, and variable snow rather than soft powder. For a lightweight ski (~1400 g per ski), the Explo 86 holds up remarkably well when conditions aren’t ideal (I very much enjoy skiing it at the resort, too). It feels predictable while still being quick and nimble, which has made it a reliable option for the kind of backcountry skiing I’m doing most often.
Ski #2: RMU Valhalla 107, 172 cm + alpine binding
I’m sticking with the Valhalla 107 as my powder and soft-snow ski. It’s my reference powder ski — meaning every other ski I test in powder gets compared to it. Even though true powder days make up a small percentage of the season, having a dedicated powder ski still feels necessary. The Valhalla 107 is surfy and easy to pivot in deep snow, and it doesn’t require much speed or effort to stay afloat. And, when the snow gets chopped up, it maintains its composure quite well, relative to how much it excels in untracked conditions.
Ski #3: Head Kore 87 Ti W, 170 cm + alpine binding
This was the hardest ski for me to decide on. I’ve rotated through several narrow skis this winter and enjoyed all of them (as is evidenced by my picks for my larger quivers). We’re currently dealing with a low-tide season at CBMR, but despite the thin snowpack, conditions have been good. Right now, we have several low-angle groomers, one steeper groomer (International), and a handful of low-angle bump runs open. Given the current terrain, multiple skis feel like good options, but once the steeps open, my preferences narrow quickly.
In steep, tight terrain, I gravitate toward skis that are nimble and don’t require much effort to turn. I prefer to finesse turns and stay in control, which usually means skiing slower than my teammates. On groomers, I want a ski that can hold an edge and help me continue progressing toward higher edge angles and more G-force.
The Ferreol Explo 86 could easily fill a daily-driver role, but in this quiver, it’s dedicated to touring use, which takes it out of the running here. I spent many days last spring lapping CB’s Headwall, bump runs, and groomers on the Kore 87 Ti, and I never regretted choosing it between storms. While the Kore 87 Ti doesn’t match the edge hold of something like the Volkl Mantra 84 W — especially on steep groomers — it still carves well and feels less demanding than many skis in this category. It also works well in tight chutes and moguls, which ultimately tipped my scales in its favor.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
The Moment Sierra 96, the Volkl Mantra 84 W, and the Blizzard Black Pearl 84 all rank very high on my list of favorite skis. The Sierra 96 is very different from skis I typically reach for, and while I love skiing it, the Sierra doesn’t perform as well on-piste as I’d like.
The Mantra 84 W and the Black Pearl 84 have been early-season favorites of mine this year, and either could easily replace the Head Kore 87 Ti W. Ultimately, I chose the Kore 87 Ti here because it is a bit easier to maneuver off-piste and slightly less demanding in bumps.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
I’m curious to get on the Elan Ripstick 88 W and to get back on the Wagner Summit 106. It’s been a few years since I’ve been on the Summit 106, and while I know that ski hasn’t changed, I can’t say the same for my skiing style or preferences. I’m not a betting person, but if I were, I’d likely put a large bet on the fact that I would still get along really well with the Summit 106.
I’ve also gotten along well with the Ripstick 94 W and am curious to try the narrower 88 version. I’d also like more time on the Salomon QST series to see how my overall impression of them evolves with more days.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
There are several brands that I could make work for a 3-ski, single-brand quiver:
- Head with the Kore 87 Ti W as my daily driver, Kore 99 Ti W as my backcountry setup, and Kore 104 Ti W as my powder ski.
- Blizzard with the Sheeva 11 for powder + charging, Black Pearl 84 as my daily driver, and the Zero G 88 W for uphill / backcountry duties.
- Elan with the Ripstick 88 W as my daily driver, Playmaker 111 as my powder ski, and Ripstick Tour 94 W (this one is more of a gamble, since I haven’t skied the first two skis).
David Golay
(6’, 160 lbs / 183 cm, 72.6 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
Ski #1: 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 Evo
Holding steady here. The Raven sticks around as my primary all-round touring ski, for all the same reasons that it’s in my 4- and 5-ski quivers, too.
Ski #2: Moment Countach 110, 188 cm + Look Pivot 15
I’m going to one primary resort ski now that we’re down to just three total. The Countach 110 is pretty versatile for a relatively wide all-mountain ski, making it a good 1-ski resort quiver for my high-snowfall home mountain. I’ll definitely miss the Volkl Mantra 102 from my bigger quivers on firmer days, and I’d probably like the Countach 110 a little better if it were a bit heavier and more damped, but it’s a ski I like a lot in a pretty wide range of conditions.
Ski #3: 4FRNT Renegade, 191 cm + ATK Freeraider 15 Evo
Now that we’re down to three skis, I’m shuffling things a bit and consolidating my fatter skis into one 50/50 (really more like 80% touring / 20% inbounds) option. The Renegade is a bit heavier than I’d ideally want for a powder touring ski, and it’s not as stable in deep, heavy chop as I might like for resort duty. But 50/50 skis are always a compromise, and the Renegade hits a middle ground I’m pretty happy with.
If it’s not cheating, I’d put inserts in the Renegades and swap between ATK Freeraider 15 Evos for touring duty and Pivot 15s for skiing inbounds (and could share the Pivots with the Countach 110 if I need to keep the total binding count at three); if that’s not allowed, I’d prioritize touring performance and stick with the Freeraider. I’d ski the Renegade inbounds a lot less in that scenario and only break it out early in the day on really deep ones.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
There are a bunch of skis that I could slot in place of the Countach 110 and be pretty happy. The 4FRNT MSP 107 is high on that list (especially if I can swap bindings on the Renegade; the MSP 107 isn’t a great pow ski). The K2 Mindbender 108Ti would also work well overall, but I prefer the stiffer shovels of the Countach 110 in heavy, soft chop, which is the main reason it got the nod.
If I had a current dedicated powder touring ski that I was totally thrilled with, I’d likely swap that for the Renegade and forgo skiing that ski inbounds entirely. In that scenario, I’d be tempted to swap the Countach 110 for the Prior Husume (which is more soft-snow-biased overall), but that might be a little aspirational conditions-wise, especially with the slow start to the season we’ve had in the PNW.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
There are a bunch of skis that I can imagine taking the place of the Countach 110. The Dynastar M-Pro 108 Ti is very intriguing (though I do wonder if I’d find myself wanting a size between the 182 and 192 cm lengths on that one). I’m pretty confident that I could come up with a customized version of the Folsom Giver that I’d like, and the Heritage Lab AM110 looks promising, too.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
4FRNT: Raven, Renegade, MSP 107
Mark Danielson
(6’2”, 210 lbs / 188 cm, 95 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
As noted in the previous quiver articles, my focus this year is on optimizing my skiing in Crested Butte, with its tight, steep terrain. So when it comes to choosing just three skis, my short trips to Telluride and Breckenridge aren’t important enough to justify compromising the vast majority of my season at Crested Butte.
To trim my quiver from four skis down to three, one of my two widest skis becomes expendable.
Ski #1: Rossignol Sender Free 110, 191 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Yep, I’m sticking with this pick as my favorite all-round ski at CB.
I love it in soft-ish inbounds conditions at CB, across a wide variety of terrain, whether I’m skiing fast or slow. I can ski it playfully and slash all over the mountain, or get more serious and directional when the terrain allows.
I’d use this ski most days at CB, and its 191 cm length should provide plenty of stability at speed for trips to the more open terrain at Telluride and Breckenridge.
Ski #2: Nordica Enforcer 104, 185 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
This pick returns in the exact same role as before — a shorter, more maneuverable, more forgiving option for firmer conditions or tight spaces. As I wrote in the prior articles:
“At Crested Butte, if the 191 cm Sender Free 110 starts to feel like ‘more ski’ than I want in tight terrain or on firmer snow, the Enforcer 104 will bail me out…
On firm, groomer days at CB, this ski would be the strongest on-piste performer of my quiver, although its relatively short turn radius and length aren’t ideal for sustained Super-G speeds.”
Ski #3: Rossignol Sender Free 118, 186 cm + Tyrolia Attack 17 GW
With only one pick left, I had to cut one of my two widest skis.
While the 189 cm K2 Reckoner 124’s length and width provide excellent flotation for me in deep powder, it can feel a bit cumbersome in CB’s tight steeps — which is precisely where I don’t want to compromise this year.
So I’m keeping the shorter, more agile 186 cm Rossignol Sender Free 118 and accepting that it feels a bit short for me on the deepest days. As I explained in the previous articles:
“And its substantial tip and tail rocker — paired with my favorite mount position at -4.5 cm from true center — makes it easy to pivot and maneuver in confined spaces. Despite all that agility, this heavy ski remains composed in high-speed runouts.
Even on some firmer days, I can make this short (for me) 118-mm-wide ski work in tight terrain. The low-stack, non-demo Attack bindings also seem to offer enough lateral rigidity to help maintain edge grip when needed.”
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Moment Countach 110, 188 cm: I really enjoy the versatility and fun of the Countach 110 in spring and summer conditions, but I prefer the Sender Free 110 for winter snow.
Moment Wildcat 118, 190 cm: At most ski resorts, I appreciate that the Wildcat 118 is longer than the 186 cm Sender Free 118. However, for Crested Butte’s tight terrain, I’m choosing the shorter Sender Free 118 — and I also prefer its heavier weight.
Nordica Enforcer 99, 185 cm: To me, this ski feels very similar to the Enforcer 104. The main reason I’m choosing the Enforcer 104 is its slightly heavier mass, along with its looser feel in steep moguls.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
Prior Overlord, 188 cm (Quad Glass heavy build): The 188 cm version is 117 mm underfoot, so it could potentially replace the 186 cm Sender Free 118 in this 3-ski quiver.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Rossignol: Sender Free 118, Sender Free 110, Arcade 94
But here are a few other brands that would also work pretty well for me at Crested Butte:
Prior: Overlord, Husume 193cm, Husume 188cm (all built with the heaviest Quad Glass construction)
Moment: Wildcat 118, Countach 110, Deathwish 104
K2: Reckoner 124, Reckoner 110, Mindbender 99Ti
Kara Williard
(5’9”, 170 lbs / 175 cm, 77 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
The 3-ski quiver is where things get tricky for me, particularly since I am balancing a broad range of objectives and locations this season, from resort laps at Crested Butte Mountain Resort to extended time guiding in Japan, which will include resort and backcountry laps.
Ski #1: K2 Mindbender 99Ti W, 172 cm + alpine binding
I recently hopped back on this ski and remembered why I was so borderline obsessed with it for a few seasons, and why it has appeared in many of my quivers from past years. So, instead of switching things up just for the sake of being different, I will instead rely on the Mindbender 99Ti W once again.
The Mindbender 99Ti hits a sweet spot for me in terms of stability and liveliness, and it also strikes a balance between the two all-mountain skis I had in my 5- and 4-ski quivers this year, the Blizzard Black Pearl 94 and Volkl Mantra 102 W.
As I put it last season: “supremely versatile, the Mindbender 99Ti W is the ski that I’ve spent the most time on the past few seasons, and frankly, it doesn’t get old no matter what the day has in store.”
Ski #2: Icelantic Maiden 102, 176 cm + Marker Duke PT
I could have gone a few different ways with this ski, but I landed on the Maiden 102 because it’s quicker and more maneuverable than the Mindbender 99Ti W, while remaining quite stable, making it a great option for the wide range of days and conditions I’d likely be using it in cases where I want a lighter, more forgiving, and/or more playful alternative to the Mindbender 99Ti W. At ~1830 g, it’s also light enough to justify as a 50/50 ski.
Ski #3: Armada ARV 112, 185 cm + Marker Duke PT
This one returns from last year, and its primary purpose is my Japan ski. It was hard to abandon the Salomon QST X on this one, but I just find ARV 112 more versatile overall. The ARV 112 is a blast in soft and deep powder, but it also holds up better in chop and crud, and I feel a lot more comfortable on it in variable conditions.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
There were quite a few that I could have interchanged with the Mindbender 99Ti W, including the Volkl Mantra 96 W; I also really enjoyed the Salomon Stance 96 Pro at last year’s Blister Summit. The Mindbender 99Ti W is more lively and maneuverable, so (for me) it’s a bit more fun as a daily driver at CBMR.
Other skis I considered for my #2 slot were the K2 Mindbender 106C W, Atomic Maven 103 CTI, and Salomon QST 106 (which I need more time on). I also considered a more stable and precise option, such as the Nordica Santa Ana 102. Still, I couldn’t justify this weight, since I am opting for a 50/50 binding on this slot to use for some shallower resort powder days and various backcountry excursions.
I also went back and forth between the Maiden 108 and Maiden 102. I chose the narrower option since it’s a bit less limiting in terms of its ideal conditions, and it’s lighter (my season this year will involve a significant amount of human-powered skiing).
As for wider powder skis I could enjoy in Japan, there are quite a few, including the K2 Mindbender 116C W, Blizzard Sheeva 10, and Salomon QST X.
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
As mentioned above, I am interested in spending more time on the new Salomon QST line. Last year, I had chosen the Salomon QST Stella 106 as my Ski #2 for my 3-ski quiver, and the brief time I spent on the 25/26 QST lineup seemed promising, but I’d like more time on it.
I am definitely interested in other powder-oriented skis that are versatile enough to use as a 50/50 ski. As I mentioned in the 4-ski quiver, I am curious about the new Salomon QST Blank and would like to know if it could replace the ARV 112 in my #3 slot. At times, the ARV 112 is a bit more freestyle-oriented than I generally opt for, but that tends to make more sense in a place like Japan, with its terrain that suits a playful style.
I also need to spend more time on the Head Kore 104 Ti W, as it may be a slightly more stable alternative to my Ski #2.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
For a 3-ski quiver, one that feels pretty darn good to me would be K2: Mindbender 99Ti W, Mindbender 106C W, and Mindbender 116C W.
Paul Forward
(6”, 195 lbs / 183 cm, 88.5 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
Ski #1: Folsom Rapture, 192 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
This is an easy choice for a do-it-all Alaskan pow ski that is fine for a full season of heli-ski guiding and will work great as my Alyeska powder ski for all of the reasons I’ve outlined in prior quiver articles and my Full Review.
Ski #2: Black Crows Justis, 189 cm + Marker Jester 18 Pro
Again, this is the ski I’m most likely to replace when I get on some other skis in this class. For all of the non-pow-day skiing at Alyeska, I want something stable and strong that can still pivot and play when needed. There aren’t a ton of skis with this weight and build that have a somewhat progressive mount point, and that’s what has made the Justis my current pick. Its tail could be a little more forgiving in bumps, but I can make it work.
Ski #3: Armada Locator 112, 187 cm + Moment Voyager XVI
No surprises here for my quiver-of-one Alaska touring ski. It might have gotten bumped by the Black Diamond Helio 115, but that ski has sadly been discontinued.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I’d really miss the Mirus Cor or something similarly fun and dynamic on groomers. But that’s the reality of trimming down these quivers…
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
Anything in the 100-110 mm range that provides the stability and maneuverability I’m looking for in a slightly more balanced feel than the tail-strong Justis.
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Folsom can easily make a full quiver of custom skis to fill any niche I want. I’m curious about Heritage Lab’s skinnier skis to round out a quiver as well. Black Crows could probably work, but as I’ve previously discussed, I’m not in love with any of their pow skis or touring skis that I’ve used so far.
Jonathan Ellsworth
(5’10”, 180 lbs / 178 cm, 81.5 kg)
I. Which currently available skis would you pick for your own 3-ski quiver, and why?
Ski #1: Völkl Peregrine 82, 177 cm + alpine binding
For my last 4-Ski Quiver selections, I wrote: “In honor of a season where we are still ripping on groomers on December 19” … well, we can now update that sentence to say, “on December 24.” I’m still enjoying carving turns on skinnier skis here, and I’m going to stick with a very good frontside ski rather than make my 1st ski a ~88mm wide choice that carves pretty well but that is also very good off-piste. We’re staying dedicated to the frontside here.
Ski #2: K2 Mindbender 99Ti, 184 cm + alpine binding
I wrote, deleted, and re-wrote this selection several times, then finally decided to stick with my #2 ski that I picked for my 4-ski quiver. Because I really like it in moguls (firm or soft), and it’s a ski that is still a good all-conditions carver that also feels at home on steep, off-piste terrain when it hasn’t snowed in a week or two, or after smaller storms that leave a fresh 4-6”.
Ski #3: 4FRNT Hoji, 184 cm + Salomon S/Lab Shift2 13 Binding
I’ve made this move before: selected the Hoji as my resort pow ski and my touring ski. It’s not the lightest setup for the skin track, and I’ll want more flotation if we are blessed with any 18-24”+ storm cycles. But I know I like how intuitive and easy-going this ski feels; it’s quick while still offering a nice touch of stability.
II. What skis were the most difficult to leave off your list?
I thought a lot about the Wagner Summit 106 as my #2 ski here, making it my touring ski, and going with the Dynastar M-Free 112 as my widest, chop / pow inbounds ski. But I don’t love bashing firm moguls on a hybrid binding like the Shift2… so I went a whole other direction. (I was also thinking about the Salomon QST 100 + Shift2 as that 2nd ski….)
III. What skis do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski them, or get to ski them more?
Ski #1: Faction Dancer 79? (Still need to get back on this one)
IV. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 3-ski quiver, which company would you pick?
Well now that I’m thinking about Wagner… if I had the means, I might go with a fully custom Wagner 3-ski quiver.
But for off-the-rack options — this would be a pretty damn good combo:
1: Volkl Peregrine 82 + alpine binding
2: Volkl Mantra 102 + alpine binding
3: Volkl Katana V-Werks + hybrid binding (resort pow ski + touring ski)
I love Marks dying passion for the Prior lineup but they have actually changed their core profiles and core construction and it’s not for the worse but the 188cm CBCs I have weighed in at 2100 grams each and the 183 Overlords weigh 1980 and 2010 respectively. I’m did demo the 188cm Overlords and I can promise they don’t weigh anything close to 2200 grams. I can say for certain they are still some bombing skis and need another look by the fine folks at Blister
Yah, sucks they did that, and have been selling lighter skis for what, 4-5 years, without updating all their marketing or spec sheets?!
Glad you’re enjoying the lighter stuff though. Hopefully they get around to sharing the changes with their customers.
I’ve been thinking lately, now that I’m in my mid 50s, about downsizing some of my skis because I don’t have quite the same power as I did 10 years ago. It would be interesting to read the testers age, or approximate age – within a 5 year range, in their stats (height and weight). I believe this would also help readers get the right size ski. 20 years ago I had a difficult time even considering anything shorter than 195cm. Now it’s much shorter.
Oh Happy,
You are speaking my language I’ve come to realize I’m no longer a 130 flex boot guy.
And have come to terms that I may need to have my boots modified to a softer flex.
Then the whole issue of will I still be able to bend my stiff sticks the same way!
Should I just sell my Wildcat 190s and get a Mid size On3p Jeffery 108…And go into Cruz control?
And could go on but you get my drift.
I feel your pain Happy.
Trying to keep the thought exercise going for myself and finding it pretty difficult to go down from 4 to 3. I think I’d probably break it down like this:
1) 90-95 underfoot do-most-things at the resort ski. The liberty radian 92 would be a contender for this spot, or the Santa Ana 92 though I haven’t skied it since the latest updates. Must be ok on groomers and moguls but also adequate if there’s some fresh snow and maneuverable off piste.
2) a lighter 105-110 underfoot ski with an atk raider to use as a winter touring ski and a resort pow ski. I don’t have a ski in mind but maybe the wildcat 108 tour or deathwish (112) tour but I wish they came in a 172 length. Yes 2 cm makes a difference. Must be maneuverable because we ski a ton of tight steep trees when there’s snow.
3) light 84-90 underfoot volcano ski with light pin bindings. Currently have the Santa Ana unlimited 88 for this slot and happy with them.
I have to to bite as I rock a 3 ski quiver myself:
1. 2014 ON3P Billy Goats @ 186cm with Pivots @ +2.5cm – the best gen of Billy Goats. My personal favorite skis Would use these on any day with more than a few cm of fresh. Ninja sticks in the gnar steep trees and hilariously loose but dialed in all other situations
2. Rossignol Black Ops @ 186cm with Pivots @ -3cm. Perhaps objectively the best skis ever. Why are they so good at everything? If only they were 4cm longer… Groomers, ice, moguls, chop, refrozen mank, doesn’t matter. Would use these on any day when I’m not skiing fresh.
3. ON3P Billy Goat @ 189/191/192cm with CAST @ +2.5 (I currently have the 189 asym’s). These are for the deeper days inbounds, side country, and touring from the sled. A bit more float than the 186’s but still lightning quick with the forward mount. But super strong and can handle any weird ass snow texture especially with a heavy pack throwing nasty forces & leverage into the mix.
Surprising how much harder 4 to 3 is than 5 to 4
For me for the skiing I do, and currently available I would go:
1. Fischer Curv 72 or Head eMagnum, love both
2. Moment Meridian, love them though bit of a big gap to ski 1
3. Völkl Katana V-Werks, find these very versatile, would love to think something wider was needed buy in reality 112 would be enough for a lot of the softer days
For my actual quiver i.e. not necessarily currently available:
1. Head Monster 98
2. Fischer Ranger 102 FR
3. Völkl Katana V-Werks
Hi, i love this series every year, again and again.
My 3-ski- quiver is (i’m mostly touring):
1. Blizzard Rustler 10 with Marker Kingpin 13 as my playful resort ski and short ascents for freeriding
2. Blizzard zero g 105, powtouring ski
3. Salomon Explore 88 as a allround touring ski. It’s also carving pretty good inbounds, but this happens very rarely.
Saluti dai Dolomiti
I think a 3 ski quiver will be my sweet spot. I am trying to decide on ski number 3 which will be the resort Powder or Heavy Chop ski.(Luke thank you for the exchange on this).
I have ski #1 Salomon Stance 90 for Low tide early season and old scrapped off crusty moguls.
#2 Moment Countach 104.It goes anywhere and does everything I need for a daily driver. Bumps / Cruising Groomers, Soft snow fresh snow, and Spring variable.
#3 TBD, but it will probably be the Moment Countach 110. I am skiing in the resort only and I live 5 hrs away from the mtn. So I am not doing 50 days a year. Plus anything more than 3ft of fresh snow even at Mammoth and Palisades might shut the resort down for a day and then will be skied out in a few hours upon reopenning. Primary concern is having something I can turn in tight spaces at low speeds. I want to have a bit ot soft snow overlap with the 104, as well because I will want to ski on all of my skis.
First, can I just say I hate Paul Forward a little bit, in a loving way?! :-)
1. Rossi Forza 70. Accessible pure carving, and also lovely in scarved turns.
2. Mindbender 89ti — my one ski quiver if I had to.
3. Mindbender 99 ti — I “need” a wider ski about twice a year where I hail from.
So happy that I’m actually not actively ski shopping this season!
And another thank you to the Blister crew for initially nudging me towards the MB 99ti…..
Have been on the KYE Shapes Metamorph as a do it all/resort with occasional touring ski in Whistler for a while and it’s starting to feel like just too much to bang around as a daily driver (especially now that I have some Bananas for when it nukes.)
Much to consider. I’ve started skiing a lot more tight spots, narrow stuff and trees. Perhaps I must join the Hoji cult….