2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Blister's 2019-2020 Reviewer Quiver Selections
Article Navigation:  Intro //  Dylan W. //  Kara W. //  David G. //  Drew K. //  Kristin S. //  Paul F. //  Luke K. //  Jonathan E.

Intro

We recently published several of our reviewers’ selections for 5-ski, 4-ski, and 3-ski quivers and now we’re really getting to the hard decisions, asking them to trim those down to two 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 if you’d like to get our recommendations for assembling your own ski quiver, then become a Blister Member, submit your question via the Blister Member Clubhouse page, and we’ll help you decide.

Six Questions

For each of our reviewers, we asked them to answer the following questions:

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Dylan Wood

(5’10.5”, 155 lbs / 179 cm, 70 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

As these get smaller, I find myself having a harder and harder time deciding on what to include. As much as I’d love to keep the same skis from my prior quivers, I deliberately picked them because they each have a unique purpose within a given quiver. Therefore, by reducing my quiver from 5 to 4, 4 to 3, and now 3 to 2, I don’t feel that I can just continue on by keeping my same quivers and just getting rid of one of the earlier skis. Instead, I believe I need to start from the ground up, picking different skis to cover the same variety of skiing I like to do.

I had a hard time coming up with my 2-ski quiver, but I am pretty happy with it.

Ski #1: Sego Big Horn 106, 187 cm + Look Pivot 15 + Cast Freetour

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Sego Big Horn 106

I really enjoyed my time on the Big Horn 106 last year due to how maneuverable and playful it is while still being respectably stable and damp. I could ski just about as hard as I wanted on this ski, though it is notably less stable than the Comp 110 I have in my bigger quivers. But the Big Horn 106 is easy to surf and slash around and is great for throwing tricks, which is important to me. It is heavy for a touring ski, but given that I spent less than 10% of my time last year touring, I’m okay with having this as my touring ski for softer and/or deeper conditions. I’d mount on the recommended line.

Ski #2: Black Crows Camox, 186.5 cm + Look Pivot 15 + Cast Freetour

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Black Crows Camox

I chose the Camox again because of how versatile this ski is. It is a good carver and has great edge hold, which is important because this would be my dedicated firm snow ski. It is fun to ski all over the mountain, but also feels very comfortable in the park. I also think it would make for a good touring ski, albeit a sort of heavy one, but again, I spend a lot of time in the resort and would rather have two skis for that rather than shave a lot of weight to optimize touring and end up with a ski that is less than ideal for the resort.

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

Hmm, I am not sure my answer changes much here since I didn’t really make touring / low weight a priority with the two skis above. So, I am sticking with my options above, just without the Cast Freetour upgrade.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

I’m also not convinced I need to change my answer here. I could move somewhere with less snow as easily as I could move somewhere that gets more snow, and my quiver above is designed to optimize performance in conditions ranging from very firm to pretty deep snow. I also never noticed any durability issues with the Big Horn 106 or Camox. Maybe I’d bump the Big Horn length up to 193, given there’s a good chance I’d be skiing somewhere with more open terrain than Crested Butte.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

Many that I’ve previously named in the larger quivers. For this quiver, specifically, I had a hard time leaving out the Line Blade Optic 96 and Blade Optic 104. Ultimately, I decided I want a slightly more freestyle-oriented wider ski than the Blade Optic 104, and a narrower ski with better edge hold than the Blade Optic 96.

Dylan Wood and Luke Koppa review the Sego Comp 110 for Blister
Dylan Wood on the Sego Comp 110, Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado.

I also contemplated just keeping the Comp 110 as my wider ski (and pairing it with the Blade Optic 96), but I would rather my wider ski be looser and, again, more freestyle-oriented.

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

Nothing really stands out and has me super curious or excited. But at the same time, I’m looking forward to being surprised by something unexpected this year. Maybe one of the Fischer Rangers? The Faction Manas? The Nordica Unleashed series (Unleasheds? Unleashes? Unleashedes?)?

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

Sego: 187 cm Big Horn 96 + 187 cm Comp 110

K2: 184 cm Mindbender 99Ti + 191 cm Reckoner 112

Faction: 182 cm Dancer 2 + 184 (or 190) cm Mana 3 (maybe Prodigy 3?)

Line: 182 cm Blade Optic 92 + 185 cm Blade Optic 104

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Kara Williard

(5’9”, 165 lbs / 175 cm, 75 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

It’s not super difficult to get a lot out of two skis these days, considering the versatility offered by many models. The hardest thing for me is finding a touring ski that is lightweight enough to work for big objectives and travel, but that’s also stable enough for deeper days in the resort. While right now it feels tricky narrowing down from 5-skis to where we are now, I operated with a 2-ski quiver for most of my adult life, and I think skis are more versatile right now than several years ago.

Ski #1: K2 Mindbender 99 Ti W, 172 cm + Tyrolia Attack 13 GW

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
K2 Mindbender 99Ti

Here we go again. This ski is so versatile, and with smaller quivers asking more of each ski, I see no reason to steer away from the Mindbender 99Ti W as my daily resort ski. But again, talk to me after we finish our Alpine Binding Shootout (where I’ll ski almost a dozen pairs of this ski with over 10 different bindings mounted on it), and see where I am at. I mentioned, based on speculation, that I am intrigued by the 178 cm length, but I can’t commit to that without actually trying it.

Ski #2: Salomon QST Blank, 178 cm + Salomon Shift MNC 13

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Salomon QST Blank

This was a pretty straightforward choice, since I needed a ski that would be versatile enough to ski a wide range of backcountry conditions, that would still be a blast on a powder day, and would suit my needs for a potential Japan trip this season. The QST Blank is quite versatile for how wide it is, not terribly heavy for my preferences (and the compromises I need to make here), and also offers a lot in the way of maneuverability. This seems like a pretty well-balanced option considering all that I need this single ski to do.

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

I’d revert back to my 3-ski quiver and eliminate the option for touring.

Ski #1: K2 Mindbender 99 Ti W, 172 cm + Tyrolia Attack 13 GW

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
K2 Mindbender 99Ti

I feel like you all are probably sick of hearing me talk about this one. I would be pretty happy changing this out for the Volkl Secret 96 or 4FRNT MSP CC (which was my pick for last season), but the Mindbender 99Ti W is just a bit more intuitive and less punishing in really tight or technical terrain, which is the main area in which I am looking to gain more confidence.

Ski #2: Line Blade Optic 104, 178 cm + Look Pivot 15

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Line Blade Optic 104

An easy choice for resort powder days but also a lot of other conditions, as well.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

Ski #1: Volkl Secret 96, 170 cm + Look Pivot 15

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Volkl Secret 96

I am finally bringing in the Volkl Secret 96 instead of the Mindbender 99Ti W. The Secret is more stable, damp, and precise, making it a bit more ideal for some really firm skiing. Plus, I have really put the Secret 96 through a lot in terms of rocks and it has held up well.

Ski #2: Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free, 172 cm + Look Pivot 15 + CAST Freetour upgrade

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free

For this one, it was a close call between the Nordica Santa Ana 104 Free and the Blizzard Sheeva 10. The Santa Ana 104 is just a bit more stable and provides a touch more flotation in my experience, and for those reasons, it seems a bit more versatile.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

I considered the QST Stella 106, and if I didn’t have big Japan ski dreams for this season, I likely would go for the narrower option with the Stella 106, rather than the QST Blank. The Blade Optic 104 was also a strong contender for that slot because of its versatility, but I’d want something wider for Japan.

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

As mentioned previously, I am quite excited to try the new Peak 98 and 98SC. Looking for a versatile, stable daily driver is always a fun goal each season, and those are really intriguing options.

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

So many viable options, but here are my top three:

Nordica: Unleashed 98 W, Santa Ana 104 Free

Blizzard: Black Pearl 97, Sheeva 10

Salomon: Stance 94 W, QST Stella 106 or QST Blank

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

David Golay

(6’, 170 lb / 183 cm, 77.1 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

Okay, now this is getting hard. I legitimately thought about going with two touring skis and forgoing resort options at this point, but even though my interests these days have been trending more and more toward long walks in the mountains, the idea of bailing on inbounds skiing entirely makes me sad. So to that end:

Ski #1: Prior Husume, 188 cm + CAST Freetour

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Prior Husume

I don’t have too much to add here beyond what I said in my 3-ski quiver. The Husume is a great blend of a pow ski and a variable-conditions charger for the inbounds days when conditions are pretty good, and while I’d love to have something that carves better and is more entertaining when conditions are firmer, I can’t have my cake and eat it too now that we’re down to just two skis. So I’ll take the Husume, have a blast skiing softer inbounds conditions, and pass on the resort when things are truly firm.

Once again, CAST Freetour bindings open up some short sidecountry laps where being able to do a little skinning is helpful, but I’m not planning on doing any big tours on these.

Ski #2: K2 Dispatch 110, 184 cm + Moment Voyager XVI

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
K2 Dispatch 110

I’m admittedly rolling the dice here a bit. I’ve only skied the Dispatch 110 in pretty good snow, and while I think it feels really promising as a do-it-all touring ski for me (if I really have to just pick one), it’s something of an open question in terms of how I’ll feel about it on firmer snow and/or spring volcano days. Do I think it’ll be the ideal ski for that? Definitely not. But the Dispatch 110 floats better and is going to be a lot more fun on my deeper mid-winter days than the options that I’d consider better suited for firm-snow duty, and I’ve got to make a tradeoff somewhere.

And then check out my blurb on the 4FRNT Raven in my 4-ski quiver for my rationale on tech bindings.

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

Ski #1: Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm + Look Pivot 15

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Nordica Enforcer 104 Free

My 4-ski quiver consisted of two resort skis and two touring skis, so I’ll just revert to that. This slot is subject to change for all the reasons that I laid out in the 4-ski quiver article, but I’d be happy with the Enforcer 104 Free here, pending getting on some of the other intriguing options that have been updated since I’ve last been on them.

Ski #2: Moment Wildcat, 190 cm + Look Pivot 15

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Moment Wildcat

For all the reasons that I mentioned in my 4-ski quiver. I guess for the purposes of this question I need to drop the CAST Freetour bindings, which will stop me from doing a few sidecountry laps on the Wildcats, but it doesn’t change the overall picture that much.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

For the touring half of the equation, I think I’ll go back to the 184 cm 4FRNT Raven. It’s a great, versatile ski and while living in a pretty high-snow area has pushed me to slightly wider skis for the earlier questions, I’d be very, very happy about it more globally.

I’m less sure about my resort ski in this scenario. My real-world quiver is expansive enough that I don’t need to place too great an emphasis on maximum versatility, so I honestly don’t have an answer that I love here. I’m confident that I want a fairly heavy, damp charger in the 10X mm underfoot sort of range, but which one is an open question. Jonathan’s description of the Blizzard Cochise 106 as being a return to what made the original great has me very intrigued (as someone who loves the OG version), and I’m hopeful that Volkl hasn’t ruined what I liked about the earlier Mantra 102 (it doesn’t sound like they have), but I haven’t skied the new one, either. Maybe the Dynastar M-Pro 108 is the ticket here? Or a custom Folsom Primary 104? I’m honestly not sure.

I am very much looking forward to getting on a bunch of those skis at the Blister Summit this February, and hopefully, I’ll have a more satisfying answer next year.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

Dropping the 4FRNT Raven was hard. I’d be pretty happy with it in place of the Dispatch 110, and would probably prefer it on a number of firmer spring days, but there are also a bunch of mid-winter days where I want something with more float than the Raven, and I think the Dispatch 110 is a good middle ground (though to reiterate, I haven’t skied it in as wide a range of conditions as I’d like in order to feel 100% confident in this call).

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
David Golay on the 4FRNT Raven

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

I could see the 4FRNT Hoji unseating the Dispatch 110 for the touring portion of this quiver, but I have yet to ski the current iteration. My hunch is that the little bit of camber on the Dispatch 110 might (emphasis on might) make me a little happier with it as a year-round touring ski, including a bunch of spring volcano duty, but that remains to be seen.

I’m still intrigued by the Dynastar M-Pro 108 and Rossignol Sender Squad for the resort portion of this quiver but haven’t gotten on them yet.

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

I’m starting to feel like a broken record, but I think I’m going with a 186 cm K2 Dispatch 110 and 186 cm Mindbender 108 Ti here. I’ll miss the full-on chop-destroying capability of the Husume sometimes but the Mindbender 108 Ti carves much better and is a very good all-rounder for me.

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Drew Kelly

(5’11”, 165 lbs / 180 cm, 75 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

With only two skis at my disposal, I began considering skis combined with certain bindings for use in both the resort and backcountry, but kept getting hung up as I played out those scenarios … I’ll get into more specifics below, but ultimately I’ve chosen (mostly) separate skis for backcountry and resort use.

Ski #1: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + alpine binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Volkl Mantra 102

I’m confident in the ability of the Mantra 102 in all hardpack and soft snow conditions. I think the difficulty will be in snow deeper than about a foot, where I’d be worried about punch-fronting or getting bogged down due to the more limited floatation offered by this 102mm-wide ski. For that reason, I pretty strongly considered the 191 cm length, but chose the 184 cm instead because I spend the vast majority of my days skiing hardpack in the resort, and the 191 cm length of this particular ski may not be agile enough for me to zipper-line bumps and navigate the really tight steeps of Mt. Crested Butte. And I’ve got a wider ski that I could break out if it was really deep.

The specter of the Wagner Summit 109 hovers just above my head as I make the choice to go with the Mantra 102 … but I haven’t spent enough time on the Summit 109 to have total confidence in it when it comes to being used as a daily hardpack ski.

Ski #2: Salomon QST Blank, 186 cm + Marker Duke PT 16

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Salomon QST Blank

In my 3-ski quiver, I chose this ski as my standalone backcountry ski, and since it will be filling that same role in this 2-ski quiver, I’m sticking with it. As I mentioned before, the QST Blank may leave me hesitant when presented with big-mountain lines in corn conditions, given its softer tail, but otherwise, the QST Blank will serve as a versatile ski. And while I’m a big proponent of sticking to dedicated alpine bindings for the resort, the Duke PT 16 would allow me to somewhat comfortably break out the QST Blank for deep resort pow days.

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

Ski #1: Wagner Summit 109, 192 cm + alpine binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Wagner Summit 109

The hard-to-categorize Wagner Summit 109 remains my ski for powder days and big-mountain / freeride-style skiing. And when we are in the doldrums of high-pressure weather, I’ll switch to my next ski.

Ski #2: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + alpine binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Volkl Mantra 102

The Mantra 102 keeps its place as my general-use hardpack ski, which means bumps, groomers, and really firm off-piste conditions.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

Because of the huge range of weather patterns in the Gunnison valley, I think the conditions we ski here are actually quite applicable to a huge range of places, and as a result, my quiver picks feel pretty relevant to many locations:

For the most part, I think I’d be happy with the QST Blank as my backcountry ski in Alaska or South America, and for resort skiing in those places, I may possibly revert to a ski that’s been present in my previous quivers, the Wagner Summit 109.

If I moved back to my old stomping grounds of New England, I’d most likely stick with my selection, as I think the Blank’s agility would be helpful for the infamous tight trees of that area, and the Mantra 102 will deal with hardpack and bumps with little problem — that’s pretty much why I chose it for Crested Butte’s conditions. (I realize the Blank is pretty dang wide for a NE touring ski, but hey, these are my picks.)

I’ve never skied in New Zealand, and never skied in winter in Europe, so I don’t feel like I can make accurate choices based on those major ski destinations. I’d guess that I would maybe move to a narrower touring ski if in New Zealand, and probably a stiffer touring ski for resort skiing, sidecountry, and backcountry in Europe.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

I pretty thoroughly considered the 192 cm Blizzard Rustler 11 with a Duke PT 16 as a ski to do double duty as a touring ski and resort pow ski, but I find the QST Blank to both be a bit better in variable backcountry conditions and I think it floats a bit better.

And again, the Wagner Summit 109 (and Summit 107) is a ski that I did some hand-wringing over, but backed off due to lingering questions about hardpack performance.

Drew Kelly, Jonathan Ellsworth, and Luke Koppa review the Wagner Summit 107 for Blister
Drew Kelly on the Wagner Summit 107 (Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado)

Finally, the Salomon QST 106 and Volkl Blaze 106 are skis I considered replacing the QST Blank with, for the sake of managing less-than-blower-pow in the backcountry. Both have pretty wide shovels and float well for their width. But ultimately they just don’t have quite enough surface area to make those hallowed backcountry powder days effortless, and I really want to make the most of those days.

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

I’m pretty curious about the mid-winter hardpack performance of the Wagner Summit 109 and Salomon Stance 102 for use as daily resort skis, and for backcountry skis, I’m intrigued by the Blizzard Hustle 11, Majesty Havoc Carbon, K2 Dispatch 110, and 4FRNT Hoji.

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

Salomon: QST Blank, Stance 102

Volkl: Blaze 106, Mantra 102

Wagner: Summit 106, Summit 107

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Kristin Sinnott

(5’8”, 125 lbs / 172 cm, 56.7 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

The fewer skis we’re allowed for this thought process, the easier it is for me to make decisions. I’m unsure if it’s because (a) I’ve been thinking about my favorite skis for the last few weeks and my choices and preferences have become clearer, or (b) I’m someone who should only have a few pairs of skis at my disposal. Either way, I’m happy with my selection.

And in case you haven’t read my other quiver selections, I plan to spend the majority of my ski days spinning laps in the Rocky Mountains. My home mountain has a lot of steep, technical terrain and that’s where I find myself skiing most often so skis that are easy to turn, predictable, and that hold an edge well are always high on my list. I also tend to ski with more finesse than power and with my pre-season training fairly non-existent this season, I am heading into December with less-than-optimal ski muscles. So I don’t want a ski that is going to overpower me.

Ski #1: Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + Salomon Shift

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Wagner Summit 106

Pete Wagner designed these skis to be a 50/50 ski and that’s how I would use them in this scenario. Mounting them with a Salomon Shift allows me the option to comfortably ski them inbounds and in the backcountry. While I prefer an alpine binding when spinning lifts, I opted to forgo a lightweight backcountry setup because I don’t see a whole lot of backcountry skiing in my cards this season. And when I do go, I’ll just bitch and moan a bit more and convince myself I’m happy for the harder workout.

The Summit 106 would be my powder ski, my backcountry ski, and my all-mountain ski for soft-ish conditions. The Summit 106 is extremely intuitive, easy to get on edge (especially for a 106mm-wide ski), and isn’t demanding.

Ski #2: Elan Ripstick 94 W, 170 cm + Alpine Binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Elan Ripstick 94 W

Over the past few years, I’ve been gravitating toward all-mountain skis in the 88-94 mm waist range, with several standout options. For groomer days, early season man-made snow, steeps, bumps, and just about everything with the exception of deep powder and thick crud, the Ripstick 94 W will work just fine.

The biggest question for me regarding my 2-ski quiver was which pair of skis I would mount with an AT binding. I decided to mount the Shift on the Summit 106 instead of the Ripstick 94 W because I think I would use the Ripstick 94 W more frequently and I prefer a dedicated alpine binding when skiing resort. But I think the Ripstick 94 W would also make a good 50/50 ski.

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

Ski #1: Wagner Summit 106, 172 cm + alpine binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Wagner Summit 106

No change to my 2-ski quiver, which isn’t a big surprise because of how I imagine my season playing out with most of my time spent skiing at the resort. I did change up the bindings, though, and mounted the Summit 106 with a dedicated alpine binding instead of the Salomon Shift.

Ski #2: Elan Ripstick 94 W, 170 cm + Alpine Binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Elan Ripstick 94 W

No change here.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

I’m sticking with the Elan Ripstick 94 W and the Wagner Summit 106. I’m happy with the versatility of these two pairs of skis and I don’t anticipate either having durability issues.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

I love the Moment Sierra and I would miss skiing it but for me, it wasn’t quite versatile enough to make the cut. They are a bit of an outlier in my quivers in that they are much more playful and less directional than skis I usually gravitate toward.

The Nordica Santa Ana 88 or any of the skis in the Santa Ana series would be missed here, too.

Kristin Sinnott reviews the Nordica Santa Ana 98 for Blister
Kristin Sinnott on the Nordica Santa Ana 98 (Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado)

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

It is very likely that the Blizzard Black Pearl 88 will be on this list next season. As mentioned in my other quivers, the BP 88 recently received a subtle update and I haven’t yet spent time on the tweaked version.

For my 2-ski quiver, I like having a fairly narrow ski (88-94mm) and a 100+mm waist ski. There’s a good chance the Ripstick 94 W can be bumped in the future, but it’s going to take a lot to replace the Summit 106.

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

Now that we’re down to a 2-ski quiver, there are a lot more options. In my 5-,4-, and 3-ski quivers, Nordica has been a go-to answer and I’d certainly be very happy with it still. But Elan is also a contender, as is Blizzard.

Nordica: Santa Ana 93, 172 cm & Santa Ana 104 Unlimited, 165 cm

Elan: Ripstick 94 W, 170 cm & Ripstick 102 W, 170 cm

Blizzard: Black Pearl 88, 171 cm & Sheeva 10, 164 cm

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Paul Forward

(6’, 200 lbs / 183 cm, 90.7 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

This is getting tricky for me because I essentially have 3 primary ski applications every winter: touring, inbounds skiing, and heli-ski guiding. In general, there is not a ton of overlap in the skis I most enjoy in these various contexts. Either my inbounds ski has to be fat enough to take heli skiing or my touring ski has to have major binding compromises and/or be quite a bit lighter than I might otherwise choose for guiding so it can do double duty.

In my opinion, 90% of Alaska ski touring can be done very effectively on a fairly light setup with dedicated tech bindings. Using a 50/50 binding like the Shift is tempting on paper but I know that in practice it would drive me crazy lugging those things around all season and dealing with all the moving parts. Similarly, I could put a 50/50 binding on my heli / resort skis but bindings take a lot of abuse in the heli basket over the years and most of us who are doing that work day in, day out have shied away from bindings like the Shift for that reason. So with all that said:

Ski #1: Folsom Cash 117, 188 cm + Marker Jester Pro

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Folsom Cash 117 w/ custom graphic mockup

This is going to be one ski for all lift-served and heli skiing. I have previously loved the DPS Koala 119 for this but I haven’t skied the newest version and worry that some of what I loved about the very heavy and stiff original has been lost. I skied the Cash 117 at the Blister Summit last year, which is a much shorter test period than I’d ever typically rely on. That said, I skied the gamut of icy bumps, groomers, tight trees, and quite a bit of pow and came away really impressed. It was able to hook up and carve groomers as well as any other ski of this width but still had a “pow ski feel” in deep snow, with good float and ease of pivoting. On hard snow, they seemed at least as good as other similarly fat skis I’ve used.

I admit that I’ve not had these out in the heli, but based on my experience with them in deep, low-density pow in CB, I think they’ll do well enough in that scenario.

Ski #2: Moonlight Cruiser 50/50, 185 cm + Moment Voyager

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Moonlight Cruiser 50/50

As with my 3-ski quiver, this would be my only touring ski. In reality, I have long done most of my touring on 115mm+ skis and this wouldn’t be a crazy compromise until corn skiing season. I’ve always prioritized the ability to ski fast in big terrain and soft snow, and for that kind of skiing, I typically prefer a fatter ski.

In the spring, when things firm up and (hopefully) transition to corn, the Cruiser’s fairly stable (for its weight) construction and intuitive, versatile shape make it pretty fun in those conditions as well.

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

Ski #1: Folsom Cash 117, 188 cm + Marker Jester Pro

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Folsom Cash 117 w/ custom graphic mockup

Again, I’m a little reluctant on this because I haven’t skied them very much but so many of my favorite inbounds pow skis have either been very altered or discontinued over the years, so I’m going to have to go with my best guess as to what I’d still like to fill this niche. I know that I like the shape and, based on my experience with the Folsom Rapture, I’m pretty confident that Folsom can dial in the construction, camber, and flex to suit my purposes.

Ski #2: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm + Marker Jester Pro

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Volkl Mantra 102

I’ve written about this ski so many times but the gist of it is that it’s an excellent all-around ski that seems to work really well for my skiing and the kinds of terrain I work with at Alyeska. It’s stable, it carves, it pivots, it skids, and the width works well for me on everything short of a powder day.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

Ski #1: Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Volkl Mantra 102

It’s currently my favorite all-around inbounds ski. It just works well for me and short of a true pow day, I’d be happy with it skiing under the lifts just about anywhere in the world.

Ski #2: Blizzard Zero G 105, 188 cm with Moment Voyager

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Blizzard Zero G 105

As with the Mantra 102, if I found myself somewhere with a lot of pow, I’d be a little disappointed, but these will still do okay in deep snow and would serve as a versatile touring ski no matter where I ended up.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

I spend most of my season on fat skis seeking pow and I’d be pretty bummed not to have something at least 115 underfoot with me in case I ended up somewhere with deep snow. Most of my ski travel has been in search of good snow and I’ve always had something big with me. But if I had no idea where I’d end up over a season, I might opt for these skinnier options that would still be fun if we got some pow days.

Spoiler alert: the most versatile all-around ski for me is probably the Majesty Havoc Carbon. It’s the closest thing I’ve found to the “jack of all trades, master of none” that we look for in a 1- and 2-ski quivers, so it’ll likely pop up in the next article…

Paul Forward reviews the Moment Chipotle Banana for Blister
Paul Forward on the Moment Chipotle Banana, Chugach Powder Guides, Alaska.

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

I’d love to find a ~110 mm underfoot inbounds and touring ski that I really like for my style of skiing. A few skis that I’m excited to try are the Folsom Primary 110 in a build more tailored to my preferences, and the Heritage Lab C 113 and FL 113. Skis that I’d like to spend more time on would include the Faction La Machine Mega and the K2 Dispatch Series. I think any of these could serve well in a 1- or 2-ski quiver.

Based on my fellow reviewers’ selections, I also really need to spend some time on the Salomon QST Blank.

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

Lots of choices here:

The first that comes to mind is Blizzard. It’s not my personal favorite but I could get by with a Rustler 11 for heli and inbounds and Zero G 105 for touring.

Folsom is another easy choice and would likely include the Cash 117 mentioned above (possibly the Primary 110 but that remains to be seen) plus a touring version of the primary 110 or Cash 106.

The final one would be K2. The time I spent at the Blister Summit on the Dispatch 120 was impressive and I can’t wait to get a pair up here ASAP. That coupled with a Mindbender 108 Ti could be a great combo for me.

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Luke Koppa

(5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

If you’ve read my selections for the larger 5-ski, 4-ski, and 3-ski quivers, you might be like me and be getting kinda bored with my selections — there hasn’t been a whole lot of variety. But as I’ve now stated several times, I’ve got some highly particular preferences, and there are very few skis that check all of my specific boxes. Given that those quivers are pretty big and each ski isn’t asked to do a whole lot in the grand scheme, I was basically just cutting out the more niche skis as we narrowed things down.

However, 2-ski quivers are where things get really tricky. While a 2-ski resort quiver will still keep me plenty happy over the course of a season, a 2-ski quiver for a mix of resort and touring, covering 120+ days in a season, is asking a lot more of each ski. So this is where I finally have to start making some real compromises (and finally get to talk about some different skis!).

Ski #1: Line Blade Optic 92, 182 cm + CAST Freetour or Marker Duke PT 12

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Line Blade Optic 92

There are so many skis I debated putting here, but I think I’m pretty content with this choice.

The Line Blade Optic 96 was in every one of my bigger quivers as my daily resort ski, and I will miss it here. However, in this 2-ski quiver, this ski also serves as my touring ski, and most of the days that I’m dragging it uphill will involve firm / shallow spring snow, so for both those reasons, I’m opting for the narrower and lighter Blade Optic 92.

The 92 shares a lot in common with the 96 and I’m picking the 92 for pretty much all the same reasons I picked the 96 in my bigger quivers. But the 92 is notably lighter, quicker, and more lively, making it better suited to human-powered travel and keeping it from overlapping as much with my second ski here.

I’ve spent most of my time on the Blade Optic 92 in late spring conditions, where I loved it, and I was frankly a bit worried I wouldn’t be as psyched once I broke it back out for some true winter conditions. Fortunately, the past two days have allowed me to ski it on both icy man-made groomers and stashes of a foot of fresh snow, and I haven’t been disappointed. It’s definitely not the best ski for carving ice, but it will hold an edge just fine, and it’s one of the best soft / deep-snow skis I’ve used under 95 mm underfoot.

As for bindings, I’m split between the CAST Freetour and Marker Duke PT 12. The Duke PT 12 is notably lighter and would be nicer for touring days, but I haven’t been able to test how well it holds up to daily resort bashing. I’m leaning toward the CAST system for that latter reason.

Ski #2: Dynastar M-Free 108, 192 cm + CAST Freetour

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Dynastar M-Free 108

Now that my narrower resort ski is lighter and less stable, I need my wider resort ski to be a bit more versatile, at the expense of some pow-day-specific flotation and maneuverability. Fortunately, the 192 cm M-Free 108 is pretty much perfect for this; it blends some of the 186 cm Rossignol Blackops 118’s excellent stability and suspension in chop with a narrower platform that feels less out of place when there’s no fresh snow to blow up. And like the Blackops 118, the M-Free 108 is still balanced, loose, and forgiving enough to encourage a slightly playful style.

As for bindings, I’m putting the CAST system on here mostly as an afterthought — I don’t think I’ll be touring on this setup much at all, but given how many people I know who ski really hard and run CAST on their daily resort skis, I figure there’s almost no compromise to putting it on this ski in case we magically get super stable pow in the Crested Butte backcountry. If that happens, though, I’ll probably just break out a snurfer (which isn’t technically a ski, so I’m still allowing that in my 2-ski quiver).

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

Back to boring answers! This would just be the resort portion of my 3-ski quiver:

Ski #1: Line Blade Optic 96, 184 cm + alpine binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Line Blade Optic 96

Once again, the Blade Optic 96 serves as my daily resort ski. I love skiing it in most conditions, and that’s my main priority for this slot. It’s damp and stable enough to be skied pretty hard when it hasn’t snowed in a while, but it’s loose and maneuverable enough to still be fun when there are several inches of fresh snow. And I really enjoy carving it — good edge hold from the middle of the ski, versatile in terms of turn shapes, and lots of energy coming out of a turn.

Ski #2: Rossignol Blackops 118, 186 cm + Alpine Binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Rossignol Blackops 118

I’d be breaking out the Blackops 118 fairly frequently — pretty much any time it’s snowed more than a few inches and/or I feel like skiing fast. While the M-Free 108 would probably be the more practical choice here, skiing chop on the Blackops 118 is just incredible, and with the Blade Optic 96 being more damp and stable than the Blade Optic 92, I wouldn’t be resorting to my wider, heavier, more stable ski as often, so the wider ski can be a bit more niche.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

So far I have no reason to believe the skis in my true 2-ski quiver (Blade Optic 92 & M-Free 108) will present any unusual durability issues, so I think I’d just stick with those two. Despite running over tons of rocks each season, I think I’ve only managed to do serious damage to a couple skis (out of a few hundred I’ve skied over the past few years), so durability isn’t a huge concern for me.

In terms of versatility across different conditions and terrain, I’m still pretty happy with the Blade Optic 92 + M-Free 108 combo, likely due to the fact that I chose those skis for a full season in Crested Butte. That season includes very firm early season groomers, big moguls, steep and tight off-piste terrain, high- and low-angle pistes, the occasional foot-deep pow day, and spring slush / refreeze (to name just a few). I.e., I think a season here covers a lot of the “middle of the bell curve” conditions and terrain when considering ski areas around the entire world. Performance traits specifically on blue ice, waist-deep pow, super wet snow, or wide-open bowls weren’t high priorities when I picked these skis, but given that this question is talking about picking skis that could be used anywhere, I want to prioritize performance in the conditions and terrain that seem most common across the globe. Going with wider skis better suited to deep, heavy snow would leave me wanting if I ended up back home in the Midwest, whereas going with narrower skis better suited to truly icy conditions would make me very cranky if I ended up in, say, Alaska or Japan. That’s what makes this question so tricky.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

All the skis mentioned in my larger quivers, for all the reasons I included them there.

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

For the true 2-ski quiver, the Blade Optic 92 is pretty ideal, with a rare combination of a moderately low weight, decent suspension for that weight, excellent maneuverability and playfulness, and fun on-piste performance. There are lots of skis I considered for that slot, but only one clear winner for my particular preferences, so I can’t currently think of any that are likely to replace it. Of course, who knows what skis we’ll get on later this season.

Luke Koppa reviews the Line Blade Optic 92 for Blister
Luke Koppa hunting for early season rope-line faceshots on the Line Blade Optic 92 (photo by Taylor Ahearn)

The 192 cm M-Free 108 seems like it’d be more likely to potentially be replaced, given that there are several skis around that width that are pretty damp and stable but also fairly playful. In particular, if I could find something with a similar combo of stability and playfulness, but in a more moderate length (maybe 186–189 cm), I could be swayed. Maybe that could be one of the 187 cm ON3P Woodsmans? We should be getting on some soon…

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

I’d be pretty happy with a few brands, though none would be 100% perfect.

Line: Blade Optic 92, Blade Optic 104

I think this is my best option. I wish the Blade Optic 104 was a bit more stable when blasting through heavy chop, but this combo would be lots of fun. I’m tempted to swap the 104 for the Blade Optic 114, which is way more stable in chop, but also notably less agile and engaging when navigating firm snow and tight terrain.

Faction: Mana 2, Prodigy 3

The Mana 2 is a bit wide for my narrower ski but I haven’t skied the narrower Manas, and the Dancer 2 is just a bit too game-on and directional for my everyday ski. And I’m basing the Prodigy 3 choice on my time with a previous version; I haven’t tried the latest.

Dynastar: M-Pro 90, M-Free 108

I’d much prefer a more forward-mounted ski than the M-Pro 90, but I still really enjoyed carving and mogul-bashing on it during my one day on it last year, while the M-Free 99 isn’t an engaging enough carver to be my narrower ski.

RMU: Apostle 96, North Shore 110 or Apostle 106 Pro

Similar to the Faction quiver, this one is more of a question — I haven’t skied the Apostle 96, which is apparently notably more directional than the Apostle 106, but I love the 106. I love the North Shore 110 as a playful soft-snow ski, but it’s not great for skiing fast in rough conditions, so I’m very curious about the metal-laden Apostle 106 Pro, which we hope to try this season.

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)

Jonathan Ellsworth

(5’10”, ~175 lbs / 178 cm, 79 kg)

I. What’s your 2-ski quiver for where you ski most, and why?

Ski #1: Customized Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Folsom Spar 88

Till somebody makes a sub-90mm-wide ski that I personally like better for carving up groomers and truly all-mountain, off-piste use … I’m sticking with the Spar 88. (See the larger quiver articles and our full review for more info.)

Ski #2: 184 cm 4FRNT Hoji + Shift binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
4FRNT Hoji

Last year, I noted that I was optimizing for lower snow conditions. But this year, apparently I’m feeling more optimistic. So while my choice last year here of the stock 186 cm Wagner Summit 106 + Shift binding would be the better call for a season with less soft snow and deep snow … the Hoji is a ski that I will happily break out when conditions are soft or deep in Crested Butte, both inbounds and in the backcountry.

II. If you didn’t do any backcountry touring, what would your 2-ski quiver be for inbounds-only skiing?

Ski #1: Customized Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Folsom Spar 88

Ski #2: Rossignol Blackops 118, 186 cm + Alpine Binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Rossignol Blackops 118

I don’t love the width gap I’ve got going here between these two skis … but then again, the Black Ops 118 is so good in variable conditions, I’ve literally never been out on this ski where I wished I was on something else. So that makes my width gap far less worrisome to me.

III. What’s your 2-ski quiver for the next 3 years, regardless of location? (We’re framing the question this way to emphasize (a) versatility and (b) durability — these skis need to hold up for at least 3-4 years.)

Ski #1: Folsom Spar 88, 182 cm

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Folsom Spar 88

Ski #2: Wagner Summit 106 + Shift binding

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Wagner Summit 106

Since I have no idea what conditions will be like 2-3 years from now — or where I’ll be using these skis — the Summit 106 feels like a safer, more versatile bet than the 4FRNT Hoji. Though on deep days inbounds or in the backcountry — especially in heavier / denser snow — I’m sure I would like to have a wider ski.

IV. What skis were most difficult to leave off your list?

I think a good case can be made for the new-for-22/23 Salomon QST 106. I’d like more time on this ski, but so far, it’s at least in a similar league with the Wagner Summit 106.

And the more I think about it, the WNDR Alpine Intention 108 deserves to have me thinking, “WTF, man!” Because if I put a Shift binding on it, the previous Intention 110 was a ski that I could trust inbounds in softer conditions, and I would get a bit more width than the 106mm-wide skis I’ve been talking about here. So a quiver of a Folsom Spar 88 + a 188 cm Intention 108 — with camber — could very well be the right answer to this question. I just need to spend time on the slightly tweaked Intention 108.

2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)
Jonathan Ellsworth on the WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Crested Butte, CO.

V. What ski do you imagine has the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ski it, or get to ski it more?

While it’s not drastically different than the previous Intention 110, I need to get on the WNDR Alpine Intention 108.

VI. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-ski quiver, which company would you pick?

Last year I went with:

Black Crows Serpo, 180.1 cm + alpine binding
Black Crows Corvus, 188 cm + Shift binding

… and that definitely could still work for me.

But I’m kind of feeling like sticking with my sub-90mm-wide Folsom Spar 88, so I think I’ll pair that with a custom 188 cm Folsom Primary 110 with camber, and I’ll try to get it coming in around 2050 grams for use as my wider inbounds ski + everyday touring ski with a Shift binding.

18 comments on “2-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (22/23)”

  1. Interesting choices and I enjoy the reasoning. Many of these skis (brands) are unfamiliar to me (Wagner, Prior Husume, Sego) I ski primarily on piste in resort with occasional ventures into the back country. I no longer have the energy to hike to ski, so touring is just not a thing for me (63 yrs old, 5’7″ 209 lbs.) The two ski quiver I do have is a pair of Nordica Enforcer 100’s w/ Marker Griffin’s 185cm and a pair of Nordica Dobermann Spitfire 80 RB also w/ Griffins.
    The Enforcers power through crud and chop, hold an edge and I can push them hard. The work ok for me when I’m off piste; however, I venture to guess that something wider and lighter would be better suited in deeper snow. The Dobermann’s carve like demons and go really fast too.
    I have great interest in some of the Saloman, Volkl, and Head skis. The ski I am most interested in trying are the Peak’s in three widths-88, 98, 104 the 110 would likely not be for me. Not being a tester with access to multiple brands, and skis; but having read a bit about them I could see many Brands I might like besides Nordica. Besides those mentioned Blizzard, K2, Fisher, Atomic and Dynastar all come to mind. I really enjoy Blister’s newsletters!

  2. My setup for next three(I hope) seasons:
    1. Fisher Ranger 102 fr (21/22-one pink and one blue ski) 184 cm
    2. Atomic Benchetler 120 (21/22) 184 cm
    Both, equipped with Salomon Shift. Everything I need.
    Skiing in Europe (Alps and Balkan mountains)

  3. While I am diametrically opposed to the idea of having only 2 skis, I’ll play along chowing from skis in my quiver :

    1. 187 Blizzard Bonafides: can handle everything from Western hard pack to a few inches of snow with precision. Short enough turn radius combined with stability, that I’m happy with it just about anywhere. If I could choose anything else, it would be a Stockli SR 95, as they combine light weight with dampness and stability in a way no one else can match, but they ain’t cheap so I’m waiting for the lucky day I find them in a demo ski sale.

    2. 194 Black Crows Animas with Cast: with a sharp tune, it’s a great daily driver if it’s snowed anytime in the last week without a melt freeze cycle. I don’t tour enough to justify a dedicated touring ski, so this does what I need while having confidence in the setup for the way down. I also have Moment Wildcats, but I grab the Animas as they are more fun if it’s anything but a full on powder day, largely due to the tighter side cut.

  4. I’m way too keen on big spring days to give up something in the ultralight slot. That makes a 2 ski quiver soo difficult. I think what I’d have to do is go up in waist width for the superlight mountaineering ski, opting for maybe the Blizzard zero-g 105, and have that do everything fully human-powered. Then I’d go with something that can handle all conditions in the resort, and put it on CAST system for short tours out the resort gates. It would suck to not have a pow ski for Japan’s deep days, but skiing pow in mid-fats is easy, while skiing crud, variable, and firm resort snow is hard with pow skis. Good slots for me would be Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, Moment Deathwish 104, Lib Tech UFO 105, etc.

  5. Speaking of Lib Tech UFO 105, you guys should do a review of that ski. The ‘magne-traction’ serrated edge is a huge hit in the snowboard world, and its novelty/uniqueness is worth a review from the pros at Blister, IMO. (would be sweet to see how you think that stacks up against “triple camber”). I think Luke and Dylan would especially get along with it. Just check out what Lucas Wachs is doing on that ski, crushing literally everything from park, groomed and tracked out resort side hits to big mountain freeride lines, pillows, pow, and bc booters.

  6. In my big quiver that I have accumulated over the years, I’ve got a pair of Volkl RTM 86 uvo in a 182cm and a Volkl 100eight with kingpin 13 bindings in a 189cm length. The RTM 86 is a brilliant front side/all mtn. ski suitable for intermediates all the way to teaching pros -it’s a great teaching and demonstration ski. Very good on hard pack groomers and even bumps ( if you carve them and not try to ski them like a zipper line comp bump ski ), and surprisingly good in day old chop and crud on top of a groomer run. I will replace them with a pair of Deacon 84 when the time comes, or a pair of Kendo 88 (for a greater range in front side/all mtn. performance ). The 100eights are some of the best do-it-all skis that Volkl ever produced. I had mine originally mounted with Jesters, and now with Kingpin 13s, and although they are a little bit “swimmy” when running them on the flats, their range of use is huge – it’s a great patroller ski!! From boot top pow, to crud, to soft/firm groomers ( not plate ), this ski is superior. Too bad it was discontinued (rev. camber skis really work well in the right conditions and with the right technique). I’m using a pair of Zero G tour Pros with this 50/50 combination, and couldn’t be more pleased. And for front side skiing ,a pair of Lange RS140. My wish is that Volkl will re-introduce this ski, and market it as a 50/50 ski and also make a 120mm waisted version (using dimensions that are 12mm wider all around yielding the same side-cut radius ). What an awesome heli/cat and backcountry ski this would be!! One can only hope!
    Cheers,
    DHJ

  7. The Volkl Katana VWerks is still a reverse camber ski. Similar to the 100eight but slightly stiffer in the shovel and obviously the carbon construction. I picked up a pair cheap at an end of season sale.

  8. Having left my opinion on the last couple articles, I figured I would continue the trend in the hopes that maybe Jonathan gives me a job one day…
    Some context is that I’m 6 foot, 220 pounds and ski primarily in Colorado mid winter and the Arctic in spring and summer.

    Ski #1: Elan Ripstick tour 104 with Moment Voyager
    This is my current daily driver touring ski, I’ve been fortunate to be on it for a good while now (industry perks). The number one thing I need in this category is reliability, and the Ripstick tour delivers that in spades. It’s pretty fun in the soft snow, pretty confidence inspiring and easy to nail turns in consequential and firm conditions, and light enough for long missions and traverses. My only real criticism of this ski is the tip is a bit soft for me, which really shows in punch crust. It feels like the tip of the ski wants to bend itself back up on top of the snow creating a hooking feeling that’s not the most pleasant. That said, its a pretty light ski and I’m happy to compromise on crust skiing ability in favor of the other attributes of the ski.

    Ski #2: Moment Wildcat 108 with Tyrollia Attack 14
    I’ve only skied the touring version of this ski, so I’m going a touch out on a limb here but I’m betting the regular Wildcat 108 will have a similarly stellar turn feeling and personality while allowing me to be a bit more on the gas through choppy snow in bounds. I’m really looking for this ski to fit between the Season Nexus and the Folsom Powfish in my real world line up, and I think the Wildcat 108 will do that quite nicely. The trade off is not having a great carving ski, and while I’ll definitely miss that aspect of the Nexus, I think the Wildcat 108 will do just fun in replacing my groomer needs and I care way more about throwing (very ugly) grabs off cliffs than burning sidewall.

    In some ways I find the two ski quiver to be the most enjoyable to whittle down as it feels plenty capable of accomplishing everything I want while not taking up quite so much of my life savings. There are definitely some skis that were tough to leave off this list, and many different directions I felt like going. Primarily I was tempted by the Mindbender 99 to replace the Wildcat 108 to give me a better hard snow experience. I also strongly considered the 4frnt Raven over the Ripstick tour but in the end it came down to what I know better and what will offer the best experience on every day out.
    Cheers and thanks for reading!

  9. ON3P are finally going to be sending out review skis?! Woodman 102 is a ski I’m very interested in but the total lack of helpful reviews on it has kept me away. Selling every ski you make might work for maximizing profit but it sucks for brand growth

  10. I. My Current Quiver:
    Black Crows Navis (179) + dynafit radical ST
    Zai Stone (155) + Zai alpine bindings

    II. I don’t think I’d change it. Maybe put shift bindings on the Navis. Vice-versa tho, I’d swap the Zai’s for a pair of Black Crows orb freebirds.

    III. My Navis are going into their 4th season, and the Zai’s are exceptionally sturdy. I’m sticking with what I got.

    IV. As mentioned, the Orb Freebirds.

    V. I’m actually really interested in Norrona’s lyngen woodcore96. I’m spending the winter in Norway, so I’m hoping to be able to test a pair.

    VI. The Black Crows combo I already mentioned.

  11. Here in Colorado mid-week, the resorts are populated with lots of “Senior” skiers like me. We have decades of experience in all snow conditions, but we typically need skis that are a little forgiving, maneuverable yet stable for (in-bounds) runs in variable conditions from hard pack moguls to freshies. I want my skis to help me make my last run of day just as fun as the first one. Your testers are undoubtedly younger than I am with the legs that I barely remember. I would love to have ski suggestions, reviews and quiver choices from someone over 60+ as there lots of us out here who are very passionate about skiing. I do about 40 days a season.

  12. Would love to hear what Drew Kelly (or others) would recommend for an East Coast 2-ski quiver. One ski a frontside/allmountain ski (i’m guessing Drew will choose a Mantra), the other for softer days at the resort/touring with something like a Shift or a Duke PT.

  13. Blade optic 92 and Whitedot Altum 104 are on duty.
    Also cheating with the Altum 114 in reserve.
    More lying as I’ve also got wildcat 108 tour with voyager bindings.

  14. Washington State, 6’2″, 190 lbs.
    Current 2 ski resort quiver: 184 Mantra 102 STH2-16, 192 Rustler 11 STH2-16
    Current 2 ski resort/tour: 184 Mantra 102 STH2-16, 188 Zero G 105 G3 Ion
    Considering building a 50/50 setup now, looking at Rustler 11, Hoji, QST106, Kore 111, Intention 108, Ranger 102, V-Werks Katana

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