Which Skis Would You Bring Back from the Dead?

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Here at Blister, we hate to see good gear get discontinued. But what if you could resurrect one of your favorites?

That’s the question we asked a few of our reviewers — and one we’ll also pose to you: if you could bring any ski, snowboard, or other piece of gear back, what would you pick? Let us know in the comments!

Which Skis Would You Bring Back from the Dead?, BLISTER
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95 comments on “Which Skis Would You Bring Back from the Dead?”

  1. Loved the intro! Everyone in this video seems wistful except Jonathan, who seems downright disappointed. I wish I could get on some mint Soul 7s, I missed out on trying them out.

    • Somewhere out there, Sam Shaheen just felt a twinge of excitement at converting someone. On a more serious note, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen in the wrapper soul 7’s being sold for cheap online.

    • Dear Lord, this is a great call. I forgot about the K2 PE’s. I had them and I loved them, and they looked super rad for sure.

  6. This will date me, the 180 Hexcel Hexcelerator was a favorite ski of mine in Telluride in 1979. Light, nimble and soft enough for great pow turns and bump skiing off chair 9.
    195 cm Pre SP were another fine pow and bump tool. Neither of these skis are remotely like todays.
    And we had to hike Gold Hill or duck the rope into Bear Creek

  7. K2 Ikonic 84 Ti – great skis that were so close to being the perfect frontside / East Coast ski that were sadly discontinued rather than improved upon (such as losing the hammerhead tip shape) and which themselves picked up for the sadly discontinued Fischer Motiv 86 Ti.

    • A G R E E D. With all of this. I think I’d repressed my sadness over the Motiv 86 Ti. I need a drink.

      (Also, everyone in this comments section is really killing it with the suggestions. I’m proud of you. I’m also growing increasingly depressed….)

      Fun fact, our fantastic video editor cut out me talking about at least 6 other skis that I wanted to bring back from the dead. I’m basically ready to open my own Pet Cemetery…

  8. K2 Seth Pistol’s! those skis were ahead of the curve at the time.
    I wonder how they would compare to today’s skis. Would be fun to do a test-like scenario!

  9. My father‘s green and blue Amann race skis. Length 2.10m from 76.
    Fischer RC4 circa 1978 for getting me hooked.
    Kneissl Red Star and Kästle RX early 80s for the iconic design.
    Head Supermojo for for being the only powder skis ever that could be skied right trough rocks, fences, probanly icebergs etc, no worries.
    And many more…

  10. Dynastar Slicer/ Menace 98 – Fun and surprisingly capable ski (especially in the bumps) with no real successor
    Blizzard Brahma 88 v2 (the one with the deep rocker lines) – Such a capable ski!

    • Glad you brought this ski up. I was between the Slicer/Menace 98 and Bent Chetler… that ski was a ton of fun. And you’re right, the M-Free 99 is quite different.

      • Yessir 10.26 ….how the mind is slipping….had em in 203s super rippin fun. Remember a salesperson in ski shop correcting me on what skis i had-“you mean 10.22s…” nope. Did your bindings expode on you too?

    • Whole heartedly agree on the Shiros! I ride my 2014 pair on more resort days than any other ski with 119 under foot would. From pow float to ripping hot laps in between storms, it does more things better than sny ski in my arsenal.

  17. I loved my K2 ELC in a 207. Best all mountain GS ski. But resurrect any of my old loves? My race stock pink KVC? Volkl Racecarv? Tua Big Easy? Nah. Skis today are way better. I’m pretty sure My Moment Wildcats are way, way, way better on everything other than than groom/ice.

  18. Let’s go real oldie, Head Yahoo II. A bit on the wide side for back then in the day, and a so-called at the time slalom side cut. Mine were 190s and I skied on those for years.

  19. Oh man I wish I still had my 198cm Rossignol 7XKs. Those skis helped me learn how to turn and you could ski them EVERYWHERE. I ran a shop in Beaver Creek and I could ski them in the bumps, in the side country and then blaze down the groomers to the bottom. Truly the ski that took me to a new level!

  20. Red tipped Kastle MX 98, the second version with the big red X on it. The few left are being hoarded because it’s that special. It just skied everything well. A strong skier could ski them in 12 in of pow, which is crazy for a 98mm under foot ski. I have 4 pairs of the 194 and a pair of the 184, and no matter how fun a ski is, it’s like going home when I grab my MX 98s.

    Or the OG 193 Volkl Shiro so it can get reviewed and be given a fair shot!

  21. K2 EIS, Extreme Ice Ski! Foam core ski with segmented (cracked) edges from the toe piece forward, made a soft easy flexing tip. The ski thickened at the binding’s mounting position and then tapered slightly to the rear, making the tail section thicker and very stiff. The ski was designed to make the iconic ‘J’ turn. ON ICE! Nothing came close to those boards. The USA ski team kicked ass!

  23. Rossignol S6 Sickle! My last pair is getting very old and there was no daily driver that can come even close. Please, please, bring it back!!! Blister edition?

  25. Head Monster 108.

    Failing that I’d go one ski up from Luke and pick the Fischer 107Ti 189 cm. The length matters, because the core profiles were totally different between the 182 and the 189.

    I already have a spare pair of 107Ti just waiting to be mounted, but I feel like the rest of the world needs to re-appreciate how agile that ski was/is for how much integrity and top end it provides. It’s unforgiving of crappy technique (especially of the backseat variety), but not horribly so.

  26. Volkl G4
    The first ski that really captured me on this new-fangled wide bodied shaped ski thing.
    It’s probably awful compared w today’s skis, but I loved it BITD.

  27. The Volkl 5 Star In it’s first year. What a great cheater GS ski! Still have a pair with the early pistol plate. They proved that you didn’t need to go longer to go fast.

    • +1 on that, but w/o the H-mount plate! Had a pair, sold them, immediately regretted it, but by some stroke of luck some popped up used online and I was able to snatch them up.

  30. K2 EXTREME 205 cm Glen Plake
    I’m 51 and couldn’t turn them now but back in the 90’s. That was the best ski for a long time. Inspired me to dig them out.

  32. I wish Look would bring back the PX15, or at least offer the SPX15 with wider brakes and endorse it for use without a race plate. Easier entry than the Pivot and better damping.

  33. Circa 1988, great all mountain and sweet looking are racy K2 KVC and Volkl P9 RS (pink and purple :). So many others, great times working Mammoth Main Lodge rental shop in 88-89 and 89-90.

  35. The rarely known Fischer dual sidecut mogul ski, absolutely ripping technical ski that despite its incredible performance over other brands could not capture the markets confidence in a radical engineering solution for freestyle mogul skiing from a company known for its competitive race skis.

  37. The corpse is not yet cold and the scars are not yet healed, but if Fischer does not bring the Ranger 102 Fr back to life, they will be forever guilty for this murder…

  39. Not had a chance to listen to the podcast yet but from these great comments sounds as if it is a good one. Definitely agree with Johannes on the 102FR, have a pair and love them.

    Had assumed that you would bring Sam back for a guest appearance specifically to cover the Soul 7. Did Luke do a pre-bid on the BO 118?

    For me Monster 88 and 98 (assume 108 too but never got to ski one). Am on my second pair of 88‘s (last version before they changed the tip shape – 17/18 I think). I have a pair of 98‘s also 17/18 that I bought brand new from a shop in Spain in 2021!

    Mantra v3 and v4 but as the 6 seems to carry on the tradition probably less of a loss. Völkl One too

  41. The heavy Candide 3.0 21/22. Holy shit is that a workhorse. Probably the worst twin tip at slow speeds, but you can literally throw everything at it. With lots of speed & input. Could be the comp version of the Rustler 11.

    Another one that is pretty sad, the Dynafit Beast 108. Such a broad range of skiers could enjoy that one. Slarvy enough for an intermediate skier, burly & stable enough for a pro.

  43. Fischer Motive 95 — go ahead and soften it up just a wee bit for my aging bones.

    Volk Shiro — there was NOTHING wrong with this ski.

    Monster 108 — for my charging friend Chris.

  45. Crazy fun. How about by Era
    70’s: The Ski, Hexcel, K2 4, Olin Mark 4, Dynamic VR7 and VR17
    80’s: Rossi ST Comp, Elan RC 04(?), Dynastar with the cherry, Dynastar Vertical (maybe best bump ski ever), Rossi 4s (green slalom ski),Elan Comprex series (esp the X in 212)
    90’s: Salomon X-Screams, Dynastar Legend Pros (the OG)
    00’s: Stockli Scott Schmidt Pro, Movement Goliath, Bluehouse Shoots(best AK ski of all time)
    10’s : Blizzard Spur 189 (OG – please bring back the best ski of all time, please)

  47. They aren’t quite dead in that you can still buy the last remaining few, but the On3P wrenegade series is going to be retired. I have the 102 ti and the newer 110 Pro. Both those skis stack up really well against their competitors. I think they marketed them as really burly chargers and scared some people away from what are exceptional all mountain skis. Put the 102 in a deep dive right now and it’s a better on piste off piste ski than most in a very competitive metal laminate class. 110 pro would fair equally well v. Cochise, Katana, etc..

  50. One for all the dentists out there, the Stöckli AR Laser 83. Love that ski, heavy and precise. To be fair the replacement Montero 84 is essentially the same but the point stands

  52. The white top Volkswagen mantra, BEFORE the tip went rocker. The tip engaged on demand. The after-mantras were for the wanna bees, not a skier’s ski.

  53. Moment Exit World – triple rocker version. Amazing pow touring ski.

    OG golden intuition Dalbello krypton pro liners – they just felt right.

    The first gen K2 Obsethed was my ski. Not sure it fits my style anymore but it was awesome back in the day.

    That boot and that ski were game changers for me.

  54. 2012 moment belafonte. Absolute rocket ships. Very stable and damp. Excellent edge grip. Blast chop. Took a 5 year telemark hiatus on rustler 10s (would rather not talk about it), slapped on my belafonte’s after coming out of my comma and felt like Tom Cruise in the prototype jet from the movie Maverick going for Mach 10. Started at the top of Bridger Bowel and ended the run with my clothes in tatters in a coffee shop in Livingston sending GPS coordinates to my wife. I will never get rid of those skis.

  55. Two of my all time favorites were the Hexcel Comp, I skied them in 200cm length. I wonder how that technology would transfer to a shorter wider version. They were super light, nimble and could handle everything from steeps to moguls.
    The other would be the Dynastar Omeglass II Equipe, the Equipe version was stiffer, more race oriented. Mine are 203’s (still .out in the garage) w? Marker M 40 Race bindings and the ubiquitous orange Lange XLR boots. Ok, so the boots killed me; but provided impeccable control. I skied these all mountain; but they were best on piste. I even danced moguls on these brutes. Dynastar appears to have left this nitch behind. I skied these early season a few times a couple years ago and those old dogs still hunt. A lot more work to turn than my 185 Nordica Enforcer 100’s; but still fun sticks.

  58. Rossignol RC112. These only existed for a short period of time but they ripped and were more versatile than they appeared. Similarly, Moment made a version of the Garbones with a 112 waist that is among my favourite skis of all time.

    That said, I’m happy to be on skis more easy-going than either of those options at this point.

  60. Volkl BMT 94 & 122 (without the silly H mount plate)
    Volkl Nunataq
    Volkl One

    Love reverse camber skis with longer sidecuts, especially the mellow reverse camber of the BMTs and Nunataq in weird BC snow

  61. The last generation Volkl Explosiv were fun AF and super quick, fast everywhere and loved everything but super deep powder. The first JJ’s that has the super big rocker and reverse sidecut were video-game fun too!

  62. Meanwhile on 2 November over on POWDER they are asking: Which Discontinued Skis Do You Wish Were Still Made? Hmmm what a great idea for an article. Rap on the knuckles for Mr Whitling or just happy to be imitated?! It’s all good, it’s skiing

  63. Can anybody honestly think of two skis that changed the game more than the Salomon Teneighty and the Pocket Rocket. I’ve been waiting for them to release a playful, progressive, backcountry appropriate fat twin for years now. Just to throw a wrench in their rather basic lineup.

  65. VÖLKL SANOUK 194 Crazy powder noodles that just make you grin in pow, and laugh on the way back to the chair. Nothing looked like it with the fork swallow tails & rearward mounting and log cabin top sheet.

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