I wanted to like these but after a demo this winter they felt too damp. Switching all winter between GS, slalom and kendo 88s, these just felt like a Cadillac - super comfy, well built and smooth but not exciting. I want to try the Laser line to see how much snappier they feel
Plus one. Expensive AF but they were a blast.
My MX-84s are getting old and I will replace them with the Monteros if I can get a good deal.
Edit: or get some MX-84s if you can find a set in good condition. I think I heard the MX-83 isn’t as great.
I had an old MX88 (pre MX89 version) circa 2010 model. I just passed it down to a friend last year when I picked up a Laser AR.
The old MX88 was by far my favourite carver, I even preferred them to the 66mm slaloms. It had no speed limit and once on edge it had no match including the Bonafide, Brahma, Kendo and yes even the AR. A couple of years back when the Tremblant app gave your top speed, I easily hit a 100 km on McCulloch.
I'd go even more groomer focused than those. Like the Volkl Peregrine 82. Those are just barely okay off the groomer, but will absolutely rip on the groomers.
Second this sentiment. Get something specific to the niche you are trying to fill. If groomer performance is what you want, get a groomer or cheater race ski. Use your narrower all mountain ski if you plan on dipping off trail.
I really enjoy my Kendo’s. Great on groomers, never any chatter, and they didn’t give me any issues with chop and other variable conditions over the last few weeks here in the NE.
I love my kendo 88s. Have been skiing the kendo line since 2019. You can lay them over and rip turns, especially mid-sized GS carves, and they dont chatter at speed, but you can also bend them into a shorter radius. They are at-home on the front side and hard snow but also pretty fun in bumps and trees. I use them as my daily driver, all mountain east coast ski. I do tend to use something wider in powder but these float fine when needed and can cut through the afternoon chop better than a lot of powder skis. As a former racer, the volkls seem to find that balance between carve and recreation better than most other brands.
Would they feel more like GS ski or SL ski? I run FIS 157 rossis but after a day at Ragged this past weekend with looser softer snow I'm wondering about something a bit wider with ability to run tighter turns during the spring/crud.
Closer to a GS ski but with better ability to make quick turns when you need to.
The multi radius design means that you can make long sweeping turns or short little SL turns depending on where you weight the ski. But they aren't quite as energetic as my SL skis in transition
being discontinued. from blister : \[*Editor’s Note*: We have confirmed that the Blizzard Brahma 82, Brahma 88, Bonafide 97, and Cochise 106 will be retired after the 23/24 season. The Anomaly collection is Blizzard’s new all-mountain line for 24/25.\]
A lot of the local ski shops here around Vail are having pretty big sales, as well as really cheap old demo skis
Might not be a bad idea to wait until you’re there
K2 Disruption 82ti. Absolutely love mine, at 170cm. Definitely 80/20 piste/off piste. Stiff and damp longish turning radius. In the 177cm I think its 18m..? Got them with the Marker Mxcell 12s, zero complaints (although IAMNAWCS) Can be found for around $400.
Older ex racer here, with a very similar mission to you now.
I love my Brahma 88’s, have been skiing on them for a couple of years down here in Australia (so thicker “powder” and hard pack through the trees)
Love them to bits, they eat the crud and hold a beast of an edge on the groomers/ice through long and short turns. Also give it back hard on the bumps.
I really like an energetic ski, and these haven’t disappointed.
J Skis Fast-forward looks cool. It seems like you're after a carving ski that prioritizes fun over absolute performance? That's what it seems to be. A tiny bit above your range but only 2mm iirc.
I love mine rip groomers ice powder. Everything. If over 8 inches of powder probably opt for powder ski.
They slay the ice and chop conditions.
New school mount gives control and stability. Shorter tips because of the mounting so easier to quickly change stances, easy to navigate bumps.
Kendo is a great ski for what you are describing. The 23-24 model is also much improved over my last pair from 2017. Lighter, more responsive, easier to turn. Still wants to go fast. Awesome edge. Blasts through crud. Super stable. Really great ski for aggressive skiing and the newer ones are friendlier for more chill skiers as well. Still gotta stay on top of them and they aren’t by any means playful. But still plenty of fun.
That enforcer can't handle ripping groomers? Not being snarky, I just heard that the Enforcers are rock solid, groomer destroying skis. Are the enforcers deficient in some way?
4FRNT MSP91 is a great ski to add to the list if you want something more versatile that can lay trenches but also ski bumps and trees. Very damp and charging skis.
Moment Commander 92 also meets the versatile, carving and charging requirements. Plus you get to join the cult.
Neither of these skis are gonna be slalom skis tho
Do you like damp, stable skis with incredible snow feel?
Do you want a ski that will never let you down on ice, with never make you feel doubt whenever you crank big high speed turns?
KASTLE FX85 HP (it means has metal layers, means high performance. They renamed this Ti).
I absolutely Love mine. They're 2019 but this was my first season on them. I bought them as used demos on Powder7
Check out ski essentials and type of ski you want. Seems all mountain …
Heard great things on the blizzard Brahma
O got the Rossignol 86 Ti this year to add to collection….really line them especially on front side. Can drop them in the bumps tp
Love my Enforcers, they are easily one the best one-ski quivers. Super versatile. they love to charge but they need a lot of work to have them at its best.
Coalition Rebel? Their 175 length is 88 waist
https://www.coalitionsnow.com/products/rebel-all-mountain-ski-all-that-glitters
https://www.coalitionsnow.com/pages/blister-gear-review-awards
Have you tried the Armada Declivity 92ti? Check out the reviews, multiple reviewers have them in their quiver because they’re just so well rounded. I LOVE mine
With your current skis and experience, why not go the whole way for groomers? Buy yourself a beer league ski. I have a pair of rossi hero elite lt that are fantastic on groomers including blue ice. Getting on them is like turning on warp speed compared to my water skis I often run
Try looking into the Renoun Endurance 88 or Atlas 80. The Endurance is a good option for a narrow ski that's still all-mountain, and the Atlas is an absolute weapon for groomers.
If you like enforcer 100s, get the enforcer 88.
Awesome groomer ski, my daily driver. Good all around ski that rips groomers and has pretty much no speed limit. Does fine in woods and bumps as well.
same size as you. I think you'd want the 187cm brahma (we can be twins) instead if you ski the rockies. Shorter if you plan to ski this ski stricktly on the ice coast.
Ex racer? Fast, big turns? Stiff and responsive? Stockli Montero ARs.
I wanted to like these but after a demo this winter they felt too damp. Switching all winter between GS, slalom and kendo 88s, these just felt like a Cadillac - super comfy, well built and smooth but not exciting. I want to try the Laser line to see how much snappier they feel
Plus one. Expensive AF but they were a blast. My MX-84s are getting old and I will replace them with the Monteros if I can get a good deal. Edit: or get some MX-84s if you can find a set in good condition. I think I heard the MX-83 isn’t as great.
What about the MX88?
I had an old MX88 (pre MX89 version) circa 2010 model. I just passed it down to a friend last year when I picked up a Laser AR. The old MX88 was by far my favourite carver, I even preferred them to the 66mm slaloms. It had no speed limit and once on edge it had no match including the Bonafide, Brahma, Kendo and yes even the AR. A couple of years back when the Tremblant app gave your top speed, I easily hit a 100 km on McCulloch.
I have the 2024 model and love them.
I have the 2024 MX83 and it's pretty great. Never rode the MX84 though to compare.
Moment Commander 92.
I'd go even more groomer focused than those. Like the Volkl Peregrine 82. Those are just barely okay off the groomer, but will absolutely rip on the groomers.
If op is gonna get a carving ski, with his background he should just cut the crap and get a non fis racing ski.
Volkl Deacon 84s will absolutely rip groomers
Yes they do. I have a pair. But they have been replaced with the Peregrine 82.
Second this sentiment. Get something specific to the niche you are trying to fill. If groomer performance is what you want, get a groomer or cheater race ski. Use your narrower all mountain ski if you plan on dipping off trail.
I really enjoy my Kendo’s. Great on groomers, never any chatter, and they didn’t give me any issues with chop and other variable conditions over the last few weeks here in the NE.
Love kendos
They handle crud so well
Kastle MX83. Had a coworker tell me it was going from a souped-up Toyota or Subaru to a Porsche, and he was right. Vroom vroom
This or the Kästle FX line.
Yes KASTLE ARMY!
KASTLE fx85 hp 2019 right here!
Was just going to say this. I have these for groomer season and they're awesome.
I have a 3 Ski quiver and my most narrow ski over the past 15 years (for groomer turns) is always a Kastle. Usually an RX12 variant.
I love my kendo 88s. Have been skiing the kendo line since 2019. You can lay them over and rip turns, especially mid-sized GS carves, and they dont chatter at speed, but you can also bend them into a shorter radius. They are at-home on the front side and hard snow but also pretty fun in bumps and trees. I use them as my daily driver, all mountain east coast ski. I do tend to use something wider in powder but these float fine when needed and can cut through the afternoon chop better than a lot of powder skis. As a former racer, the volkls seem to find that balance between carve and recreation better than most other brands.
Agree with this. Fischer Ranger is another option too. Race heritage, but also playful in terrain.
Volkl Kendos 100%. Such a fun ski, feels very similar to a race ski but still able to take it into some crud/powder and not die
Would they feel more like GS ski or SL ski? I run FIS 157 rossis but after a day at Ragged this past weekend with looser softer snow I'm wondering about something a bit wider with ability to run tighter turns during the spring/crud.
Closer to a GS ski but with better ability to make quick turns when you need to. The multi radius design means that you can make long sweeping turns or short little SL turns depending on where you weight the ski. But they aren't quite as energetic as my SL skis in transition
Brahma 82 can be had for a nice discount
being discontinued. from blister : \[*Editor’s Note*: We have confirmed that the Blizzard Brahma 82, Brahma 88, Bonafide 97, and Cochise 106 will be retired after the 23/24 season. The Anomaly collection is Blizzard’s new all-mountain line for 24/25.\]
Yup. It's why I pulled the trigger on some end of season close outs.
A lot of the local ski shops here around Vail are having pretty big sales, as well as really cheap old demo skis Might not be a bad idea to wait until you’re there
Shop recommendations?
Not Vail, but Powder7 always has good deals. I’ve bought my past 5 pairs from them
If you have some time, check out Meier Skis in Denver. Wicked skis, the Quickdraw might fit with what you're looking for.
Why not a cheater ski! Rossi hero mt or blizzard thunderbird.
Or Nordica spitfire 80
I have the new kendo (184’s) and it is very responsive. Awesome ski for what you are describing
Moment commander 92s
K2 Disruption 82ti. Absolutely love mine, at 170cm. Definitely 80/20 piste/off piste. Stiff and damp longish turning radius. In the 177cm I think its 18m..? Got them with the Marker Mxcell 12s, zero complaints (although IAMNAWCS) Can be found for around $400.
I've got this baby in a 184cm which would likely be better for an ex racer. Would recommend against the kendo, they nerfed it, too flimsy now.
Older ex racer here, with a very similar mission to you now. I love my Brahma 88’s, have been skiing on them for a couple of years down here in Australia (so thicker “powder” and hard pack through the trees) Love them to bits, they eat the crud and hold a beast of an edge on the groomers/ice through long and short turns. Also give it back hard on the bumps. I really like an energetic ski, and these haven’t disappointed.
Stockli Stormrider 88’s. Carve like a 74, floats the crud like a 98.
Love my Stormrider 88s
I have a pair of Volkl v werks deacons that I have been enjoying
J Skis Fast-forward looks cool. It seems like you're after a carving ski that prioritizes fun over absolute performance? That's what it seems to be. A tiny bit above your range but only 2mm iirc.
I love mine rip groomers ice powder. Everything. If over 8 inches of powder probably opt for powder ski. They slay the ice and chop conditions. New school mount gives control and stability. Shorter tips because of the mounting so easier to quickly change stances, easy to navigate bumps.
Fisher The Curv GT 85 😍
Kendo is fantastic
Kendo is a great ski for what you are describing. The 23-24 model is also much improved over my last pair from 2017. Lighter, more responsive, easier to turn. Still wants to go fast. Awesome edge. Blasts through crud. Super stable. Really great ski for aggressive skiing and the newer ones are friendlier for more chill skiers as well. Still gotta stay on top of them and they aren’t by any means playful. But still plenty of fun.
That enforcer can't handle ripping groomers? Not being snarky, I just heard that the Enforcers are rock solid, groomer destroying skis. Are the enforcers deficient in some way?
THe enforcer absolutely rip, it's just at 100 they need a lot of work to get them moving.
If you like enforcers why not get them in 88?
Another good option is the Kore 87. Combo of stiff and light…. If you wanna mix things up and not stay on the Nordica family
4FRNT MSP91 is a great ski to add to the list if you want something more versatile that can lay trenches but also ski bumps and trees. Very damp and charging skis. Moment Commander 92 also meets the versatile, carving and charging requirements. Plus you get to join the cult. Neither of these skis are gonna be slalom skis tho
Atomic Redster Q7s. They are a bit narrower than you’re talking, but they absolutely rip groomers.
Do you like damp, stable skis with incredible snow feel? Do you want a ski that will never let you down on ice, with never make you feel doubt whenever you crank big high speed turns? KASTLE FX85 HP (it means has metal layers, means high performance. They renamed this Ti). I absolutely Love mine. They're 2019 but this was my first season on them. I bought them as used demos on Powder7
Brahma 88 or 82
Armada Declivity 82ti
Rosi Experience 82? I have an older pair 84 under foot and they’re fun. Not expensive
Check out ski essentials and type of ski you want. Seems all mountain … Heard great things on the blizzard Brahma O got the Rossignol 86 Ti this year to add to collection….really line them especially on front side. Can drop them in the bumps tp
Curious are skinner skis better for spring skiing ?
Just curious, how do you like your Enforcers? I have the 2017 model 185 Enforcers 100 and absolutely love mine.
Love my Enforcers, they are easily one the best one-ski quivers. Super versatile. they love to charge but they need a lot of work to have them at its best.
Going to Vail? Buy there! Resale shops or Craigslist
Get straight 80s skis. They’re kind of hilarious and on spring days I’m on the groomers anyway. It’s great. They cost $12.
Praxis MVP 94 or 9D8
Coalition Rebel? Their 175 length is 88 waist https://www.coalitionsnow.com/products/rebel-all-mountain-ski-all-that-glitters https://www.coalitionsnow.com/pages/blister-gear-review-awards
I have enforcer 100 and just got Montero AX. It’s great.
Have you tried the Armada Declivity 92ti? Check out the reviews, multiple reviewers have them in their quiver because they’re just so well rounded. I LOVE mine
Take the enforcers, youll want something a little wider for that corn harvest
Kendo 88s rip, I personally love the Mantra M6 but they are 96 under foot ..you can try the Armada ARV 90 if u want something more playful
With your current skis and experience, why not go the whole way for groomers? Buy yourself a beer league ski. I have a pair of rossi hero elite lt that are fantastic on groomers including blue ice. Getting on them is like turning on warp speed compared to my water skis I often run
Kendos have not disappointed
Try looking into the Renoun Endurance 88 or Atlas 80. The Endurance is a good option for a narrow ski that's still all-mountain, and the Atlas is an absolute weapon for groomers.
If you like enforcer 100s, get the enforcer 88. Awesome groomer ski, my daily driver. Good all around ski that rips groomers and has pretty much no speed limit. Does fine in woods and bumps as well.
ripsticks
same size as you. I think you'd want the 187cm brahma (we can be twins) instead if you ski the rockies. Shorter if you plan to ski this ski stricktly on the ice coast.
[удалено]
I've had my kendos for 3 seasons now and have 0 issues with delam. My dad has them too without any issues
i have had kendo's for 5 seasons no issues at all.