Whats the Skinny on the Fatties?

[trackbiker]

They groomed Olympian last night. First thing this AM I would've owned that bitch on my 84Pros

They groomed the lower part. Probably need a winch cat to get the top with that hard base underneath. It was all very carvable though. You still would have ripped it. I know I did with my 88 underfoot skis three times.

 

[sig]

I am 98 under foot. I mostly ski powder days or spring conditions. Love the float they have. Never really setting edges all day. If your ripping groomers all day 88 underfoot makes sense

 

[Ripitz]

@MarzNC posted a video in January about “Aging while skiing” which led me to, Olympic gold medalist, Debbie Armstrong’s YouTube channel. I’ve enjoyed watching a few of her videos. In one of them about fat skis she discusses what RA echoed which is using the right tool for the job. I think what timbly is saying about wishful thinking is spot on. People are buying skis based on the skiing they want do, not the skiing they actually do. I think this is also why you see people driving around in 4WD trucks that never get shifted out of 2WD or people commuting in traffic with a V8 when a 4 cylinder will do. As far as marketing goes I think the industry told us wide skis are necessary when in fact most people would be better off on something narrower. Below is a link to Debbie’s conversation about fat skis. Also, a video of Dr. Kim Hewson’s explanation of “Fat Ski Syndrome” which has some interesting scientific facts that unfortunately get lost to the sleepy music.

 

[JTG]

On my off-season shopping list is a pair of Ripstick 96 with a set of Salomon shift bindings.

Killer setup! I’ve got the Black Edition 96 with Shifts. Finally got them into powder, crud, and bumps this weekend and they just keep shining. Haven’t toured on them yet, hopefully next weekend….

 

[MarzNC]

Also depends on technique and experience in deeper snow, especially soft snow out west. When I started skiing with my ski buddy who knew have to ski powder and bumps on straight skis in high school in the 1970s, there had to be a LOT of fresh snow for him to break out his 100+ powder skis. Another friend took a great pic of him in thigh deep snow at Snowbird a while back. I knew he was skiing his all-mountain skis that day because he thought the powder was already tracked out. I was on 112mm DPS skis that day because I needed the extra float given my skiing ability in deep snow at the time. His daily driver is 90mm I think.

I'm a petite woman and the all-mountain skis I bought five years ago are 85 underfoot. By then I'd become a solid advanced skier with the help of mileage and lessons. I use those skis in knee deep snow with no problem. Had a good time in thigh deep at Grand Targhee when it was really fluffy. Didn't own powder skis yet and didn't want to bother renting demo skis that day.

For skiing in the northeast, I would not want skis wider than my all-mountain skis. For that matter, I bought skis that were 78 underfoot for eastern skiing. Easier to turn and lighter to carry from the parking lot.

 

[tirolski]

84 RTM Volkls seem to work.
Just stay on em, front of the boot.

 

[raisingarizona]

The Kendos are rocket ships. Scary fast on groomed. I can ski em in bumps and trees but they hold me back a lot.

 

[tirolski]

RA ya could decorate the top sheet of those with the framed water color scene.
Looks like they've been primed for it.

 

[Bandit]

I’ve got too many pairs of skis to count, but the last few years I’ve mostly only skied on my Blizzard Rustler 9 at 94 under foot. The partial sheet of medal combined with the tip rocker makes them good at planing up in deeper snow, and the metal underfoot makes them have some power for carving.

I have Rustler 11s that I break out when it’s real deep, but I’ve had the 9s in 20+ inches and they do fine. I think a waist width in the 90s is prett versatile these days.

 

[Benny Profane]

Wider tip rockers help a lot.