SquidWeaselYay
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
So I'm drooling over the Ripstick, but I'm having a lot of trouble finding reviews from "real" women skiers about it. Anybody here have this one?
Funny you mention the Amphibio; I demoed the 80 yesterday along with the Head Monster 83. I found them both to have lousy edge grip. So much so that I wondered if the shop deliberately detuned its demos. Granted, I had been ripping around happily on a Volkl Kendo all morning, so the bar for edge grip was set pretty high, but still, I was really surprised how un-fun both skis were. This was on PA hardpack, fwiw.
(I'm not looking to buy skis, but I'm new to the sport and I like to demo when the opportunity is there, just to get a feel for different ski types and create a sort of frame of reference).
You are looking for skis for PA and the northeast, yes? Would help to know your stats.Most of what is available to me at my home mountain is PA hardback or man-made, wax-eating snow, haha! Thanks for the replies. I'm trying to decide between the Elan Ripstick and the black pearls, based on reviews alone (demo opportunities are...underwhelming...around here), since I don't want to wait till the end of March when I go to Vermont. BP has a lot of good testimony, but it seems all the skiers I know who are die-hard are trading in their Brahmas and such for ripsticks. Right now, I have Line Celebrity, and I am overpowering the everloving crap out of them in a 152. However, going to a 163 in the ripstick seems like a mammoth jump.
Most of what is available to me at my home mountain is PA hardback or man-made, wax-eating snow, haha! Thanks for the replies. I'm trying to decide between the Elan Ripstick and the black pearls, based on reviews alone (demo opportunities are...underwhelming...around here), since I don't want to wait till the end of March when I go to Vermont. BP has a lot of good testimony, but it seems all the skiers I know who are die-hard are trading in their Brahmas and such for ripsticks. Right now, I have Line Celebrity, and I am overpowering the everloving crap out of them in a 152. However, going to a 163 in the ripstick seems like a mammoth jump.
I'm 5'1", muscular, 127lbs. Aggressive advanced. Ski Roundtop demo day is February 12th, but I've heard that the pickings are slim there too. I have used more narrow, East coast style skis in the past, but for some reason I keep enjoying the wider skis more. I like yhe playfulness of an all mountain ski. Maybe they will have some 159 BPS or the Viva on the upcoming demo day...I can hope!
I'm 5'1", muscular, 127lbs. Aggressive advanced. Ski Roundtop demo day is February 12th, but I've heard that the pickings are slim there too. I have used more narrow, East coast style skis in the past, but for some reason I keep enjoying the wider skis more. I like yhe playfulness of an all mountain ski. Maybe they will have some 159 BPS or the Viva on the upcoming demo day...I can hope!
Are you considering the Elan Ripstick 94W? I am not familiar with the ski - some reviews said it held a good edge, but it got docked by onthesnow for bad carving performance. They make a men's/unisex Ripstick 86, but I cannot find anything on it.
I have the Blizzard Viva 810 ti iq - it is 81mm under foot and the 2015 version of the Viva X8 (2016). The new one for 2017 is called the Blizzard Quattro 80 ti and is now 80mm under foot. Wish they could stick with one name! I believe the X8 and the Quattro are a bit softer than mine (they are rated Stiff as opposed to Very Stiff). I do not find my version versatile (they are not a bump ski for me), but they kill it on the groomers, especially on icy hardpack. With the softening up they are likely more playful and a solid choice for east coast. Would definitely keep the Quattro on a demo list.
I only had a short demo in soft conditions, and was skiing it too short, but you may want to add the Armada Victa 87ti to the list. I had a blast on it and want to demo it again in firmer conditions. I read a review that called it the "Kenja killer"...supposed to be more playful, but still holds a great edge.
With where you ski, I think you would be happier with something other than the BP as your one ski quiver.
Thanks for the suggestions! I've been reading some reviews of the victa, looks impressive. Did that ski feel heavy to you, or average?
Yes, I demoed them among other skis while at Snowbird. I am so in love with them that I will be buying a pair even though I don't need them. so if you wear them the correct way (left of left, right on right) they were great in bumps, trees and carving, and if you flip them, they handled powder pretty well. What I loved about them is how steady they were and how much play they had, they were everything my Black Pearl's don't have. I did meet people who did not like them, so you need to demo them. They are not an east coast carving ski, and they do just ok in crud. I would say they are a great West Coast mixed snow ski.So I'm drooling over the Ripstick, but I'm having a lot of trouble finding reviews from "real" women skiers about it. Anybody here have this one?