Bros and Praxis - Whats a diva to do?

[SnowHot]

I have seriously been considering getting a Bro. After two threads, one on epic and one on TGR, and some significant research, I have nearly decided to get the 174 soft, which will be available in a few weeks, according to Splat.

I have a demo time set up with marshalolson in Denver when I visit in a few weeks, but he only has the stiffs at this time.

Then I get this message from someone who says, I should try the praxis.

Am I mistaken, or is the Praxis overkill for Michigan?
I mean, I'll be skiing west two or three times a year, but I think the bro would do it for me and be skiable here in Michigan too.
Whadaya think?

 

[altagirl]

Maybe (a real big maybe) you'd like the Praxis in bumps. Depending on your bump style - if you like smearing down the backs of bumps - they smear and pivot extremely well. I'm not a big fan of bumps on any skis, but these work pretty well in soft bumps. I think if I skied bumps more, I feel like I'd really get used to them and like them there even more... but why ski bumps if you don't have to?? ;)

That said - not particularly fun on groomers unless they're soft (which I don't remember much of in MI). Bordering on extremely un-fun in icy conditions... unless you just want to practice sliding sideways. It's been... ahem, 20 years since I skied in Michigan. So maybe I'm not remembering all that vividly, but I don't think there's a whole lot of use for the Praxis there (well other than Mt. Bohemia, I'd guess).

I really like the Praxis best in windbuff, untracked powder, etc. They're excellent in crud, provided you want to go fast. The more you want to finish the turn (i.e. make really round turns) the more work they are in deep crud. Which makes it a little tough on my knees when I want to go slower, compared to a ski with regular sidecut. If my knees are feeling strong, they feel great all the time. When my knees feel like crap, they feel fantastic in consistent snow and then I start to want regular sidecut skis when it's all cruddy. I'm not sure how this applies to healthy-kneed people... ;)

Not sure how much that helps! But Bro's would definintely be more of an all-purpose ski that would have a lot more use in MI. And try the stiffs - they're not ridiculously stiff anyway.

 

[SnowHot]

You nailed my thinking on all points.

It would be different if I were promised powder.......deeeeeeep powder every time I go west.
If I run into that, I could rent or demo something in the praxis category.

The bro should be a ton of fun.
Can't hardly wait to hook up with Marsha in a few weeks!