mountian girl seeks ski advice

[lil mountain girl]

Hello!
I'm new to this site and I first wanted to say thanks to all the chickas who rock it in the snow and run and contribute to this great site.

Now to more important matters . . .
I'm wondering if anyone could offer advise/reviews on some skis as I've decided to upgrade my skis next season.

I'm 5'7" and about 140lbs, and my skiing ability is in the advanced/expert realm and is still evolving. I'm looking for a solid (wood core prefered!) ski for backcountry (touring) and ski-hill skiing . . . I know, I've got my work cut out for me!

One ski I'm leaning towards, but haven't had the chance to demo yet is the Movement "Black Rose".

Has anyone skied this ski? What conditions?

I'm also looking for any suggestions for skis . . . think steep, tight trees, steep chutes, variable snow conditions . . . light, stable, and solid skis . . . any ideas???

Cheers,
lil mountain girl

 

[altagirl]

I really wanted to buy the Black Rose this season. I LOVE that they're obviously making a ski geared towards advanced women, coming in longer lengths. Plus the graphics look cool, they felt nice on the shop floor...

That said, no one demos them. The shop said they're basically identical to the Movement Thunder, so I demoed that. Which, unfortunately, isn't my style. They felt like a center mounted type ski and wanted to swivel more than carve. They tracked beautifully on traverses, and absorbed shocks/bumps/etc very well. But they just felt a little weird to me. I finally determined that to get them to carve, I had to try to pressure the arch of my foot, and not my toes at all, which is odd to me. It meant I couldn't lean forward in my boots. And they just didn't feel all that stable compared to some other skis I tried. This might be solved by mounting them differently, but I couldn't adjust the bindings and therefore I really don't know. I ended up demoing several other skis and LOVED the Volkl Mantra and Head i.M.88, and bought the i.M.88s (they filled the hole in the quiver the best).

 

[lil mountain girl]

Volkl Mantra and Volkl Aura . . .
what are the specifics? how do they ski? stiff? soft? variable conditions? sizes?

Although the Aurora's supposed to be the women's specific version of the Mantra I've heard they're two completely different skis . . .

Thanks for the input!

 

[altagirl]

Volkl Mantra and Volkl Aura . . .
what are the specifics? how do they ski? stiff? soft? variable conditions? sizes?

Although the Aurora's supposed to be the women's specific version of the Mantra I've heard they're two completely different skis . . .

Thanks for the input!

I really don't know on the Auras either. I really wanted to demo those as well, but I wanted to buy the 177 and I could only find the 160 available to demo, which wouldn't even be close enough to guess what my length would ski like.

I've heard everything from identical to the Mantra, to one less sheet of metal, to a different core... I really don't know what the difference is. The Mantra is reasonably stiff, but it carves beautifully and breaks loose on command. Doesn't chatter and initiates turns very easily. I was thinking it would be too stiff, but once I demoed it, I didn't think that at all. So I'm not sure I neeed the Aura, but then again, I didn't get to ski it.

OH- and I should also mention on the Black Rose review, that you should take that into consideration that a lot of people do like center mounted types of skis - like Pocket Rockets, Line Motherships, etc. I don't like anything with that park ski design and forward mount. But a lot of people do. I didn't like the Head Mojo 90, which I know some people prefer to the i.M.88, but I just prefer a more traditional ski/mount point.

 

[Lori_K]

I demo'd the Auras earlier this season, and I liked them quite a bit. My current powder/off piste ski is the 165 Pocket Rocket, and I thought the Auras (in a 163) were as good as, and in some cases, better than the PRs. The Auras were lightweight (to carry), and easy to initiate turns on. Easier to smear turns in the powder, never felt like my tails were getting hung up. They also seemed a bit stiffer than the PR, which helped when the snow got cruddy at the end of the day. The Auras were great in the trees and steeps of Taos, and still willing to carve up some groomers. I'm thinking about buying them for next season.
At the same time, my hubby demo'd the Mantras, and he had some very similar comments (he also has PRs).
According to Volkl, the Aura is 20% lighter and 20% softer flex than the Mantra, but otherwise the tip/waist/tail specs are the same. I am 5'3" and 135 pounds, and like my skis 160-165cm.

 

[lil mountain girl]

OH- and I should also mention on the Black Rose review, that you should take that into consideration that a lot of people do like center mounted types of skis - like Pocket Rockets, Line Motherships, etc. I don't like anything with that park ski design and forward mount. But a lot of people do. I didn't like the Head Mojo 90, which I know some people prefer to the i.M.88, but I just prefer a more traditional ski/mount point.

I too prefer a more trad. mount for my skis . . . around here centre mounted skis just don't make sense.
I wonder what the Black Rose's would be like with a different mount?

hmmmm . . .

 

[Gloria]

look farther than Auras

I skied the aura's in the canadian backcountry and I was really dissappointed. I personally swear by volkls because they make a
solid, lively, ski that lasts longer than alot of others. I just didn't like this one. It may perform well in other snow conditions than very deep powder, I wouldn't know, but they were not as fun as others in the deep snow and I would look for one that had a bit more life in the powder if it were me.