One quiver ski for resort and touring in Sierras

[Michellezil]

TLDR: looking for a one quiver resort/touring hybrid ski 80/20% for an advanced intermediate skier prioritizing stability and control in Sierra conditions and getting more comfortable going off piste in the resort too.

Hello, new diva here! After 15 years away from skiing, I am back and entering my next ski era in the west and am stoked! Mammoth is my home mountain. I am coming off of K2 T-Nine Tru Luv skis with a 74 waist and 158 length that was great for me skiing east coast nearly 20 years ago - my first and only pair of skis that I bought as a teenager. Now I’m 35, 5’8”, 170 lbs.

I plan to ski 80% resort and 20% touring and am looking for one ski for both. I know, not ideal but don’t have the budget for two set ups at the moment.

At the resort I ski groomers confidently with the exception of super steep drops and I am growing into skiing off piste and in the trees a bit, slowly gaining confidence here. The other day at Mammoth in exceptional conditions I was probably 30/70 groomers/off piste. In poor snow conditions I may stick to groomers more. I am still working on my technique, I often end up in the backseat and can wash out my turns when feeling intimidated. But actively working on it! I’ve only skiied a handful of days so far. Although zipping down a blue groomer is super fun, I don’t need to prioritize skiing fast, my priority is feeling stable and in control in the heavy snow we often have here, not getting pushed around. I want to feel more confident off piste.

My touring is pretty beginner/intermediate low angle stuff. Last year had fun out at Mary Lake all day. I was renting Elan Ripstick 94 161s and the weight felt great but I did feel like the softer wet spring snow made it hard to control turns on the downhill and I was sinking a little. Might be just poor technique but from my research I think I might feel more stable and in control with something wider and longer.

On the resort I demoed DPS Pagoda Tour 100 in 163 length and enjoyed them more than the Dynafit Radical 97 in 163 (I chose these because they were available as rent to buy in the shop, but ultimately I was concerned the length may be too short). I would consider the Pagodas if I could get a better deal, as I did like how they skied. Both were fitted with Dynafit Radical tech bindings.

Below are some I’ve been considering, interested to hear thoughts or any other options I should consider. I am leaning toward the Santa Ana Unlimiteds but there aren’t too many reviews available on them and it looks like they were discontinued after 2024. There are still a few available. I am wondering if they would be suitable for Sierra conditions.

I’m also hoping for some advice on an appropriate length for my needs and skills.

Nordica Santa Ana 104 Unlimited (165 or 172)
Blizzard Sheeva 10 (168 or 174) - sound like would be good for stability in my conditions but possibly too heavy for touring, especially in the 174?
Vokyl Blaze 94 or 104 (165 or 172)
Atomic Maven 103 CTI (162 or 170)
Line Pandora 106 (169)
Black Diamond Impulse TI 104 (165, 172).

I still have to do more research on bindings but am thinking of a hybrid binding. I just bought Scarpa Gea boots that I demoed and they worked well for me on the resort. Maybe at some point when I advance more I will want the option for a stiffer boot for the resort. It will be hard to go back from the comfort though.

Thank you for any advice!

 

[Briski]

Elan Ripstick Tour (104)? Very light yet stable . I have one pair of Ripstick 106 mounted tour and another pair mounted alpine. I think the binding and boot set up is the harder peice of the puzzle. When I quit telemarking I thought I was going to have a single hybrid setup that did everything. It didn’t really work out for me - hence two pairs of Ripsticks, and two pairs of boots. I love the ski. Also keep in mind the releasability of the tech bindings may be reduced compared to alpine bindings (without comment on specific models).

 

[santacruz skier]

paging @Rainbow Jenny

 

[snow crawler]

TLDR: looking for a one quiver resort/touring hybrid ski 80/20% for an advanced intermediate skier prioritizing stability and control in Sierra conditions and getting more comfortable going off piste in the resort too.

Hello, new diva here! After 15 years away from skiing, I am back and entering my next ski era in the west and am stoked! Mammoth is my home mountain. I am coming off of K2 T-Nine Tru Luv skis with a 74 waist and 158 length that was great for me skiing east coast nearly 20 years ago - my first and only pair of skis that I bought as a teenager. Now I’m 35, 5’8”, 170 lbs.

I plan to ski 80% resort and 20% touring and am looking for one ski for both. I know, not ideal but don’t have the budget for two set ups at the moment.

At the resort I ski groomers confidently with the exception of super steep drops and I am growing into skiing off piste and in the trees a bit, slowly gaining confidence here. The other day at Mammoth in exceptional conditions I was probably 30/70 groomers/off piste. In poor snow conditions I may stick to groomers more. I am still working on my technique, I often end up in the backseat and can wash out my turns when feeling intimidated. But actively working on it! I’ve only skiied a handful of days so far. Although zipping down a blue groomer is super fun, I don’t need to prioritize skiing fast, my priority is feeling stable and in control in the heavy snow we often have here, not getting pushed around. I want to feel more confident off piste.

My touring is pretty beginner/intermediate low angle stuff. Last year had fun out at Mary Lake all day. I was renting Elan Ripstick 94 161s and the weight felt great but I did feel like the softer wet spring snow made it hard to control turns on the downhill and I was sinking a little. Might be just poor technique but from my research I think I might feel more stable and in control with something wider and longer.

On the resort I demoed DPS Pagoda Tour 100 in 163 length and enjoyed them more than the Dynafit Radical 97 in 163 (I chose these because they were available as rent to buy in the shop, but ultimately I was concerned the length may be too short). I would consider the Pagodas if I could get a better deal, as I did like how they skied. Both were fitted with Dynafit Radical tech bindings.

Below are some I’ve been considering, interested to hear thoughts or any other options I should consider. I am leaning toward the Santa Ana Unlimiteds but there aren’t too many reviews available on them and it looks like they were discontinued after 2024. There are still a few available. I am wondering if they would be suitable for Sierra conditions.

I’m also hoping for some advice on an appropriate length for my needs and skills.

Nordica Santa Ana 104 Unlimited (165 or 172)
Blizzard Sheeva 10 (168 or 174) - sound like would be good for stability in my conditions but possibly too heavy for touring, especially in the 174?
Vokyl Blaze 94 or 104 (165 or 172)
Atomic Maven 103 CTI (162 or 170)
Line Pandora 106 (169)
Black Diamond Impulse TI 104 (165, 172).

I still have to do more research on bindings but am thinking of a hybrid binding. I just bought Scarpa Gea boots that I demoed and they worked well for me on the resort. Maybe at some point when I advance more I will want the option for a stiffer boot for the resort. It will be hard to go back from the comfort though.

Thank you for any advice!

 

[snow crawler]

As a thought you might want to try the Nordica Unleashed 98. They are twin tipped and not too heavy. They offer a great platform for your base of stability. They offer great edge control for carving without vibration at the shovel and handle off piste, powder well. Size down to 165 as you can push it and it will hold with stability.
When you find yourself in the back seat, usually hands are down and knees are not flexed, try keeping your hands forward and drop your hip on the turn initiation that will help you maintain your athletic stance and center of mass over the ski.

 

[Aerlind]

I have a pair of SA Unlimiteds, the 93 width. Currently downhill-only (I'm baaaaaarely dipping my toe into AT and haven't jumped in yet, but I foresee a future where these get AT bindings). Thus, all of my comments below are based on resort runs, and I ski in Montana (so typical Western Rocky Mountain snow, lighter than Sierra snow, except in springtime)

Pros: They're easy to maneuver. They SHINE in powder, and float pretty well for a relatively narrow-for-powder ski. They're light so I don't tire as easily. They turn pretty quickly off-piste, though part of that is they're 5cm shorter than my other downhill skis (Also Santa Anas, but the metal version), so I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. They're fine on groomers as long as the snow is not too firm (see below).

Cons (and why I own the metal-containing version, which I purchased about a year after the Unlimiteds): They have a speed limit. I find they get SUPER chattery and unstable on firm snow at faster speeds: 30mph (per my GPS) is the fastest I'm comfortable on them, which is really not THAT fast if you're really trying to rip down a groomer. They're AWFUL on hard packed ice, and they don't drive very well if the snow is very heavy/wet OR very frozen/chunky (crud/death cookies/chicken heads).

So basically, and predictably, they excel in the conditions they were made for: softer, deeper snow. They do well enough in spring corn/softer spring snow, but if it gets heavy and mashed-potatoey, they struggle (which, most things do...). They don't do well on firm/icy snow or charging through crud. Not the worst one-ski-quiver choice, but there's a reason I have two skis in my quiver.

As an aside, I've done a couple of sidecountry boot packs with my metal Santa Anas, and they are HEAVY. They did fine on the downhill, but lugging them up wasn't the most fun and I found myself wishing for the "pink skis" (the unlimiteds). However, if I'm travelling and can only take one pair of skis and conditions are variable/unknown, I'll grab the metal ones, because the stability (and associated confidence I have) on questionable stuff is worth the extra weight, and the metal ones do very well in the soft/powder/etc that the Unlimiteds shine in.

 

[Verve]

This may be your plan but joining others in recommending you opt for a Salomon / Atomic Shift binding for your hybrid setup (or the much more costly ATK Hy). This may be your plan I see a ton of issues with folks skiing the lighter tech bindings on resort - aside from the skiability of these bindings on hardpack (poor), and limited release dimensions which make them a less safe option, they aren't designed for the wear & tear of resort laps.

Sheevas would be totally tourable and are in the same weight class with a hybrid ski like the Volkl Blaze 104 - you won't love them on long tours, but the 80% you spend on resort may outweigh that . I think the Sheeva is an excellent ski for those looking to progress in bumps and trees. Ditto with the Blaze but I think the stiffer core of the ski gives the Sheevas a bit of an edge in chop and hardpack conditions. If you get into touring, expect to get a lighter setup within a few years so make sure this ski is one you love for resort

 

[Michellezil]

As a thought you might want to try the Nordica Unleashed 98. They are twin tipped and not too heavy. They offer a great platform for your base of stability. They offer great edge control for carving without vibration at the shovel and handle off piste, powder well. Size down to 165 as you can push it and it will hold with stability.
When you find yourself in the back seat, usually hands are down and knees are not flexed, try keeping your hands forward and drop your hip on the turn initiation that will help you maintain your athletic stance and center of mass over the ski.

Thank you! I’ve been working on hands out in front but haven’t tried the hip drop for turn initiation yet, I’ll try that too

 

[Michellezil]

Thank you @Aerlind for your detailed review of your SA Unlimiteds and comparison with the standard version! Super helpful!

And thank you @Verve for the thoughts on Sheeva vs Blaze. I was really leaning toward Sheeva too but ultimately decided the weight might making touring less fun. Perhaps I’ll demo Sheeva 9s for resort next year, they seem like a great choice.

Ultimately I ended up going with the SA Unlimited 104s in 165, with the Tyrolia Attack 11 Hybrid binding to have the security downhill.

Maybe in a couple years I will buy a resort dedicated ski and used the Unlimiteds for touring only or powdery days. Then I’ll have time to do some demo days of resort skis too and have some more days skiing in various conditions under my belt to see what I really want to prioritize. I’m generally inclined to wait for a storm to come through to drive up to Mammoth anyway, so *hopefully* will have a higher percentage of soft snow than super hard pack icy snow days, and the Unlimiteds will still be fun at the resort for a while!

 

[Rainbow Jenny]

I don’t have any experience hybrid setup, have enough days for both alpine and touring to have dedicated skis and boots.

Sounds like OP is all set with SA Unlimited 104, have fun and let us know how you like them!

 

[HuntersEmma57]

I have a pair of SA Unlimiteds, the 93 width. Currently downhill-only (I'm baaaaaarely dipping my toe into AT and haven't jumped in yet, but I foresee a future where these get AT bindings). Thus, all of my comments below are based on resort runs, and I ski in Montana (so typical Western Rocky Mountain snow, lighter than Sierra snow, except in springtime)

Pros: They're easy to maneuver. They SHINE in powder, and float pretty well for a relatively narrow-for-powder ski. They're light so I don't tire as easily. They turn pretty quickly off-piste, though part of that is they're 5cm shorter than my other downhill skis (Also Santa Anas, but the metal version), so I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. They're fine on groomers as long as the snow is not too firm (see below).

Cons (and why I own the metal-containing version, which I purchased about a year after the Unlimiteds): They have a speed limit. I find they get SUPER chattery and unstable on firm snow at faster speeds: 30mph (per my GPS) is the fastest I'm comfortable on them, which is really not THAT fast if you're really trying to rip down a groomer. They're AWFUL on hard packed ice, and they don't drive very well if the snow is very heavy/wet OR very frozen/chunky (crud/death cookies/chicken heads).

So basically, and predictably, they excel in the conditions they were made for: softer, deeper snow. They do well enough in spring corn/softer spring snow, but if it gets heavy and mashed-potatoey, they struggle (which, most things do...). They don't do well on firm/icy snow or charging through crud. Not the worst one-ski-quiver choice, but there's a reason I have two skis in my quiver.

As an aside, I've done a couple of sidecountry boot packs with my metal Santa Anas, and they are HEAVY. They did fine on the downhill, but lugging them up wasn't the most fun and I found myself wishing for the "pink skis" (the unlimiteds). However, if I'm travelling and can only take one pair of skis and conditions are variable/unknown, I'll grab the metal ones, because the stability (and associated confidence I have) on questionable stuff is worth the extra weight, and the metal ones do very well in the soft/powder/etc that the Unlimiteds shine in.

Voilé skis are made in Utah for the backcountry - very light, agile, and stunning off piste performance. I have alpine bindings on their Superchargers, V8s and V6s. The V8s shine in really deep powder. The Supercharger is my go-to ski off piste in UT, WY.

 

[beane]

Voilé skis are made in Utah for the backcountry - very light, agile, and stunning off piste performance. I have alpine bindings on their Superchargers, V8s and V6s. The V8s shine in really deep powder. The Supercharger is my go-to ski off piste in UT, WY.

Glad to hear this. I got the hyper v8 for Japan and am excited to try them!

 

[HuntersEmma57]

Glad to hear this. I got the hyper v8 for Japan and am excited to try them!

Congratulations! I eagerly await your assessment! We just got back from Grand Targhee - tons of snow blown into the trees made for bottomless and the V8s were perfect even where it was tracked up - the wind was blowing enough to reboot the runs.

Super envious and smiling for you. Happy travels!

 

[beane]

Congratulations! I eagerly await your assessment! We just got back from Grand Targhee - tons of snow blown into the trees made for bottomless and the V8s were perfect even where it was tracked up - the wind was blowing enough to reboot the runs.

Super envious and smiling for you. Happy travels!

Ok these skis are awesome. Have done 2 short ish tours and then skied them at the resort in the afternoon and they were great on everything but ice—slush bumps, refrozen power, crusty stuff, I could even carve them on lower angle groomers. Very tempted to get some heavier/narrower ones as a resort ski.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

Ok these skis are awesome. Have done 2 short ish tours and then skied them at the resort in the afternoon and they were great on everything but ice—slush bumps, refrozen power, crusty stuff, I could even carve them on lower angle groomers. Very tempted to get some heavier/narrower ones as a resort ski.

Honestly, I feel sorry for anyone who has not skied Voilés and am delighted for you. The Superchargers are an awesome resort ski.

 

[Beckster]

This may be your plan but joining others in recommending you opt for a Salomon / Atomic Shift binding for your hybrid setup (or the much more costly ATK Hy). This may be your plan I see a ton of issues with folks skiing the lighter tech bindings on resort - aside from the skiability of these bindings on hardpack (poor), and limited release dimensions which make them a less safe option, they aren't designed for the wear & tear of resort laps.

Sheevas would be totally tourable and are in the same weight class with a hybrid ski like the Volkl Blaze 104 - you won't love them on long tours, but the 80% you spend on resort may outweigh that . I think the Sheeva is an excellent ski for those looking to progress in bumps and trees. Ditto with the Blaze but I think the stiffer core of the ski gives the Sheevas a bit of an edge in chop and hardpack conditions. If you get into touring, expect to get a lighter setup within a few years so make sure this ski is one you love for resort

I second this opinion

 

[VickiK]

@Michellezil - welcome to Ski Diva! I ski Mammoth too, maybe we can meet one of these days. I was there last week, conditions were great.

I used to have a ski similar to yours...the 2002 K2 T-9 all-mountain skis (158cm length, 76mm width). Now I'm on 2018 Fischer My Mtn 80 skis (159cm length, 79mm width). Maybe look into the Fischer Ranger line for a 80/20 downhill/touring setup. I'm guessing their Curv line would probably be too heavy for touring.