 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi.
I am 50 YO guy, 180cm tall, 77kg and at intermediate level. I like going fast, with long turns, ideally on well groomed pistes.
My current skis are a 174cm K2 AMP Velocity and these suit me quite well. They are, however, pretty much useless when you swerve outside the piste. I also feel it is about time I reduce my speed a bit, try to find some fun outside the groomers and spend a few quid to get something more contemporary and different.
Of course I will keep the K2's but I am after an all mountain ski with fairly wide waist which also has to be really reliable on hardpack.
Oh, and did I mention that I am not prepared to spend a lot. 
I can get a Dynastar M-FREE 99 at a really fabulous price. The trouble is they only have it in 171cm. Testers and owners are suggesting length close to your height or taller. Considering this and my skiing style I would have bought the 179 or even the 185 length but these aren't available.
So, after such a long intro my question is: Do you reckon an 8-10cm length difference would actually affect my skiing? As I said, I like going fast and stability is far more important for me than playfulness, manoeuvrability and so on.
Other options I am considering are:
Salomon QST 94 in 180
Rossi Sender Soul 92 (will have to decide between 176 and 184 cm)
Black Crows Serpo, Captis or Camox in 175-180cm
To be honest I would have bought the latter in a heartbeat if it wasn't a bit above my budget... but not by much.
I am going on a skiing trip in a month, so have some time to make up my mind. Is it worth it waiting a bit longer for discounts and end of season sales or I shall just pull the trigger now in your opinion?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I'd feel the 171cm are a little short, as you already mentioned too.
For me, centred around a 90mm waist ski is more optimal, and certainly given your description of stats and ski terrain you inhabit.
Have a look at this https://www.skitalk.com/threads/2025-kastle-mx88.35012/ review, more as part of discussion in ski type and that width. They're more expensive, but consequently often in clearance stock/sale which brings them into very good value for what you get.
That 88mm to 95mm area seems to bring designs and attribute list from many manufacturers that hold onto very strong piste performance, with additional competence into less piste focus blend being strong too. Moving more to 100mm skis as generality often a bigger shift toward off piste focus, with usually a less truly rounded on piste calibration/design requirement.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Galfonso, skis do not know how tall you are ...
As a punt, you might do worse than @harvey13's Mantras? https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/posting.php at £450 a bit of a bargain. Might think, maybe, about upgrading the bindings, but otherwise...
I got the M7s earlier in the season and find them delightful. Although I'm a mere 62kgs.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| under a new name wrote: |
@Galfonso, skis do not know how tall you are ...
As a punt, you might do worse than @harvey13's Mantras? https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/posting.php at £450 a bit of a bargain. Might think, maybe, about upgrading the bindings, but otherwise...
I got the M7s earlier in the season and find them delightful. Although I'm a mere 62kgs. |
The link does not seem to be working.
I hope I am not offending anyone but these days I insist on buying stuff from businesses with European ownership and unfortunately Volkl isn't.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It took some digging to find that Volkl's parent company is in the US! Do you have a list of manufacturers you would consider? It would save a bit of time.....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Galfonso, I am afraid my sensitivities aren't that robust! They are very fine skis, made in Germany ...
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| Galfonso wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
@Galfonso, skis do not know how tall you are ...
As a punt, you might do worse than @harvey13's Mantras? https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/posting.php at £450 a bit of a bargain. Might think, maybe, about upgrading the bindings, but otherwise...
I got the M7s earlier in the season and find them delightful. Although I'm a mere 62kgs. |
The link does not seem to be working.
I hope I am not offending anyone but these days I insist on buying stuff from businesses with European ownership and unfortunately Volkl isn't. |
You’ll need to throw out your K2’s and forget about Salomon / Atomic (Chinese).
The Mantras are at least made in Germany
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=5545918&highlight=#5545918
Try Kastle, Stockli, Blizzard, Faction, Black Crow, Dynastar, Rossignol for Euro owned
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@Galfonso, would you not consider that buying second hand largely eliminates the ownership not being based where you would like? Volkl, and their parent company, would only benefit very indirectly from you purchasing Harvey13's mantras.
Not that I'm saying that you should necessarily buy them, read some reviews first, they are clearly not for everyone including Harvey13
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Galfonso, you could also try Head Kore 94ti (think they are still a Euro company). I skied them for a couple of days in January and found them to be great, particularly at speed. If you can get past the Chinese ownership (of Salomon), the new QSTs are superb. Even the QST 100 is excellent on piste.
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FWIW. I would also agree that 170 is a bit short....I think that 175 to 177 is theoretically the size to be looking at....especially if looking to ski between the Pistes and like skiing a bit faster.
IME. Personal preference and ski construction play a part in choosing ski length. If the ski is lighter and more playful, then you can go longer; if the ski is damp with metal in its construction, then you can go a little shorter than recommended.
As an Intermediate, spending most of your time On Piste (85%?), then IMO you would be better with a Piste focused AM ski, which would give a bit more versatility than a dedicated Piste ski while helping to get to grips with carving.
I think you should consider something between 82 to 88 undefoot, with the sweet spot probably being 86.
Ideally, it's best to try different options to see where your preferences lie....anyway, we all have our own view and I have laid out mine.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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At your stats (not too dissimilar to mine) have you considered the Blizzard anomaly? I kept seeing recommendations everywhere I looked and got a set, they've been incredible and the build quality is out of this world. I sized down and have been happy with that choice.
Watch out with QST build quality, you'll find some pictures in my old thread. They apparently ski nicely though!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@ damanpunk
Yes, I have and this is one of the options. They are harder and heavier than the DYNASTAR M-FREE 90 and which I am also considering. The fact that they aren'tt a twin tip is a big plus for me. I don't know why but I hesitate to get twin tips. 
I keep changing my mind every day, I just need to pull the trigger and get something.
Thank you all for the great advices!
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@ BobinCH
Oh, I thought Amer Sport was still Finnish. Thanks for the info!
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You know it makes sense.
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@ Old Fartbag
Yes, I am sure this is what I actually NEED but at the same time I am after something quite different from my piste skis while at the same time suitable for my style and level. Not too light and or flexible, ideally not twin tip, with a width of approx. 90mm so I can use it outside the piste, length 175-180cm...
Great username by the way! 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Galfonso, I was thinking that in reality, you would end up using one set of skis. If you want something that is primarily for softer conditions, I think I'd look at around 100 underfoot.
However, I wouldn't take a punt on going that wide without trying something first - as it may not suit you when On Piste.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Galfonso, I think from what you say about your skiing, 171cm is a bit too short for an all mountain ski. I'd wait for the next size up rather than chase a bargain.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Galfonso, I have the last model of the legends, before Dynastar re-labeled them as M series, legend 84 underfoot in 177, so a little narrower than you are looking at. I am the same height as you but, ahem, a tad heavier. They are perfect for me, excellent on piste and off the sides and through crud, I just love them. I would concur that the longer length would suit you better.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I had Blizzard Anomaly 94s in a 176 length on hire in Alps recently.
Superb skis, bashed through anything, quick too. I'm an experienced skier who like a one ski fits all. Skis shorter on piste due to the rocker but lots of lift in softer snow, chop and crud. Could do a lot worse!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Klammertime, I have to say that Mrs U and I both tried the Anomaly 94s at the start of the season and really disliked them.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@ dunc999
Well, I just pulled the trigger and got the Black Crows Camox in 175.
I guess I will regret for a while not buying the Dynastar M-Free 90 in 177cm which I was one click away from buying, not least because it was significantly cheaper. I also find it really stylish with this simplified look . But eventually I decided to go for the wider, more rigid, heavier BC which has a great un-simplified design.
Thank you very much guys, I really appreciated your advice.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Galfonso, Come back and tell us what you think.
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