The Day After: Battle of the 108 Waist Skis

[EWG]

I've got a bunch of these in my current quiver: Jeff 108s, Woods 108s, Deathwish 112.

I'd say they are very different skis. The Jeffs (and the Wildcats) are very multi-directional, surfy, buttery skis. You can carve them but that's not their jam. You ski them very upright.

The Woods and the DW are sort've tweeners - you can carve them but also throw them sideways and ground spin on them. You can ski them upright or lean into them. I like this category best for a DD. I can crank an edge or slarve/surfy depending on the snow and turn. I also have 108 Optic Blades which slide in to this category.

I have not skied your other choices.

Also, there's a weight/dampness/stiffness difference even within categories. I haven't measured it, but I think the DW (and Wildcat) is lighter than the Line Optics and Woods. They ski that way for sure. The Optic and Woods are about the same but way more of that weight is in the tips on the Woods. All that means the Woods are super damp and crush chomped up snow. The Optics have nice heft too but the tips and tails are lighter, quicker, but bounce around more. The Deathwish are interesting - they feel much lighter and flightier, but that tendency to drift and chatter is really modified by the triple camber. It's a super odd feeling - light, springy, chattery almost, but still always hooked up and ready to do what you tell it to do. I'm still getting used to it.

The Jeffs are also a heavy ski, great for crud busting, but still super super fun and playful, buttery and 360 degree focused. I think the Wildcats are more nimble and even more playful. I'd kind of like a pair but they might not have as much backbone as I like.

Hope any of that helps. By the way, the Optics, Deathwishes and Woods are all in the DD category for me. No need for fresh snow. As long as it's not bulletproof I'm happy on the Optics and Woods. The DW start to get a bit wide for that but the other two could easily be a quiver of one for the Rockies. Jeffs can also be a good quiver of one if you ski a super modern style.

And I'd be remiss not to mention the ski I really want to try - Folsom Cash 107. I think it's like a lighter, stiffer, more upright version of the Woodsman. Kind of a super charger, lighter, playful Line Optic. They used to cost a fortune but now they make non-custom version that Powder 7 sells for non 401k prices.

[SnowMachine]

I've skied the 184 Deathwish and 183 Hotshot a ton. The Hotshot wasn't enough ski for me. Same with the 183 Friend. Maybe the 189 would have gotten it done, but I felt like I folded the 183 up when mobbing chop. I sold mine. The Deathwish is stiff enough that it doesn't ever feel like it folds on me. I like that ski a lot. You can get really rowdy on it for now light it is.

I also skied the Blade Optic 114's in that slot last year. Far better than the Hotshot. For a pretty easy going ski they have some ass and can go really fast. Not as playful as the Deathwish. I'd gladly sell you some 186 BO114's lightly used with STH2's for $350.

The rest of your list are skis on my radar. I have a bunch of friends on the WC108. Dudes that smash. I think I'd be totally happy on that ski. The Jeff also seems like it would be fun in that slot, with the trade off being it's ability to carve (something I appreciate about the DW).

I'm tempted to add the HL R110. The FR120ST is an absolute bruiser of a ski. I imagine the R110 would play real well as a soft chop destroyer.

M-Free is a known freeride tool around here. The new ski is the 112 and is basically the same ski as the Sender Free 110. Both of those would be solid choices, too.

[kootenayskier]

I have 184cm Katana 108s for this, which do everything I want as a traditional/directional skier who likes rearward mounts. They split the difference between my Mantra 96s and Vwerks Katanas and sometimes blow me away how easily they make playful turns through cut up and wind effected snow.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

The R one ten is everything that I wanted the M Free to be. Stiffer, looser and more stable. It’s like the bastard offspring of a M Free one oh eight and a reverse Corvus.

I’m comparing the one ninety two M Free to the one ninety three Corvus and R one ten, don’t know if that applies to the shorter lengths.


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[2FUNKY]

Tried quoting TAFKALVS but got emoji swamped.
Pretty much, lol. There are so many skis in this category it’s redic.

[2FUNKY]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji638][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji638]]The R one ten is everything that I wanted the M Free to be. Stiffer, looser and more stable. It’s like the bastard offspring of a M Free one oh eight and a reverse Corvus.

I’m comparing the one ninety two M Free to the one ninety three Corvus and R one ten, don’t know if that applies to the shorter lengths.


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Don’t even care to ski my mfree now.


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[toast2266]

MVP 108.

Of the skis I've been on:
Wildcat 108 lacks dampness and feels harsh. Ditto for deathwish. The shape / rocker on both of those skis is nice, but their construction makes them not as smooth.

Jeffrey is smooth, but the tails washed out for me on bigger radius turns. It didn't really want to cleanly arc turns through chopped up pow; it wanted to slash and noodle around. Skis like the MVP can do both.

FR110 is excellent for lots of pivoty turns in tight situations. Not so great for higher speeds. R110 is much better at higher speeds. It's a considerably heavier, damper build than any of the other skis discussed here, which makes it feel less playful. Can be good or bad depending on what you're after. Full rocker has it's pluses and minuses; can feel harsh on firm snow.

MVP doesn't do any singular thing spectacularly, but it does pretty good at everything. It pivots easily, it'll arc big turns through chop cleanly, and they're nicely built. It's damp enough to feel smooth, but not so damp that it feels un-playful. It's stiff enough to ski hard, but not so stiff that it's punishing for small mistakes. I'm a fan.

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[AlpiNord]

So basically just pick a top sheet you think looks cool.

Then get Icelantic for the win in the artwork department. Check out their special addition options too.

Pioneer 109 for a more stiff carving charging or the new redesigned Nomad 106 or 112.



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[phil_dirt]

The 183cm hotshot is super easy to ski. If I'm tired it's the ski i reach for. Folks like to complain that it has a speed limit, but IDK I've got way faster than I need to in a resort on em. I think they get scared of it because it's so soft.

[pfluffenmeister]

Just here to say that the HL R110 is spectacular.

[2FUNKY]

Looks like it would be easier to just pick one and be a dick about it……


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[stealurface831]

i like my FRDs in this spot. they definitely fall on the charger side of playful charger but sport a relatively tight radius and are super quick edge to edge and pivot well. they definitely reward a more forward stance and want to be driven but aren't unwieldy if you go upright. veritable chop busters and damp as fuck. rail groomers. big ol shovels for plenty of float.

[CovertM]

The 183cm hotshot is super easy to ski. If I'm tired it's the ski i reach for. Folks like to complain that it has a speed limit, but IDK I've got way faster than I need to in a resort on em. I think they get scared of it because it's so soft.

This...from what OP described the Hotshot was my first thought, then saw it on his list. Have both 183 Hotshot and 184 DW, DW is more of a new snow ski for me and if its been a few days turned to chunder im grabbing the Hotshot...Also can say I havent found a speed limit on mine, but im a punter

[TAFKALVS]

So basically just pick a top sheet you think looks cool.

Tried quoting TAFKALVS but got emoji swamped.
Pretty much, lol. There are so many skis in this category it’s redic.

Looks like it would be easier to just pick one and be a dick about it……


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Just pick your favorite topsheet or brand and be a dick about it.

[Muggydude]

Anyone have some time on Moment Meridian 107's and care to comment on those in comparison to some of these other options?

HL FR110 or R110, Hotshot, Woodman, Jeffs seem on the short list right now.

[phil_dirt]

FR110 is super fun too, another vote for that. Kinda just erases bumps under your feet.

[Huskier]

Where you like your mounts, whose suspension do you like?

Mfree- directional, loose smeary-slidey, very nice damping, turn initiation meh, some of the worst edge hold in the class IMO 7/10

Death wish- Progressive, snappy, no business being that quick for 112. But triple camber + center mount like to get hung up in unexpected piles of loose sometimes. The tiniest little catch, but if you are used to getting forward and driving sometimes it feels like you're going to go OTB for a split second. Also it felt like a lot of tail/liability behind you when Billygoating into something dumb. 6/10

Woodsman- directional, damp, good edge hold, the opposite of energetic. It's...fine 5/10.

MVP- directional less damp, good edge hold, good energy. But I already had the wildcat, hard to make that argument to switch. 7/10.

Wildcat: Progressive, nimble, dampening meh (like most moments) nice rebound, soft-ish. 7/10 - this is actually my preferred 3 days later no melt/freeze pick

Having gone through all of the above, I wound up on the Countach. It's not perfect (just a litttttle metal please) but its extremely balanced and just disappears under your feet. Oh, And you can drive it -hard- 8/10


The only other ski that keeps me up at night is the Blank. If they made just a little skinnier version and just a tad stiffer...take my money. The narrower QST options just don't feel the same.

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[Huskier]

So basically just pick a top sheet you think looks cool.

I bought my wildcats because they have astronauts on them. Full stop. This year's model doesn't have astronauts and I'm afraid I can't recommend, in fact they probably suck.

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[zion zig zag]

Having gone through all of the above, I wound up on the Countach. It's not perfect (just a litttttle metal please) but its extremely balanced and just disappears under your feet. Oh, And you can drive it -hard- 8/10


The only other ski that keeps me up at night is the Blank. If they made just a little skinnier version and just a tad stiffer...take my money. The narrower QST options just don't feel the same.

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Interesting. I have a QST Blank for soft snow and a QST 106 for low tide. I love the Blank, it feels super intuitive and fun to me. And although the 106 seems like a good do it all ski, it just doesn’t seem all that great at anything, at least I don’t find it very exciting, it’s just…meh.

So I’ve been thinking about trying to demo a Deathwish 104 and Countach 104 to fill that spot. Sounds like you’d push me to the Countach 104 given that I click with the Blank?

[toast2266]

Moment definitely has some of the best top sheets.

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[zion zig zag]

Moment definitely has some of the best top sheets.

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The label is the only way I know to pick wine too.

[schindlerpiste]

You definitely be checking out the Kastle ZX108.

[singlesline]

I accidentally deleted the post I just wrote and I ain’t typing that shit again so I’m just going to say the MVP108 is rad and you should give it a try.

DW104 is a fun ski but I don’t think it wants to be skied with the forward stance OP wants.

[gaijin]

You definitely be checking out the Kastle ZX108.

on sale at skiessentials.com now.

[Vt-Freeheel]

Praxis MVP is my fav' all mountain ski. 4 years on the second pair in rotation with a bunch of stablemates. Thinking about #3 for next fall.

They really ski well in all conditions and don't fail ever.