 | hipshot posted the following on Tuesday 5th February 2008
The Atomic Metron B5i is with out a doubt in my opinion the best all mountain, any condition ski made. With that said it is also an advanced to expert ski that demands technical skills to get the most performance. I use these skis. I am a professional ski instructor with 30 years experience. I love them. They will perform on the groomers and still float you in the powder and cruise through the crud. The Mantra is more a freeride ski with a fat waist, good for all mountain but not going to perform when laying down a carve and will probably fight back in the crud. The Nomad is a good compromise, but with a fatter waist and longer turn radius, will not crank as tight on the groomers. I don't know what your skill level is, but make sure you buy enough ski to meet your level or ski up to , but not more than you can handle. Skis like the B5i demand a good solid carving technique and advanced shape ski initiation to enjoy fully. Folks who are skidders and late initiators ( as the majority of the public are) need something a bit more forgiving. I have found that there seems to be two schools of preference out there, depending on personal style. Those that like German/Austrian skis and those who like French/Swiss/American skis.
Hope that is not too confusing
Hipshot
|  |
|
Geez, you're right, man... I don't know what I was thinking...Recommending a ski like the Völkl Mantra???
How dumb am I!? I mean, this crappy German ski...it was probably just PURE LUCK that it got awarded the "Ski of The Year" in the U.S in 2005 and 2006, pluss it has topped countless of tests and reviews in all the major ski magazines all over the world for the past 3 year (and still doing so), basically wiping the floors...or should I say the mountains, with the competition
But heck, you're a ski instructor over 30 years, and the tests in those ski magazines? Nah, they're of course just bull...what do the people who test skis in the aknowledged ski magazines both in the U.S/Canada and in Europe know about recognizing a great ski when they try one anyway??? I'm sure they roll dices to determine the outcome.
OK, sarcasm aside...
You honestly think that German and Austrian skis behave in one certain way, while Swiss, French and American skis behaves in a whole other way???
Damn, and you've been skiing for how long, did ya say???
With all the different models for different types of skiing (jibbing, freeride, racing, cruising, etc) the different brands put out on the market, there is NO WAY you can say that a "German ski is like this, and an American is like that" You can for damn sure not even say that one Armada-ski is like another from the same company. Try to compare Armada's Pipe Cleaner to Armada's ARG, or K2's Public Enemy to K2's Apache Coomba ...
So, you're totally off line, man...
And regarding what you said about the Mantra not being able to lay down a carve??? 
(By the way, were you born with your superb ability to spew bullshit, or have you taken classes??)
The Mantra carves very good indeed! (I have NO IDEA what you're talking about, but you don't know your skis...)
It acts like a GS racing ski on groomed pists, while it eats crud for breakfast, then for lunch, even dinner, and then it asks for god-damned seconds! In between these meals of crud, it sucks down fresh powder in better style than Jack Nicholson at a wild Hollywood party!
Ice? No problem, the Mantra takes it, even at high speeds.
The fact that the Mantra wins so many darn tests and reviews, is because of it's MASSIVE versatility! It really is a quiver of one; a ski that does it all, and does it VERY good!
The ONLY thing it doesn't ace, is bottomless powder...and in bottomless powder, you won't be able to ski perfectly anyway without fatskis that have waists above 110mm.
But to summarize, you ended your post by saying you hoped that it wasn't too confusing?
Trust me, it was NOT confusing at all!
Actually, your "knowledge" regarding modern skis, came across as clear as George W. Bush's "knowledge" regarding geography...(No, it's not a compliment...sorry)
I don't doubt that you know how to ski yourself...you might even be very good...but like I said, your knowledge in the ski-equipment section, is not up to date...
|
Basics & Backgrounds
Chinese
Dutch
Home
Profile
Pictures
Print
Email
Reply
Quote
Tommy B
