Booker C. Bense schrieb:

_ I meant really wide skis, like 90mm or bigger underfoot. Things like K2's
Hippie Stix and the Karhu Jak. They are much more all-round skis
than similar wide skis of a few years ago, however IMHO the point
of diminishing returns has been reached and exceeded.

_ At least in California, the most popular off-piste ski seems to
get about 5mm wider every season. Now something like the 79mm
wide 8000 legend is seen as a "skinny" ski. 10 years ago it would
have been one of the widest skis available and a powder
specialist (i.e. the original Snow Ranger ). The happy middle
ground of the telemark ski market seems to be disappearing, you either
have really wide skis or very light skinny skis. For instance
G3's new ski line doesn't have a ski narrower than 81mm.

_ In my opinion the super wide skis are like buying an SUV as
your day to day commute car. These skis ( like SUV's) make
some conditions fun that would be a tremendous struggle with
narrow skis, but in most conditions they are just extra weight
to carry around. Even if you're riding the lifts, a lighter
rig means more runs.

Yep, you're right - imho. Considering then, then changing conditions, i
don't think that superlarge skis can be other than specialists. But i
notice a nice difference between let's say the ultralarge K2 and the
Stoeckli Stormrider DP.

At least here - in the alps - i'm very sceptical toward the "american"
skis (large, soft and not very snappy). Every year - in autumn - i try
them in Stubai (there is a telefestival on a glacier, sometimes in
powder conditions sometimes with old snow and crud) and every time i'm
not getting convinced.

I think as a day to day (resort and offpist) ski you need something like
a Head Monster im 85 or a Stoeckli Stormrider XT. It' s important IMHO,
that those skis are decently shaped.

As for skinning skis, i'm really uncertain. IMHO, it would be nice to
have a lightweight 80mm (underfoot) ski, which ist still able to do icy
steeps ... (not aware of any at this moment).

OK, that's for teleskiing only. For Alpine Randonee Equipment, i'm using
a Stormrider ... :-)) (not really anymore, since i'm nearly exclusively
teleskiing)

Greetings,

Uli