SkiTalk, Ski Reviews and Discussion Forum, is managed under the stewardship of Phil and Tricia Pugliese, two of the snow sport industry's most respected and read reviewers and product testers. SkiTalk evolved from Pugski.com's original tag line, "SkiTalk at a Higher Level." Pugski.com was founded in 2015.
Very much enjoy your review videos and the variety of skis you profile… Could you look at your audio as the volume has to be ramped up to hear the presenters, but with that comes the background music loop which dilutes the audio… There is such a distinct difference in audio volume when you shift to the guest outros and their audio is always louder. Looking forward to more videos for sure 👍
Thansk a lot for review! Does the radius (Magnum 177 - 14,3) really feels the same? How is it possible with the different tip/tail and the same width under foot..?
Look is introducig a 105mm brake option for this year. That would be ideal, if you are pinching pennies and getting a leftover binding, the 115 would be the way to go.
I absolutely love my Deacon 84's (182cm), here in New England mid 80's under-foot is a great daily driver width. I think it actually has a wider operating range on-trail versus the Kendo 88 because the Deacon 84 is superior on firmer conditions while also being good in softer conditions. K88 obviously has the edge off-trail and in bumps. I see far too many skiers on wide (95-105mm) skis and they never really go off-trail, I think they'd have more fun on a narrower ski.
@@travisbacon1974 not trying to start something but a common denominator between the three delaminations is you. Where do you store them? Where did you buy them? Anything else you can think of?
I was mistaken about the Magnums and have edited my comment. No issues with them to date. If the Titans don’t have a history of failure, it probably was me. First pair of Titans were demos. Second Titans were warranty replacements. Stored in a cool garage in WY. I used them as all mountain skis at JH. They may not have been made for that. I put more days on 10y old Rossi Exp 98s. I haven’t had any issues with them other than the typical blown edges. Also have the blue Exp 88s which I haven’t had problems with. I won’t be buying another SuperShape ski given my experience with them.
I love Head skis. My wife and daughter love the Joy's. I have the Magnum and my son has the Shape 10. I am very interested in this improved line. Could go e-Original or Titan. Will have to think on this. Thanks for the great review.
yeah i still own the previous i-rally's, it's an amazing ski and now that they pulled in the nose a little i bet it is even more versatile (sometimes the tips hook up in the bumps on mine)
Quite a bit of tail rocker for a 78. I cant think of any other 78s with that much tail rocker. Very interesting. Any direct comparisons you can think of? Also tail is pretty tapered, but then goes flat at the end. Seems pretty unique
Would you say day the 80 is the better choice forba smaller advanced skier? 5'5 160 lbs...I've had mixed results with carving skis. Love Mx 75, but didn't get along as well with the k2 disruption series and the older Vantage
Interesting ski. I like the graphics. It's starting to get to the width I'm looking for. I like that it's a good option for bumps. Great review. Thanks
Don't get hung up on the exact last mm, with a "base last" of the MV being a 100mm last in the reference 26.5 and adjusting up and down from there, it still will coem down to how it its your foot. As I said in the video I usually ski the RX in an LV, I went to the MV in this new boot. Try them on and see what works for your foot.
I just bought some Montero AX's with Strive 13D's but haven't mounted yet. Is there a way to eliminate the "demo" portion of the binding before mounting?
One of the reasons we pushed Look to bring back the 15 was to be able to offer an all metal toe for a lower setting, with the 15 starting as 6, you are well within range.
Can you elaborate on the differences in handling, feel, or skill (not the physics of waist width)? You said they handle quite differently relative to their similar specs on paper? If you already owned either the Kenja 88 or Secret 96 (and love it) are these skis different enough to warrant owning both? Or is it just not worth it to buy two of the "same ski", given that the breadth of options in the 88 mm and 96-98 mm space?
In the 1980's I had some Dynamic VR27 SL skis with Look 99 RS bindings with the back facing brake on the toe. I credit those skis and binding combo in really progressing my skiing. They were a fantastic ski/binding setup in those days and I'm amazed to see the pivot style binding is still around these days. I'm skiing Salomon Shift's these days for a bit of back/side country touring or System Markers. So I think you could do a backcountry/alpine version of the Look pivot like Salomon Shift or Marker Duke.
I've heard from one of my local ski shop that I had to put some kind of plate on the ski in order to mount the spx bindings. Is that true? Or can I just mount the SPX straight on the ski without any plate?
The SPX Rockerace tecnically requires that it be mounted on a plate but there are a lot of people mounting the binding on the ski flat. Most shops are unwilling to mount the Rockerace flat because there is no template/jig for it but you can use the Pivot jig because the RR and Pivot share two of the heel holes.
Great conversation! I loved the comment about shaped skis allowing the older gen to ski at a much higher level. Last year the snow was virtually unskiable on a very steep pitch. The skis would not slide. I must have done 30 jump turns to get down. I don't miss that even a little bit. Keep up the great content.
The downside of demo bindings being tall in stand height almost seems like it could be a benefit for performance carver skis under 80mm, where having additional leverage is a benefit. Hard to tell what exactly the difference is between flat skis mounted with modern demo bindings and my Blizzard Thunderbird R13 with Marker TPX track system bindings, which seems like a hybrid of a race plate and a demo binding. For something a little less stiff and performance oriented than the Thunderbird, something like the high stand height Tyrolia bindings sound potentially more ideal than the retail binding in the same lineup. This video may be focused on demo bindings, but this is also just a great comparison of the four big binding manufacturers. I have a 2011 K2 Rictor with one of those early Marker Griffon demo bindings, and it definitely seems like demo bindings have come a long way. The older Griffons were noticeably heavier, taller, and had a noticeable rattle that wasn't as confidence-inspiring as the newer Look, Marker, and Salomon/Armada demo bindings I tried in demos the past season. The Tyrolias also sound like they'd be great. That said, I really like what Look is doing with its regular retail SPX binding. That sounds like the best compromise, where I get a standard retail binding experience, but if I really want to lend a ski to a friend for a day, being able to adjust the heel would be just fine. I feel like the approach to adjustability with the Look SPX will suit most people interested in demo bindings for their own personal skis.
Would the e Race Pro be appropriate for the Downhill event? I am mature years now, and I started at boy age 8, taken to Arosa from America for a private teacher. Then, wood ski's were heavy, and stiff. And, even with boots, I tight wrapped "long thongs" at the ankles. Then, I got Head's. The were not that stiff, but they were light. Actually, I do not Vedelin - slalom. I started at Stem Kristi and stayed at it. The only thing I want is the long cruise, "Tuck", on the Bankings. Of course, your edges are your only Bankings sometimes. I don't do jumps. They don't do jumps at Daytona, for example. So, I would sculpt a new mountain: Long Line 2 - 3 miles; Bankings; opens; "Deer Runs"; not super sheer. Insurance required.
1 more thing...94 w is an amazing tree ski! The rocker makes edges release about as easy as anything ive been on ( that wasn't a total noodle) my 94s bailed me out of a few bad decisions in tight VT woods more than once! So good!!
I think it falls between the cracks because it really isn't for everyone as an all Mountain ski. It's very lightweight which makes it easy to ski, but it's still fairly stiff and reactive. I find that although it's light it, takes someone with pretty strong legs to hold these skis down when there's anything other than pretty smooth conditions. (I'm in NY amd VT, understand you may have had a different experience out west) I love my Blaze 94 w (I'm a male fyi, same construction for both) I ski them aggressively. But they really only shine when there's some fresh snow or some spring conditions. In a few inches of fresh snow these are one of my favorite skis I've ever. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea !😂 I think an intermediate or below would benefit for something a little bit more damp amd with less rocker..... And let's be honest most people are intermediate or below
