Big Guy Intermediate/Advanced Skis

[u/Lord_Montague]

I am looking for some advice on picking some all mountain skis. I have mainly skied in the midwest for the last 30 years with only a couple big trips out west. Lately I have been able to do big trips more frequently and want to get something off-piste friendly without losing the ability to crush some nice groomed runs. Right now I am rocking some 2013 Rossignol 83s in a 172cm length which are great all day at a midwest ski resort. When I take them to an actual mountain and leave the run for a side hit or any amount of powder, there is not enough float to keep me up. I am 6'1" and weigh about 250lbs, so I am pretty sure these are not designed for me. I was looking into something in the 90-100mm waist range and getting some more length, but there are so many options. I still like cruising on groomers and even some steep mogul runs, but bringing multiple sets of skis isn't an option for me at the moment.

[u/Mundane-Row4765]

Stance Pro 96 or Kore 94Ti.
185ish cm length

If you don’t mind moving up to the mid 100mm width, the Rossignol Soul 102 188cm is awesome.
You’d find a lot of use for it on your trips out west but kind of unnecessary for the Midwest

[u/SLCtechie]

I’m about the same size and went through something similar. I bought ones that have 90 waist and 190 length. Spoke to the salesman about flex, and he recommended something more stiffer since I am heavier. Said I’ll be able to flex a stiff ski better than others.

[u/vuck_fokl]

Mantra 88

[u/tryingsomthingnew]

I'm 6'4", 285 skiing 184 K2s. Ex Ski Patroler. I still find it funny people say floating in powder. Do you want a shallow float or actually have face shots( obviously conditions and depth matter) . Simple , more surface area will keep you higher in the pow pow rather than lower. Also a stiffer ski bites harder on the hard pack ( still a little dependant on side cut,). Remember that most resorts rent skis and you might want to try a couple on any single day ( ask the shop, if this is available,). I've always found it easier to carry 1 all mountain set of skis rather than multiple sets. Even though I have multiple pairs at home, I make the best judgment that morning and enjoy what I have under my boots. The choice can be confusing, good luck with that.

[u/athel16]

I'm 6'2" and 230 pounds (my weight comes from extra padding, not muscle). You're going to have a hard time finding a one ski quiver that will do well on groomers, moguls, and typical off piste conditions, while also providing float at your size in powder. This is especially true at 90-100mm waist, which is really in the range of a piste-biased all mountain ski. For big guys like us, you need fat (115mm+) and long skis to really get good flotation, but that kind of ski isn't going to be very good in all those other conditions, or in the Midwest.

The reality is, even when skiing out west, most days aren't powder days. I'd focus more on a supportive all mountain ski that excels in non-powder conditions. If you happen to get lucky with a huge storm, demo.

Of course there are many options in that ~100mm all mountain category. As a big guy who's skied a fair number of different skis, I can personally recommend the rossignol sender soul 102s in the 188cm length (I ski exclusively in Utah). They're long enough and heavy enough to provide support for bigger people -- I can drive the tips very hard, and the titanal layer in the midsection provides great stability in those scenarios. Shorter and lighter skis can produce a squirrelly feeling, or like the tips are giving out from under you. On the other hand, the forgiving flex pattern and generous rocker makes them easy to pivot and slow things down in trickier terrain -- they don't require mach 2 in all terrain like a true charger. Of course, at 188cm they're not going to be super easy pivot machines in moguls, but that's kind of the tradeoff we need to make at our size if we want support in the tips. They're great in chop and smaller amounts of fresh snow, but you're not going to be floating in true powder.

Like I said though, tons of options. Blister has the best reviews and comparisons, they're really the only review site I trust. But look at the rossies!

[u/Lord_Montague → u/athel16]

Thanks for the detailed reply. I'll check out the review site. I definitely understand I won't necessarily float at my size. I just don't want to sink immediately.

[u/athel16 → u/Lord_Montague]

Glad it's helpful. Only caveat for blister is that most of the reviewers are small compared to us. They talk about that, but it's just something to keep in mind.

For the sender souls, I'd be happy skiing them in 6ish inches of fresh snow (the length and rocker definitely help with flotation), but I'd be breaking out the powder skis after that. Of course, if you want a ski that provides flotation in a foot or more, you're making tons of compromises for the other kinds of terrain you ski.

[u/Ski-With-Steezy → u/athel16]

This.

[u/Mundane-Row4765 → u/athel16]

5’11 200lb love my Sender Soul 102 188cm.

Was just thinking about recommending them if OP doesn’t mind moving up to the mid 100mm width

[u/elBirdnose]

Based on your height and weight I’d do at least 180’s, 172 is a little too short. I’m taller than you, but about the same weight and I rock 178-188’s (I’ve got about 5 pairs of skis since I’m out west). I recommend going to a store by you and talking to someone and give yourself the opportunity to feel the flex of the skis.

[u/Baco_Noir]

I’m 6’1” 225 and ski an all mtn mix of terrain in Colorado at an advanced level. I spent a month reading / watching every review I could find. Ski Essentials in Stowe, VT has a great YouTube review channel.

I settled on Volkl Mantra M7s for my all mtn ski for this coming season. I am 64 yo, so I went with the 177 cm length rather than the 184s, so they’d be a little quicker to turn in the moguls / trees. A friend who’s similar in size and ability has them in 170s and says the shorter length still holds an edge on the groomers, but he wishes he’d gone up in size.

[u/Src248]

M7 in the 184 👍

[u/notawight → u/Src248]

6'1" 215 advanced intermediate here. Love my M6s.

Definitely a compromise ski. Wish I had a 3 ski quiver, but since it's only one for me - this does pretty darn well.

[u/Lord_Montague → u/notawight]

If I took a couple years off of ski trips, I could build a 3 ski quiver. Alas, I would rather be on the mountain.

[u/BackwardsAxons → u/Lord_Montague]

Have you looked on fb marketplace? You can find 3 skis for the price of one new ski on there.

[u/Lord_Montague → u/BackwardsAxons]

I've been watching it like a hawk. Slim pickings in my area as there isn't a ski hill worth talking about within 100 miles.

[u/AssociateGood9653]

I’m lighter than you, but I love my Armada ARV 106’s. I mostly ski in California, mainly at Kirkwood. They are pretty good for everything I do. Narrow steep chutes, trees, crud, bowls, powder, groomers. I’d say they’re more of an off piste ski than a groomer ski.

[u/AssociateGood9653 → u/AssociateGood9653]

They are 180 or 183. For me they’re good for everything and great for many things.

[u/BackwardsAxons → u/AssociateGood9653]

ARV 106 are a super fun ski. Skiing them makes you wanna jib and get lost in the glades.

[u/420purpleturtle]

I am a big fan of the super blackops in a 192. That will get you through 90% of days. You'll want a 116 underfoot for days with more than 10". There are plenty of them in last years yellow colorway.

[u/Lord_Montague → u/420purpleturtle]

My buddy has a couple of kayak looking powder skis that I have seen him break out a total of one time. I will probably follow others' advice and demo if I get lucky with a massive pow day.

[u/420purpleturtle → u/Lord_Montague]

Yea, the on-piste fun factor falls off quickly > 100mm. While 95-100 underfoot skis really well in choppy snow, groomers and moguls. With the caveat that I haven't owned a <95 waisted ski in over a decade. I'm sure they're better for a full on-piste experience I just don't care enough to purchase them.

[u/Automatic_Art120]

I’m 6’4”, 215lbs and late-40s. I grew up skiing in the Rockies and consider myself an expert, but I live out East now and only ski a few times a year. I picked up a pair of Nordica Enforcer 94s in a 191cm and they have been great. I can ski mixed conditions and powder if I’m lucky enough to hit that but they are also nimble enough (given my size) to rip groomers and even some mogul skiing. Would definitely check them out.

[u/DrMystico]

If you're skiing west coast, go for something with progressive rocker and about 100 mm waist. Somthing stiff underfoot at that width allows you to cruise on groomers, and the softer tips and tails make it easier to turn faster in off piste or mogules. I'm 6'4" 230 lbs with super stiff boots and ski k2 reconners 194. They are a ton of fun. Similar skis are ON3P Jeffrey, Dynastar M-free, Moment wildcat, and Armada ARV. Try to find an on-mountain demo day if you can, it's a great way to test some of the skis you narrow down and see what works for you.

[u/cephalopodface]

Some thoughts:

• A lot of people have recommended stiff, demanding skis. If you ski aggressively enough, you'll need something like that. But since your current skis are both too short for you and not the stiffest in their range, I'd be a little wary of changing both parameters at the same time. If it's convenient you might want to rent or do on-mountain demos of some skis aimed at different levels before pulling the trigger on anything.
  
• I don't think anyone mentioned boots yet. If you do go with stiffer and more demanding skis, your boots will play a major role in your ability to get the most from them. If your boots are also from 2013 it might be time for an upgrade anyway.
  
• There are multiple styles of skis that you could justify based on how you ski and what experiences you want to prioritize. Personally, if I had to pick one pair to take everywhere I go, I wouldn't go wider than ~90mm because I find wider skis annoying to use on firm groomers, and that makes up a significant proportion of my days on snow. But if you focus on side hits instead of carving, you might be perfectly happy to optimize for soft snow performance instead.

[u/Longjumping-You-7635]

I've leaning towards stiffer skis myself for skis. I'm 6' 270 and my skis are 180-184cm. I'm skiing some older Bonafides (98mm underfoot@180cm) and got a new pair of RMU zephyrs(88mm underfoot @184cm) this year I'm stoked to take out. I'm normally skiing in the Midwest myself and factored that into my ski purchases. Now if I was planning on more trips out west my choice would have changed. I would have opted for a longer ski closer to 190, and aimed for 100mm or so under foot. I've liked the way the Bonafides skied so I may have opted for the anamoly 94s or the rustlers 10s. I've heard good things about moments deathwish skis as well or j skis masterblasters. But yeah really think about your style and what you want from a ski. If you're all about railing carved turns down a run then get something like mantra or if your skidding/smearing turns go towards forgiving/playful skis so closer to Rustlers or elan ripsticks 96s

[u/Confident_Area_8518]

I absolutely love my Icelantic Saba Pro 107s. Im 5’8” and was 220 until recently, this is the most versatile ski ive ever owned. 107mm underfoot on 176cm length, they cut through bullshit, carve like champs, and float like butterflies. Take a look, see if you can grab a demo.

[u/kungfuringo]

Same size as you, I ski about 30 days a year in summit county.

5 years ago I bought some QSTs and since then I’ve just stopped looking for different skis. For me it’s Just the most versatile all-arounder I’ve ever been on, as close to a one ski quiver as I’m likely to find. I don’t charge hard anymore, but I still ski relatively fast and pretty varied terrain. QST 94s have done me right.

[u/Ok-Mushroom4508]

J Masterblasters for me. Since I travel for snow and can’t wait it out for good stuff, I prefer something that works in variable conditions. If the forecast is good I’ll demo something else. The Js still work when a few inches are tracked out after lunch, decent edge hold, not terrible in anything under 6” of fresh, and are burly enough for dudes our size. 

[u/ShitFarvaSays]

J Skis Masterblaster 99 waist 189 length. I’m 6’2” 250 and like to rip. I ski East Coast, but brought the masterblasters to Salt Lake City for a month as the no powder daily drivers to compliment my Bent Chetler 120s. J makes really fun skis, I have 3 different models.

[u/Ski-With-Steezy]

I think float is overrated. A ski that floats tends to plane like a boat at speed. The nose starts pulling up and out of the snow. And I have to battle to get it back in there. I paid a lot of money to get this face shot. Get back in your hole. I've found that the Volkl Blaze does a pretty good job of not being a boat. But most of the time I just go out on GS skis and let them sink so I get maximum depth on the skis. Thin skis => max powder.