It's a shame that I couldn't have skied these and posted a review before they were all gone on Level Nine. I bought a pair as they were blowing them out for a crazy price. I figured at worst I was buying a rock ski and at best maybe a really sweet ski. These may be my favorite skis ever. The head SS Kers has held that position with the IM78 and the head RNR right behind. These carve awesome tight arcs (I think the TR is 14.6 on the 176) and the flex pattern is just perfect (which we expect from Head). I am finding that on really steep groomed runs (which we have quite a few of on my home mountain in Montana) the added length is allowing me to stay further forward and I am carving tighter arcs on steeps that I can on SS's 170's (that is user error because I can know Harald can carve super tight arcs on steeps on the SSs 170s). But I am 6 3" 185 with very long legs so it makes sense that the added length is helping. The big surprise is how great these things ski off piste. Again I think the added length really helps me. I liked my TT80 170's off piste but they always felt a little short and I felt challenged fore aft wise on them (yes some is user error). On these I feel like I can just rock.
Perhaps all I am saying is that the TT 80 is a great ski (which we already know) and that the 176 is perhaps a better size for me.
Great ski. For taller and larger skiers this is a great size. I will get Harald and Max on them in March. I know they will rock on these.