2019 Head Monster 83

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2019 Head Monster 83

Postby SquawHarber » Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:37 am

Any opinions on this ski for Tahoe all-mountain?
Goal would be good on piste performance but at least 60% off piste (minimal powder but crud, bumps, etc)

Me: 49 yrs, 5’9 180 lbs, good skier, self PMTS trained, not uber strong.

Skis I’ve liked: head monster 78, kastle fx84 (which just broke), dynastie speed zone, volkl Gotama pre-rocker, Blizzard Gunsmoke
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Re: 2019 Head Monster 83

Postby SquawHarber » Sun Feb 03, 2019 3:59 pm

No one has tried these?
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Re: 2019 Head Monster 83

Postby jbotti » Mon Feb 04, 2019 5:21 pm

I demo'd the previous version which was stiffer and it had quite a bit wider turn radius. The 2018-2019 version has a tighter TR, and it is less stiff. I own the original version of the new Monster 88 ti. This ski has also been softened in the version of the past 2 years. I have not skied either the new 88 or the new 83. The new 83 looks like a nice ski, with a tighter TR and the lessened stiffness is probably better for most skiers and certainly makes it easier to ski off piste.

I did not love the original version of the 83.
Balance: Essential in skiing and in life!
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Re: 2019 Head Monster 83

Postby seskelson » Tue Feb 05, 2019 4:08 pm

See my comment under Rock N Roll replacement for some notes on the Monster 83 and 88..
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Re: 2019 Head Monster 83

Postby NothingClever » Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:36 pm

I got the 2017 Monster 88 and it's a really nice all mountain ski (definitely more versatile than the old kastle mx 8ss I had). Not sure how it compared to the previous season's monster 88 (which I think had a little less tip rocker)… I did pick up a cheap demo pair of Nordica enforcer 110s and they are not so good :-( too much tip rocker and there's something that's not quite right about it in soft snow.

Keep us posted on the quest to replace the RnR!
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Re: 2019 Head Monster 83

Postby SquawHarber » Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:16 am

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.
Well...I got a pair of Dynastar Speedzones to be my hardpack ski (thank you JMD on this forum!}
I really need a "midfat" for Tahoe skiing since my Kastle Fx84 broke and am leaning toward the M83 - I think the carving/hard snow fun factor will make it a more enjoyable every day ski for me than something in the 88mm range, as I have wider skis for powder that I really like.
So...final question: in the 177, are they going to be too stiff at my 180 lbs (like the old Monsters used to be) or is the new flex pattern benign? [I flexed out a pair of Monster 88's in the 177 in a shop at Squaw this weekend and they felt great, so assuming the 83s are similar. For context, I bought the old 78s in a 170 as the 177 felt too stiff, but 170 always feels a bit short in Tahoe off-piste conditions. In a perfect world, I'd get to demo all the skis on my list, but it just doesn't work out that way, so I'm glad I can get your opinions.

- snowed out in Tahoe! SH
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Re: 2019 Head Monster 83

Postby seskelson » Tue Feb 12, 2019 7:30 am

My current ( new 2019) Monster 83 is a 177 cm. I weight about 190 lbs. When I acquired the Monster 88 ( the new one) a couple of years ago it was also 177 cm. Stiffer, but not too stiff. The new one is just nicer.
My old Monster 78's were in a 177 cm as well.
I do ski the Supershape iSpeed in a 170 cm and had the former Icon tt80 in a 170cm too.
My R N R and Kore 93 are a 180 ( or 181? -- at work right now)

For my do it all skis a 177 cm is right. For my carving skis a bit shorter.
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Re: 2019 Head Monster 83

Postby SquawHarber » Wed Feb 13, 2019 7:03 pm

Thanks!
Well, I got a reprieve: we were able to change the cracked binding plate on my FX84 and it appears I can get some more time on the ski, so that's great. In the meantime, it pushed me to get the Speedzones, so I am excited to PMTS all over the place on those babies.
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