Trying to sell some skis for Head and turn some on. I'm posting here, because there's a huge tie in with PMTS technique.
First of all, I have to thank Harald. He posted about the Supershapes in an i 88 thread and it peaked my curiosity. Harald and I like to ski the same places, he's never been wrong about skis yet. He wrote that he takes the ski everywhere and I knew I had to try a pair. I did, I demoed a pair at the Love Land a few weeks ago. Thanks Harald. You are my source for where the great skis are, still.
So I bought a pair of the Head Worldcup Supershape in 175 (longest it comes in). Bindings are Tyrolia Free flex 17. First of all what a beautiful, elegant looking ski. If feels good on, and for me, that counts for something.
In a 175 the ski measures 122/66/107. That is a 12.9 radius folks. On an all mountain ski. No puny Metron ski, either.
So I took it out yesterday at Vail, skied it in everything. My first run was the groomer coming down to mid-Vail from the top of 2. I was behind some on the ski. This ski likes to be on its edges, all the time. It gets out and goes with very little input. So on my first run I had to ditch some of my "style". Not really ditch it, but focus more on the Primary Movements. By the time I got to the lift I was already carving better than ever.
On my second run I was all about veritcal separation and independent foot movement -- boom. Focus on the stuff I learned last summer at PMTS Race Camp. I really started to feel it. The more I dialed in my stuff, the better the ski responded. By the end of the second run I was making what I felt like were tracks to die for. Proof is in the tracks, right? So I hiked back up the hill and looked for myself. I could hardly believe it. Hip width tracks, even through the transition. The tracks were equadistant, all through the turn. Could this really be happening?
Another run on some groomed then I went over to the tourist bumps, on Zot. I love to ski bumps. Again, I had to ditch some of my style. This ski will skid but it'd rather not. It tells you politely though. "Heyoka. Follow me, and I'll show take you through the turn nicely, on my edges". In other words, ski this ski how Harald/PMTS teaches. The last face of Zot I bet I had the whole chair lift watching...my skis. Unbelievable. My expectations had already been exceeded for the ski. By my third run, I was in love with my skis.
At this point I must add that my entire movements on the skis were the Primary Movements, stuff I learned from Harald. I've tinkered around with different stuff. Not to switch from what I know, more out of curiosity. Had I found something I liked, I would have kept it as part of my quiver. All I can say is that the more I dial in with the Primary Movements, the better my skiing becomes. Part 2, I went to race camp last summer with recreational skis and dull edges. Yet was skiing with/being observed by others who had much better equipment. I do carving demos on all mountain skis, with others who are on carving skis. They're not fair comparisons. All this talk about how I can't carve.
So anyway, skiing the Primary Movements, the Supershape loves it. I've never had so much fun carving as I did yesterday. Can't wait to get back out there today. I'm thinking purely Harald, focusing on where I'm weak. Dropping my inside hip to start the turn, starting the turn with my downhill foot. Pull my inside foot up through the turn, let the downhill leg get longer on its own. Pull the inside leg up through the turn, collapse the downhill leg to start the new turn. Must get upside down (which is my new thang(Rusty)). Weighted Release, emphasis on Von Grunigen. Think about my upper body, making sure I'm not crapping on my tails. Two knuckles up. Stand on the downhill ski and counter, or else you'll wash out.
The more I skied on it, the more fun I had. As I gained confidence, I skied weirder snow, tougher lines. Ski PMTS way, the ski was unbelievable. It still does okay skidding, but like I say, it'd rather not. It's soft enough in the shovel, so that you don't have to use near as many check moves in the bumps. It sucks up bumps well. In powder it was great. I did dump once, when I got behind. But that was pilot error. I probably won't take the ski out on powder days anyway, that's what my i88's are for. But it's nice knowing that in a pinch, I'd be just fine in the milk with my Supershapes.
The ski goes fast -- really fast. Towards the end of the day, I was cooking on it. The faster I went, the better it felt. It feels like your edges are glued to the mountain though. I couldn't believe how fast I was going, how stable I felt. I guess that's why it's called the "World cup Supershape". This from the Head website:
"This model?s unusual sidecut has earned it the name ?Supershape?. The pronounced sidecut of the Head Collection and its larger footprint combine to produce the ultimate fun ski for all situations. The Worldcup Sandwich Construction enables the ski to lie full on the slope. Thanks to Intelligence Technology, it is able to adapt to any situation with lightening speed. Liquidmetal infuses this ski with an extra helping of power and vitality. Those familiar with Head skis will find the Worldcup i.Supershape to be the perfect successor to the legendary Cyber i.C 200."
The ski will be new every day ski. I'm down to two pairs of skis now, I like that. i88's on powder days, Supershape for every other day. KISS.
So where's the downside? It's not a skidding ski. You have to have it on edge, even slightly, just about all the time. But that's fine. You also have to respect it; it's a lot of ski. Twice yesterday I was goofing off and paid for it. I won't do that again. But then again, I shouldn't be goofing off so much anyway, so that's fine.
For me, it's neato having a pair or skis that say "Worldcup" on them and feel like I can carry them high. It's a great feeling, I'm proud but humble. They're pretty skis, they look great on. They're light on the shoulder, I really love 'em.
Head is making great skis. Please buy some so they can keep making great skis.
Thanks to Harald for posting. I'm not sure I would have "found" this ski had I not read what he wrote -- right here at realskiers.com.
Thanks as well to Harald for the great ski coaching and being the goto source. The man knows his stuff. I continue to advance by following his advise, thinking about what he says. I'm having a ball along the way. What's even better is that I continue to have new goals. Every time I think my skiing is there, I see something else. This used to piss me off. Now, I get excited. As Hobbit says, we have to realize our own limitations. I do. But I know there's a lot more I can do with my skiing and I'm....as happy as a hooker with new shoes about it.
For the record, I tore off my PMTS stickers on my boots and skis because I don't like stickers on my boots and skis. My daughter will learn PMTS. Wherever she goes in skiing, it'll point right back to Harb Ski Systems.
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