What were the conditions you were flailing in? Sounds like you need a few resort days for mileage and to get your feet under you.

Sounds like you need a few resort days for mileage and to get your feet under you.

The last time I was out on groomed slopes I was carving with confidence down steep blue squares. But not this day.

There's no such thing as a shaped powder ski. They have opposite design goals. Shaped skis have a dramatic sidecut, tend to be narrow, have lots of camber are stiff and are designed for hard pack. Powder skis are wide and generally have less sidecut (all the way to reverse sidecut for powder specific skis), have less camber (all the way to reverse camber) and are usually a bit softer. There are compromises in the middle ground.

Easy there trigger. The OP appears to be one of those people that calls any ski with sidecut a "parabolic ski." I was simply dispelling that notion. "Shaped" doesn't necessarily mean "super shaped," it simply means something with sidecut. I'm well aware that the best powder skis have little (or reverse) sidecut, substantial taper, rockered tips, tails, etc.

There's no such thing as a shaped powder ski.

Silvretta LSV 500 (or earlier models) is the binding of choice for skiing in mountaineering boots. I use these bindings on short (156cm with a 72mm waist) k2 skis for backcountry touring. They work very well for downhilling with AT or even downhill boots, and have a heel release. They work great with light weight mountaineering boots or plastic double boots.

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I have a pair of koflach double plastics and a pair of pretty sturdy leather mountaineering boots... How much could I expect to ski in these boots? I assume it would be far from preferable.

My final choices! Woo! I'm excited.

I chose the Havocs by recommendation in that they are a good all around ski. I'm compromising on the twin tips because I do plan on spending a good bit of time in bounds. I'm undecided on length though. I want short for weight savings, but length sounds good for stability and float. Thoughts?

Havocs

Dude, skiing and landing switch is skiing and landing switch, whether you are in or out of bounds. Not sure why you said that bolded part...

I can say one thing about the twin tip skis from personal experience...your friends will LOVE the rooster tail when following close

As far as length, at a waist of 88 without really much of a shovel or tail to speak of to keep you really floating, I wouldn't go too short.

As far as length, at a waist of 88 without really much of a shovel or tail to speak of to keep you really floating, I wouldn't go too short.

I'm 6'1''

Would a 185 be appropriate for BC?

Its more a function of weight than height bro. You already bought em didn't you?

If not calculate how much you weigh when decked out with ski kit and pack, talk to the ski tech where you buy, work it out.

I tend to go long but that's because I guy closeouts and 2nds and what have you and the sweet sizes go first.

I'm 6'0" and ski 195s and feel they are too long by 10 cm so I'm guessing you're in the money, generally speaking.

Some say go shorter still... I just don't know dude.

DMT

No, haven't bought them. Probably a good thing that I have to wait for taxes.

Thanks for the responses. Obviously it's a lot of money and I don't want to make the wrong choices.

Also, I'm 6'1'' and about 175 add on a 55 pound pack.

Yo Laz what are you doing this weekend??? Your profile says you're from Chico... are you there now?

Bear Valley has their annual Tele Fest going on. They will have demo gear - AT and Tele. Its a haul for you, probably a 5 hour drive... but you'd get to test out various boards and sizes, both tele and AT if you wish.

Sorry I didn't think of this sooner. I've been to a lot of these simply because that's my go to resort and I've just happened to be there many times when it was going on.

Clinics, all sorts of shit i've never participated in, but I did the demos last year and that was rewarding.

http://www.bearvalley.com/...ngels-camp-nov-20th/

Don't know if they do similar up at Shasta.

Consider the Bear Valley thing... it might be worth the gas and dough, in one day you could try several pairs of demo skis... Sat or Sun (I'll be there tomorrow ripping the pow)
DMT

i'm 6'1" and weigh around 190. i ski mostly in 183 havocs from 4-5 years ago, which were quite a bit stiffer than current havocs and had a slightly different sizing model. they are perfect for me.

you really should find somewhere you can rent and try out the 185 and a size down. based on how you describe your skiing ability, it might be too much ski for you right now, especially if you are leaner than i am. life you can be a trial if you are a beginner/intermediate skier in tight trees on skis that are too long for you to control.

This bears repeating.

And so does the fact that a 55# pack is HUGE!

are you carrying everything for your entire group? i do 3 week trips to the andes with lighter packs than that. pull a sled if you can't figure out how to cut weight.

let me get this this straight. you are a guide on ski trips, but you are asking super basic ski questions, you can rip on blue groomers but flail in the bc, and you think you don't need crampons on snow(from another thread)? what outfit do you work for? just so i make sure to avoid steering anyone that way.

and if you are hauling jars of pasta sauce and shit like that - pull a sled. no one in their right mind skis with a 55 pound pack. if you are burly enough to to do it you are burly enough not to need anyone's advice about how to do it.

What are all the possible problems I could expect with mounting and using AT bindings on an older style ski compared to the newer parabolic 'powder ski'?

The skis I have are "Kastle Air sx 801", vintage late 80s to 90s.

Will skins fit alright?

I rented a pair of BD Voodoos a few weeks ago. I'm told that they're an awesome ski...but it was my first time on parabolic skis...and first time back country skiing. I was falling a lot. Are these the direction I should head if I want a solid future in back country skiing? I want to save money and stay with what I'm comfortable with...but I also don't want to stay in the stone age.