By "Suicide" Stoddard
from Mammoth Lakes on 05/12/2009
Pros:
Great Construction, Precise like Swiss Watch
Best Uses:
Extreme All Mountain
Describe Yourself:
Collegiate/Pro
Sizing:
Feels half size too big
Width:
Feels true to width
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
I heard that the Schmidt was a an intense ski, but I heard that before about skis I considered tame.
At 195 pounds and former Extreme, Bump and Aerialist Rider, the ski is an introduction to a humbling experience when you take it out of the gate, especially if you are not in the "envelope."
I ski in the "front seat" always pressing shins and hands forward. Even with 25 + years of intense skiing, you can be humbly thrown in the back seat and feel the torque of this demon ski. Even with a full helmet and googles, tears started to trickle down my cheeks from the speed.
However, once I got the exact balance point, it was like skiing a Ferrari. Basically, this ski is almost like a downhill ski, just wider. It edges tight and crisp on both inside and outside edges and goes all mountain and cuts on ice. Yep, not a weekend ski, too fast and unforgiving and you could take out some pedestrians. Once it goes fast (which it likes to do), you almost need a parachute to stop it(not kidding).
When I took it for a test run, it made my race skis look a little tame. I took it down the face on a wind packed, Sierra cement, crud packed day with chicken heads and cake icing and in cut it like butter.
But, don't expect to arrive in a bump field at 40 mph. The ski is brutally unforgiving and will eject you like you were in a F-18 at Mach 2. Super stiff and precise construction will allow you to bank on grooms like a water skier putting your shoulder on the surface.
After a week on these "Beast," I almost need new threads to accommodate the pumped calves, thighs and gluts. The most intense ski I ever rode.
