Any ski better in the powder than gripper?

[Gone Sleddin]

Picked up a 2008 700 RMK 155 for my girlfriend last winter. Wondering if there are any skis that handle better in the powder than the stock trippers.

She is fairly new to riding and has problems with it diving away from her. Thoughts?

 

[richracer1]

The grippers are suppose to be the best OEM powder ski out there. As for aftermarket, I believe it becomes a personal choice as they all will work.

What do you me by diving??? Could you mean darting on the trail or is this problem in powder?????

 

[volcano buster]

It might help to know what sled she came off of. I found the stock IQ RMK to be pretty tippy compared to my edge. The stock gripper skis are quite a bit wider than the Sidehiller II's from the edge so it will help with floatation when rocking from side to side. Unless you went with a Simmons type ski, I'm not positive that many of the other ones are going to do much for keeping the sled from tipping. Maybe try increasing the spring pressure on the front until she gets used to it. By doing this, it does change other geometry of the sled though.

 

[mountainhorse]

I'll be checking out the SlyDog new 8" powder hounds this year.

I had great luck with the 7" versions... I'm stoked to try the 8" PH's

I'll fill you in on the details when I get them in and on the sled thru the season.

 

[milehighassassin]

MH, I'm curios about those ski's. At what point does going wider become counter-productive? Does handling get worse and flotation better?

Why not just have a 10" wide ski?


With that said, I am a big fan of the Polaris OEM Gripper. I know guys that put them on all their sleds. You can usually get them cheap. I myself can't see spending money on skis when you have the Gripper.

 

[Reg2view]

Most are probably aware of this - the keel design on the SD PH 7's is quite different than the 8's - with that said, the 8's look to be a better attempt at a deep snow ski than the 7's. I ran 7's on the doo summits, they worked, tho they will wear 'funny' if you offset them, and eventually create some other issues if you don't switch them from side to side. FWIW.

 

[mountainhorse]

Milehigh... this is why I'm trying them this year...I'll report back on them.

The original question was for better handling in Powder and he did NOT like the grippers that were already on there. (The grippers came stock on the 2008 700 155 RMK)

The Grippers measure out at 6.75" wide...I'll have to see what the 8" does.

The grippers are good skis and list out at about $275 street price with carbides and mounts.

 

[volcano buster]

Not that I am going to try them, but my vote might be for the Simmons Gen III with the outer edge machined off. This would leave you with basically a narrow Gen I, but with an inside flair much like a Sidehiller II for the added floatation. I think having the outside edge machined off would allow the outer keel to stay in the snow when sidehilling. Again, just an idea.

 

[byeatts]

Picked up a 2008 700 RMK 155 for my girlfriend last winter. Wondering if there are any skis that handle better in the powder than the stock trippers.

She is fairly new to riding and has problems with it diving away from her. Thoughts?

MODS

 

[rmk2112]

Not that I am going to try them, but my vote might be for the Simmons Gen III with the outer edge machined off. This would leave you with basically a narrow Gen I, but with an inside flair much like a Sidehiller II for the added floatation. I think having the outside edge machined off would allow the outer keel to stay in the snow when sidehilling. Again, just an idea.

I ran Gen III's with the cut out all last year and loved them.

1. Great trail and road ski for getting to the hill....no darting and they track straight
2. Awesome in the fluff, great floatation and control.

Here's the link to the cut out that I did: http://www.snowestonline.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256238

...........

She is fairly new to riding and has problems with it diving away from her. Thoughts?

Could be riding style, sacked out front shocks, limiter straps being pulled in and any number of things.

The IQ does not ride like the edge chassis....wide stance, sit down and just turn the skis.

She'll need to learn how to use her body weight to help make the sled go where she wants it to go while steering.