12gaugesage wrote:
I started on the 125's, went to 145's, for more fore/aft stability. Ive used them with the uni bindings, nnnbc, and now finally 75mm/T4's to try and get a little more DH ability. While I am pretty blown away with the control of the T4, I find myself now going for steeper. longer descents, and again they're getting away from me a bit, the tails coming out from under me and dropping me on my ass.
At 6'1" 210#, am I just at the limit of this skis capability, or is it more a matter of technique? I find myself leaning low and forward to compensate, but thats not a great position to recover and control from, though its a nice place to bail, tuck and roll from, lol.
Any insights?
Thanks
Not sure if I can help you here without actually skiing with you...but I will try!
First it sounds like you may have been skiing "in the backseat" meaning perhaps you were not balanced on your skis?
Second- and this may be the fundamental issue- at your weight and height, even 145cm is a very short ski- especially downhill skiing in the backcountry where the micro-terrain, and snow conditions can be so variable. 145cm does not offer much stability at any siginificant speed. And- those rockered tips make the effective edge of the Hok significantly shorter than 145cm- so, on snow that you need some edge hold, the 145cm Hok is going to feel VERY short and unstable at speed.
(Of course, traditionally skiers used a single pole ("lurk" or "tiak") in order to deal with downhill stability issues- both fore-aft and lateral. Have you tried a single pole with your Hoks?)
Sounds to me like you are starting to do some serious downhill skiing in the backcountry...
I am thinking that you are going to want a longer ski that offers better downhill performance and stability than the Hok...
The other issue may perhaps be that grippy permanent skin...
I keep my feet moving on the Hok- even when downhill skiing- in order to prevent the staggering effects of catching that skin at speed. In other words I treat the Hok like a XC ski on the downhill (despite the width and smooth, soft, single camber). I find that if I try to just ride the Hok at speed, I end up catching the grippy skins which leaves me staggering (this is less of an issue with the tiak). Step turns/telemarks seem to improve glide and keep me better balanced...