Skiing

Sounds like they'll be great, they're definitely not a soft ski!

I used the Dynafit Vulcan a few times, amazingly capable boot. In the end I went for a pair of Salomon Quest Pros as realistically I'm gonna be spending way more time heading downhill that up, and am never going to be touring for that long, or with enough equipment that a lighter boot will make a difference. Also that fact that I'm invariably gonna be skiing on something over 110 underfoot and with a heavy binding negates any weight difference in the boot!
My colleague has got great things to say about the Black diamond touring boots, he uses them 90% of the time and doesn't feel they're lacking in downhill performance. Quite a small last though, so you have to have narrow feet!

I'll still take my Line Chronics I reckon - getting the snow train this year so don't need to worry about baggage limits. I got the Black Crows for a steal at £260 (2015 ski) so if they don't work out they won't have crippled me financially!

What do you think of the Quest 110's? I was considering them.. I've got on well with Salomon's in the past and my Nordica's just don't fit as well.

Max or Pro? I went for Pro's just because I have a wide foot. Couldn't see much difference between the 110 and 130 Pro fit wise, I went for the 130 as the walk mode generally means the flex feels slightly less than stated. Haven't skiied them yet as bought them right at the end of last season in the sales.

The fit is very similar to previous years Salomon freeski boots, I don't think they've changed the last much.

Skis arrived. Bloody huge!

You got bindings for them yet? I managed to bag these in a end of season clearance last year for ~£70. They won't be made into a production ski as they were too expensive to produce! Basically an Agent 116, got a mixed carbon / Paulownia core, light and stiff as hell!
Considering the Kingpin bindings to mount on them. Got a good mix of useability for touring (got dukes on my pon2oons which are solid, but a bit of a pain for touring) and downhill performance with the proper heel piece. Heard mixed reviews from people who have used them though, and they are very spenny!

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They look awesome. Very jealous of you picking them up for that little!

I was thinking about a Tyrolia Peak 15 or something like that. Don't see myself doing too much touring stuff on them.

have spent the last 4 days looking at the Corvus's in my hallway, wondering if I should return them because they might be too much ski for me!

From the sounds of it, I think you'll like them. They might take some getting used to, but it'll be worth it in the end. I would give them at least 2 days on the snow before you decide whether you like them, it took me a day to get used to the tail on the atris, and that's not as stiff as the corvus!

Whatever bindings you get, I would seriously advise getting them mounted in resort, unless you have someone you trust in the UK. Most shops will have jigs for all bindings (not just the ones they stock) and do this stuff daily. I had one pair of bindings mounted by a Covent garden store and they mounted the heel-piece too far back.

Dan, how tall are you? Weight? And style? If you're a charger then I reckon they'll be just right.

I'm about 5'11", 91kg. I'm pretty strong - I do a fair bit of weightlifting as part of my sprint training for track.

I used to race slalom etc a bit when I was a kid, so I do like to push a ski. I mainly ski whatever I can find off piste - trees and big pow fields are my favourite.. But realistically in Europe it tends to be a big bag of hard/chop/crud/bits of soft/groomers. I do like to ski fast and I don't want a ski which will be a plank on piste.

I don't ski park anymore - but I have gotten used to a softer tail in the past 5-6 years.. Which is what is making me a bit apprehensive about the corvus.

On the other hand, i'm sort of looking for something that will make me a better skier - and help me progress a bit. Soft skis seem to make me lazy and I end up feeling like a bag of spanners. So maybe the corvus is the right ski for me.

Good shout. I'm considering getting boots in resort too and swallowing altitude tax. Just because fitters are so much better out there.

yeah I'm debating a set of ski's for EU snow. No idea what to get. Here in US tend to get more powder, and while I can ski with fat ski's in EU it wasn't that comfortable on crud/hard pack. Need to research carving racers more I guess

Seems to me you'e just explained exactly why that's the right ski for you; you ski hard, you lift, you do track, you used to slalom race and you want to improve.

I'm only 5'8 and 74kg and I have 184 mantras, anything less wouldn't have been enough of a ski for me. Nothing worse than a ski(for euro days) that has a maximum speed that is limited by chatter and a soft tail or tip. Fair enough if you have a quiver of 2 or 3 and want an all out powder ski but for a do it all I prefer going for something that you can let rip on piste and crud.

I might splash out on something new for this season, but needing new boots as well, so it might be a toss up between the two, and the boots are probably most in need of replacement.

Go for a versatile but stiff all mountain. The old mantras I mentioned above are the perfect example as they basically handle like a fat GS ski, hold an edge but are capable in powder. Things have moved on a bit over last 2 years since I got them, so plenty out there. Depends on taste but I think you would be restricting yourself with a carving racer.

I would second what @French_Touch said. I was going to suggest a mantra, or even something like the Kastle MX 98 (or FX if you want a bit of rocker). Kastle are pretty well regarded outside of the rental / tourist market here, you might just have to try and search out a deal as they are pretty expensive.

Kastle FX are great skis. One of my mates hired a pair last year and I borrowed them for half a day. Pretty stable and good fun. Tips get a bit flappy at speed, but that's only really once you reach terminal velocity.

Thanks for the reassurance :)

I was tempted by the 196.. But that really might have been too much ski for me.

and @chiroshi

I'm only ever in EU these days for skiing in March. Basically buming around Zermatt on piste with my family. It's ultra rare there's powder there (unless going Heli which I won't, too much avalanche risk at that time).

Will take a look a the mantra, don't want a fat ski though. Thinking more ~80 width than 100+ (since I already have that covered). This will be my 4th ski ( have powder, all mountain, park skies + two snowboards)

Have a look at the Kendo then, and the skinnier Kastle MX range. Although personally I really can't see the point in skiing on anything less than ~95, unless you're really going to be carving hard.

I've been messing around with a pair of Templar (http://templarskis.com/) which I helped kickstart. For $500 that it cost me they are great. That said, the stability on crud/hard pack isn't the best, and you really have to drive them .

hmm perhaps I'll just haul my skis with me. Not sure it's really worth buying yet another pair to leave in europe for 1 week. It doesn't cost me to bring the skis.

You could always....

..... Rent some.....

I quite enjoy renting a pair for a day or two when I'm out, you get to try all sorts. Might be worth just doing that? There are always high end/freestyle/freeride rental places nowadays.

Yep, and you normally get the rental fee back if you do fall in love and decide to buy!