i just wanted to add that the xwing lap is not that stiff... more on the softer side if anything, but because it is so long it skis very well, nice even flex. I passed a pair onto this powder hound I know...not a rowdy skier at all, but weighs around 200, anyway he loves 'em.

Completely different skis, meant to do and ski very different things.

The lord was meant as a frontside/on piste, all mountain tool. It is fairly narrow, with very minimal tip rocker to aid in maneuverability and softer snow performance. It is a great tool as an everyday ski on the east coast, or for firmer snow on the west coast.

The XW lab was designed for their competition skiers, and is a stiff, burly, big mountain tool. A lot of the Salomon riders were using this ski on the Freeride World Tour, skiing some of the sketchiest, gnarliest terrain in the world. It is meant to plow through any type of snow, at high speed, making long turns or just going straight and stomping cliffs.

Based on what you are describing Jamey is right. It sounds like you need something that meets somewhere in the middle, and the Shogun would be perfect. It skis everything well, and is really a versatile ski, a quiver of one if you will. It rips on the groomers and firm stuff, yet at 101 underfoot with some rocker, it will float and slay the pow. It's an awesome ski, that is the talk of the ski industry at the moment. It took salomon a long time to come out with a good ski in that segment, but they nailed it with the shogun.

Hey Tom, the biggest difference is that these are way bigger than the lords. 198 cm vs 185 cm (longest lord)and much wider too. You should look at the shogun: http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Salomon-Shogun-Ski/SAL1803M.html it's salomons newest all mtn ski that is also wide enough for pow and has some rocker to smear through the crud. the lord is also very good but smaller than the shogun so not as good in pow and crud.

The XW Lab is a much more wider and burlier ski than the lord. The XW lab is 107 underfoot and the lord is something like 87 or 88 underfoot, so there is quite a difference there. The Lord is more of an all mountain ski for all possible conditions. The XW lab is more of a hard charging big-mountain/freeride ski for the big mountains. The XW lab also only comes in the one long size of 198cm, unlike the lord which comes in a few different sizes. Because of how much wider it is than the lord, the XW lab will do better in deep powder, however, the lord will still do well in the moderately deep stuff, because it had decent width and a little tip rocker. Hope this helps!