I am considering the Bonafides as my primary East Coast ski. I am a strong skier and spend the majority of my time in the trees, steep bumps, or steep groomers. Thoughts? BTW...I am 5'7" and 160lb

if you are 5'7" i suggest the 166 or possibly up to the 170-somethings...dont go higher, again - try them first, and make your own decision...these skis are try maneuverable but yet very stable. th 88mm bushwackers have no metal in them, and can get a little more chattery...so beware if you were thinking a step down in waist size (i was, and i was informed of that fact - which is why i chose the bonafide)

to danmarch23 try them...you will love them im 5'9 165, I'm not a bomber, but rather ungroomed, powder, trees - i just demo'd these at park city. i got the 166s. the conditions were terrible. all groomers and crud, bit of blown over crust and ice, no powder. i mainly ski northern VT, sugarbush, but sometimes okemo - so the conditions in PC were exactly what i ski here in east absent a giant storm, which we haven't had this year these skis blew me away. i was loving them about 5 seconds into the first run. i havent skied with such precision and force in my life. i currently own 2005 k2 all mountains, with like a 70-something waist. i was worried i wouldn't be able to handle a 98mm waist in east coast conditions. i was wrong. these skis are wide enough to float for a person my size, include the slight rocker, but will absolutely power through crud and slush, and you can cut up a groomer, or just straight out fly if you want. ...on ice it ill be harder to grab edge. but for skier experienced in icy conditions, you should be able to handle. demo them somewhere before you buy them...im demo'ing them in jackson hole for powder skiing, just to make sure i can ski them in both east and west (real west, when theres actually powder - park city has lees snow then sugarbush right now, weather is not treating west well this year to this point) good luck

I'm 5'10" 155lbs and got these in the 173's and just skied 'em at okemo and even though the conditions sucked theses skis performed very well. They held an edge really well on ice and busted through crud with no issues. Great Skis, I plan to use these as my primary ski on the east coast.

you may be more pleased on a more cambered ski. Check out the sentinel by salomon. The ski has pretty good flotation for the occasional east coast snow but will bea very stable on groomers and work well on ice. The bonifide is a great ski but you will be having more fun without the all the rocker and a stiffer, stabler platform.

It Is a great ski, very dynamic. The 180 or 187 should both work well on the east coast.

This would be a great choice given your primary terrain choices. This is a solid ski, but maneuverable as well. You will give up something during your "dry" spells given the wide waist, but will be loving life with just a few inches of fresh.