after more time on these

By E Lovely Ranked #669 - Big Mountain Freeride Skis February 10, 2010

I have skied these in all sorts of conditions now and have them mounted with dukes (3cm forward) for skinning.
The forward mount is CRITICAL!!! This allows you to have a much more versatile ski (and I had them factory suggested mounted at first). Some people say that you can go back because of the huge rocker tip and that is ski contact you don't have. WRONG - when you are in the conditions these are made for you are using the rockered length. I can maneuver so much better in tight spots and in cruddy/hard snow because of this, whether it's in a tight couliour or trees. I was also having trouble backslapping landings with the 'suggested' mount. Now that I'm just a bit more forward I am stomping much more and it feels ROCK STAR. Bottom line: I can ski these anywhere! However, I also contend that it is the skier who can ski anywhere, but these sticks can keep up.
I do not mind the weight for skinning with dukes/glide lite BD skins. It's worth the bomber factor for me and I know it's only making me stronger on the way up. The rocker on the way up has not been a problem yet. The wide platform gives you more surface area to grip slick tracks. My only problem skinning comes up when people use a skin track to ski down and make it slant down the fall line, then I have to step to the side and have at least one ski making a new flat track.
My only beef about these skis is that I believe the base material is softer than almost any ski I've ever owned. Thank goodness I have a p-tex gun. But I also need to buy some base patch material now too...

View Details: Black Diamond Megawatt Ski

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes