Comments on: Do Powder Guides do anything but Ski? Perlmutter reviews Megawatt, Dawson installs dishwasher. http://www.wildsnow.com/1039/megawatt-black-diamond-review-ski/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: photonexit http://www.wildsnow.com/1039/megawatt-black-diamond-review-ski/comment-page-1/#comment-16501 photonexit Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:06:57 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1039#comment-16501 Instead of worrying about rocker or no rocker, being effective or ineffective climbing or sliding, eliminate most of the ski! On climbing, only a 2 feet pressure patch underfoot really makes a difference. Same goes for sliding, you need flotation directly underfoot. The rocker eases or channels you in the right direction, which you can do the same with correct body position. I say just go for the widest possible skiboard in the 130-140cm range, with Atomic Fat Boys dimensions. Instead of worrying about rocker or no rocker, being effective or ineffective climbing or sliding, eliminate most of the ski! On climbing, only a 2 feet pressure patch underfoot really makes a difference. Same goes for sliding, you need flotation directly underfoot. The rocker eases or channels you in the right direction, which you can do the same with correct body position. I say just go for the widest possible skiboard in the 130-140cm range, with Atomic Fat Boys dimensions.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1039/megawatt-black-diamond-review-ski/comment-page-1/#comment-15417 Lou Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:00:43 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1039#comment-15417 Peter, I heard some rumors in the same direction. That a well known European ski company would be coming out with a light ski that's a bit wider then the Manaslu, possibly with more rocker, designed for uphill efficiency and without the heavy binding reinforcement plates required for tele bindings. Sort of an even more freeride oriented Manaslu sort of ski, or something to that effect. Peter, I heard some rumors in the same direction. That a well known European ski company would be coming out with a light ski that’s a bit wider then the Manaslu, possibly with more rocker, designed for uphill efficiency and without the heavy binding reinforcement plates required for tele bindings. Sort of an even more freeride oriented Manaslu sort of ski, or something to that effect.

]]> By: Peter http://www.wildsnow.com/1039/megawatt-black-diamond-review-ski/comment-page-1/#comment-15416 Peter Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:38:58 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1039#comment-15416 The weight is holding me back too. this little meadow skipper can't haul *that* much. But I think the market will be giving us more options soon, something for us mere mortals, in between the Manaslu and Megawatt -> skis designed to skin, designed to expand our threshold of skiable snow that is still "fun". The weight is holding me back too. this little meadow skipper can’t haul *that* much. But I think the market will be giving us more options soon, something for us mere mortals, in between the Manaslu and Megawatt -> skis designed to skin, designed to expand our threshold of skiable snow that is still “fun”.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1039/megawatt-black-diamond-review-ski/comment-page-1/#comment-15412 Lou Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:28:13 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1039#comment-15412 Peter, I think the take on a rockered ski's skinning performance is just theory and of no great concern. Indeed, most skin traction comes from somewhere just forward of the foot to the tail of the ski anyway, so having less traction in a rockered tip area shouldn't matter. For me, the weight of these skis is the issue. I see how fun they are and how easy they can make skiing junk snow, but for powder I have tons of fun on just about any plank, so I'm not on the bandwagon for hauling these things around on my feet if I'm earning my turns. Peter, I think the take on a rockered ski’s skinning performance is just theory and of no great concern. Indeed, most skin traction comes from somewhere just forward of the foot to the tail of the ski anyway, so having less traction in a rockered tip area shouldn’t matter. For me, the weight of these skis is the issue. I see how fun they are and how easy they can make skiing junk snow, but for powder I have tons of fun on just about any plank, so I’m not on the bandwagon for hauling these things around on my feet if I’m earning my turns.

]]> By: Peter http://www.wildsnow.com/1039/megawatt-black-diamond-review-ski/comment-page-1/#comment-15409 Peter Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:55:49 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1039#comment-15409 I'm confused as to why a tip rockered ski like the Mega Watt might be considered bad for skinning because of the rocker ( we're leaving weight out of it for a second). On a ski of these dimensions, even with 1/3 of the tip off the ground, it would seem you still have WAY more skin on the the ground than with a traditional 70mm waist touring ski. No? What's the skin surface area of, say, a BD Arc Angel versus the contact skin area of the BD Megawatt? I'd be surprised if the Megawatt wasn't more. So, the tip's off the ground, so what? I’m confused as to why a tip rockered ski like the Mega Watt might be considered bad for skinning because of the rocker ( we’re leaving weight out of it for a second).

On a ski of these dimensions, even with 1/3 of the tip off the ground, it would seem you still have WAY more skin on the the ground than with a traditional 70mm waist touring ski. No?
What’s the skin surface area of, say, a BD Arc Angel versus the contact skin area of the BD Megawatt? I’d be surprised if the Megawatt wasn’t more.

So, the tip’s off the ground, so what?

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