K2 Merlin V or VI ?
Phil Oxenberg
I've been skiing on K2 KVC (slalom) skis for past 10ish years. I have
loved making tight slalom turns, vadling down
the fall line & skiing moguls. However, at the ripe young age of 45,
with four kids I don't get out as often as I used to
and and I'm not in shape like I was years ago. The upshot is I get
awfully tired vadling down the mountain all day.
This year I decided to demo some different skis. I fell in love with
the Merlin V. I live in New England and the skis
held on to the icy hardpack like I have never experienced before, they
made nice rock solid gs turns and I could even
crank out some some nice slalolm turns too. I don't ski moguls anymore
(too many achy body parts).
Here are my questions:
If I loved the V, but haven't tried the VI, would I love the VI too, in
other words, should I buy the
VI since it is a newer model?
What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
lbs, and my K2 KVCs are 200 or 203s.
Thanks so much.
Phil
Tomas Leveckis
John Cooley
>This year I decided to demo some different skis. I fell in love with
>the Merlin V. I live in New England and the skis
>held on to the icy hardpack like I have never experienced before, they
>made nice rock solid gs turns and I could even
>crank out some some nice slalolm turns too. I don't ski moguls anymore
>(too many achy body parts).
>Here are my questions:
>If I loved the V, but haven't tried the VI, would I love the VI too, in
>other words, should I buy the
>VI since it is a newer model?
>What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
>lbs, and my K2 KVCs are 200 or 203s.
The IV, V and VI are still all current models. I have not skied the V;
I've tried both the IV and VI.
Since you don't ski bumps, try the VI. It is less versatile than either
of the others; the K2 rep was concerned that I'd bend it in the bumps
(it has metal layers), so I didn't take them there, since they were his
brand-new skis, not mine. It hooked up very nicely on hard machine-made
snow in the West, it was quick, with a nice rebound if desired, and it
was stable at speed. Short round turns were also easy, and like most
high-end shaped skis, it didn't like to be shoved and skidded.
Try both the 193 and 198 lengths. The 198 is a better cruiser but not
as quick in short turns. If you still like to keep your turns short,
you might like the 193 better.
Even though you're an expert, you might want to take a lesson to learn
some subtle changes in your skiing style that will help you make the
best use of the new design with less effort.
John Cooley
Phil Oxenberg
Did you find the VIs much harder to "steer or control" than the IVs?
Phil
Kevan Brown
Phil Oxenberg wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I've been skiing on K2 KVC (slalom) skis for past 10ish years. I have
> loved making tight slalom turns, vadling down
> the fall line & skiing moguls. However, at the ripe young age of 45,
> with four kids I don't get out as often as I used to
> and and I'm not in shape like I was years ago. The upshot is I get
> awfully tired vadling down the mountain all day.
>
> This year I decided to demo some different skis. I fell in love with
> the Merlin V. I live in New England and the skis
> held on to the icy hardpack like I have never experienced before, they
> made nice rock solid gs turns and I could even
> crank out some some nice slalolm turns too. I don't ski moguls anymore
> (too many achy body parts).
>
> Here are my questions:
> If I loved the V, but haven't tried the VI, would I love the VI too, in
> other words, should I buy the
> VI since it is a newer model?
>
> What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
> lbs, and my K2 KVCs are 200 or 203s.
>
> Thanks so much.
> Phil
I felt that I should reply, since I demo'd the VI's three weeks ago but I
bought the V's last week. Like you, I ski the east where boiler plate is
just another snow condition to contend with and I found both V's and VI's
hold on to the Ice well. However, the VI's seemed to be big GS's but not
much else where as the V's have done everything that I have wanted to do
with them from moguls to Sunday GS racing(took a bronze in my age group in
the first trip down). At this time of the year, pickin's are slim and
lengths are sparse, but prices are down and if you can find a pair of 198's
at half off the retail, in the V's, I do not think that you will be
disappointed.Good luck.
KB
Reverend Bump
correctly:
> it's wedeln
Does anyone really ski this way any more?
Tom Geldner - Mammoth: Vail-del'n
High Priest of Counter-Rotation and Christianas
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tgeldner
LAL
> In article <36E0074B...@analog.com>, Tomas Leveckis wrote
> > it's wedeln
>
> Does anyone really ski this way any more?
You're allowed to ski anyway you want - that's the nature of the game.
So, yeah, people still wedeln now and again (if they're old enough to know
what the word means.) It's wholesome (no sheep involved), and reasonably
easy, with lightweight equipment, for a reasonably skilled skier. So why
not try wedeln?
Then, as an afterthought, try to imagine the quality of skier who could
wedeln on heavy no-flex wood boards with floppy leather boots stuck in
beartrap bindings. Makes you think.
---------------------------------
Sidecuts? We ain't got no sidecuts. We don't need no sidecuts. I don't have
to show you any stinking sidecuts.
Speaking for myself ....
Hollywood Horvath
>What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
I would lose 35 lbs before skiing.
--
Horvath
I was surfing the net when Yahoo was only a hillbilly cheer.
For information on the Horvath Network e-mail In...@Horvath.net
Richard Harris
I've just been through the same decision process - spent a week in Val
D'Isere trying out a wide range of skis in powder (lots of it), hardpack,
crud and moguls. I'm pretty much the same height, weight and age as you and
am an ex university racer.
FYI, I tried out: Merlin V (193), Merlin VI (188 & 193), Salomon Axe GS &
Salomon X-Scream. Of these, the K2s were way ahead. Of the Salomons, while
the X-Scream is great off piste, it just didn't have the life, acceleration
& edge-edge speed that I like (I'm coming from Volkl P9RS GS skis in 203)
while The Axes were excellent, but not really involving. The Merlin Vs I
really liked - great off-piste and very forgiving but it's the VIs I feel in
love with - they've the closest to telepathic responses I've ever found in a
ski. I found them totally responsive, lightning fast from turn to turn and
very, very good in moguls and off-piste - I didn't find them any less
forgiving than the Vs but more responsive. My partner summed it up - "I can
always tell when you're on the VIs", she said, "it's the size of your grin
at the bottom of a run". As for length, while I loved the 188s, I went for
193s as being better suited to my weight and style. I can emphatically say
that they are the best ski I have ever used. If however your style is a
little less aggressive, the V is also a great ski.
Hope this helps,
Richard
--
__________________________________________________________________
Richard Harris rich...@tdv.com
Chief Technology Officer tel: +44 171 543 1700
The Digital Village fax: +44 171 543 1701
__________________________________________________________________
"The two most common things in the universe are
hydrogen and stupidity." --H. Ellison
__________________________________________________________________
----------
In article <36DFC6D7...@ma.ultranet.com>, Phil Oxenberg
<oxen...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote:
> If I loved the V, but haven't tried the VI, would I love the VI too, in
> other words, should I buy the
> VI since it is a newer model?
>
> What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
Richard Harris
knowledge of his productd - I've just bought a pair of VIs and hammered them
(and me ;-)) in the big bumps at Val D'Isere and found them great in these
conditions. Frankly, if *any* modern ski were to bend when used in bumps,
I'd take them straight back as being unfit for the purpose supplied.
Fortunately, mine have shown absolutely no ill effects from their treatment!
Richard
--
__________________________________________________________________
Richard Harris rich...@tdv.com
Chief Technology Officer tel: +44 171 543 1700
The Digital Village fax: +44 171 543 1701
__________________________________________________________________
"The two most common things in the universe are
hydrogen and stupidity." --H. Ellison
__________________________________________________________________
----------
In article <7bp9j0$4i...@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU>,
sk2i
I found that the Merlin V was the most responsive , fast turning ski I have
ever been on. Reviews call it a GS ski , but it turns anytime & anyway you
want it to. It is a great ski. I'm 6'00'' , 185 lbs. , PSIA . I put Marker
9.1 SC racing bindings on them. Got the 198 length because thats what K2
reccomended for me. The best all round ski I have ever had.
Pete
Phil Oxenberg
Hollywood Horvath wrote:
> Phil Oxenberg <oxen...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote:
>
> >What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
>
Phil Oxenberg
Thanks for responding. I have a pair of VIs reserved for me in 193cm length at
a local shop. I plan to demo them first and hopefully will have a similar sized
grin when I finish. Yes, aside from not being an ex-racer myself, we have very
similar context.
Actually, the best Slalom skis I ever skied on were a pair of Volkl P9s ( i
think that was the model, they had a pale green color).
Phil
Sparty
: I'm stunned at your rep's comments - it shows very little faith in or
: (and me ;-)) in the big bumps at Val D'Isere and found them great in these
: conditions. Frankly, if *any* modern ski were to bend when used in bumps,
: I'd take them straight back as being unfit for the purpose supplied.
: Fortunately, mine have shown absolutely no ill effects from their treatment!
When skied in certain ways under certain conditions (e.g. some
bump techniques), GS skis and SL skis will bend. GS skis are built
for GS turns; SL skis are built for SL turns. If they break doing
something else, you really shouldn't be any more surprised than if
your screwdriver doesn't like being used as a chisel.
(That aside, you can obviously make different-shaped turns on the
same skis; however, bumps and whatnot tend to damages race skis.
You wouldn't take an F1 car off-roading, would you? [don't answer.
I know people who would. You get the point, though.])
--
--Sparty
web: http://upside.net/~sparty/
Carvemeister
Phil Oxenberg wrote in message news:36E166B5...@ma.ultranet.com...
>
>Actually, the best Slalom skis I ever skied on were a pair of Volkl P9s ( i
>think that was the model, they had a pale green color).
>
>Phil
>
If they were a pale green color, then they were probably the P9 SLC which
was a detuned version of the slalom race ski the P9 SL - which was bright
yellow. I retired my P9 SL's a few years back, and thought they were one of
the best also. Very lively, quick and fun.
Hollywood Horvath
>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>--------------7E17105F89ECE8B22B3D1023
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>what is the purpose of your reply?
>
>Hollywood Horvath wrote:
>
>> Phil Oxenberg <oxen...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote:
>>
>> >What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
>>
>> I would lose 35 lbs before skiing.
>>
You are 35 lbs. overweight.
Richard Harris
preference & the type of terrain you mostly ski. Have fun making the
decision!
Richard
--
__________________________________________________________________
Richard Harris rich...@tdv.com
Chief Technology Officer tel: +44 171 543 1700
The Digital Village fax: +44 171 543 1701
__________________________________________________________________
"The two most common things in the universe are
hydrogen and stupidity." --H. Ellison
__________________________________________________________________
----------
In article <36E166B5...@ma.ultranet.com>, Phil Oxenberg
<oxen...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote:
> Thanks for responding. I have a pair of VIs reserved for me in 193cm length
at
> a local shop. I plan to demo them first and hopefully will have a similar
sized
> grin when I finish. Yes, aside from not being an ex-racer myself, we have
very
> similar context.
OraSaurus
>Phil Oxenberg <oxen...@ma.ultranet.com> wrote:
>
>>What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
>
>I would lose 35 lbs before skiing.
Better yet - just add Horvath to your killfile.
-- OraSaurus
--
-- Remove "not_" to reply...
--
Scott Abraham
Phil Oxenberg asked for prophetical guidance
> However, at the ripe young age of 45,
> with four kids I don't get out as often as I used to
> and and I'm not in shape like I was years ago. The upshot is I get
> awfully tired vadling down the mountain all day.
>
> This year I decided to demo some different skis. I fell in love with
> the Merlin V. I live in New England and the skis
> held on to the icy hardpack like I have never experienced before, they
> made nice rock solid gs turns and I could even
> crank out some some nice slalolm turns too. I don't ski moguls anymore
> (too many achy body parts).
>
> Here are my questions:
> If I loved the V, but haven't tried the VI, would I love the VI too, in
> other words, should I buy the
> VI since it is a newer model?
Buddha has both.
Take the V.
A far more versatile ski.
The VI is wonderful, but it is a single purpose board, built for going
extremely fast
TB
Vail: Pleads the Vth
Scott Abraham
Richard Harris wrote:
> I'm stunned at your rep's comments - it shows very little faith in or
> knowledge of his productd - I've just bought a pair of VIs and hammered them
> (and me ;-)) in the big bumps at Val D'Isere and found them great in these
> conditions.
Buddha is stunned that you ain't listening to the rep's comments.
He simply knows his skis.
ANY board that contains metal will bend if stressed enough.
Which is why Buddha don't take his Apex T's, Morrisons, or VI's into the bumps,
and why Buddha doesn't let his friends drive bumps, either.
> Frankly, if *any* modern ski were to bend when used in bumps,
> I'd take them straight back as being unfit for the purpose supplied.
> Fortunately, mine have shown absolutely no ill effects from their treatment!
Skis with metal layers are not supplied to do bumps.
Here is a clue.
No bump specific ski contains a metal layer.
Take them into the bumps if you want to, but don't whine when you bend them:
your dumb, not the manufacturer.
Two Buddha, who actually skied some bumps at Whistler
Vail: No bumps, period
Bruno Melli
: Here is a clue.
: No bump specific ski contains a metal layer.
Actually, I got email from somebody at Rossi who said the 9SM ricochet
had a metal layer.
bruno.
Hollywood Horvath
>and why Buddha doesn't let his friends drive bumps, either.
>
>
Boo-boo has no friends.
Brian Natalie Sniatkowksi
I skied the KVC's for several years, then the K2 SL-Race (in 203 cm).
This past weekend I demoed the Merlin IV's & VI's (they had no V's).
I found the IV's to be a nice ski, but way too soft for me, as I'm
6'1" and 215 lbs (and I don't need to lose weight). The VI's (in 193cm)
were an incredible ski. I had no problems with short turns and they were
stable and smooth when I let them run. The conditions were varied, with
ice, crud and groomed machine-made, packed powder. The ski performed
well in all conditions. I suspect that the 198's might not be as
adept at the short turns as the 193's were. I'm going to buy a pair of
the VI's tomorrow, unless the I let the salesperson talk me into the
V's. I just wish I had a chance to demo them as well.
Also, I enjoy wedeling on ocassion and could do so effortlessy on
the IV's but the VI's just wouldn't co-operate...they just wanted to
get on edge and carve...which is good.
Phil Oxenberg wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I've been skiing on K2 KVC (slalom) skis for past 10ish years. I have
> loved making tight slalom turns, vadling down
> the fall line & skiing moguls. However, at the ripe young age of 45,
> with four kids I don't get out as often as I used to
> and and I'm not in shape like I was years ago. The upshot is I get
> awfully tired vadling down the mountain all day.
>
> This year I decided to demo some different skis. I fell in love with
> the Merlin V. I live in New England and the skis
> held on to the icy hardpack like I have never experienced before, they
> made nice rock solid gs turns and I could even
> crank out some some nice slalolm turns too. I don't ski moguls anymore
> (too many achy body parts).
>
> Here are my questions:
> If I loved the V, but haven't tried the VI, would I love the VI too, in
> other words, should I buy the
> VI since it is a newer model?
>
> What length would you recommend? I am an expert skier, 6' 1", 200-205
> lbs, and my K2 KVCs are 200 or 203s.
>
> Thanks so much.
> Phil
Phil Oxenberg
health!).
I demoed the Merlin VIs at Killington yesterday and thought they were a
great ski. I could make very fast quick turns with them and I could ski
with my feet very close together like I have been doing for the past 15
years or so. They held the "ice" real nice and were incredibly fast. They
felt so smooth and secure when making GS turns. The VIs seemed much
heavier than the Vs.
So, after all that I decided to buy the Merlin Vs (193) and Solomon 900s
Carbon + Driver Plus Axe bindings (at least I think that's the full name of
the binding kit I purchased). The reason I opted for the Vs was that they
were essentially a bit easier to ski and control. I was having a low
energy day and I felt the VIs were like having a locomotive under my feet,
when I was on "top of my game" I was grinning ear to ear, but when I
wasn't, ...
Anyway, I'm sure I'll be happy with the Vs. Thanks again. Now I'm off to
find new boots.... BTW, I paid $580 for the skis and bindings plus tax.
Phil