athan has said that the Helldora

Jonathan has said that the Helldorado had a pretty small sweet spot that made it hard to stay balanced in variable conditions and terrain, but I would say the Black Ops 118 is the opposite it feels like it has a huge sweet spot, and I always felt pretty balanced on it. What a lame name.. maybe its better in French? As always, note the length differences to keep things apples to apples. This is what the Black Ops 118 was designed for, and its certainly a ton of fun in powder. -1 works well in general, though loses a touch of playfulness. More playful. Your choice of ski, boot design and size will always be a very personal and subjective decision. Which takes us to. They also ski switch really well. And I was exhausted every day by noon as a result. The Black Ops 118s recommended mount point is around -2.4 cm from center.

Underfoot: 10 ON3Ps Kartel 116 is my current crud busting specialist. But with the bindings at -4.4 cm from center, I could drive the Black Ops 118 quite hard, and I never found its speed limit in chop. And after all that, Ive come to the conclusion that the Black Ops 118 is my all-time favorite resort powder ski, and one of my favorite skis Ive ever had the pleasure of riding. As I noted above, the ski felt best when skied from a centered stance when mounted on the recommended line. Even then, I felt like I was getting too much tip dive, and would just get launched forward when I didnt want to. I have a pair that are getting tired and these seem pretty similarheavy, crud busting, and like to be skied hard/with speed. (Rec. Yep, Jonathan preferred the skis with the bindings mounted about -5.5 cm back from the true center of the ski. Float it. Its far from the quickest ski, but its weight becomes much more of a benefit when that fresh snow starts to get tracked out. I wont give my own report as you guys are more adept at reporting and better skiers than me. Love em. Im fairly sensitive to mounting points, and I hate remounting. Please type the letters and numbers below. Rossignol told us no construction changes were made to the 118 and 98, but we have pairs of the 20/21 versions so we will be able to double-check. The Rossignol Black Ops 118 is a big, heavy, and pretty strong ski thats also got a very centered mount and nearly symmetrical rocker profile and shape. For the 189 Pettitors, maybe move it back some each time for bigger guy, but for comparison purposes:

Both heavy skis. So that night I remounted the ski to -2 of recommended to give them a little more float. Float and bounce. IMPORTANT : Bindings are one of the key of your safety, it's important to check the information filled below. Very aggressive directional skiers may want a ski with a stiffer tip and a more rearward mount point. Stomp and smear. This season I was able to hit a lot of features I hadnt felt confident hitting in the past, and they made it seem easy. I love your reviews thank you so much! Yep I ended up skiing on the same day the Black Ops 118 and current 190 cm Blister Pro / Wildcat. The most well-rounded powder ski on the market., (a quote from the Silverton Mountain website. My legs definitely feel pretty tired after skiing hard all day on the Black Ops 118. With this ski, I felt like I could really ski as hard as I wanted without worrying about the ski folding or getting sloppy with speed. That said, if you are accustomed to very directional pow skis with mount points of -10, 11, etc., you might feel differently, and should expect to need to adjust to the more forward mount, or just stick with more directional pow skis.

Its the Black Ops version of the Moment Bibby Pro 190s. Thanks for sharing! The Black Ops tips and tails curl up much more than the Helldorados, and maybe as a result, Ive never had any issue with the Black Ops spearing into the snow or diving in deep pow like Jonathan and Jason did on the Helldorado. They then renamed the original Black Ops the Black Ops 118, added a 176 cm option for the 118 (in part to give the extremely talented Tatum Monod a ski to shred on), and weve now been getting time on the 186 cm model. (I could give more detail on the comparison, but almost enough. So Im glad you found the Black Ops 118s and got it. I demoed these skis on a pow day. Optimal ski length is determined according to (in order): weight, physical ability, skier height and type of skier (aggressive/non-aggressive).

I havent felt more confident skiing hard on any ski Ive ever been on. Ive only skied on-piste primarily in the Mid-West, but went to Colorado (Keystone) for the first time in December and the ski bug hit me hard. Or does it somehow manage to feel like both? Please enter your email address below to receive a password reset link. I got some advice from the Snowbird shop guys when I bought my first pair of adult skis that has stuck with me. Shovels: 7-8 That said, the Black Ops 118s mass and size does make skiing fast through firm crud pretty tiring, and my ankles and knees definitely felt the impact of that after a long day of skiing fast on the Black Ops 118 on firm snow. Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Black Ops 118 for our initial impressions. If so, Id highly recommend setting aside some time to watch their recent film: For the 18/19 season, Rossignol announced a narrower addition to the Black Ops line the Black Ops 98. I think the ski has a huge sweet spot, and it required a major mistake on my part to feel like I was too far forward or back on it. I skied 190 Wildcats for a day, and although I loved them too, for me, the Blackops are the exact ski Ive been looking for (though very similar to my day on the Wildcats). They are hefty but I felt like the could bust through nearly anything. +4.5 if I want a more upright style and no tip drive feel; If you dont believe these skis would be a good fit for my level or desire to learn more and get better, what would you recommend? This ski wants to be skiing aggressively in soft snow, and if you arent doing that, youre better off on another ski. Its far from the most nimble ski, and it does require a good deal of input to ski. Would really love to try the Black Ops based on your review though, sounds great. The Black Ops 118 is exactly as described by Luke. When I bought the ski, I was interested in finding a great powder ski, in particular one that I could use for heli / cat skiing. I have a pair that I love however I broke them on my last trip to whitler. The Black Ops 118 is reportedly the same as it was upon its release (apart from graphics). And bigger skiers should note that this skis max available length is 186 cm; Sam, Jonathan, and I never had any issues with tip dive and we range from 58, 155 lbs to 510, 175 lbs, but larger skiers should keep this in mind. I spent a lot of time that week driving from the back seat. Right on recommended is probably perfect for the freestyle kids.

And I can say after all that time - I HIGHLY suggest this skis. Of the currently available, ~110-125mm-wide skis weve reviewed, the Black Ops 118 is the second heaviest. How would you compare the S7 to Black Ops 118? There is an intriguing comparison. Ive demoed the Black Ops ski over two periods, back in November at Loveland and recently at Copper Mt., in maybe 2-4 of powder only, with wind drift and crud, but also groomers. (The Black Ops has a very slightly rounder turn feel, maybe, a fun modification; but this is so slight it might be just the difference in length. I didnt have any trouble piloting it through CBs many tight chutes and trees, and I loved how solid and balanced it felt when making lots of small turns down steep terrain. It was only after I switched back to other skis like the Faction Prodigy 4.0 and K2 Mindbender 116C that I noticed the weight of the Black Ops 118. Sorry, but I finally got a pair of the Black Ops, an almost NOS version pre-Gamer, and have skied them a lot. I have now skied on them periodically for a season, and thought I might offer some perspective on the Blister review. Id recommend checking out our Deep Dive of the Black Ops 118 for some info on that comparison. Three different lengths of almost the same ski. As an intermediate skier with one set of skis, I would suggest something in the 90-100mm range, as thats the true western all mountain range. You Buy, We Plant Trees! And both do Sean Pettit turns.). I cant say much about park, its not something I have interest in. This ski must be in your quiver. For reference Im 22, 62 and weigh around 160 lbs. The 186 (184.2) Black Ops fits in nicely in size between the 179 (180) Pettitors of Sean and the 189 (190/191, for mine) at times of Seth. That, combined with its forgiving tips and tails and loose feel make it pretty easy to ski in bumps, trees, etc. Big picture, I feel like I should start by saying that in many ways I feel let down by the promise of this ski. The issue with having a ski this wide as your only ski is that they are a ski with a specific purpose, even if you can use them outside that role. Subscribe to our newsletter to get 15% off on your next apparel purchase hardgoods & bikes excluded. The Black Ops 118s rocker profile is more typical for a freestyle pow ski fairly deep tip and tail rocker lines, high, nearly symmetrical tip and tail splay, and a very even, symmetrical look overall. Would you go factory rec less 2 on these as well? (2) How well does the ski accomodate a more forward or a more set back mount point? Ive been riding it since it was released, as my pow ski of choice for deeper days at Kicking Horse and sled skiing. ), So, just to confirm mounting points described in the review, when you say Jonathan loves them at -3cm from recommended line that actually means -5,4cm from center? Take a quick glance at the list below. I got the 118 last year and agree with your entire review. But then I took the skis heli-skiing, and that was my mistake. I have put it through the wringer. The result was the Black Ops a 118mm-wide ski designed with the input of backcountry-freestyle icons Parker White and Chris Logan. For reference, here are a whole bunch of our measured weights (per ski, in grams) for a number of notable skis. As Jonathan noted in his First Look of the 16/17 Black Ops, this ski has almost no tip or tail taper. How similar is this ski to the 2012-2013 rossignol squad 7? The Blackops Gamer is the tool of choice for full gas freeride performance. I would say the squad 7s were a ton of fun but a ton of work.

mt. Ski the black Ops in the last 2 weeks at Whitefish, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse and catski Mustang Powder. In all depths of fresh snow, the Black Ops 118 was very easy to throw sideways. Have you been on those and if so, how would you compare the 2? It is a fantastic powder ski for resort and even in catski in deep powder. How much stability does the black ops lose? Reforest Action. Other than just skiing pow, I have ridden spring crud, firm, and groomed snow. Apart from the very ends of the ski, the Black Ops 118 is quite stiff. I am also trying to stay on the lower side of the price range as these would be my first owned skis renting is adding up and is too much $$!

Bought this ski last year before this review was published. They feel like a racer's powder ski. Would you say 4.4 is still good for me or would you recommend something different due to my height? But if youre not doing huge rotations, or youre willing to put more thought and effort into takeoffs, the Black Ops 118 is a great option (after all, Parker White is still throwing dubs on this thing, so you dont really get to use its weight as an excuse). I do think the Black Ops would be slightly more stable, but the Kartel 116 is also one of the most stable in this category, so I dont think going to the Gamer is going to give you massively improved stability (though I do think the Black Ops would be more versatile on firmer conditions). The Black Ops 118 feels like a freaking monster truck in chop. After about a half a day on the ski, I got used to the weight and did not think the Black Ops 118 felt sluggish, especially given its weight. After one day of riding these skis I have fallen in love. Tails: 7-5.5. And thats good news for many of us since, we assume that you too probably end up skiing a lot of not-perfect snow even on a pow day. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. And it should be even more appealing if the in-runs and runouts you hit tend to be choppy or rough. One of the things that stood out to Sam and me was how the Black Ops 118 felt solid on edge, but also very loose. It is a very versatile and fun tool for a ski in this class. Its also worth noting that, apart from the Devastator, those are all very directional skis. I am an intermediate skier (I circle Type II when renting) that hits the slopes maybe 1-2 times per year for the past 3-4 years. Lots of strong skiers got them in duplicate, but the extra weight of these longer skis make them harder for old guys and those with injured knees, etc. While the Black Ops 118 does feel very loose, its important to keep in mind that it weighs almost 2500 grams per ski. Thanks! Backcountry booter and big mountain approved by C.LOGAN and P.WHITE., The phrase here that sticks out for me is Solid when needed. I ended up finishing the last half of the season using nothing but this ski. Despite its hefty weight, I still really liked the Black Ops 118 in tight terrain. the 189 (pull length 190 to 191) Petttor 120s (the sometimes Seth Morrison ski). Of all the skis weve ever reviewed (including those not currently available), there arent many that are heavier than the Black Ops 118. (All these mount points feel right for particular skier styles and purpose, and particular skier size. But its also a very hefty ski, and that affects how playful it feels. (It is comparable to the 190 Moment Bibby Pros, a playful charger; but the Pettitor 189 is easier to handle at the right mount point for each skier, while being more bombproof and heavy than the Bibby, like the Black Ops, for the right size skier.) As usual, I found your review great, detailed and almost entirely accurate for myself also. The Black Ops 118 is a ski that feels exceptionally stable and composed at high speeds, yet its also easy to slash and feels balanced in the air. Both seem to have similarish dimensions. (1) Does the Black Ops 118 feel more like a stable (variable conditions) charger, or more like a surfy, playful (pow) ski? Theyll be able to let you feel the skis in a way you wont quite get online, even if you dont end up buying there. ), Specifically, the 189 (pull length c.190) Pettitor 120 is the missing, longer ski heavier folks and more chargy folks like SEVERIN above, were wanting, it really is! Given your background, I think just having them mounted -6 cm from the true center of the ski would make sense (that equate to about 3.5 cm back from the recommended mount point, but going off the true center of the ski is always the safest bet). The 179 (pull length 180) Pettitor 120, the Sean Pettit ski, is for smaller, lighter folk (Sean Pettit is 56 at most, a cannonball); or for a warm up, get in shape ski for groomers and softer, smooth conditions. Then I have to get more upright. Yes as many comments a 192cm will be a good option. Maybe I should remount them again to -4 of recommended per the Blister review, but I think for someone my size that will not really change the fundamentals of the ski in the deepest snow. Hey Charlie, demo-ed the 19/20 and trying to figure out mounting advice.. Its all the same ski (see our note at the bottom of the specs for the ski).

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athan has said that the Helldora