Great to hear!

A SkiHD from SkiEssentials University?

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Yeah yeah what one sees in their mind as they ski. I see very distinct pole plants because I’m A Midwest boy so my turns are short, always looking for that ice and always looking for that small line of loose snow to set my edges into. And that makes short turns and then a side slip looking for the goods to bend into. And I do THAT even out west. I can’t help it unless I focus on bigger turns purposely because the snow is there….I’m not a park skier, not a racer, I don’t do switch….I do MIDWEST…..thank you gentlemen. Now I know.

Glad to hear!

Kore does a great job in mimicking the power of metal, not quite as damp, but pretty close, and especially for the weight.

Hey Joe! Jeff here. As Kores get wider, I tend to like them more and more at my weight. There's more rocker, so my inability to bend them properly starts mattering less and less, if that makes sense. For me it starts with the 105 where I start to feel more comfortable. The 111 might actually be my favorite, but I don't often have the right now for it. I just really like its shape. I've only skied the 117 a handful of times. I think you're on the right track here.

Thanks! It's really pink!

Have fun!

i have to comment before i forget.. it sounds like the stiff tails give Bob support while those stiff tails launch me out into the woods.. i get what jeff is saying about not being able to bend the tails.. i am 200+ but not in shape.. i was in shape at 185 and i was in shape at 165 and i couldn't ever get the tails of Volkl to bend (just to compare).. so the weight is just part of the ratio.. i haven't skied the 93s but i skied the 99s.. the 99s were great on groomers so i would imagine the 93s were great on groomers and my Stormrider 88s are great on groomer so I already had that ski.. i have already encountered multiple people who ski Head Kore in Colorado... It sounds like there is a big difference between waist widths.. it sounds like the 105 has a lot more rocker than the 99 and is a lot damper.. i went up the lift today with a guy skiing a Head carving ski.. I think this was around 80 but he had a 60 something that he uses on groomer days.. For Powder days he uses a Head 117 (i think he said).. Does Head Kore make a 117? He is retired so he has a ton of skis but he says his 2 main pair are his Powder and Carving skis.. I know Bob spent time in Breck but I can totally tell that you guys are on the East Coast with the Icier Conditions.. When you guys spend time at Alta you start talking differently.. It would be interesting if you spent a whole season out West... I know Bob spent a lot of time on a narrower width in Alta but it would be interesting to see if you spent a lot of time in the West if you would naturally start staying wider..

i totally agree with jeff when he talks about the soft/hard snow.. like the soft snow will absorb the harder/stiffer ski.. that is what it does with my stormrider 88.. this is the other interesting thing.. i know that Bob didn't like the Kastle 96 HP but when you added the TI he loved it and i think that was because he was supported.. i like it without the ti because i think it handles better in the softer snow.. i have only had it in soft snow once so i do need more experience with it but i think that not only shows the difference in skiing styles but also the difference in skiing conditions..

i have no clue about bindings.. maybe i need to look at what i have on my skis and check out some of your videos on bindings.. i have been comparing my skis and binding combos to other ski and binding combos.. i was skiing my DPS Wailer F100 RP and i saw another pair of DPS Pagodas with bindings that were like barely the material that I had.. My guess is that they were touring/back country skis.. I was really impressed.. My guess is that the skis and bindings were at least 500 grams per ski less than what I am using.. And I was tired today.. And sweaty;)

The Kore 117 exists. They also make a 111 and 105. These three have different rocker profiles and taper shapes than the narrower Kore skis and it's pretty noticeable.

@@SkiEssentials Does the 117 even have any taper? I would imagine that lifting would be involved rather than carving.. It seams like the really wide skis that I see do not have much taper..

Thanks for the feedback, and I've felt that the skis are pretty easy on my older knees. I really noticed it when I skied a heavier ski while these were in studio--both my legs and back were considerably more fatigued after skiing metallic skis for a few days.

@@SkiEssentials I think they're not easy to mine simply because i have to put in a lot of power. In terms of (swing) weight, they're just perfect. It's the stiffness that fights me with my low weight. You're roughly double my weight, that's another story :)

I love the consistency between your kore reviews, I would likely have a hard time if I was under 200 lbs. I can bend the heck out of these things and you can charge hard, very quickly, and with a lot of power out of turns, and ski the bumps of Mary Jane all relatively easily for someone like me.

@@conorlinehan4434 are these good in the trees and east coast / some icy spots?

Thanks for sharing!

I love my 93's, and have really enjoyed the 99's whenever I get on them.

Totally. I think more things have to line up with skiers and their selection of carbon-powered skis than with metal or other. Even something like Ripstick skis I find to be slightly flexy in the tips while good everywhere else. My high center of gravity does not like flexy tips unless I'm using them for mogul-specific. I gravitate to the Kore because it's consistent and predictable, albeit very reactive.

@@SkiEssentials As an aside, and a followup from the live Q&A youtube from last week, there is a recent video upload from Tom Gellie interviewing Jeff Colt of Zipfit about changes happening there. I'm hoping Skiessentials will carry these products and be a source of real information about them being able to talk about what works in what boots etc - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ebB4rcyfz8epc5c.html

I am very happy with my bindings on the recommended line. Not sure what benefit is to be had by moving forward. You can ski these shorter, but it's not necessary.

Yeah I agree, the shorter mount zone would make those wider Kore skis a bit more rounded in flex. As the tail gets bigger/wider, though, so does the rocker and taper, so there's a balance there.

Amazingly, right before it rained here all last week, the skiing was great. And yes, all at Stowe.

Carbon and ice don't pair as well as metal and ice for a lot of people.

i own the vantage 90ti and like it (but prefer the brahma) when i demo'd the older Kore 93 i did not have a good experience at all i could not get out of a turn the way i am used to . I think they are very different skis, def demo before you buy

I think the Kore has a far more sophisticated feel than the Vantage. I felt the Vantage was stiff, light, and pingy, and Kore has lost the pinginess.

I think this ski works great in shorter sizes, especially if you're concerned about your weight. At 6/2 225, I feel like I'm pretty firmly entrenched in the 184, but I've also really liked the 177 in both the 93 and the 99. The big benefit here is that you won't feel like the tails are too stiff, and you get the benefit of the shorter turn radius for more moderate speeds for when it's time to ski with kids.

The Mindbender is a great mix of the Kore and the Kendo. These are three great skis for what you're looking to do, so you're in a great spot for sure. Whenever this happens, I generally advise to pick the one in the middle. I'd go with the 170 in that ski. Have fun!

Evolvs have more of a traditional feel. Not quite like a ski with a horizontal metal laminate, but more vibration damping than the Kore. It's not as quick or responsive, however, especially in bumps, trees, etc. I do think the Evolv, in general, is a better carver. That Declivity is a great ski! Certainly nothing wrong with picking up a pair of those.

I'd go 170 in that ski. It's pretty stiff so it's okay to go a bit shorter. We pair them with either the Tyrolia Attack 14 or the Marker Griffon, and they take the 95 Attack brake and the 100 Griffon brake.

Hey Mark, I like the 99 because there's more mass overall, and it seems to make the ski a bit more damp. I just already have two skis that are ~100 mm underfoot and didn't need a third, that's a big reason for going to the 93. Plus the bindings. SE

Yup! Skied mine yesterday in some soft snow, and they did great! Still awesome when popping out onto the trails.

If you like nimble and precise and are just looking for something different, check out the Black Crows Serpo! I obviously love my Kore 93, but the Serpo is incredibly smooth and energetic--worth a look for sure.

Thank you! Never heard about these! I didn't buy Head Kores when I demoed them, and am still using my old Salomon Lords which I don't love. I decided to finally swap them for Head Kore, but your review made me second guess myself. Should be getting something that's more suited for a light weight skier like myself?

I would say the 99 is a better choice especially if you're looking for the soft snow application. I also don't feel that the carving tendencies are all that different. In some ways, given the greater mass of the 99, I feel like it's a better carver on all but the firmest of snows versus the 93.

A happy accident!

yes, the nice thing about the Kore is that you can ski it shorter because it's stiff. I'm 6'2 and the 184 is great for me, but I've also really enjoyed it in the 177 as well. I love the blend of maneuverability and performance in these skis.

The stiffness of the ski kept me in the 184 range. So far, I have not found it to be too short at all. I wanted something to ski both by myself and with the kids. That 191 just looks a bit daunting for some of the tighter trees we have here in Vermont. Maybe if I was in wider-open spaces, I'd size up, but even then, I might be on a different ski altogether. The K2 is more front-side oriented than the Kore--it turns on a dime and is a whole lot of fun on groomers, but I'm much happier in the woods and in softer snow on the Kore than I would be on the K2. Hope that helps! SE/Bob

I think it's okay to size down if you're in the middle. I'm 6/2 225 and could ski the 191, but opted for the 184 because they're still really stiff. I'm also happy on the 177 in the 93 and the 99, so my experience has taught me that if you're caught between, go shorter.

@@SkiEssentials Thank you so much for your comment! I agree with you! Have a great season!!

I'm 6'2 225 and I much prefer the 184 to the 191--I like the slightly turnier nature of the shorter length.

Sure, slightly wider and more powerful, the Bonafide does have a higher performance ceiling than the Kore. In the mid-90's also check out the Volkl Mantra, Nordica Enforcer 94, and the Salomon Stance 96. Have fun! SE

Shape and purpose, they're pretty close. The Enforcer is considerably heavier than the Kore, to to the tunes of hundreds of grams. If you feel like you want a more stable and stout ski, especially for your stats, then the Enforcer is wonderful, but if you're looking for an easier time on the hill and quicker turns, the Kore will still hold up to some very rigorous skiing.

For your parameters, I'd say the Ripstick is a slightly better choice, but that's no insult to the Kore 93, which I own and love. I like it because I'm a bit heavier at 225 pounds and I can bend it easier than lighter skiers, who will have more success on the Elan. I still like the Elan a whole lot, but prefer the Black Edition personally to get more damping and power. If you're mainly in moderate speed and shorter turns, I think the regular Ripstick makes good sense.

@@SkiEssentials Great feedback, thanks! At 5'11" and 190lbs does that frame and weight warrant the Black or will the regular be enough?

Pretty similar overall in terms of application. What I really like about the Kore is that it's consistent in flex from tip to tail. When you do what Serpo does, with a partial metal laminate, it varies where the flex is located. This is a good thing for skiers who want a bit more playfulness and float in the shovel and tail, but still solid grip underfoot. I found no issues with the strength of the Serpo, especially in the tail, and the energy produced was very similar to that of the Kore. Kore is a bit lighter, but both will be considerably more agile than your Brahma.

@@SkiEssentials Thanks so much for the response- sounds like both would work for me.

I do think the light weight and taper shape in the tip will make it a decent floater. Also it's not that cambered, so it's not going to be too hooky either. I'd ski it up to about 6 inches before I reached for my 104's.

It's very much the same, only quite a bit lighter and more responsive.

Personally at 100kg, I like the stiffness of the Kore. I feel I can bend it and get the amazing energy out of the carbon. I love the Declivity, but the Kore lines up better with what I'm looking for in a ski while keeping it very light.

We're both pretty happy with our Wells Lamont Snow mittens, but if you're looking for warmth and quality, the Hestra mitts are pretty sick.

Check out these guy’s review (last season) of Volkl Kanjo 84. I am about your size and found them to be a great all around ski. A really good ski for lighter, less powerful skier. Forgiving for an intermediate skier and usable by an expert. I am on the 168 length an having a grand time on them. Maybe a little narrow for back country, but they are definitely worth consideration.

I think the narrower options are better for intermediate skiers, so the 90 makes a good deal of sense, especially if you're looking for something versatile. Mid-80's is a great place to be as well, so Salomon Stance 84, Volkl Kanjo, and Dynastar M-Pro 85 are all right there with nice and fun all-mountain skis with high-performance ceilings. Have fun! SE

He should ski the 170 cause he said the 177 are stiff for him...

@@fastbladeproductions7961 Interesting scenario there, actually. Often times, especially with skis like this, the shorter lengths can actually feel stiffer. I've skied 170, 177, and 184, and generally prefer the 177.

We've found that lighter skiers who normally ride shallower edge angles and are looking for mobility and ability will enjoy the Kore. Conversely, heavier skiers will also have success since they've got the mass to bend the skis. It's the middle-ground of skier that can struggle--mid-weights with good technique who want to bend the ski but don't quite have the weight to make it do so smoothly--those are the ones that seem to find the ski to be chattery. If you're looking for something on the agile side but with a bit of substance, QST's from Salomon are a fun step up because they're still mobile, but a bit more substantial than Kore in terms of weight and stability.

The only helmet(s) I've ever worn--the Bern Watts. My older Watts was the first and only helmet that I ever found that fit and felt comfortable. I like the brim style and the minimalistic look. I went with a Watts Carbon last year, and it's super-light and amazing.

But then his strength to weight ratio would be off and that's what makes him such an amazing skier.

Thanks for watching!