[hdiddy]

Detuning went through my head but I feel like it's like a last resort option. I'm in the group that believes that your edges should be sharp and usually never detuned to maximize carving effectiveness.

I think it was just a matter of getting used to skiing such a different design than I'm used to. I got used to it but some of my other gear wasn't dialed in. I think I had my NTNs on too high a preload and backed them down from Blue 3 to 2 which made the skis seem to relax and respond better. Too much tip input?

If you happen to ski hardpack and run into the same problem... see if you can lower the binding tension to see if it makes any difference before detuning. That would be nice if someone could offer a confirmation or if it doesn't matter.
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Drive the cuff

[bbense]

My experience is only with the Vector BC and only one hard snow resort day, but I found that if I concentrated on really skiing "centered" rather than a more forward style the skis were much better behaved as carvers.

This means you have to throttle back a bit and be more mellow and swoopy, rather than really driving the skis. But if you really enjoy that you'd be on other skis anyway.

- Booker C. Bense

[hdiddy]

Booker... how do you have your BCs mounted? Thanks.
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Drive the cuff

[bbense]

[hdiddy]

Interesting. I'll try going almost to BC and report my findings after this weekend.
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Drive the cuff

[hdiddy]

Progress Report:
I was enjoying a resort weekend with them skiing the crappy leftovers and crusty/icy conditions at AM and Squaw. Lots and lots of moguls. I got everything dialed in for myself and finally satisfied with the performance. Boosted preloads back up to 3... maybe even a touch past 3. Prob the fault of my crispis as they're softening up.

Booker is spot on with the mount. Putting it on boot center to the mark on the ski makes a huge difference. Big difference even being just 1cm off. Get it on the center, the ski's weight feels balanced front to back and more importantly, it becomes crazy pivoty.

Booker is also spot on with skiing them with a balanced "centered" feel. Despite the non-rockered tail, it gets squirrelly if you accidently get into the backseat. Stay on top, stay centered and the skis charge. You can slarve everything to death cept for the tight moguls.

Def makes things easier but having come from more traditional skis, there's a strong sense of loss with the inability to carve aggressively. They just want to pivot and skid. On hardpack, it also means that the ski doesn't "give back" and pop or unload as there's no much flex to the camber. But I guess this isn't why you'd be on this ski either.

Hit plenty of rocks over the weekend. Bases seem pretty durable.

Overall, it could perform as a one-quiver ski. When things get firm and hard, it just wants to skid/slarve/smear through everything and can pick up a decent amount of speed while doing it. Very turny and playful. Def more of a soft conditions & bc type ski. On hard days, it gets the job done and help you keep up with your fast friends.

As a super turny ski, I'd say my Freerandos are more fun at slower speeds with lots and lots of turns. IMO, fun factor is pretty good in general but the skis start to shine when you put a little bit more speed on them in soft conditions. Long radius turns and moderate/fast speeds on untracked and soft snow - good stuff.
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Drive the cuff

[Doug G]

[hdiddy]

I do have one negative comment about the Vector's construction. The top sheets do not seem that durable and get scuff/scratched easily. Already I've spent about 10 days total on them and the tails are getting chewed up pretty good. There's one spot where the tails got chipped bad and the fiberglass is showing and flopping around. Need to invest in some epoxy.

These are the first generation with the blue stripy thing going on.
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Drive the cuff

[hdiddy]

Having spent an epic weekend in Tahoe with the Vectors, I'm really happy with them now that I've figured it out. Spent saturday in a Tele Clinic at Northstar (totally awesome btw) and learned a couple new tricks for pow. Yeah, a heavier ski would blast through everything, but the lightness also makes it fun and easy to get mid-air transitions. It's hard on the quads but with proper technique they can rip through the chop.

I wouldn't use it for resort skiing for intermediates. You get tossed pretty easy if you're not driving them well in chop. In untracked they almost ski themselves. Def my go-to soft snow ski now.

I finally sorta figured out a way to get them to carve well on 1-2 inches of soft. Get enough speed, get the tips to dig in and they'll lay over alot easier. You really have to be in front and now regret that I can only go up to -.5cm unless I remount. Boot Center on Boot Center mark is the way to go.
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Drive the cuff

[hiplainsdrifter]

I actually think the Vectors ski more like a traditional camber ski than any other rockers I have been on. They are very carvy. Of course, they are super light (good thing), which means they get pushed around a bit in choppy hard snow. Float is superb, I don't even really miss my Drifters when I am riding them on deep days. Really I think they are close to being my ultimate ski- the only thing I would change is to make em in a 185, and to get some better graphics.
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let 'er buck

[aaron_wright]

[bbense]

[Quadzilla]

[bbense]

[_Uli]