[B_O_B]

Is this a tele or alpine ski: Tele
Length: 177cm
Tip width: 116
Waist: 81
Tail: 104
Weight in this length: ? (3.5kg for 184s)
Boots used: 2-buckle T2s
Bindings used: Targas w/ all-mountain springs
How many days on the skis: 5
Resort or backcountry: Lift-served
Geographical region: Utah (Alta)
Tell us about the terrain you ski: 50% off-piste powder and crud, 50% groomers - just not many bumps.
Do you know how the skis were tuned (bevel): Factory
How long have you been skiing: 3 years (no alpine background)
How many days a year: 30+ (this year)
Previous ski that you liked: K2 WPs
Previous ski you did not like:
How big are you: 5'10", 155lbs
Mostly tele or parallel: Tele

Comments:

I was looking for a 'quiver of one' to replace my '02 Piste Pipes (183s) which are fine on the groomers but I find limiting in pow and crud. I demoed the K2 World Pistes and Work Stinx, along with the Barons. I really liked the WPs but I chose the Barons since they seemed stiffer than the WPs and were a little lighter, too. I also got a killer deal on 'em. The Works were just too big for my needs.

I don't have much to compare them to but I've had a chance to ski the Barons in a wide variety of conditions - from untracked 17" pow to days-after crud and crust to firm snow groomers - and they make me very happy. They have great float in the pow (light or heavy) and they cut through the old leftovers pretty well. Where my PPs would wander the Barons are stable and solid. The Barons also feel very light and quick turning, especially compared to my old PPs but some of that is due to the shorter length. They hike well and I think they'll be right at home when I start exploring the BC next season. I definitely see this ski helping advance my technique by leaps and bounds (or hops and turns?).

Oh yeah, the graphics. People seem to either love or hate the graphics on the G3s....let's just say that I don't hate them. There are some cool details...

[vt-tele]

I am just going to dovetail off your review.

I skied the 177 at Mad River Glen Saturday. The conditions were good but getting bony in places. This dump coming will make the mountain amazing.

Anway...to begin....I suck. I am out of shape and have not skied enough to make ths review mean much is my guess. So take it with a grain of salt.

These skis rock on wide open terrain. I loved skiing upper Antelope hard both Tele & Pturn. They went there I pointed them. Theyhad ZERO chatter unike my Super Stinx. I felt like they excelled at longer radius turns, but I had no probem with quick turns when needed.

Bumps...hated them. I could not get them to come around for me at all. Compared to the WP, SS and Rossi T3....I felt like the baron simply did not want to turn when I asked it too. Also if I got stuck in te back seat I got thrown around a bit.

Trees & places like Paradise. I just felt like a 177 was tooo long for me. I had a harder time throwing the ski around like my SS.

I'm not too technical on skis so I won't bullshit about that. However, I would call them damp. I felt little or no vibration or negative feedback at high speeds.

I'd prefer this ski in pow, groomers, cut-up junk and wide spaced trees. Not in bumps or tight eastern woods.

Dirk asked what these would be like as a MRG ski....I wouldn't call them one. You just have to make too many turns at MRG and I think these boys like to run a bit.

[Dr.Faustus]

Just got my new Barons w/ Targa bindings last week and have skiied them for a half day. Unfortunately, I was (didn't realize it then) coming down with a cold. I was skiing so badly (no strength, lots of poodling) that I don't have a real feel for them yet.

Once I can get in a few healthy days on them I'll post a review. I can say they were far and away my favorite when demoing early this season.

Dr.F
_________________
Woah, slow down there maestro. There's a *New* Mexico?

[Dr.Faustus]

The Baron ski by Genuine Guide Gear

Is this a tele or alpine ski: Tele and Alpine Touring
Length: 177
Tip width: 116 mm
Waist: 81 mm
Tail: 104 mm
Weight in this length: ?
Boots used: 2-buckle, dark grey and turqoise, Scarpa T2's
Bindings used: G3 Targa bindings on included risers with All-Mountain spring cartridges
How many days on the skis: ~10
Resort or backcountry: 80% resort, 20% backcountry
Geographical region: Southern Rocky Mountains
Tell us about the terrain you ski: some groomers, more bumps and trees, intermediate and advanced rated terrain, starting to explore the backcountry
Do you know how the skis were tuned (bevel): factory, 1 degree base and 1 degree side bevel
How long have you been skiing: 20 years alpine, 2 years telemark
How many days a year: 45+
Previous ski that you liked: learned to ski on Fischer Telecarves with BD Pitbull bindings - so this is my main comparison
Previous ski you did not like: see below
How big are you: 5'10", 150 lbs.
Mostly tele or parallel: mostly tele when on tele gear, but I ski a lot on my alpine setup.

Comments:
I'm a bit of a tele newbie, having alpined for a majority of my ski life. So here's my review based on less than encyclopedic telemark experience.

Early this season I took advantage of a tele demo day at Ski Santa Fe. I was able to demo K2 World Pistes, Black Diamonds, and Atomics as well as the Barons. I've also been able to ride the Hippy Stinx from the local K2 tele rep. My goal was to find the infamous "quiver of one". Though I haven't ridden as many tele skis as I would like, I do have a fair idea of what I'm looking for based on alpine experience.

The Barons are that happy middle ground between all the skis I had a chance to demo. The Barons were livelier than the World Pistes, yet not as springy as the Atomics. The Barons were much easier to turn than the Black Diamonds but not as hyper carvy as the Atomics. The Barons were definitely lighter than the Hippy Stinx, but they have plenty of stability. They are not a true "powder board" but they have MUCH more float than my old Telecarve's. The Barons are also much easier to turn and carve than the Telecarves with no noticeable weight penalty (they could even be lighter?).

Basically, the G3 Barons provide a versatile platform for me to explore new terrain and build skills on. My terrain preference when skiing alpine is trees, moguls and steeps and powder when I can find it. I want to build my skills so that I can telemark ALL of the same terrain that I ski alpine. I've been carving the corduroy, playing in the bumps, threading through the trees and surfing the fluff on the Barons. Every time I head out I get a little more confident and push myself a little further. Of course, now I can't blame the equipment for my tele skiing now !

Thanks,
Dr.F.
_________________
Woah, slow down there maestro. There's a *New* Mexico?