From: eriks@lin.foa.se (Erik Svensson FOA2)
Newsgroups: rec.skiing
Subject: REVIEW: Salomon 9000 S3, K2 Extreme, K2 CV Comp LONG!
Date: 28 Dec 92 14:08:11 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: FOA, Linkoping, Sweden

Greetings!

Just back from the first skiing holiday of the season, I don't feel like
working too much, so I'll give you a review of the skis I had opportunity 
to try this week. 

I tried 3 skis, Salomon 9000 S3 Equipe, K2 Extreme 8,3 and K2 CV Comp 
8,3. The Salomon were last years model, but as the '93 model is exactly 
the same I'll do them anyway. The K2's are '93 models. I was first man 
out on the K2s and the Salomon was fresh from the grinder.

I skied at Salen, a swedish ski resort. It's the biggest in 
sweden with about 50 000 beds. There wasn't much people and no lift queues.

Conditions: Temps from -7 centigrade ( around 19 deg F) down to -20 
centigrade ( -4 deg F) with quite a wind, sometimes up to 25 knots. The 
top parts of the slopes are above the tree line which means that there 
aren't loose snow to speak of there.
There was a good snow cover, about 75 - 100 cm, mostly hard packed with a
centimeter or so of loose snow on top. No ice except on the top of the 
slopes. I had no opportunity to try the skis in deep snow or off pist.

Me: 6'1, around 200 lbs. Skis a lot. Handles any slope (well, almost :-) 
I saw some in Chamonix that I don't want to go near!). I usually ski either
Pre M6 210 or Pre 1600 GSP 208.

Boots: Strolz

I mostly skied on rather steep slopes ( > 40 deg) and did some high speed 
runs on slopes not so steep.

1, Salomon 9000 S3 Equipe Pr 8. Bindings: Salomon 847
This is a monocoque ski, designed as a slalom ski. I was full of expectation
since I never tried a cap ski before. I wasn't disappointed. I think it's
almost the quickest turning ski I've ever been on. It turns on a dime, 
with a tremendous edge grip. I usually ski rather aggressive and prefer 
skis from Volkl, Pre and K2 but this ski had no problems with that. It 
gives you a real kick when you leave the turn to enter the next. It 
managed short sharp turns in loose snow as well without any problems or 
loss of speed.
Despite it's quick turning ability it's stable. I could easily do high 
speed gs turns without any (almost) hint of flutter in the ski. It 
powered through crud and death cookies with no problem and only small 
amount of flutter. When I really pushed up the speed I found that it 
started to flutter at about the same time that my heart did. 
Despite all this you could cruise the easier slopes without any problems.
But if you want any enjoyment out of these skis you have to work for it. 
It's a demanding ski.

I had some problems in the beginning with it's reaction speeds. It was 
far faster that I was used to, but got over it with some practice.
I really can't praise it's grip enough. At one point I skied a >40 deg 
slope with real hard packed snow and it was like skiing on satin or 
hard pressed chalk. A wonderful feeling. I haven't had this much fun 
since I tried the Volkl P9 SL on an icy slope.

I won't try to guess it's behaviour in deep snow or off pist.

2, K2 Extreme (200). Bindings Salomon Quadraux ( I think it was)

This is an off pist ski, made for deep snow and bumps. Despite this it's 
a fun quick turning ski, though not as fast edge to edge as the 9000. It 
has a real snappy rebound, though not as good as the CV Comp.It has a good 
edge grip and will ski a steep slope with well packed, hard snow without any
major problems. But when you punch up the speed the ski becomes unstable and
starts jumping around. When I tried to do gs turns at some speed the ski didn't
like it at all. It really encourages you to do short, quick turns and performs
these at almost any speed, on any slope and on hard packed snow. Under those
conditions it gives you (or at least me) lot's of satisfaction. Ice it didn't
handle too well. Also it couldn't handle death cookies and loose chunks of ice
with the authority I'm used to from my own skis, but then I really shouldn't
expect that.

It took me some time to figure this one out. It didn't like the way I 
skied it and after a while I pushed my weight backwards, didn't press so 
much forward, and voila' there it was! After that it was almost pure fun.
When I tried cruising I found that it couldn't really cruise.It's boring and

uninspired if you try and it's not worth the effort. I do wonder if i 
didn't ski on too short skis. It felt at some times like I overpowered 
the ski. It's a demanding ski and you have to work it. It's not a ski for 
the beginner. But it was fun none the less. Take it out on the steep slopes and
have fun. I would dearly like to ski it in deep snow. 
The Extreme, btw, is one of the more popular skis in Sweden.

3, K2 CV Comp (200). Bindings Salomon Quadraux (I think it was)

This is a racing slalom ski, more like the old K2 VO. Like the two others 
this is a quick turning ski, with a real good snap. It's a bit more 
nervous than the Extreme and turns faster than the Extreme. It's got a 
better grip on hard snow than the Extreme but not so good as the 9000. It
manages all kinds of snow (or at least the kinds I found). It a bit more 
stable than the Extreme but not all that much. When the speed goes up it 
starts to flutter and don't like ice blocks and stuff. I took it out on 
the 45 deg slope (or so they say) called the wall. There's a lot of 
beginners there who tend to remove the loose snow, so what's left is the 
hard pack and some ice. The CV managed this slope quite well, but as with 
the Extreme it felt like I skied on too short skis, over powering the 
ski. I skied this one like I skied the Extreme and that was the right 
medicine. The GS turns were better than on the Extreme but not as good as 
the 9000 but you can do big turns at some speed without too much flutter. 

What can catch you by surprise is the rebound. I think a lighter skier 
could have problems with this. When I tried cruising it wasn't much to be 
happy about. This ski likes to worked and demands it. It really likes the 
steep slopes and is really a superb slalom ski. But it makes a better 
allround ski than the Extreme, if you stay on the prepared slopes. 

How it behaves off pist or in the bumps I have no idea.

Of the three I give the 9000 the nod. In fact I very nearly bought a 
pair. If I had had a bit more money I would have. 
You might wonder that all three get such good reviews, but I've always like 
K2 skis and the Salomon, well I liked it!. It was tremendous fun to ski these
three skis. The K2s had the most fantastic glide (if that's the right word), 
being completely new. Though it cost me some, it was worth it!

Hope you found this interesting.
--
Erik Svensson			Research Officer
Guided Weapons Division		National Defense Research Establishment (FOA)
Stockholm			Sweden

net.address: 	eriks@fenix.lin.foa.se

"Another casualty of applied meta-physics!" -- Hobbes
Newsgroups: rec.skiing