Reviews by User: Mark from Seattle (6)

I bought these skis for a cat skiing trip at Chatter Creek Lodge, BC. I set them up with Hammerhead tele bindings with the cables in the 4th pivot position, 2.5 cm ahead of chord-center. I tried the H-heads in the 5th (firmest) position, but it impaired the flotation, so I switched them back to the 4th position. This provided a good compromise of control and flotation. Before the trip, I tried them out at Mt Baker on a combo of 14" powder, chopped-up pow, and groomers. They railed on the groomers, which surprised me. The 18m turning radius makes them much more versatile than Pontoons. Skiing the chop was unpleasant: too much shin-bang; skiing in unbroken pow was sweet, as expected. On the cat trip we hit it big: chest deep - by far the deepest snow I've ever skied. The Prophet 130s were fantastic: great flotation and amazingly quick in the trees. They gave me the confidence to throw turns wherever I wanted. I thought the radius might make them grabby in deep snow, but the fact that the widest part of the tail and shovel are set well back alleviated this problem. The snowboarders on the trip were loving the fact that I could pack out nice wide tracks on the flat sections. The only drawback to such fat skis is that, if/when you fall, if they get buried awkwardly beneath you, it is a struggle to get them dug out and back up to the surface. On the other hand, having such a huge platform was helpful when the guide and I had to heave/ho to get a boarder out of a neck-deep tree well. We would not have been able to lift him, otherwise, and would have been forced to break out the shovels. Bottom line: these are FANTASTIC skis. My everyday skis are Prophet 100s, which I also love.

I bought these skis for a cat skiing trip at Chatter Creek Lodge, BC. I set them up with Hammerhead tele bindings with the cables in the 4th pivot position, 2.5 cm ahead of chord-center. I tried the H-heads in the 5th (firmest) position, but it impaired the flotation, so I switched them back to the 4th position. This provided a good compromise of control and flotation. Before the trip, I tried them out at Mt Baker on a combo of 14" powder, chopped-up pow, and groomers. They railed on the groomers, which surprised me. The 18m turning radius makes them much more versatile than Pontoons. Skiing the chop was unpleasant: too much shin-bang; skiing in unbroken pow was sweet, as expected. On the cat trip we hit it big: chest deep - by far the deepest snow I've ever skied. The Prophet 130s were fantastic: great flotation and amazingly quick in the trees. They gave me the confidence to throw turns wherever I wanted. I thought the radius might make them grabby in deep snow, but the fact that the widest part of the tail and shovel are set well back alleviated this problem. The snowboarders on the trip were loving the fact that I could pack out nice wide tracks on the flat sections. The only drawback to such fat skis is that, if/when you fall, if they get buried awkwardly beneath you, it is a struggle to get them dug out and back up to the surface. On the other hand, having such a huge platform was helpful when the guide and I had to heave/ho to get a boarder out of a neck-deep tree well. We would not have been able to lift him, otherwise, and would have been forced to break out the shovels. Bottom line: these are FANTASTIC skis. My everyday skis are Prophet 100s, which I also love.

These are bomber pants: by far the best I have ever owned. I have skied in these pants for the last 7 seasons, 4 of which I spent 70+ days on-snow. Very versatile: their light design makes it easy to dress for the conditions by varying the underlayer(s): thick fleece pants for bitter VT conditions, medium-wt for PacificNW winter conditions, and thin longjohns (or none during Spring) the rest of the time. I have done tons of NE tight tree skiing and they have yet to tear. The only problem is that the stitching inside one of the powder cuffs has torn a bit, but it is repairable. The pants breathe well, the leg zippers allow you to vent while hiking/skinning, and the low bib design kept me dry in chest-deep BC powder. I cannot say enough good things about these pants.

I have had a pair of these pants for 7 seasons. They are absolutely bomber: no rips despite lots of Eastern tree skiing. The only problem is that the powder cuff on one leg has torn away a bit, but I don't fault the pants. They breathe well, the pockets are very handy, and they look good, too.

The jacket was too thick insulation-wise. Also, I have an athletic build, and while the fit thru the shoulders was fine, the fit thru the middle was much too big and baggy.

The jacket was too thick insulation-wise. Also, I have an athletic build, and while the fit thru the shoulders was fine, the fit thru the middle was much too big and baggy.

If you tend to spend a good deal of time on groomers (either getting to/from backcountry runs, or because some of your buddies ski groomers, whatever), but you love to ski deep powder 12"+, you may want to consider a superfat but conventionally-shaped ski like the Line Prophet 130. I am a tele skier and had a blast on the Prophets skiing in the Canadian Rockies (pics of me armpit deep are on youtube). They are quick in trees and provide incredible float, enabling you to turn when and wherever you want. Most notably, most of the guides at the cat ski lodge where we stayed ski on Pontoons. But the only "groomers" they ski are short runs down cat tracks. I also skied the Prophets at Mt Baker, WA on a combo of powder, groomed and chop. They are a great ski for Mt Baker (world record snowfall), where on some days you need a beacon and buddy in-bounds on some chairs. The Prophets absolutely railed the groomers (18m turning radius), but, as others have said about the Pontoons, they can be hell in chop. My shins took a beating in the heavy Pacific NW snow. So, bottom line, if you spend a lot of time skiing deep powder, the Pontoons are great. If you mix your time between groomers and powder, the Prophets might be a more practical ski for you. If you tele ski, set the toe piece so you are about even with chord center. Most tele'ers nowadays set their bindings ~3 cm ahead (some even more), but I found it to be too front-heavy, even on the 130's. BTW, the main skis in my quiver are the Line Prophet 100 and K2 Work Stinx, the Prophet being better in crud and deeper snow, and the Stinx better in bumps and groomers.

I am returning this jacket because it is clearly inferior to other brands. The insulation is thin and the jacket runs too large. I found another puff jacket - with zip-off sleeves - a GREAT feature - instead.

I am returning this jacket because it is clearly inferior to other brands. The insulation is thin and the jacket runs too large. I found another puff jacket - with zip-off sleeves - a GREAT feature - instead.