4jwv
Veteran
I have an Attak GT and I'm looking for the best ski for moderate to aggressive trail riding. I'm not very impressed with the stock ski. I have done a number of searches on this topic. There is lots of info on the Flexi-ski (great with 6" Shaper Bars), not so much on the Curve XS. Has anybody tried both of these and how do they compare? Thanks 
hondo
VIP Member
Just put a set of Curve X on my RS Venture.
I haven't been able to try them yet because we are in blizzard conditions. Got 7" of snow last night and now the wind is howling, 50 mph wind gusts, with drifting snow, and white conditions. Nothing is groomed either,
I spoke with the designers, Sean, and Nick, at the Albany Show on March 13th. There is a lot of technology built into the ski.
They look pretty cool too with their parabolic shape.
I'll let you know how the are.
I haven't been able to try them yet because we are in blizzard conditions. Got 7" of snow last night and now the wind is howling, 50 mph wind gusts, with drifting snow, and white conditions. Nothing is groomed either,
I spoke with the designers, Sean, and Nick, at the Albany Show on March 13th. There is a lot of technology built into the ski.
They look pretty cool too with their parabolic shape.
I'll let you know how the are.
Skis
I went to the Curve XS and sold my Simmons skis. The Curve XS have it all, no darting, great carving, and best of all they do not steer hard when the snow gets heavy (wet). I kept my Simmons while I was testing the Curve skis and then sold them after all of my testing was complete. Good luck with your decision!
I went to the Curve XS and sold my Simmons skis. The Curve XS have it all, no darting, great carving, and best of all they do not steer hard when the snow gets heavy (wet). I kept my Simmons while I was testing the Curve skis and then sold them after all of my testing was complete. Good luck with your decision!
4jwv
Veteran
Thanks for the feedback, two of my riding buddies have Flexi-Skis, so I need to find a ski at least as good or preferably better
Aaron Eh
Extreme
hondo said:Just put a set of Curve X on my RS Venture.
I haven't been able to try them yet because we are in blizzard conditions. Got 7" of snow last night and now the wind is howling, 50 mph wind gusts, with drifting snow, and white conditions. Nothing is groomed either,
I spoke with the designers, Sean, and Nick, at the Albany Show on March 13th. There is a lot of technology built into the ski.
They look pretty cool too with their parabolic shape.
I'll let you know how the are.
Hondo, I thought you were using Yamaha mountain skis on your machine?
snowrider RX1ER
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snowtracker the way to go
hondo
VIP Member
I still have the mountain skis.
I was introduced to Curve X last week in Albany, NY. I spoke with Sean and Nick the designers. They asked me to give them a try.
I went out today in poor conditions, drifted powder. Across the Lake I did find the Curve X makes RS Venture float very well.
On a groomed trail I was quite impressed. The ski makes the RS Venture very nimble in turns. The skis did enhance RS Venture's trail handling capability. I do want to find some fade away turns to see how the sled will handle and respond.
After using the mountain skis with gold dually's, Precision skis, and now the Curve X, I am very impressed with the Curve X ski.
The Curve X is much better than the Precision ski, without question.
The Curve X gives the RS Venture a lighter feel up front. The skis are a single keel design with a "Stud Boy" 6" carbide. I am sold on single keels. I also consider the mountain ski with gold dually's a single keel.
The floatation of the mountain ski in deep powder is going to be hard to beat, however apples-to-apples, on groomed trails, the Curve X just may be what I've been looking for.
I am very optimistic and very intrigued with the design of this ski.
These guys have done their homework in designing this ski.
I need more time with the ski. I was rushed for time today, but did want to give them a try.
Tomorrow, I plan to put on some majors miles on the sled with the Curve X skis.
I'll keep you posted with my findings!
I was introduced to Curve X last week in Albany, NY. I spoke with Sean and Nick the designers. They asked me to give them a try.
I went out today in poor conditions, drifted powder. Across the Lake I did find the Curve X makes RS Venture float very well.
On a groomed trail I was quite impressed. The ski makes the RS Venture very nimble in turns. The skis did enhance RS Venture's trail handling capability. I do want to find some fade away turns to see how the sled will handle and respond.
After using the mountain skis with gold dually's, Precision skis, and now the Curve X, I am very impressed with the Curve X ski.
The Curve X is much better than the Precision ski, without question.
The Curve X gives the RS Venture a lighter feel up front. The skis are a single keel design with a "Stud Boy" 6" carbide. I am sold on single keels. I also consider the mountain ski with gold dually's a single keel.
The floatation of the mountain ski in deep powder is going to be hard to beat, however apples-to-apples, on groomed trails, the Curve X just may be what I've been looking for.
I am very optimistic and very intrigued with the design of this ski.
These guys have done their homework in designing this ski.
I need more time with the ski. I was rushed for time today, but did want to give them a try.
Tomorrow, I plan to put on some majors miles on the sled with the Curve X skis.
I'll keep you posted with my findings!
hondo
VIP Member
I am totally impressed with the Curve XS Skis.
The ski makes my RS Venture a "touring sled" handle so much better in a variety of snow conditions both on the trail, or zipping across a snow covered lake. I can only imagine how they would make a real trail sled handle.
I did run precision ski's for two seasons and were an improvement over the stock skis. This year I went with a Yamaha Mountain Ski with "Gold Dually runners with (2) 4" carbides on each runner. I found this set up to be a big improvement over the Precision ski's and for a deep snow application when riding in Canada for the mileage record. The mountain skis were a good fix until now. While using the Precision skis, I did find that darting was still an issue.
After spending a good day with the Curve XS skis with a Studboy shaper bar and 6" carbide I have found a tremendous improvement in RS Venture's handling characteristics. In the corners, my set up for the turn has changed because the skis make the sled more responsive and hold a solid line throughout the corner.
They don't dart either.
Here is my own darting test crossing a Precision ski track.
They steer where you steer them, and effortlessly.
The only thing that I can compare Simmons to is the Precisions that I ran for two years. Since running the Precisions I have not been a big fan of dual runners.
I'll be running the Curve XS from now on. I'm sold!
Hope this helps!
The ski makes my RS Venture a "touring sled" handle so much better in a variety of snow conditions both on the trail, or zipping across a snow covered lake. I can only imagine how they would make a real trail sled handle.
I did run precision ski's for two seasons and were an improvement over the stock skis. This year I went with a Yamaha Mountain Ski with "Gold Dually runners with (2) 4" carbides on each runner. I found this set up to be a big improvement over the Precision ski's and for a deep snow application when riding in Canada for the mileage record. The mountain skis were a good fix until now. While using the Precision skis, I did find that darting was still an issue.
After spending a good day with the Curve XS skis with a Studboy shaper bar and 6" carbide I have found a tremendous improvement in RS Venture's handling characteristics. In the corners, my set up for the turn has changed because the skis make the sled more responsive and hold a solid line throughout the corner.
They don't dart either.
Here is my own darting test crossing a Precision ski track.
They steer where you steer them, and effortlessly.
The only thing that I can compare Simmons to is the Precisions that I ran for two years. Since running the Precisions I have not been a big fan of dual runners.
I'll be running the Curve XS from now on. I'm sold!
Hope this helps!
Hondo,
Were you using the shimmed ski rubbers with the Curve skis?
Were you using the shimmed ski rubbers with the Curve skis?
hondo
VIP Member
I knew I forgot something,
The Curve XS skis come with their own ski rubber that is a slightly larger and is a denser rubber than the stock rubber. The oversized Curve XS rubber has a built in shim which is automatically incorporated into the ski. I found this feature a pretty cool "added value" to the customer.
When you install the ski to the attach point, the ski needs to be squeezed in place slightly in order to get the attach bolt through the hole. This function is not a hard to do. It just takes an extra moment to get everything aligned.
Installation was very easy.
The Curve XS skis come with their own ski rubber that is a slightly larger and is a denser rubber than the stock rubber. The oversized Curve XS rubber has a built in shim which is automatically incorporated into the ski. I found this feature a pretty cool "added value" to the customer.
When you install the ski to the attach point, the ski needs to be squeezed in place slightly in order to get the attach bolt through the hole. This function is not a hard to do. It just takes an extra moment to get everything aligned.
Installation was very easy.
4jwv
Veteran
Thanks for the ski test and review hondo, it sounds like the Curve XS ski is the way to go. Plus they are on Sale right now, what could be better? 
hondo
VIP Member
You bet,
Me and a buddy rode up the St John, and Allagash River's today. The rivers had varying depths of powder.
The ski handled everything we rode through.
A great all-around ski!
Me and a buddy rode up the St John, and Allagash River's today. The rivers had varying depths of powder.
The ski handled everything we rode through.
A great all-around ski!
GotJuice
Expert
couple questions...
These ski's are very interesting. Since you ran the Mountain ski and the front end of the Venture is similar in weight to an Apex Mnt. can you elaborate on how they performed in the powder in comparison to the wider Mnt. ski? Do they throw the snow up in your face when in the powder? Do they steer positively when you want them to or do they tend to wash out or slide before actually turning the machine? Do they keep the front end a float on top or is it sinking down in the powder and how far compared to the Mnt. ski? Lastly how do they back up in powder, do they dig in like the stock ski's or stay on top better? I ride with a Mnt. Cat that has the stock ski's and they too have a similar desing, narrower in the middle and wider in front and rear....wish they made a Mnt. version that was a little wider...something in between 7" stock ski's and the 10" Simmons Gen. II ski's that are like surf boards, thank you for your input!
These ski's are very interesting. Since you ran the Mountain ski and the front end of the Venture is similar in weight to an Apex Mnt. can you elaborate on how they performed in the powder in comparison to the wider Mnt. ski? Do they throw the snow up in your face when in the powder? Do they steer positively when you want them to or do they tend to wash out or slide before actually turning the machine? Do they keep the front end a float on top or is it sinking down in the powder and how far compared to the Mnt. ski? Lastly how do they back up in powder, do they dig in like the stock ski's or stay on top better? I ride with a Mnt. Cat that has the stock ski's and they too have a similar desing, narrower in the middle and wider in front and rear....wish they made a Mnt. version that was a little wider...something in between 7" stock ski's and the 10" Simmons Gen. II ski's that are like surf boards, thank you for your input!
hondo
VIP Member
GotJuice,
Here is a video taken today on the Allagash River.
The Curve XS dimensions are 7" in the front and taper to 5 1/2" in the middle and flare out in the rear to 7".
The ski's ride fairly high, and float very well. I have found that the Curvex XS ski's are more versitile and a much better "all-around" ski for both applications on, and off trail.
I thought I had the best of both worlds with the mountain ski, but have come to realize that I did sacrifice performance on the trail.
With the mountain ski I have experienced the slide or flat push you are eluding to. The parabolic taper on the Curvex XS makes the sled respond better in a turn. The ski seems to change the sleds geometry so when you lean or transfer weight the sled will accept the weight transfer and turn faster.
I haven't experienced any snow being thrown up. The Curvex XS are more pointed and swept nicer than the stubby front mountain ski profile.
The rear of the Curve XS is flared up and is much easier to back up in powder than the mountain ski. They didn't dig in like the others.
Apples-to apples, in true deep powder, I can't comment yet. I need to find some deeper fresh powder to be able to evaluate the ski in lets say 18" plus of fresh powder. Most all our powder right now is 4 - 10" and most of it has been wind blown and drifted. It is a firmer texture than true fresh powder.
Apple-to-apples on the trail and medium powder conditions, Curvex XS has my vote.
Here are some photo's from today
At the Allagash Falls
Me and RS Venture at the Falls.
I stayed with my buddy's Summit all day long.
Hope this helps!
Here is a video taken today on the Allagash River.
The Curve XS dimensions are 7" in the front and taper to 5 1/2" in the middle and flare out in the rear to 7".
The ski's ride fairly high, and float very well. I have found that the Curvex XS ski's are more versitile and a much better "all-around" ski for both applications on, and off trail.
I thought I had the best of both worlds with the mountain ski, but have come to realize that I did sacrifice performance on the trail.
With the mountain ski I have experienced the slide or flat push you are eluding to. The parabolic taper on the Curvex XS makes the sled respond better in a turn. The ski seems to change the sleds geometry so when you lean or transfer weight the sled will accept the weight transfer and turn faster.
I haven't experienced any snow being thrown up. The Curvex XS are more pointed and swept nicer than the stubby front mountain ski profile.
The rear of the Curve XS is flared up and is much easier to back up in powder than the mountain ski. They didn't dig in like the others.
Apples-to apples, in true deep powder, I can't comment yet. I need to find some deeper fresh powder to be able to evaluate the ski in lets say 18" plus of fresh powder. Most all our powder right now is 4 - 10" and most of it has been wind blown and drifted. It is a firmer texture than true fresh powder.
Apple-to-apples on the trail and medium powder conditions, Curvex XS has my vote.
Here are some photo's from today
At the Allagash Falls
Me and RS Venture at the Falls.
I stayed with my buddy's Summit all day long.
Hope this helps!
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Those Skis look really interesting. I would like to try a set. Been very happy with my C&A Razors, but I have a feeling these Curve XS might be better.
