Slydog powderhounds on Attak

[studdog]

Looking for reports on this ski for Attak. I've been running Slydog Trail version for both 06 and 07. Planning for 08. Any feedback from Powderhound users appreciated. Any downside other than size and weight? Some people have reported good results with Yamaha mountain skis. My application is mainly trail riding with occasional off trail. Thanks, studdog

 

[radta7]

I went with the trail skis from slydog, bergstrom trips, and ski savers. Much better off trail and no more darting on the trails. Tons of reports on the combo you are looking for in this section and the ski section. You will be very pleased.

 

[Bodacious]

I went from Mnt Skis to Powderhounds 800 miles ago. My feeling is that the Powerhounds steer much lighter than the Mnt Skis on trail....but the Mnt Skis turn much better in the deeper snow. Off trail riding the Powderhounds feel twitchier when turning. They turn fine but seem like they should be mounted a littel more rearward... in other words they feel like there is a bit too much ski forward of the spindles. But they are way better in all conditions over the stock OEM skis.

 

[studdog]

Bodacious, Thanks for the input. Have you tried shimming the Powderhounds? I found on the trail ski I got better front to rear balance by shimming the front of the Slydogs.

 

[craze1cars]

I absolutely love my Powderhounds on my Attak. But I have nothing to compare them too since that's the only ski I ever ran. Bear in mind I have Bergstrom 8 inch triple points and ski savers on mine...probably handles completely differently from those who may be running the stock Slydog carbides.

Shimming the front of these skis would likely be counter-productive...they already point up at the tips if you use the Slydog rubber bumpers. In fact, a few here have reported success and need to sligtgly shim the REAR of the Slydog ski to bring them more level, give them a more aggressive bite, and prevent them from washing out in loose conditions. Do a search...this idea was discussed here sometime over the last couple weeks. And these skis have been reviewed and discussed many times over the winter.

I haven't tried the rear-shimming thing, so I can't comment on that idea. But front shimming would appear to not be a good idea with these skis IMO.

 

[studdog]

craze1cars, Actually I worked with Scott Bergstrom on front shimming of Slydog trail skis. Regardless of how they look wear patterns indicated need for front shimming. I did report in ski section if your interested. Thanks for your info on Powderhounds I think I'll go with them for 08.

 

[Bodacious]

Bodacious, Thanks for the input. Have you tried shimming the Powderhounds? I found on the trail ski I got better front to rear balance by shimming the front of the Slydogs.

No I have not shimmed yet! Also would like to add some ski savers to see if it helps mellow out the twitchiness that I notice.

 

[craze1cars]

Doh! You're absolutely right. I was thinking backwards when I read your comment. Most skis people shim the rear of their skis...and I have not shimmed my Slydogs at all.

But if anything I totally agree that these Slydogs likely WOULD take well to the rather unconventional idea of shimming in the FRONT to bring the tips down, as I've found the ski tips are pointing generally up in their neutral position. And I did read your report back when you wrote it, in fact yours is the report that I was thinking of when I wrote my inaccurate reply above!

So I totally agree with you, I just had it screwed up in my head when I wrote my first reply. Thanks for correcting me.

I've got 1700 miles on mine now, haven't checked wear pattern on them at all. Might do that when I put it away for the season and will report then.

 

[Shootinstick]

I have had Powderhounds on my '07 Attak since new. Never tried the stock ski after reading here. I also have ski savers and the 8" Slydog carbides. After setting the toe to 1/8" in as recommended by Ulmer, I have no complaints riding on ice or hardpack. In deep snow though, it SUCKS. When riding in soft snow filled ditches it is just about impossible to turn up hill to go around an approach. Even out in a flat powder filled field it doesn't turn very well. Limiter strap is pulled up one hole. I'm thinking of trying the skis without ski savers next.

Jim

 

[craze1cars]

Shootinstick, very intersting point. I gotta say I know exactly what you're talking about on the poor powder turning thing. But I had a different theory, and I frankly am not blaming the skis for that problem. I honestly think the front end of this sled is SOOO heavy, along with the wide trail ski stance, it simply cannot lean into a side-hill to lead itself up nose-first without some SERIOUS body english. Turning while in the powder has never been the job of the skis anyway, it's about 95% a body english thing more like turning a big slalom ski on the water...if you stand both feet on the right running boards and hang way right on ANY sled in the powder, the sled will tip right and therefore turn right...even if the skis are turned full left. But I've found this sled to take a LOT more effort to do such maneuvers than any other sled I've owned. I suppose it MIGHT be the skis and I don't have any others to test or confirm, but I honestly think it's the heavy nose-weight more than anything and just a characteristic of this sled. It's one of the only reasons I have to dislike this sled, and likely the reason I won't be running it much longer. In truly bottomless powder, it works. But if the powder is only maybe one or two feet deep on top of a solid base the sled can't lean over enough to carve, and no matter which way I turn the handlebars it feels like the skis are just washing out and the sled goes straight...unless you're on a sidehill where gravity quickly pulls the nose DOWN the hill! That is my experience anyway...I've found this sled to be a real handful in the ditches.

I may very likely keep my Powderhounds and try them on whatever sled I buy next however...and then I can somewhat test my theory that the skis are not the problem. But this won't happen for me until next winter.

 

[radta7]

shoot,

I have experienced the same thing on gogebic over the winter with a fresh 8 inches of snow mine turn like crap. stock ski attaks with duelies turned much better. Mine pushed and required a lot more body english as Crazy mentioned. I will note that the skis floated better on top as they should wear the stockers were much deeper in the snow due to weight.

 

[craze1cars]

Thanks radta7....based on that report, maybe part of the problem actually is in the design of the Powderhound skis. Wish I had another set handy to try something different to see for myself.

 

[Shootinstick]

Makes me start to wonder about the powderhounds as well. Maybe someone else with some other skis could chime in in deep snow performance. Possibly the Yamaha mountain skis are a better answer for better flotation and steerability without the darting problem.

 

[radta7]

Shoot,

They are easily managable and still light yrs better than stock. I have the 6 inch bergstrom triples and if I had to change I would keep it the same and get the 8 inch trips. Only other ski I considered was the C&A razors, but did not want to deal with the tough to turn in slow speeds. I will keep my trails and play with the suspension up front a bit.

 

[radta7]

I will give it a good test this weekend bc I will be in Houghton and copper harbor this weekend. We plan to do some off trail as well. Will probably stop up at the Drag races on Lake LaBelle on Saturday!

Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on
Beautiful Lac La Belle

LLBL Snow Drags

Saturday, March 10th

10:00am to noon Registration

re-scheduled from Feb. 24th