Horton's Strada Review

[Horton]

Review is in the works... is not news but the Strada is bitch'n

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4-6ay9R-bLE/TIb8W650AKI/AAAAAAAADxI/qJVt7hpXQWM/s800/DSC_6493.JPGFrom Strada

[Skihack]

Hey can you test ride a 63.5" Strada and give us a review. Now, that would be interesting and pics would be awesome.http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-cool.gif

[Horton]

68" my friend... 68"

Ran 2 @ 39 Saturday. Ski is very easy to ride.

[jdarwin]

2 @ 39?  You'll smoke MS in two weeks!

[Tuney]

That's some nice spray right there.

[Old MS Accout]

I may not show up now.

[T-UP]

That is some BIG Spray

[Deanoski]

what # are you running?

 

Deano

[Horton]

Yea I would have to put that score down when it counts .....   for it to really count.... you know what I mean. Practice scores are not the same.... hmmmm sounds like "Why Ski Tounements"

Deano - I will have to get out my book... will post #s later

[Horton]

I have been on a Strada for over a month now and have been avoiding writing a review.  In the past I have felt confident that I can describe skis as well or better than most skiers. Since the SkiTests and the launch of BallOfSpray, I have ridden at least a dozen skis up to my average score.  Last weekend I equaled my lifetime best practice score on a Strada.

The bad news is that I am unsure what to say about the Strada. I feel that most skis have an identifiable personality. Some skis are forgiving on one side but maybe not the other. Some skis are noticeably fast or slow. Some skis require extra handle control or front foot pressure. Some skis make radical turns and some will carve a school bus turn.

The Strada is not “the most radical” anything. In comparison to other high end skis, the Strada does not require the skier to do a little extra something or little less of something else.  The Strada’s personality in one word is “Balance”. Turns on both sides are not the sharpest but are plenty sharp. Speed and carryout are not extreme but are at the top of the range for current high end skis. Weight distribution, required handle control, path …. and all the other attributes used when describing a ski, none are the most radical or aggressive. They are in balance. 

Maybe the Strada is the "most Balanced".  

If this does not read like a glowing review, that is only because I cannot find the right words. The Strada is in my opinion the best Radar yet and one of the best skis on the market.

This review is a work in progress – subject to updates.

[Horton]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4-6ay9R-bLE/TIqw-l2phsI/AAAAAAAADx4/wJNBvu6B8aA/s800/images-1.jpeg I do not know how I would discribe this and ... well you know what I mean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jordanskis]

 

I think that you would say that there isn't any one feature that is in and of its' own, "the best",  but overall, she is, ummm, balanced?!

[Horton]

The Strada to me is a lot like Marisa. There is no one thing that by itself  is the super better then another hot chick... but all the parts fit together very very well. http://cm1.dotspotter.com/media/0/79/70/38320_Marisa_Miller_Maxim_July_2008_122_965lo.0.0.0x0.432x629.jpeg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Horton]

I think this may turn out to be my least informative and most enjoyed review ever

[Tuney]

I like the direction you went with this review.

[Boody]

Horton, I speak your language. I am officially a Strada fan!

[Horton]

You want to shed your ideas on the review?

[skidawg]

I feel like the strada is no where near that of your supermodel posted!

Can't wait to show this to gallegher!!!

[Horton]

Please no

[jipster43]

At Marcus Brown's clinic he pointed out how similar the design of the A1 was to the Strada which made me curious as to how they differed when skied.  Can you recollect any similarities or differences between those two skis?

 JP :)

[slow]

I came of the Prophecy. I ski about the same on both when I'm skiing well which is about 30% of the time(32 off @ 34). The remaining 70% when I'm more out of position the Strada lets me get away with it. I probably learn more on the Prophecy, but hey I would rather consistently run more balls on the Strada. It's be a fun summer on it. Felt like I can go for it a little more and really have'nt been punished.

Thanks Radar

[Horton]

jipster,

I generally do not question MB. I mean if he says so… it is so. In this case I wonder if you missunderstood. I guess the bottoms sort of look similar but they do not ski alike. To me the A1 is quite distinctive and not very much like the Strada at all.

[auskier]

If the A1 and the elite had a love child it would be the strada. Only in some of the shape characteristics, not how they ski.

[malibuowner]

I don't think I understand your review John.

Maybe I need some more examples of what you are trying to get accross to us.

After all a picture is worth a thousand words...

[ForrestGump]

Yeah, the A1 and Strada do not ski the same at all.

[Chef23]

How are the A1 and the Strada different.

[RichardDoane]

I've picked up 4 buoys on the Strada, verus the A1 last season.  Strada Rocks.

[boarditup]

There is not a lot of difference in ski shape.  If you compared all of the skis on the market I would guess that they differ by a very small percentage from each other in terms of shape.  Sure, there are differences in details, but the basic shape has been the same since the 80's.  Now, those minor differences have a profound effect on the way it skis.  If only I could get my technique straight.....

[Horton]

My #s are pretty stock

2.505 (I want to try deeper)

6.850

.810

29 5/8

 

[Dirt]

I rode a 2011 68" Strada the last two days. It is a difficult ski to describe. I immediatley felt comfortable on it and went right down the rope without having to back up any passes or get used to it. I liked the ski with Rini's numbers better than Rossi's numbers. Both were good but Rini's felt better. The front binding was just under 30 inches. I did not get a chance to move the bindings at all or try Horton's numbers. I figured Horton's numbers were for 38 or 40 mph anyway. You have all seen what it does to his hair.

I want to try this ski again when I get more time and a pair of bright red shorts.

[Chef23]

dsmart, if you don't mind me asking what do you weigh?

[Mateo_Vargas]

I rode the 68" before dsmart and only messed with the bindings.  1st tried the front binding a little past 30" but the ski came alive as it moved back.  Very easy to ride and I liked the consistency.  Can't wait to try it again with some fin adjustments.  I weigh 205, dsmart is a little more.  I'll let him respond with a more exact number in case it's a sensitive subject.

[Dirt]

It's not a sensitive subject, although it probably should be. I weigh 215. I am not fat, just big boned like Cartman.

[h2odawg79]

"Does this ski make my Hips Look Bigger" ???

[ForrestGump]

Maybe the question should be............"Do my hips make this ski look smaller?"

[Chef23]

I am going to try to get to 215 or smaller over the winter (currently about 232) and would be interested in trying one then.

[Than_Bogan]

Hey, no fair!  How am I supposed to stay ahead of you if you drop 15 more pounds!!??

[devrieski]

Hello All, I am new to this sight but have found some really helpful information so far. Thanks! I am in the process of picking out a new ski and am really interested in the Strada. I skied on the A1 last weekend and loved it, but haven't found anywhere near where I live that will let me demo a Strada. Could someone who has skied both comment on some of the differences/pros and cons of each. The only complaint I had with the A1 is that occasionally on my off side turn the ski would bite a little. I am sure it had to do with my body position, but it threw me enough to make me late for my next turn. Any advice would be appreciated!

[MattP]

Where are you located at? Try contacting Tadd at h2oproshop.com 1.866.213.7993 they have a great demo program! Tell him you heard about H2O on BOS! I can not comment on the Strada or A1 I have not ridden them. I know HO is coming out with the A2 soon, so you might want to hold out for it.Have you looked at the Elite as well?

[Mateo_Vargas]

2011 Radar Catalog

http://timesprintingdigital.com/a/?KEY=radar-10-09catalog#page=9&zoom=1

Looks like they are making a 69.5" Strada for Chef23 in case he misses his off-season weight loss goal!

[boarditup]

Wow!  They have size 14 Strada bindings and a 69.5-inch ski for over 200 lbs.  I am running out of excuses not to buy a new ski for 2011.

[Chef23]

Mateo, that is cold. Accurate but cold.

[h2odawg79]

Chef, "You kin do et"...

[Horton]

Since I started reviewing skis 5 years ago I have only been stumped twice. The first time was not so bad but with the Strada I feel really silly. My intent with ski reviews is to describe how a ski feels or what it takes to make a ski work. This would be a lame marketing line for Radar but the Strada is just easy to ski on.  Perhaps it’s lack of radical personality is the result of refinement.

I rode a 68” Strada for about 2 months this fall. After about the third ride I completely stopped thinking about the ski. There was no need. The darn think is just comfortable. 

Some skis feel forgiving, I suppose the Strada is forgiving but more importantly it does not draw as many mistakes.  Some skis feel different on each side of the course, you can tweak the DFT on the Strada to slow the off side and make a radical on side but it is just as easy to make it very symmetrical. With settings close to stock my ski feels very even.  In general I do not find the Strada to be super fin sensitive.  

A lot of skiers are obsessed with speed, all I can tell you is, the Strada gets plenty wide is does not take a lot of physical effort to get there. I no longer believe that the feeling of speed is a good metric.

When I started this thread I wanted to make an automotive analogy. I am going to do it now, please forgive me if I screw up the automotive minutiae.  You can get around a race track in a 400+ hp Turbo 2 wheel drive Porsche and make it look radical or you can get in a Carrera 4 and do the same lap times without smoking the tires.  (yes I know these cars are not really equal – go with me please) I feel that the Strada is the Carrera 4 – gets the job done without smoking the tires.

[jdarwin]

Further automotive analogy:  If MS (on the Strada) were a Carrera 4, he would blow a head gasket in the final turn!

[Horton]

Not the skis fault.

MS does look really good on his Strada. I think he skis better since I signed it.

[jdarwin]

Agreed - he finally did run 38 late Sunday - must have been the signature~

[Horton]

Was talking to somebody about the "Honeymoon Effect" today.  After 2 months, I can tell you the Strada does not suffer that dreaded plight. 

[Mateo_Vargas]

Interesting that the catalog says that the Strada is the first ski designed for GPS cruise control.  Maybe this is why Horton has been liking ZO lately?  Any theories on what makes this possible?

[Skihack]

hmm, seems I've heard that before. Seems it led to ski shorts being designed for ZO. At least the folks at Radar are addressing the issue. AM seems to be doing so as well. They are not whining about it, but they are working with it.