Which D-3 ski is best for me?

[Tdub]

Looking to purchase a new ski. I am a loyal D-3 guy, 2006 X-5 took me to a higher level. My son gave me his Nomad last year and I am enjoying it. I ski at 32mph and get into 32 on rare occasions. Still struggle at 28. I have a horrible off-side turn, been trying to fix that for years. I am hoping to get down to Seth's place this fall and demo a few. Any thoughts?

[Chef23]

I think the Helix is in the same design chain as the Nomad. D3 will send you a Helix and a Quest to try and you send back the one you don't like. I would give them a call and talk it through.

 

I am on a Helix right now and starting to like it a lot. I didn't try the quest though I was in a jam and had easy access to a Helix to try.

[LeonL]

D3 will send you both and if you don't like either send them both back and it costs you $70. No better trial offer on the planet. Here's my take though. As a 32 MPH skier I don't think you'll like the Quest. I ski 32, mid 35's and run a 35 every now and then. Quest just didn't work for me. I tried it at 34 and it was great, just not my speed. I'm back on my RCX. Quest just would not carry out and maintain speed around the buoy for me. Tried a Schnitz speed slot fin and it helped, but not enough.

[SkiJay]

@Tdub‌ The Quest rides deeper in the water so is more forgiving of small mistakes but demands more physical effort from the skier. The Helix rides higher in the water so it requires less effort to accelerate than the Quest, but it's not as forgiving of inconsistent skiing or as stable in rough water. Having said that, I find the Helix to be the most forgiving fast ski I've ever ridden. Both are remarkably friendly skis for how high performance they are.

 

No question that the best idea is to try both. If you can't, the Helix is most similar to the Nomad and the Quest most like the X5.

[jhughes]

FWIW the Quest is a very unfussy ski for me regardless of speed and length. It feels deep-riding, hard tracking, and stable. I've had it into -22@36mph and down to 28mph@-28. Everything in between. In the course, out of the course free skiing, the ski doesn't really seem to give a damn what I do with it. It's neither additive nor subtractive to my skiing, I'd say it's a neutral non-factor which is a great friend to have under your feet. The better my technique, the better it skis for me.