Denali C85 review has started

[Horton]

I am a few rides in on this review. The Adam's originally sent me a small and then told it was not the right size. I rode that ski a few sets and it is really good. This week they finally sent me a Medium and it is even better. So to be clear- at 180ish lbs the Medium is the right size.

 

I expect writing the text of the review is going to be hard because the ski just works.

 

Below is the unboxing of my small a few weeks ago

[keithh2oskier]

If you need someone to demo the small, I would be happy to take it off your hands. Surly you don't want it getting lost in the shed with the others.

[BobF]

Medium for 180lbs at 36mph? I'm 170 at 34mph, and am currently on a small. Considering trying a medium.

[dchristman]

I concur with "the ski just works". We finally got our course in Tuesday and I only have 4 passes on it so far, but I have no doubt a new PB is in my near future and by more than a couple balls. A new slalom never felt so comfortable to me.

[Horton]

@BobF that is an @AdamCord question.

[PatM]

@Horton So far stock numbers? I am very interested in this ski, but I'm not a tweaker and don't have a lot of extra time to sort the ski out. All indications was that the c75 was a ski that needed to be tweaked a lot. Also I was told the c75 was a lot of work in the course.

[Horton]

@PatM Yes the 75 was very finicky on settings. I discourage skiers from tweaking a lot on it but I understand your apprehension. with the 85 I personally recommend stock numbers - leave it alone go ski.

[Stefan]

@Horton, you ski 34mph, right?

[Horton]

yes

[JAS]

@Horton guessed i missed the finicky nature of ski to settings in reviews. Boots, fin, both? Did you stick close to stock? My focus probably different than yours (28/32 @34) Thxs

[Horton]

@jas talking about 75? yes i mostly stuck with S Wing settings.

[customski]

I had my 75 set up in 3 sets with a bit of help from Mr Cord. Haven’t looked back.

[tjm]

It's been very quiet, ??

[RichardDoane]

my c85 "just works better" than the c75 of last season. I just ordered a fresh c85 last night, 175lbs on a medium. If anyone would like to try my c75 from last season, or the c85 from early this season (has c75 graphics but is the c85 shape) send me a PM, pay the shipping to/from and try for the 2 week period. Or just step up and order a new ski, you'll be glad you did.

[AdamCord]

@tjm I agree, @horton let’s hear the review!!

[thager]

Best ski ever, blah...blah...blah...just bigger! Size matters!

[Horton]

Sorry guys. Have been traveling for the last few weeks. I will be back working on the review this week.

 

I can tell you it floats & it very much does not suck.

[thager]

Bahaha! Traveling???, Just means you finally made it back from the dock!

[The_MS]

We know this ski will be reviewed as great. Get it done and move on to the pineapple that you got

 

[Horton]

@The_MS Yes there's no doubt that the final review will be gushingly positive about the 85. unfortunately for those of you who are impatient I just need a bunch of back-to-back rides to figure out how to describe it. If the question is - is it an extremely good ski then the answer is yes and you can stop reading.

[The_MS]

That sounds good enough for me

[RichardDoane]

My c85 seems to operate in 2 modes, charge into the first wake with great speed and stability, and edge change to the front foot pressure for a ripping turn.

[Horton]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQomGsdjV0q/?utm_medium=copy_link

[BlueSki]

@Horton have you settled on settings?

[Horton]

Yes I have. I need to remeasure but I think I am almost stock.

 

.007 longer than stock and 8 degrees. I only did this to make the ski shut down better on the gate glide.

[BlueSki]

Stock is really, really good.

[B_S]

Dang, that's about as calm and smooth as it gets! Hoping to finally get on my brand spanky new one in the morning.

[AdamCord]

Looking good @Horton but you’ve got way too much rope there

[Horton]

second ride today was way better. I don't think I should ski before noon.

[Stevie Boy]

@Horton, I know that they sent you a small, but but somewhere you mentioned a Medium, are you on the Medium for the review.

Thanks

[Than_Bogan]

@Stevie Boy Answered in the first post of this thread.

[Horton]

I'm skiing on the medium although I might get curious and jump back on the small to see. With the stock settings the medium does seem to be appropriately sized for my weight and height.

[BS74]

@Horton : I was wondering if you would share your zero off setting ?

[Horton]

A2 in that video. bouncing between A2 & B2 depending on the boat

[Keith_Menard]

Horton Posts: 30,832 Administrator

June 27

second ride today was way better. I don't think I should ski before noon.

 

File under: How you know @Horton doesn't live on a public lake :)

[tjm]

@horton how fin setting sensitive is it

[Horton]

@tjm I kind of depends on what zone you set it up in. I would say it's not over the sensitive. probably comparable to the other very good skis on the market at the moment.

[Stevie Boy]

From what I have read, the C75 is a bit of a Stallion, is the C85 much more friendlier, not quite so aggressive, I would like to ask at what sort of level of skiers would find the C85 comfortable to ride ?

[Ed_Johnson]

@Stevie Boy .. Have to disagree about the C75 being a Stallion. I have found mine to be one of the easiest, most forgiving skis ever. The ski just does whatever you tell it to do and has NO bad habits. You simply tune it the way you want it to perform, and is NOT sensitive to fin changes. I am so happy with the C75 I am finding it hard to switch to the C85. Probably will out of curiosity, but not any time soon.

 

 

[ghutch]

@Ed_Johnson I agree with you. Love my c-75. Could adjust it darn near anywhere and still run passes. Very easy to tune it and try new settings. I had a bit of a time with the 85. I find it a little more finicky to settings than the 75 but when you find them it will come alive.

[Horton]

I confess I am baffled about what to write for this review. The better the ski the harder this process is.

[thager]

No questions please, it's a holiday!

[rockdog]

I'd imagine @horton you would prefer to retire this particular 'segment' of the site. I would, just ride em and enjoy em without the pressure of trying to think up something to write. It's a top end ski, most of them are good we get it..

[Horton]

@rockdog yes and no. Sometimes it is fun and sometimes it is a grind. The more distinctive a ski is the easier it is to write the review. The C75 is very distinctive. It is so different from almost any other ski that the review wrote itself. The C85 on the other hand is just easy to ride. That is good news for Denali customers but it is bad news for anyone trying to write an analysis.

[Horton]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ9LBg9DD0h/?utm_medium=copy_link

[Ed_Johnson]

@Horton ...Looks much faster cross course than the 75 !!!

 

 

[Horton]

@Ed_Johnson much

[6balls]

Dude that offside turn!

[Zman]

Wow! Great skiing @Horton

[Wish]

Stock in Denali just went up. Well, for 2 share holders anyway.