Goode XTR Team - Review

[Horton]

Ten years ago, Goode introduced the Nano 1. That ski has become one of the most influential ski designs in the modern era and a personal favorite of mine. The Nano 1 was eventually refined at Goode to create classic skis such as the XT and XTR. The Goode XTR Team is the latest evolution of Nano 1.

General Feel: Stability and forgiveness are the two attributes that are immediately apparent when riding the XTR Team. As with the very first Nano 1, a skier can get surprisingly far depending on strength and determination. When the skier focuses on the fine mechanics of slalom skiing this ski delivers an additional level of performance.

Turns: On both sides, the finish of the turn is controlled by the amount of front bevel in the water and how aggressively the ski is rolled to the inside. When the front bevel is engaged there is a distinct feeling of the front of the ski being pulled under the line. This is as opposed to the tail of the ski sliding or smearing through the turn.

With any of the settings used for this review, at no time, did the tail of this ski feel loose.

The XTR Team does not shut down noticeably nor does it carry excess speed into apex. This ski seems to provide a happy medium in this regard. The result is that it is easier for the skier to keep a tight line approaching and leaving the ball.

Toe Side (Off Side) Turn: The ski’s stability approaching apex allows the skier to move forward and roll the ski in with confidence. The finish of Off Side turns on the XTR Team are sharp and fast. The ski dependably finishes with substantial angle. 

Heel Side (On Side) Turn: This skis tolerance for imperfect skier technique is most evident at the On Side turn. When the skier is at their hardest pass and starts making mistakes this ski still turns when other skis would refuse.

As with Off Side turns, the amount of the inside bevel in the water and roll to the inside dictates the radius and speed of the turn. 

From Ball to Second Wake: The XTR Team makes ample speed into the first wake, but it does require more physical effort than some other skis. The same attributes that makes the ski so stable and forgiving approaching the ball makes it not as fast leaving the ball. Some of the previous iterations of the original Nano 1 such as the XTR CC were faster leaving the ball but less friendly at apex. I much prefer the balance of the XTR Team.

From Second Wake to Ball: The above-mentioned stability is most evident from the second wake to the ball. It is noteworthy both in terms of tip-to-tail (pitch) as well as side-to-side (roll) stability. This gives the skier more confidence and the opportunity to control and drive the ski as opposed to reacting to it.

The ski initially moves out and away from the pylon automatically at the edge change and then lets the skier moderate the amount and rate of roll for the rest of the way to apex. 

Although the ski is not distinctively fast, width at the ball is not an issue.

Conclusion: The XTR Team has earned a place among my all-time favorite skis. When I am skiing technically it is absolutely on point and after I make a big mistake at my hardest pass it gives me a chance to recover and keep going. It gets better as the rope gets shorter. I love this ski. Dave would have been enormously proud of the Team.

[bishop8950]

@Horton “Dave would have been enormously proud of the Team”…I think so as well. And perhaps even more so, how the crew has rallied to keep the development rolling in Ogden.

[Andre]

Is the XTR ever so slightly wider in the front half then other top end ski or the pix on Goode site is tricking me?

[Horton]

@Andre no not really. I just put calipers on a 9970 and then my XTR Team. The widths are not the same but more to the point there are completely different shapes. Neither is unusually wide. The XTR Team looks sort of stubby but I think it is visually deceiving because of the shape of the front 1/3 of the ski.

[DW]

@Horton - any chance the 9970 gets a review?

[pcmcon729]

@DW Would very much like to hear what @Horton has to say about the 9970cc, especially right after concluding the XTR Team review.

[Horton]

The 9970 I have is an older generation I will not be comparing it to the XTR Team

[6balls]

The kind of ski that can get you buoys. Good when on point, good in a scramble.

[DavidP]

@Horton Can you please share the binding and fin settings you liked best?

[Horton]

29 1/16

9°

2.472

6.906 tips 6.821 jaws

.718 standard .722 slot

 

[wawaskr]

@horton any comments on torsional rigidity of XTRcc vs XTR Team and impacts?

[Horton]

@wawaskr

That's a great question. Torsion is supercritical and something few people talk about.

 

I could only speculate. Goode is keeping their secret sauce close to the vest. Whatever they've done it works.

[Anthony Furmanovich]

@Horton those settings are for what size ski?

 

Thanks

[Horton]

67

[jhughes]

This ski took some time to figure out. 3 fin setting changes later and I will also attest that it is very very very good. At one point I thought the ski was just not going to work for me. Coming off a long line of D3s.

At one point it may have taken flight from the boat in frustration. Maybe several times. Cannot confirm nor deny.

Glad I stuck with it and worked with it. This ski is incredibly good.

In particular the onside turns are automatic, first ski I've ever had with that "feature". Many skis can be "automatic" at 135 but not at 2/4 for me. I'm a couple passes behind Horton, a couple at -35 on a good day in practice at 34.2mph. This ski turns like crazy despite my best efforts at crappy form and some narrow gates, even.

From the tips with a regular Mitutoyo caliper I'm running: .890, .485, .700, 9*, 29 1/8th. Hope that helps somebody.

[MDB1056]

@jhughes - what size  ski

[lefty]

@jhughes curious to know what length you are on for your size. I’m considering this ski and am in between 66 and 67, not deep into the line though. Am all about bad form and narrow gates lol a work in progress. Maybe for an older 22 off skier this is too much ski?

[jhughes]

67"

I'm 175, 5' 9"

[skiboyny]

@jhughes Did you find it as much work as the Rev 6?

[jhughes]

@skiboyny The Rev6 was a long time ago and a lot less technique ago. I have no idea. Seems less homicidal than I recall the Rev6 being FWIW.

 

@lefty The last 5 or so skis I've had all felt great/the same at 22 off with multiple settings so I don't know what this ski would do for you there. Settings and ski differences don't really come alive for me until -28 and beyond or on this ski until -32.

[liquid d]

If anyone wants to try a 66 inch  in  Central Florida or West Palm area, PM me.  2 of them available to try.

[scoke]

In general, the 67" probably needs to be in the range of:

6.760-6.767

2.496-2.502

.704-.711

9-10 degrees.

Suspect the 66" is not that far off on the numbers too. 

 

The thin tailed CC skis are much more finicky with DFT then the previous generations. Oddly my 68" CC, which is a completely different shape, i've got to be around .706 (or 2.553 full measurement) or the ski goes to hell. 

 

 

[DW]

@scoke - could you elaborate on your DFT 'more finicky' comment?  What do you notice as the DFT goes out of the good range?  Thx.

[Horton]

@scoke We are talking Goode so how are you measuring? Looks like Jaws numbers