If anyone would provide there opinion on the K2 Rictor vs the Dynastar Sultan 85 I would appreciate it.
I have demo'd the K2 Rictor and enjoyed it very much. It handled both hard pack and crud pretty well. Unfortunately, I did not have a powder day to try it in deep snow. I am looking for an all mountain ski that will also handle east coast conditions. I wanted to demo the Sultan 85 at Stowe this year but they were sold out. Given the off season prices on last years' equipment, I was thinking of purchasing new skis. Thus your opinion would be appreciated. Any other recommendations are also welcome.
Thanks!

I'm also interested in this topic. I got to ski the Dynastar Sultan 94 at the demo day at Whitetail and liked it better than some other options in the crud, but clearly there was nothing resembling powder there. I also skied the K2 Aftershock, which is an 86 waist, at Mad River Glen in powder. I was still happier with my 10-year-old, 68 waist, so clearly I haven't found the right ski yet.

Where have you been looking at clearances?

snowsmith the Rictor is more of a frontside on piste ski than the dynastar. Rictor has a slight earlyrise tip, Sultan is more of an all mountain ski w/tip and tail rise. What length are you looking at?

Sure about that? I thought it was conventional camber (may be changing next year.) At least the Sultan 94's I demo'ed this past year.

6th Sense Slicer are the tip/tail rise skis I demo'ed and loved.

UMM you're part right, no tail rocker, more tip rise than the K2 is all.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I demo'd the K2 Rictor with 167 length. It was fun a a steep partially groomed slope. But I was thinking I may need to go longer if I want some flotation in crud and powder. I am thinking 170+, however, I do not want to go back to a ski longer than say a 174.
From what I have read, the Sultan 85 has a small of rocker. I understand the 2012 version has a more substantial rocker. I have heard that the rocker tends to make the ski seem like a shorter ski. Then there is cost...I can buy the Sultan 85 for a few hundred less than the K2 Rictor. Thus $$$$ may be the deciding factor. Unfortunately, I was unable to demo the Sultan 85. I do not usually but a ski that I haven't demo'd.

Thus my quandry.

If you want to save the money i wouldn't be afraid to buy the Sultans.....but you might want wait and demo next seasons Sultan and maybe some Blizzards.

Rocker is for real.

Wider is better.

If you decide on the Rictor, what are your dimensions ?

Snowsmith,

Need way more info to give you some input.

Weight, height, fitness, where you ski, what you ski, how you ski (mellow, agressive, smooth, technical, etc.), skier level, what conditions/terrain/speed envelope you want the best performance on, what you're willing to sacrifice on.

Nowadays, pretty much all skis are very good, it's a matter of finding the right match between skier and ski.

JohnL - Snowsmith skier data:
Height: 5'9.5", Weight: 193, Age: 57
Condition: I am an engineer who sits at a desk 11 hours a day. I do not get enough excercise as a result.
Ski days per year: 25 -30
Location: Hidden Valley, Seven Springs and Wisp, primarilly. One or two week long trips per year - one out west and one to New England. Occasional night skiing at Liberty and Rountop.
Skiing: I am what I would say is an advanced skier. Expert to me is someone who skis 50+ days a year on some gnarly steep slopes or mogul runs. I'll ski any slope that is not too moguled up regardless of pitch. Moguls give me trouble, although I am getting better. After tiring myself out on the steep stuff, I finish my ski day on the blue cruisers. I alternate my style from GS type long radius turns to short radius 'hop' turns depending on what I am in the mood for. I seem to be skiing moderately fast in relation to other skiers on the mountain since I seem to be skiing faster than most of them but slower than a few. I ski well in crud and powder but I could get better with more practice with powder (scarce here in the east)

Hopefully that is enough info.
THank you for your input

Both skis are highly rated on Peter K's site for the 2011 models. You really can't go wrong with either ski and they are in the same category. At 197 lbs, I'd be surprised if you like a ski shorter than 170.

I don't know where Jimmy is coming from wrt the early rise comparisons. All skis in K2's 2011 line are rockered. Peter K's site wonders if the Sultan 85's really are "early rise" since they've been pretty much unchanged for several years. Maybe more marketing than any thing else.

Dunno on 2012 skis.