While up at Smugglers Notch this year I wanted to improve my skiing ability in the bumps. My instructor suggested that I demo some legends as a great all around ski which would carve adequately but really work in the aggressive stuff. I'm a tough fit because I'm a short stocky guy at around 190-195lbs, but only 5'8". I was able to go way shorter on the 8000 legends which improved my mogul skiing tremendously (along with a week of 1-on-1 instruction). I came across this review of the 8000's plus several other products which may interest you since its review of the dynastar was very similar to my experience. http://travel.canoe.ca/SkiCanadaProductTests/pg110_Ski_BG05_v-1_opt_opt.pdf . They suggested that heavier more aggressive skiers preferred the 8000's. I was also surprised at the speed I still had on the shorter skis. They still zip down the mountain faster than I want to go when you're carving and get them up on edge.
It's a game of wait and see. If it does, check out the Stockli Stormrider XL. There should be one there (if it's not out on rental) in a 174.
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I'm in doubt of it happening
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The Head im75 may also be worth a look see, if Head is there. Its supposed to have a soft tip which might help to initate turns in the glades.
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I don't like to have a quiver of skis; I like one eastern and one western ski.
. As far as level, based on the thread: http://www.dcski.com/ubbthreads22/showfl...art=2&vc=1. I would be a L8. But as the confusion in thread shows, I'm not certain and it sounds high. Soooo basically I can ski ungroomed black diamond terrain, carve turns and I can work my way through the trees, but I do so very cautiously. I get wild over 2-3 ft moguls. Not that I ski them for speed, but I luv that up and down motion with the occasional air. I think it falls into that motorcycle category, if you have to explain... I even recently tried these skis in a terrain park. Skis did well, but I'm uncomfortable with THAT much air and didn't really push it. I guess from a capability standpoint I can handle most terrain, but like to keep my speed in check. The snow I've skied these skis in so far is very typical eastern snow. Ranging from a few inches of powder over base to some pretty icy stuff. I have not really had them in deep powder yet. Oh yeah, Over the years, I've skied Vermont (I have time-share at smugglers), NH, NC, VA and WV (I grew-up near Canaan). No western skiing, yet. Dynastar's width is 116mm-79mm-102mm. I think the stiffness really comes into play on these skis. I think they float like a much larger ski because they don't bend in the middle as much, so you're really distributing your weight across the entire ski. As far as downhill stability, I think some folks want to run shaped skis like straight skis, when shaped skis are made to be carved. I have no trouble initiating a turn on these skis, but I think you've got to be willing/capable of committing to the turn. I mean getting the weight over the skis and some extension to get them on edge. I hope I answered all your questions and didn't ramble too long. I think with the different stiffness and shapes of skis today, folks should not only try a brand but various lengths, they may be pleasantly surprised.
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Search Epic for some useful info. In particular, Physics Man has several threads concerning what width heavier skiers need for float. (I can't remember if 200 is considered heavy.)
You also need to consider where you'll be using the mid-fats: East Coast trees and bumps versus West Coast bowls. Since the East Coast lines are generally tighter (especially in the trees) and have less snow, for that terrain, I'd place more of a premium on ease of turning at slower speeds and "turnability" in tight spots. For more open lines conducive to GS-type turns (more common out West), I'd place more of a premium on float, high-speed stability, and crud-busting ability.
Also, in due deference to Ski Center (I've bought two pairs of skis from them recently), before buying any mid-fats, I'd demo the skis in the snow conditions & terrain in which you'll be using them. Ski Liberty is great for many things, but it is not known for deeper soft snow and tree skiing. Vokl 5 Stars in 168cm should be great for any conditions you encounter at Liberty with the possible exception of the occasional blizzard we get around here.
For the Head IM 75 Chips, they are awesome in East Coast trees (Jay Peak) at the 170 length. I weigh about 190 lbs and the 170's had plenty of float and stability. I've written about them on this forum.
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The Head im75 may also be worth a look see, if Head is there. Its supposed to have a soft tip which might help to initate turns in the glades.
I don't know where you heard that. I don't think they have a soft tip and I don't see how that would help in the glades.
. I'll be honest. It was something I was concerned about, but I just could not get over how they skiied. I almost bought longer based solely on ego, but I decided to stay with what was working. I've been doing some searches and it seems many folks are going shorter and granted wider when in the powder. This article by Lito Tejada-Flores helped my ego some 
: http://www.breakthroughonskis.com/Pages/lessons.html . If I really need too, I can break out my 20 year old 190cm Kastle K12's, but will probably pick up some shaped powder ski's if it becomes a problem. , but we did work in the same lab in similar areas of science roughly 25 years ago. We lost track of each other until one evening last season when he jumped on the expert chair at WT in the middle of an instructor's clinic. He was fully covered up, but as soon as he started to speak, I realized it was him. 
