Elan Magfire 78Ti v Head Peak 78

Hi everyone, first post, it´s good to be here.

So, I need a bit of advice. It is time for me to upgrade my gear. I have been skiing for the last three years, with very basic equipment. No sense in having good skis if I can´t move them..... Anyway, I´ve progressed enough that I feel that I need better gear. With this in mind, during the last days of this year´s season I have tried a number of different skis. The last ones I tried, I loved, and it made me realize that that is the kind of ski I am looking for: it was the Salomon X-wing Tornado (white).

After discussing it at length, I have narrowed my list to the two choices I have listed in the topic subject.


So, I would like to know your opinion about them. Have you tried them? Have you had the chance to try them both?

I could really use some help here. It´s end of season here (Spain), no more chances to try skis, and also now is the time to buy them - massive season-end savings -. As far as price goes, both pairs cost roughly the same.


Thank you very much for your help.


Forgot to add: medium-high ski level, 189 cm height, 80 kg weight.


Cheers! )

Welcome to j2ski!

Mastropiero wrote:the kind of ski I am looking for: it was the Salomon X-wing Tornado

Ok, obvious question then... why aren't you buying some Tornados? I've not skied on your other two options but really enjoyed the Tornado last season.

Hi, thanks for your reply. Well, the basic answer is because of the size I need. The Tornado jumps from 173 cm to 180. I tried the 173 and, though I enjoyed it a lot, it was quite small for mi size. I had a warm recommendation from a very knowledgeable skiman not to go for the 180, as it would be a tad long. So, after going through all the models suited for my level and in the range of skis I am looking for, I decided to go for one of these two models.

With respect - i think YOU have to try the skiis to be sure of the answer to this (I realise this means delaying the purchase...I guess this depends on how long you think you might stick with a pair of skiis).
for example - I tried the tornados, for a week, in Feb. I didn't overly like them. I found they chattered in long turns, I tried a longer length and they still chattered, but at a higher speed.
In April my OH had Bandits (recommended by hire shop) and was finding it hard going in the slush, swapping to K2 Apache (which the hire shop said was the wrong decision as they are a bit stiffer) improved her skiing (in these conditions) no end..
the point I'm making (but maybe not too well) is that you can read all you like, but really have to try the things for yourself to really know.

180 would probably be fine but it would be best to try them. From a marketing point of view it would seem to make more sense to have a 179 length. What terrain do you like to ski?

Live_Ade, Pablo, thanks for your replies.

Live_Ade, you are absolutely right, I should try them... if I could. During the last days of this season I went to every hire shop in the resorts I skied in, and out of a long list of skiis, I only could try two models. Needless to say, none of them were the ones I'm asking about. Being well aware that, at the end of the day it's my experience that matters, I still think that reading other skiers' opinion will help me a bit.

Pablo, I normally ski on groomed tracks, although these last days I tried skiing a bit off-track ( we had around 30 cm of fresh powder ) on the Tornados, and I liked it a lot. While I still think I'll spend most of my time on groomed tracks, ocasionall off-track outings will definitely be on my agenda, hence my choice of skiis.

Thank you all!!!

can I throw another ski into the pot (but, I don't know how they theoretically compare with the skiis you have mentioned)... K2 Apache recon. I certainly rate them much better than the tornado's (based on 1 week hire of each). They were excellent off piste and had terrific (possibly too much ?) rebound in soft slush moguls. Took a day to get used to the feeling of them being a little wider under the boot. I'm 184cm, 84kg, 7/8 ability (based on snow& rock 10 scale) and ski quite energetically..oh and you can ski these backwards much better than the tornados... oh course this might just be annoying because it's another choice..sorry !

Lol, don't worry. I had already discarded the K2, but thanks anyway. As a matter of fact, I have just given my word ( I hope that's proper English, btw, apologies if not) over the last pair of Peak 78. I have decided to go for them, they seem to be the ones they suit me best...and, judging by their tail, I'll be able to ski them backwards pretty nicely too :p. I wish I could try them all and decide based on my own experiences but that's the way it goes.....

Thanks anyway, I'll try to post a review after I've tried them.

Cheers!