SnowHot
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'll be heading to Mammoth to get on some of the skis I missed at Copper Mountain, but this is a start with the skis I got a chance to try at Copper. Not full reviews but quick thumbnails -
Notable notes:
The two front side skis that wow'd me = Blizzard Cheyenne and Head Super Joy
The Aura and Nemesis have made changes that are huge diversions from their predecessors
Frontside Sweethearts
Blizzard Cheyenne –
Length 163 Dimensions 115-78-100 (14M)
The Cheyenne earned a place in my heart with the edge grip and power, with a really big sweet spot when I took it out on the early day groomers, and continued to impress me when I took it back out later in the day when things were chopped up and less friendly. What was the icing on the cake was how playful and fun it was in the moguls.
HEAD Total Joy –
Length 163 - 85W (13.6M)
This is one of the new skis from Head’s Libra line with Graphene. One of the things I noticed about it quickly is how much I could push it. Head has made a really strong ski that has the ability to make easy turn transitions and cruise.
Head Super Joy
Length 163 Dimensions 128-75-108 (12.5M)
Head has made an amazing groomer ski for the women with this one. The edge hold is incredible and the turn shapes were easy to change in every where I pushed it, including in the moguls
Stockli Woman’s Stormrider
Length 159, Dims 127-84-109 (13.5M)
I would have liked to ski this in a longer length but this is what I had available. I really liked how nimble it was in the moguls and how easy it was to play in the chopped up snow, but I never really felt like I could get it up to speed and feel confidence in the stability.
Blizzard Viva 810
Length 167,
I would have liked to ski this one a size shorter than it was available, but….
In a 167, I felt that this ski was extremely stable at speed and had incredible edge hold, but I wasn’t feeling the love in moguls.
Nordica Wild Belle
Length 161, Dims 124-88-108 (15.5M)
This is a ski name you’re familiar with from the past couple years but with a whole new design related to the NRGy line on the men’s side. With the same basic construction of the Wild Fire from last season but with smaller dimensions, the Wild Belle has rocker tip and tail with camber under foot and a new playful nature that makes it super friendly in moguls and in chopped up snow. It took me a little while to find the sweet spot on groomers, but its there and fun to play with when you find it.
Midfats - 90-100mm
Blizzard Samba –
Length 166cm Sidecut
This is my benchmark ski because I know it so well. The Samba remains unchanged for 2015 with New Graphic Technology. When you engage the tip you’ll feel a reward that is unstoppable, much to Jed’s dismay the Samba inspires me to play in the bumps like its my own personal playground, and she’s willing to be my friend on a powder day. This is still my hot pick and is a ski that will remain in my quiver for some time to come.
Head Great Joy
Length 168cm – Dimensions 141-98-124
Head has built a strong ski for the woman who wants a hard charging every day ski. The Great Joy isn’t particularly playful in the bumps but is incredibly stable at speed and a strong, stable ski when you want to charge the mountain .
Nordica Nemesis
Length 169cm Dimensions 134-98-118
This is not the Nemesis of years past, that’s clear. The current generation of Nemesis has taken on the shape of its bigger sister, the Wild Fire. The new shape inspires a playful day on the mountain, whether its in the bumps, trees or chutes, while maintaining the ability to take you on the groomers when you feel the urge.
Where the previous Nemesis was a strong groomer ski that could go off piste, this version is an off piste ski that will ski the groomers.
Rossignol Saffron 7
Length 170cm Dimensions 134-98-118
This is the second year of the Saffron 7, but with NGT(new graphic technology)
It was fun to take into the bumps and playful in the soft snow on the edges, with a nice clean finish in the turns. Entering a turn seemed a little soft, but that’s not a surprise for a ski with this intention.
Kastle FX94
Length 166cm – 94mm W
This ski held no surprises for me. Played in the bumps, carved up the groomers and inspired me to head into the trees. This is a ski that could earn a permanent place in my quiver very easily.
Volkl Aura
Length 170cm - 132-100-118 (19.3M@ 163)
The Aura has seen some subtle changes over the years, from dimension changes to early rise tip, all of which maintained the character and energy of the ski that Aura lovers long for. The changes that came to the Aura this year aren’t subtle and bring the ski to new dimensions and most definitely a new feel. Taking the camber out of the ski and giving it full rocker made it super fun to pivot and play in the moguls, while it lost something in the traditional carving that I’ve grown to expect from the Aura.
Powder – 100mm + (other wise known as skis that make my butt look small)
Conditions – a few inches of fresh snow
Blizzard Sheeva
Length 172 – 102mm
With the retirement of the Blizzard Dakota, the Sheeva is taking her spot. At 102mm under foot, flipcore rocker, camber under foot and twin tip profile, the Sheeva is a beautiful ski to play in the powder, pop around in the bumps & trees, and charge chutes. I can’t wait to try this ski out in a bigger variety of terrain.
Nordica Wild Fire
Length 169cm 135-105-123, 20M (*177cm 137-107-125, 22.5M )
I got a chance to ski this one for a full day in super soft snow = Lucky Me!
I will admit, it took me a few runs to remember that I wasn’t on skinny skis after a winter of nothing but groomers. Once I embraced the conditions, the ski was simply amazing. It turned easily under me and sort of let me be Zen when playing in soft fluffy bumps on Birds of Prey, and gave me huge grins when it was time to arc big turns on the way back to the village.
Goode Sorcerer
Length 169cm 128-104-118
While I was able to arc some turns on groomers, it was obvious that this skis intention was to play in powder, and it was sooooo much fun in the bumps. I really want to get out on this ski in some seriously deep snow.
Notable notes:
The two front side skis that wow'd me = Blizzard Cheyenne and Head Super Joy
The Aura and Nemesis have made changes that are huge diversions from their predecessors
Frontside Sweethearts
Blizzard Cheyenne –
Length 163 Dimensions 115-78-100 (14M)
The Cheyenne earned a place in my heart with the edge grip and power, with a really big sweet spot when I took it out on the early day groomers, and continued to impress me when I took it back out later in the day when things were chopped up and less friendly. What was the icing on the cake was how playful and fun it was in the moguls.
HEAD Total Joy –
Length 163 - 85W (13.6M)
This is one of the new skis from Head’s Libra line with Graphene. One of the things I noticed about it quickly is how much I could push it. Head has made a really strong ski that has the ability to make easy turn transitions and cruise.
Head Super Joy
Length 163 Dimensions 128-75-108 (12.5M)
Head has made an amazing groomer ski for the women with this one. The edge hold is incredible and the turn shapes were easy to change in every where I pushed it, including in the moguls
Stockli Woman’s Stormrider
Length 159, Dims 127-84-109 (13.5M)
I would have liked to ski this in a longer length but this is what I had available. I really liked how nimble it was in the moguls and how easy it was to play in the chopped up snow, but I never really felt like I could get it up to speed and feel confidence in the stability.
Blizzard Viva 810
Length 167,
I would have liked to ski this one a size shorter than it was available, but….
In a 167, I felt that this ski was extremely stable at speed and had incredible edge hold, but I wasn’t feeling the love in moguls.
Nordica Wild Belle
Length 161, Dims 124-88-108 (15.5M)
This is a ski name you’re familiar with from the past couple years but with a whole new design related to the NRGy line on the men’s side. With the same basic construction of the Wild Fire from last season but with smaller dimensions, the Wild Belle has rocker tip and tail with camber under foot and a new playful nature that makes it super friendly in moguls and in chopped up snow. It took me a little while to find the sweet spot on groomers, but its there and fun to play with when you find it.
Midfats - 90-100mm
Blizzard Samba –
Length 166cm Sidecut
This is my benchmark ski because I know it so well. The Samba remains unchanged for 2015 with New Graphic Technology. When you engage the tip you’ll feel a reward that is unstoppable, much to Jed’s dismay the Samba inspires me to play in the bumps like its my own personal playground, and she’s willing to be my friend on a powder day. This is still my hot pick and is a ski that will remain in my quiver for some time to come.
Head Great Joy
Length 168cm – Dimensions 141-98-124
Head has built a strong ski for the woman who wants a hard charging every day ski. The Great Joy isn’t particularly playful in the bumps but is incredibly stable at speed and a strong, stable ski when you want to charge the mountain .
Nordica Nemesis
Length 169cm Dimensions 134-98-118
This is not the Nemesis of years past, that’s clear. The current generation of Nemesis has taken on the shape of its bigger sister, the Wild Fire. The new shape inspires a playful day on the mountain, whether its in the bumps, trees or chutes, while maintaining the ability to take you on the groomers when you feel the urge.
Where the previous Nemesis was a strong groomer ski that could go off piste, this version is an off piste ski that will ski the groomers.
Rossignol Saffron 7
Length 170cm Dimensions 134-98-118
This is the second year of the Saffron 7, but with NGT(new graphic technology)
It was fun to take into the bumps and playful in the soft snow on the edges, with a nice clean finish in the turns. Entering a turn seemed a little soft, but that’s not a surprise for a ski with this intention.
Kastle FX94
Length 166cm – 94mm W
This ski held no surprises for me. Played in the bumps, carved up the groomers and inspired me to head into the trees. This is a ski that could earn a permanent place in my quiver very easily.
Volkl Aura
Length 170cm - 132-100-118 (19.3M@ 163)
The Aura has seen some subtle changes over the years, from dimension changes to early rise tip, all of which maintained the character and energy of the ski that Aura lovers long for. The changes that came to the Aura this year aren’t subtle and bring the ski to new dimensions and most definitely a new feel. Taking the camber out of the ski and giving it full rocker made it super fun to pivot and play in the moguls, while it lost something in the traditional carving that I’ve grown to expect from the Aura.
Powder – 100mm + (other wise known as skis that make my butt look small)
Conditions – a few inches of fresh snow
Blizzard Sheeva
Length 172 – 102mm
With the retirement of the Blizzard Dakota, the Sheeva is taking her spot. At 102mm under foot, flipcore rocker, camber under foot and twin tip profile, the Sheeva is a beautiful ski to play in the powder, pop around in the bumps & trees, and charge chutes. I can’t wait to try this ski out in a bigger variety of terrain.
Nordica Wild Fire
Length 169cm 135-105-123, 20M (*177cm 137-107-125, 22.5M )
I got a chance to ski this one for a full day in super soft snow = Lucky Me!
I will admit, it took me a few runs to remember that I wasn’t on skinny skis after a winter of nothing but groomers. Once I embraced the conditions, the ski was simply amazing. It turned easily under me and sort of let me be Zen when playing in soft fluffy bumps on Birds of Prey, and gave me huge grins when it was time to arc big turns on the way back to the village.
Goode Sorcerer
Length 169cm 128-104-118
While I was able to arc some turns on groomers, it was obvious that this skis intention was to play in powder, and it was sooooo much fun in the bumps. I really want to get out on this ski in some seriously deep snow.
(sorry if I'm hijacking this thread)
