Tag Archives | Gear Review

Carrying on.

February 28, 2012 in Ski Gear, Ski News

So how do you carry your skis?

This is no trivial matter. Carry them like this:

Looks uncomfortable, doesn't it?

 

And  you risk being labeled a gaper — someone who doesn’t have a clue. Some people carry their skis over their shoulders. That’s what I generally do, tails forward, though I’ve heard strong arguments for tips forward, too. I guess it just comes down to a matter of preference.

But not everyone likes to carry their skis that way. The bases can slip, causing the skis to shift around uncomfortably. And some people just find it awkward.

That must be why Ski-Lash sent me their ski carrier to review. It’s a harness of sturdy, nylon straps that wrap tightly around your skis and closes with velcro. The main feature is a padded handle, which lets you carry your skis like a suitcase:

According to Ski-Lash, the carrier can handle both skis and poles, though I found that a bit difficult to manage. Maybe it’s something I could do with practice. Anyway, I found it a pretty good alternative to my usual carrying method. The carrier is very sturdy and secure, and I didn’t worry about it coming apart and ditching my skis along the way. I think it’d be especially useful for kids, too, so they can learn to carry their own gear. And yes, there’s a junior-sized carrier available.

The upside:
It’s sturdy, well made, and pretty inexpensive. So if you’re having trouble carrying your skis, it’s definitely worth a try.

The downside:
Not so easy to fit your poles in with the skis, though that’s not a deal breaker for me.

My rating: two ski poles up.

 

 

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Gear Review: Geigerrig Red Rig Hydration Pack

February 21, 2012 in Gear Review, Ski News

I wish I’d had this on my trip to Big Sky.

Like a lot of people, I tend to get thirsty when I ski—particularly out west, where the air is dry. And like others on TheSkiDiva.com, I’ve had problems with my hydration pack freezing. Even though I have one with an insulated tube, sooner or later ice builds up in the bite valve and it’s impossible to get a drink.

Geigerrig saw this thread about the problem, and they sent me their Red Rig Hydration Pack for review.

 

Red Rig Hydration Pack

Out of the Box:

The Red Rig isn’t big, but it’s beefy. It’s made of high density ballistic nylon that seems pretty much bombproof. Features include vented padding on the shoulder straps and back, a waist strap, an elasticized sternum strap with a built-in pealess whistle (cool!), and a stabilizing back plate inside that can double as a shovel, if needed (also cool!). Sliders and loops and grippers are big and easy to manipulate, and the whole thing seems very solidly put together. (The Red Rig is sized to hold its hydration gear and a few essentials—keys, hand warmers, a wallet—although Geigerrig makes other, larger models for day hiking and other activities.)

What’s most noteworthy is the way it works. Inside is a 70-ounce bladder that’s divided into two compartments. One connects to the water hose and drinking valve, and the other connects to an air hose that terminates in a rubber bulb. (And I really mean connects. Both hoses attach with sturdy click-in fittings that mean business.) Fill the bladder with water, squeeze the bulb to pressurize the system, and you’re good to go.

The positive pressure system means that the drinking valve sq““uirts water, instead of requiring you to bite down and suck. That can come in handy when you want to share a drink with a friend, human or otherwise, or even use the water to cool down or clean something. The bladder is easy to fill, thanks to a very wide mouth and a big slide-on seal. It’s also easy to clean, since you can turn it inside-out and run it through the dishwasher (top rack only!).

The Bladder Inside

 

Pressurizing bulb, unsleeved

Since I was mainly interested in testing the setup under cold conditions, Geigerrig sent an optional Insulated Tube Garage. I found it a little tricky to install perfectly, but I was glad to see that it zipped closed over the drinking valve and had a zippered pocket to hold a hand warmer. They also provided a filter so you can get water right out of a stream or lake if needed, which I didn’t test (cool option, though).

On the Mountain:

I’m not crazy about wearing a pack of any kind on the slopes—or, I guess I should say, on the lifts, where the bulk makes me feel like I’m pitching forward— but I certainly found the Red Rig as comfortable as any pack might be. It stayed secure no matter what happened as the day went by, and at lunch we reconfigured it to fit my much-larger husband, with no trouble at all.

The good news is that on this cold Vermont day—in the teens on the mountain—the Red Rig performed like a champ. The bad news is that it took a little bit of doing to get it right.

We tested the drinking valve after every second run, or about every half hour. On the first test, we had a freeze-up. We skied to the base lodge and quickly dismantled everything, which revealed that ice had formed in the drinking tube near where it entered the Tube Garage. Taking everything apart to blow the ice out revealed another problem, and this one was definitely user error: the tube wasn’t fully inserted into the bladder.

Score one for Geigerrig, though. Thanks to the click-in fittings, no water had leaked into the pack. Tragedy averted.

We put everything back together, adjusted the tube so that less of it was exposed beyond the confines of the pack, adjusted the Tube Garage to help make that happen, and put a single hand warmer into the zippered pocket. For the rest of the day, we had water on demand.

One Drawback:

The product manual leaves a lot to be desired. I felt that I had to figure out a lot of stuff on my own. The web site has a lot of videos, which are good, but I think they could use an out-of-the-box primer to fill you in on the basics..  Hopefully this will be resolved in the future.

Extra Bonus:

I don’t know if this is going to continue in the future, but Geigerrig offers a sweet deal with each hydration pack it sells: a Mountain Passport that contains dozen of free lift tickets! Unfortunately, there aren’t too many for the east, a downside for me. But they’re in there for Alpine Meadows, Angel Fire, Brundage, Snowbasin, Monarch, Canyons, Homewood, Kicking Horse, and more.

Bottom line:

The Geigerrig hydration pack is a sturdy, well designed item that’d be great for any kind of outdoor activity. Loved the whole idea that you can spray to get a drink, so there’s no germy mouthpiece or backwash and the pack doesn’t turn into a microbe factory (dishwasher compatibility also helps). Also loved the in-line water filter, which they say removes >99.9% cryptospordium and giardia. And once I got it nailed down, the water line didn’t freeze, either; a big plus.

Rating: Two ski poles up!

 

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The Pony Tail Problem.

November 1, 2011 in Gear Review

Except for a few unfortunate years in my twenties, I’ve always had long hair. I think it suits me better, though who knows, I may be wrong.

The good thing about long hair is that if you’re having a bad hair day, you can always pull it back. Likewise if you’re skiing or working out. Your hair stays out of the way, and it’s not too terrible looking.

Except when you wear a hat.

Yes, pony tails present unique hat challenges. They bunch up in the back so you get this lump that just looks, well, odd. And your hair gets squished down so you have this little duck tail poking out the back. All in all, not a good look.

I illustrate:

So what’s a pony tail wearer to do? Here’s one solution — a hat with a pony tail slit.

This hat is from Fit to Flick. In full disclosure, Fit to Flick sent me this hat to review. Another full disclosure: that’s not me below. It’s from their website, but she looks a whole lot better wearing the hat than I do:

So here’s my review: The hat is well made, with a hand made rather than machine-made quality. I like that. And it does take care of the pony tail problem quite nicely. One caveat: This particular hat is not the warmest hat I own. Then again, I live in Vermont where it gets incredibly cold. If I could walk around with my cat on my head (I doubt she’d let me, and that would really look odd), I probably would. But for regular street wear — and for people who don’t suffer from the cold the way I do — this hat’ll do just fine

Fit To Flick is a new company founded by Hannah Bomze. Inspired by her own pony tail problems during a ski holiday in Italy, Hannah set about to come up with a line of stylish hats that could accommodate pony tails. Fit To Flick has 6 winter styles to choose from in 2 color variations: 4 for women and 2 for girls. Each is hand knit out of alpaca and cotton.

I guess I could get my hair cut, but that has its own set of hat challenges, like flat hair when you take off your hat. But maybe there’s a better idea………..

 

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A little bit of Soul.

October 18, 2011 in Interview, Ski News

How much thought do you give your ski poles?

I thought so. Not much.

To me, poles rank pretty far down on my list of gear. It’s sort of like this: skis first, followed by boots, clothes, helmet, and then way, way, way down at the bottom, poles.

Face it. Ski poles just aren’t sexy. I mean, we’re basically talking about a stick with a hand grip and a basket. There’s just not much to get excited about. But all this is about to change. Because the coolness factor for poles is going to jump considerably, thanks to a new company, Soul Poles.

What’s Soul Poles? Basically, Soul Poles combines a contemporary idea – sustainable, environmentally-friendly ski gear —  with one that’s very old: bamboo.

Soul Poles is the brainchild of US Ski Team Members and World Cup Racers Bryon Friedman and Erik Schlopy, working in partnership with former US Alpine Team Head Coach, Phil McNichol. Quite a pedigree for a fledgling operation. But as high powered ski types, these guys bring a lot of cred to the table and provide the sort of excitement needed to market something most people see as pretty ho-hum. What’s more, they’re doing a lot more than just selling ski poles: they’re providing a piece of equipment that’s made in a way that doesn’t harm the environment. And as outdoor enthusiasts, that’s something we can all get behind.

I recently spoke to Bryon Friedman to find out more about his company.

A gaggle of Soul Poles.

Q: Bryon, tell me what led you to start Soul Poles.

A: I consider myself a product of my environment. I live in a beautiful place, and I want to conserve that as much as possible. Like a lot of people, I definitely see global warming as a threat. But I also think there are things we can do now to invoke change. This is particularly true in the ski industry, where there are all these products that are hard to recycle. We wanted to put the idea out there that you can reuse things to produce other products.

But we’re also entrepreneurs. And even though we wanted to be altruistic, that wasn’t our only motivation. We wanted to offer a sustainable product that we could successfully market. The idea of Soul Poles resonated with us.

Basically, we’re doing this for two reasons: To reduce our carbon footprint and to ignite change in the industry. It’s a worthy mission, and it’s something we’re hoping will catch on.

Q:  Bamboo is such a retro material. Years ago it was THE material for ski poles. So why’d you decide to use it now?

A: Well, one reason is we know it works. I was put in charge of all the research, looking into what we could source. Bamboo is highly renewable. It grows to full length in 90 days, it doesn’t need much water, and it doesn’t require any pesticides. It’s a grass, actually. But it has the tensile strength of steel, and it’s much stronger than the aluminum that most poles are made of. When you ski with it – there are over 2,000 species, and we’ve tested a bunch – it feels absolutely amazing.

Bamboo makes sense for a lot of reasons. There’s no compromise in strength or performance, and it’s extremely light. I took some of our poles heli-skiing with some people in Alaska, and everyone was really surprised by how light and strong they were.  We threw the poles in and out of the helicopter — banged them around quite a bit — with no problem. People are really excited that they’re sustainable, too. We put a bunch of prototypes in the rental market last winter and had no problems. Given the choice between a conventional pole and a Soul Pole, people choose a Soul Pole 90% of the time.

Q: I understand Soul Pole is also involved in recycling. Can you tell me something about that?

A: Part of our brand is not just to provide a sustainable, stylish pole, but to educate people that you can recycle ski products. Right now we have a partnership going with Recycle Utah. They’ve put out recycling bins to collect old poles for us. So far they’ve filled up two enormous bins, with very little PR. We can source some of the materials for our products this way or recycle them. We’re regrinding plastic to make our own grips and baskets.  We’re also going to use the recycled material we collect to make a handful of poles for local ski programs that need equipment, so we can give back to the community.

Soul Poles are made of recycled materials that are readily available. The key word here is available, since specific recycled materials are sometimes difficult to come by.  Currently we’re sourcing our grips and baskets from industrial-sized blender tops. We’re using hemp and recycled polyester for the straps, and we’re making our tips from a variety of recycled metals, such as aluminum and magnesium.  Cork and recycled tires aren’t readily available at the moment, but as they become more abundant we plan to use them as much as we can, if and when it makes sense.

Q: Soul Poles is an unusual name. What does it mean?

A: We chose it because we believe we’re giving soul to ski poles, an otherwise forgotten accessory. Between recycled materials and renewable resources and art design, our poles have soul because they’re extending the lives of other materials by combining them with bamboo.

Q: Are there different Soul Pole options available?

A: Right now we’re offering three different versions in sizes ranging from 44 to 55 inches. There’s our Original Soul, which comes in a natural bamboo color with a laser-engraved Soul Poles logo; our Vibrant Soul, that comes in a color designed by artist R. Nelson Parrish, also with the laser-engraved logo. And there’s our Limited Edition. We’ll only make 200 per design.They’re hand painted, with a color designed by R. Nelson Parrish, the laser-engraved Soul Poles logo, and a production number.

*     *    *

As skiers, it’s in our own best interest to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum, not only to prevent global warming, but to preserve the beauty of the environment in which we ski. Obviously, eco-friendly ski gear alone isn’t going to save the world, but every little bit helps.

Soul Poles isn’t the only company marketing ski equipment. Liberty Skis, for example, uses bamboo laminate cores in all of its skis, too; another terrific idea.

Another interesting point about Soul Poles: The company is part of 1% For The Planet, an organization of companies that donate 1% of their sales to a network more than 2,600 environmental organizations worldwide. Kudos to Soul Poles.

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A peek at the class of ’11/’12

March 3, 2011 in Gear Review

So many skis, so little time.

That was pretty much my mantra during the ski industry on-snow demo days, held this week at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire. For two days I got to try as many skis as I wanted. The problem: what to try, and what to leave out.

Poor me. 

Just the same, I gave it my best shot. It was absolutely dizzying. To fit in as many as possible, I could only spend a couple runs per ski. So it’s almost unfair to call this a demo. Think of it as speed dating with skis. Still, first impressions can be revealing. Then again, just as in real life, sometimes not. You never know.

On the whole, most of the skis I tried were quite good. IMHO, it’s almost difficult these days to find a ski that’s really bad. I think it mostly comes down to a matter of taste and what works best for (insert condition & level of skier here). For me it’s either “man, this is nice” or “meh, this is fine, just nothing to get excited about.” Maybe I’m not a sophisticated enough reviewer; that could easily be the case. For me, the bottom line is this: if it makes me smile, it’s a good ski.

The trend for next year can be summed up in three words: “Rocker” and “early rise.” These are everywhere, both in new models and in models that have been around for years. Call it a marketing ploy, call it a performance improvement, it’s the Next Big Thing. Used to be you only saw these in powder skis. Not anymore. According to the reps I spoke with, a raised tip has a couple of advantages, even when you’re not in a foot of freshies. First, shock absorption. It’s supposed to make the ski better in bumps. When the ski hits a bump, the raised tip keeps you from getting jolted around. Instead, there’s more of an up and over motion. And second, it makes the ski a bit more forgiving and turnable, since it’s a bit less grabby on the snow. Does it make a difference? I think so. The last change I remember this pervasive was when companies went from straight skis to shaped. So if you haven’t tried it yet, trust me — you probably will.

First, a little about me. I’m 5’1”, 110 lbs, an advanced New England skier. Which means I spend a fair amount of time on hard pack.

And second, conditions. The first day, the snow changed from hard pack to soft, as the temps warmed into the low thirties. The second day we had a couple inches of fresh snow. So no, I didn’t have the foot of fluffy powder which would have been ideal to try the fatter skis. What can I say – you work with what you have.

So here goes.

Nordica


Cinnamon Girl: You know the song in which Neal Young sings “I could be happy the rest of my life with my Cinnamon Girl?” This might’ve been what he had in mind. The Cinnamon Girl is Nordica’s spicy new front side carver, based on the men’s Fire Arrow. A traditional camber ski with a 74 waist, designed for medium and large turns. And yes, it’s that good. The CG is a responsive, grippy ski that’s easy to turn. Think of it as your front-side sports car. Vroom!


Nemesis: I almost hate to reveal this so close to the beginning, but this was my absolute fave of the day. I’d take these home in a minute, and one of these days, I just might. The Nemesis isn’t new; the only change they made from this year’s model is the topsheet. But why mess with perfection? These skis do it all. Even though they’re 98 underfoot, they’re easy to get on edge. A beefy ski that’s solid and smooth, yet playful. These skis will take you through anything. Love.

Fisher
I’ve always loved Fisher skis. Fishers are marvelous for eastern conditions, plus they’re reasonably priced. What’s not to love?

I tried the Fisher Koa 84, which is based on the men’s Watea. Again, not a new ski, though they’ve gone ahead and added some rocker and changed the top sheet (IMHO, they should have stuck with last year’s). The Koa will go through anything and make you feel like a champ. It’s incredibly stable and powerful, yet loads of fun, too. Great on the ice, and crud. I’d love to give these a shot in the powder. I demoed these in a 159. Another ski I’d definitely take tome.

Blizzards


Black Pearl: I don’t know what Blizzard was thinking, but these skis win the prize for the most schizo graphics. The tip features an evil looking purple bull’s head, with blazing hot pink eyes (Say in a Russian accent: “Unh. You are strong like bull!”) But picture this: you can’t tell from the photo, but a lot of the ski is sparkles and stars – the sort of thing that’d appeal to a third grade girl. Its bizarre. Be that as it may: these are fun skis. The Black Pearl features Blizzard’s new Flipcore technology. If I understand correctly, it works like this: most skis come out of the mold with a traditional cambered core. If they’re supposed to be rockered, they’re literally forced into that position. Blizzard doesn’t do this. Instead, it flips the core upside down to match the desired camber of a rockered ski. The ski is then pressed in a non-forced, natural way, which allows the rocker to be produced without bending or artificially shaping the ski in a press. According to the rep, the end result is a ski that’s more stable and easier to ski. All this is beyond me. All I know is that the Pearl is indeed a lot of fun and very responsive. 88 underfoot.


Blizzard Crush: I took these out because I’d heard great things about them, and I wasn’t disappointed. These skis can handle anything I threw at them. The 98 waist makes them great for deep conditions, but don’t let that fool you. These are crud busters, ice eaters, Plus they’re easy to turn, too. Here, too, not crazy about the graphics,. Skied in a 163.

BTW, didn’t try these, but the Viva Magnum’s, a great line that’s been out for a few years, all have rocker. I’d have loved to give these a try, but didn’t have the time.

Elan


Amphibio Insomnia: I don’t know who thought this up – based on the name, maybe someone with sleep issues — but this is one crazy ski. The inside edges are cambered, the outside edges are early rise. According to Elan, this gives you the edge grip and stability of a cambered ski but the versatility and ease of turning of an early rise. Yeah, yeah. I thought. What a gimmick. But does it work? Oddly enough, yes! The result is a great carver that’s loads of fun. I’d consider this a terrific front sider. They’re 74 underfoot. I tried them in a 152. Just be aware: these skis have a definite right and left ski. It says it right on the graphics so you don’t get mixed up. A good idea, I thought.


Zeal: This used to be the Free. They’ve changed the name and the top sheet and given it some rocker, but otherwise, it’s exactly the same. The Zeal isn’t as burly as some of the others I tried, so I think it’s better suited for in bounds skiing. Still, despite it’s width, this is a playful ski that’s nice and responsive. Fun. I think this was around 88 or 89 underfoot.

Volkl


Kenja: These skis absolutely rock. According to the rep, the Kenja is a narrower the Aura (88 underfoot), with a thin profile so it’s “nice and flexy.” The Kenja is fully cambered so it carves a nice turn, yet versatile enough all conditions. I skied it in a 162(?). Steady, stable, with that great Volkl edge. And SOOOO much fun. I heart these skis.


Aura: Yes, they’ve changed the Aura a bit. First, the graphics: the busty geisha girl is gone (good riddance, I say). Instead, there’s a big green hummingbird. It’s —- okay. I think they could do better, but that’s just me. As for its construction, they’ve given it an early rise in the tip, and made it a bit wider (I think it’s 96 now). All in all, a great ski made even better. Dust off your credit cards, ladies. This one’s for you.

Yes, Volkl’s still have the Bio-Logic. No changes to the Tierra (as the rep said, “why mess with perfection?” I think I agree).

Atomic


Elysian: This is a twin tip that’s 98 underfoot. It’s pretty burly, but it handles like a play thing. Turns like crazy, lively, and SOOOO much fun. You just float over the snow. I actually skied this in a 168 with no problem. Something I’d be happy taking home.


Affinity series: A step up from the popular Cloud series (which they incidentally still have). The Affinity Pure, with a 78 waist, is a more aggressive, a bit more turn-y. There’s also Affinity Storm, which is 84 underfoot. I thought the Pure was a great front side ski. Easy to get on edge, playful, responsive, a great carver. Skied the 160.

Rossi

I’m just not feeling the love here. I tried the Attraxion 8, and the new Temptation, and just didn’t feel the kind of energy I felt with the other skis I demoed. Of all the skis I tried, these were my least favorite. That doesn’t mean they should be yours.

Another cool thing from the demo day: Helmets with an integrated goggle that slides up and down. What a great idea! The goggle snaps out, so you can replace it with varying tints. I slid one on and it was waay too big, but the range of vision was phenomenal. Definitely something to watch for over the next few years.

So there you go. There are many other skis I would’ve liked to try. Never got to the K2s, the Lines, the Dynastars, Heads, or Salomons (I wanted to try the BBR, but the smallest length was a 177. No thanks). I also would’ve loved to have tried the Icelantics, but they weren’t there, so no luck.

I think I need another Demo Day. 

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

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Gear Review: Opedix S1 Ski & Snowboard Tight

February 12, 2010 in Gear Review

I have a number of friends who suffer from knee problems, so I know the damper it can put on a good ski day. Some of them try to get by with ace bandages or braces, but these can be bulky and difficult to fit comfortably under base layers.

Enter Opedix S1 ski and snowboard tights. In full disclosure, Opedix’s PR firm sent me a pair to review. I can’t say I’m necessarily the best choice to do this. As of now (knock wood), I don’t have any knee problems. But  I do find the concept and technology behind the Opedix products quite intriguing.  So I figured I’d give it a go.

First, some background: Opedix developed the S1 was in conjunction with the Steadman Hawkins Foundation, a world renowned orthopedic clinic in Vail, Colorado. According to the company, the tights feature a patent pending anchor and sling design to provide support to the outside of the knee. This, they say, promotes proper alignment, which can lead to less strain and fatigue.

You can see the sling design as soon as you pull them out of the package. There’s a circular fabric cup that centers on the knee — sort of like a bull’s eye.  Slip them on, and you can feel the support right away. I think the idea is to distribute the stress around your knee, to keep it away the knee, itself. The tights are also quite snug fitting, with a “four way compressive fit” that the company says keeps your muscles fresher longer.

So I took these tights skiing. Even though they’re fairly thick, I supplemented them with another base layer. I’m always cold, and the wind chill was well below zero today. I’m sure the tights would be fine out west where it’s usually warmer. But it can be brutal here in New England.

How did the tights perform? They’re extremely well made, very comfortable, and quite supportive. You can feel the compressive fit against your muscles right away. But their strong suit is definitely knee support. I don’t know if they’d eliminate the need, say, for an ace bandage or a brace — I think that would depend on your individual situation — but for moderate support, I think they do a good job. Did it make my muscles feel fresher longer? That I honestly can’t say. But I’m sure it couldn’t hurt.

The S1 tights aren’t cheap, retailing for $190. But if it helps you ski longer, I’m sure it’s worth every penny. That’s a decision you have to make, yourself.

BTW, Opedix is offering a 15% discount if you use the promotional code “skistrongerdiva.” Go here. 

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

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My quiver for the new season.

November 4, 2009 in General skiing, Ski Gear

I’m entering the new ski season filled with excitement.

That’s nothing unusual. I’m always excited for ski season to begin.

But I’m especially excited because I have two new pairs of skis this year: a pair of Volkl Auras and a pair of Tierras, also from Volkl. And I’m keeping my trusty old Fischer Vision 73′s, too. I can’t bear to let them go.

So here’s a quick review of what my quiver looks like this season, so you can recognize me on the mountain:

The Aura has been receiving a lot of love from the women on TheSkiDiva.com, and SKI and Skiing magazines seem to like it, too. Similar to the Mantra but 20% lighter, the Aura features a sandwich construction and measures 130/94/113. It has a reputation for terrific edging on the hardpack, but its wide waist makes it great for the powder, too. I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun on this one!

And for my next ski…..

the Volkl Tierra, which features the company’s new Bio-Logic Technology. Volkl’s raised the toe in the binding, which they say puts a female skier in a more neutral stance. They claim it improves the balance of the hamstring and glutes to result in more efficient muscle use. They’ve also tapered the tail angle so it releases more readily at the end of a turn. The tip is a bit wider, and they gave the ski a more consistent flex pattern. The Tierra’s dimensions: 129/78/99

And here’s ski #3….

My Fischer Vision 73′s. I’ve had these skis since 2007, and they’ve served me well. They’re fun, lively, snappy, happy — just tons of fun for carving, making short turns. They’re great on soft snow, plowing through ice cookies, and hold a terrific edge. A great East Coast ski. Love ‘em. They’re 118/73/105.

So that’s where I stand, on the brink of the ’09/’10 season. Now if only I could get out on these babies!

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

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A Peek at the 2010′s: Part 4

February 26, 2009 in Gear Review

Nordica
Nordica has made some modifications on the Drive, increasing its waist size from 74 to 76 and giving it an integrated binding. The Mint is also 74 vs. 72. I didn’t get around to skiing any of these.

They still have the Conquer, a ski I’ve demoed before and really like, but I’m not nuts about the new color scheme: black and white with chartreuse accents. Bleh.

K2
The Lotta Luv has gone up to 82 in the waist, and they’ve replaced the One Luv with the Free Luv. I took the Lottas out because I know a lot of women like them, but I couldn’t get these off my feet fast enough. I just felt like I was all over the place, forcing them into the turns and not having any fun at all.

Rossignol
Rossi has an extensive line of women’s skis. At the low end is the Harmony, with a side-cut tail that’s supposed to make it easier to come out of a turn. A new ski that I found especially interesting is the Eco(sp.?), which they say is an environmentally friendly ski. The base is made of recycled plastic, and they say they used less petroleum products in its production. 75 underfoot. They’ve also replaced the top end of the Attraxion Series, the 11, with the Attraxion 12, and done away with the arms they used last year (these were supposed to allow you adjust the ski’s flex, depending on conditions and terrain. I thought they were pretty gimmicky) This is based on the men’s Classic 70.

I had to try the Eco, which turned out to be a really nice ski. Responsive, a good carver, light, quick. And I tried the Voodoo 80, which has a slightly turned up tail. I tried the Voodoo last year, but maybe in a different waist size (it comes in several). Whether it was the conditions or the waist size, I liked it this year a lot better. Very responsive, came out of the turn nicely. I’d like to get this in some off piste stuff. I liked this even better than the Eco. A very fun ski.

SO – in a nutshell, my favs of the skis I tried:

Favs of the two days I was there:

Volkl Aurora (yes, I still love these skis)
Volkl Aura
Fischer Koa 84
Rossi Voodoo 80
Elan Free Spice
Head Wild One
Rossi Ecco
Head Perfect One

Thumbs down:

Atomic Double Deck
K2 Lotta Luv (sorry)

The bottom line: there’s something for everyone, and everyone’s different. What appeals to me may not appeal to you. So be sure to try before you buy.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

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A Peek at the 2010′s: Part 3

February 17, 2009 in Gear Review

Fischer

Fisher has replaced its popular Vision series with the Koa. Available in a variety of widths (75, 78, and 84) the Koa has a sandwich vertical wood core instead of the glass fiber wood core found in the Visions. The rep says this makes it a lighter, stronger ski with better edge hold. The graphics of the Koa are a big departure from the Visions, too. Dark with a bold, abstract design that’s not at all girlie. I really liked it.

Fischer still has the Vapor, which I really wanted to demo, but since they only had it in a 165, I decided to pass. Instead, I took out the Koa in the 75 and 84. The 75 was nice – lively, good rebound, good edging, easy to ski. But I liked the 84 even better. For a wide waisted ski, this thing skis like a carver. I’d give this a big thumbs up.

Blizzard Skis

Blizzard has an addition to their Magnum Series: the Magnum Viva 7.4. They also plan to introduce the Viva Max in a Magnum 8.1 soon (81 underfoot), but they don’t have it yet. Some of you will also be pleased to hear that they’ve brought back the Eos this year (88 underfoot; the same ski as the men’s Chronus.)

Anyway, I took out the Magnum Viva 7.4’s, and what a nice ski! Good edging, easy to turn, nice rebound. I also took out the Viva 7.6’s just for comparison — a more advanced, all mountain ski with a wood core and an integrated binding system. This ski wants to go, yet it’s stable and smooth with good edging.

Dynastar

Dynastar is adding two new women’s skis to its line-up: the Exclusive Eden, with an 85 waist, a wood core, and a vertical side-wall, and the Exclusive Elite, which will be a high-end groomer with a 72 waist, wood core, and a straight side wall (this’ll be above the Exclusive Fluid). Unfortunately, they didn’t have either ski at the Demo Day, so I couldn’t give them a try.

They’re also discontinuing the Exclusive Legend Powder.

All the skis have new graphics. I took out the Exclusive Legend, a carry-over ski and their top seller, It’s a very nice, maneuverable ski that’s a jack of all trades. The 2010’s have a new graphic that’s white with a weird pastel image of a woman’s face, which I really didn’t like.

(To Be Continued…..)

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

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A Peek at the 2010′s: Part 2

February 12, 2009 in Gear Review

Head:

Yes, I have a weakness for Head skis, directly attributable to jealousy over my sister’s Head 360’s in 1969 or 1970. Actually, I had Head Monster IM-70’s a few years ago, and I really liked them.

In 2010, Head is offering the same line up with one new addition: the Perfect One, a carver with a 67 waist. It’s pretty bland looking, but a nice ski, nonetheless. The narrow waist makes it go from edge to edge very nicely, and it has good rebound. The other skis are carry-overs from this season, with new graphics. I also skied the Wild One and the Every One. The Wild One is the equivalent of the company’s Monster IM82. It’s a very stable, solid ski with an 81 waist and a vertical sidewall. Good energy to it, too. And I love the graphics. The Every One is white with the name available in either orange or blue. It’s a versatile, nimble ski that’s light and quick. I neglected to get the waist size on this; I think it’s in the lower to mid 70’s.

Elan

These take the prize for the most beautiful graphics. The Black Magic is gorgeous: black with little flecks of colors embedded throughout, and a little crystal embellishment. The ’10 Black Magic is a little stiffer than this year’s model (they added wave technology). I skied them, and found them to be a good intermediate ski.

I also skied the Free Spice. This is a wider ski (88 waist); I wish I could’ve tried this in powder , but alas – no new snow. It has really cool new graphics — kind of a splattered paint look. Other than that, the ski is the same as this year’s. The Free Spice is based on the men’s 888 Alu, without the metal.

Lastly, I tried the Speed Magic. This is Elan’s top of the line. It’s 67 or 70 underfoot (can’t remember), and very fast and responsive. A fine carver and very lively and easy to turn.

Goode

When you walk by a booth where there’s a sign saying they have the lightest ski out there, you just have to give it a try. I couldn’t resist. Goode Skis are made entirely of carbon fiber. And they ARE very light. You especially notice it when you go up the lift. But this lightness comes at a price: I found myself getting knocked around in the snow a bit. So no.

(To be continued…..)

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, the online home especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.

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