Freeride Carving Skis

 

The Freeride Revolution

Some years ago now, ski makers started putting deep side cuts on skis so they'd turn easier. Then the companies began fattening skis up to change how they work in powder and how they mash through a variety of snow conditions. As materials began to develop, skis could be skied shorter, make tighter carving turns and hold firm snow better.

The snow never stopped getting deep and in the mid-90's fat skis began coming out as an answer to deep snow. These skis had little side-cut and could do little more than be used for deep, soft snow. That's come full circle and going into 2010 we see more fat skis than ever, getting sidecuts cruising skis of 5 years ago would have lusted after. This has moved the fat ski into the realm of real-world option for more and more skiers, intermediates and experts alike! Now our whole staff has added a ski of this type to their quiver. Most of us find that this is the most fun ski we own. We call them freeride carvers and they are creating the biggest buzz in the industry since shaped skis first appeared!

A good example of this type of ski is the Line Prophet 90. We've had a chance to ski the Prophet 90 quite a bit now and we are in awe at how fun it is. The Prophet 90 is a ski that almost everybody at least "likes". It is a very even blend of power and finesse. It uses a canadian maple core which feels very solid. With a generous amount of taper (the tail is wider than the tip) It can be either steered or carved easily. Powerful enough to be skied aggressively by most non-pro level skiers, it handles well on the groomers for your basic intermediate level skier too. Of coarse, with it's 90mm waist it works well as a powder ski too!

Do you like a ski that is lighter and easier? Still want that ski to perform well at the limit? You will love the Fischer Watea 94. This skis is remarkably nimble for a ski of its size. It turns more like it had a waist 10mm narrower. Wonderful in powder, the light weight construction makes it a bit more jarring in the crud than a heavier ski. Amazing to us is that while most "lightweight" skis don't hold a solid edge on hard pack under loads, the generous use of carbon fiber in the top sheet as well as carbon I-beams in the wood core make the edge hold amazingly well! If you like an agile, cat-like ski, but still want to push the speed barrier, the Watea can't be beat.

Another favorite of ours is the Blizzard Titan Atlas. At 94mm under foot, this is a hard charger's ski for all conditions. Relatively—that is to say medium—stiff and powerful, the Atlas is better to suited to bigger or more aggressive skiers. We love it's versatility. It pounds through crud and lays big smooth turns on packed powder. A confidence inspiring ski. An interesting and unique feature on the Blizzards is the IQ MAX slider plate for the binding. This plate allows natural ski flex. That's not uncommon. What is unique is that you can mount any binding on it—Alpine, Randonee, or Telemark; take your pick. If you like, you can buy two slider plates and have a tele and alpine setup for the same ski. That's neat!

Light, medium, or powerful. Different skis for different people. We stock the best of each to match your needs.

These skis typically have waists of 80mm-95mm and, often, twin tips. We stock models from Blizzard, Elan, Fischer, Head, Line/ and Stöckli.

mojo 90
Line Prophet 90

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