Ski Review 03-04 The Fall Line Blisters 100 ... - Off-Piste Magazine

Ski Review 03-04 

The Fall Line 

Blisters 

100 Days 

Avy 101 

Issue XVIII 

Oct. 2003 

FREE

2 Off-Piste Off-Piste Off-Piste October October 2003 

2003

Off-P Off-Piste Off-P 

Off-P Off-Piste Off-P iste 

iste 

Volume VI - Issue XVIII 

Publisher/Editor 

David Waag 

Contributing Editor 

Ray Thomas, Karen Holt 

Contributing Writers 

Myles Berney, Gene Dwarkin 

Glenn Kessler, Nils Larsen, 

Paul Nicolazzo, Leslie Ross, 

Ray Thomas, David Waag 

Contributing Photographers/Artists 

Myles Berney, Chad Coleman, 

Karen Holt, Chase Jarvis, Ego, 

Carl Skoog, David Waag 

Web Slave 

Karen Holt 

Printing & Distribution 

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Independent Media for Independent Minds! 

Warning: You guessed it, do not try this at home. The mountains 

can be a dangerous place and, fortunately, backcountry skiing is 

not for everyone. Common sense goes a long way in the backcountry 

and you best not leave home without it. No part of Off-Piste 

can replace experience and sound judgement. Be smart, play 

safe and be kind to your neighbor. Brush and floss regularly. 

The opinions in Off-Piste do not necessarily represent those of 

the publisher or editorial staff. Closed minds are dangerous. No 

part of Off-Piste may be reproduced in any form without prior 

written consent from Free Heel Press. 

Cover Skier: BJ Brewer 

Location: The Wasatch 

Photographer: Carl Skoog 

F E A T U R E S 

A DAY IN THE LIFE 6 

AN INTERVIEW WITH KASHA RIGBY - LESLIE ROSS 

THE FALL LINE 8 

LEARNING TO GO WITH THE FLOW - NILS LARSEN 

2003-04 SKI REVIEW 10 

THE LATEST STICKS AND OUR OPINIONS - EDITORS 

TUA - THE END OF AN ERA 17 

A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT TUA SKIS - RAY THOMAS 

100 DAYS 18 

C O N T E N T S 

THE CELEBRATION OF A SEASON - MYLES BERNEY 

DEPARTMENTS 

LETTERS 4 

READER INPUT 

WHAT’S UP 5 

NEWS, EVENTS, ISSUES 

GALLERY 12 

WORDS & IMAGES 

THE TROGLODYTE 14 

HUMOR 

BACKCOUNTRY MEDIC 15 

BLISTERS REVISITED BY PAUL NICOLAZZO 

AVY 101 16 

AN AVALANCHE SAFETY CHECKLIST BY GLENN KESSLER 

SHOP DIRECTORY 23 

CALENDAR - CHECK WWW.OFFPISTEMAG.COM FOR THE LATEST EVENT LISTING 

Issue Issue XVIII XVIII Off-Piste Off-Piste 3

FIRST LETTERS 

FIRST 

TRACKS 

It has been a hot and dry summer in much of the west. We received our 

first good dose of Fall weather today and, although it is never easy to let 

go of the shorts and sandals for the season, the cool damp weather feels 

great. The cool air helps fill my head with memories of past winters. The 

magical moments etched into memory and triggered by the change in 

weather patterns make my head spin with anticipation of the winter to 

come. 

As usual, the weather forecasters and climatologists are engaged in their 

annual sport of forecasting the winter snows. Typically, I tune into the 

various theories with acute interest but this season my mind is elsewhere. 

Maybe I finally realized that there is nothing I can do about the weather 

but wake up each day and experience it. Or maybe it is because I know 

there will be more great days to come regardless of any forecasts. Time in 

the mountains with friends is all about getting out and making it happen. 

Granted, stellar conditions promote a higher percentage of days out, but 

good weather means something different for everyone. Personally, storm 

cycle tree skiing is what keeps me awake at night. There is no equal to 

following gravity’s force through the trees shielded by your goggles and a 

haze of snowflakes. The rhythm comes naturally as you relax and let the 

fall line draw you through the trees and down the slope. Some days 

though are more about the solitude, the meditative mind that only a good 

skin track will foster. Regardless, it is always good to get out. And really, 

that is what this sport is all about isn’t it. Spending time in the mountains 

playing with gravity’s pull. 

Well, our aim is to help motivate and inspire you to get out. Six years ago, 

when I started Off-Piste, I had no idea where the idea may lead. The mag 

has evolved and grown over the years and this season, our mission 

(besides motivating you to enjoy the mountains) is to get everyone who 

picks up the mag in their local shop to SUBSCRIBE. We are bursting at 

the seams to grow. We have more content and ideas than ever but we 

need your support to help make the growth possible. Sure, it’s a ‘free 

mag’ and up to this point our advertisers have been supporting the 

production of Off-Piste and keepin’ it free. Now it is your turn to help. 

Without shame, I ask you to subscribe in order to help Off-Piste grow. We 

are at a critical point in our evolution and in order to maintain a low 

advertising to editorial content ratio, we need your help. Drop a check in 

the mail or subscribe through our website. We need your support. 

Cheers, 

Dave 

4 Off-Piste Off-Piste October October 2003 

2003 

LETTERS EXPRESS YOURSELF 

GSE Effectiveness? 

In regard to your interesting “Backcountry Medic” 

article “H2O - Keeping It Pure” [in The Mag Vol. 

4] and specifically the section on Grapefruit Seed 

Extract, German scientists T. von Woedtke, B. 

Schluter, P. Pflegel, U. Lindequist, and W.D. 

Julich [Parmazie, 1999 Jun;54(6):452-6] found “... 

the potent as well as nearly universal 

antimicrobial activity being attributed to 

grapefruit seed extract is merely due to the 

synthetic preservative agents contained within. 

Natural products with antimicrobial activity do 

not appear to be present.” 

This is, of course, very disappointing, but many 

other scientists got fooled by grapefruit seed 

extract. Someone needs to study the safety, 

benefits, and risks of those synthetic products in 

regard to water purification. 

Thanks. 

Jim Adams 

Jim, 

Our medical expert, Paul Nicolazzo looked into 

this question. Although there is no definitive 

answer to the situation here is some more info. 

The primary preservative agent in most GSE is 

benzethonium chloride @ 8.03%. Benzethonium 

chloride seems to enjoy widespread use in 

cosmetics, mouth washes and dental hygiene, eye 

washes, and some drug preparations. While it has 

been separately identified as an antimicrobial 

agent, we found no research devoted to its actions 

specifically. Interestingly, Nutribiotic, the 

manufacturer of commonly available GSE formulas, 

claims that no preservatives are added. Clearly, 

there is some discrepency here. 

Bottom line is that all the research supports the 

clinical results so although we do not know if the 

anti-microbial action is due to a preservative or 

naturally occurring...as long as it works...but we 

are very curious. We’ll keep watching the research. 

-Ed.

Commercial Advertising on Chairlifts? 

Following a one-year pilot program in Aspen, Colorado that allowed 

advertising to be placed on chairlift safety bars, the Forest Service 

issued a temporary ruling to ban the ads nationwide. 

The ads, displayed in conjunction with trail maps attached to chairlift 

safety bars, were included as part of a test program at Aspen Skiing 

Co.’s four resorts last season. Although, outdoor advertising is in 

direct conflict with the USFS policy, the chairlift ads were allowed as a 

test program after high level lobbying by an Aspen businessman 

associated with the project. 

The temporary ruling to ban such ads is only in effect for one year 

while Forest Service officials discuss whether changes should be 

made relating to advertising on public lands. According to a Denver 

Post article, Forest Service officials stated that because there is a 

significant amount of money at stake, the issue could trigger a rulemaking 

process that would include public input. 

The Forest Service plans to survey resort skiers this winter regarding 

the idea of advertising. Allowing a permanent change to the USFS 

policy regarding commercial advertising on public lands could trigger 

a larger undesirable change. Let your opinion be heard, write 

regional and national Forest Service officials today. www.fs.fed.us 

USDA Forest Service P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C. 20090-6090, 

(202) 205-8333 

Mt Hood Cooper Spur Development Update 

Facing ongoing opposition from a variety of local organizations and 

citizen groups, Mt Hood Meadows says it is reconsidering its plans to 

develop a destination resort on 620 acres of land acquired from Hood 

River County that is adjacent to the Cooper Spur Ski Area. Meadows 

has faced strong opposition from a variety of groups working 

together under the Cooper Spur Wild and Free Coalition. The 

Coalition has pressured Meadows since the original land swap with 

Hood River County and points out that development on the 620 acre 

area will directly impact the Crystal Springs Watershed, 

the water source for some 2,500 residents of the upper 

Hood River Valley. 

Thus, the latest version of the development calls for 

developing the proposed resort and associated amenities on 

160 acres purchased from a private owner (separate from the 

620 acres in the initial plan). According to Meadows they are 

considering three options for the original 620 acres: selling it back to 

the county, trading it for 350 acres of nearby U.S. Forest Service land 

or making it a conservation area. 

According to a June 19th article in the Oregonian, County 

Commissioner Rodger Schock said he would be reluctant to buy 

back the land and Doug Jones, a lands and permits specialist with 

the Forest Service, said the Forest Service probably wouldn’t approve 

a land trade because of the public outcry against the resort. This 

would leave only the conservation option. However, Meadows project 

manager, Dave Riley, is optimistic that all three options are viable. 

The latest plan sounds good, however, people working closely with 

the citizen groups that oppose the development of Cooper Spur 

believe that Meadows is making calculated changes to further their 

long-term development plans. The idea being to downscale the plan 

in order to lower the profile of the development and thus quiet the 

opposition, then trade the 620 acres with the forest service for land 

adjacent to the area and continue with larger scale plans. 

According to the Cooper Spur Wild and Free Coalition, all of the land 

in question is still centrally located near the Crystal Springs 

watershed. For more information and to learn how to participate in 

the process visit www.cooperspur.org. 

Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (Colorado) 

by Kim Hedberg, Executive Director 

The Backcountry Snowsports Alliance (formerly Backcountry 

Skiers Alliance) has been working to preserve, manage, and 

create non-motorized areas on public lands in Colorado since 

1992. Our scope of work has included Vail Pass, Rabbit Ears 

Pass, Buffalo Pass, Hahn’s Peak (all three near Steamboat 

Springs), and Wolf Creek Pass. A new added focus is to work with 

continued on page 22 

Issue Issue XVIII XVIII Off-Piste 5

Off-Piste with Kasha Rigby 

She’s the girl in The North Face ads. You 

read about her in ski mags, You see 

her in front and behind the camera. How 

does she get to go to all those cool places? 

And where is she off to next? 

This September, I caught up with Kasha Rigby in 

Yosemite, while on a weekend retreat from her 

three month intensive Yoga Instructor Training. 

‘Mountain Adventure Gal’, 33 year old Rigby is 

living a ski mountaineer’s dream, traveling to exotic 

locations to ski for “work”, although not without a 

little sacrifice. 

Introduced to the ski industry via immediate 

success in the 1990’s Crested Butte Extreme 

Skiing Competitions, Kasha took her opening and 

ran. Now a member of The North Face Team, 

Kasha has traveled and skied more places than 

many of us could do in a life time. Her travels are 

not without heart. Kasha not only has a passion for 

living life to the fullest, but a passion to share that 

with and inspire others to do the same. A nonprofit 

slave prior to her Crested Butte days, Kasha 

is now trying to direct her travels in a similar 

fashion. (I am waiting for a bit more info from her on 

this.) 

LR: What is your occupation? 

KR: Hmmm….mountain guide, professional 

athlete (ha), technical development for The North 

Face. Right now I am aspiring to find a decent 

waitressing position for the next couple months so I 

can go on the next adventure. I used to be a 

gardener, writer… 

LR: From Where did your passion for exploring 

on snow stem? 



An Interview 

by Leslie Ross 

KR: I was raised skiing in Vermont. My mother 

would send us to the bus stop with skis and a 

peanut butter sandwich in our pockets and tell us 

to be home by dark. As a teenager we would hike 

up the ski area after dark and sleep in an old 

cabin. At dawn, before the area opened for the 

day we would ski and snowboard down. At 16, pre 

snowboarding at ski areas, I tried telemark skiing 

just to mix it up a bit. Although I Nordic raced a 

tad, I never a competed in telemark until I moved 

west. In Vermont at that 

time, there really weren’t 

any mentors or classes. 

People still thought that 

the binding was broken. 

LR: First backcountry 

experience? 

KR: My first real 

backcountry experience 

was in Colorado. I 

didn’t want to admit to 

the boy I was with that I 

had never used skins 

and I had no idea how 

to use a beacon. Eight 

years ago, I went to 

South America for eight 

months and at that time 

had yet to spend a 

night on the snow. At 

night, my boyfriend 

made me hot water 

bottles to sleep with, 

determined to make me 

like winter camping, 

creating the monster I 

am today. I suppose I 

really took to it, as now I 

spend most of my year sleeping on the snow. 

LR: Time free heel vs. fixed heel? 

KR: For years, I was exclusively telemark, the 

only variation being occasional snowboard. A few 

years ago, I started mixing alpine set up into the 

menu. It honestly helped my telemark skiing, 

allowing me get out of my head, get over my skis 

and deal with some fears. Three years ago, I did 

my first big expedition with randonee gear and 

have brought it on several trips since. 

LR: Why the switch? 

KR: I definitely heard flack from some 

traditional free heelers that I was “selling out”. But 

some tools are better for different jobs. As part of 

an expedition ‘team’, I want to be the strongest 

member possible. At present, I am a stronger 

member on rondo, not necessarily a better skier. 

With a big pack, steep, exposed, often icy terrain, I 

am more secure locked in. Telemark boots can be 

a little less dependable, at times awkward, 

negotiating significant technical ice and mixed 

climbing. But, in the Wasatch, riding the tram or 

on a fun tour, I almost always telemark. On a 

powder day – telemark for sure! 

LR: Some of your past adventures? 

KR: With my skis all over the US, Alaska, 

Canada, Europe New Zealand, Russia, India, 

Lebanon, China, Tibet, Mongolia and South 

America (Ecuador, Argentina, Chile). Without skis 

the list grows… 

LR: Most recent trip? 

KR: Last spring I traveled to Southeast 

Greenland with Jim Zellers and John Griber (on 

snowboards). We took kites and used them to 

travel across the glaciers to the mountains to ski. 

There was so much beautiful terrain the hardest 

part was deciding where to go everyday. 

LR: Do you have a home base right now? 

KR: Not really. This fall, I am spending two 

months in Los Angeles, but by the time this comes 

out I will be in winter somewhere. I have a storage 

unit in Crested Butte, CO still and some boxes of 

gear in Salt Lake City, UT. 

LR: What do you see as your biggest 

accomplishment? 

KR: Our girls’ expeditions are really a joy for 

me. Getting to go into the mountains with people 

Photos: David Waag

you trust and love is powerful. Traveling to exotic places and pulling off first 

descents is icing on the cake. Being able to combine my passions of travel, 

mountains, skiing and friends is such a gift. If I could do all this and make it 

sustainable…that would be a giant accomplishment. 

LR: Your mentors? 

KR: Hilaree Nelson, Ace Kvale, Sarah Ferguson, Victoria Jamieson. 

LR: Has the growth of backcountry and freeheel skiing impacted what you 

do? 

KR: Honestly, not a lot. I still just do what I do. But now have more friends 

to go on adventures with and potentially more clients. Being part of an 

industry that is growing has a lot more energy than one that is shrinking. We 

all add to and feed off that. 

LR: How does yoga play a part in your ‘occupation/life’? 

KR: Yoga is an integral component to my physical and mental well-being. 

It puts my head back in place, keeping my body far happier and less prone to 

injury. Yoga helps me open my heart to the world. It gives me energy when 

drained and calms me when I get crazy. My mind and body are constantly 

being blown open by new teachers and energies I experience through my 

yoga practice. 

LR: Your vision of your future? 

KR: Just a couple more big trips, then I swear I will be ready to settle down, 

but first, there are more beautiful locations to visit. A handsome, fun boyfriend, 

my own garden and all my gear in one location where I can respite between 

adventures. And a trip to India and Canada each year with a little heli-skiing 

added to the mix. 

LR: How do you plan to incorporate your passions in the future to make 

this a reality? 

KR: My personal energy is most powerful when I have been in the 

mountains. I’d like to utilize this positive force to help transform the current 

energy on the planet that seems to be feeding on fear and misconception. 

Naheed Henderson and I are strategizing an information gathering and 

sharing journey. We envision utilizing our energies garnered from our mountain 

experiences to help energize others. Through an amazing year long 

exploration of the world, we intend to gather information and images to share 

through slideshows, talks and a coffee table book with the people on all seven 

continents. 

LR: Top 5 destinations? 

KR: India, the Alps, Canada, more Russia, India. 

LR: Dream trips? 

KR: There are so many mountains…where to begin…I am a 

dreamer…people keep telling me I have to stop, but… I’d really like to just be 

in Europe more this year. I took a couple years off the Alps, went back last 

spring for a month and had my mind blown. For the first time in years, I am 

not exactly sure what the next expedition is going to be. Maybe nothing until 

early spring. 

LR: Words of wisdom for aspiring ski bums? 

KR: Careful with your credit cards! 

Leslie Ross, an accomplished skier in her own right, created Babes in the 

Backcountry which specializes in teaching telemark and backcountry skills to 

women. Learn more at www.backcountrybabes.com 

Issue Issue XVIII XVIII XVIII Off-Piste 7

I 

can think of a number of lines I’ve 

skied that I could call the fall line. 

Imagine the guy (more than likely) who 

came up with the name. He was 

probably dusting himself off for the 

umpteenth time and like Newton and 

the apple, it just came to him. . . ‘the fall 

line’. 

Most skiers know what the fall line is but for 

those of you that have missed out on this 

key concept, it goes something like this. The 

fall line is the most direct path down the hill, 

it’s the path a ball would take 

using gravity as its direction 

or, more relevant, the path 

our bodies take in a good 

steep tumble, kind of like 

your body as a plumb bob. 

As skiers, we should develop 

fall line compasses, always 

keeping an innate sense of 

where that fall line is while 

we are skiing. 

The fall line is an integral 

part of skiing and gravity’s 

pull. How we use the fall line 

is an indication of our 

relationship with it. Do we 

fear it? Are we comfortable 

enough with it to use it to our 

advantage? 

There are a number of 

reasons to turn our skis. One 

that quickly comes to mind is 

avoidance. Another of equal 

and sometimes greater 

importance is speed control. 

When we turn our skis out of 

the fall line we are effectively 

taking a less steep angle 

down the hill, which 

generally decreases our 

speed. When we turn in 

combination with skidding 

our skis, essentially letting 

our uphill edges appose and 

be dragged down the fall 

line, we are scrubbing 

speed. Finally, and of no 

minor importance, we turn 

because it’s fun and feels 

good. 

Awareness of the fall line 

allows us to know when 

we’ve crossed it in a turn, a 

critical juncture when 

downhill edges change to 

uphill and uphill edges become downhill. If 

you think about which edges you prefer to 

be on you know why this is important. Our 

most stable and powerful position is on our 

uphill edges. If you don’t believe me try 

standing on a slope on your downhill edges. 

For me, just imagining it is unpleasant. 



“Some of the most common skier 

problems are caused by fear of 

the fall line (gravity). When we 

fear the fall line, the mind and 

body instinctively draw back and 

resist the slope below. This 

creates a defensive position that 

is constantly trying to appose 

gravity.” 

This crossover of edges is a key transition in 

skiing. Until recently (as in the last 5-10 

years), we used all manner of contrivances 

to get off one set of edges at the end of a 

turn, get our skis in the fall line and 

reengage our edges as they passed that 

neutral point directly down the hill. 

Unweighting by stepping, hoping, or just a 

load and rebound were all part of releasing 

our edges and getting our skis down the fall 

line so we could start the next turn in a more 

powerful position (that would be on our 

uphill edges). Nowadays, skis have side cut 

bulging out all over the place and we can be 

more subtle with the vertical unweighting. 

Big sidecut makes the skis turn like they’re 

on steroids. This makes the skis drive out 

from underneath us and unweighting 

becomes more lateral then vertical. Now we 

can engage the edges earlier, before they 

reach the fall line. Sometimes. This works 

great with speed, groomed snow and good 

technique. When the snow gets 

deep and dicey unweighting 

and engaging your skis in or 

past the fall line is still more 

stable and more powerful. 

Unweighting into the fall line 

can be great in steep terrain 

too, where eliminating the 

acceleration of carving into the 

fall line can add a little comfort 

and control to the terrain. 

Some of the most common 

skier problems are caused by 

fear of the fall line (gravity). 

When we fear the fall line, the 

mind and body instinctively 

draw back and resist the 

slope below. This creates a 

defensive position that is 

constantly trying to appose 

gravity. In a tug-of-war with 

gravity it’s a given that you will 

at best expend a lot of extra 

energy. In the process you 

may in some limited fashion 

keep it at bay, but you will 

never win. Gravity has an 

inexhaustible storehouse of 

energy to work with and we 

have our relatively puny 

resources. The classic 

position for this defensive 

stance is the wedge or half 

wedge. It has been adapted 

by resourceful fall lineaphobs 

in all turns, from 

parallels to telemarks. The 

defensive wedge is at its heart 

a braced position, braced 

against the uphill edge of the 

downhill ski regardless of the 

turn. That single edge 

appears to be the great savior 

that will keep the gravity 

monster at bay. Does bracing 

work? Yes, it does slow us 

down and when we brace against an edge 

with sidecut (especially on firm snows), the 

ski will turn. The inherent weakness of this 

style is that it’s static – the bracing is fixed 

by fear and consequently is stuck in a 

weird mix of tension and resistance. The 

wedge is essentially a position of apposed 

edges. Its kind of a bunker of edges and

“The alternative to waging war 

with the fall line is to work with 

it. By tapping into this river of 

energy and then guiding or 

channeling it, you add its power to 

your own rather then using your’s 

to resist it.” 

once people get in the bunker 

it seems safe and they never 

want to get out. 

The alternative to waging war 

with the fall line is to work with 

it. By tapping into this river of 

energy and then guiding or 

channeling it, you add its 

power to your own rather then 

using your’s to resist it. Great 

skiers seem to flow down the 

hill and that is not far off the 

mark. They have figured out 

how to literally “go with the 

flow”. Imagine yourself floating 

down a good sized river with a 

strong current. You can direct 

yourself to the right or left and 

still be going with the current 

but if you try to resist the 

current you will quickly tire. 

This is exactly what gravity is 

doing, the only difference is 

that the force of gravity 

increases with your speed and 

the steepness of the fall line. 

As you slow or stop you 

effectively turn off the tap. 

It takes a certain commitment 

to move into the fall line and 

go with it. Like many activities 

where the brain can get in a 

serious wedge, dumb it down 

to the easiest and most 

comfortable level. Go to a 

slope that seems absolutely 

harmless and try to keep your 

turns in the fall line, eliminating 

any traversing in between. This 

does not mean you have to do 

a lot of tight little turns. Think of 

your downhill track as a 

variation on a sine wave, 

where the turns are round and 

even from one side to the next, 

Feelin’ the fall line . . . 

but as with sine waves, they 

can be tight or loose, large 

radius or small. Be aware and 

play with where you engage 

your edges in the new turn, 

finding and experimenting with 

where in relation to the fall line 

this takes place. Remember, 

that it’s not on or off the edges 

but a gradual or incremental 

process of edging and steering. 

I use the term natural edging – 

when your skis are directly 

underneath you (the crossover) 

they are flat and the farther 

they get out into the belly of a 

turn (and out from under you) 

the more edge they will have. If 

you are skiing in junky snow - 

it’s inevitable – try to keep from 

engaging your edges until they 

are in or past the fall line. 

Developing awareness and 

understanding of the fall line 

will add power to your skiing 

and give you another tool to 

work with when faced with 

difficult conditions. In the next 

issue, I will relate the fall line to 

your center, the main ingredient 

in keeping you moving with the 

flow rather then opposing it. 

Nils Larsen teaches freeheel ski 

workshops and does product 

development for Karhu skis. Nils is 

a regular contributor to Off-Piste. 

visit www.freeheels.com 


Each winter, we gather a diverse group of skiers to 

evaluate the latest lineup of Telemark and Alpine 

Touring skis. The bulk of our testing occurs in bounds at 

the resort but we also take the time to get the favorites out for a tour 

as well. Following our testing, we debrief the skis and evaluate 

each ski’s personality to help give you a basis for making the all 

important decision of which ski is for you. Ski choice is largely 

dependent on personal skier biases and where you ski. With that in 

mind, here is our take on the 2003-04 line-up. 

The latest crop of skis aimed at the Telemark and Alpine Touring 

markets offers more surface area than ever before and will, no doubt, 

offer something to help fine tune your quiver or even convince you to 

finally put away those old alpine skis you have converted to tele skis. 

Most companies now offer at least one ski that pushes the 100mm 

width in the waist and exceeds 120mm in the tip while still offering a 

variety of versatile mid fat skis. In addition to ever increasing 

dimensions, the newest crop of skis also offers more boards designed 

to meet the growing lift served market of telemark skiers. Tele skiing 

ain’t what it was even five or six years ago and a few runs on just about 

any new ski will help put that statement in perspective. 

Skis are broken down into 3 categories, High Performance, All 

Mountain with a Backcountry Bias, All Mountain with a Resort Bias. 

High Performance: These skis are often viewed as quiver skis. Many 

are the biggest boards available and although we tout the all around 

versatility of several models, it does take a strong skier to enjoy them in 

all conditions. For most folks they make a great compliment to a mid 

fat ski, and have inspired more than one tester to consider selling the 

house, and quitting the job . . . 

All Mountain with a Backcountry Bias: This category is for the skis 

that are capable in all snow conditions but are better suited to softer 

backcountry snows. Typically a bit softer or with a more even flex 

pattern, these skis are an excellent choice for your backcountry 

adventures and when the resort is reporting double digits dumps. 

All Mountain with a Resort Bias: Here you’ll find skis that perform 

well in all conditions but hold up to the firmer snows of the resort better 

than the skis with a backcountry bias. If you hit the hill more often than 

not and can’t always pick the epic powder days, these skis will keep 

you happy. 

High Performance 

Atomic TeleDaddy – 126/99/116; 163, 173, 183cm, densolite core, 8.1lbs/pair 

(183cm) $675. At 99mm underfoot the Tele Daddy is the biggest of the boards 

directed at the telemark world. In quintessential Atomic style, the Tele Daddy is a 

stable predictable board that shines every time you let it run a little more. Given 

10 Off-Piste Off-Piste Off-Piste October October 2003 2003 


its girth, it is not the fastest ski edge to edge but the beta construction gives it a 

light swing weight and a responsive feel. The ski ranked consistently high with 

testers. But remember that given its size, big boots and above average ski 

ability are required to bring the TeleDaddy into its own. In fact, one tester 

suggested the TeleDaddy performs best at speed. This ski likes to ride big turns 

with speed yet feels remarkably responsive for its width. Another ski that inspires 

to point ‘em and enjoy the ride . . . 

Black Diamond Havoc – 120/88/113 163, 173, 183cm, densolite core 7 lb15 

oz (183cm), $549.00. Another ski that becomes livelier as it gains speed or with 

more driver input, the Havoc should please Alpine Touring fans. The torsional 

stiffness holds up well to parallel turns and a fixed heel. Freeheelers will find the 

ski responds best with a big boot and aggressive style but will run a wide variety 

of snow conditions with a confident driver. If you enjoy running at speed with 

long radius turns at the top of your list, the Havoc works well in a range of snow 

conditions. 

K2 Work Stinx 122/89/112;167, 174, 181, 188cm, wood core, 3.8kg (181cm) 

$519. K2’s big tele board is made for the days that beg for flotation. A slight 

redesign from last season makes the Work a bit quicker edge to edge and 

slightly stiffer. Like most of the big boards, the Work is at home making longer 

radius turns but scored almost as well for medium radius too. The ski rates high 

for all varieties of deep snow but was less inspiring for general resort skiing than 

some of its peers in the fat ski department. The Work has a healthy following of 

skiers mounting it with Alpine Touring bindings but was designed with a freeheel 

in mind and is not as dependent on big boots as the other big boards. If you 

already own a pair of mid fats that carve and run a typical resort day, the Work 

Stinx makes an excellent tool for the backcountry and deep days at the hill. 

K2 Piste Pipe - 112/80/103; 159, 169, 179cm, wood core, 3.5kg (179cm) – 

Designed with rail slides and switch landings in mind, the Piste Pipe left most of 

our testers feeling less than qualified to speak to its intended uses but the ski 

rated well in firm snow and medium radius turns. It holds speed well and will, no 

doubt, impress the local fixed heel crowd at the terrain park. 

Karhu Jak – 170; 120/90/110, 180; 127/97/117, 190; 127/97/117; wood core, 

8lbs/14oz 180cm, $475. Karhu sets a standard in fat skis with the Jak that is 

difficult to beat. The ski underwent some minor changes for 2003, namely the 

turned up tail has been shortened. Still twin tip in profile, the shortened tail 

makes for a more defined back seat on the ski. Understandably at home in the 

deepest of snows, the Jak is remarkably versatile and will carve corn snow as 

well as it floats in the powder. Given big boots and a confident driver, the Jak 

moves between long and short radius turns without complaint. The ski responds 

well to both parallel and telemark technique and don’t be surprised to see it 

mounted with AT bindings, as it has developed a following from both sides of 

the aisle. The most common criticism was simply its weight but any ski with 

dimensions like these is unlikely to impress the gram counters. And now the 

Jak is available in a lighter more touring friendly construction called the Jak BC. 

Karhu Jil – 160cm; 120/90/110, 170cm; 120/90/110, 180cm; 127/97/117, 

190cm; 127/97/117 7lbs 4oz, $475 The Jil was not available for our test period 

but here are the basics of the ski. The Jil is a slightly lighter version of the Jak 

designed specifically for women. By using a different core makeup the weight is 

reduced about 10% while still holding the same stiffness and dampness of the 

Jak. In addition, the Jil is available in a 160cm length. 

Karhu JAK BC –170; 120/90/110, 180; 127/97/117, 190; 127/97/117; 8lbs/2oz 

(180cm), $499. Unavailable during our test period, The Jak BC is the lightweight 

version of the Jak (12oz lighter per pair) designed for touring and those 

preferring a lighter ski. The Titanal power band is replaced with carbon fiber, 

giving the ski a lighter snappier feel. The wood core is also lighter with more of 

the weight concentrated in the center of the ski, giving the Jak BC a much 

quicker swing weight. The dimensions remain the same as for the Jak. 

Rossignol’ T4 122/94/112; 168,178,185,195cm, micro cell core,3.94kg 

(178cm) $499. Rossignol’ steps up this season with four new models. The T4 

replaces the Mega Bang to fill the fat ski profile and, at 94mm, is one of the 

larger waisted skis on the market, not to mention that it also comes in a 195cm 

making it one of the bigger boards available. The healthy waist is partial to long 

radius turns in a variety of softer snows. The T4 fits the Cadillac ride category, but 

will leave folks looking for edge to edge speed and a quick turning profile wanting 

more. The characteristic damp Rossi feel and healthy dimensions make the T4 a 

good match to a big hill, big boots, and big turns. 

Voile Carbon Surf –158/168cm 113/83/105; 178cm 120/87/112; 188cm 120/88/ 

113, carbon fiberglass core, 6.5lbs (178cm), $425. Wow, was the first thing 

everyone who picked up a pair of Carbon surfs had to say and that is because 

the skis feel light. Obviously designed with the backcountry powder purist in 

mind, the Carbon Surf will please a wide range of skiers looking for a 

backcountry ski. The ski is noticeably light underfoot, which makes touring a 

pleasure and means you do not have to have a big boot to make the ski 

respond. Built on the legendary Mountain Surf platform, the Carbon Surf takes 

lightweight one step further. Their healthy waist holds it own in the deepest of 

snows and the ski favors medium to long radius turnsAs stated, the ski is not 

dependent on big boots or even plastic for that matter. One tester took them for 

continued on page 20

Tester Profiles & Ski Picks 

Brenden Thwing 

Weight-145lbs 

Years Freeheel- 2 yrs 

Years Alpine- 26 yrs 

Turn Bias - love’em all! 

Ski Most Often - 50/50 lift/bc 

Extra - Ideal quiver skis mid fat & fat 

Ski Picks 

Hut Trip to BC: K2 Work Stinx 

Spring trip to Alaska: Atomic TM22 

Spring volcano skiing: K2 World Piste 

Rocky Mtn Resort trip: Atomic TMEX 

David Waag 

Weight-130lbs 

Years Freeheel - 13 

Years Alpine - 0 

Turn Bias – Medium-short radius tele i 

Ski Most Often - 50% backcountry 50% lift 

Extra – strapless dresses and toenail 

polish 


Hut trip to British Columbia: K2 World Piste 

Spring trip to Alaska: Atomic TMEX 

Spring volcano skiing: Karhu Jak 

Rocky Mtn Resorts: Atomic TM EX 

Don Pattison 

Weight- 190lbs 



Turn Bias- Med. radius parallel on hard 

snow - Short radius tele in powder 

Ski Most Often- 30% backcountry 70% lift 

Extra- Dress size 18 and sparkle nail polish 


Hut trip to BC: Atomic Teledaddy 

Spring trip to AK: Atomic Teledaddy 


Rocky Mtn Resorts: K2 World Piste 

Hal Shaw 




Turn Bias – Medium Radius Tele 


Extra - Or was it Mt. Adams, sw chutes 

with velvet corn. 


Hut trip to BC: K2 World Piste 

Spring trip to AK: K2 World Piste 


Rocky Mtn Resorts: K2 World Piste 

Jeff Schuh 

Weight - 185lbs 

Years Freeheel -17 

Years Alpine - 20 before switching to tele 

Turn Bias - Parallel in the fluff and 

backcountry. Mixed in-bounds. Medium 

to short radius 

Ski Most Often - Mostly backcountry 

Extra - I like skis that turn well but don’t do 

all the work for you 

Jeremy Rooper 

Weight- 205 



Turn Bias – Medium to Long Radius 


Extra – 90% Tele 10% AT 


Hut Trip BC: Voile carbon surf 188 (tele) 

Spring Alaska Trip: Karhu Jak 190 (tele) 

Spring Volcano Skiing: World Piste 188 

(tele or AT) 

Rocky Mtn resort trip: TM EX 191 (tele) 

Quick profiles of our test crew as well as their ski picks for a variety of cool trips. 

Karen Holt 




Turn Bias - Medium radius tele in the 

powder, Medium radius parallel on firm snow 


Extra – Girls Rule 


Hut trip to BC: K2 She’s Piste 

Spring trip to AK: K2 World-Piste 

Spring volcano skiing: Atomic TMEX 

Rocky Mtn Resort trip: K2 Instinx 

Larry Goldie 

Weight-140lbs 



Turn Bias - Short radius tele and parallel 


Extra - I live for powder 


Hut trip to British Columbia: K2World Piste 


Spring volcano skiing:K2 World Piste 

Rocky Mtn Resort trip: Karhu Jak 

Nathan DeVol 




Turn Bias- Tele - Medium to Long 

Ski Most Often- 10% bc 90% lift 


Hut trip to BC: Voile Carbon Surf 

Spring trip to AK: K2 Work Stinx 

Spring volcano trips: Atomic TM EX 

Rocky Mtn Resort trip: Atomic TM EX 

Ray Thomas 


Years Freeheel- 12 

Years Alpine- 20 

Turn Bias– Medium to long radius tele / 

parallel in deep powder 


Extra – Taught tele and Alpine for many 

years 


Hut trip to BC: Atomic TM EX 

Spring trip to AK: K2 Work Stinx 

Spring volcano skiing: Atomic TM EX 

Rocky Mtn Resort trip: Karhu Ryder 

Ryan Choate 

Weight-190lbs 

Years freeheel-3 

Years alpine-21 

Turn bias- short radius tele steeps/pow 

Ski most often- 40% bc, 60% resort 

Extra- Fixed Heel never, Tele forever 


Hut trip to BC: K2 Work Stinx 

Spring trip to AK: Atomic TeleDaddy 

Spring volcano skiing:K2 World Piste 

Rocky Mtn Resort trip:Atomic TM EX 

Todd Wells 



Years Alpine- 30 

Turn Bias– med. radius parallel – tele in pow 

Ski Most Often– 75% lift 25%bc 

Extra– Been skiing alpine skis with tele 

gear since mid 80’s, glad to see tele skis 

evolve to meet our needs 


Hut trip to BC: Atomic TMEX 


Spring volcano skiing: Atomic TMEX 

Rocky Mtn Resort trip: Atomic Tele Daddy 

Issue Issue Issue XVIII XVIII XVIII Off-Piste 11

Skier: Luke Miller 

Location: The Alps 

Photographer: Chase Jarvis 

Skier: Molly Douma 

Location: Utah’s Wasatch 

Photographer: Carl Skoog 



“Nobody realizes that some people expend 

tremendous energy merely to be normal.” 

- Albert Camus

Rider: Aaron Sales 

Location: Mammoth 

Photographer: Dan Gavere 

“It is dangerous to be right 

when the government is wrong.” 

- Voltaire 

Skiers: Don Scharfe, Nathan Sande & Jandy Cox 

Location: Swan Range, Montana 

Photographer: Heath A. Korvola/Liquidlight Foto 

Issue Issue Issue XVIII XVIII Off-Piste 13



THE 

TROGLODYTE 

I ntroducing, the TROGLODYTE, a new cartoon strip to be featured in each issue of Off-Piste. Now before you get your 

panties in a twist over the fact that this episode features snowboarders, the TROGLODYTE is not just about snowboarders. 

TROGLODYTES are everywhere in our culture and we assure you that we will feature many different TROGLODYTES 

throughout the season. Scenes and Dialog by Gene Dwarkin 

Illustrations by EGO

Blisters Revisited 

A Closer Look at Prevention and Treatment 

Blisters are equal 

opportunists. It does 

not matter what activity you 

pursue, if you are active in 

the outdoors, chances are 

you have, at some point, 

suffered the bane of 

blisters. 

You know the routine, an initial 

“hot spot” warns of their onset 

and far too often we simply 

ignore it. Eventually, there is the 

subsequent burning pain as 

fluid seeps between the skin 

layers and, finally, although 

often too late to stop it, the 

actual blister demands our 

attention. 

Some people seem prone to 

blisters and others immune. 

Most blisters occur on the feet 

and significant blisters can 

derail a trip. Day two on a hut 

trip that you have been 

planning for a full year is no 

by Paul Nicolazzo 

time to be derailed by an open 

oozing blister. 

Myths and methods abound for 

prevention and treatment alike. 

In order to separate myth from 

truth, we must first understand 

the forces that create blisters. 

MECHANISM OF INJURY 

Shear Forces 

Shear forces are exerted on our 

skin, socks, and footwear as we 

walk, run, ski, etc. When the 

force is strong enough to 

breakdown the surface 

resistance between two layers, 

movement results. With 

movement, comes friction and 

with friction comes heat (hence 

the term “hot spots”). 

Movement on the surface of the 

skin or between the skin’s 

layers is responsible for blister 

formation hence the importance 

of sock choice and footwear fit. 

Movement between multiple 

pair of socks or between the 

outer sock and the footwear 

rarely causes blisters. 

PREVENTION 

Conceptually, prevention is 

three-fold: 1) reduce general 

movement between layers in 

the footwear system, 

especially in or on the skin; 2) 

reduce friction and heat in, on, 

or near the skin; and, 3) 

deliberately create a “weak” 

shear layer as far from the skin 

as possible. 

Reduce general movement: 

• Choose well fitted footwear. 

Remember to size your boots 

with the socks you will be 

wearing 

• Choose good quality socks 

appropriate to the activity. 

• Make sure leather boots are 

well broken in. 

• Custom footbeds or liners in 

both ski and climbing boots go 

a long way in achieving a 

perfect fit. 

Reduce friction: 

• Keep your feet, socks, and 

boots clean; wash them on a 

regular basis. 

• Wear gaiters to help eliminate 

dirt, gravel, and snow from 

contaminating your system. 

• Keep your feet dry. Wet skin 

increases the surface 

adhesion while reducing the 

shear forces between the skin 

layers. Plastic shells and vapor 

barrier socks often exacerbate 

blister issues by trapping 

moisture next to the skin. Use 

synthetic socks next to your 

skin to wick excess moisture 

away from the surface and, if 

possible, air and dry your feet 

on a regular basis. If you have 

consistently moist skin (and 

blisters), you need to change 

your socks more frequently, air 

your feet out so that they 

remain dryer, or use less 

insulated footwear/socks. 

Deliberately create a 

weak shear layer 

• Wear a pair of liner socks and 

a pair of shock-absorbing 

socks. 

• Paint the affected areas with 

tincture of Benzoin and cover 

with cloth tape. Duct or pipe 

tape is okay if it the adhesive 

doesn’t irritate your skin. You 

will only know after you try it. I 

prefer cloth tape. CAUTION: 

Benzoin may cause skin 

irritation. 

• Use ShearBan on socks or 

footwear where there is a 

history of blister formation (it is 

not designed for direct skin 

application). ShearBan is a 

Teflon coated material originally 

designed for the prosthetics 

industry that reduces the shear 

forces between the socks or 

between the socks and 

footwear. I’ve field tested it for 

the past two years and found it 

to be amazing. Find out more 

about ShearBan at 

www.wildmedcenter.com 

TROUBLE SHOOTING 

• Are you giving your skin 

enough time to toughen under 

a new activity before pushing 

hard? If not, take it easier or 

add skin protection. 

• Is there a pattern to where the 

blisters appear (back of heals, 

instep, etc.)? If so, this is a 

potentially weak area and 

needs more time to toughen. Or 

you can try adding skin 

protection such as ShearBan. 

• Are the blisters related to a 

specific activity? If so, your 

boot/sock combination may not 

be as good as it could be. 

PREVENTION SUMMARY 

• Wear well-fitted and appropriate 

socks/footwear. 

• Keep feet/socks clean, cool, 

& dry. 

• Use a blister (liner) sock & a 

continued on page 22 

Issue Issue XVIII XVIII XVIII Off-Piste 15

Imagine if you had a checklist and that by 

completing it you would have a definitive answer as 

to whether or not a particular slope is safe? Simply 

plug in your observations and get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ 

answer regarding whether or not the slope will slide. 

Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? Yes, indeed it 

would be nice, but snow stability analysis is not quite 

that cut and dry. If it were, only fools would be injured 

or killed by avalanches. 

Would you settle for a checklist to prompt you regarding the 

essential questions to ask when evaluating avalanche 

danger, so the rest of your brain can salivate over the 

rewards you are about to receive for trudging through the 

snow? A cheat sheet, if you will, that you can carry in the 

field listing key observations to make and factors to assess? 

You might be thinking, “Just how much is this going to cost 

me?” You might pay upwards of $20 or $30 for such a 

product under certain circumstances, but Off-Piste is footing 

the bill on this one. Once again, offering you fantastic value 

at no additional cost! How can this be? We could tell you, 

but then we would have to . . . well . . . you know. 

Making wise decisions in the backcountry is a matter of 

knowing the basics, understanding what to look for, and then 

continually reassessing your surroundings. It sounds 

simple, but it is easy to overlook a clue or two especially 

when your main concern is that fresh line and not snowpack 

stability. Consider taking this checklist out with you into the 

backcountry. Hide it in your pocket, sneak a peak at it now 

and then and impress you friends with your incredible offthe-cuff 

insight into the avy world. 



Photo: Chad Coleman 

AVALANCHE SAFETY CHECKLIST 

BEFORE YOU LEAVE 

___ Check weather / avalanche forecast / local authorities 

___ Consider group abilities, experience, compatibility 

___ Leave a trip itinerary with a friend 

___ Select several viable objectives to provide multiple options for success 

___ Be sure your planned route is suitable for current and forecast conditions 

___ Avalanche beacon, probes & shovel? Know how to use them & practiced? 

___ Choose competant partners 

IN THE FIELD 

Human Factors – Are there issues that overshadow prudent decisions 

___ Goal-Orientation: Is a single objective blinding you? (a summit, a 

particular slope) 

___ Invulnerability 

___ Herd mentality taking over? 

___ Rationalization 

___ Technical skill outpacing your avalanche knowledge and skills? 

___ Reassess: continually 

Terrain – Is it suitable for avalanches? 

___ Slope Angle - Measure it! (30-45 degrees are most common) 

___Slope Aspect - Leeward? Wind-loaded? Shaded? Sunexposed? 

___ Slope Shape – Convex rolls? Open? Bowl? Gully? Corniced? 

___ Slope Anchors – Vegetation, Rock outcrops, Benches: Are they 

anchors or weak points? 

___ What are the consequences if it goes? 

___ Terrain Traps – Narrow gullies, cliffs, crevasses, trees, rocks 


Snowpack – Might it slide? Is it unstable? 

Obvious Signs of Instability 

___ Recent avalanches on similar slopes 

___ ”Whumphing” sounds, or shooting cracks 

___ Consistent “Very Easy” or “Easy” failures upon testing 

___ HIGH or EXTREME Avalanche Bulletin Danger Level 

Other Clues of Instability 

___ Fresh snow in the past 24 hours 

___ Sudden temperature rise or first sunshine on new snow 

___ Consistent ”Easy” or “Moderate” failures upon testing 

___ CONSIDERABLE or higher Avalanche Bulletin Danger Level 


Weather – Has it? Is it? or Will it contribute to instability? 

___ Precipitation – Type, amount, intensity, duration 

___ Wind transport of snow causing loading on lee slopes (further 

stressing snowpack)? 

___ Temperature - Rising temps or sun causing loss of snow 

strength? - Prolonged cold temps causing faceting? 


TRAVEL 

___ Avalanche beacon check at trailhead 

___ Look at terrain, weather and snowpack clues – speak up! 

___ Stay on ridge lines / flanks of open slopes 

___ One person at a time crosses suspect slopes – cross high 

___ Watch those crossing suspect slopes 

___ Follow using the same track; move quickly between safe areas 

___ Be ready to ditch gear 

-Do not use pole straps 

-Remove equipment leashes 

-Use releasable binding when available 

___ Continually look for escape routes – what if the slope releases? 

__ Choose safe rest areas & campsites – check for hidden tracks 

& runout zones – consult map 


Checklist created by Roland Emataz and Glenn Kessler 

Glenn Kessler is Lead Climbing Ranger at Mt Rainier National Park. He is an 

affiliate member of the Canadian Avalanche Association. and has been 

instructing ski mountaineering, backcountry skiing and avalanche courses 

for more than 10 years. www.mountainsavvy.com 

In the next issue, page two of the checklist provides what to do if caught 

and step-by-step Rescue Procedures.

The End of an Era 

A Retrospective Look at Tua Skis 

by Ray Thomas 

The 1987 Great Pacific Catalog, the first time Tua skis were offered in the US. 

For many backcountry skiers August 7th marked the end of an 

era. On that day Gestione Sport Alpini s.r.l., the parent 

company of Tua skis, announced that it had filed papers for the 

Italian version of Chapter 11. Tua has had a long and intimate 

relationship with the backcountry skiing world. Tua’s ski history dates back 

to just after World War II when Nanni Tua’s father converted the family 

machine shop business into a ski factory. Nanni’s father died quite young 

and as a result Nanni took over the factory at an early age. They sold Alpine 

skis but it was tough to compete with the big guys, so they became better 

known as a specialty ski manufacturer focused on Alpine Touring and more 

recently telemark skis. Tua was well known in Europe in the mid-80s for AT 

skis, specifically the Excalibur. It was right around that time that Chouinard 

Equipment brought them into the United States. 

In North America, Tua skis helped to fuel the rebirth of telemark skiing. For 

many long-time freeheelers, the name Tua is synonymous with the 

backcountry and sweet flex. While the brand had some difficult times over 

the years, they were coming back strong and had experienced several 

seasons of successful models and had designed some big hits for the 

2003/4 season. Thus the news of bankruptcy was a shock to most of the ski 

community. Tua may yet reorganize and provide their brand of skis to the 

backcountry market, the future is uncertain. While we wait to know what 

happens next, lets look back and remember the fine rides that Tua Ski has 

brought us. 

Tua skis first appeared in the third Great Pacific Catalog, winter’87. Great 

Pacific was a retail mail-order enterprise, a division of Chouinard Equipment, 

which focused solely on the 

backcountry skiing market; it was 

the first of its kind. Paul Parker, who 

would later go on to write one of 

the definitive telemark books 

‘Freeheel Skiing’ and help design 

Tua skis, was at the time a 

Chouinard Equipment employee 

who spearheaded the GPC 

enterprise. He personally selected 

and tested all the gear that would 

be available in the catalog and 

wrote the copy as well. Parker was 

also instrumental in getting those 

first Tuas into the catalog and right 

from the start they were a hit. The 

legendary Tout Neige (74/60/64) 

made its appearance as a very solid 

and stable ski that was confidence 

inspiring in difficult snow 

conditions. Tua also introduced 

The Expresso and Toute Neige circa 1987 

two skis that were some of the first 

‘fat and wide’, the Excalibur (90/70/79) and Excalibur Magnum. The alpine 

touring market in the US was very small and these skis were quite popular 

with this crowd as well as tele folks in places like the Sierras and Cascades. 

The backcountry and telemark ski community was in a formative stage in 

the late ‘80’s. Steve Hardesty, president of Cima Sports, the North American 

distributor of Tua Skis for many years, explained it this way, “The tele market 

was pretty laid back. Mostly renegade backcountry tourers looking to dial it 

up a notch and a few disenchanted ex-alpine hotshots looking for a new 

scene. The gear was improving but still pretty primitive – a garage workshop 

was practically a prerequisite to participate in the sport.” 

Asolo’s Extreme Plus and later Scarpa’s Boot Sauvage and Boot Expresso 

defined the performance telemark boot. Bindings were mostly three-pin and 

basic cable. Tua skis were introduced into a market dominated by Rossignol 

and Karhu. From the very beginning Tua focused on quality construction 

and technological innovation. Every ski, from those first few in the Great 

Pacific catalog to last season’s skis, used solid wood cores. Skiers will also 

remember Tua’s ‘Driving Effect’, the variable angle sidewall that helped the 

skis deliver their excellent deep snow performance. 

In the winter of ‘88 Tua again introduced a definitive telemark ski - the Tele 

Sauvage. It was a radically designed ski for its day with 20mm of side cut. 

With dimensions of 80/60/70 it was also as wide as some alpine slalom skis. 

Though some people in the backcountry ski community thought it was too 

much like an alpine ski, many skiers loved them and the Tele Sauvage 

became THE ski to have and remained that way for several seasons. Parker 

had this to say about the Tele Sauvage. “In developing subsequent skis, I 

always used it as my benchmark. It was hard to develop something that 

skied better.” 

Telemark ski design took another radical departure from the status quo 

when Tua introduced the Montet MX in 1993. It was the first monocoque 

telemark ski and a very wide ride for the day at 84/64/74. Over the next year 

Tua switched all their models over to monocoque construction. This gave 

them skis that were light and quick turning with great torsional rigidity. What 

helped bring about this new level of ski performance was another radical 

departure from the norm – Scarpa’s introduction of the all-plastic Terminator 

tele boot in the early ‘90s. This boot made it possible to control wider more 

side cut skis. 

With the advent of plastic boots and wider more easily turned skis, telemark 

skiing began a new renaissance. No longer was telemark skiing simply a 

backcountry pursuit, it became more common at the ski areas too. 

Telemarkers were no longer ‘hope turning’ their way down steep lines, but 

ripping it with the best of their fixed heel siblings. As freeheel skiing’s 

popularity rose, the larger alpine ski companies began to join the game. As 

a result, the smaller backcountry rooted companies lost market share. 

Manufactures like K2 and Atomic adapted their alpine ski molds to telemark 

needs and created skis at lower cost. Tua responded to this competition 

with new technologies and a series of increasingly wide and shaped ski still 

known for their sweet flex. 

The Original TeleSavage circa 1988 

The Big Easy (100/72/90) introduced in ’99 and the Sumo (110/76/100) of ’01 

were very successful for Tua. Both skis excelled in the backcountry and at 

the ski area. The Sumo was especially noteworthy as it pushed the concept 

of what a ‘wide’ tele ski looked like. Tua was also very aware that many of 

the new freeheel skiers who were pushing the boundaries of the sport came 

from alpine backgrounds and demanded alpine style performance from their 

skis. So in response, Tua introduced the Cross-Ride series of skis in 2001. 

The 110, 112 and 105 were stiff and stable at speed and appropriate for both 

fixed and free heel mountings. The Cross-Ride 110 (110/76/100) was an 

instant classic garnering top ski reviews and editor’s choice awards for 

several seasons. Tua didn’t forget about the backcountry purist either with 

the creation of the Cross-Light series. Started in ’00 with the Helium (100/72/ 

90 and narrow for the day) the line soon expanded with wider offerings, the 

Hydrogen (103/73/93) and the Nitrogen (107/75/100). 

What was the ‘03/’04 season going to bring from Tua? The line would have 

seen the introduction of several new models and all new graphics. Three 

skis would have been especially important The Bubba(126/93/113) , The 

Tsunami (121/83/104), and the Titan. The Titan replaced the Cross-Ride 112, 

with the same dimensions but with Titanal construction. The Tsunami and 

Bubba would have been the widest skis ever produced by Tua as well as the 

first telemark skis with ‘Cross-Cap Construction’ (technology, found in 

some alpine skis that combines sandwich construction under foot with the 

torsional rigidity of monocoque at the tip and tail. 

Before the snow flies, we may yet know if Tua Ski will live again. Until then, 

hold onto those Tuas you might have. Enjoy the sweet flex and remember the 

role that Tua played in helping to shape the telemark world as we know it. 

Special Thanks goes to Paul Parker and Steve Hardesty for the help in making 

this article possible. 


One hundred days of solitude an inevitable eventuality of 

the way I live my life. With my own power, energy, and 

determination I’ve ski toured my first century of days. A 

landmark quickly overshadowed by my love of skiing and the 

multitude of mountain adventures shared with beautiful friends. 

A deep spring overflowing with thoughtful emotions and 

discovery. The incredible feeling invoked while being caressed 

by the strong fingers of gravity, a root that binds us. Memories of 

moments so real they have become a part of us forever . . . 

Fresh track attack; beautiful bowl before me unscathed by 

human touch, easy route finding winds through a down 

covered alpine amphitheater, my partner behind, nearly hidden 

within an awesome tapestry. Ahead lies a ridge with multiple 

snowy fingers that reaches for us. Softly caressing our skis and 

imagination while luring us upwards. Invigorating physical 

exertion brings on meditation. With ease this track climbs. 

Decisions like a blinking eye, reflexive. As if a trail already exists 

skis and body on a smoothly wandering conveyor to the top. 

Insulation accompaniment while waiting for minutes I enjoy the 

panoramic silence that is this day. A radiant smiling face catches 

up, high on clean air and alpine splendor. Now we climb steeply, 

just below a rocky ridge profile to a notch and our first glimpse of 

the dreams that lie beyond. Straight up rock and snow with skis 

on our packs. The moment is intense. Your turn my friend to lead 

me to the top and be the first today to stand on this summit. You 

are clearly alive with this opportunity. Confidence shared with 

what you told me on top of this mountain. Today this is exactly 

where you and I belong. Winter cold knocks and inspires action . 

. . perfect fall line peaceful. Down and down with the occasional 

backward stare at our chosen peak and fresh tilled tracks. Down 

to where there is yet to be snow in this early season gift 

exchange and the end of a beautiful day. 

Highlights of a season, events clustered like mushrooms grow. 

Some just stand a little bit taller. A unique gathering of elements 

18 Off-Piste Off-Piste Off-Piste October October 2003 2003 


that can turn seconds into a memory tightly bound 

to your soul. Love them, know that they exist but do 

not dwell to long as the next moment may slip right 

bye. 

A quest, 

“A unique gathering of elements that can turn 

seconds into a memory tightly bound to your soul. 

Love them, know that they exist but do not dwell 

to long as the next moment may slip right bye.” 

a dream, and an obsession, so delicious 

is the cool taste of deep powder. Storm cycle 

consistency, the surface snow yields a ridiculous 

reality. Three friends confident and comfortable, 

climb through the raging storm and waist deep 

beauty. Tree bomb hazard, snow mushrooms like 

giant raindrops fall straight. Poof! I know the line. Pitch perfect 

for today’s intimate interface. Plowing, pushing and groveling to 

a sweet horizon. Discussion left where we ripped our skins. 

Impossible to plan the perfection of the next thirty seconds. 

Three charging bulls flow effortlessly through tree matador 

gateways. Together and apart our pillow plume residue and 

expelled whoops left behind. Heart beating like thunderclaps, 

regular and strong. Seconds like hours. We come together 

relaxed and shining. White covered beard and useless goggles 

prompt laughter, pole clink cheers all around. Champagne goes 

down easy when you don’t think about it. 

The feeling comes with elevation gained. Wind whipped ridge 

we climb with confidence. On top body buzzing with 

adrenaline. Elated screams of moments lived. Damn I love this 

life. Pure reality realized. I am full. With shared erupting laughter 

we slide exhausted to the top to tempt a neighbor we have been 

meaning to visit for a while. So nice to meet you in this early 

season brilliance. Friend’s yelp from ridge viewpoint, a call to 

meet. Motivation needed to climb again. Fully charged burnt out 

body amp’d for more and more and more. Let us pay tribute to a 

mountain friend who lived to play and explore wild places. Like 

us, most alive when on the sharp end of life. Pushing ourselves, 

learning as living. Shining spirits soar when challenged by 

focused experiences and unrehearsed dances performed to 

personal perfection. 

It’s dark now. Dreams, moments of old are forgotten as morning 

plan alarms explode. We have a goal today. A ridgeline, a 

winter sanctuary. Fresh brewed coffee prepared hours before 

eliminates any doubts. Short drive with mellow tunes and 

personal silence. Time to focus on today’s adventure, we are 

going to a new place, one we have both seen but do not know. 

Valley bottom cloud is an uncertainty soon punctured by 

elevation. A great blue sea opens above and all around. Below 

the cloud capped valley flows with a river’s character. Never 

have clouds been as animated as today. Upwards lies our goal. 

Just in sight, ridge top bronzed with today’s first life rays.

Beautiful dry boot-top powder pummels my 

chest with every turn. It is April 24th, six 

months plus a day since my first turns of the 

season and I’m still smiling and expelling 

excited shouts with every turn. 

Wow comes to mind. 

Awesome the virgin face below. Tiny are we and alone on our 

ridge top goal waiting for the perfect moment. So alive as we 

swirl down in gentle arcs leaving trails and floating plumes 

disturbing perfection that will return tomorrow. 

As an incredible season comes to a close I’ve been tempted 

once more into the mountains. The lure of fresh adventure 

and the prospect of touring to a place I’ve never been still 

manages to overpower my exhausted motivation. Perfect spring 

promotes early mornings to contour south slopes and the wintry 

north side beyond. Beautiful dry boot-top powder pummels my 

chest with every turn. It is April 24th, six months plus a day since 

my first turns of the season and I’m still smiling and expelling 

excited shouts with every turn. Wow comes to mind. A third of 

our day done we tour up a mellow glacier inspired by the two 

peaks and a pass before us. Summits glow irresistibly with 

today’s conditions, snow preserved perfectly by cold weather 

and broken clouds. Upwards we skin until steep pitch and 

sloughing snow indicate its time to boot pack. A smooth shaved 

face, a perfect ridge, and beyond to a summit turret offering 

three hundred and sixty degrees of visual stimulation. 

High five cheers and laughter, hard to believe to string of days 

we’ve put together. Steep face demands control. Second turn 

brings a stoplight, a shooting fracture and I cut out to watch as a 

soft slab avalanche tumbles down below. Hazard gone we 

swoosh to a glacial bench: a fine place to rest and skin up one 

more time. Short climb through well bridged crevasse field to 

another short boot pack and our third summit of the day. Crazy 

the century of incredible days we’ve had this year. Everyone 

highlighted with memories of good times shared with my 

spectrum of friends. One more to live. Visual confirmation of an 

awesome south face we’ve looked at all year, only now we are 

looking down. Line of sight to the valley bottom, 3000 feet below. 

Rock spines like porcupine quills stretch up, erect menacing 

obstacles to be avoided. Bed surface melt freeze bomber for our 

descent of slow controlled jump turns. Easy does it down and 

out. Wow, again. To the end from the beginning, thanks for an 

incredible season. 

Myles Berney spends his summer planting trees and his winters skiing 

the backcountry of British Columbia. 


Ski Review ‘03-’04 continued 

a tour in her leather boots and was all smiles. There are better choices for an all 

mountain resort ski but if you have the luxury to own a dedicated touring board, 

the Carbon Surf is sure to please. Made in the USA. 

All Mountain Backcountry Bias 

Atomic TM EX – 118/84/110, 168, 177, 184, 191, 198cm, densolite core, 7.8lbs/ 

pair (184cm) $643 Like the World Piste, the TM-EX makes a great argument for a 

quiver of one. Pleasing a wide range of skiers in a wide range of snows, the TM EX 

can dish out about any turn style in just about any snow condition. There is a small 

preference for higher speeds and larger radius moves but even a less aggressive 

intermediate skier with a big boot will get results with the TM EX. The TM EX has a 

healthy Alpine Touring following but responds just fine to a good telemark turn. Like 

we said last year, you might own other skis, but once the TM EX joins your quiver, 

you might just forget about your other skis. 

Black Diamond Mira – 112/79/102, 162, 175, 188cm, densolite core, 6lbs 15oz 

(175cm), $499. A solid predictable ski, the Mira is responsive when you ask it to be. 

The Mira’s personality does not stand out in a crowd but the ski will rise to just about 

any occasion with a little push from the driver. With a reasonably light swing weight 

the ski comes around quickly and is a good match for a variety of technical abilities. 

Beginners will find it predictable; while more advanced skiers will find the ski 

responds well when given more energy. 

K2 World Piste 114/78/105 167, 174, 181, 188, wood core, 6.97lbs (181cm) $479. 

Quiver of one was used by several of our testers to summarize the World Piste. The 

ski sets a great standard for the all mountain backcountry bias category. It turns with 

ease, will please a variety of turn styles, floats the deep snows, and makes short 

work of any variable conditions. The World is a capable resort board too but if there 

was one criticism to be heard it comes from bigger skiers on firm snow at speed. 

There are other skis better suited to such situations. A great choice for the NW and 

Canada and any time the conditions are mixed or variable. The World has inspired 

many memorable days in the backcountry and is no stranger at the ski hill. 

K2 Super Stinx -107/70/97; 167, 174, 181, 188 wood core, 3170 grams (181cm), 

$479.00. Unchanged for several seasons, the Super Stinx rated highly in soft snow 

with a medium radius turn bias. Several testers noted the ski responds best to 

consistent input and felt more at home in parallel mode than in telemark. Another 

commented that it is the ideal ski for alpine ski converts. With its predictable nature, 

the Super will be at home on the hill or touring but is not the ski of choice for the 

hard chargin’ carving crowd. 

K2 She’s Piste - 107/70/97; 153, 160, 167, 174, 181, wood core, 2.7 kg (181cm) 

$459. Following the Super Stinx platform, the She’s Piste was developed with input 

from female skiers to better meet their needs. The result is a responsive ski with a 

light swing weight. The graphics catch everyone’s attention and the ski appealed to 

a wide range of skier abilities. Given its softer flex profile, the biggest criticism was 

hard snow and crud performance. 

K2 Instinx - 117/78/105 160, 167, 174, wood core 3 kg (174cm), $479 Based on 

the success of the She’s Piste, K2 undertook the same process to develop their 

second Women’s specific ski, one with a bigger appetite for soft snow, the InStinx. 

Similar in dimension to the World, the InStinx is its own ski. Soft flex and a wide 

shovel make it a nice tool for deep and backcountry days. Although several male 

testers found the ski too soft for daily resort skiing, female testers were less critical 

of the ski in firm snow. 

K2 Piste Stinx 102/70/91; 167, 174, 181, wood core, 2.9 kg (181cm) $399– The 

Piste Stinx is a predictable all around ski. Updated last season, it may not be the 

fattest or the sportiest ski around but it is a stable and capable board. The 

moderate waist keeps the ski useful at the ski hill and offers reasonable float in 

deeper snow. The Piste Stinx is a good choice for beginners and anyone 

upgrading from an old school board. 

K2 Shuksan - 114/78/105 160, 167, 174, 181, wood core, 3.1kg (185cm) $459. 

The Shuksan went in for a remodel this summer and the new version offers the 

same dimensions as the World Piste with a tighter flex pattern. The result is a ski 

that responds well to a locked heel (it’s intended market) and runs the range of 

snow conditions found in the backcountry. 

Karhu Ryder - 192cm: 109/74/101; 185cm: 107/74/99; 177cm: 104/74/97, wood 

core, 6lb-6oz (185cm) $400 – Testers were in agreement that the Ryder is more at 

home in untracked backcountry snows than standing in the lift line awaiting 

groomers. Healthy dimensions and a soft even flex make for a smooth turning 

consistent radius ski. Stable and consistent in soft snows, the Ryder is less 

confident in varied firm snow of the resort. Though lighter skiers will find it a 

capable resort ski. It prefers to tele and excels at a true two footed tele carve. 

20 Off-Piste Off-Piste Off-Piste October October 2003 


SKI SIZING 

You have studied all the new ski reviews and sampled everything you 

could at the ski demos. Your friends have been subjected to endless 

questions and the folks at the local ski shop now know you by name. 

But all the hard work has paid off and you’ve finally decided on your new 

boards. Yet perhaps the toughest question remains. ‘What length is the 

best for me?’ 

In days of old the decision was easy, stand up, arm reaching above your 

head, and the right ski was the one whose tip came up to your wrist. 

Back then, telemark ski technology had not progressed far from its 

nordic roots and skis were sized much like their track and touring 

siblings. The idea was to use ski length to balance the height and weight 

of the skier. This method was fine for moving in a straight line but didn’t 

make for easy turning. As tele skis evolved to be more like alpine skis, 

developing wider and more shaped profiles, tele skis got shorter. Skis 

now support their driver through width and torsional stiffness. The new 

shaped profiles allow skis to turn with less effort by using pressure and 

the mechanics of the ski’s shape. 

The main source of pressure on a ski is the weight of the skier. The 

basic idea in sizing says that a lighter skier can ski a shorter ski more 

effectively and vice versa. More and more skis are topping out in the 

190cm zone for length and adding more choices between 160cm and 

175cm. So the trend is obviously to go shorter than even a few years 

ago, particularly with the fat skis. That said, how do you decide between 

the 174cm and the 181cm? Well, there are several additional factors to 

consider when looking at ski length. These factors include, ski flex, skier 

ability, and boot choice. All of these factors affect the transfer of pressure 

to the ski, the bigger the boot and the more aggressive the skier, the 

more pressure that will get applied to the ski. The stiffer the ski, the more 

pressure that is required to carve the ski. So, if the skis you are 

considering are considered stiff, you are an intermediate skier, and you 

run a moderate boot (like a T2), you should go with the shorter size ski. 

Conversely, if you are an aggressive big booted skier and the skis are 

relatively soft, you can likely go with the longer size. 

Remember that skis do not need to be long to work well. Today’s shorter 

skis provide all the performance needed and are easier to turn as well. If 

possible, a couple sizes of a chosen ski model should be tested before 

making the final choice. - Ray Thomas 

All Mountain Resort Bias 

Atomic TM22 – 106/72/98 - 160,170,180,190,200cm - densolite core , 6lbs 3oz 

(180cm), $475. A proven all around ski, the TM 22 has a reputation as a utilitarian 

tool to meet your needs in and out of the ski area. The ski responds well to all 

sizes of skiers and makes for a good introductory ski. A few testers found the ski 

to have a stronger sweet spot in parallel than in tele so it may appeal to those 

with an alpine background. Regardless of your turn bias, from casual 

backcountry user to helmet sportin’ rippers, the TM22 serves well. 

Atomic TM-RX –104/64/91, 160, 170, 180, 190cm 6.2lbs (180cm), $349 The 

sportiest board in the Atomic line the RX appeals to the hardpack crowd and 

folks looking to carve groomers. It is responsive, favoring short and medium 

radius turns, yet it holds it own at speed. It has an on piste bias and will appeal to 

all levels of skiers. 

Black Diamond Nunyo - 107/73/97 - 159, 167, 175, 183, 191cm, densolite 

core, 7 lb. 1 oz. (183s) $499.00. The Nunyo is a responsive ski that holds a nice 

carve in firm snow. One tester found it the liveliest of the Black Diamond skis. 

Although not a powder pig by today’s standards, given the 73mm waist and 

healthy tip, the Nunyo is a versatile ski. The ski rated well among our testers as an 

all mountain resort board whether you live in the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, 

or New England. 

Black Diamond Crossbow – 115/82/105 163, 171, 179, 187cm 7 lb. 5 oz. 

(179cm) densolite core, $549.00. The Crossbow is a stiff flexing board for 

aggressive freeheel and AT skiers. The ski has healthy dimensions and skis big so 

be prepared to step down in size from what you may be used to. The densolite 

core helps keep the ski light for its size but the Crossbow responds best to big 

boots and big quads. Testers found a bias for medium to long radius parallel 

turns. 

Karhu Rox –110/73/98, 165,175,185cm, 3lbs 7oz (165cm), wood core, $450. The 

sports car of the Karhu line, the Rox was designed with firm snow in mind. It is a 

short radius carving ski and its responsive nature comes from its aggressive side 

cut, rigid construction, and lightweight. That said, it is not afraid to run fast on the 

hardpack and will no doubt find a few fans in New England. Although we did not 

have a chance to try it with a fixed heel, it could also be good match for an Alpine 

Touring setup come spring.

Karhu Ruckit - 170cm: 107/76/97, 180cm: 107/76/97 170cm, 180cm, 3lbs 6oz 

(170cm), wood core, $400 – Twin tip construction sets the Ruckit up for use in the 

terrain park but an even flex and healthy dimensions make for all mountain 

versatility. Its flex is better suited to the firm snows of the ski area but one tester 

responded that it skied the cut up mixed conditions well. It favors medium radius 

turns. 

Rossignol T3 - 113/73/103 150, 160, 170,176, 182, 190 micro cell core, 

3.5kg(176), $449. The second biggest ski in the Rossi line, the T3 finds a home in 

the all mountain category. The ski elicited several comments about parallel turning 

and multiple testers suggested the T3 as a good alpine skier crossover ski. It holds 

speed well and is suited to a deliberate carver in search of corduroy. 

Rossignol T2 - 109/70/99; 150,160,170,176,182,190cm micro cell core,6lbs 9oz 

(176cm), $399. The T2 shares almost the same dimensions as the T1 (tail is 1mm 

bigger) but the ski is stiffer flexing. The result is a versatile ski that responds better 

to a more aggressive driver and or firmer snows. The ski will track just about any 

turn radius and is most at home on the ski hill. 

Rossignol T1 - 109/70/98, 150,160,170,180 wood core, 6.8lbs (170cm) $299. 

The T1 is the softest flexing ski in the Rossi line yet it still maintains some of the 

characteristic damp Rossi feel. Testers found it predictable and capable, a great 

introductory ski, especially given the price. With lengths beginning at 150cm, it 

makes a great youth ski. 


WHAT’S UP continued Backcountry Medic - Blisters continued 

the land management agencies during their planning stages to ensure that the 

interests of non-motorized winter recreationists are understood and included in 

the plan. Check our website backcountryalliance.org) for further information on 

how you can become involved and preserve a quiet, untracked winter 

experience. 

Powder Keg Sanctioned 

Black Diamond Equipment is proud to announce the elevated status of their 

Wasatch PowderKeg event for 2004. Sponsored by Patagonia, the Black 

Diamond Wasatch PowderKeg will be the third and final stop on the International 

Council for Ski Mountaineering Competitions (ISMC) World Cup Tour. The date of 

the PowderKeg, a backcountry endurance point-to-point race between Alta and 

Brighton, is slated for March 20, 2004. 

Working with ISMC, Black Diamond was able to secure World Cup status for the 

singles event (as opposed to team events) due to the nature of the strenuous up 

and down course. In order to qualify for ISMC ski mountaineering status, the 

course skied by racers must meet certain criteria in terms of vertical gain and 

descent. The fact that the PowderKeg covers terrain both on and off piste and is 

a point-to-point style race best matched the criteria used in Europe where the 

sport is more technically demanding. 

Approximately forty European racers are expected to travel to the the Wasatch 

to compete in the Black Diamond PowderKeg, which will be the culmination of 

World Cup races in Morgins, Switzerland and Grau Roig, Andorra. The ISMC Ski 

Mountaineering World Cup is one of three approved UIAA international 

competitions, the other two being Competition Sport Climbing and Competition 

Ice Climbing. Currently, the UIAA and the ISMC are petitioning the International 

Olympic Committee for consideration as an Olympic event in the 2010 Games in 

Vancouver. The decision on Olympic approval will likely be made following the 

2006 Ski Mountaineering World Championships in Torino, Italy, which is also the 

site of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. 

For more information go to www.bdel.com/powderkeg/index.html 

Tua Italy Files for Bankruptcy 

The parent company of Tua Skis ,Gestione Sport Alpini s.r.l., filed the Italian 

version of Chapter 11 bankruptcy this fall. Details are sparse but the decision was 

obviously based on financial difficulties of the parent company. The news has 

been referred to as the end of an era by many industry folks as Tua was 

instrumental in the revival of telemark and backcountry skiing in North America 

and it is sad to think that Tua skis will no longer be available. Tua skis became 

widely available in North America with the rise of Chouinard Equipment in the 

mid and late 80’s. As of press time it is not known whether Tua is gone for good 

or whether another company or investor could revive the name. To read more 

about Tua’s history check out The End of an Era on page 17. 



heavier pair for shock- absorption and cushioning. 

• Wear gaiters to keep dirt, gravel, and snow out of socks and 

boots. 

• Treat “hot spots” before they become a blister. Clean, dry, and 

cover affected area with cloth, duct, or pipe tape and/or add a 

ShearBan patch to footwear or socks. Painting skin with tincture of 

Benzoin prior to taping may increase adhesion. 

TREATMENT 

Blister treatment is a subject that is often controversial among 

outdoor people. There are many “patented” methods that work for 

blister treatment. At the risk of adding to (versus eliminating) the 

controversy, I’ve included my treatment recommendations below. 

• If you are already back at home: consider leaving the blister 

alone. Wear comfortable footwear that doesn’t irritate the area; it 

should reabsorb and heal completely in 7-14 days. 

• To complete a day hike/ski: drain the blister by nicking it with a 

clean knife blade or scalpel; leave skin cover intact. Pad with 

“donuts” of moleskin or mole foam to relieve pressure. Add a 

ShearBan patch to footwear or socks. Alternatively, pass a needle 

and thread through the blister; leave a small section of thread on 

each side of the blister to act as a wick. Pad and protect as above. 

• To continue a multiple day hike/ski: Remove skin over blister. 

Wash with soap and clean water. Remove all foreign debris by 

gentle scrubbing and/or by careful picking with a tweezers. Avoid 

vigorous scrubbing. Pat or air dry. Keep the exposed skin moist to 

promote collagen production and healing by covering the exposed 

area with Second Skin or petroleum based ointment and gauze. 

In addition to keeping the exposed blister moist, Second Skin adds 

padding that often reduces pain. Secure in place with porous cloth 

tape. Add a ShearBan patch to footwear or socks. Consider using 

Tincture of Benzoin prior to taping. 

Paul Nicolazzo is founder and director of the Wilderness Medicine Training 

Center. View other articles by Paul on our website and visit 

www.WildMedCenter.com for first aide courses and supplies.

ALASKA 

Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking 

2633 Spenard Blvd 

Anchorage, AK 99503 

www.alaskamountaineering.com 

ALBERTA 

Freewheel Jasper 

618 Patricia st. 

Jasper, AB T0E 1E0 

www.freewheeljasper.com 

BRITISH COLUMBIA 

Rivers Oceans And Mountains 

579 Baker Street 

Nelson, BC 

877.271.7626 

Rip Curl Factory Outlet 

1365A Dalhousie Drive 

Kamloops, BC V2C 5P6 

250.377.8899 

Valhalla Pure Outfitters 

615 Broughton St. 

Victoria, BC V8W1C8 

250.360.2181 

CALIFORNIA 

The Backcountry 

2 stores - Tahoe City &Truckee 

888.625.8444 

www.thebackcountry.net 

Bear Valley Cross Country 

#1 Bear Valley Road 

Bear Valley, CA 95223 

www.bearvalleyxc.com 

The Fifth Season 

300 N Mt. Shasta Blvd 

Mt. Shasta, CA 96067 

www.thefifthseason.com 

Mammoth Mountaineering Supply 

3189 Main Street 

Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 

www.mammothgear.com 

Marmot Mountain Works 

3049 Adeline St. 

Berkeley, CA 94703 

www.marmotmountain.com 

Mountain Sports 

176 E 3rd Street 

Chico, CA 95928 

530.345.5011 

Sierra Nevada Adventure Co./SNAC 

2293 Hwy 4 - Arnold, CA 

173 S. Washington St., Sonora, CA 

www.snacattack.com 

Wolf Creek Wilderness 

595 East Main Street 

Grass Valley, CA 95945 

www.wolfcreekwilderness.com 

COLORADO 

Backcountry Experience 

1205 Camino Del Rio 

Durango, CO 81301 

www.bcexp.com 

Troutfitter Sports Company 

PO Box 969 313 Elk Ave 

Crested Butte, CO 81224 

www.nordicskiis.com 

Pine Needle Mountaineering 

835 Main St. #112 

Durango, CO 81301 

800.607.0364 

Switchback Mountain Gear 

468 Pagosa St. 

Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 

970.264.2225 

Trail Head 

565 Sherman 

Ridgway, CO 81432 

970.626.5365 

IDAHO 

Alpine Designs Bike and Ski 

312 Fifth Ave 

SandPoint, ID 83864 

208.263.9373 

Backwoods Mountain Sports 

711 N. Main St. 

Ketchum, ID 83340 

www.backwoodsmountainsports.com 

Hyperspud Sports 

907 S. First St. / 402 S. Main 

Yakima, WA 98901 / Moscow, ID 83843 

509.248.2093 / 208.883.1150 

Idaho Mountain Touring 

1310 Main Street 

Boise, ID 83702 

www.idahomountaintouring.com 

OFF-PISTE SHOP DIRECTORY 

Rendezvous Sports 

408 Main St. 

Salmon, ID 83467 

www.rendezvoussports.com 

MAINE 

Aardvark Outfitters 

108 Fairbanks Road 

Farmington, ME 04938 

www.aardvarkoutfitters.com 

Mahoosuc Sports 

PO Box 70 Rte 26 

Locke Mills, ME 04255 

www.teleskis.com 

MONTANA 

Barrel Mountaineering 

240 East Main 

Bozeman, MT 59715 

800.779.7364 

www.barrelmountaineering.com 

Rocky Mountain Outfitters 

135 Main St 

Kalispell, MT 59901 

406.752.2446 

The Trail Head 

110 East Pine Street 

Missoula, MT 59802 

www.trailheadmontana.net 

NEVADA 

Reno Mountain Sports 

155 E Moana Ln 

Reno, NV 89502 

www.renomountainsports.com 

NEW MEXICO 

Wild Mountain Outfitters 

541 W. Cordova 

Santa Fe, NM 87505 

www.wildmountainoutfitters.com 

OREGON 

Doug Sports 

101 Oak Street 


www.dougsports.com 

Mountain Shop 

628 NE Broadway 

Portland, OR 97232 

www.mountainshop.net 

Mountain Tracks Ski and Board 

Huckleberry Inn 

Government Camp, OR 97028 

www.mtntracks.com 

Pine Mountain Sports 

133 SW Century Drive 

Bend, OR 97702 

www.pinemountainsports.com 

Redpoint Climber’s Supply 

639 NW Franklin 

Bend, OR 97701 

www.goclimbing.com 

Storm Warning 

112 Oak Street 


www.stormwarning.biz 

WASHINGTON 

Arlberg Sports Inc 

25 N Wenatchee Ave 

Wenatchee, WA 98801 

Cascade Crags 

2820 Rucker Ave 

Everett, WA 98201 

www.cascadecrags.com 

Enumclaw Ski & Mountain Sports 

240 Roosevelt E. 

Enumclaw, WA 98022 

www.snowways.com 

Feathered Friends 

119 Yale Ave N. 

Seattle, WA 98109 

www.featheredfriends.com 

Marmot Mountain Works 

827 Bellevue Way NE 

Bellevue, WA 98004 

www.marmotmountain.com 

Mountain Goat Outfitters 

915 W. Broadway 

Spokane, WA 99201 

www.mountaingoatoutfitters.com 

Mountain High Sports 

105 E. 4th 

Ellensberg, WA 98926 

509.925.4626 

Northwest Snowboards 

2805 Bridgeport Way 

Tacoma, WA 98466 

www.nwsnowboards.com 

Olympic Mountaineering 

140 W. Front St. 

Port Angeles, WA 98362 

360.452.0240 

Outdoor Research Store 

2203 1st ave S. 


www.orgear.com 

Pro Ski Service (2 shops) 

8954 Aurora Ave N. - Seattle 

108 W North Bend Way - North 

Bend 

proguiding.com 

Second Ascent 

5209 Ballard Avenue NW 


www.secondascent.com 

Winthrop Mountain Sports 

257 Riverside Ave 

Winthrop, WA 98862 

www.winthropmountainsports.com 

WEST VIRGINIA 

White Grass Touring Center 

Canaan Valley, WV 26260 

www.whitegrass.com 

WYOMING 

Skinny Skis 

65 W. Deloney 

Jackson, WY 83001 

www.skinnyskis.com 

UTAH 

Wasatch Mountain Touring 

702 E. 100 S. 

SLC, UT 84102 

www.wasatchtouring.com 

Wild Rose 

702 Third Ave 

SLC, UT 84108 

The Trailhead 

117 North Main 

Logan UT 84321 

435.753.1541 

List your shop in our Directory! Call or e-mail for details 509.999.2208 freeheel@offpistemag.com 

Issue Issue Issue XVIII XVIII XVIII Off-Piste 23

General 

www.avalanche.org 

www.avalanche.ca 

www.fsavalanche.org 

nimbo.wrh.noaa.gov 

www.winterwildlands.com 

www.wildwilderness.org 

Alaska 

www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/glacier/snow.html 

http://www.avalanche.org/~seaac/ 

California 

www.r5.fs.fed.us/tahoe/avalanche 

www.shastaavalanche.org 

Mt. Shasta 530-926-9613 

Tahoe 530-587-2158 

Mammoth/Bishop 760-924-5500 

Canada 

www.weatheroffice.com 

AVALANCHE / WEATHER RESOURCES 

Vancouver 604-290-9333 

Western Canada 800-667-1105 

Rockies 403-243-7253 x7669 

Banff 403-762-1460 

Colorado 

www.geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche 

Boulder 303-275-5360 

Summit Cty 970-668-0600 

Southern CO 970-247-8187 

Durango - 970-247-8187 

Fort Collins - 970-482-0457 

Vail - 970-827-5687 

Aspen - 970-920-1664 

CO Springs 719-520-0020 

Idaho 

www.avalanche.org/~svavctr 

Sun Valley 208-622-8027 

Panhandle National Forest 

www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/visit/conditions/backcountry/index.html 

208-765-7323, 208-752-1221 

Payette - 208-634-0409 

www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette/main.html 

Montana 

www.mtavalanche.com 

www.glacieravalanche.org 

www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/avalanche/advisory.htm 

NW MT -406-257-8402 - 800-526-5329 

Bozeman-406-587-6981 

Cook City-406-838-2259 

New Hampshire 

www.tuckerman.org 

Oregon 

www.nwac.noaa.gov 

Southern WA / Mt. Hood 

503-808-2400 

Utah 

Europe 

www.avalanche.org/~uac 

Tri-Canyon 801-364-1581 

www.lawine.org 

Alta - 801-742-0830 New Zealand 

Park City - 435-658-5512 

Provo - 801-378-4333 

Ogden - 801-626-8600 

Logan - 435-797-4146 

LaSal - 800-648-7433 

Washington 

www.nwac.noaa.gov 

www.avalanchenw.org 

Cascades 206-526-6677 

Olympics 206-526-6677 

Wyoming 

www.jhavalanche.org 

www.avalanche.net.nz 

Bridger-Teton - 307-733-2664

Ski Review 03-04 The Fall Line Blisters 100 ... - Off-Piste Magazine

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