<strong>Ski</strong> <strong>Review</strong> ‘<strong>03</strong>-’<strong>04</strong> continued a tour in her leather boots and was all smiles. <strong>The</strong>re 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 <strong>Piste</strong>, 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. <strong>The</strong>re 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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 <strong>Piste</strong> 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 <strong>Piste</strong>. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong>re 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. <strong>The</strong> 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 <strong>Piste</strong> - 107/70/97; 153, 160, 167, 174, 181, wood core, 2.7 kg (181cm) $459. Following the Super Stinx platform, the She’s <strong>Piste</strong> was developed with input from female skiers to better meet their needs. <strong>The</strong> result is a responsive ski with a light swing weight. <strong>The</strong> 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 <strong>Piste</strong>, 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 <strong>Piste</strong> Stinx 102/70/91; 167, 174, 181, wood core, 2.9 kg (181cm) $399– <strong>The</strong> <strong>Piste</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> moderate waist keeps the ski useful at the ski hill and offers reasonable float in deeper snow. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Piste</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> Shuksan went in for a remodel this summer and the new version offers the same dimensions as the World <strong>Piste</strong> with a tighter flex pattern. <strong>The</strong> 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: 1<strong>04</strong>/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 <strong>Off</strong>-<strong>Piste</strong> <strong>Off</strong>-<strong>Piste</strong> <strong>Off</strong>-<strong>Piste</strong> October October 20<strong>03</strong> 20<strong>03</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>Ski</strong>s now support their driver through width and torsional stiffness. <strong>The</strong> new shaped profiles allow skis to turn with less effort by using pressure and the mechanics of the ski’s shape. <strong>The</strong> main source of pressure on a ski is the weight of the skier. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong>se 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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 –1<strong>04</strong>/64/91, 160, 170, 180, 190cm 6.2lbs (180cm), $349 <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> Crossbow is a stiff flexing board for aggressive freeheel and AT skiers. <strong>The</strong> ski has healthy dimensions and skis big so be prepared to step down in size from what you may be used to. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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 - 113/73/1<strong>03</strong> 150, 160, 170,176, 182, 190 micro cell core, 3.5kg(176), $449. <strong>The</strong> second biggest ski in the Rossi line, the T3 finds a home in the all mountain category. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> T2 shares almost the same dimensions as the T1 (tail is 1mm bigger) but the ski is stiffer flexing. <strong>The</strong> result is a versatile ski that responds better to a more aggressive driver and or firmer snows. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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. Issue Issue XVIII XVIII <strong>Off</strong>-<strong>Piste</strong> 21
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