This the first of many overviews of the upcoming 2017 ski offerings. These purpose-built designs want to be on firm snow and skied primarily on edge. After you buy one of these skis, and before it even touches the snow, give it some proper attention in the form of an aggressive tune. By this I mean a 0.5° to 0.7° edge bevel and a 3° side bevel, angles that will let you maximize their performance.
As we get further into the spring testing season, I will be adding the skis I was unable to get on in the first go-round. You might also notice that quite a few skis were tested in multiple sizes; doing this enables me to discern what turn shape works better with which skis and for which skiers. If you are not sure what you want or how the ski will react, please feel free to ask questions, and I or some of our other testers will help you decide which ski and which size fit your needs.
"All New" means the ski is an all-new design and construction. "NGT" refers to New Graphics Technology, ie, only the graphics have changed. "New Construction" means the ski has the same name and similar graphics but an updated construction or shape.
Blizzard Quattro 7.2 and RS
Dimensions: 120-72-104
Radius: 16m@174cm
Sizes tested: 174, 181
Design: All New
Like many brands, Blizzard is focusing on the snow we actually ski versus the snow magazines make us dream about. Blizzard has a long history of great frontside skis going back to the Supersonics. They bring up to date an interpretation of the IQ and binding system. The 7.2 and RS share construction and bindings, but the RS has a more advanced Suspension, a difference that can be felt.
Blossom White Out
Dimensions: 131-77-111
Radius: 15m@170cm
Sizes tested: 170, 182
Design: New Construction
Blossom Wind Shear
Dimensions: 124-77-110
Radius: 15.5m@176cm
Sizes tested: 170, 180
Design: New Construction
I have a long history with skis that have come out of the Blossom (old Spalding) factory in Italy. These are some of the finest-crafted skis on the market today, regardless of price point. Their magnificent feel can be described in just one word: supple. As you can expect from the dimensions, the White Out has a bit more turn in than the Wind Shear. The mold of the White Out is indeed the same as the old Hart Pulse and Beat and even the Vist Free Three, which shows that an exceptional design can be timeless. I was told that the construction has been updated a bit, though. We will be expanding on these skis soon; to say they impressed our testers would be a gross understatement.
Blossom Great Shape
Dimensions: 121-71-106
Radius: 16m@176cm
Size tested: 176
Design: NGT
This was billed as a cheater GS ski, but it is so much more than that. I have said this only once before about a ski: It slows down time. The Great Shape is the type of ski that villages will write songs about. Such smoothness is rarely seen in a ski without a comma in its price tag.
Dynastar Speed Zone 12Ti
Dimensions: 121-72-106
Radius: 15m@174cm
Size tested: 174
Design: All New
Dynastar has reinvented the Course line and named it the Speed Zone. No, they did not just slap new colors on old skis; instead, Dynastar brought the proprietary construction from its race skis to a consumer level. Powerdrive -- or what Dynastar internally calls “velvet speed” -- is a combination of Visco and Titanal vertically laminated between the ABS sidewalls and the core, giving the Speed Zone a very supple feel on the snow.
Head iSpeed
Dimensions: 124-68-104
Radius: 14m@170cm
Size tested: 170
Design: All New
Head iRally
Dimensions: 135-76-114
Radius: 13.7m@170cm
Sizes tested: 170, 177
Design: All New
Head took the very successful iSpeed and iRally and gave them more direction, more purpose. The addition of Graphene, a new profile, and a new tip shape has resulted in a more technical feel for these Supershapes.
K2 SuperCharger and K2 Charger
Dimensions: 127-76-107
Radius: 17m@175cm
Size tested: 175
Design: All New
These two skis were some of the surprises of the show for me. I went into the K2 tent hoping for the best, and boy did K2 deliver. The SuperCharger (with metal) and Charger (without) go back to K2’s heritage of making great frontside skis -- think of them as the modern-day 710 and 610. The Speed Charger (not tested) would be the 810, more GS in feel.
Völkl Code Speedwall L UVO
Dimensions: 122-76-105
Radius: 18.6m@178cm
Size tested: 178
Design: NGT
The Codes have had a soft spot in my heart since they were introduced about 4 years ago. These are just fun skis. What I don’t understand is, a few reps say none of their shops can sell them, yet I always see them out on the hill: to quote Jerry Seinfeld, "What’s up with that?” What I like about them is their versatility; they are comfortable making any number of turn shapes. The Codes are not the old Tigersharks; they are Völkls for the modern world, with a big performance window. People need to go to their local dealers and ask for these skis or they will disappear from the U.S. market, and that would be a shame.
Some skis I was unable to get on but hope to add as the spring rolls along: Kästle RX (NGT), Kästle MX74 (All New), Stöckli SX and AX (NGT with a new topskin material).
I will add stock images as they become available in the fall.
"All New" means the ski is an all-new design and construction. "NGT" refers to New Graphics Technology, ie, only the graphics have changed. "New Construction" means the ski has the same name and similar graphics but an updated construction or shape.
Blizzard Quattro 7.2 and RS
Dimensions: 120-72-104
Radius: 16m@174cm
Sizes tested: 174, 181
Design: All New
Like many brands, Blizzard is focusing on the snow we actually ski versus the snow magazines make us dream about. Blizzard has a long history of great frontside skis going back to the Supersonics. They bring up to date an interpretation of the IQ and binding system. The 7.2 and RS share construction and bindings, but the RS has a more advanced Suspension, a difference that can be felt.
- Who are they for? Speedmongers. These are medium- to long-radius skis that can be worked into many turn shapes.
- Who are they not for? Technically weak skiers. Such serious skis have little sense of humor.
- Insider tip: Don’t be afraid of downsizing; the powerful skis can be skied shorter if you want a tighter turn.
Blossom White Out
Dimensions: 131-77-111
Radius: 15m@170cm
Sizes tested: 170, 182
Design: New Construction
Blossom Wind Shear
Dimensions: 124-77-110
Radius: 15.5m@176cm
Sizes tested: 170, 180
Design: New Construction
I have a long history with skis that have come out of the Blossom (old Spalding) factory in Italy. These are some of the finest-crafted skis on the market today, regardless of price point. Their magnificent feel can be described in just one word: supple. As you can expect from the dimensions, the White Out has a bit more turn in than the Wind Shear. The mold of the White Out is indeed the same as the old Hart Pulse and Beat and even the Vist Free Three, which shows that an exceptional design can be timeless. I was told that the construction has been updated a bit, though. We will be expanding on these skis soon; to say they impressed our testers would be a gross understatement.
- Who are they for? Someone who appreciates the best quality, no matter the price.
- Who are they not for? Name droppers. Only one, maybe two out of 100 skiers has even heard of Blossom.
- Insider tip: If these come in at the price point I am expecting, there will be no better value out there. Plus you can buy them flat!
Blossom Great Shape
Dimensions: 121-71-106
Radius: 16m@176cm
Size tested: 176
Design: NGT
This was billed as a cheater GS ski, but it is so much more than that. I have said this only once before about a ski: It slows down time. The Great Shape is the type of ski that villages will write songs about. Such smoothness is rarely seen in a ski without a comma in its price tag.
- Who is it for? This is a sports car -- think of a red one, maybe with a prancing horse on the side, but with Audi pricing.
- Who is it not for? While some are calling the 71 a cheater GS, there are real race skis that are better
- Insider tip: Buy flat and add a race plate, maybe a Marker Piston Plate and an Xcell 16.0.
Dynastar Speed Zone 12Ti
Dimensions: 121-72-106
Radius: 15m@174cm
Size tested: 174
Design: All New
Dynastar has reinvented the Course line and named it the Speed Zone. No, they did not just slap new colors on old skis; instead, Dynastar brought the proprietary construction from its race skis to a consumer level. Powerdrive -- or what Dynastar internally calls “velvet speed” -- is a combination of Visco and Titanal vertically laminated between the ABS sidewalls and the core, giving the Speed Zone a very supple feel on the snow.
- Who is it for? Hard-snow fanatics who like to go fast.
- Who is it not for? Slowpokes: this Dynastar wants to run.
- Insider tip: You want overkill? Look at the Speed Zone 14Ti, which is the same ski but with the R21 race plate. Combine it with the SPX 15 Rockerflex race binding. Say goodbye to your pass.
Head iSpeed
Dimensions: 124-68-104
Radius: 14m@170cm
Size tested: 170
Design: All New
Head iRally
Dimensions: 135-76-114
Radius: 13.7m@170cm
Sizes tested: 170, 177
Design: All New
Head took the very successful iSpeed and iRally and gave them more direction, more purpose. The addition of Graphene, a new profile, and a new tip shape has resulted in a more technical feel for these Supershapes.
- Who are they for? Technical skiers. If you measure your fun with each turn, these are your sticks.
- Who are they not for? Those who like making figure 11s.
- Insider tip: Instructors, these make most any turn shape at any speed. Great teaching skis.
K2 SuperCharger and K2 Charger
Dimensions: 127-76-107
Radius: 17m@175cm
Size tested: 175
Design: All New
These two skis were some of the surprises of the show for me. I went into the K2 tent hoping for the best, and boy did K2 deliver. The SuperCharger (with metal) and Charger (without) go back to K2’s heritage of making great frontside skis -- think of them as the modern-day 710 and 610. The Speed Charger (not tested) would be the 810, more GS in feel.
- Who are they for? Carvaholics, but with more of a medium-radius turn.
- Who are they not for? Eurosnobs. These are Corvettes: red white and blue, apple pie, baseball, and all that.
- Insider tip: You can buy these flat. Even though the Xcell is a great binding, you can do better with a piston plate and Xcell, or your race plate of choice, if absolute speed is your absolute goal.
Völkl Code Speedwall L UVO
Dimensions: 122-76-105
Radius: 18.6m@178cm
Size tested: 178
Design: NGT
The Codes have had a soft spot in my heart since they were introduced about 4 years ago. These are just fun skis. What I don’t understand is, a few reps say none of their shops can sell them, yet I always see them out on the hill: to quote Jerry Seinfeld, "What’s up with that?” What I like about them is their versatility; they are comfortable making any number of turn shapes. The Codes are not the old Tigersharks; they are Völkls for the modern world, with a big performance window. People need to go to their local dealers and ask for these skis or they will disappear from the U.S. market, and that would be a shame.
- Who is it for? Someone who wants a narrow carving ski but does not want to have to beg, borrow, and steal for every turn.
- Who is it not for? I will let you know if I come up with something.
- Insider tip: I see a lot of seniors skiing these as hard-snow skis; we know seniors can be frugal, therefore these are great deals.
Some skis I was unable to get on but hope to add as the spring rolls along: Kästle RX (NGT), Kästle MX74 (All New), Stöckli SX and AX (NGT with a new topskin material).
I will add stock images as they become available in the fall.
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