I just had two days of freeride and allmountain ski testing at the Kaunertaler Glacier in Austria. Conditions: patches of soft powder snow when traversing into the shade (about 30 cm of soft snow, but enough to see how the skis behave); some slush in the afternoon and freshly groomed pistes back to the lift.
All skis were 2018 versions (some of which were unchenaged from 2017).
About me
Age: 35 years old
Hight: 1.82 m
Weight: 87 kg
Level: 7-8
Völkl Mantra, 177
Has been there for ages, never skied it. But now I did. And… well. Stable? Yes, when on edge. Inspiring confidence? Yes, when on edge. That is the story of this no-camber ski, for me at least. When fully on edge: nice hold and energy, stable. But when skied lazy, side-slipped or off-focus: not so much. It just wants to carve. And it does pivot, it really does. But not in a way I want a ski to pivot. I think I’ve done 2 pirouettes on them, just to prove there really isn’t any camber (or stability, or edge hold) when not truly on edge.
Black Crows Orb, 178
The narrowest on the bunch, and very stable and damp on piste. It does have a freeride shaped nose, though, which inspired me to go into the fresh soft stuff. I shouldn’t have. It doesn’t have enough float to hold my weight. Just keep it on groomers and in crud and it literally is a blast.
Nordica Enforcer 100, 193
Wow. Simply: wow! When I tried the Enforcer 93 last November, I didn’t have high hopes for this ski. But: wow. Stable, tracks through just about anything, has enough float for not too deep powder, slays the crud and actually cruises very nicely on piste. Back to the lift is a last on corduroy, despite the 100 mm. Chapeau to Nordica for this one. If I wanted a ‘slash it all’ ~100 mm ski, this would definitely be it. I would consider the 185 length, although the 193 I took out was simply brilliant.
Blizzard Bonafide, 187
They say it has been changed (flex, radius) to accommodate a wider range of skiers. Well, I guess I’m still not in that range. Maybe it’s the size, but somehow, I think I can manage big skis (Enforcer 100). I just couldn’t get the Bonafide to turn. No matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn’t. Maybe I’m too small or weak (physically, technically as a skier) to bend it, steer it. It simply is an oil tanker to me. Full steam ahead, start breaking with at least 100 metres before any obstacle you want to avoid. Whatever snow, terrain or speed I tried it at (well, ‘slow’ just isn’t in its vocabulary, I think), I simply couldn’t ski it properly. All those guys that rave about it, love it… are you all 220 lbs at least? Are you all ski gods? If not, it must be me. Or the ski of course. Let’s settle for the combination of me + this ski that doesn’t work.
Salomon QST 106, 188
The same as last year, but I didn’t ski it then. So: new to me. And a bit light and bumpy to be honest. The flex easily, but that also means they get deflected easily in less than ideal snow (heavy crud, tracked-out powder). On anything firm, they just don’t hold. Maybe a ski for lightweights who don’t mind being bullied by the terrain. But for me they’re too light, jumpy in a weird and unpredictable way and not stable enough.
Line Sick Day 104, 186
I own and love the Supernatural 108. This Sick Day 104 seems to replace it – sort of. It has similar flex, energy and shape. But for me they don’t have enough float to make turning in deeper snow easy. A sometimes hooky tale is great on piste, but less so in tracked out powder or crud. A tad light, but playful enough for a lighter skier, I guess.
Blizzard Rustler 10, 180
This one is to ‘carbonny’ (oh wait… ‘digital’ was the word). To bumpy, not damp enough. Hang time? Sure. But to jumpy for me. In tracked-out powder and crud it launches itself on every little bump: lots of energy. But in deeper snow in more mellow terrain, It wouldn’t support my weight properly, so a bit of a sinking, having-to-jump-at-every-turn-,-not-nice-for-my-lazy-ass….
Black Crows Atris, 184
If I didn’t have a 108-ish freeride ski already, I would buy this one. Easy to handle in any snow, on any slope (crud, deeper pow, icy groomers even), big lines an tight ones. Effortless turns no matter what you throw at it. Great ski. Period.
Nordica Enforcer 110, 193
Copy & paste what I wrote about the Bonafide. Just a heavier tail and even wider, so even more difficult to get on any kind of edge.
Right now, I'm in Obertauern, Austria, for the 2018 frontside gear. Will do some of these quick first impressions of those later on this week.
All skis were 2018 versions (some of which were unchenaged from 2017).
About me
Age: 35 years old
Hight: 1.82 m
Weight: 87 kg
Level: 7-8
Völkl Mantra, 177
Has been there for ages, never skied it. But now I did. And… well. Stable? Yes, when on edge. Inspiring confidence? Yes, when on edge. That is the story of this no-camber ski, for me at least. When fully on edge: nice hold and energy, stable. But when skied lazy, side-slipped or off-focus: not so much. It just wants to carve. And it does pivot, it really does. But not in a way I want a ski to pivot. I think I’ve done 2 pirouettes on them, just to prove there really isn’t any camber (or stability, or edge hold) when not truly on edge.
Black Crows Orb, 178
The narrowest on the bunch, and very stable and damp on piste. It does have a freeride shaped nose, though, which inspired me to go into the fresh soft stuff. I shouldn’t have. It doesn’t have enough float to hold my weight. Just keep it on groomers and in crud and it literally is a blast.
Nordica Enforcer 100, 193
Wow. Simply: wow! When I tried the Enforcer 93 last November, I didn’t have high hopes for this ski. But: wow. Stable, tracks through just about anything, has enough float for not too deep powder, slays the crud and actually cruises very nicely on piste. Back to the lift is a last on corduroy, despite the 100 mm. Chapeau to Nordica for this one. If I wanted a ‘slash it all’ ~100 mm ski, this would definitely be it. I would consider the 185 length, although the 193 I took out was simply brilliant.
Blizzard Bonafide, 187
They say it has been changed (flex, radius) to accommodate a wider range of skiers. Well, I guess I’m still not in that range. Maybe it’s the size, but somehow, I think I can manage big skis (Enforcer 100). I just couldn’t get the Bonafide to turn. No matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn’t. Maybe I’m too small or weak (physically, technically as a skier) to bend it, steer it. It simply is an oil tanker to me. Full steam ahead, start breaking with at least 100 metres before any obstacle you want to avoid. Whatever snow, terrain or speed I tried it at (well, ‘slow’ just isn’t in its vocabulary, I think), I simply couldn’t ski it properly. All those guys that rave about it, love it… are you all 220 lbs at least? Are you all ski gods? If not, it must be me. Or the ski of course. Let’s settle for the combination of me + this ski that doesn’t work.
Salomon QST 106, 188
The same as last year, but I didn’t ski it then. So: new to me. And a bit light and bumpy to be honest. The flex easily, but that also means they get deflected easily in less than ideal snow (heavy crud, tracked-out powder). On anything firm, they just don’t hold. Maybe a ski for lightweights who don’t mind being bullied by the terrain. But for me they’re too light, jumpy in a weird and unpredictable way and not stable enough.
Line Sick Day 104, 186
I own and love the Supernatural 108. This Sick Day 104 seems to replace it – sort of. It has similar flex, energy and shape. But for me they don’t have enough float to make turning in deeper snow easy. A sometimes hooky tale is great on piste, but less so in tracked out powder or crud. A tad light, but playful enough for a lighter skier, I guess.
Blizzard Rustler 10, 180
This one is to ‘carbonny’ (oh wait… ‘digital’ was the word). To bumpy, not damp enough. Hang time? Sure. But to jumpy for me. In tracked-out powder and crud it launches itself on every little bump: lots of energy. But in deeper snow in more mellow terrain, It wouldn’t support my weight properly, so a bit of a sinking, having-to-jump-at-every-turn-,-not-nice-for-my-lazy-ass….
Black Crows Atris, 184
If I didn’t have a 108-ish freeride ski already, I would buy this one. Easy to handle in any snow, on any slope (crud, deeper pow, icy groomers even), big lines an tight ones. Effortless turns no matter what you throw at it. Great ski. Period.
Nordica Enforcer 110, 193
Copy & paste what I wrote about the Bonafide. Just a heavier tail and even wider, so even more difficult to get on any kind of edge.
Right now, I'm in Obertauern, Austria, for the 2018 frontside gear. Will do some of these quick first impressions of those later on this week.
