Ski Tests 2008
SKI TESTING
To ensure that only the best skis are stocked in our stores, Ellis Brigham takes ski testing very seriously. There are multiple trips to a variety of locations, at different times of the season, with every type of terrain skied and every condition dealt with. The testers are a mixed team of retail staff, instructors and pros, covering all abilities and ages. This huge variety of skiers and locations ensures that all the skis we test are skied many times, pushed to their limits and beyond. The result? Only the very best models are selected for the stores.
Ski testing isn’t just about selecting the right models, it’s also about gathering in-depth information and training. Therefore, once our range of skis is decided, we head out to Stubai, Austria for staff training. Early summer is the ideal time to rack up miles and enjoy some special skiing. Deserted pistes, no lift-lines, beautiful scenery and this year – fresh snow every day! Staff from all stores made the trip, gaining first-hand knowledge of the range, and getting the experience necessary to provide you with accurate information.
By the start of the season we will have made 7 separate trips to 4 countries, as well as demoing at the UK’s indoor snow slopes, with literally hundreds of test results. So you can be sure when visiting an Ellis Brigham store the range is the best in the UK and the advice is comprehensive, based on experience and right for you!
Below are some thoughts from a selection of our ‘staff testers’, we hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoy ‘researching’ for them!
(in no particular order)
Name: Steve Wells
Age: 34
Height: 6ft
Weight: 14 stone
Years skiing: 21
Describe your skiing: Faultless! Actually, it’s relaxed (lazy) looking to try a bit of everything but definitely not a master of anything.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Scott Crusade – Brilliant go-anywhere ski, just sooo stable and easy, whatever the conditions. It eats up every snow type and terrain with the same assured feeling, and is still plenty of fun on piste
Fischer Progressor series – Love these skis. The 8 is strong and powerful, quick to respond and happy in a variety of turns. Brilliant on firm snow, and very reassuring through chopped up conditions. The 7 is more playful and lighter, lightning quick edge-to-edge and instant to respond, intermediates will be blown away by this ski.
K2 MX skis – All the K2 skis with the MX binding feel like they have been given a turbo charge, with extra grip and power through the heel/tail of the ski. As ever the Recon was the shining star as the all rounder, but the Explorer is a great addition to our rack, powerful, stable and grippy it was great to ski and surprisingly easy!
Movement Yaka Jam – This ski is just what I need: a good waist, a crazy wide shovel and a decent radius. It turns easily on piste, it planes through soft snow like a hydrofoil, and it has just the right amount of energy to be fun in a huge range of conditions without becoming difficult to handle. I’ve got to get a set!
Fischer Watea 78 – Such a pleasant surprise. It’s an outstanding ski for the price, light, energetic and beautifully balanced through all conditions. It carves smoothly on piste, it floats in powder and it’s more than happy dealing with all the snow and terrain you’ll find in between.
What is your personal favourite (s): Movement Yaka Jam, it made my skiing even more enjoyable and perfectly suits my style.
Put down your thoughts on the range: The boundaries between ski categories are becoming ever more blurred as new shapes and concepts arrive, but this means that whatever you want from a ski you can find it. The focus is on the basics of how skis work well, with good shapes and constructions, and very few gimmicks! Just good skis. There really is something for everyone, with a big focus on performance, quality and value.
Any other comments: Really tough to pick out my favourites as everything has a place and a reason. Each ski does its job brilliantly and the test team and test program have excelled themselves this year. Well done everyone!
Name: Rhys Jones
Age: 24
Height: 5ft 9
Weight: 73kg
Years skiing: 10
Describe your skiing: Relaxed and lazy but happy with a bit of speed and off piste
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Fischer Watea 78 – This ski felt so easy in all conditions but it doesn’t lack any performance. Definitely punches above its weight and is a real bargain for anyone looking to take their skiing onto the next level.
Scott Crusade – Probably the best ski I have ever used. No matter what the conditions this ski felt stable and responsive. It turns like a piste and floats like a freeride ski and is not difficult to handle either.
4FRNT MSP – Such a stable ski at speed, just made me want to ski faster and faster. Really good ski to take freestyle into the backcountry and feels surprisingly manoeuvrable on piste. Probably my favourite twintip.
K2 Apache Recon – Only a few small changes to the ski for this season but you can really feel the difference in performance. Feels a bit more responsive than previous models and seems to handle variable terrains with more control. This was always a brilliant ski and now they’ve made it better.
K2 Disorderly – Definitely suited to the park but feels great everywhere else too. Despite being centre mounted it still skis well in powder and has good performance on piste. Brilliant for switch skiing and felt light when busting out the pipe.
What is your personal favourite (s): Has to be the Scott Crusade but I would happily spend the day skiing on any of the skis in the range. I think the overall standard is very high this year and it’s really difficult to pick only 5 models that stood out.
Put down your thoughts on the range: Every year the range is getting stronger and this year is a real stand out. The overall quality that the manufacturers are making is so high and the best skis have to be really special to!
Name: Lorne Cameron
Age: 23
Weight: 80kg
Height: 6’4”
Years skiing: 18
Describe your skiing: freestyle/freeride, understated.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Fischer Watea – liveliest ski I’ve skied.
Scott Neo – Very smooth, grippy but easy going.
Fischer Progressor 7+ - very capable piste ski, intermediate+
Dynastar Legend Pro – extremely stable, surprisingly manageable.
Line Prophet 90 – nice pop, smooth, good all round.
What is your personal favourite (s): Prophet 90 – would work everywhere from park to reasonable powder, my kind of ski for doing everything. Legend Pro if I didn’t need a twintip or could afford a few different skis.
Put down your thoughts on the range: Surprised how much I enjoyed skiing beginner/intermediate all-mountain skis, very easy going and could still push them a little. Felt there were a lot of all mountain/AMC skis that skied very similarly, were nice. Completely unconvinced about rockered skis.
Name: Sarah Went
Age: 34
Weight: 9.5 Stone
Height: 5' 10"
Years skiing: 15 years
Describe your skiing: I attempt to be neat, tidy & technical.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Fischer Progressor 8+ - For a fairly light ski it felt solid and stable underfoot. Quick edge to edge, nipping between turns. The ski fired out of each turn, powering you into the next. Even in varied snow conditions the 8+ never faltered or failed to perform.
Head Great One – This ski floated and glided its way down the hill. It felt smooth throughout each turn regardless of turn size or shape. The Great One felt light and agile in the powder and stable and powerful on the groomed.
Movement Yaka Jam – Well what can I say? Awesome! Yaka Jam felt agile, powerful and precise. The ski remained balanced at all speeds even in the choppiest snow, nothing seemed to unsettle it. A real go anywhere do anything ski!
Salomon Suspect – This ski actually surprised me, I wasn’t expecting such a versatile ski. It ripped up short turns on the piste, felt balanced and stable in long turns at higher speeds and just floated through the powder.
Fischer Watea – A ski that seemed just as happy on the groomed, in the powder or battling its way through heavy soft snow. The Watea was solid and stable with a smooth progressive flex, enabling a variety of speeds and turn size.
What is your personal favourite (s): Movement Yaka Jam, it put the biggest smile on my face!!!
Put down your thoughts on the range: Piste / Park / Powder (or a combination), there is literally something for everyone!!
Any other comments: Thanks for a great week, as ever the opportunity to test the forthcoming ski range & product training prove invaluable.
Name: Rob Evans
Age: 31
Weight: 14st
Height: 6ft 4
Years skiing: 25 years/ too many weeks to even hazard a guess.
Describe your skiing: Technical, fast and loud (crash, bang, wallop, ouch). Skiing more and more variable conditions off piste, so adaptable is probably the best description.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Dynastar Mythic Rider – For the regular readers of this part of the website, you will have probably noticed “another Dynastar “. For the third year running they have impressed me to the extent of wanting to own one myself. Effortless in soft snow and always stable. Good release in tip and tail make this ski ultra reliable with no nasty surprises that would result in certain danger!
Movement Spark – First and foremost, I would personally like to welcome Movement to the racks of the Ellis Brigham ski department. Any manufacturer that specializes in freeride skis will always be of interest to me. The blend of a light weight wooden core and an 18 metre turn radius is perfect for the one ski that does everything. Great carving ability and edge control on-piste with floatation and liveliness to help in variable conditions.
Fischer Progressor 8+ - Short, med, long radius turns, take your pick. This ski does it all. You can really feel the directness of the tip with instant initiation and regarding when you want to turn, the secrets in the tail. The harder you work the more fun you have with endless power and stability. What a ski for carving up the mountain.
Scott Crusade – What can I possibly say about the Crusade that differs from anybody else that has tested this ski? Looking at it one would think (“one would think” – how posh am I) it should be clumsy, hard work, and for soft snow only. The truth is everyones right. This ski is amazing; I was absolutely shocked at how versatile it felt. Nimble, light under the foot, awesome grip and smoothness,
with precision on groomed runs. Effortless, stable and importantly fun in softer conditions.
Line Prophet 90 – Another newcomer to our range this year, or should I say “it’s been a while”. A great compromise for someone looking for a freeride orientated ski with a hint of freestyle. The up-turned tail makes switch riding possible and the macroblock core gives the feeling of life and response. Would also be great with a touring binding on, for those lift access day tours.
What is your personal favourite (s): I hate answering this question as I love so many. OK let me narrow them down. Anybody got a coin? Tails never fails. And the winner is... Mythic Rider by Dynastar.
Put down your thoughts on the range: Awesome
Any other comments: A big thank you to everyone involve in making the testing possible and no you can’t have your coin back.
Name: Sparky
Age: 26
Height: 6ft
Weight: 12 st
Years skiing: About 5 mins (on 2 planks).
Describe your skiing: Needs to be seen to be believed really!
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Scott Neo – Loads of fun and massive versatility.
Scott Punisher – Easy to ski, mass appeal.
Volkl Mantra – Fast and powerful ski, great, solid all-rounder.
Fischer Progressor 7 – Awesome performance, lively piste ski.
K2 Phat Luv – Floats in the powder but fun on piste too.
What is your personal favourite (s):
On piste: Progressor 7
Off Piste: Mantra
Put down your thoughts on the range: Fantastic range, all the favourites from last year, many of which have been updated and some great new skis like the awesome Yaka Jam from Movement! The only problem will be choosing between them all!
Name: Tom Pietrowski
Age: 24
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 11 st
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 20 years/100+ weeks
Describe your skiing: Freestyle style but I’ll ski anything not always stylishly but usually fast
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Freeride – My favourite big ski was the Dynastar Pro Rider. This was the first time I had ever had the chance to ski one of these skis, and luckily on the day I tested it, we had plenty of fresh powder. In the deep stuff this ski felt really stable. The nose was stiff but never felt like it would submarine in the powder. It’s fairly wide so felt stable but not like some of the other big skis which felt somewhat stiff for me. In the right conditions this ski really can’t be beaten
All mountain – I was going to have the K2 crossfire as one of my 5 favourites but seeing how I have the Progressor 7 as my piste ski already I thought I would put the Recon instead. Although I have skied this for a number of years the simple changes they have made to the bindings (making the mounting rails wider and using the MX heel piece) made a huge difference to the whole range. There really was not one K2 ski I did not like and I’m sure if you buy any of the skis you will not be disappointed.
Piste – I skied all the all mountain carve skis together and there are from what I could tell, 2 main types. There are what I would call the slalom based ones which like quick turns, and then theres the more GS inspired skis which like the bigger arced turns. The Fischer Progressor 7 falls into the first category making nice short turns effortless. It held its edge really well and did not require my full concentration all the time to ski it which I like. Slightly heavier riders may prefer the Progressor 8 with its slightly stiffer flex.
Twin Tip/Freestyle – The range of twin tip skis this year is generally wider, following the general trend in skiing for skis to be wider and longer, and there were some very good fat twins. However the one I have chosen is one of the smaller more park/jib specific skis, the K2 Disorderly. This is a completely new ski and is the only true twin, symmetrical ski we sell. What this means is the profile of the ski is identical in the tip and the tail. This makes skiing switch and switch take offs and landings feel really controlled. The fact that this ski has to be centre mounted made it really stable on rails too. It has a progressive soft flex which felt good in the park but also surprisingly felt pretty stable off piste in the deeper snow, where the softer jib skis often fall down. Overall a very good ski but remember its centre mounted so make sure you buy it long enough. I’m 5’11 and I would not ski it any shorter the 179cm.
Woman’s Ski – There were a number of woman’s skis I really liked. The Scott Maya and the Volkl Attiva Aire were both skis I really enjoyed even in the shorter lengths we had for the female testers. My Favourite however was the Dynastar Exlusive Powder, this ski is an all mountain ski and really felt at home carving on piste but when I took it off piste it really came alive. I could happily ski all season on this ski if it was not for the fact everyone I no would take the mick out of me skiing a girls ski. However if you are a woman you will love how stable this ski feels.
What is your personal favourite (s): I like the fact that we have caught up with the trend of going for longer fatter skis again. I have never really liked the trend for short, tight radius piste skis which became popular a few years ago. Personally my favourites were two of the fat K2 twin tips but as these are more special order skis I won’t bother naming them. Overall if I had to pick one ski from the whole range to ski all year it would probably be the Line prophet 90. This is following the trend of freestyle skis getting fatter. It’s in effect a freestyle ski with a 90mm waist. This meant I could take it in the powder and it felt ok but were it really came alive was in letting me take the freestyle tricks to the powder. These type of wide freestyle skis are going to be everywhere in the next few seasons.
Put down your thoughts on the range: Overall the range is one of the best we have had in the last few years. There are no skis which I could not understand or work out who they were for. The graphics even by some of the more ‘old’ companies are getting a lot better overall the skis look generally a lot more modern. Although the larger waist widths and lengths may put off some of the more traditional skiers all I would say is come to a snow dome demo them and then judge.
Any other comments: Test was great could have been sunnier but the powder more then made up for it. Careful carrying those girls skis.
Name: Hayley Heron
Age: 38
Weight: 9.5st
Height: 5’4” (on a good day)
Years skiing: 8 weeks
Describe your skiing: Confident on all turns. Prefer skiing reds rather than blacks but would give them a go and usually get down in one piece. I’m confident technically and could ski at a good pace all day, really want to start to make a big improvement in my style of skiing.
List the 5 skis that impressed you the most:
Volkl Attiva Aire – A lively and easy to use ski, good confidence builder for an intermediate.
K2 Lotta Luv – Great fun in all conditions. Powerful ski out of turns.
Salomon Mai Tai – Great for someone who wants a ski for piste and park.
Scott Neo – Excellent ski, especially good in powder
Movement Yaka Jam – Fast and lively ski. Really good and stable at high speeds, turns very sharply.
What is your personal favourite (s): I’d love to ski them all again but I’d really like to try the Volkl Attiva Aire again.
Put down your thoughts on the range: Excellent. I really have a better understanding of the skis and the difference between them. Can’t see an area of the mountain where we wouldn’t have a ski to sell to a customer that wouldn’t give them a fantastic time.
Any other comments: Hard work but had a great time!
Name: Tom Wilson
Age: 27
Weight: 12.5st
Height: 6’3”
Years skiing: 8
Describe your skiing: Fast charging on big runs, more jibby on lower slopes
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Movement Yaka Jam – Nice smooth cruising ski, loved the powder or piste and both long and short turns
Volkl Wall – Symmetrical shape didn’t hinder on-piste performance, lots of fun over natural mounds and bumps, easily suit confident skiers looking to get into freestyle
Line Blend – Powder shredder! Had some epic powder runs on these, smooth and gliding through soft stuff but still manageable to turn on piste. Graphics are colourful.
Scott Crusade – Just 1 run on these was enough to see they were something special, crazy design with tip/tail funnels but amazingly tight and responsive on packed pisted slopes and so easy to initiate into the turn.
4FRNT MSP – Repetitive I know but this just sums up what an all mountain twintip should ski like – solid, stable, grippy – from piste, powder, landing drops, shredding switch, it never feels flustered so neither do you!
What is your personal favourite (s): (Inhale through clenched teeth!) It’s too close to call between the Crusade, Yaka Jam and MSP. They will all suit a wide range of skiers ability-wise and encourage development onto new terrain but different people will love them for all different reasons!
Put down your thoughts on the range: It looks good enough to eat! From total beginner to seasoned powder hound, there is a ski for everyone that will encourage technical development, terrain usage or just let you enjoy your weeks’ skiing to its full potential.
Name: David Casey
Age: 29
Weight: 9.5 stone
Height: 5' 7"
Years skiing: 26 years
Describe your skiing: Aggressive piste, aggressive freeride and aspiring freestyle.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Head iXRC 1100 – A very powerful and robust performance piste ski and yet is surprisingly adaptable (happy in short and long turns and at a variety of speeds). One of the skis that definitely made me want to back for another go! Really nice looking/textured top sheet as well.
K2 Apache Raider – A very fun and playful all mountain ski; surprisingly agile on piste, cuts through crud effortlessly and the liveliness transfers very well off piste despite just a 78mm waist. Heavier guys would probably prefer the stiffer ‘Recon’ though (the ‘Raider’s’ ‘bigger brother’).
Dynastar Legend Mythic Rider – For my aggressive off piste skiing style this was my preferred ‘middle width’ freeride ski. There are other skis in this bracket that are a little easier to turn on piste but I liked the comparatively straight sidecut and solid construction which encouraged broad, fast lines off piste. Good for someone really extending their off piste capabilities but not wanting to compromise on-piste performance too much. Amazing graphic also – the Legend series is looking better than ever!
K2 Apache Coomba – This was my favourite of the biggest freeride skis (and coincidentally the widest). At 102mm underfoot and with an extended tip there’s heaps of surface area for floatation off piste and steering is about as easy as it gets. Of the biggest freerides this had the most forgiving flex (but only slightly so) and so was the most manageable on piste; although you definitely could ski hard and fast off piste with these they were as much at home at slower speeds as well.
Dynastar Trouble – My favourite of the park and pipe skis mainly due to its’ amazingly lively ‘pop’ resulting from the ‘Springblade’ mechanism. It’s just the right stiffness to be playful and lively without becoming too soft and ruining the piste performance. Was relatively dynamic on piste thanks to its ‘narrowish’ 78mm waist and lively flex, making it pretty good doubling up as an all mountain ski. Slightly more pipe orientated than park also as a result of its ‘narrowish’ waist width.
What is your personal favourite (s): Would have to be the Apache Coomba as it suited my current freeride criteria the best. Extremely good off piste but without requiring aggressive use all the time.
Put down your thoughts on the range: Once again a very well rounded selection with something for just about every skiing style and ability. The Scott skis are going from strength to strength; nice to see a return of Line to our range and Head making a particularly strong return to our piste performance category in my opinion in the form of both the ‘Xenon Xi 10.0’ and the ‘iXRC 1100’; Movement are also an interesting and definitely welcome new addition to our racks.
Any other comments: A good snow base from the ‘07/’08 season and late snowfalls while we were there made for very worthwhile testing (even if we did only see the sun for a few hours on the last day!). The visit from Scott’s ski designer was also a nice addition to the week and the insight into his design thought processes that he gave was very interesting and informative. Finally thanks to everyone who helped organise the trip, very enjoyable indeed!
Name: Philip Hooles
Age: 28
Weight: 74kg
Height: 5' 8"
Years skiing: 22
Describe your skiing: Backcountry/powder for preference or hard and fast piste.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Scott RC – Excellent piste cruiser where it is fast and nimble while still able to deal with crud and powder. Perfect for Piste chargers of aggressive Intermediate or advanced ability.
Movement, Yaka Jam – Floats in powder like a dream, cuts through slushy afternoon snow and loses nothing in grip and responsiveness when you use it on the piste, despite my expectations this was a real do anything ski.
Dynastar, Exclusive Legend Fluid – Great ski for the ladies, super floatation off piste but not limited to the deep stuff, Grippy and reactive on piste but forgiving for those progressing from intermediate to advanced.
Fischer, Progressor 8 – Brilliant piste carver, fast and reactive this is one for advanced old school skiers or those who love fast pisted runs. If you think it’s too much to handle then the Progressor 7 fills in the niche below it with similar traits but far more forgiving.
Head, iXRC 1100 – Fast and powerful piste ski that would work for skiers across a wide range of abilities, beautiful carvers on the piste that work off piste too. You can really drive them and they just take it and give you back more.
What is your personal favourite (s): I loved the Yaka Jam, I felt that it covered a far wider level of abilities than it claims to, You could really push it at speed and it stayed stable and responsive holding its own in all conditions so for its price it will be an absolute winner, but for complete personal preference the Scott Mission is amazing. They just cut through or float over anything and everything, they are made for the powder but they are still completely at home on piste, a perfect do anything all mountain ski.
Put down your thoughts on the range: There is definitely something for everyone in here, from forgiving piste ski’s, such as the K2 Raider, for those still needing a ski that will give them skidding finishes to their turns moving up to really fast and reactive skis like the Scott RC that can handle any conditions the mountain throws at you.
If you are progressing between levels there are a lot of options to allow you to buy something a bit more advanced than the level you are currently at, that will be forgiving enough to last you until you perfect your technique. So if you’re not quite out of the intermediate bracket you could still get something like a Progressor 8 and it won’t just take over and spit you out of turns but it will help you take on the challenge and help you improve.
Any other comments: It’s great to see such a good selection of women’s specific skis in the range, covering every ability level and discipline of skiing.
