Staff Ski Test Diary, May 2011 – Hintertux, Austria
Every year a team of EB shop staff head out to a European glacier for some in-depth product training with 5 days testing skis.
Scroll down to read reviews from each of the testers.
Day 1 - 17 Happy Skiers
We finally arrived last night after a 20 hour journey, 17 of us, ready for a shower, a cold drink and some sleep.
We’re staying right up in Hintertux at the excellent Neuhintertux hotel (www.neu-hintertux.com), super-convenient for the lifts (1 minute walk!) and surrounded by huge peaks to remind us exactly why we’re there.
There are over 70 pairs of skis with us and plenty of goggles, helmets, boots, and transceivers. A lot of kit to move around but with the assistance of a team of helpful lifties and groomers the job was done in no time.
The glacier (www.hintertuxergletscher.at) is warm and the snow soft, great for testing the wider skis. There’s a range of abilities and styles but the common theme is the grins. It’s great to be on snow again, and the brilliant blue skies just add to the feeling.
The skis are running well and it isn’t till mid afternoon that the snow begins to feel sticky. By then Blizzard are creating the biggest buzz, for their piste skis and especially the all-mountain offerings.
The evening is a mixture of equipment training and time spent comparing red faces in the bar.
Day 2 - 2nd Day Burn!
When we arrived on the glacier first thing the snow was really firm, a big change from yesterday and perfect conditions for testing the piste skis. Their narrow waists proving quick from edge-to-edge and deep sidecuts cutting clean turns on the hard runs. Once again the Blizzards (both men’s and women’s) were getting good reports as were the Dynastar Outlands. By late morning it was warming up and the snow was softening, time for some wider skis to come out with better their better stability and floatation.
The evening training focused on foot assessment and problem solving for boot fitting, including the use of the SBS system (Sports/Shim Balance System). 
Day 3 - Blue Skies and Fat Skis
The morning saw perfect blue skies, meaning the snow had frozen overnight making the runs firm and fast. Piste skis were tested first with the Head Magnum and Titan coming out especially well, but the sun didn’t take long to soften the snow and bring out a few wider skis. Salomon Enduros stole the show at all price points, with many impressed testers; the Atomic Blackeye Ti and Smoke Ti also received top marks.
By midday the sun was really burning down, bringing out all the fat skis as well as the factor 50! The all round skiability of modern fat skis like Line Sir Francis Bacon, Volkl Gotama and Kiku, and Atomic Access and BentChetler never fails to amaze, and the soft snow performance is of course outstanding. If you’re thinking of getting some – just do it!
The afternoon and evening brought transceiver and BC training. It was another great day, and with the weather forecast offering more of the same it just amped the staff even further.
Day 4 – Blizzard Factory and Snow on the Mountain
It was another amazing warm day up on the glacier. Lots of the freestyle and park skis got tested with the Armada Halo getting top reviews. The K2 Press showed what outstanding value for money it is and the Head SBC shone through as an awesome all round freestyle ski with a tough character.
It was a short day on the snow as we headed to the Blizzard factory to see the skis being made. The factory itself is in a beautiful location at the foot of the hills and it was great to see how much care is put into their production. There are so many hand processes they go through before even being pressed. It’s no wonder that Austria is at the heart of ski production.
Day 5 – A Leaving Present
The last day provided us with a little parting gift – fresh tracks! It had snowed about 10cm overnight, giving us the opportunity to really let the freeride and fat skis rip through the untracked snow that was sitting on top of the soft off-piste. What followed was 3 hours of pure fun, the kind of skiing you dream of, deserted runs, fast lifts and great company, made even better by the selection of skis to ride. Everything over 80mm was shining, though the 100mm+ skis really stood out as something special in the conditions.
By lunch it was time to pack up, perfect timing as within 30 minutes we were in the middle of a blizzard and lightning storm, with huge wet flakes covering our gear as we cleared away.
The 5 days passed in a flash with 17 very happy skiers, all now armed with first-hand knowledge of the skis they’ll be stocking. Every ski was tested many times, resulting in literally hundreds of results leading to clear and precise information for reviews and selling guides. The next thing now is to make sure our customers have as much fun skiing these skis as we have, and maybe if we’re lucky we’ll be out here again in May 2012.
(in no particular order)
Name: Andy Collin
Age: 23
Weight: 82kgs
Height: 176cm
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 20 years, more weeks than I can count
Describe your skiing: Aggressive skier, high level park and freeride skier
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
ARMADA HALO - Amazing ski which is totally different to any other park ski in the market.
DYNASTAR OUTLAND 80 - Surprised me so much I stayed on it for longer than I should have, really smooth and playful for a piste orientated ski.
VOLKL MANTRA - WOW! I beat Marcins speed record on these, extremely stable at speed, very predictable and easy to ski at slower speeds too.
BLIZZARD G FORCE ULTRASONIC - Blizzard make good skis FACT! Slips round turns easily at slow speeds but grips very well at higher speeds, the most versatile high end piste ski on the market.
ARMADA TST - Not like any other Freeride ski on test. It skis on piste like an Enduro and charges the rest of the mountain like a mantra. Awesome.
What is your personal favourite (s): Armada TST - 184, ski it a bit longer than normal.
Put down your thoughts on the range: A great selection for next year, with more focus on all mountain/freeride skis. Good to see more twins in there too.
Any other comments: With the bigger range of all mountain/freeride skis, stores need to focus on the benefits of these skis over a traditional piste ski. Educating the customers will broaden the market.
Name: Claire Gill
Age: 30
Weight: 10st
Height: 5ft 6in
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 4-5 weeks over 6 years
Describe your skiing: I have only really skied on well-groomed hard-packed pistes, with an aspiration of getting involved in the fluffy stuff. I like going fast and doing big GS turns.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
SCOTT MAYA - Great lively ski to blast the entire mountain. Lightweight but still stiff - I would love to put a touring binding on this ski and take it for an explore.
VOLKL KENJA - Solid all-mountain ski that will take anything you throw at it with a pinch of salt. Would make a seasonnaire very happy. Looks great too!
VOLKL KIKU - I took this ski out on the last day when there was heavy powder on-piste and I loved it. Great fun and once again a great looker!
BLIZZARD ULTRASONIC SPORT FULL SUSPENSION IQ - A powerhouse of a ski that rewards a bit of aggressive skiing but will still allow you to take it on a simple cruise. Induces a tremendous grin factor!
BLIZZARD VIVA 7.4 IQ - Punches way above it’s weight and would bring any owner many happy holidays at a bargain price.
What is your personal favourite(s): This is where I am honestly split between three and I simply can’t decide so I’m calling a tie! For piste it’s definitely the Blizzard Ultrasonic Sport Full Suspension iQ. As for all-mountain, it’s between the Scott Maya and the Volkl Kenja.
Put down your thoughts on the range: A really strong range for us ladies where there is a ski for all…some great lookers too!
Any other comments:
Bring on the season!
Name: Dan Botham
Age: 26
Weight: 13 stone
Height: 5’11
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 16 years skiing about 50 + weeks on snow
Describe your skiing: Freeride/freestyle skier, with technical skills
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
SALOMON ENDURO XT800 - Really responsive, smooth ski with lots to offer, one ski to do everything.
VOLKL BRIDGE - Really easy to ski, lots of confidence great for a seasonaire.
LINE STEPUP - Awesome park ski, great in the pipe really easy to butter on, also a great all mountain ski.
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER - Awesome lively ski, great all mountain ski with lots of potential.
ARMADA HALO - Really stable on the piste excels in the pipe and park, looks great.
What is your personal favourite (s): Line Step up, K2 Press and Blizzard Bushwacker
Put down your thoughts on the range: Another strong range this winter. The men’s and women’s range is looking really strong and if you are wanting an all mountain ski we have lots to offer.
Any other comments: Another great ski test, lots of fresh new testers which really helped our team to get more reviews, this is the hardest part of my job but somebody has got to do it!!
Name: Dave Casey
Age: 32
Weight: 9.5 Stone
Height: 5' 7''
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 29
Describe your skiing: Aggressive piste, aggressive freeride and aspiring freestyle.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
SALOMON ENDURO XT 800 - One of Salomon's new Enduro skis for this year and I'm glad to say I was more than pleased with it. Being part of Salomon's Enduro range its main focus is piste but also has adaptations for softer conditions. This is the most advanced of the three Enduros we're stocking and hence simply suited my skiing style the most. As a whole though I felt the Enduros stood out as prime examples of the 'all mountain carver' concept; as agile/dynamic as you'd expect of any regular piste ski but surprisingly well prepared for softer stuff too!
HEAD MAGNUM - No surprise to see this one back in our racks for another year. It always holds its own amongst the skis at the top of the piste category due to its outstanding stability. More often than not stability can come at the price of agility though and the Magnum succeeds by not falling into this trap. A tight turning radius combined with the firm flex and full-length sidewalls gives superb stability and grip at speed and in short turns.
MOVEMENT JAM - My favourite 'all mountain' ski last year and unchanged (apart from the graphic which I actually like as well this year!) it successfully retains its place in my list. From last year's comment... At 85mm width underfoot and with an especially wide tip it floats very well for an 'all mountain' ski off-piste and yet back on piste it still managed to feel as agile as many of the 'smaller' 'all mountain' skis. In short, this is the one I'd choose if I had equal demands for on and off-piste performance.
SALOMON BBR 8.9 - Bringing radical waterski shapes (usually the preserve of dedicated powder skis) to the more traditional end of freeride skis was always going to be a bold move by Salomon but I found myself only too happy with the result. The waterski concept leads to a very oversized and 'rockered' tip tapering to a noticeably narrower and more traditionally shaped ski and tail. The overall waterski shape instantly helps the ski punch well above its width off-piste but coincidentally the narrower, waisted rear naturally keeps it surprisingly lively back on the piste.
VOLKL GOTAMA - Despite some changes (though you wouldn't know to look at it!) the Gotama once again makes my favourite of the 'big' freeride skis. Slightly stiffer this year, it still has everything I loved about the old Gotama and the extra stiffness just allows you to be that bit more adventurous. The key to the Gotama's success lies in its subtle full-length rocker and full-length sidewalls combining to give seemingly effortless use not only off-piste but on piste as well despite its considerable 107mm waist.
What is your personal favourite (s): I'd have to call it a tie between the Salomon BBR 8.9 and the Volkl Gotama. Whilst they are definitely different types of ski (the Gotama if you want to maximise off-piste 'ease of use' and the BBR if your heart is off-piste but you haven't completely left the piste behind) they both stand out for their uniqueness. The innovation of the BBR is obvious but it's the result that counts and I was simply impressed at how well it enables such a lively ski to also feel so natural off-piste. The Gotama meanwhile is exceptional in its ability to be effortless in the powder whilst remaining enjoyably responsive back on the piste.
Put down your thoughts on the range: The cost of the sport certainly isn't getting any cheaper with each new year; as much as ever the absolute minimum for any potential ski was that it had to justify its price to even be considered for the range. Despite this we've once again succeeded in pulling together an exciting range that should include a ski for every possible combination of skiing style and ability.
Any other comments: Finding ourselves in picturesque Zillertal this year we had plenty of sun once again but a fresh dump at the end of the week thankfully meant the bigger skis could get a proper test! Staying in Zillertal we even had the privilege of being invited for a tour of the Blizzard ski factory which was just a short drive away. Definitely one of the highlights of the test, it proved to be a memorable insight into this rarely seen side of the industry! So naturally a special thanks to Blizzard, the Tirol tourist board and Neuhintertux hotel for their amazing hospitality and indeed everyone else involved in organising another valuable and enjoyable test!
Name: Gordon
Age: 25
Weight: 69kg
Height: 5’10
Years skiing / weeks on snow: skiing for 7 years clocking up around 30 weeks of skiing
Describe your skiing: Coming from a piste background and instructor trained, fairly aggressive preferring medium to fast speeds rather than flat out charging on very steep terrain.
Now days I enjoy off-piste skiing using all-mountain and free-ride set ups searching for good snow, powder and interesting lines/terrain. A good carving day on the piste is still on the cards though!
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
VOLKL GOTAMA – Just loved the ease of use in the softer conditions, ski feels really stable and solid so the lumps, bumps and changing conditions are barely noticeable. My go everywhere and do anything apart from freestyle ski!
ARMADA JJ – Ski felt responsive when needed but stable when skiing straight or pushing the speed up a notch, off piste conditions are soaked up by the softness in tip and tail but still felt grounded as opposed to floppy.
VOLKL RTM 77 – As soon as I got on this set I was keen to test the new rocker shape, sure enough it felt catch free and super stable at all points in the turn. When I pushed into the ski harder I found extra grip and a really fun and responsive ride. Skied it longer due to the shorter contact points, when gliding the ski felt manoeuvrable but at a faster pace the extra length made me feel balanced and safe to let the speed build.
ARMADA HALO – My ideal park ski would be one where I could jib, spin and hit the rails whilst still enjoying the ride between terrain. The Halo’s freestyle rocker gave me the confidence to get creative whilst still allowing me to ride around the mountain, great all rounder with the park in mind.
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER – I loved the rockered tip, as soon as I spotted crud I was straight on it and it felt good! Back on the harder snows the sidewalls kept my edge contact and combined with a medium/long radius I felt like I could ski all day looking for interesting off-piste to explore.
What is your personal favourite (s): My personal favourite is the Atomic theory, didn’t mention it before but as far as freeride skis go, price ride and performance are spot on for those who want to start skiing the whole mountain.
Put down your thoughts on the range: Really nice range to suit the changing market, good selection of piste carvers with all the latest tech and plenty of all-mountain and freeride skis that are pushing the boundaries of what terrains is everyone is capable of.
Any other comments: Great test, perfect site. Only way we could improve is to pay shirkers to set up the site and carry all the kit!
Name: Jack Lewin
Age: 23
Weight: 12 stone
Height: 6ft 2
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 10years/13 weeks
Describe your skiing: Mixed, Enjoy pushing hard as well as relaxing and cruising both on and off piste.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
VOLKL RTM 80 - Fantastic ski, performed awesomely on the piste, really easy to roll into turns and super stable at speed. Great for exploring the best the pistes have to offer!
VOLKL BRIDGE - Great stable platform for exploring more of the mountain and really improving all round skill. Looks great and works well, simple!
K2 SUPERSTITIOUS - Great for confident ladies, felt amazing underfoot even under mine! Really easy in the turns and coped well in the difficult conditions we had.
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER - Another great looking ski with the performance to match. Felt great all over the mountain, stable fast on its edges and very smooth in different conditions.
LINE OPUS - Awesome, Great graphic from Line as usual, felt perfect underfoot, no stress on any snow condition and at a variety of speeds, just at home on piste as well as its true home in the powder.
What is your personal favourite (s): Well It would be between the RTM 80 and the Bridge, Both fantastic, probably the RTM 80 as it was so much fun at speed and was easy to push as hard as you will ever need.
Put down your thoughts on the range: The range looks really good this year, some great graphics and really well priced skis that perform really well. Lots of new additions to this year’s range, skis with exciting new features as well as some totally new ideas bring you a really versatile range of skis that will always have something to offer.
Any other comments: Big thanks for all involved for organising the trip and hopefully we will see you all in store soon!
Name: Jamie Anson
Age: 28
Weight: 80kg
Height: 170cm
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 21
Describe your skiing: Like an over excited pup – lively and playful
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
HEAD MAGNUM - Unbelievable, un-deterring edge grip. No matter how hard I pushed it, it never seemed to get stressed or wobble.
ARMADA HALO - Its awesome stability makes it the best ski for skiing switch. It’s surprisingly versatile and it’s comfortable in all sized turns. Best of all its super poppy and fun.
DYNASTAR OUTLAND 80 - Super smooth ski that slices through chopped up crud like a hot knife through butter.
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER - Bouncy, fun all mountain ski with lots of grip.
ATOMIC ACCESS - Bouncy, fun and makes light work of powder.
What is your personal favourite (s): Armada Halo. The most stable ski I’ve used to ski switch, ever! Its super poppy and surprisingly versatile. From groomed to powder to moguls this ski is a dream.
Put down your thoughts on the range: From effortless instructors to Eric Pollard backcountry freestyle, I love the fact that whoever you want to ski like, we have a ski to match.
Name: Katie Vangenechten
Age: 28
Weight: 65kg
Height: 5’5”
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 25 years, 100+ weeks
Describe your skiing: A fast, aggressive ex-racer who’s been confusing ability with ambition since 1983.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
VOLKL KENJA - I was blown away by this ski. It charged through tracked, off-piste chop so easily and would definitely excel in powder. Edge to edge transitions were deceptively quick considering the 88mm waist, allowing this ski to perform surprisingly well on piste. This would make a great everyday ski for an aggressive all mountain rider, or else an excellent Freeride ski for advancing powder skiers.
BLIZZARD VIVA ULTRASONIC SPORT FULL SUSPENSION IQ – Despite the ridiculous name - this has to be my favourite piste ski. Its powerful nature suited my more aggressive style very well. Grip, edge to edge response and drive through the turn were all amazing, it seemed impossible to push this ski too hard!
MOVEMENT TATTOO - Firstly, you can’t help but notice the top sheet – it looks fantastic, I love it! Secondly, it performs very well in all conditions. It felt light underfoot yet punched through the cruddy snow with ease. On piste, it’s solid and when pushed hard through longer radius turns it’s powerful too. You need no imagination to see how well these float in powder – I think those little birds are responsible
BLIZZARD BLACK PEARL - I absolutely loved this ski! Really poppy underfoot, loads of fun to ski on and great for messing about. All of this and still solid underfoot. It felt completely planted on piste but still floated in the softer snow. Looks great in the sunshine too!
ATOMIC ELEYSIAN – This ski is AWESOME! I’ve added it to the Christmas wish list. Despite being exceptionally easy to make it do anything you wanted, it handled a hard piste really well. Off piste, I can only describe it as confidence inspiring. It actually made me love skiing through the tracked out lumpy snow (so much so, I made an excuse to try it again!)
What is your personal favourite(s): Are you kidding?? These five are my favourites! There’s no way I could choose between them!
Put down your thoughts on the range: A very balanced range with something for everyone. Nice to see such a developed range for the ladies in the all-mountain/freeride categories. There really are some visually stunning skis for the ladies - what a pretty ski wall I’m going to have this year!
Name: Kelty
Age: 31
Weight: 90-odd kg’s
Height: 186-ish
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 28 years/ weeks unknown
Describe your skiing: Hard, fast, with a touch of lunacy and being erratic thrown in for good measure. But now that I have my very expertly fitted shims from Gordon (after goodness knows how many shots of Austrian badness!!!) I would like it noted that I am officially a beast on snow and no terrain is safe when I’m around!
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
SALOMON ENDURO XT800 - I found these ski’s very light, lively and poppy with great edge hold and stability. They had a good amount of stiffness to be able to put plenty of power into them as well.
MOVEMENT JAM - A pair of ski’s that you can just jump on and ride the entire mountain with. Very easy going but still with enough power to be able to really go for it.
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER - Another ski that impressed in very variable conditions. They were light and lively and stable too but you could really go for it on them. Just a lot of fun.
SALOMON ROCKER 2 - For how big and cumbersome looking these ski’s were, the performance really was quite the opposite. They were very easy to use, very lively and responsive and were an absolute joy in the fresh powder and variable snow.
K2 COOMBACK - Absolutely brilliant as a touring package and an all mountain option as well. Very stable, great edge hold and good from edge to edge as well.
What is your personal favourite (s): For me it would have to be the Volkl Kendo. It did it all and then some. Poppy, lively and really just one huge bundle of fun.
I was also very impressed with both the Scott range and the Blizzard range as they were a lot of fun to ski.
Put down your thoughts on the range: A great range across the board, covering all disciplines well.
Name: Marcin Wiklik
Age: 29
Weight: 80kg
Height: 177cm
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 23-24 years
Describe your skiing: Ski Instructor and ex-racer. These days (years!) I'm trying to keep myself as far from the piste as possible - doesn’t matter how much effort it takes - but I would consider myself a lazy freerider.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
SCOTT CRUS’AIR - light off-piste/touring dedicated ski which doesn’t lose a single bit of performance on the groomers - and you can push it really hard! Maybe not the cheapest ski, but definitely worth every single penny.
LINE SIR FRANCIS BACON - changed slightly for this winter just to give us more fun. No surprises here - from the 'mid fat' range it's the easiest and most enjoyable set to glide in softer snow (and it doesn’t have to be waist deep powder!). Still one of my beloved ones :)
DYNASTAR PRO RIDER 105 - What a ski! Wide & super stiff. Should come with short manual: 1) Find the steepest section with some snow, ice, crud, rocks and cliffs 2) Consider the most challenging line 3) ski down as fast as possible! Lot of freeride skis will let you down in harder snow and terrain conditions – Pro Rider will make you fly over it (Only for pro’s!).
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER & BONA FIDE - so much fun! Two sets of phenomenal skis - can't decide which one was better so have to mention both :) Surprisingly easy to ski and control. New idea of core construction effected with very, very stable ride.
ARMADA TST - big ski with short radius! :) So much fun - the only thing this set will not do for you is aggressive racing turns - the rest of the ski world is yours :)
SCOTT VENTURE - looked and behaved like combination of crossover of Scott Mission and Scott Crusade - and, I believe that was the idea. One of a very few freeride/all terrain skis that you can charge on with no fear :) easy and playful.
What is your personal favourite (s): Easy question! - AK JJ, JJ, Legend Pro Rider 105, Sir Francis Bacon, Mr Pollard's Opus, Rocker2, Bent Chetler, Coomback... :)
Put down your thoughts on the range: Amazing! I think we picked up best skis on the market (again!). Freeride and powder skis – hot stuff (!!), lot of very good piste skis. Love it!
Any other comments: We should have this kind of ski testing operation every month :)
Name: Scott Carpenter
Age: 30
Weight: 11.8 stone
Height: 6’3”
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 23 years
Describe your skiing: I would say that I am a relaxed all-mountain skier. Prefer skiing at speed doing long GS style turns.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
ATOMIC THEORY – This ski is very stable and extremely easy to use. Carved really well on piste, floated through the slush/pow with ease and would be happy doing a few laps in the park.
VOLKL KENDO – Again very stable and easy to use. Whether it be on or off piste, short or long radius turns, charging about or cruising, this ski does it all!
ATOMIC BLACKEYE Ti – I felt this ski was great for building up my confidence in the morning when the snow conditions were icy and hard packed as it holds an edge very well. A superb all-mountain ski.
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER – Very responsive and stable at all speeds. I was able to make the ski do short radius turns just as easily as long radius turns. Graphics look awesome too. All in all an amazing ski that will put Blizzard back on the map!
SALOMON ENDURO XT800 – I had great fun on this ski. Really responsive as the rockered tip helps turn initiation. Perfect ski for someone who spends most of their time on-piste, but is keen to jump into the powder from time to time.
What is your personal favourite (s): I don’t feel there is much between the Atomic Theory and the Volkl Kendo. Both of them did everything I would want in a ski and more. If pushed I would probably buy the Theory as it would be more comfortable in the park and for the money it is better value than the Kendo.
Put down your thoughts on the range: A very well rounded range. Better emphasis on all-mountain/freeride skis aimed at good intermediates and upwards than last season.
Name: Steve Wells
Age: 37
Weight: 88kg
Height: 6ft
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 24 years
Describe your skiing: Still all-mountain, still lazy, still trying to improve!
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
SALOMON ENDURO XT800 - Such a good all-rounder, happy pretty much anywhere and at any speed. So comfortable and encouraging to use, and with enough energy and life to ensure it’s fun.
VOLKL RTM 77 - Light, stable and super-easy to ski. This is the kind of ski that will really get confident intermediates exploring further and with increased confidence. I thought the reverse camber worked exceptionally well on piste and didn’t compromise performance at all, and once it was in soft snow or mixed conditions it just came in to its own.
SCOTT VENTURE - This is a high-performance all-condition cruiser. Nothing knocks it out of its stride, it just feels totally balanced and stable. Very rewarding in a range of snow types and on different terrain.
BLIZZARD BUSHWACKER - The Flipcore seems to really work. In soft snow it feels like a lively all-terrain charger with excellent handling and turn initiation due to the reverse camber. On piste it still feels solid, holding an edge well and with enough energy to make firm snow enjoyable.
DYNASTAR OUTLAND 75 - An outstanding ski for a first time buyer. It’s so forgiving but also encouraging with an easy energy and perfect handling. Carving is simple, and trickier terrain becomes so much more accessible with the rocker nose and tail.
What is your personal favourite (s):
Simple one this, the Blizzard Bushwacker, instantly comfortable whatever the terrain or snow. It will make a great all-mountain choice for a confident skier looking to get off-piste where possible, but realistic enough to realise that you don’t always want/need 100+mm underfoot, always ski at warp speed or spend endless days off-piste. Looks pretty good too.
Put down your thoughts on the range:
I’m really excited about this line up, there’s loads of interesting stuff for all types of skiers, with innovative shapes and designs for different terrain and ability levels. All thoroughly tested and chosen only because they’re the best skis in their categories.
Any other comments:
It’s been emotional. Thank you to everyone who helped with this years testing, it’s a tough job but we did it.
Name: Will Clement-Jones
Age: 22
Weight: 59 kg
Height: 5ft 9in
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 6 years skiing / lost count
Describe your skiing: A racing background means I generally charge it pretty fast.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
VOLKL KENDO - Quite possibly one of the most inspiring ski's I have ever skied, great in every snow condition, responsive on firm piste and super steerable in the powder, so much fun!!
MOVEMENT JAM - An absolute train on the mountain, the Jam loves to go fast and rail big turns, really gives you the confidence to go that little bit faster in most snow conditions.
SALOMON ENDURO XT800 - Great all-mountain ski, was happy smashing through the rough snow as well as speeding on hard-pack piste. Great edge-hold with a nice smooth fluid feel in long turns.
ARMADA JJ - In my opinion, the powder ski of the test, so much float and so much stability, they were amazing fun and so easy to charge it, we were lucky to get fresh snow on the last day so we could really give the wide ski's a test. The JJ's were a stand out, very few ski's make me smile that much.
HEAD SBC 79 - Not great with the name choice but what a great ski, a really fun and agile park ski, felt great taking off smaller kickers not too soft a flex with a good enough side-cut to really get you around the mountain fast, one of the real surprises for me.
What is your personal favourite (s): The Movement Jam.
Put down your thoughts on the range: This years range is amazing, I can't think of a situation that one of the ski's in the range wouldn't work in.
Name: Justyna Wiklik
Age: 30 (valid till 27th July 2011)
Weight: 63.9kg
Height: 169cm
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 25, in years
Describe your skiing: I’m a pretty strong skier with some racing past, touring experience and over 10 years of teaching. I love the speed and powder skiing.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
All the ladies Blizzard skis – for me they were the biggest surprise on test. Three truly amazing skis. The super-solid Viva Ultrasonic gives you so much confidence that you are not afraid of any speed. Viva 7.4 is super smooth and easy, making you look good on the slope! And, finally, Black Pearl, effortless off-piste and loads of fun on groomers. I heart Blizzard.
Volkl Kiku – ski in my Top 3 for the third year running. It is just incredible off-piste, so powerful and at the same time not intimidating at all. I WANTJ
Movement Tattoo – you will like it for the looks, then it will take your breath away off-piste. Literally!
Atomic Elysian – it is hard to describe why it is special but there were dozens of skis on test yet the Elysian stood out from the crowd. Get it before it sells out!
K2 MissConduct – one for everything you want! Groomers, off-piste, park. You don’t have to be into freestyle to have fun on these poppy skis!
What is your personal favourite (s): I think it has to be the Black Pearl and Viva Ultrasonic by Blizzard. Extraordinary!
Put down your thoughts on the range: Women’s range is officially completeJ We have some graceful piste models (Atomic Affinity Storm, Dynastar Exclusive Active), skis that take you down any terrain (Volkl Kenja, Atomic Elysian, Blizzard Black Pearl) and some that require a bit of skill but will be super-rewarding (Blizzard Viva Ultrasonic, Movement Tattoo and K2 MissBehaved). To be honest I love them all, for different reasons.
Name: Magdalena Wojtkowiak
Age: 27
Weight: 47kg
Height: 162cm
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 40 weeks in past 21 years (a holiday-skier)
Describe your skiing: It totally depends on my mood. Sometimes my skiing is aggressive and competitive, sometimes very lazy from side to side, and sometimes crazy and totally unpredictable
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
K2 Missbehaved – This ski feels extremely powerful, so nicely balanced and smooth. It is so chilled and relaxed – needs time to finish every move, but on the other side You can power this one up and not even realize how fast you are skiing. It’s a pure powder lover. It will give You 100% of fun!
Line Celebrity 100 – It’s the most universal ski in our range. You can take this ski everywhere! Ski feels so light and precise... and even though you realize that it is quite wide under foot, it still has a very nice grip and it cuts the snow very smoothly. I’m totally in love with it, especially when I ski with the Celebrity in deep powder
K2 Superstitious – Superstitious is like a part of my body, like “an extension of my thoughts”... it is listening to you ssoooo carefully... it can be fast and aggressive on black runs and lazy, smooth on blue runs. I like when it a ski is predictable
Blizzard Viva Ultrasonic Sport Full Suspension iQ – Is the most aggressive, edgy, precise woman’s ski I ever had a chance to ski on. This ski will revitalise you. The best ski for icy, cold mornings
Volkl Race Tiger SC Psi – It’s a very specific ski, designed only for speed. Probably that’s why I like it so much. It’s a challenge every time to push your limits further and further...
What is your personal favourite (s): K2 Miss Behaved – hands down my favourite among all that have been tested – I totally fell in love with it
Put down your thoughts on the range: I like the diversity of skis in our range and the confidence that I can find a ski for every kind of skier, especially for a female skier
Any other comments: Big thanks to all involved in making the test happen. It was an amazing time and left unforgettable memories. Cheers
Name: Rob Evans
Age: 34
Weight: 14.5 Stones
Height: 6ft 4ins
Years skiing / weeks on snow: 28 Years
Describe your skiing: Adaptable is still the best description as I will get down any run in any condition but the deeper and steeper the better.
List the 5 skis that impressed you most, and explain why:
Line Prophet 98 – Being a big fan of the Prophet 100 from the past, this ski has a reputation to live up to. So how do you improve on that was already an awesome ski? The answer is: take 2mm off the sidecut and give it an early rise tip. It’s still wide enough for the deepest of powder days, has more agility and feel, but the most impressive thing is the ease of use all over the mountain.
Salomon Enduro XT800 – As an all-mountain ski this is brilliant. Easy to initiate turns in any condition due to the rocker at the tip. Smooth and enjoyable, with no nasty surprises, very flattering to ski on.
Volkl Kendo – For the second year running now, I still love using this ski. When a ski is so much fun that I can’t help but grin from ear to ear when I’m on it, then it has to be on the list. This ski just does everything from feeling solid and surefooted to being, responsive, nimble, lively in the tail and easy to initiate on or off-piste.
Blizzard G-Force Ultrasonic Sport Full Suspension IQ – For someone who spends as little time as possible on-piste these days (weather permitting I’m off- piste or exploring) I was gob smacked at how much fun you can have when you choose the right ski for the conditions that are put in front of you. Picture the scene; early morning with the sun just peaking through the cloud. No new snow and what little off-piste is available is frozen solid and completely tracked out with ice cookies everywhere. The piste has been well groomed overnight and apart from the group you are with there is no one else around. You set off down the red run on an unfamiliar ski not knowing what to expect. First turn feels smooth and stable, second turn (speed starting to pick up) feels solid and powerful throughout the arc. Before you know it you are travelling at warp speed linking a series of different size turns. The only reason you slow down is your thighs are burning and your face is freezing. For me that’s what this ski is all about, super smooth, stable and the ability to hold an edge regardless of speed. Maybe I should spend more time on-piste after all because that was an amazing run.
Dynastar Outland 75 – The main feature that impressed me most about these has to be the price, what a truly great bargain. Excellent build quality and finish, with performance that way out performs the cost. Having rocker technology and a wood core makes it confidence inspiring through out the turn and really easy to initiate. Using the rocker at the tail as well means that it will skid easy if you find yourself needing to check your speed.
What is your personal favourite (s): For me it is definitely a choice between the Kendo and the Prophet 98. Both are perfect for taming the entire mountain no matter how gnarly it gets. Steep, deep, on the pack, carving piste or through the bumps, these do it all.
I would probably choose the Kendo just because it’s easier to attach skins, but then the slight twin of the Prophet makes it an occasional park ski if I decide to venture in!!!
Put down your thoughts on the range: If a certain beverage company made a range of skis then this would be it “Probably the best range of skis in the world”
Any other comments: Another BIG thank you to everyone who makes this test happen and surely I’m not the only one who thinks that Mylo is a popular dogs name?
