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2010 Marker Duke AT Ski Binding Review/Testimonial

Once in a great while technology comes along that changes the way we feel about something. Marker with their new AT line has really stepped up to the plate and delivered a really well thought out series of bindings called the Royal Family. Today our focus is going to be on the Marker Duke which will under go a color change for the 2010 season. Since 2008 the Marker Duke has been the best selling AT binding on the market thanks to the ease of use for Slack Country skiers and the affordable nature of a high DIN backcountry binding.  Below is a testimonial from Gregg Wardle who skis 200+ days a year between the northern and southern hemisphere. He is hard on equipment and this is what he has to say about the Marker Duke Bindings.

“Having used rondo gear for over 30 years now I have to say for side-country skiing and in particular for Las Lenas the Marker Duke is truly impressive, first it feels and sounds like a Marker (solid) and where I have been using Fritchis for years I always worried about coming out (and have) now I have a little better margin going to 16 din most of my skis are at least at 18-20 din depending what I am doing and where I am skiing. The biggest difference is the solid contact feel with the Duke on my Gotamas vs the soft feel of the Fritchis mainly due to the wider mount etc. For skinning they work very well and after becoming familiar with adjusting the climbing bracket and the fact you have to remove the ski to change from locked or free-heel, it is also an advantage to have the binding move back when in free-heel mode especially in soft snow and kick turns. I now have about 100 days on these and can honestly say they rule and no going back to Fritchis. The pair I received were prototypes and I had a problem with the brake but after I remedied a minor design flaw they have worked super. The Mantra or Gotama with the Marker Duke is a perfect combo for the backcountry access and designed with the big mountain skier in mind. I live in a world where if my equipment fails I can die almost everyday so it is great to have tools that are designed for my needs. Marker Duke skis like an alpine binding and works well for rondonee it may be a few grams more than the Fritchis but the transmission to the fatter skis is impressive. Needless to say I like them!”

Gregg Wardle

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2010 Salomon Oversize Binding Review

Many people have been asking what the deal is with the all new “Oversize” label on some of the new Salomon bindings for the 2010 ski season. The new 2010 Salomon Oversized bindings gives the Salomon binding exceptional power and precision thanks to the increased contact zone for better foothold by keeping the required release values. With the new Oversized bindings you will feel even more secure. Built for skiers who are hard on their equipment and are constantly putting high torque values on their bindings. This is a great step forward for the Salomon Z and STH ski Bindings. They will only continue to get better. 2010 Salomon Bindings are now out in select online shops so get yours now and think snow!

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2010 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis Review

The 2010 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis is one of the most versatile skis that Eric Pollard has designed. Now with an all new 172cm length being made it leaves the question as to why they are still making the Line Elizabeth. Well there are actually some good reasons why. The Line Sir Francis Bacon has similar dimensions and yes they are both 172cm, but one of the biggest differences is that the 2010 Line SFB is a stiffer ski all around and made for skiing everywhere on the hill at anytime. The 2010 Line Elizabeth is softer so it is made more to be a freestyle ski that still skis the entire mountain, any conditions, well. The Line SFB is a Freeride/All-Mountain ski that will still ski the park well. There is only a cosmetic difference between the 2009 and 2010 Line Sir Francis Bacon. This is one of the best skis you will ever get on, especially if you live in a place with good snowfall the Line Sir Francis Bacon will ski any snow conditions thanks to Eric Pollard’s ability to design useful skis better than anyone else.

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2009 vs. 2010 K2 Obsethed Skis + Mounting Points

The 2010 K2 Obsethed Skis are out on the market right now and many are wondering what has changed from the 2009 version. K2 only changed the graphic on the 2010 K2 Obsethed Skis. If you like the 2010 graphic you are not alone as there has been a lot of positive feedback on the new look, however if you want to save a couple of hundred dollars then the best thing to do is search around for the 2009 version and I am sure you can find a great ski and binding package. If you are looking for a freeride ski or even a one ski quiver so the 2009 or 2010 K2 Obsethed Skis both would make a great choice thanks to a rockered tip and ABS sidewall they not only float well in powder, but amazingly enough are very quick edge to edge even in crud and hard pack conditions. If you find yourself skiing the side of the trail most of the time in search of soft snow, jump into the trees whenever possible, and at times just like the skis to fly then this is a great option for you.

As for the mounting point on the K2 Obsethed it really just depends on where you spend most of your time skiing. If you are going to use them just for powder then you would want to mount them at +2cm. If you find yourself skiing them all mountain then +3cm and if you find yourself wanting to use them as more of a freeride backcountry ski for use on booters and switch landings and switch skiing then we would suggest to mount them at +4cm or +5cm if you spend a lot of time riding and landing switch.

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Swag Deals

Summer is here… unless you are in the Northeast and it has rained 30 of the last 37 days, and it is time to chill with friends and plan the next place you are going to have your next summer rail session. It is also a great time to search for awesome deals on tee’s, ski beanies, and hats from the previous season as companies make room for the new 2010 ski accessories. Some places are selling their accessories at cost trying to make room so their loss is your gain. Look styling with an all new outfit this summer and don’t forget to support the brands that choose to support their customers.

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2010 K2 Darkside Skis Review

Just saw the all new 2010 K2 Darkside Ski today and was really impressed at how light the ski was considering it is a 128mm in the waist. If you are going to AK and are looking for  a big mountain AT ski the all new 2010 K2 Darkside would be an excellent choice all around. With K2 designing skins just for their skis it will make a huge difference in getting yourself up the hill with ease. K2 made a very wise decision in combining their AT/Tele line with their Alpine Backside Line. It helped them from having to double up on models which saves us all money in the long run and it also helps with not wasting materials as well.

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2009 K2 Pontoon, or is it a 2010???

More and more companies are starting to realize that certain skis need no change in construction or graphics from year to year. One such ski is the K2 Pontoon. It has stayed unchanged since it was released and again for 2010 it will remain the same except for one thing… price! That is right, for 2010 the K2 Pontoon will be selling for $699 so for those of you who have been checking out the K2 Pontoon and have found it on sale, you may want to pull the trigger on it now as in the next month or so most places will change that sale price of the ’09 ski to the new Minimum Advertised Price of $699 and all the inventory will change over to 2010. Prices are going up on most product for the 2010 season so be sure to buy this summer to get the best selection of discounted product. 2010 K2 Pontoon is a ski created by the great and late Shane McConkey RIP!!

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2010 Full Tilt Boots

I am sure there are a lot of you wondering what is the deal with the Full Tilt Boots. Full Tilt Boots bought out Raichle’s mold and researched using the existing mold with newer materials. The result is the first 3 piece boot ever made had been resurrected and the die hard Flexon users could now get a new boot after years of having to find parts to keep their old ones going. The new 2010 Full Tilt Ski Boots have found there way into a few select online shops and not a surprise the graphics will be some of the most interesting that you have ever seen, from a boot with a pin and skulls on it to one that looks like it belongs in Diners, Drive Ins and Dives on The Food Network. Don’t forget about the 2010 Hot Dogger Ski Boot which is completely red including the buckles. Seth Morrison refuses to ski on any other boot than the Full Tilt and if you have the calf and foot for one I would suggest that you get out and try a pair. The newer models are 2mm’s wider in the fore foot so for those of you who were always close you may find yourself a perfect fit in the new 2010 Full Tilt Model Boots. So search for ’10 Full Tilt Ski Boots and check them out for yourself.

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2010 Line and K2 Skis Available

With summer fast approaching some of the larger online shops are starting to receive their 2010 Line and K2 product. I have even seen some of the new EP Pro’s and a couple pair of the Line Afterbang which is going to be one of the best selling freestyle skis ever. With an all new construction for the ski industry the Line Afterbang is more durable for everyday park and urban skiing. I will go into more detail about the Afterbang hopefully later this week. Enjoy the search for the new 2010 skis, it is always an exciting time of year when the new product is being released.

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Spring Tune Up

So for those of you who have given up on skiing for the season and do not have any plans for taking trips to the Southern Hemisphere it is time to get the bike out and start riding. Just like you usually get your biked tuned in the spring to make sure everything is in good working order you should make sure to put your skis away so as to not damage them when being stored in places that take on moisture. The easiest way to store your skis for the summer is just by doing a simple base prep. All you have to do is to put a nice thin coat of Paraffin Wax onto the base. What this wax will do is prevent any moisture from getting into your ski during the humid summer months. The most important thing to remember though is that you will want to make sure to get all the wax out of the base in the fall before you have them tuned or if you do them yourself make sure to get all wax out of the base before you put any other wax into the base for the fall/winter conditions.