Category: Gear

The 2012 Atomic Access All Mountain Skis are one of the best deals you will find on the market. If you are looking to get your first 100mm waisted ski but don’t have a lot of money to spend the Atomic Access Skis are a great choice. Built for lighter weight skiers the Atomic Access Skis will ski everything from powder/crud to groomers. If you are over 190lbs but not aggressive then these would also be a lot of fun. If you are aggressive then you will want to consider something like that of the Line Prophet 100 or the all new Line Prophet 98 Skis which are going to be more versatile for a heavier/more aggressive skier. For under $500 though it is hard to find many faults with the Atomic Access Skis. They are not designed for super high speed runs but do well at medium speed in all terrain.

Dimensions: 127.5-100-119.5

Turn Radius: 16m @ 161cm

The 2012 Armada AR7 Skis are one of the best Freestyle all mountain skis on the market. The 2012 Armada Skis are versatile in that they are are great in the park and pipe, yet unlike many other freestyle skis they have sidewall technology and a wider platform to allow for more All Mountain freeride use as well. They are playful yet energetic anywhere you take them and if you are looking for a park ski that you can take anywhere on the mountain you have to strongly consider the 2012 Armada AR7 Skis one of your top choices. This ski a ski that sold out quickly last year thanks to high reviews and even higher demand and I would expect the same for the 2012 model so don’t wait until they are sold out like they were last year.

The 2012 Volkl Mantra Skis had some major changes for this season and all for the better. Now with a wider more versatile waist width of 98mm and all new tip rocker the 2012 Volkl Mantra is now in the same categroy as the Line Prophet 98 skis as far as versatility. It was lacking a little bit in previous models and we preferred the non rockered Line Prophet 100 Skis over the previous editions of the Mantra. The newer Mantra however has very similar qualities shared with that of the Line Skis and for that I thank Volkl. The new Volkl Mantra Skis can go anywhere at anytime and with confidence even on the firm days in the Northeast. The Prophet 98 has a slight edge in turn radius so if it comes down to what you like for turns it is easy if you are more of a long turn kind of skier go with the Volkl Mantra and if you enjoy something that will turn slightly more quicker edge to edge and is a little more forgiving than the Mantra go with the Line Prophet 98 skis which will also be one of the top selling skis for 2012 when all is said and done.

The 2012 Icelantic Keeper Skis are back unchanged except for graphic and I have no problem at all with that. The Icelantic Keeper Skis were thought to be a powder ski when they came out since they are 119mm in the waist but after skiing on them I can tell you that these skis are much more than most powder skis could ever dream of being. With a very quick turn radius and amazing edge grip even on groomers the Icelantic Keeper Skis are an eye opener for most expert skiers. With a fairly stiff flex and traditional camber Keeper skis will ski all conditions and terrain. If you are looking for something a little more forgiving for skiing bumped up terrain then you may want to consider the Line Mr. Pollard’s Opus. Overall this was an excellent ski and one that you will find yourself enjoying in more conditions then you previously thought possible.

What can I say about the Icelantic Nomad other than it is one of the lightest skis on the market with its waist width of 105mm. If you are looking for something that is going to be versatile enough for some powder, all mountain skiing, and light enough to also do some touring with the 2012 Icelantic Nomad Skis are the skis that you should be considering. They are light but fairly stiff so they have excellent edge hold at high speed on groomers and if you are lighter weight and dont want something so stiff then you can also buy the ski in a SFT version. Icelantic is known for making versatile skis and they really pride themselves on the Icelantic Nomad Skis. If you are a skier that enjoys a lightweight ski that will push crud around and arc trenches on groomers then consider purchasing the Icelantic Nomad Skis.

The 2012 Line Influence 105 Skis are the All Mountain Skiers dream ski. If you want one ski to do it all then you have found yourself the right ski. At 105mm in the waist with a Metal Matrix, Early Rise, and Capwall Technology the Line Influence 105 skis will do everything you want the ski to do in every condition. If you find yourself more groomer oriented then go with the Pophet 98, but if you find yourself wanting to search out glades and fresh snow then it sounds like the Influence 105 is the ski for you. Built for playing off trail more than on you will be pleasantly surprised how easily this ski will carve trenches on firm East Coast snow. I prefer the Influence 115 for my own skiing but understand why for the majority out there the 105 is going to be a more versatile ski for them. The Marker Griffon ski binding is a great match for this ski and one that I highly would recommend using.

The Line Prophet 100 is no longer. For 2012 Line decided to make some changes to the Prophet Line and the Prophet 100 went to 98mm in the waist but more importantly it now has Early Rise and an all new Capwall Construction!! Both of these changes makes the 2012 Line Prophet 98 Skis some of the most versatile All Mountain Ski on the mountain. The slight tip rocker allows this ski to get edge to edge unlike a ski with out tip rocker. You wont even notice this ski is almost 100mm under foot.  These skis are designed for skiing everything on the mountain. If you find yourself tending to go in the woods more than anything then you will want to look at the all new Line Influence 105 Skis or if you enjoy wide like I do the Influence 115 is one of my favorite skis. For the masses the Line Prophet 98 Skis are going to be an easy go to ski no matter which coast you live on. With a 17.2m turn radius in a 179cm length you can see why many Volkl Mantra owners have started to make the switch to Line Skis and with a Fatty Base & Edge you are know they are going to have incredible durability.  Don’t be afraid to buy long in this ski as they measure short and the tip rocker makes them ski even shorter.  If you are looking for a one ski quiver around 100mm then look no further than the Line Prophet 98 Skis for 2012. If you do not enjoy rocker yet and are still not ready to change then you can still find some 2010 and 2011 Prophet 100’s on the market.