Category: Gear

One of the best updates for 2012 is the Marker Griffon Bindings. One of my favorite bindings to suggest to a majority to skiers that need a binding that is perfect for freestyle and freeride Skis. The updates for 2012 include a new 13 DIN, Adjustable AFD Height, and a much better plate to toe interace. These changes combined wih the lightness and excellent transmission of power make the Marker Griffon 13 Bindings one of the best selling bindings on the market. Thes bindings are now available at select online shops right now. If you want a grat binding I can say the Marker Griffon 13 is a great choice. If you are a skier that likes to their DIN at 10 or above then you will want to consider either the Marker Jester which has the same updated features or the Jester Pro which is a new 18 DIN version made for Big Mountain skiing and for skiers who like to go big everywhere on the mountain.

You have been asking for it an Armada has delivered!! The 2012 Armada AK JJ was one of my favorite skis that I have ever in my life had the privilege to not only test but now own!! The 195cm AK JJ is 5mm’s wider than the regular JJ and it is also stiffer making this ski that much more versatile. With an 18m turn radius in a 195cm length the Armada AK JJ will leave trenches on whatever terrain gets in its way. If you are looking for a big ski that is nimble look no further than the 195cm AK JJ Skis. Made for big mountain skiing the AK JJ may look like a lot of ski to handle but if you are an expert skier this ski will quickly become one of you all time favorite skis. Stable a mach speeds and nimble enough to take in tight trees in the East Coast. I am 5’6″ and weigh 185lbs there is no reason that I would ski this ski in a shorter length than the 195cm length. With tip an tail rocker it feels like you are on a 150cm length ski. You want the feelings that the pros get then time to man up and buy the 195cm AK JJ Skis.

If you are looking for a ski that not only has great versatility but also a price tag that won’t break the bank then look no further than the Atomic Access Skis. One of the best values on the market and with a 100mm waist the Atomic Access Skis are perfect for an intermediate level skier to expert level skier looking for a one ski quiver ski. Many guys have also been putting AT Bindings and Tele Bindings on the Atomic Access skis and with the forgiving flex they have really been getting great reviews. So if you are looking for a 100mm waisted ski that is versatile in all snow and terrain do not hesitate to get a pair of the Atomic Access skis for 2011.

The 2011 Volkl Gotama comes back with the same dimensions and ELP rocker as last year, but one difference is the stepdown sidewall to help keep the chipping down on the skis. Both the 2010 and 2011 Volkl Gotama skis are extremely versatile in all snow conditions not just powder. They truly are awesome in powder allowing you to float through anything. They are not as stiff as the older Gotama’s but they are much more versatile thanks to the ELP Rocker which keeps you a float in the deeper snow but also will allow you to play in the bumps and on the side of the trail with ease. With the ELP design the ski can release in and out of turns more easily and when wanting to do slashes and smear turns you do not have to worry about the tips diving into the crud or powder. If you are looking for a versatile one ski quiver ski then the Volkl Gotama is an excellent choice. Thanks to a wood core the Volkl Gotama Skis will also handle high speed turns and some of the steepest of terrain.

The 2011 Armada AR7 Skis have been completely redesigned for the 2011 season and from the reaction of how they are selling Armada killed it with this ski. Not only is the all new AR7 wider but they also adjusted the sidewall making it even more versatile of a ski for not only park riding but all mountain skiing. If you are looking for a one ski quiver to ski all mountain and freestyle the Armada AR7 with its 85mm waist and AR50 sidewall makes for smooth landings and great edge hold on firm conditions. Armada is all about versatility with their skis and the new Armada AR7 has some of the most versatility you can get in a freestyle ski. The new sidewall also allowed them to reduce the weight of the ski even though it is wider. From all indications Armada looks to be just about sold out of AR7’s for the year so don’t wait too long as you will not be getting these later in the year!

With the Volkl Bridge getting a little long in the tooth Volkl decided to just scrap the old mold and go all new and new they did. Now with an all new 95mm waist and a step down sidewall not only is the 2011 Volkl Bridge more versatile than the 2010 version but it also is more durable. The step down sidewall really helps keep the ski from chipping as badly as older versions. Besides these important changes Volkl made a big move and put ELP Rocker which gives the ski not only more versatility in powder and soft snow but also make sit more versatile when skiing the woods and sides of the trails when you don’t always want to be on the edge. If you are looking for a mid fat ski for East or West Coast the 2011 Volkl Bridge Skis should be a top choice as your one ski quiver ski. Volkl did not anticipate the popularity of their skis for the 2011 skis and many models have already sold out for the year so there will not be any pro form or reorder left for shops later in the fall when they run out of what they have in stock. Don’t wait and be left out.

Many magazines have hit the mailboxes with all the new 2011 Ski Reviews. Remember when using these magazines as guides that sometimes these reviews go the way the magazines want them to go. How can a ski get “Ski of the Year” one year and the very next year it is in the lower end of the category. Yes times change but if the skis do not change then what caused a ski to get rave reviews one year and poor the next. Advertising has a large part to do with it, typically companies that sponsor a review or take out large advertisements in magazines typically score better on their skis. Companies who do not advertise many times will have down graded scores. The other thing to watch out for is if the ski was tested in the correct category or not. If you have an all-mountain ski that is being tested in the big mountain powder section it will most likely get a poor score as that is not what that ski was designed as. Some skis are hybrid so they fit in multiple categories and when you try and pigeon hole it into one category it is not going to score nearly as well then if it were tested in multiple situations as it was designed. Be sure to email and call shops who have actually skied on the skis themselves and ask their honest opinion. Most shops if they liked or disliked a ski will tell you up front what they thought of it and why, just because they don’t like it does not mean that it will not be a good ski for you. With different skiing styles comes different skis and skiers. Just like cars not everyone likes the same thing, but good shops are going to be able to tell you why you would like a ski or why you would not like the ski once you tell them more about your skiing style, ability and where you tend to ski on the hill.

One of the best selling skis of last year was the Armada JJ Skis. These skis sold out by January from most places. Armada is known for building to order which means they do not make very much above what shops order. If you went with out JJ’s because you waited to long last year then jump early this year because the graphic is even stronger and even more people now about the JJ then last year.

The 2011 Armada JJ Skis was one of my favorite skis to test. It scored high in everything and I really only found one weakness and that was high speed straight line groomers. For me that is not a problem as I enjoy cranking out turns and with the very tight turn radius of the 2011 Armada JJ Skis cranking out turns is a blast. If you want a light, quick, energetic ski with lots of float and easy maneuverability in the trees and moguls then look no further than the Armada JJ Skis. The Armada JJ really enjoyed skiing everywhere on the mountain and in any condition, but get them in Powder and Trees and you will have the best run of your life every run out! Bo no means a stiff ski but with amazing rocker and reverse sidecut it does not matter becasue the ski is stable all day long. If you show up with JJ’s everyone will be envious of your quiver because with the Armada JJ you have a quiver of 1.