Category: Reviews

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2015 Armada Bent Chetler Skis and Atomic Warden MNC 13 Binding Review

2015 Atomic Bent Chetler Skis

 

Model: Atomic Bent Chetler

Year: 2015

Size 185cm

Dimensions: 142-120-134

Turn Radius: 19m

Binding: 2015 Atomic Warder 13

Boot Used: Full Tilt Seth Boot

Rating: 9/10

 

The 2015 Atomic Bentchetler has undergone some of the best changes of any ski for 2015. With a waist width now of 120 and a stiffer platform the new Bent Chetler is a playful ripper!! If you want a playful ski in powder and crud that will also haul 60+mph on groomers with ease Atomic has built the ski for you. With all new Technology with HRZN TECH I was a believer after the 2nd turn.

Atomics Blurb: “The 2015 Bent Chetler features life changing HRZN TECH, adding 10% more surface area in the tip and tail without adding weight. The result is less tip deflection in chop and crud and simply better tracking in all conditions. Atomic and Chris Bentchetler got together on the new construction and design of the ski giving us mortals the best possible ride in fresh or even marginal snow conditions. ”

All the changes are nice to talk about, but how do they really ski? Well…I just got back from an epic day on the NEW 2015 Chets. And, yes we can believe all of the hype. I had a little bit of everything for conditions from 10″ of fresh to firm groomers in a 3 day period of testing them.  The best description I can give about the new Atomic Bent Chetlers is that they had a smooth feel, super quiet tip and tail, and the Bent Chetler’s appettite for the fall-line and higher speeds, with no worries about tip deflection. If you have one ski to take with you on a trip this is really a ski that you should be considering as it is that much fun. There is a lot of energy out of the tail so the only place that some lighter weight skiers make not like them is in tight bumped up trees but honestly every where else on the hill the ski was smooth and accelerated when you wanted it to go. You can carve tighter turns with them but you wont need to because they feel so comfortable at speed and when you went to dig trenches in groomers take them out and let people in the lift line talk about the GS trenches you just left down the fall line.

 

Atomic Warder 13 MNC Binding

My first impressions of the all new Atomic Warden 13 binding is that I have no reason to get back out on the Marker Lord Binding with my AT Boots. The all new Atomic Warden is $100 cheaper and is much more user friendly to adjust from Alpine to Touring Boots. My other major positives of this binding is that the toe height adjustment is on the top of the binding and easy to adjust in the backcountry if for some reason it becomes lose, the ease of getting in and out of the binding (which the Marker Royal Family Bindings are not known and can be a really hassle especially for women and lighter weight skiers in deep snow conditions), and the addition of the Progressive Transfer Pads which really do increase the dampness that you feel on the ski. Another important feature of the Warden MNC 13 is that they are Multi Norm Certified which can be used with all boot norms.

 

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2014 Volkl V-Werks Katana Ski Review

volkl katana V-WerksThe Volkl Katana V-Werks Skis Review

Size Tested: 184cm

Binding: Griffon Demo

Mountain: Jay Peak

Conditions: Mixed Snow

Dimensions: 143-112-132

Turn Radius: 25.8m

 

One of the hardest skis to find this Spring for testing was the Volkl Katana V-Werks Ski. Only a few were brought in and the final edition of the skis took some time to fine tune. At $1200 I guess Volkl wanted to make sure they got it right.

The Volkl rep made sure they held a pair aside for me to get out on and I was very happy to get out on them. The first thing you notice with the V-Werks Katana is when you pick it up you just can not believe how light the ski is. It feels like you are holding nothing. When you first step in you are a little hesitant about how well they are going to ski as you do not really feel like you have anything under your feet, then you hot the slopes and all fear is lifted and straight charging is all the V-Werks Katana is all about. What this ski is not is a groomer oriented ski. This ski is made for big mountain skiing with big snow. When in bumps and groomers it is actually a little stiff and slow, when in softer snow it plows through everything in its way with power. At high speeds the ski has no chatter and sticks to the snow, if you try and make short turns on groomers you will probably be finding yourself overturning the ski as it is so light and turns almost to quickly at times. Once you get dialed in with the skis ability you will be able to get that under control, but remember it is V-Werks ski and because of that you want to make subtle movements as to not over ski the ski. When in fresh snow the ski was incredible and with an AT Binding I could see this being an all day touring ski with how light it is and on the down you will destroy everything thanks to the full rocker design.

On another note you do have to make sure you buy a Marker Royal Family Binding with this ski as those are the only ones that will fit with the design of the Volkl Katana Skis. In all the Volkl Katana V-Werks Skis are an amazing Freeride/Touring Ski and one that I would certainly recommend to those looking for a Big Mountain Touring Ski that is lightweight and powerful.

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2014 Line Mr. Pollard Opus Skis Review

Mr. Pollard Opus

Most versatile pair of skis I have ever owned is the all new 2012 Line EP Opus skis. The Line EP Opus skis does whatever you want the ski to do in any conditions and terrain. With the float of the EP Pro and the maneuverability of the Sir Francis Bacon the Line EP Opus skis are the ultimate one ski quiver ski. Although the ski is narrower than the EP Pro it still has amazing float thanks to where the Early Taper and Early rise have been located. Eric Pollard designed these skis as his masterpiece and as someone who has not only skied every ski that Pollard has designed but also has been skiing with the man himself  he has combined all the best of his creations into this one ski. If you are looking for an excellent AT ski but don’t want the waist width of the Opus then I would suggest the Sir Francis Bacon.

If you are looking for a ski to help you poach your favorite places then this is my weapon of choice. It will ski the deepest of powder with ease while attacking the windblown snow with very little effort. 2 places the EP Opus excels in where many others in this 115mm+ waist category does not is on the groomers and bumps/moguls. I was able to make full pull bump runs with very little effort or adjustment. When it came to skiing glades there was no other ski I would rather be on than the Opus. If you are charging hard and enjoy a stiffer ski than you would want the Prophet 115 or Influence 115, but if you enjoy a ski with tons of playful energy and one that just enjoys everything in front of you then the Line EP Opus is a ski that you really should not pass by with out buying. It looks like untracked.com or Al’s Ski Barn has these in stock right no and ready to sell!!

 

A review of the 2012 and 2013 skis is already available if you scroll down through my posts. However, there has been one important change for 2013 and 2014 and that is the addition of the 192cm Mr. Pollard Opus. Other than a new graphic and a new size the ski stays the same. The Line Mr Pollard Opus has been one of the best-selling skis of 2012 and we expect 2013 to be even better! A few select dealers still have the 2013 Mr. Pollard Opus skis so be sure to get yours today! Still one of my favorite skis you can not go wrong, unless you go to short. The 192cm length in the Mr. Pollard Opus is my favorite go to do everything ski. Now witht he addition of the Sir Francis Bacon in the 190cm length that will probably turn into my All Mountain Ski along with the all new amazing Head Cyclic 115 Skis.

2013 Line Mr. Pollard Opus Video

2014 Line Mr. Pollard Opus Sale!

Here is the review of the 2012 Line Mr. Pollard’s Opus Skis which are the same for 2013 and 2014, but now with the additional length of a 192cm length!!

Most versatile pair of skis I have ever owned is the all new 2012/2013/2014 Line Mr. Pollard Opus skis. The Line Mr. Pollard Opus skis does whatever you want the ski to do in any conditions and terrain. With the float of the EP Pro and the maneuverability of the Sir Francis Bacon the Line Mr. Pollard Opus skis are the ultimate one ski quiver ski. Although the ski is narrower than the EP Pro it still has amazing float thanks to where the Early Taper and Early rise have been located. Eric Pollard designed these skis as his masterpiece and as someone who has not only skied every ski that Pollard has designed but also has been skiing with the man himself  he has combined all the best of his creations into this one ski. If you are looking for an excellent AT ski but don’t want the waist width of the Opus then I would suggest the Sir Francis Bacon.

If you are looking for a ski to help you poach your favorite places then this is my weapon of choice. It will ski the deepest of powder with ease while attacking the windblown snow with very little effort. 2 places the Mr. Pollard Opus excels in where many others in this 115mm+ waist category does not is on the groomers and bumps/moguls. I was able to make full pull bump runs with very little effort or adjustment. When it came to skiing glades there was no other ski I would rather be on than the Opus. If you are charging hard and enjoy a stiffer ski than you would want the Prophet 115 or Influence 115, but if you enjoy a ski with tons of playful energy and one that just enjoys everything in front of you then the Line Mr. Pollard Opus is a ski that you really should not pass by with out buying. It looks like untracked.com or Al’s Ski Barn has these in stock right no and ready to sell!!

 

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2014 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis Review

Line Bacon

 

Model: 2014 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis

Size: 184cm

Actual Length (Pull Chord): 181cm

Dimensions: 140-108-136

Stance -2.0cm from Center (Pollard’s Mark)

(Line Has a new line for 2014 that is -6cm’s for skiers who don’t want to be as close to center) I however found the ski to ski the best where Eric designed the ski to be skied which was at -2cm. the reason for this is that where Eric put’s the line is the sweet spot of the ski compared to the Early Rise vs the Early Taper of the Ski.  If you know how to ski a ski center then DO NOT mount the skis anywhere but on the -2cm Mark.

Again for 2014 Line Skis has done an amazing job with the Sir Francis Bacon. It comes back for 2014 with an updated graphic which is another piece of art by the master Eric Pollard. I didn’t think that Line could do a better job with the graphic and I was wrong, Eric really put some amazing color into the ski and the graphic has been getting amazing reviews.

Now to the skiing. I said it last year and I will say it again this year, if you are looking for a one ski quiver ski that is playful and wants to always be searching out for the terrain off the trail then you will be very hard pressed to find anything more versatile in the 100-110mm category than the 2012/2013 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis.

Other companies seem to always be playing catch up with Line and with the Early Rise/Early Taper on both the SFB and Opus Skis  it is easy to see why! They turn on a dime with no effort at all, yet when you need stability on groomers the Line Sir Francis Bacon really holds on edge and with a turn radius of about 17m you will think you are on a ski 90mm in the waist. The Bacon allows you to easily get in and out of turns quickly and playfully. If you are like me and enjoy skiing the side 10 feet of the trail in the crud and sugar snow the Sir Francis Bacon eats those conditions up with ease! With the Early Rise and Early Taper the ski has a surf like feel to it and will easily ski all conditions that you throw its way. If you are into skiing pillow lines and searching out deep snow you can ski the Bacon, but you may want to look at its big brother the Mr. Pollard Opus for true powder lines in the backcountry.

One major factor you need to consider when buying this ski is the length. These skis not only measure short but they ski short as well. The one thing that is need with the Sir Francis Bacon is a 190cm length ski and for 2014 there is now a 190cm length!!!  The 184cm length is the top selling length and when you get on it you will see why. It turns like a 170cm length ski and sometimes you forget that you have a ski on that is over 180cms. For bigger guys and more aggressive skiers I think the 190cm length would be a no brainer for adding to your line up. Just don’t sell yourself short, these skis may be 108mm in the waist but you still want the length to truly get all optimal ride out of this ski. If you are over 160lbs you should be skiing the 184cm length.

As for mounting point I would really suggest the Eric’s Choice mark that Line has already suggested. The skis do ski the best mounted on that line and if you are a tele skier I would really suggest talking to whoever is mounting your bindings and make sure they mount them so your boot mid sole is around the mid sole mark on your boot. These do ski best toward center even on a tele set up. If you are a skier that is not very centered when they ski then maybe you want to have them mounted a little further back, but I will be honest with you the ski skis best where Eric originally designed it to be mounted.

I look forward to getting out this weekend on the Bacon’s again and see how they perform on true firm Northeast snowpack! Please feel free if you have any questions to post them here and I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner. Although it is April the weather and snow feels more like February so I have been getting out on the hill and testing as many skis as possible so look for more reviews to follow.

These skis did excellent on groomers but to be honest with you I rarely find myself on the trail these days.

2013 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis Video

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2014 Head Cyclic 115 and Tyrolia AAAttack 13 Freeride Skis Review

2014 Head Cyclic 115 Skis

Length Tested: 181cm

Turn Radius: 19m

Dimensions: 148-113-131

Sandwich Cap Construction

Binding: AAAttack 13

Video: http://youtu.be/Cgr9QAITMXQ

It has been a while since i have written a review about any Head freeride skis and that has mostly been up until now there just have not been any worth spending the time to write about, until now!! The Head Cyclic 115 skis is a game changer for Head skis in 2014. Never have they had a freeride ski that was as playful and fun as this ski. I know what you are thinking Head builds heavy skis that are designed for speed. The all new Freeski line from Head is totally different, they have redesigned everything from the construction, rocker,shape, and top sheet. The most impressive thing about the Head Cyclic is how easy it skis everything from tight trees and bumps to carving trenches on on the groomers. Because of the all new tip and tail shape this ski easily makes a variety of turn shapes with ease. If you want a ski that is versatile and lightweight then look no further than the Head Cyclic 115. You may give up a little at the top end speed but the versatility you get in everything else is a dream. Do yourself a favor and get on a pair of these skis and try them for yourself.

 

Tyrolia AAAtack 13 Bindings:

DIN: 4-13

Another top notch product for Tyrolia/Head this year is the all new AAAttack 13 Binding. With a very similar design to that of the Marker Griffon the AAAttack 13 comes in with a lower Stand Height and also a cheaper price. I would high recommend both the AAAttack 13 and 16 for aggressive skiers. One huge difference you will see from the marker binding is the ease that you can step into the Tyrolia Heel especially in deep snow. The Griffon has always been an issue for lighter weight skiers to step into and with the Tyrolia Binding you will find not only a binding that is lighter and easier to step into, but one that will also be trustworthy from the park to dropping cliffs.

 

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2013 Line Prophet 98 All Mountain Skis

 

Skis: 2013 Line Prophet 98 Skis

Size: 179cm

Dimensions: 132-98-123

Turn Radius: 17.2m

Stance: -77mm

Early Rise Tip & Tail

The Line Prophet 100 is no longer. Last year Line added Early Rise and an all new Capwall Construction!! Both of these changes makes the 2012 and 2013 Line Prophet 98 Skis some of the most versatile All Mountain Skis 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 2012 Influence 115 or 2011 Prophet 115 (2013 Line Influence 115 is much more Big Mountain Oriented) is one of my favorite skis. You can take the Line Prophet 98 anywhere on the mountian with confidence that you have a ski that will handle the conditions at hand. They enjoy speed on those fast groomer days when it has not snowed in a few weeks and yet when it does snow they float wth ease thansk to the Early Rise.

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.

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2013 Armada Norwalk Ski Review

 

Ski: 2013 Armada Norwalk

Size: 179cm

Flex: Moderate (same as JJ)

Rocker: Tip Only/Camber Underfoot

Dimensions: 125-140-115-131mm

Turn Radius: 19m @ 179cm

The Armada Norwalk is a brand new ski for Armada in 2013 and we feel this is going to be a huge hit with those of you that are looking for a big mountain ski. If you enjoyed the Armada JJ Skis, but wanted a ski with more energy out of the tail the new Armada Norwalk is the ski for you! With tip rocker only and a traditional tail the Norwalk skis had incredible stability at higher speeds, something that you lose on the JJ because of the non traditional tail. Overall this was an excellent choice for big mountain skis, it was not as versatile as the Line Opus, however if you want a hard charger and enjoy the way Armada Skis ski then this should be a top pick for you. It plowed through chopped up snow and it had not issues at all going through tight trees or bumped up snow. It is one of the best new skis Armada has created. If you want more of a Powder Hound ski then check out the new Armada Magic J or Bubba.

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2013 Volkl Kuro Ski Review

 

Ski: 2013 Volkl Kuro

Size: 185cm

Dimensions: 164-132-139

Powered by Titanium

For 2013 the Volkl Kuro receives Titanium Power/Tough Box Construction meaning that the soft forgiving Kuro of the past is no longer. The all new Kuro is stiff and powerful and is now a true big mountain ski that can handle the biggest and steepest mountains that AK and BC have to offer. There are a few shops that still have the older Kuro and if you want a more forgiving powder ski that is an amazing choice and one that I ave enjoyed trying every year. For testing this spring I had a chance to get on the new Kuro and what a ski it is. The older Kuro was like a couch, super comfy and no effort at all in any condition except at higher speed. The new 2013 Kuro wants to go fast and boy is it ever stable. It will handle any speed on any kind of condition and it will still arc turns on groomers no problem at all. The one area where the new Kuro is a lot of work is in the bumps and tight chutes. If you are straight-lining areas this ski will be perfect thanks to the ELP Rocker and Titanium Construction. If you are going to be in areas that have a good amount of bumps you may want to consider the older Kuro or another ski that will be lighter and more forgiving.

 

The 2013 Volkl Kuro is a totally different ski from the past.

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2013 K2 SideSeth Backcountry Skis Review

Skis: 2013 K2 SideSeth Skis

Size: 179cm

Dimensions: 147-118-135

Turn Radius: 26m @ 179cm

Rocker: Powder Rocker Tip/Tail Rocker

The all new 2013 K2 SideSeth Skis are unlike any Seth ski you have used before. Seth has changed his skis like he has changed his skiing to allow for more technical lines in more variable terrain and snow. Seth the past couple years has not been skiing the big mountain powder lines he was always known for up in AK. He has searched out the Alps and other areas that require more technical skiing then big fast lines in deep pow. If you want a ski that can handle every condition the backcountry can throw your way the all new 2013 K2 SideSeth Ski is one of my favorite choices. The major difference you will see in the 2013 K2 SideSeth is the ski is much stiffer than any of the Obsethed Skis and the tail is no longer a true twin tip it now has a more versatile shape not only for skins but to also be able to stick the skis into the snow. K2 also makes precut skins specifically for these skis which makes putting them on and off very simple. Because of the change Seth has made to these skis no no longer will be found in the Factory Series they are now in Backside Series. The ski comes with a good amount of powder rocker but also has enough camber to make the ski more versatile when skiing hard pack snow and those days where you are skiing big mountain hard-charging lines. The tail is much stiffer and has less rocker than in the past and this all has to do with making for a more versatile ski on big mountain lines. If you need a real ski to handle everything that the mountain can throw at you then you will want to consider the 2013 K2 Sideseth Ski. The ski was amazingly quick edge to edge and it was really at home in the trees easily skiing bumps and varied terrain with ease. When skiing on groomers the SideSeth got on edge much quicker than the 26m turn radius that K2 says it has. I think part of that has to do with the stiffer less rockered tail combined with a progressive sidecut. If you are looking for a similar ski, but one that is more playful everywhere on the mountain then you want to look at the Line Mr. Pollard Opus and the K2 Pettitor Skis.

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2013 Line Influence 115 Ski Review vs. 2012 Line Influence 115 Skis

2013 Line Influence 115                   VS:          2012 Line Influence 115

Dimensions: 145-115-131                                 Dimensions: 153-115-142

Turn Radius: 22.6m                                          Turn Radius: 19m

Stance: -81mm                                                   Stance: -77mm

It doesn’t take long to immediately see that the all new 2013 Line Influence 115 Skis have been totally changed from the 2012 version and the 2011 Line Prophet 115. The 2013 Line Influence 115 skis are much more true big mountain skis. They always want to be facing down the hill and enjoy high-speed rides down anything including big drops. The all new redesigned tip profile on the ski make skiing big mountain lines a dream and will plow through anything at whatever speed you can throw at it. Both the tip and tail have become narrower making big mountain turns more easy. If you are truly looking for a big mountain ski with lots of energy then the 2013 Influence 115 Ski is your ski.

However, if you are looking for something more versatile in a variety of conditions say some big mountain lines, but also a lot of inbounds groomers and resort skiing then you may want to consider the 2012 Influence 115 skis or the 2011 Line Prophet 115 Skis. These skis have a quicker turn and are much more All Mountain/Freeride oriented skis rather than Big Mountain like the 2013 Line Influence 115 Skis. If you want something that you feel comfortable taking anywhere on the hill in any conditions go with the older versions, but if you are skiing big mountain or big snow or chop the 2013 Line Influence 115 skis will excel in those conditions.