2022-2023 Rossignol, Atomic, Salomon, and Head Demo Day

 Testers:

Kris: 55 year old heavyweight who prefers finesse and technique over power and has a love of high speeds and junky snow. Ex-PSIA level 2 instructor, league and Nastar racer.

Chet: 59 year old heavyweight who skis with power and speed. League and Nastar racer.

Conditions:

Solidly frozen groomers in the morning, softening through corn before lunch, and changing to scratch and deep slush bumps by early afternoon. Bright sunshine all day.

Skis listed in the order tested

   

Head e-speed Pro, Supershape e-speed, Hero Special Edition

Head Supershape e-speed 177cm, 122-68-104, 15.3 m radius

I took this one out first on the frozen groomers in the morning. It had solid grip and searched for speed with every turn. It felt strong yet balanced but tended to get bogged down in the surgar on the bottom of the hill.

Rossignol Hero v-Ti Elite ST 167 cm, 125-68-104, 13 m radius

The rep warned me twice that these skis were not detuned. At all. "Sweet!", I thought. Once on the  hill, I said "whooooo, doggie!!" The ST is a strong but nimble short turn specialist - skiers looking for versatility need not apply! I found the tails to be just slightly catchy with the tip-to-tail tune. Strong forward pressure fixed the issue, as would a slight detuning of the tails. I also found they required my full attention the entire time.

Rossi Hero v-Ti LT, Hero v-Ti ST, Hero Special Edition

 

Rossignol Hero v-Ti LT 177 cm, 121-71-101, 18 m radius

We were approaching lunch time and the snow was  just starting to break down when I took these out. SO.MUCH. FUN. Put the pedal to the metal and hold on! I never found a speed limit no matter how 

hard I tried. I could even eke short turns out of them, but that required serious commitment. Not surprisingly, they did get grumpy in the developing afternoon slush.

Salomon QST 92 176 cm, 128-92-116, ? m radius

Note: I didn't get the radius on these, and they have been slightly redesigned for 2023, with a tighter turn radius. The 2022's dimensions are 131-92-120 with an 18 m radius.

We were in full-on mashed potatoes mode when I took these out and I was surprised to find they were really fun - nimble and easy, and they didn't get tossed around by the gunk at all. They also had great grip on the scratch between the slush bumps. They were my surprise ski for the day. Anyone looking for a super fun but capable ski should take a ride on these.

Head Absolute Joy, Salomon QST 92, Atomic Bent 100

Atomic Maverick 95 Ti 180 cm, 129-94.5-113, 19.3 m radius

For such a light and balanced ski, the Maverick has a TON of chops. It was dependable and solid, blasting easily through the afternoon slush bumps and mashed potatoes. They loved to be driven hard and rewarded agressive skiing with manageable power and speed. Ex-racers looking for all-terrain versatility should take a hard look at these.

Atomic Bent Chetler 100 180 cm, 129.5-100-120, 19.5 m radius

Unfortunately, I only had time for 2 runs on these. I found the 180 length to feel a little short for me, and they got bounced around in the deep late afternoon goop. This surprised me a bit as I felt them to be on the burly side of the flex spectrum, requiring power and solid edging skills. Maybe I was just whooped by the long day and challenging conditions, but they tired me out. Chet, however, loved them (but he's more of a power skier than I am).

2021-2022 Rossignol, Atomic, Salomon, and Head Demo Day

Testers:

Kris: 55 year old heavyweight who prefers finesse and technique over power and has a love of high speeds and junky snow. Ex-PSIA level 2 instructor, league and Nastar racer.

Chet: 59 year old heavyweight who skis with power and speed. League and Nastar racer.

Conditions:

Solidly frozen groomers in the morning, softening through corn before lunch, and changing to scratch and deep slush bumps by early afternoon. Bright sunshine all day.

Skis listed in the order tested

Salomon S/Force Ti.80 and Atomic Maven 86c

Atomic Maverick/Maven 86c, 176 cm, 124.5-88-109.5, 18.2 radius:  I asked the Atomic tent for something that would be zippy and fun on the early morning frozen groomers, and this is what they pulled out for me. I found the Maven to be a nimble ski and a solid performer with great grip and lots of zip. While the 176 cm length felt a tiny bit too short for me, they were fun and easy in medium and short turns, but required some finesse to excel at longer turns. The tips rolled easily into turns, and the tails held really well, but they still broke loose and skidded when asked. This would be a great ski for the advanced to expert skier who wants a capable all mountain ski that's also fun and easy, or an ambitious intermediate looking to up their game.

Salomon S/Force Ti.80, 177 cm, 128-80-112, 16 radius: Chet found this ski to be calm and grippy. He lauded its smooth nature, and found it held the turn really well, but remarked that it lacked any appreciable rebound. He felt it would be a great ski for beer league racers, since it didn't really punish the occasional lack of attention.

 

Head eSpeed and eSL

Head WC Rebels, e-SL 155 cm, 122-68-108, 10.7 radius:  It's been years since I've been on anything as short as a 155 cm (my usual SLs are 165 cm), and I was a bit worried about keeping up with hubby, especially since he was on the e-Speed at the same time. From the very first turn, I couldn't help but laugh maniacally all the way to the bottom. This was the funnest ski I've been on in a very long time!! I couldn't wipe the grin off my face the whole time I was on them. They were even surprisingly stable in the sugar and death cookies that began to develop as the sun softened the snow surface, and they don't feel like full-blown race skis, either. For short turn lovers, these are the ticket!!!

Head WC Rebels e-Speed, 175 cm, 118-68-99, 16.9 radius:  This was another Wheeeeeeee!!!! ski! Head has totally nailed this series of skis for groomers. I never did find a speed limit on these, no matter how hard I tried. This is a somewhat burly and stiff ski that stills breaks free easily when asked. Unlike the e-SL, though, it REALLY didn't like the developing sugar - it became increasingly cranky and got bogged down as the sugar got deeper.  But for any speed demons that stay on the groomers (or as an addition to a quiver), this may be your ride! Chet dubbed them the "Wild Ponies".

 

Head e-Magnum and eSpeed

Head Supershape e-Magnum, 177, 129-72-111, 14.3 radius: Chet found the e-Magnum to be a grippy and zippy choice that stayed exciting yet perfectly manageable on the groomers. This ski definitely favored the front side groomers and started flailing much like the e-Speed once the sugar and death cookies started building up.

Rossi Black Ops Sender, Atomic Maverick 100

Rossignol Black Ops Sender, 172 cm, 137-103-127, 16 radius:  The Black Ops series is the replacement for Rossi's venerable "7" series, which I never developed a love for. I found all of the 7s that I tested to be too soft and too rockered for my liking, even in softer snow. Had I known this fact in advance, I may not have taken them out at all, and that would have been a huge mistake. The Sender ended up being our obvious winner in the afternoon slush and scratch. While I would probably go up a size if I were to buy them, I found the 172 cm to be solid on the groomers at eye-watering speeds, while remaining fun, poppy, and stable in the deeper slush. It zipped around the slush bumps like they weren't even there, and we even found ourselves aiming for the bumps and plowing into them, just for fun. It ripped off amazing short turns (for a 102 mm waisted ski) without feeling twitchy at all, and excelled at medium and long turns, even at slow speeds. This is just a fun, fun, FUN fat ski that doesn't feel as fat as it really is. All advanced and expert skiers who like mixed conditions should take this one for a spin!

Atomic Maveric 100 Ti, 180 cm, 129.5-100-120, 19.2 radius:  I found the Maveric to be a stiff, steady ski that blasted the afternoon slush bumps and deep sugar with calm aplomb. While the Sender was all about fun in the slush, the Maveric was all business. It definitely preferred the plow-through-at-speed approach to the deep and cruddy conditions.

 

Head Kore 103, Salomon Luxe QST

Salomon Luxe QST, 169 cm,130-92-113, 17 radius: The Luxe was steady in the slush and grippy on the ice in between, but its lack of rebound left me wanting more. It was really nimble in this length, but it was noticeably too short for me, and I found their speed limit really quickly. The Luxe's steadiness in even crappy conditions would make this a real winner for an advancing intermediate or an advanced "weekend warrior".

Head Kore 103 w, 177 cm, 132-103-123, 16.5 radius: The Kore was another ski that was just steady, regardless of conditions and speed. It's a surprisingly stiff ski that never got rattled, despite its remarkably light weight. It preferred medium to long turns, but could be coaxed into short turns with some determination. This one skis true to length, so don't size up.

Thank yous going out to Bill & Paul's Sporthaus and Caberfae Peaks for hosting the demo day, and to the reps and their helpers for bringing their gear out and getting everything adjusted so we could just grab and go.

Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter XT Hammock

Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter XT Hammock

 

I've been using the Skeeter Beeter Pro for over 3 years now, and the elastic mosquito net hangers finally ripped out of the net itself. My review of the SB Pro, and Grand Trunk's customer service response to the failure is here: Skeeter Beeter Pro. I'm still using the patched Pro for nights spent in my hammock hut, but I can tell it won't last much longer. I've given the new Pro to hubby, and have been using the XT for myself on backpacking trips.

Features

• Knotless Cordlock System makes it super easy to hang
• Double-sided zipper for easy entry and exit
• Black No-See-Um nylon mosquito/bug netting
• Soft, breathable and fast drying
• Flip over and use it as a regular single hammock
• Triple-lock stitched seams for extra strength

 Tech Specs

• Material: parachute nylon
• Unfolded Dimensions: 10’6” x 5’
• Lounging Capacity: 1 person
• Weight Capacity: 400 lbs / 181 kgs
• Weight: 34 oz

Included Items

• 2 nautical grade carabiners
• 2 aluminum spreader bars
• stuff sack for stress-free travel

On The Trail:

The XT is the same size as the Pro, but 1 oz lighter. I also shed another 77 grams by ditching the stock  continuous loop line and beefy carabiners and switching out the Atlas straps to Wildhorn Litespeed cinch buckle straps and Dyneema continuous loops. The new, separated bug net hanging system is 100% better than the Pro's continuous shock cord. The new system has lovely little line locks and nice cordage, and I added mini biners to making hanging it even easier. I love the sturdier bug net, the bug net spreader bars, and the little storage area in the center top of the net. The storage area is a great idea, but it needs some work to be fully functional - there's really nothing supporting it besides tension on the bug net, and once you settle into the hammock with correct sag, any tension on the storage area is gone. I've found it can hold my phone, but nothing else with any reliability. The aluminum bug net spreader bars are a pain to insert into their sleeves the first few times - once the the sleeves stretch out some, they're much better, but still fiddly.

Things I Love: 

•  It's still the same spacious abode
• The ease of setup
• The new and improved bug net with spreader bars
• The idea of the bug net loft
• The lighter weight
  

Things That Need Help:

• The spreader bar sleeves need either additional elastic or pull tabs
• The bug net loft needs some way to tension it to make it truly functional
• The provided carabiners are total overkill and unnecessary weight
• I really, REALLY wish it had interior pockets
  

Overall impression:

The XT is a decided upgrade from the Pro, but it's not without its own issues. The spreader bar sleeves need either elastic ends on the closed side, or pull tabs on the insertion end, and the bug net loft either needs a way to tension it separately, or maybe elastic on both ends to support it and make it functional. Even so, it still sleeps well and its hard to beat the price for a 10.5' hammock with a built-in bug net. For anyone needing an easy-to-setup, integrated bug net, full-sized hammock without having to shell out a ton of money to a cottage vendor, the XT is a great choice. I hope to get another 3+ years out of this one, too.

I will be updating this review as I get more time in it and see how it holds up.

Kelty Coyote 60 Backpack

Women's Kelty Coyote 60 Backpack

This is the first overnight backpack I purchased brand new. It has all the features I was looking for at a crazy-cheap price. Current models can be purchased for around $150-200, and previous years' models can still be found for just over $100. That's a fantastic price for a feature-rich pack from a reputable manufacturer. I find it odd that the Kelty brand is often overlooked in backpack searches, and I'm not sure why.

On The Trail:

So many pockets!! The upper side pockets are just the right size for a poop kit on one side and water filter on the other, and these pockets also have a pass-behind for skis or poles. There's 2 super stretchy mesh pockets sized for large water bottles, the brain has 2 pockets for maps and other goodies, there's a front organization pocket under the stuff pocket, and pockets large enough for large snack bars and an iPhone 11 on the hip belt. It also has a water bladder pocket inside.

While the non-removable/non-exchangeable hip belt comes just to the front point of my hip bones, it should fit the majority of women that aren't super fluffy. The shoulder harness is nicely padded and perfectly curved to fit "the girls", and the harness torso length is adjustable on-the-fly with special purple pull straps.

The Coyote is fairly light for a standard internally framed pack, and it carries really nicely with a 30 lb load (not at all sure how it would carry with a load over 40). This is another pack with forward pull hip belt, and once I had everything set, I didn't need to fuss with it at all.

Things I Love:

• All the pockets!! This makes my organizational OCD very happy.
• The size of the hip belt pockets.
• Pack weight.
• The interior is NOT black, so it's really easy to find stuff hidden in the bottom.
• The harness and hip belt are supremely comfortable.
• Front panel access to the interior.
• There's beefy grab straps on both sides of the pack.
  

Things That Need Work:

• The sleeping bag compartment is pretty tiny.
• The zipper on the sleeping bag compartment is fiddly, and gets caught on the rain flap and the bottom compression strap buckles. It's fairly annoying.
• The stuff pocket partially hides the front panel access.
• The zipper pulls tend to slide out of the zipper hooks.

Overall Impressions:

The Coyote 60 is an great pack for women on a budget. For the Coyote's price point, this is a solid pack; the minor irritations really don't detract much from its overall function, and it fits and carries very well. I would call this one a Best Buy option - great features, full functionality, and a jaw-dropping price.

Osprey Women's Luna 70/Men's Crescent 75 Backpack

Osprey Women's Luna 70 Backpack (Plum)

I purchased this in excellent used condition off FaceBook Marketplace, in my quest to find a pack that truly fits me. The pack itself is a women's small, and the hipbelt and harness had already been switched out for mediums by the previous owner. I was pretty sure the medium belt wouldn't fit me correctly, and I was right. However, a quick email to Osprey got me excellent advice and service and a $25 men's XL belt was on its way to me in short order (they only offer the women's conical cut belt in XS-L). Now, I finally have a pack that truly fits me - for the first time, my pack's hipbelt wraps ALL the way around past the front of my hip bones, like it's supposed to.

The weight of the pack while empty concerned me somewhat, as over 6 lbs is super hefty (it added 2 lbs to my base weight when I transferred my stuff from my Kelty Coyote 60).

Specifications:

• ReCurve Suspension optimizes fit and load transfer: Foam-X polyethylene framesheet, twin aluminum stays and dual aluminum struts
• ReCurve aluminum struts create a pretensioned lift mechanism, actively transferring load to the hipbelt and reducing sag
• Load-lifter straps act with ReCurve struts and framesheet to draw load snug against your back for increased control and stability
• D3 Spacer Mesh on backpanel, promotes airflow and wicks moisture during warm weather and intense activity
• BioForm hipbelt is canted and conically cut to fit a women's hips and waist; BioForm technology allows heat molding for a customized fit
• Osprey certified Custom Molding is available in most stores—check your local REI store for a custom hipbelt molding oven
• Provides complete access to main compartment via top-loading and side zippered access
• Externally accessible, extra-large sleeping bag compartment accommodates large synthetic sleeping bags
• Lid pocket converts to a fanny pack with hidden hipbelt and features compression straps for lashing on day-tripping gear
• Removable two-liter AquaSource hydration sleeve converts to a hydration pack for day-tripping; reservoir sold separately
• Comes with built-in stretch-panel front pocket with spacious waterproof zip compartment
• Side pockets, one zippered and one mesh, keep essentials handy and secure, and double as slots for hauling skis in the traditional A-frame style
• StraightJacket compression wings let you securely compress the contents, whether the pack is full or nearly empty, without sag or load distortion
• Imported.

Specifications for torso, hipbelt, base volume and weight are as follows: X Small - up to 16 in. / up to 28 in. / 3,900 cu. in. / 64 liters / 6 lbs. 2 oz. Small - 16 - 18.5 in. / 27 - 31 in. / 4,100 cu. in. / 67 liters / 6 lbs. 6 oz. Medium - 18 - 20.5 in. / 30 - 34 in. / 4,300 cu. in. / 70 liters / 6 lbs. 10 oz.


On The Trail:


Turns out my weight concerns were totally unfounded....this thing carries like a dream!! I only had around 32 lbs in it, but it rode so smoothly it was almost like carrying my 13 lb day pack. I can envision this pack hauling 40+ lbs with ease. On my overnight backpack trip, I didn't need to touch any of the adjustments after the initial set up each day. The forwad pull hip belt straps are one of the features I was searching for in my pack, and this one's wide straps are easy to adjust and stayed put once set. I love the head dent in the back panel that allows me to look up, even with a ponytail. I also love that I can reach my drink from the mesh pocket without straining. The biggest plus I found, however, is the absolutely gigantic sleeping bag compartment on the bottom, with a huge and robust zipper that never got stuck - I got my hammock with bug net and straps, top quilt, underquilt, gear hammock, and baggie of personal items into the compartment, and still had space on the sides left over.

Things I Love:

• The size of the sleeping bag compartment and the power of the compartment's zipper
• The mesh bottle pocket that allows for upright or forward-angled bottle carry
• The enclosed, zippered pocket on the opposite side that can also function as a bottle carry
• The front stash pocket with zippered front waterproof compartment
• The head dent on the back panel
• Key clip on red webbing inside the Brain pocket
  
• The bioform hip belt and harness' comfort and customization
  
• The removable water bladder pocket that uses the sleeping pad compression straps to become a separate water pack
• The removable sleeping pad compression straps - you don't have to fight them to work with the sleeping bag compartment
  
• The range of adjustments and compression straps that actually work without getting in the way constantly (mostly)
• The off-white vertical compression straps, making them highly visible
  
• The way it carries so easily

          Things That Need Work:

• I wish it had hip belt pockets
• The brain's pocket is so large that everything slides around, and if the pack is only partially loaded, everything in that pocket ends up right behind your head
• All 3 front compression straps need to be unbuckled to find the front-access zipper, which is tucked up under the front compression wings, making it pretty useless on the trail
• Why in the hell are the insides of almost all packs BLACK??? Trying to find stuff inside this huge pack SUCKS because of this
• I'm a compulsive organizer, so I wish this had an organizer pocket or internal pockets for smaller items like my knife, lighter, and EpiPen        

Overall Impressions:

I highly recommend this pack for anyone looking to haul larger loads in style and comfort. The ability to swap out both the harness and the hip belt makes this a true winner for women that don't fit the "womanly norms" of size and shape. Yes, it's big; yes, it's heavy; yes, it just works. The fact that it's now a several-year-old model (first introduced in 2005) means you'll likely find it at prices up to 2/3 or more off retail (orignially $359), IF you can find one. I've gotta give this one 2 👍!

Wavestorm 9'6" Stand Up Paddle Board (Costco)

Wavestorm 9'6" Stand Up Paddle Board Package

If you're a Costco member, you're in luck!! The stores carry this SUP package in-warehouse for $299, and the website offers a 2-pack of the same board for $599 with free shipping.

Each paddle board package includes everything you need to get out on the water (2 of everything in the 2-pack) - the 9'6" board, an adjustable aluminum and plastic paddle, a straight cable ankle leash, a plastic fin, a rubber gear lash system on the nose, a picture-rich basic assembly/user's guide, and a terry cloth board sock. Everything except the leash is color coordinated, even!

The board is constructed of a soft foam with 3 stringers for strength and stiffness, and a bonded slick plastic bottom for speed and maneuverability. The fin mounts into a standard surf/windsurf toughbox using a Phillips screw and fin plate, with a small amount of adjustment available. The leash mounts with a rope loop to the leash plug on the tail of the board.

Specs:

• Weight: 24lbs (26.4 with fin and leash)
• Dimensions: 9'6" L x 33" W x 5.25" T / 195 L
• Weight capacity: Up to 275lbs / 125kgs
• Top Deck IXL Textured Traction Pads
• Ingress Tail Area Traction Pad
• Strong EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) core with 3 x Marine-ply stringers
• Water Barrier Skin (WBS) with Patented GFT™ (Graphic Film Technology)
• High Density HDPE slick bottom skin
• Bolt thru fin box system with 9" Flat Water Fin
• High quality Polyurethane leash
• Centered carry handle
• Adjustable paddle included (2.8 lbs)
• Soft Protective board sock included

Assembly:

The shipping box this comes in is a total pain! It's huge and slippery as heck, so it's definitely a 2-person job getting it loaded and home! Inside the box, everything is shrink-wrapped in plastic with cardboard backing.

Assembly using the owner's manual is a 10 minute or so procedure....just peel back the tape on the fin box, remove the Phillips fin screw, slide the fin pins into the box and slide the fin back, line up the hole in the front of the fin with the hole in the fin plate, put the screw back into the fin hole, and tighten the screw. Flip the board over and slide the rope loop on the leash through the farthest rearward plug on the deck, then thread the rest of the leash through the open end of the loop and the board is ready to go! To adjust the paddle, pull the adjustment collar out, slide the handle to your desired height, marked in centimeters on the shaft, (most recommend stretching your arm straight overhead and setting the paddle handle so the wrist can just hook over the top of the handle knob as a starting point), then slide the collar back onto the neck so the pin in the collar snaps into the correct hole in the handle shaft and the collar clicks in fully. You are now ready to hit the water!!

Pretty!! Note the gear lash.

On The Water:

As a solid 200+ lbs, with my first experiences at SUPing having been on a 11' boards, I was more than a touch concerned about the Wavestorm's 9'6" length and stated 195 liter volume having the ability to float someone my size without being super tippy. The literature/box states a maximum payload of 300 lbs, with a suggested max rider weight of 275 lbs, but those numbers are often aimed at more advanced riders. It turns out I shouldn't have worried one bit! As only my 3rd time on a board, I was flabbergasted to go right from all-fours to standing and paddling this one just moments after hitting the water - nothing got wet except my feet!!

A pretty night for a paddle!

On the water, it moved nicely and rode the small wind ripples well, getting even better when paddled strongly using the core muscles. It's short length makes it a touch twitchy and it suffers a bit in the tracking department - those looking for better tracking will want to slide the fin all the way to the back of the toughbox, and use a paddle stroke very close to the board with a short J-stroke at the end.

The deck is soft and grippy and amazingly comfortable in bare feet. The extended grip section on the back even allows one to use this as a surf board if desired. The leash's ankle wrap is not the most padded, but it does the job and doesn't dig in or irritate at all. The paddle, as well, does the job, although it's a bit heavy and the blade is pretty flexy.

Really? This was just from putting the fin in.

The biggest gripe I have after my first foray is the craptastic "Water Barrier Skin". In just the time it took to put the fin and leash on, load it in the car, ride it, and load it back in the car, plenty of damage occurred to that "skin". The only good part of this is that the EPS construction will allow it to continue to float and perform regardless of the damage to the skin, and small digs can be resealed with any non-solvent glue, like Gorilla Glue Clear. One way to combat some of the damage that can occur during storage and shipping is to use the included board sock; however, that has its own set of pitfalls. The biggest is that it is a complete and total pain to actually put the sock on the board. Because it's a stretchy terry cloth material, it sticks to any Velcro in a 5 mile radius, including the leash ankle strap, and every single piece of grass, twig, or leaf will stick to the sock. Ugh!!! Once the sock is on, of course, finding the carry handle in the middle of the board becomes an exercise in touchy-feely hide-n-seek!

I didn't even see this until I hit the water.

Just from loading it in the car!

Pros:

• COST!! How can you beat less than $300???
• Light weight
• It will continue to float no matter what you do to it
• The deck is soft and easy on the feet
• The slick bottom skin is surprisingly speedy
• Few boards at this price point have all accessories and lash straps included (Who am I kidding - there ARE no other boards at this price point!!)
• Everything just works - no muss, no fuss
• Super flotation for larger people
•  Its smaller size makes it easier to transport and store
• Great beginner, family, or loaner board

Cons:

• The "Water Barrier Skin" SUCKS, SUCKS, SUCKS
• Tracking could be better
• The paddle is a bit heavy and flexy
• The board sock SUCKS

Overall Impressions:

If you're looking to get into the SUP market and don't want to spend a lot of money only to find out you hate it; if you're on a budget; if you're looking for a family/loaner board; really, if you are in the market for a low-cost board for any reason, this is a GREAT buy. It really just works, and works well. The positives FAR outweigh the few negatives on this one. I really couldn't be more pleased with this purchase! Many, many thumbs up!!!!👍👍👍👍

2018 Midwest Test Fest - Intros and Overview

2018 Midwest Test Fest

Test Central

Meet The Test Team:

KS:  52 year old heavyweight female with a love of speed, junky snow, and tough conditions.  Previous PSIA L2 certified instructor and twice-a-week gold/platinum league/NASTAR racer.  Technically proficient in most conditions, skis with finesse backed by speed and prefers to dance with the mountain.  Current daily drivers – Volkl RTM 84 177 (UVO version), Hart Lady Twin 176, Volkl Kiku 178 (full rocker version), and Volkl Shiro 184.

CS:  56 year old heavyweight male with more balls than technique.  Generally fearless and skis with speed and power; likes to use the whole ski, powering up the tail to rocket out of the turn and prefers to blast through the cruddy stuff.  Current daily drivers – Volkl Grizzly 177, Volkl Mantra 177 (tip rocker version), Volkl Gotama 176 (camber and rocker versions), and Volkl Katana 184.


NW:  70+ year old midweight female with solid intermediate to advanced skills, but skis cautiously in cruddy conditions and on steeper terrain.  Current skis – Volkl P60 World Cup SL Jr 150, Volkl RTM84 166 (full rocker version), Volkl Aura 163 (full camber version), and Volkl Shiro Jr 163.




JE:  70+ lightweight female most comfortable making very short turns on easy terrain with short skis.  Current skis – Volkl P60 World Cup SL Jr 150 and Dynastar Intense 10 153.

TR:   Diminutive 30-something ex-racer female who grew up on skis and now carves high speed short turns with power and grace all over the mountain. Current skis - Atomic Metron.

Test Conditions:

Day 1 - Teens to low 20s but cloudy and windy, perfect groomers becoming a bit chunky at the top.
Day 2 - Low 30s warming to mid 40s with beautiful sunshine and howling winds, crusty groomers changing to thick and creamy slush.
Day3 -  Consistently in the 30s and partly cloudy, crunchy groomers turning to deep sugar over hardpack.

Test Notes:

Testing is Seriously Hard Work!

2019 is going to be a stellar year to try some skis from the lesser-known brands! I spent much of my time on these indie-type skis and was beyond impressed by most of them. If you're curious, or happen on a demo day, don't hesitate to jump on a pair!

Volkl has hit it out of the park with the new M5 Mantra, and the Deacon series, and I can guarantee you the Secret won't live up to its name for long!

No, Really, It Is! Homework During Lunch.

Salomon was a total surprise for me this year, as I typically don't like their feel. They're still not really my cup of tea, but they will make lots of people very happy with their models for 2019.

There were 2 skis that really stood out for the stronger women on the test team, and the fact that we all loved them, even with our vastly different skiing styles and speeds, speaks to their quality and versatility.

Play Time on Superbowl

Those 2 skis are the incredibly capable carver, the Atomic Cloud 12 and the the fully redesigned replacement for the venerable Volkl Aura, the Secret.

In addition, the strongest skiers of our group enthused about all the Icelantic skis we got on, although 2 of the women felt that the binding mount point was too far back for them.

The "token" male tester fell head-over-heels for the Volkl V-Werks Mantra, the Icelantic Natural 101 and Pioneer 96, and the Blizzard Brahma and Bonafide.

Just like last year, we did have one rep show up with badly tuned skis (different manufacturer, though). This was unfortunate because I was anxious to get everyone on these skis since I loved them so much last year.

I have a total of 95 ski score cards to sort, tabulate, and put into words, so stay tuned for full reviews in the carving, all mountain, and fat ski categories!