Ski Equipment

Complete list of links to ski manufacturers.

Ski Features and Designs:

Rocker: The importance of "Rocker" is most noticible for freeride skis where you might end up skiing backwards or in back country powder. It is physically apparent when you hold the skiis together in the middle and the tips and tails are not in contact but bent apart while the ski is flat under your foot.. Rocker is measured with two numbers measured in millimeters, the first is the distance of the tip rise from the ground. The second measurement is the distance from the end of the ski where the rise or rocker begins.

"Tip Rocker" will lead to more floatation in powder but more washed out turns in packed and groomes slopes. Increased rocker will also reduce the length of the ski which is in contact with the snow reducing your edge hold (not a good East Coast ski).

"Tail Rocker" will allow the skis to pivot more easily and spin as there is less hold on the ground. It allows you to perform a landing switch to ski in reverse more easily.

Camber: This is the opposite of rocker, where the mid section of the ski is raised off of the ground if unloaded. Rocker is sometimes refered to as reverse camber.

Tip Design: Pointed tips (knife tips) are the traditional pointed designs which have ben around since the dawn of skiing. This design is versitile.

Wide tips are more common on powder or wide ski designs. These tips tend to influence the carve of the turn as they will actually engage the ground during a turn. The wide tip has become more popular with the "shaped skis".

Photo taken at Doc's Ski Haus

2010 Ski Review:

Ski Measurement: [length cm: shovel / mid / tail widths mm Sidecut Radius m]

Carving skis: Quick turning carving skis for the chutes, trees and moguls.

• K2 Charger - no turn or edge in the moguls
  [174cm:122/74/106mm]
• Rossignol Strato 70Ti: did not hold an edge well. Great for a weak skier as it moves around easily. Effortless turns. Quick turning but not twitchy. Graphic by Troy Lee.
  [170cm:124/70/112mm 13m]
• Rossignol Avenger82 carbon - light, soft flex
  [177cm:128/82/112mm 18m]

All Mountain Freeride skis: Like the carving ski above but wider for off trail runs.

• Solomon XWing Tornado Powerline - my favorite again! Great in the moguls, groomers and at high speed. Quick turns. Wide enough for powder days and narrow enough for moguls.
  [173cm:120/79/107mm 16m]
• Lib Tech NAS (Narrow Ass Snowboard) - This was a surprise. It has a "serated" edge (about four waves in the edge), is a new ski from a snowboard company and it skied well in the bumps, groomers and at high speed. How did theyget it right on the first try?
• K2 Rictor: Rocker design for improved powder behaviour. Not so great in the moguls.
  [180cm:127/89/109mm]

Fat skis: Single purpose, for deep powder and wide for off trail runs.

• Rossignol S7: High camber and fat. After the first three turns I was adjusted to the ski. Performs well even on a packed groomed run. It's so fat that I had to widen my stance from my regular close stance with my feet together. I did not dare take it in the moguls, they are way too fat for that.
  [188cm:145/115/123mm 18m]

2007 Ski Review:

Ski Measurement: [length cm: shovel / mid / tail widths mm Sidecut Radius m]

Carving skis: Quick turning carving skis for the chutes, trees and moguls.

• Solomon XWing Tornado: quick turning, stable on fast straight. Good in the moguls and chutes.
  This ski is sold with the Solomon Z12 ti binding.
  [173cm:124/74/106mm 10.1m]
• Nordica Mach 3 Speed Machine: quick turning, twitchy on fast straight.
  [178cm:119/72/104mm 15m]
• Volkl Supersport All Star: slow to turn, lack turning response.
  [175cm:116/70/101mm]
• Rossi Zenith Z9: Not yet rated
  [170cm:126/74/105mm 14.8m]
• K2 Apache Crossfire: Good all round including moguls.
  [174cm:115/68/99mm 16m]
• K2 Apache Recon: [Tested 174cm:/78mm/] - Not yet rated

All Mountain Freeride skis: Like the carving ski above but wider for off trail runs.

• Solomon XWing Fury: quick turning, stable on fast straight. Wide but still good in moguls. Although wider and longer than the XWing Tornado (sister carving ski), it manages the moguls and chutes as well. My favorite all mountain ski (I bought a pair)
  This ski is sold with the Solomon Z12 ti binding.
  [180cm:124/87/115 17.7m]
• K2 Apache Outlaw: Not yet rated
  [174cm:124/88/111mm 19m]

Fat skis: Single purpose, for deep powder and wide for off trail runs.

• Solomon Guns: wide, great in trees and powder, turns well. Typically an out of bounds, back country ski. Turns fast but NOT good in moguls. Not a carving ski. No edge hold.
  [188cm:130/92/122mm 22.2m]

Tested with an advanced 185 lbs skier on a variety of terrain.

Manufacturers Links:

• Atomic
• Fisher
• Knee Binding - Claims to be much safer for ACL. Made in USA.
• Look
• Marker
• Rossignol
• Solomon
• Tyrolia
• Vist

DIN Settings:

The binding settings are determined by the size, weight and skill of the skier. The following categories specify the skill level:

I - Cautious skiing at lighter release/retention settings. Skiers who designate themselves "I" must accept a narrower margin of retention in order to gain a wider margin of release.

II - Average/moderate skiing at average release/retention settings. Skiers who designate themselves "II" must accept a balanced compromise between release and retention.

III - Aggressive, higher speed skiing at higher release/retention settings. Skers who designate themselves "III" must accept a narrower margin of release in order to gain a wider margin of retention.

The DIN chart is a guideline and subject to change. To be conservative, choose the next lower weight category or height category to resolve chart conflicts. If over 50 years of age, go one letter lower (one row higher) in the "Skier Code" resulting in a lighter, more releaseable setting.

For a chart with torque settings, see: DIN Chart (Marker 1996)

Manufacturers Links:

• Armada
• Black Diamond - carbon fiber, self arresting grips, adjustable, ...
• Goode - carbon fiber poles
• Leki - Aluminum, Carbon, Kevlar
• Level
• Komperdell
• Rossignol
• Scott

Black Diamond Poles

Leki Trigger Poles