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www.SkiHausOnline.com
Info@skihausonline.com - Ph. 845-279-3100

Sunday, February 19, 2012

2013 Blizzard 8.0 Ca Review

When I test skis I grade them from 1 to 5 on 9 different characteristics. The best possible score, of course, is a 45. Out of the 35 skis I demoed at the Stratton On-Snow, the Blizzard 8.0 was my second favorite ski with a score of 44. Before I get to the why let's talk about the how.

The Blizzard 8.0 Ca is a wood core ski, with a full length vertical sidewall, and an 80 mm waist. The "Ca" in its name stands for carbon. Carbon makes skis energetic, lightweight, stable at high speeds, and torsionally rigid.

The why...The Blizzard 8.0 is light on your feet yet extremely accurate and very stable. The carbon makes the 8.0 extremely quick edge to edge and the rebound, or snap, when transitioning to your next turn is unparallelled. There is a burst of speed at the end of every turn, sort of like a rubber band being held back and released.

Although the Blizzard 8.0 wouldn't be the type of ski I'd buy for myself, I had a really hard time giving them back. I prefer skis that have 1 or 2 layers of metal because they are faster, more stable, stiffer, and more precise. My only complaint about the Blizzard 8.0, and the reason it loses a point, is the fact that it is a bit nervous. I like a ski that does what it's told, so for me, the 8.0 kind of felt like it was telling me to keep tipping them. Overall, this is a great ski because it is the type of ski that nearly anyone can enjoy. From lower level intermediate to expert, the Blizzard 8.0 is a perfect fit for the frontside all-mountain skier.

Thanks for Reading,

Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.

1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
845-279-3100
Info@skihausonline.com

Saturday, February 18, 2012

2013 Volkl RTM 80 Review

The RTM 80 gets the RTM in its name from the acronym "Ride The Mountain" and the 80 from its waist width in millimeters. At fist glance I think it's safe to say that the RTM 80 isn't overly impressive. Aesthetically it is on the boring side and its lightweight construction makes the ski feel quite cheesy. I get to touch and feel a lot of skis and this one, to me, feels like a lower level intermediate ski. But...if it's one thing I've learned from this ski, it's that you can't judge a book by its cover.

This ski features a full capped woodcore construction with a full layer of steel and a very mellow reverse camber from tip to tail. Because it is lightweight, the RTM 80 is quick edge to edge, extremely accurate, and very lively. The full layer of steel gives the RTM 80 a nice and comfortable sure footed Cadillac feel. Although the RTM 80 is on the narrow side, relative to most skis nowadays, its full rocker construction allows for tremendous versatility in all conditions.

I will be the first to admit that I seriously underestimated how great this ski really is. This is the perfect ski for an advanced intermediate to expert east coast skier who primarily skis on piste but wants a ski that is forgiving enough to ski softer/deeper conditions.

Thanks for Reading,

Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.
1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-3100
Info@skihausonline.com

Friday, February 17, 2012

2013 Blizzard Gun Smoke Review

It is rumored that this ski will win "Ski of the Year". As if I wasn't upset enough over the Cochise winning this "prestigious" award in 2012. The Blizzard Gun Smoke has absolutely no business being someone's primary ski in the east and either does the Cochise. I demoed the Gun Smoke on Tuesday at the Stratton On-Snow and by the time I rolled over my first turn it was Wednesday. Seriously, rolling this ski over felt like separating two magnets. There really should be two awards; "Ski of the Year East" and "Ski of the Year West". That way, those who are inclined to sip the Kool-Aid have less of a chance ending up on the wrong pair of skis.

Thanks for Reading,
Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.
1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-3100
Info@skihausonline.com

Thursday, February 16, 2012

2013 Blizzard Kabookie Review

For 2013 Blizzard has introduced a new ski called the Kabookie to there very successful series of "Freemountain" skis that include the Bushwacker, the Bonafide, the Cochise and the Bodacious. The Kabookie is the exact same ski as the Bonafide without the 2.5 layers of metal. I think this is a good move because I've felt for the past 2 seasons that the Bonafide was a little overdone with the half layer of metal, and apparently so did Blizzard. Versatility wise, the elimination of this half layer of metal would make for a much better ski and mirror the storyline of the 2013 Kendo and Mantra with it's little brother, the Bushwacker. I can only hope that over the next couple of seasons the Bonafide will go through some evolutionary changes, but for now, the introduction of the Kabookie is an excellent compromise.

In a 180 cm length the Kabookie has a 21 m radius, a 135 mm shovel, a 98 mm waist, and a 118 mm tail. It features a wood core, a full vertical sidewall and flip core technology. Flip core, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is the process of building a ski upside down to produce a rockered ski. In building them this way the skis core remains lively and uncompromised as opposed to most rockered skis that are built in camber molds and heat pressed.

Out of the the 35 pairs of skis that I skied at the On-Snow Demo at Stratton, the Kabookie was in the top five. We were actually offered a Cochise to take out west with us in April but I opted for the Kabookie instead. It is lightweight, energetic, surefooted and tremendously versatile. Unfortunately what the Kabookie doesn't have...is a name for itself. Our Blizzard rep said that because of the popularity of the Cochise and the Bonafide there won't be many pairs brought into the eastern territories so it may be tough finding a pair. Although the Kabookie is heavily underestimated, I think it is better ski than some of the others in Blizzard's lineup. Bottom line is that the Kabookie is perfect for someone who would like the option of skiing both coasts because it is soft enough and wide enough to perform in deeper/softer conditions yet beefy enough to hold on the firmest of days that we typically get here in the east coast. Watch out for this one, it will make a name for itself soon enough.

Thanks for Reading,

Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.
1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-3100
Info@skihausonline.com

Saturday, February 11, 2012

2013 Volkl RTM 84 Review

Ranked #1 by Ski Magazine in 2012, the Volkl RTM 84 returns for the 2013 season unchanged. This is Volkl's premier frontside all-mountain ski that features a poplar and beech Sensorwood core, an 84 mm waist, a full layer of titanium, a vertical sidewall, and a full rocker profile. If you are an advanced intermediate to expert and are afraid of going too wide and unsure about the whole rocker technology, this is your ski.

Other than Blizzard skis, Volkl has the only reversed camber technology that I have come to like. This is because most rockered skis are overdone, making the ski unstable and greasy when linking turns (especially at high speeds). Volkl calls their version of reverse camber, ELP Rocker, which is short for Extended Low Profile. The rocker on the RTM 84 is a smooth, gradual rocker from tip to tail so it skis very well in deeper/softer without sacrificing edge grip on hardpack. Volkl matches the rocker to the sidecut and flex pattern of the ski so the RTM has the same powerful, smooth, and railroad track feel that is characteristic to most Volkl skis.

I'll be the first to admit that I was a skeptic when this ski was first introduced. One, because it replaced the AC 50 which was my favorite ski for 3 years. Two, because it is rockered, and three, because of its lame name which stands for "Ride The Mountain". Although I personally prefer a ski with a little more waist width, the RTM 84 stands up to the implications in its name and truly is an all mountain, hard charging versatile ski with a playful and sensitive side.

Click Here to check it out on our website


Thanks for reading,
Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.
1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-3100
Info@skihausonline.com

Friday, February 10, 2012

2013 Line Prophet 85 Review

Don't be fooled by the Line Prophet series of skis. Just because they have a flipped up tail and are probably found next to the park and pipe skis in your local ski shop doesn't mean they ski like a twin tip. The all new Line Prophet 85 for 2013 is no exception to this. While at first glance the Prophet 85 looks like a park/pipe ski, it is far from it.

This ski features the same tried and true construction as the Line Prophet 90 and 98 but is 118 in the shovel, 85 in the waist, and 108 in the tail. The Prophet is a directional twin in two regards; its preferred mounting position is set back from the skis center and it features a directional flex, meaning it is soft in the shovel and stiffer in the tail. Additionally, the Prophet 85 is a Maple and Aspen woodcore with a layer of titanal. Much like its bigger brothers, the 85 has a capped construction in the shovel and tail with a vertical sidewall underfoot. While the capped construction is responsive and lightweight the vertical sidewall under the foot helps the ski remain surefooted at any speed and any snow condition.

I've loved the Prophet series of skis since their inception because they are fast, stable, damp (yet playful), and surprisingly quick edge to edge no matter the width. Don't get me wrong, the Prophet 85 is a tremendously fun, stable, energetic ski with a lot of personality but the Prophet 90 just has too much street credibility for the 85 to gain any momentum right now. I can tell you as a ski salesman, people are very comfortable buying skis between 90 and 100 mm wide. Sorry Prophet 85, but you may have to ride the bench this season.

Thanks for reading,
Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.
1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-3100
Info@skihausonline.com

Thursday, February 9, 2012

2013 Blizzard Bushwacker Review - Blizzard Bushwacker vs. Volkl Kendo

The good news is that Blizzard did not change anything about the 2013 Blizzard Bushwacker other than the graphic. And why would they? I'm not a huge fan of the continued bull theme throughout their entire freeride series of skis but, to me, it really doesn't matter what a ski looks like.

The Kendo and Bushwacker are nearly identical in their constructions; they both have woodcores, feature metal, a full vertical sidewall, and have almost the exact same waist width. Of these similarities, what makes both these skis great is their waist width. I feel they have the perfect dimension for someone who primarily spends their time on the east coast and likes to mix up their turn shape. The Bushwacker remains the same for 2013 with an 88 mm waist while the Kendo goes from an 88 mm waist to an 89. In comparison, the Bushwacker is still a bit more snappy, playful, and forgiving and therefore better in softer/deeper snow than the Kendo. I skied the Bushwacker in 18 inches of snow at Deer Valley last April and it was better than most of the skis we had in our quiver that were 10-15 mm wider. With the Bushwacker, however, you give up a little stability on firm conditions but that happens with the majority of skis out there unless it's a race ski or built like one. Bottom line is that I wouldn't fault the ski too much for this minor flaw. The Kendo, to put it simply, holds just a touch better because it has a traditional camber flex pattern under the foot.

The Bushwacker features their "flipcore" technology. I prefer cambered skis to rockered skis, but Blizzard does it best because they do it differently. Blizzard "flipcore" technology has addressed the issue with how most rockered skis are made. The problem is that most companies use camber molds to make reverse camber skis. Once the skis are made they are heated and pressed to give the ski a reversed cambered profile. I think of a piece of plastic that is bent continuously when I think of a ski that is made this way. That's why most rockered skis lack energy and snap. The Bushwacker, however, is essentially a cambered ski built upside down, hence the name "flipcore". By building the ski this way, the core remains strong, uncompromised, and highly energetic.

What's funny about these two skis is that the 2012 Bushwacker was made to steal Kendo sales away by offering a similar dimension and construction at $50 less. For 2013, the Kendo features a tip rocker in hopes to steal some sales back. I'm sure there are many that are not going to like the addition of rocker to the Kendo, but I think it was a much needed change and makes the decision between these 2 skis that much more difficult. "Flip" a coin. No pun intended.

Thanks for reading,
Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.
1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-3100
Info@skihausonline.com

Monday, February 6, 2012

Volkl Mantra Review

The Volkl Mantra is the mature big brother to my favorite ski...the Volkl Kendo. By mature I mean that it is touch more forgiving and relaxed than the Kendo. The Mantra still possesses the same silky, powerful, and stable ride as the Kendo, but it is a little more laid back and not as hard charging. Construction wise, both the Mantra and Kendo have 2 sheets of metal, a CNC milled Sensorwood core made from poplar and beech, camber under the foot, and a full vertical side wall. While the Mantra features the same construction as the Kendo, they are two different animals. The Mantra skis a bit differently for four reasons; it is 10 mm wider, it has a softer tail, a more mellow sidecut, and early rise in the shovel. While a 98mm waisted ski is the perfect dimension for skiing both coasts, the subtleties in the difference of their flex patterns make the Mantra a bit more suitable than the Kendo for left coast conditions. The Mantra is pretty much right at what I consider to be the cutoff point for a waist width that can be used on a regular basis on the east coast conditions. Anything over 100mm in the east, like a fine bottle of champagne, should only be brought out on special occasions.

Historically, the Mantra has been the type of ski you could ski both on the east and west, but with the softer tail and the addition of the "rocker" (or whatever you want to call it) this ski is really best out west. Prior to its evolution I called the Mantra a great 50-50 ski. Meaning... 50 % east and 50% west. With the facelift to the 2012 Mantra I think the percentages are more like 65% west and 35% east. Disagree with me all you'd like, but ask yourself this. Do you think the introduction of the 2011 Kendo had anything to do with the changes made to the Mantra which has been relatively untouched since its inception?


Thanks for reading,

Ryan

Ski Haus, Inc.
1611 Route 22
Brewster, NY 10509
Ph. 845-279-3100
Info@SkiHausOnline.com


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