Zag Ski Review by Pork Chop

Last January, a friend of mine who is a pilot gave me a pair of Zag Big skis to try.  He had just picked them up in Chamonix and was quite excited about them.  I was immediately impressed by the quality of the finish and the obvious attention to detail used in production.  I flexed the ski and found that it had an incredibly smooth, even flex, yet solid tortional rigidity... and it was remarkably light.  That's when my friend told me that the skis were hand made in Chamonix, France.

Out on the slope, the Zag skis did not disappoint.  The smooth flex translated into effortless, predictable turns and a quiet ride.  The skis felt like they had a layer of rubber in them, absorbing vibration.  Yet, when I made a series of short turns, the skis responded with a quickness and snap, that coupled with their lightness, made me feel like I was dancing down the hill.

Click on the video below of my run on the Zag Big.  You will see those smooth initial turns I mentioned, along with some long carves in the middle, and, check me out "dancing" through some short turns at the end.  Keep in mind that I am a 64 year old guy and this was my first run on the Zag ski  

I have skied and tested thousands of skis throughout my 42 years in the ski business and was so impressed with Zag skis, that we brought some over from France.  Currently, the only place you can purchase Zag skis in the U.S. is Ski Haus, in Brewster, New York.  If you are the type of person who appreciates quality; state of the art engineering, performance AND, wants to have something special... something only a handful of people have, in the entire country, you will love owning a pair of Zags.

We have three models.  The Zag Big is a men's all-around, all-mountain ski; The Zag Rock is a good all-around ski, but, especially shines in soft snow or powder, and the Zag Big 2L, a great, sharp looking all-around, all-mountain ladies ski.

Thank you for reading my Zag ski review! Please feel free to give me a call or email me if you should have any further questions. Click Here to see our Zag ski lineup.

Pork Chop

Email : Info@skihausonline.com

Ski Haus, Inc.

1611 Route 22

Brewster, NY 10509

Ph. 845.279.3100

       Me skiing the Zag Big 03/11/13

Stratton's Yodeler, aka "Hell's Kitchen"

Dynastar Cham 97 Video Review

My son skiing the Dynastar Cham 97 at Stratton  (Lower Down Easter)

Be sure to check it out on our website! Click Here

I’ll admit… the first time I saw the Dynastar Cham collection of skis, I said, “They’ve got to be kidding!”   I thought the geometry, profile and graphics were way too over the top.  At the time, I was with a very traditional Austrian born friend, who would have ditched me had I taken them for a test ride.  As a result, I did not try the Chams at the Stratton Trade Show where, each year, we have the opportunity to test all of next year’s products.  It wasn’t until our Dynastar rep gave us a pair of Cham 97’s to take out west that I finally got on a pair.  Wow!!  Out of over fifty models I tried throughout the season they were, by far, my favorite all around ski for 2013.  Out west they floated through the powder effortlessly because of the the 133 mm reverse cambered shovel.  When I got them to Vermont, they carved precise, high speed turns due to the deep sidecut, traditional camber under the foot, full ABS sidewall and the two full sheets of titanium alloy.  Late season, they were phenomenal in slush.  I won’t go into the details of the technology, i.e. Levitation Profile, Progressive 5-Point Sidecut, Long Rocker Tip and Flat Pintail construction, but I will tell you this… If there is a better ski for all mountain, all snow conditions, high performance skiing, I haven’t skied it.  I am a 6 foot tall, 190 lb. expert skier and I skied the Cham 97 in 178cm.

Trust me… this ski is perfect for an avid skier who skis in the east, west and Europe all season long,  in varying conditions and all terrain types.

To check out the Dynastar Cham 97 on our website - Click Here - Lowest Prices Guaranteed!!

Thanks for reading,

Porkchop

Ski Haus, Inc.

www.SkiHausOnline.com

Info@SkiHausOnline.com

Ph: (845) 279-3100

Volkl RTM 81 Video Review

Volkl RTM 81 Review

Me skiing the Volkl RTM 81 on Stratton's Yodeller

 Be sure to check out the Volkl RTM 81 on our website. Click Here

Ski Haus, Inc

1611 Route 22

Brewster, NY 10509

Ph. 845.279.3100

2014 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

Apex Ski Boot Review by Pork Chop

    I had a chance to ski a pair of the new Apex MC X boots recently at the Stratton Mountain Trade Show. I am a strong, expert recreational skier and normally ski in Lange RS 130 boots. My boots are performance oriented; stiff and have a precise and technical fit. They fit so perfectly, that I must use the thinnest socks possible. If I use a regular ski sock, I will cramp up, but, with the thin sock, I am absolutely comfortable all day long. The boots are an extension of my leg and feet and transmit energy very efficiently to my skis.

     With that said, I was skeptical that the Apex boot, which is so comfortable, warm and easy to get on, could deliver enough performance to make me happy. I figured the trade-off in control would be huge. The sole length, (because Apex boots are really a snowboard boot with a removable frame), is about 16mm longer than a traditional boot. Therefore, theoretically, your leverage on the ski should be compromised. However, the reality is that, although there is a loss of some crispness (I wouldn't race using these boots), that loss is surprisingly minimal. I felt in total control and was able to feel the skis respond as I leveraged them from the balls of my feet. When I skied the boot, I didn't have my custom insoles, which would have made the performance even better.

     My conclusion was this: For those people who put a high priority on comfort; warmth and convenience, and perhaps have had some trouble over the years with all or some of these considerations, the Apex boots could be the answer. They are warmer than a traditional boot even with a $200+ heating system; they are extremely comfortable and very easy to get on and off. In addition, the frame can be removed to allow it to be as comfortable as an after ski boot for walking around or hanging out.

     If you would like to call me personally to discuss my experiences and thoughts on Apex ski boots, please feel free to give me a call at 845-279-3100. I have been in the ski industry for 42 years and by speaking to you personally, I can help accelerate your decision making by sifting out information that does not pertain to your specific needs. If you call, be sure to ask for Pork Chop!


Thanks for reading,

Pork Chop

www.SkiHausOnline.com

Ph. 845.279.3100

2014 Volkl RTM 84 Review

Ranked #1 by Ski Magazine in 2012, the Volkl RTM 84 returns for the 2014 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

2014 Dynastar Cham Review by Porkchop

I’ll admit… the first time I saw the Dynastar Cham collection of skis, I said, “They’ve got to be kidding!”   I thought the geometry, profile and graphics were way too over the top.  At the time, I was with a very traditional Austrian born friend, who would have ditched me had I taken them for a test ride.  As a result, I did not try the Chams at the Stratton Trade Show where, each year, we have the opportunity to test all of next year’s products.  It wasn’t until our Dynastar rep gave us a pair of Cham 97’s to take out west that I finally got on a pair.  Wow!!  Out of over fifty models I tried throughout the season they were, by far, my favorite all around ski for 2013.  Out west they floated through the powder effortlessly because of the the 133 mm reverse cambered shovel.  When I got them to Vermont, they carved precise, high speed turns due to the deep sidecut, traditional camber under the foot, full ABS sidewall and the two full sheets of titanium alloy.  Late season, they were phenomenal in slush.  I won’t go into the details of the technology, i.e. Levitation Profile, Progressive 5-Point Sidecut, Long Rocker Tip and Flat Pintail construction, but I will tell you this… If there is a better ski for all mountain, all snow conditions, high performance skiing, I haven’t skied it.  I am a 6 foot tall, 190 lb. expert skier and I skied the Cham 97 in 178cm.

Trust me… this ski is perfect for an avid skier who skis in the east, west and Europe all season long,  in varying conditions and all terrain types.

To check out the Dynastar Cham 97 on our website - Click Here - Lowest Prices Guaranteed!!

Thanks for reading,

Porkchop

Ski Haus, Inc.

www.SkiHausOnline.com

Info@SkiHausOnline.com

Ph: (845) 279-3100