-Trip Report – Umpire Mountain, VT: Victory Tour (January 2012)

Justin and Tele with Burke in the background.

Vermont can be a case study in how different interest groups get along for their mutual benefit.  Just as mountain bikers and stonemasons are fast friends in Barre, backcountry skiers have a friend in the local logger.

-Trip Report- Doublehead Mountain: Thin Crusts Are For Pizzas (January 2012)

There are some days when you know the trip down is going to be more work than the climb up; days where your knees ache just looking at the snow pack;  days where you feel like you're skiing in a straightjacket.

Those are the days of the thin crust.  And I'm not talking pizza.

Gear Review: 2010/2011 K2 Backlash (Now I See)

I swear I didn't plan this shot.  Really.

It’s really hard to find bad reviews of backcountry products online. When was the last time you ever heard someone tell you that the item they tested was a piece of garbage? 

Maybe bad reviews get buried.  Maybe people are a bunch of liars.  Maybe when there’s nothing nice to say, people don’t say anything at all.   Personally, I think there’s a tendency to rationalize or justify a purchase: especially with large ticket items.

So let me readily admit that my earlier ski reviews are total bullshit.  I was blind and now I see.   I can thank the folks at K2 for my new perspective.

Gear Review: Black Diamond Voodoo

My love affair with Black Diamond skis continues.  I purchased a pair of BD Machine skis from the Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington last year, and this year it was time to add to my quiver by getting a wider snow specific ski. 

Again, it was OGE to the rescue, who hooked me up with a great deal. 

Matched with the Radium boot, I've ridden the Voodoos on several recent in-bounds ski days.

The Voodoo has a wider shovel, and less pronounced sidecut than the Machine.  I purchased a shorter length (175cm) than the Machine for easier turns in the woods and moguls.

As indicated on "The Ski Chart", the relaxed sidecut translates to a larger sidecut radius, but don't let that fool you.  The front shovel is designed for easier turn initiation.  While it lacks sidecut, it still turns easily.

The real magic, however, is made when there's fresh powder.  Folks: these are powder skis.  If you like jumping around on pillows then you'll love these skis.  I had one fresh powder day at Bretton Woods and another at Whiteface where they shined as I floated around on the groomers and in the glades.  But I found Nirvana on truly epic day at Killington during the recent Nor’easter.  I rode these magic carpets around the mountain: from blues to the black diamonds to the double blacks.

Their kryptonite, however, is exactly what you would guess for a relatively light ski: steep ice.  I discovered this as they rubber-bandded while traversing some wind scoured crust at Whiteface.  This is somewhat moderated by the modest sidecut, which keeps more of the ski in contact with the slope.  But alas, they won’t stick to lens glass groomers like Spiderman.  But you should bring your big guns when the hardpack calls anyway.

Gered modeling the Voodoos at the top of Killington.

The verdict: these are great skis.  But don’t take my word for it.  My tele-skiing buddy Gered thought that mine looked so cool he had to go out and get a pair for himself.

That’s right, I got mine first.  And now that its on the internets, it must be true.

Backcountry Ski Ideas: Fall 2010

My Basement

I've been busy researching (obsessing over) skis for the upcoming ski season.  Based on my research, I've put together a chart comparing the best options out there for an East Coast skier.

These are organized based on the width of the ski underfoot.   Generally speaking, a ski with a thinner sidecut will perform better on hard pack and ice, while a ski with a wider waist will float better on powder.

The radius of the ski is a function of the sidecut ratio.  If you can imagine the curve between the widest and thinnest part of the ski as part of the diameter of a circle, the number listed is the radius of that imaginary circle.  The lower the sidecut radius, generally speaking, the easier it is to turn the ski.  However, this is not always the case.  Sometimes the shovel design can lead to better turn initiation.

Most of these skis are considered "medium-fat" skis.  I've left off the widest skis, and also elminated the heavier skis from consideration. 

The prices are as of 9/24/10 from the listed retailer.  If you find a better deal, feel free to leave a comment.  Enjoy.

Model	Sidecut			Radius	Weight/lb	Length/cm	Price	Retailer
Volkl Snow Wolf	113	76	100	18.1	6	170	$199.00	www.untracked.com
Dynafit 7 Summits	113	78	100	20	5.5	170	$531.21	www.campsaver.com
BD Machine	123	79	108	16.5	7.1	166	$99.00	www.gearx.com
BD Stigma	123	79	108	17	6.4	174	$490.00	www.evo.com
Atomic RT80	121	80	107	17	6.3	171	$230.00	www.gearx.com
K2 Backup	125	82	110	19	7	174	$300.00	www.mammothgear.com
Mt. Baker Superlight	122	86	107	21	6.6	167	$280.00	www.evo.com
Karhu Spire BC	122	86	108	22	7	177	$299.00	www.secondascent.com
Dynafit Mustagh Ata	116	86	109	24	6.6	169	$468.00	www.sierratradingpost.com
BD Voodoo	123	88	112	21	7.3	175	$250.00	www.gearx.com
K2 Wayback	124	88	108	22	6.8	174	$372.00	www.o2gearshop.com
Atomic Kalais	125	88	111	20.5	8.1	174	$280.00	www.helm-sports.com
BD Havoc	121	88	113	21	7.6	175	$325.00	www.mammothgear.com
BD Aspect	130	90	117	19	6.5	176	$570.00	www.gearx.com