Jan 23 2015
Madsen and I have been scheming for years on ways to grow interest in telemark skiing. We have no illusions about taking over the world in a wave of free heel euphoria, but our best laid plans will come to naught unless the equipment to do the dance remains available. So imagine our consternation …
Jan 20 2015
The evolution of Alpine Touring boots marches on with more players in the light is right area and ever more models with tech fittings standard. From the marketing materials send out pre-show, there is nothing revolutionary, but with so many good products already available, who’s crying for a revolution? Steady improvements characterize next years …
Jan 14 2015
The evolution continues with Scarpa’s development of backcountry boots that up the ante for where you go by how you go. With the F1 Evo, they combine their experience with making stiff plastic boots that walk well, and ski well. No, you wouldn’t dare use these boots on the Hannenkahm, at least not with …
Nov 24 2014
When you’re ready to go long, whether that means deeper into the backcountry, or higher, or simply maximizing vertical even if it’s just line of sight from the trailhead, you know that weight matters and downhill performance will be compromised. Whether that compromise is too much depends in large part on how well you …
Nov 13 2014
Salomon is taking their sweet time developing products for the backcountry. Though the development seems slow, with consistency and time that translates into being relentless. This year’s Quest Pro TR 110 is a moderate example of that. By moderate, I’m referring to a moderate flex rating of only 110, hardly stiff by alpine standards. …
Nov 11 2014
Although the story announcing the demise of Black Diamond’s teleboot line was not unexpected, nor is it unlamented. It might be easy to read into that a sense of good riddance because of the reference to BD boots fitting like buckets. That was not universal, a small but clear majority of bootfitters I spoke …
Oct 27 2014
It’s unofficial: Black Diamond is adding a nail to telemarks demise by ending production of their telemark boot line. If you like their teleboots, better buy ’em while you can because they won’t be making any more any time soon. That’s not official, I’m telling you it will be. Insiders have been hinting at …
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