Mar 26 2013

1st Look: K2’s Pinnacle 130 for AT

 

K2’s Pinnacle 130. Powerful, comfortable, tech ready.

For their first foray into the world of ski boots K2 is making a big splash in a pond teaming with established competitors. What’s more, they’re making a big deal of the freeride, go-anywhere-you-want aspect of their line. Which means they deserve a closer look.

At the WWSRA demo day in February I stuck a foot into a Pinnacle 130, and one that fit relatively well out of the box. No tight spots, and my flat foot was held in place well, with a comfortable, pre-lasted LUX-Fit Intution® liner.

The liner is tongued, with optional lacing and a grippy rubber sole on the bottom for hanging around camp or a stroll to the sauna. It has a nice finish on the inside, and is prelasted to conform to the shell, and an “average” foot.
Keep making backcountry turns

Mar 24 2013

1st Impressions from WWSRA Demo Day

 

WWSRA Demo Day at Alpine Meadows, Feb. 11-12, 2013

Even the though the bulk of new gear for next season is aimed at the urban backcountry skier, that just whets the appetite for more adventure down the road. It is awesome to see how many manufacturers are offering the necessary ingredients for a BC passport.

One day at the Outdoor Retailer show was barely enough time to scratch the surface of what is coming down the road for next season. Rather than head to Denver I dodged the travel costs of attending SIA and attended the local demo put on by the WWSRA (Western Winter Sports Representatives Association) at Alpine Meadows. Myself and local ski retailers are really thankful for the reps putting this event on, and Alpine Meadows for hosting it. It was early February and the conditions were firm and cold with an inch of packed powder from one of this season’s wimpy storms the week before.
Keep making backcountry turns

Mar 20 2013

Ski Review: Dynastar’s Cham HM 97

 
When you first look at any of Dynastar’s Cham skis it is hard not to think, “somebody was smoking some whacky tobaccy when they made that ski.” Even in an age when traditional shapes and construction are rarely the norm anymore the Cham series draws attention with a tip that more resembles the bow of a boat than the shovel of a ski.

Dynastar’s Cham HM 97. Anarchistic shape delivers versatility and light weight.


In the case of the standard Cham series I tend to agree, but not with the High Mountain versions.
Keep making backcountry turns

Mar 18 2013

Review: Scarpa Freedom SL

 

Scarpa’s Freedom SL • ~4 lbs./boot. • $769

For a heavy weight boot from a backcountry focused company Scarpa’s new AT boot, the Freedom, delivers much of the performance you would expect from a traditional alpine boot, but without much weight. If that sounds contradictory, let me explain. True, it does weigh in at an ounce over four pounds per boot (1.85 kg) but in the alpine world where everything is laden with extra material an eight pound pair of boots is actually rather light. From a backcountry perspective it is on the heavy side, but only if you’re using it for a week long traverse or a rando race.

There are several things that contribute to the Freedom’s breadth of up and downhill performance. Let’s start with the shell.
Keep making backcountry turns

Mar 13 2013

Mantis: Elegant home brewed TTS

Editor’s Note: The fact that several people are tinkering on their own with the TTS concept verifies two things. First, that tele is far from dead. Secondly, that the future of further progress in the telemark world will be found where the grass roots energy is flowering in spite of the lack of commercial development.

Mantis: a carbon fibre plate for integrating a telemark cable with a tech toe.

Designing the Mantis
Ever since learning to ski telemark, I have longed for a binding that skis well, is lightweight, has a true free pivot and sports some degree of safety release (allowing skis to come off in the event of an avalanche). The Telemark Tech System promises to meet these requirements. I designed the Mantis binding as a home project to take the TTS concept and to turn it into a binding that could be skied hard on fat skis without concerns about pulling the binding out of the ski.
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Mar 11 2013

Black Diamond goes all in on apparel

When Black Diamond set out to impress the press with the launch of their apparel line it was obvious what they intended to do. Frankly I wasn’t expecting that much of substance, but figured it would be a good show. Indeed, the showmanship was top notch for a bunch of guys struting their athletic builds beneath BD’s new duds. It wasn’t exactly titillating for me, but I’m sure the few ladies in attendance were enjoying seeing a bit of runway action with guys for a change.

Tim Bantle, product manager for BD’s new apparel line, wraps up his explanation of the many pieces shown on stage.

That was not the most impressive part of the evening. Not by a long shot.
Keep making backcountry turns

Mar 06 2013

Airbag Review: Mystery Ranch’s Blackjack

The Blackjack by Mystery Ranch. $1025 of avy insurance with 43 liters of volume in an 8 pound pack.

Admittedly it took a few tours for me to warm up to the Blackjack from Mystery Ranch and even then I wasn’t completely convinced until I happened to share a ride up the Jerome chairlift at Sugar Bowl with a ski patroller who also happened to be wearing the Blackjack on his back. He pointed out the antidote for the packs too many straps.

Actually, there aren’t too many, but there are so many that the tails of all of them make the Blackjack feel like a spaghetti factory sometimes. But, the cure is embedded with a set of velcro straps at the end of most to be able to roll ’em up and keep ’em that way.

With that bit of advice the Blackjack transformed from just another airbag pack to one that had all the features a backcountry skier would want for a big day, or a light weekend, plus an airbag for safety.
Keep making backcountry turns