I’m awaiting a test pair of these skis but this is what Dynafit has to say
The combined experience of Olof Sunderstroem and Martin Letzter on the Seven Summits was decisive in pushing the boundaries one step further for Dynafit equipment.
The Se7en Summit Ski was tested under extreme expedition, conditions. Olof Sunderstroem and Martin Letzter, two Swedish Dynafit athletes started the Seven Summits project in 2003. They completed their challenge in November 2006 with the successful expedition to the 4,897 m high Mount Vinson in the Antarctic.
The two athletes are the first Europeans to conquer all seven summits (the highest peaks on each of the seven continents) on skis. In the last three years Olof and Martin also completed the Denali in Alaska, Aconcagua in the Andes, Mount Elbrus in the Caucausus, Mount Kosciuszko in Australia and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
The absolute high point of the tour was the successful completion of the Mount Everest expedition in spring 2006. Perfect support for this extraordinary achievement was provided by the Dynafit product specialists in the form of the Se7en Summit Ski, designed particularly for this expedition.
The Se7en Summit Ski stands for the hightest peak on each of the seven continents, all characterised by unpredictable weather conditions, changing snow conditions and varying types of terrain. Whether you are battling Everest’s North East face or the extreme weather and snow conditions on Mount Vinson, this ski boldly faces up to every challenge. The flat shovel configuration and the narrower tail make for a more forgiving ski with equal precision in every form of terrain.
Weight 1.420 g (per ski, length 170 cm)
Length 156 cm, 163 cm, 170 cm, 178 cm
Side Cut 113 – 78 - 100
Radius 24 m
Construction Paulownia core / beech with Titanal and Quadrax mesh
RRP $539,95usd; € 399
I’ve had a look at the new range and these are really nice skis. The Beech wood can be seen through the topsheet and the 7 summits graphics are snazzy. The weight looks really interesting as does the price.
More info about the trip here:
http://www.se7ensummits.com/
They were pipped at the post by a couple of months by Kit DesLauriers who skied the Lhotse Face in October 2006.
Kilamanjaro is largely rock these days due to climate change so must have been a challenge to 7 summiters.