I wanted to start posting some gear reviews for 2009 kit. I’m going to start with all mountain skis. While strictly aimed at the piste and slackcountry skier lighter all mountain skis can also be mounted with free heel bindings (AT or telemark) and toured but with the priority on skiing rather than climbing pleasure. This is the archetype single quiver ski but not specialized enough for some. We’ll post more reviews as we have time but please contribute your thoughts, requests and reviews.
Black Diamond Machine
Price: 499 euros
The Machine is in its third year. BD has revised the flex making the tail softer. The Machine is a lightweight ski with a wood/glass fibre sandwich core. The Machine skis well even at speed and is predictable with good edge to edge performance. It prefers longer radius turns with enough float for use in powder. It is the single quiver ski par excellence for skiers looking to progress.
The Machine gets Ski Magazines “Palme 2009” in the all mountain category.
Dynastar Legend 8000
The surface area of the Legend was increase last season with a deeper sidecut to improve turning. It is a Poplar wood core with a titanal reinforcing plate. The Legend is available in two versions this year - “Rando” and with integrated bindings for freeriders. A pure Savoyard ski made under the shadow of Mont Blanc.
The Legend has a soft shovel which works best off piste and in softer snow although the pilot has to work in deep powder. The ski is for the rider who prefers carving large and fast turns. The Legend 8000 is a go anywhere ski without any particular character, or vice. We tested the ski mounted with Dynastar branded Naxo bindings (Early Tram). Light enough for shorter tours but also orientated at slackcountry skiers. The Market Duke or Diamir Freeride Plus would be other good choices.
Lengths: 158, 165, 172, 178, 184 cm
Sidecut: 120 - 79 - 103 mm
Head Monster 78
The smaller of the two Monster all round skis. While it looses a bit of float in powder compared to the 82 it gains in manouverability with easy entry into and out of turns. It finds its limits on steeper, hard snow where it is unable to soak up vibrations giving it a feeling of instability if it is not controlled. Ideal ski for someone taking their first steps off piste but who wants to progress further while still having a fun tool for marked runs.
Lengths: 165, 171, 177, 183 cm
Sidecut: 125 - 78 - 111 mm
Price: 550 euros
The testers of Ski Magazine loved it, giving it their “Remarkable Ski 2009” award.
Rossignol Bandit 80 SC
Rossi has split the difference between the B78 and 83 to come up with the 80SC. The SC is an accessible easy listening type of ski for piste or off piste cruisers who don’t want to rip it up. Ideal for beginner off pisters but too limited for experts.
Lengths: 155, 165, 175, 185cm
Sidecut: 122 - 80 - 109mm
Stockl Stormrider XXL
Second and final season for the Stormrider XXL. The ski is a synthetique sandwich core with titanal and fiberglass reinforcements. We don’t really like synthetique cores much, skis tend to get a bit flappy and loose their grip on steep and hard pitches after 50 odd days. The XXL is a stiff ski aimed at good riders who like carving long radius turns. Good grip on the steeps and hard pistes, skiers can link turns with a good spring off the tail. The XXL has pretensions to be a big mountain ski but lacks a bit of float to cut it in the freeride category.
Lengths: 162, 170, 178, 186cm
Sidecut: 122-80-110 mm
Movement Spark
Popular / Okoume wood core construction with triaxial fibre reinforcement. Movement have lifted the shovel by 1cm for this season. The ski works as well in powder as soft slushy snow. Stable at speed and in large radius turns. The Spark cuts through crud like a sledge. However don’t bother to shorten your turn radius, the Spark won’t follow you there. Aimed at good to excellent skiers.
Lengths: 163, 173, 183cm
Sidecut: 121 - 82 - 119 mm
Price: 519 euros