Here are some blurbs on some NEW (or improved) 2013 skis that are in the mid 80's waste range, fill reviews will be added when the 2013 product pages are created.
Rossignol Pursuit 81
Tested: 178cm
This us a replacement for the popular Avenger 82Ti. While I was not a complete fan of the 82Ti, I found it to be a bit planky and one dimensional, I found the new Pursuit to be much more versatile and playful with a longer built in turn radius of 18m.
Kastle MX83
Tested: 183cm
A new addition to the Kastle MX line. I was really excited to get on this ski. The MX83 incorporates Kastles new Elliptical Sidecut that progressively gets higher to the extremities of the profile. The MX83 in the tested 182 has the same 20M radius as the MX88 (in the 178) but is quicker edge to edge and smoother at speed. If you felt the 178 MX88 was just a bit short and the 188 was too long, the MX83 is your ski, that goes the same for the 173 and 163 respectively.
Kastle MX88
Tested: 178cm
Even though the new MX88 keeps the same TR of 20M in the 178, there were many upgrades for 2013, think about when Porsche reinvents a 911. Like the little brother the MX83, the MX88 have evolved from a dual radius sidecut to an elliptical one. The MX88 also sports a new larger hollow tech tip. What does this mean on snow? Honestly I am not sure, all I know is the MX88 skis like an MX88, which I have long get could be the best ski ever produced for an all mountain ski. The ski skis fantastic, I would have to ski the new MX88 back to back with the first generation to get the best comparison.
Dynastar Outland 87
Tested: 178cm
I was hoping to get on the Outland before SIA but didn't have a chance (I have a pair sitting in my garage right now), this ski, on paper is a cross between a Rossignol experience 88 (same basalt construction) and a Blizzard Bushwacker, a similar shape. The Outland skis closer to the Experience 88, a long radius E88 (19M vs. 16M) and not quite as playful, just a bit more serious. My only knock against the ski is that they are offering it only as a system and not a flat ski.
Dynastar Cham 87
Tested: 172cm
This ski surprised me, first I was only able to try it in a 172 where most everything else I was trying were in the upper 170's.. I was impressed how well it layer over on edge and held through the turn, even with it's turned up tip, the ski didn't feel loose at all. I am really looking forward to trying the 178.
Blizzard 8.5Ti
Tested: 181cm
I skied this a few weeks ago and was very impressed. I felt since I was testing many other mid 80's skis today, I thought it best to ski it again under similar conditions. Boy and I glad I did. This ski feels nothing like the outgoing Magnum 8.7, that is not a bad thing. Where i didn't like the old 8.7 in the 181, the new 8.5 is stellar in that length. Why all the change? Flipcore. Blizzard expanded their Flipcore technology from the "core four" to the frontside. This ski feels like you fed the Bushwacker some steroids, sent it to the gym and slimed it down but still avoided "roid rage" and kept the playful personality from the Bush. An amazing feat.
Blizzard 8.1Ti
Tested: 179cm
See above but replace 8.7 with 8.5 and 8.1 with 8.0.
Elan Amphibio 82
Elan Amphibio 88
Tested 176cm
The two Elans were the surprise of the day for me. I came into the demos with absolutely no intention of liking the skis and well, I do prefer my crow with a slight demi-glaze…The Amphibio design with it's inside edge running the full contact and the outside edge having slight early rise near the tip sounds either gimmicky or logical depending on who you talk to but….I did find the Amphibios to ski remarkably easy yet were extremely powerful through the turns. This is second generation of the Amphibios with the main evolution begin in the binding system, gone is the very heavy and inefficient Fusion system in is a wider platform with a much more positive interface. We will be reporting more on the Amphibios in a dedicated thread/article
Head Rev 85
Tested: 178cm
This skis surprised me a bit. I went into it knowing that the Peak Series skied very well in this range from last year and while the new Rev wasn't as strong of a ski it skied very well and will offered at a lower price point, basically near the same price as last year but will include a binding. The Rev was very playful with it's progressive sidecut and while I did find the speed limit, I believe in it's price point, it is a great value
Premiums:
Nordica FireArrow EDT84
Tested: 176cm, 168cm
It was milliseconds just after my first turn on the FA EDT 84 when the word "WOW" escaped my mouth. I will be first to admit I was never a fan of the Nordica system skis and even though this is a COMPLETELY NEW SKI, I came into this one with a few reservations. Again after that first turn (on the 176) those reservations were completely dismissed. This is one damn powerful and fun ski. With the new tip design, very well the bluntest outside of a race course, the hook up into the turn was incredibly quick, cat like. This was one ski that I was most tempted to go back to the lift and ski another run on.
I succumbed to internal peer pressure and went back to the Nordica tent to take out the ski again..damn this ski was like a good drug…when I got back there, the 176 was out but I still needed my fix and took out the 168. The 168 was a very playful ski, and while it was short for me..it never felt too short. This ski IS drug like.
Blizzard M-Power
Tested: 174cm
Like the Magnum 8.5, the NEW M-Power is flip core based. With the M-Power underfoot oil dampeners and carbon fiber bars for and aft, the M-Power lives up to it's name. POWER. Now, int eh previous generation, preferred the regular 8.7 to the M-Power, now the tables are turned, I prefer the NEW M-Power slightly over the regular 8.5Ti. What I like about the new M-Power is that the performance window has been expended to medium speeds where the old one needed a good amount of speed to get going.
Volkl V-Works
Tested: 177cm (I think)
The Vworks is one of the better looking skis in any category, Like the RTM's being superior to the AC series, the VWorks is far superior to the outgoing Grizzly. With the full rocker, the VWorks felt, for lack of a better term "greasy" when skied at low speeds and upright, once you got the ski up onto edge it ripped with most any ski out there but it needs to be kept on and and skied. If you slow down on the VWorks it shuts down.
Environment & Conditions:
Location of Test: Winter Park Co
Number of Runs: 1 each
Snow Conditions: beautiful packed powder
Demo or Own: Demo
Tester Info:
Username: Philpug
Age: 48
Height/Weight: 5'10" 190lb
Ski Days/Season: 25 at time of testing
I will be testing 90-100mm skis on day two but will not be able to get the reviews up till Wednesday.
Bringing World Cup caliber ski equipment and service to all skiers - from pro ski racers to everyday all mountain skiers and into the...
