Testing skis for the Backcountry Magazine Gear Guide can be a grueling endeavor—with hours upon hours of hot powder laps, edge-to-edge action on groomers, the occasional crud-busting run, and of course, flip cup practice—and our testers for the 2018 Gear Guide found it all at Powder Mountain, Utah. Skis, boots and bindings are all put through the ringer to find the standouts, with each ski tested eight times, three for boots and bindings. To get a sense of who’s putting in the work, we introduce Testers’ Choice profiles and picks, so you can be sure you’re getting the info right from the source.
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[Photo] Matt Kiedaisch
AGE 36
5 feet 9 INCHES, 145 lbs.
Alma, Colo.
CURRENT SETUP
Skilogik Piton skis, Scott Celeste II boots, G3 Ion bindings
GEAR PREFERENCE
“I like to have the right tool for the job. On long days I’d much rather have a setup that is light and easy to push around. But if we are talking a few sidecountry laps with minimal skinning, that’s a completely different story.”
Liberty Origin 106
$775 – libertyskis.com | SIZES (cm): 171, 176, 182, 187 | DIMENSIONS (mm): 138/106/128 | WEIGHT/PAIR: 8.8 lbs. (182) | TESTED LENGTH: 182
[aesop_quote type=”pull” background=”#282828″ text=”#ffffff” width=”90%” align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”Like a brick house—they mighty, mighty let it all hang out. Crazy light for the performance they deliver. This is a one-wolf pack you want to run; amaze-balls stable for the ample tip and tail rise. Like Ricky Bobby, they were born to go fast.” cite=”—Cat” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”off”]
Völkl VTA 108
$825 – volkl.com | SIZES (cm): 173, 181, 189 | DIMENSIONS (mm): 141/108/124 | WEIGHT/PAIR: 7.1 lbs. (181) | TESTED LENGTH: 173
[aesop_quote type=”pull” background=”#282828″ text=”#ffffff” width=”90%” align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”The most impressive and versatile ski of the test. Völkl’s designers must be magicians to cram the race characteristics Völkl is famous for into an insanely light package. ” cite=”—Cat” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”off”]
Völkl 100eight
$825 – volkl.com | SIZES (cm): 173, 181, 189 | DIMENSIONS (mm): 141/108/124 | WEIGHT/PAIR: 8.7 lbs. (181) | TESTED LENGTH: 173
[aesop_quote type=”pull” background=”#282828″ text=”#ffffff” width=”90%” align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”Like a big bowl of Lucky Charms with Sunday morning cartoons—doesn’t get much better. Transitions from every condition, task and speed with ease and confidence. Best for every woman who likes to ski. ” cite=”—Cat” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”off”]
fun to look at but I’ll be 87 y.o. in November so don’t think I’ll be buying any more skis. Please do not send me any more of these
advertisements. thanks.