A few weeks back, Robb, BT, TonyZ, and I made our way over to Afton Alps in Minnesota for the dealer ski demo. Most of the big names were there with next year’s gear, and for five hours straight, we put dozens of skis through their paces to make sure the gear we offer you next year is the best possible skis on the market.
While we each walked away with a list of personal favorite skis on the day, all four of us agreed on two as clear standouts: for the second straight year, the Salomon Q98 was a clear winner. Smooth, stable, able to ski anything by any type of skier – this ski just rips. The other favorite? K2’s Rictor 90XTi. An unbelievably stable ski, we couldn’t make it loose it’s grip in even the hardest of turns. That said, it was super easy to make turn any radius turns we threw at it, while remaining smooth the entire time. It was hard not to smile riding this ski.
Staff notes:
Robb: Weight – 230ish
Skiing style – Advanced, laid back style. Prefers moderate to fast speeds, GS style turns, while keeping things under control.
Salomon Q90 – Like it’s big brother the Q98, the Q90 offered a fantastic ride at an unbeatable price. Stable, easy to turn, and great edge hold on the groomers, this ski is a standout for the money.
Volkl RTM 84 – We’ve sold a lot of RTM’s in our shop over that past few years, and there’s no question why. From the 75’s to the 84’s, it’s hard to beat Volkl for a hard pack, midwest ski. Edge hold was unmatched, carving was effortless, and the ski had tons of energy. One of my favorite skis of the day, hands down.
BT: Weight – 230
Skiing style – Advanced, prefers wider skis, hard charing style with a flair for freestyle.
Volkl Mantra – Way more playful that last year’s model, thanks to the new full rocker design. It rips really hard, holds an amazing edge, and can charge hard into anything you can find on the hill. Great ski for that hard charging intermediate to expert level skier.
Volkl Racetiger GS (cheater) – Not only did this ski look amazing, it rode amazing! The Racetiger is definitely a go-to ski for that beer league skier. Since it’s softer that a true world cup ski, it performs great for all ability levels. Turns were precise, the edges engaged quickly, and carving was effortless.
K2 Shreditor 102 – If you want a playful, all-mountain ski, this is it. Soft, very forgiving ski, yet capable of holding an edge like a race ski. Great on the groomers, equally great playing in the trees and soft stuff. Extremely versatile ski.
TonyZ: Weight – 151
Skiing style – Advanced, likes fat but short skis. Rips full throttle, tight radius turns, and seeks out powder whenever possible.
Volkl Racetiger SL – Always one of my favorites, I wasn’t disappointed riding this ski. Tons of edge control, effortless tight turns, and with the amazing new colors? Easily a winner.
Line Chronic – Super fun twin tip, with a lightweight feel, great feel around the hill, and a surprising amount of versatility. Very good on the groomed runs while playful in the bumps. Great all around ski.
Nordica NRGY 100 – Awesome new series from Nordica. Playful, great stable ride, very quick underfoot for a 100mm waisted ski. Killer looks complete the package. A very good choice for someone looking for a midwest / out west one ski quiver.
Sep: Weight – 145 dripping wet
Skiing style – Advanced, I love to carve GS turns at top speed. 90mm waisted skis seem to be my sweet spot.
Head WC Rebels i.SL – Besides the Salomon Q98, these were my favorite skis of the day. These things skied themselves! Lightning quick edge to edge, turny, stable and smooth – these could be just as much at home being a recreational ski as they are on the race course for beginner to intermediate racers.
K2 Shreditor 102 – This was a standout for me – when I came back to my notes to write this post, I found the following note about the Shreditors: SUPER FUN!!! Even for the 102mm width at the waist, these remained a quick turning ski with a lot of playfulness over the bumps and crud. Never unstable, they were a bit on the heavy size. These in a 169cm would be perfect for a guy my size.
Nordica NRGY 100 – Like Tony, I found this ski to be stable and easy to turn, yet playful and light. Very capable ski for anyone looking for a great resort ski. Intermediate levels and up could ski this no problem.
If you got a chance to ride any of these amazing skis at our demo last weekend or are interested in purchasing a pair, now’s the time to stop in and pre-order a pair! We’re offering the best prices of the year right now!