Demoing Demo Skis
Guidelines For An Objective Assessment.
Take your pick. The lads at Epic Mountain Sports at Winter Park will help you out. Credit: Epic
One of the great things about ski rental shops today is their willingness to rent top of the line skis. This is a great deal because for $35 – $50/day, you can try skis that will set you back $1,000. For the CPAs, math and economic majors, the break-even at $50/day on a $1,000 pair of skis is 20 days or more if fees are factored into the analysis.
So why demo? Three reasons come to mind. One, eliminate the hassle of checking a pair of skis as baggage. FYI, I can get everything, including my boots into my two carry-ons.
Two, you may want to try one or more pairs before you buy.
And, three, you want to try different brands to see how they ski. Dynastars don’t ski like Rossignols which definitely don’t ski like Heads. Atomics handle differently than Fischers or Volkls or Elans.
Demoing skis can be very informative even if you have no intention of buying new skis. Based on my background as a professional ski tester in the last century, here are five tips learned the hard way to help you compare different skis.
Tips For Comparing Demo Skis.
One. Test on the same trip and if possible, on consecutive days in as close to the same conditions as possible.
Two. For your first run on a new pair of skis, pick a slope that you can handle easily. Testing/demoing is all about the ski giving you information.
Three. For each pair of skis, do the same type of turns on the same slope. I start with a “wedge wedel” which is nothing more than using my knee to crank the skis (which are in a slight wedge) on an edge to see how they react. Next comes a series of round, carved turns that slowly decrease in radius until I am rapidly linking turns back and force across the fall line as if I was running a slalom. From there, I let the skis run on a traverse and then flat down the fall line to what I call GS speeds. Most would call this “really fast.”
Four. The first run on the new skis is the most important. After 1,000 feet of vertical, you’re starting to adapt your technique to the ski’s quirks. The ski is an inanimate object and will not change. By the end of the second run, you’re adjusting to how the ski skis.
Five. If the ski is forcing you to change your technique, get a different pair. The only exception is that if the new ski forces you to learn how to carve a turn. Does the ski “swim or snake” when your knees are pressed forward and the ski is flat on the snow? Or, when on edge, does one or both skis dart or try to “hook” uphill. Or, when you go fast, either on edge or with a flat ski, is the ski making you uncomfortable? If any of the above are true, go find another ski.
Question For You: Ski In Japan?
If You’ve Been, Tell Us So We Can Have A Vicarious Vacation.
Sapporo Ice Festival: Snow is in abundance in northern Japan.
We have an interesting article this week from Dave Chambers, the “Traveling Australian.” He takes us to Appi Kogen, a resort in the north of Honshu, the big island of Japan. He spent a week skiing powder in the back end of the resort in perfect conditions he had never seen anywhere in his travels.
Rusutsu, Hokkaido, Japan
His article stimulated this week’s Question For You. After all, by North American standards, Japan is an exotic ski destination. The ryokans (inns), the onsens (hot springs baths), the food, the culture, all represent a distinctly different experience than a vacation in Canada, the US, or even Europe.
Many years ago, we spent a winter in northern Japan and experienced monster snowfalls and cold, cold temperatures. We visited the Sapporo Ice Festival and were amazed how the city had adapted to serious winter conditions: above ground train tracks were covered, streets were swept from snow by seawater hydrants, and ice and snow were celebrated.
Question For You: Have you skied Japan? What was it like? How was the snow? The resorts you visited? What did you love? What was not so great? Would you go back or was once enough? Please let us know.
The rest of us will have a brief, imaginary, vicarious vacation based on the comments from those who have been there.
Please reply in Leave A Comment below.
Popular Hakuba Valley. Japan has very snowy winters every year.
Make More Tracks: Favorite Nordic Centers In The Northwest
Cascadia Contains Cross-Country Resorts Close To Metro Areas.
[Editor Note: This article by Pete Wilson first appeared in The Nordic Approach.]
The Pacific Northwest of the contiguous US is a wonderfully strange bit of geography. The Western edge is home to the fjord-filled Pacific Coast, where long beaches and towering seaside rock formations make for otherworldly getaways. Go the other direction, East and inland, and the mountains await. The Coast, Cascade, Olympic and Columbia mountain ranges boast massive snowcapped peaks and thick, lush temperate rainforests at the lower elevations. All this is to say that the landscapes of Oregon and Washington are utterly unique, with highland regions that turn quite alpine in the winter months. A smattering of excellent Cross Country ski venues dots this snowy swath of Cascadia, which all offer a Nordic experience unlike any others. At these awesome centers, you can cross glaciers, gaze upon craggy horns of ice, bob beneath the snow-laden branches of ancient redwoods—all within driving distance of the bustling metropolises of Portland and Seattle, and the thriving maritime world of the coastline.
METHOW TRAILS
With a staggering 200km of well-maintained terrain sprawled along the majestic Methow Valley, the Methow Nordic Ski Trail System is at the pinnacle of Pacific Northwest adventure. Not only do the near-endless trails (which are designed for fat biking and snowshoeing as well as skiing) wind their way to some breathtaking vistas and natural features, they incorporate plenty of climbs, drops and flats fit for skiers, bikers and shoers of every stripe and skill level. Bookended by the twin towns of Winthrop and Twisp—and yes, the town of Twisp exists, and is an awesomely artsy destination in its own right—visitors to the Methow valley will find plenty in the way of libations, delicious meals, and warm hospitality.
LEAVENWORTH WINTER SPORTS CLUB
Cradled in the heart of the Cascade mountains, this one-of-a-kind winter sports club offers everything from Nordic skiing, sledding and tubing to alpine skiing and fat biking. This wintery wonderland as all the infrastructure needed for such a slew of activities: two groomed ski hills serviced by rope tows, 26 kilometers of pristinely groomed Nordic terrain, dedicated Nordic trails, and even a 27-meter ski jump are all available to make lasting memories for Leavenworth visitors. With trail passes starting at $14, be sure to check out this Washington gem whenever you’re in the area.
49 DEGREES NORTH NORDIC CENTER
Tucked away in the far Northeastern corner of Washington (as the name suggests), 49 Degrees’ gorgeous Nordic network expands out from the Cross Country Center, a large yurt with a spacious deck that overlooks the trails and ski school area. From there, 25km of wide, well-groomed trails roll along into hundred-year-old forests, crisscrossed by narrow snowshoe paths. A full rental lineup and certified ski instructors stand ready to make ski days special for skiers of every ability.
MT. BACHELOR NORDIC CENTER
Considered one of the premier Nordic centers in Oregon, Mt. Bachelor is a fully decked out Cross Country Ski Shop, with the ski terrain to match. Almost 60 km of widely varied terrain wind around the base of the big peak, offering stunning views of the snowcapped, glacial peaks, leg-burning climbs and heart-pumping drops. For those looking to get some off-season training or free skiing in, it is worth noting that Mt. Bachelor has the longest groomed Nordic season in North America.
MT. HOOD MEADOWS NORDIC CENTER
Perched at the base of Mt. Hood, the Meadows Nordic Center takes full advantage of the excellent snow conditions it inherits from the glacier looming above it. 15 km of groomed and set track wind through woods and across meadows with Hood poised as a picturesque backdrop behind it. For a perfect blend of big mountain views with small ski center accommodations and attention to detail, be sure to swing by Meadows if you are in the Bend, OR area.
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