Marty McLennan

Reading Time: 7 minutes The continued allure of the sidecountry and the growth of skiing variants have driven engineers back to their drawing boards. As can be expected, keywords include performance, comfort, feel, ease of entrance, weight […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes While carving is still king on the frontside, getting the perfect turn has become way easier. Enter rocker, an early-rising tip born out of necessity in the backcountry, but now ubiquitous wherever you […]

Reading Time: 6 minutes Big mountain, freeskiing, freemountain, you name it, these skis are made for getting deep— or at least skiing the deep. Wider boards with more float have made it easier to stay […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes The lion’s share of R&D finds itself here in the All-Mountain category as ski manufacturers blend their top technologies into that perfect quiver of one. Competition for the 2013 ski season […]

Reading Time: 8 minutes Skiing Switzerland’s most famous peak can be surprisingly reasonable. Bringing buddies: priceless. TEXT // PHOTOS: MARTY MCLENNAN     Buyer’s Guide 2013 For more of Marty’s photos from the  Zermatt trip click here […]

Reading Time: 2 minutes The frontside of the mountain at its very best. Racecourse technology trickles down to the consumer with the ski industry’s most powerful boards. Backed by decades of R&D on the World Cup […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes Munich’s annual ski industry trade show ISPO is staggeringly massive. Thankfully technical editor Marty McLennan was able to ride between booths with a dedicated transportation attendant (see bikini).       THE […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes While the Olympic podium has space for second and third, for host cities, there’s only first. Marty McLennan  shares some moments from his visit to the 2011 FIS World Championships […]

Reading Time: 9 minutes from Buyer’s Guide 2012 2012 Alpine Boot specifications The ski world is growing up and it all starts with your on-slope connection—those weapons that buckle onto your feet. This season’s […]

Reading Time: 2 minutes from Buyer’s Guide 2012 Rad bindings Addressing today’s shift to big-mountain freeriding comes Dynafit’s appropriately named Radical series of bindings. Oversize for fat skis, they offer a novel material mix, making them […]

Reading Time: 2 minutes   There’s no place more telling that the ski industry pushes its boundaries beyond the lifts than in accessories. from Buyer’s Guide 2012 Generation Next Head/Tyrolia claims its Generation Next binding […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes     Switch and symmetry are two big words of this genre. Swing-weight is paramount. Riders want light, dynamic and battle-proof boards for sweetening up impact-laden landings. As the Park migrates and […]

Reading Time: 2 minutes LADIES ONLY With women-specific board sales up 20 per cent south of the border last season, the ladies can expect a little extra attention. More than beautiful-looking skis, these come with […]

Reading Time: 9 minutes    Size matters in the domain of the Big Mountain—and it doesn’t get any bigger than here. Big Mountain means big snow, air, tricks and glory. It starts around a century underfoot […]

Reading Time: 8 minutes All-Mountain Ski Canada Test 2012 – Expert All Mountain Versatility is the name of the All-Mountain game. These skis must perform everywhere under all conditions. Competition is steep—one of the […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes There’s no better place than Germany to check out today’s highest performance technology. The industry show ISPO exceeded expectations, featuring a High-Performance revival. And the message was as clear as […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes The ski industry considers Frontside skiers as those who dream of sugar-coated waffles—corduroy bathed in a shimmering layer of fresh flakes. Their playground lies under and near the lifts, where […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes   The Best of ISPO (and Wurst of Munich) Every year the ski industry convenes in cities like Montreal and Denver, but the biggest Gong Show when it comes to […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes A few days at Vail and Beaver Creek will have you writing home about the best parts Story and photos by Marty McLennan cushy adj (informal) 1. many perks, little […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes Heart of the matter As the ski industry pushes its boundaries, skis, boots and bindings have followed suit. Behind every astounding pro trick, you’ll find an army of engineers looking […]

Reading Time: 4 minutes Every January the global ski industry convenes in North America for international bragging rights. After 37 years of Las Vegas playing host, the dog and pony show was moved to […]

Reading Time: 5 minutes All-Mountain means just about everything. This is a ski that loves abuse and can just as easily carve hardpack as float through powder or provide stability in crud. Expect solid […]

Reading Time: 7 minutes Big-Mountain translates to huge underfoots, lots of rocker and graphic excess. It’s a much smaller segment than the ubiquitous All-Mountain category but this is where the ski strikes back, now […]

Reading Time: 3 minutes High-Performance means the best Frontside skis. Period. These shredders with high-octane pedigrees urge their owners’ best performances. Hear the noise – these come with all the World Cup and Olympic […]