Every January hundreds of international ski brands gather for their annual conference to showcase their latest gear, and Ski Canada is there to look, listen, poke, and prod. The result each year is our buyer’s guide to the best new alpine ski gear.
Latest feature articles on ski gear:
SKI TEST 2021 RENOUN ATLAS * GROOMERS BEST FOR: Intermediate to advanced skiers weighing more than 150 pounds Testers were unanimous in praising the Atlas’s ability to wander wherever the map led them. “Very stable at speed but also quick to turn in bumps and trees,” wrote Paul Laperrière, calling it his favourite ski of … More »
SKI TEST 2021 FISCHER HANNIBAL 106 * POWDER * EDITORS’ CHOICE BEST FOR: Deep-snow touring missions Titanal is a rare ingredient for a touring-focused ski and almost unheard of in this weight class. In the redesigned Hannibal, Fischer added the metal alloy to its Air Tec construction, a milled-out wood centre that lightens the already … More »
You’ve reached the summit, the sun’s gone, the wind’s picked up… You know that cold, clammy feeling, especially on your lower back, whether it’s after a huffy-puffy skin uphill or you’ve just hoofed it up from the lower parking lot with all your gear. So do designers at Elemental Layer, and with fast-wicking, water-repellent fabric, … More »
SKI TEST 2021 BLIZZARD ZERO G 85 * POWDER BEST FOR: Ski mountaineering and multi-day spring tours At first, this “skinny” ski may look as if you’re touring on “matchsticks,” as Heather MacMillan put it, but any concerns go away quickly, whether going up, down or across. There’s no denying the 85mm waist is considered … More »
SKI TEST 2021 LINE PANDORA 94 * POWDER * WOMEN BEST FOR: Ladies wanting a light all-mountain /freeride ski Some resort skis are light enough for the backcountry. Others are touring skis with enough umph to hold their own inbounds. Line’s Pandora family covers the line between the two. Its construction marries Line’s playful freeride … More »
SKI TEST 2021 ATOMIC BACKLAND * POWDER * EDITORS’ CHOICE BEST FOR: Someone looking for a lightweight rig that can still hack the hill From firm groomers to knee-deep fluff and back again, the Backland impressed us with its versatility. While tester Ryan Stuart wouldn’t say it railed, its semi-cap construction, nearly full-length sidewall and … More »
SKI TEST 2021 KINDRED RAMBLER * POWDER BEST FOR: A dedicated powder day. If this were a beauty pageant, the Rambler would win. No question. The inlaid wood veneer graphics are spectacular, original and fit with the brand’s home near the base of Mount Washington on Vancouver Island. The Rambler is a piece of art … More »
SKI TEST 2021 INSTINCT SEEKER * POWDER * EDITORS’ CHOICE BEST FOR: B.C. syle pow skiing, whether at the resort or in the backcountry The Seeker is a big, beefy ski—115 underfoot and nearly 15 cm wide at the tip—but when we picked it up it felt like our eyes were deceiving us. Even with … More »
SKI TEST 2021 K2 DISRUPTION MTI ALLIANCE * WOMEN * GROOMERS * EDITORS’ CHOICE BEST FOR: Shredding firm snow on-piste, from bumps to groomers Turny and awesome appeared in just about every tester’s notes on the Disruption MTi Alliance. “Awesome power in the turn,” said Louise Draper. “Beautifulcarving ski on groomers and just as good … More »
Powder Buyer’s Guide 2021 Steep and Deep When the snow won’t stop, neither should you. Gear made for chest-deep blower starts with fat skis and ends with the clothing that keeps you warm and comfy no matter the weather. Whether you find it in the trees a few metres from the run or deep in … More »