Just because last issue’s cruisers and carvers are well liked in Eastern Canada doesn’t mean the All-Mountain and even Big Mountain skis on these pages are for western-skiing only. Winter is bigger than the country sometimes and whether you’re looking for one All-Mountain ski that’s at home in both the east and west or a fatter freeride ski that’s reserved for a Big Mountain experience, on these pages you’ll find one or two just right for you.
Special kudos to Big White for inviting us back for our second year in a row (indeed our fourth year of testing in the last 15) and providing the perfect setup of snow and conditions, terrain, teamwork, accommodation, gastronomy and après ski. All the top manufacturers available in the country showed up for the 30th annual Ski Canada Test, so read the results, check for complete scoring online at www.skicanadamag.com, andi find your perfect ski!
THE PLAYING FIELD
The day started out with overcast skies and settled, chopped powder that was firm underneath and some light snow falling later in the morning. Although the chutes and bowls of Big White’s Cliff area were calling out for the Ski Canada Test’s newest category, there was still plenty of powder, steeps, trees and changing terrain right off the Ridge Rocket Express for the testers to stretch their imagination when it comes to ski design. With some new snow overnight, day two of the test belonged to Big Mountain or Freeride skis.
THE CATEGORY
This is the category where it’s easy to hide the graphics during testing, but harder to hide some of the newer innovations. Twintips, camber and sidecut design can be dramatic, but the skis are expected to perform far beyond the terrain park. Testers are looking at manoeuvrability, pivoting and stability in this category since these skis are expected to tackle tricky off-piste terrain as well as riding hard and fast, taking air and landing switch.
Skis tested in Big Mountain category:
MEN
- Atomic Savage Ti
- BSI Valhalla
- Fischer Watea 94
- Head John 94
- K2 ObSETHed
- Liberty Helix
- Ogasaka CC 9.7
- Prior Overlord
- Rossignol Phantom 97
- Salomon Shogun
- Volkl Mantra
WOMEN
- Atomic Elysian
- BSI Valhalla
- Fischer Watea 94
- Head John 94
- K2 Missbehaved
- Ogasaka CC 9.7
- Prior Overlord
- Rossignol Phantom 97
- Salomon Geisha
- Volkl Aura