Test Team 2016 – Men * Test Team 2016 – Women
With the tape used to mask the topsheets gone, we can reveal our testers’ favourite skis in each category (as well as their sponsors). It’s time to match your own height, weight, style and so on with our Ski Canada Testers to see which skis might be worth a personal demo from your favourite shop this season. Go to SkiFinder to make your search for new skis easier.
KRISTIAN ARMSTRONG
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Blizzard, Stöckli, Head/Salomon (tie)
›TOP 3 Slalom: Ogasaka, Salomon, Nordica
›TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Salomon, Nordica, Head
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Salomon, Ogasaka, Stockli
Ski sponsor: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’1″, 185 lbs, 37
Style: Fast&furious; CSIA IV, CSCF II, Level III Examiner
Started at: Snow Valley, ON
Home resort: Big White
JEREMY BADCOCK
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Völkl, Atomic, Nordica
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Kastle, Atomic, Ogasaka
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Atomic, Salomon, Volkl
Ski sponsor: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 180 lbs, 28
Style: Powerful, aggressive; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Southampton, UK
Home resort: Marmot Basin
KELLY BLUNDEN
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Kästle, Head/Völkl
›TOP 3 Slalom: Head, Blizzard, Nordica
›TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Elan/Head (tie), Blizzard/Volkl (tie)
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Volkl, Head, K2/Blizzard
Personal ski: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’11”, 190 lbs, 53
Style: All-mt carver; CSIA IV, CSCF III
Started at: Snow Valley SC, AB
Home resort: Whistler
JEREMIE BOITEAU
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Atomic, Head, Volkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain:Blizzard, Salomon, Stockli
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Nordica, Head, Volkl
Ski sponsor: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 160 lbs, 40
Style: Big-mt, technical, playful; CSIA III, CSCF I, Course Conductor I
Started at: Stoneham, QC
Home resort: Fernie
CHRIS CANDOW
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Head, K2/Völkl
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Nordica/Völkl, Blizzard/Line
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Nordica/Salomon, Volkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Elan/Head, Volkl
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’11”, 230 lbs, 53
Style: Technical, smooth; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Labrador City, NL
Home resort: Mont-Ste-Marie, QC
PAUL CUNNIUS
›TOP 3 BIG MT: K2, Völkl, Head/Nordica
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Völkl, K2/Stöckli
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Stockli, K2, Volkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: K2, Line, Head
Ski sponsor: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 185 lbs, 49
Style: Fast, expert; CSIA IV Examiner, CSCF II
Started at: Glen Mt, QC
Home resort: Mt Norquay
MIKE DEMPSEY
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Völkl, Salomon, Blizzard/Head/Ogasaka/Stöckli
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Blizzard/Elan, Head
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Ogasaka/Salomon, Blizzard/Nordica
Personal ski: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’10”, 195 lbs, 57
Style: Smooth carver; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Mont Rigaud, QC
Home resort: Blackcomb
PETER EATON
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Volkl, Nordica, Salomon
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Nordica, K2, Blizzard
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Nordica/Ogasaka, Kastle
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 155 lbs, 49
Style: Athletic; CSIA III, CSCF I
Started at: Lake Louise
Home resort: Fernie
DAVE GOLLOGLY
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Völkl, Stöckli, Kästle
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Völkl, Nordica, Kästle
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Volkl, Stockli, Nordica
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Blizzard, Nordica
Ski sponsor: Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 160 lbs, 34
Style: Freeride, smooth; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Ontario, Quebec
Home resort: Castle Mountain
ERIN KEAM
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Blizzard, Stöckli, Völkl
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Völkl, Salomon, Kästle
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Volkl, Salomon, Nordica
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Line, Head, Salomon
Personal ski: Salomon
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 197 lbs, 46
Style: Off-road steamroller;
CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Mt Washington
Home resort: Whistler
MARC LEDOUX
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Blizzard/Völkl, Stöckli
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Blizzard, Nordica, Atomic/Kastle
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Blizzard, Nordica, Atomic
Personal ski: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’6″, 140 lbs, 41
Style: Technical, big-mt; CSP,
CAA II, CSIA II
Started at: Gray Rocks, QC
Home resort: Fernie
IAN MARCH
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Völkl, Kästle, Nordica
›TOP 3 Slalom: Völkl, Elan/Nordica
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Blizzard, Head
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Nordica, Volkl, Atomic/Kastle
Ski sponsor: Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 175 lbs, 51
Style: Technical, aggressive;
CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Craigleith, ON
Home resort: Whistler
CHRISTOPHER NICOLSON
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Nordica, Kästle, Atomic
›TOP 3 Slalom: Blizzard/Völkl, Atomic/Elan/Head/Salomon
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Atomic, Stockli, Nordica
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Atomic, Stockli, Nordica
Personal skis: Elan, Black Diamond, Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’1″, 200 lbs, 46
Style: Technical/finesse; CSIA III, CSCF II, Nordic I, Tele I
Started at: Kemano Ski Club, BC
Home resort: Sun Peaks
GUY PAULSEN
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Elan/Line, Head/Kästle/Völkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Head, K2, Ogasaka
Ski sponsor: Rossignol, Attridge Ski&Board
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’1″, 195 lbs, 50
Style: Athletic; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Manning Park
Home resort: Silver Star
RODGER POOLE
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Nordica, Line, Salomon
›TOP 3 Slalom: Nordica, Völkl, Blizzard
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Blizzard, Elan, Head
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Volkl, Nordica, Blizzard
Ski sponsor: Blizzard/Tecnica
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 185 lbs, 34
Style: Fast&fun; CSIA IV, CSCF Dev Cert
Started at: Ontario
Home resort: Silver Star
D’ARCY SEGO
›TOP 3 BIG MT: K2, Kästle, Head/Völkl
›TOP 3 Slalom: Ogasaka/Salomon, Völkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Line, K2/Nordica
Ski sponsor: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 180 lbs, 41
Style: Technical, freeskier; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Table Mt, SASK
Home resort: Mt Washington
MARK STEIN
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Head, Salomon, Line
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Blizzard, Head/Völkl
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Head, Atomic, Blizzard/Nordica
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Head, Atomic, Blizzard
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’3″, 205 lbs, 55
Style: Expert, racer; CSIA II, CSCF III
Started at: Edmonton SC
Home resort: Marmot Basin
FRITZ STEPHENSON
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Salomon, Head, Blizzard/Nordica
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Völkl, Line, Blizzard
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Ogasaka, Blizzard, Stockli
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Nordica, Volkl, Salomon
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 168 lbs, 43
Style: Aggressive, technical; CSIA III, ÖSSV Level IV
Started at: Zell am See, Austria
Home resort: Sun Peaks
JOHN STOREY
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: K2/Nordica, Elan
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Head, Ogasaka, Atomic/Kastle
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Line, Stockli
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Atomic/Salomon, Stockli
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’4″, 170 lbs, 51
Style: Finesse, smooth; CSIA I, CSCF I
Started at: Smiggin Holes, Australia
Home resort: Silver Star
GEORGE TERWIEL
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Head, Stöckli, Völkl
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Atomic/Blizzard/Nordica/Völkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Nordica, Head/Kastle
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Völkl, Blizzard/Head
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 185 lbs, 52
Style: Technical, power; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Grouse Mt, BC
Home resort: Sun Peaks
JUSTIN TERWIEL
›TOP 3 BIG MT: K2, Head, Ogasaka
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Nordica, Kästle/Line
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers:Stockli/Volkl, Head
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Salomon, Nordica/Ogasaka/Volkl
Personal ski: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’7″, 135 lbs, 29
Style: Athletic; CSIA I, CSCF II
Started at: Grouse Mt, BC
Test Team 2016 – Women
WENDY ANDERSON
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Nordica, Völkl, Atomic
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: K2/Ogasaka, Stockli
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Nordica, Line, Elan
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Ogasaka, Nordica, Blizzard
Personal ski: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’2″, 115 lbs, 41
Style: Technical, expert; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Minnesota
Home resort: Fernie
DONIE BLUNDEN
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Atomic/Salomon (tie), Nordica
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Elan, Salomon, Kastle
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Elan, Salomon, Blizzard
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Atomic, Kastle/Nordica/Salomon
Ski sponsor: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’3″, 110 lbs, 53
Style: Finesse, technical; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Chicopee, ON
Home resort: Whistler
KATHY BRODERICK
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Völkl, Nordica/Salomon
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Volkl,Ogasaka/Salomon
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Elan, Atomic/Blizzard, Salomon
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Volkl, Nordica, Kastle
Ski sponsor: Völkl (Olympia Ski & Cycle)
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’3″, 130 lbs, 52
Style: Cathartic; CSIA IV
Started at: Glenn Mt, QC
Home resort: Silver Star
GILLIAN BROWNING
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Völkl, Nordica, Atomic/Kästle
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Blizzard/Völkl, Atomic
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Salomon/Volkl, Nordica/Ogasaka
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Atomic, Stockli
Personal ski: Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 130 lbs, 53
Style: Playful; CSIA III, Course Conductor I, CSCF I
Started at: Field, BC
Home resort: Silver Star
VALERIE CAHILL
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Blizzard, Head, Kästle
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Nordica, Volkl, Ogasaka
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Atomic, Stockli, Ogasaka
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Nordica, Blizzard, Kastle
Ski sponsor: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’1″, 122 lbs, 42
Style: Technical, finesse; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Glen Eden, ON
Home resort: Mt St Louis Moonstone, ON
BRITTA GRETZMACHER
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Blizzard, Atomic, Salomon
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Stockli, Head, Kastle/Nordica/Salomon
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Atomic, Blizzard/Kastle
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Elan/Salomon, Head
Personal ski: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 143, 53
Style: Graceful, speedy; CSIA II, CSCF I, CADS II
Started at: Saalbach, Austria
Home resort: Silver Star
NINA GRETZMACHER
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Kästle, Völkl, Stöckli
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Nordica, Blizzard, Völkl
›TOP 3 Slalom: Blizzard, Nordica/Völkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Nordica, Kastle, Ogasaka
Ski sponsor: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’7″, 135, 24
Style: Aggressive; CSIA III,
CSCF II, CADS I
Started at: Big White
Home resort: Silver Star
SANDRA HAZIZA
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Völkl, Head, K2
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Atomic, Volkl, Stockli
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Stockli, Atomic
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Head/Stockli, Salomon
Personal ski: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’4″, 125, 44
Style: Sassy & fun; CSIA II
Started at: Grouse/Whistler
Home resort: Whistler
SHELLEY JOHNSTON
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Völkl, Nordica, Stöckli
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Atomic, Salomon, K2
›TOP 3 Slalom: Völkl, Nordica, Blizzard
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Nordica, Line
Ski sponsor: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’6″, 155 lbs, 35
Style: Racer; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Ontario
Home resort: Craigleith, ON
KATIE JOYCE
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Völkl, K2, Blizzard
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Atomic, Blizzard, Head
›TOP 3 Slalom: Head, Blizzard/Völkl
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Nordica/Ogasaka
Personal ski: Nordica
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’7″, 135 lbs, 35
Style: Off-piste, race; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Mt Pakenham, ON
Home resort: Fernie
BARB KUPFERSCHMIDT
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Stöckli, Völkl, Blizzard
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Atomic, Blizzard, Völkl
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Blizzard/Völkl, Nordica/Salomon
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Volkl, Stockli, Blizzard
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’6″, 145 lbs, 47
Style: Power, technical, sneaky fast; CSIA III, CSCF I
Started at: Hidden Valley, ON
Home resort: Sun Peaks
WENDY LUMBY
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Head, K2/Kästle
›TOP 3 Slalom: Head/Nordica/Ogasaka
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Ogasaka, Blizzard, Line/Nordica
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Nordica, Ogasaka, Atomic
Ski sponsor: Nordica
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’1″, 120 lbs, 48
Style: Zena-Princess Warrior; CSIA II, CSCF III, Course facilitator, Olympian
Started at: Happy Valley, AB
Home resort: Nakiska
HEATHER ROBILLIARD
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Atomic/Blizzard, Völkl
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Atomic/Ogasaka/Salomon
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Stockli, Nordica, Blizzard/Ogasaka/Salomon
›TOP 3 Easy Cruisers: Salomon, Atomic, Stockli
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’3″, 141 lbs, 58
Style: Finesse, technical, athletic; APSI IV, CSCF II
Started at: Perisher Valley, Australia
Home resort: Silver Star
JILL SAGAN
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Blizzard/Nordica, K2
›TOP 3 Expert All-Mt: Kästle, Line, Nordica
›TOP 3 Slalom: Blizzard/Ogasaka, Head
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Elan, Kastle, Blizzard
Sponsor: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 135 lbs, 38
Style: Smooth/aggressive;
CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Fortress/Louise
Home resort: Silver Star
ANNE TERWIEL
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Atomic/Head, Blizzard/Kästle
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Head, K2/Kästle
›TOP 3 Slalom: Head, Nordica, Blizzard
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Kastle, Line, Atomic
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 135 lbs, 51
Style: Expert, athletic; CSIA IV, CSCF III
Started at: Caledon/Horseshoe, ON
Home resort: Sun Peaks
ALLY WAGORN
›TOP 3 Big Mt: Blizzard, Nordica, Stöckli
›TOP 3 EXPERT ALL-MT: Blizzard, Nordica, Head
>TOP 3 On-Piste Cruisers: Kastle, Head, Blizzard/Nordica
>TOP 3 Adventure All Mountain: Blizzard, Nordica, Ogasaka
Ski sponsor: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5′, 100 lbs, 26
Style: Pocket rocket; CSIA III, CSCF I
Started at: Mt Pakenham, ON
Home resort: Sun Peaks
