SKI TEST 2021
Instinct Transcend * women*
Best for: A touring ski that can charge the hill
Instinct Skis is a small brand out of Rossland, B.C., but despite its humble roots it uses a high-tech and complex construction in the Transcend, including seven layers of composites (carbon, Kevlar and fibreglass), rubber for damping, carbon nanotubes in the topsheet for durability, basalt in the base, and aspen, spruce and oak in the core. On snow it came together in a lightweight ski that felt most comfortable on edge. The wide and early rise tip hooked into a turn easily, and all the internal structure kept the ski stiff laterally while allowing enough flex for smooth arcing in a variety of terrain. Testers felt some tip chatter at higher speeds on firm snow. But this ski’s happy place was in the soft stuff, where it felt predictable, lively, floaty and stable. A great ski to mount a pair of beefy touring bindings on and ski it everywhere, every day.
LENGTHS: 159, 165, 171, 176
DIMENSIONS: 133/101/121 @ 165
RADIUS: 16 @ 165
SUGGESTED RETAIL: $1249
