TESTERS’ CHOICE
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 Ski Canada Test 2017 for complete test scores and reviews. Use SkiFinder to rank test skis based on your personal ski characteristics.
Our women testers (scroll down for text)
Our men testers (scroll down for text)
in the Buyer’s Guide 2017 issue
WENDY ANDERSON
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W, Völkl Flair 81/Völkl Kenja (tie)
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Nordica/Völkl (tie), Blizzard
›TOP 3 BIG MT: K2, Icelantic/Line (tie)
Personal ski: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’2″, 115 lbs, 42
Style: Technical, expert; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Minnesota
Home resort: Fernie
DONIE BLUNDEN
›TOP 3 All-Mt: K2 AlLUVit 88, Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W/ Blizzard Black Pearl/Fischer Koa 84/Head iSupershape Rally
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Nordica, K2, Atomic
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Fischer, Atomic/Blizzard/Nordica
Personal ski: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’3″, 110 lbs, 54
Style: Finesse, technical; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Chicopee, ON
Home resort: Whistler
KATHY BRODERICK
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Völkl Flair 81, Völkl Kenja, Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Völkl, Nordica, Blizzard
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Nordica, Meier, Atomic
Ski sponsor: Völkl (Olympia Ski & Cycle)
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’3″, 130 lbs, 53
Style: Cathartic; CSIA IV
Started at: Glenn Mt, QC
Home resort: Silver Star
GILLIAN BROWNING
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Völkl Flair 81, Fischer Koa 84/K2 AlLUVit 88
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: K2, Atomic/Blizzard/Völkl
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Nordica, K2, Fischer
Ski sponsor: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 130 lbs, 54
Style: Playful; CSIA III, Course Conductor I, CSCF I
Started at: Field, BC
Home resort: Silver Star
KATHLEEN BUFFEL
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Line Soulmate 92, Nordica Santa Ana 93, Völkl Kenja
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Völkl, Fischer, Atomic/Salomon
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Fischer/Salomon, K2
Personal ski: Fischer
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’7″, 180 lbs, 45
Style: Technical, aggressive; CSIA III, CSCF I, CC I, CASI I
Started at: Snow Valley/Edmonton
Home resort: Marmot Basin
ALANNAH GAMBLIN-JENSEN
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W/Völkl Flair 81, Atomic Vantage 90 CTI W
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Atomic, Nordica, Head
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Atomic, Head, Völkl
Personal ski: Fischer
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’7″, 155 lbs, 40
Style: Expert, freeskier; CSIA II, CSCF II
Started at: Smokey Mt, Labrador
Home resort: Lake Louise
BRITTA GRETZMACHER
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Head iSupershape Rally, Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W/Nordica Santa Ana 93
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Atomic, Blizzard, Nordica
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Icelantic, Head, Salomon
Personal ski: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 143 lbs, 54
Style: Graceful, speedy; CSIA II, CSCF I, CADS II
Started at: Saalbach, Austria
Home resort: Silver Star
NINA GRETZMACHER
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Nordica Santa Ana 93, Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W, Nordica Belle 84
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Blizzard, Atomic/Nordica
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Fischer, Nordica, Blizzard
Ski sponsor: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’7″, 135 lbs, 25
Style: Aggressive; CSIA III,
CSCF II, CADS I
Started at: Big White
Home resort: Silver Star
SANDRA HAZIZA
›TOP 3 All-Mt: K2 AlLUVit 88/Völkl Flair 81, Salomon Gemma
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: K2, Atomic, Nordica
›TOP 3 BIG MT: K2, Völkl, Salomon
Ski sponsor: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’4″, 125 lbs, 46
Style: Sassy & fun; CSIA II
Started at: Grouse/Whistler
Home resort: Whistler
SHELLEY JOHNSTON
›TOP 3 All-MT: Nordica Santa Ana 93, Head Total Joy, Völkl Kenja
Ski sponsor: Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’6″, 155 lbs, 36
Style: Racer; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Ontario
Home resort: Kelly VanderBeek Racing, ON
KATIE JOYCE
›TOP 3 All-Mt: K2 AlLUVit 88, Blizzard Cheyenne, Head Total Joy
TOP 3 BIG MT: Meier, Fischer, Nordica
Personal ski: Nordica
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’7″, 135 lbs, 36
Style: Off-piste, race; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Mt Pakenham, ON
Home resort: Fernie
BARB KUPFERSCHMIDT LINDER
›TOP 3 ALL-Mt: Head iSupershape Rally/Head Total Joy/K2 AlLUVit 88
TOP 3 BIG MT: Line, K2, Nordica
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’6″, 145 lbs, 48
Style: Power, technical, sneaky fast; CSIA III, CSCF I
Started at: Hidden Valley, ON
Home resort: Sun Peaks
WENDY LUMBY
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W/K2 AlLUVit 88/Völkl Flair 81
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Head, Salomon, Nordica
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Fischer, Atomic, Völkl
Ski sponsor: Nordica
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’1″, 120 lbs, 49
Style: Zena-Princess Warrior; CSIA II, CSCF III, Course facilitator, Olympian
Started at: Happy Valley, AB
Home resort: Nakiska
MARTINA OSMAN
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Head iSupershape Rally/Salomon Gemma, Line Soulmate 86/Nordica Santa Ana 93
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Völkl, Nordica, Atomic
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Fischer, Head, Nordica
Personal ski: DPS
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’4″, 119 lbs, 40
Style: Velvet revolution; CSIA III
Started at: Lysa, Slovakia
Home resort: Silver Star
HEATHER ROBILLIARD
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: K2 AlLUVit 88, Head iSupershape Rally, Fischer Koa 84
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Völkl, K2/Nordica
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Blizzard/Line, Atomic
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’3″, 141 lbs, 59
Style: Finesse, technical, athletic; APSI IV, CSCF II
Started at: Perisher Valley, Australia
Home resort: Silver Star
ANNE TERWIEL
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Atomic Vantage X 80 CTI W, Head iSupershape Rally, Head Total Joy
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Fischer, Head, Atomic/Völkl
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Head, Fischer, Atomic
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 135 lbs, 52
Style: Expert, athletic; CSIA IV, CSCF III
Started at: Caledon/Horseshoe, ON
Home resort: Sun Peaks
ALLY WAGORN
›TOP 3 All-Mt: K2 AlLUVit 88, Head iSupershape Rally, Nordica Belle 84
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Fischer, Blizzard, Völkl
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Nordica, Head, Meier
Personal ski: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5′, 105 lbs, 27
Style: Pocket rocket; CSIA III, CSCF I
Started at: Mt Pakenham, ON
Home resort: Sun Peaks
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GEORGE ANDREW
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Blizzard Brahma, Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Salomon, Nordica, Atomic
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Salomon, Völkl, Kästle
Ski sponsor: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’10”, 175 lbs, 64
Style: Agile, fluid; CSIA III, CCI CSCF Entry Level Coach
Started at: Jasper
Home resort: Marmot Basin
KRISTIAN ARMSTRONG
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Atomic Vantage X 83 CTI, Head iSupershape Titan, Kästle FX95 HP
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Völkl, Fischer, Kästle
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Völkl, Atomic/Fischer/Nordica (tie)
Ski sponsor: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’1″, 185 lbs, 38
Style: Fast&furious; CSIA IV, CSCF II, Level III Examiner
Started at: Snow Valley, ON
Home resort: Big White
JEREMY BADCOCK
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Atomic Vantage X 83 CTI, Kästle FX95 HP, Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Fischer/Kästle, Head
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Völkl, Line, Kästle
Ski sponsor: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 180 lbs, 29
Style: Powerful, aggressive; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Southampton, UK
Home resort: Marmot Basin
CHRIS CANDOW
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS, Head iSupershape Titan
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Nordica, Völkl, Blizzard
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Völkl, Atomic/Blizzard/Fischer (tie)
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’11”, 230 lbs, 54
Style: Technical, smooth; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Labrador City, NL
Home resort: Mont-Ste-Marie, QC
WIL COMRIE
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Line Supernatural 92/Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO (tie)
TOP 3 CRUISERS: Völkl, Kästle, Atomic
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Line, Blizzard, Nordica
Ski sponsor: Nordica
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’2″, 195 lbs, 42
Style: Technical, freestyle;
CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Uplands, ON
Home resort: Panorama
PAUL CUNNIUS
›TOP 3 All-MT: Völkl Kendo, Line Supernatural 86, K2 Pinnacle 88/K2 Pinnacle 95
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Völkl, K2, Kästle
›TOP 3 BIG MT: K2, Kästle, Fischer
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 All-Mt: Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO, Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Line Supernatural 92
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Völkl, Atomic, Kästle/Salomon
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Nordica, Head/Kästle
Personal ski: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’10”, 182 lbs, 58
Style: Smooth carver; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Mont Rigaud, QC
Home resort: Blackcomb
PETER EATON
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Meier Wild Bill, Nordica Enforcer 93, Atomic Vantage X 83 CTI/Icelantic Pioneer 96
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Kästle, Nordica, Atomic
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Fischer, Völkl, Atomic
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 155 lbs, 50
Style: Athletic; CSIA III, CSCF I
Started at: Lake Louise
Home resort: Fernie
DAVE GOLLOGLY
›TOP 3 All-MT: Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Kästle MX89, Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Völkl, Fischer, Blizzard
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Völkl, Fischer, Kästle
Ski sponsor: Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 160 lbs, 35
Style: Freeride, smooth; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Ontario, Quebec
Home resort: Castle Mountain
ERIN KEAM
›TOP 3 All-MT: Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO, Atomic Vantage X 83 CTI, Blizzard Brahma/Kästle MX89
›TOP 3 CARVERS: K2, Fischer, Atomic
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Völkl, Nordica, Blizzard
Personal ski: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’9″, 197 lbs, 47
Style: Formula 1 meets Baja 1000; CSIA IV, CSCF II
Started at: Mt Washington
Home resort: Whistler
SEAN KERRIGAN
›TOP 3 All-MT: Kästle MX89/Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS, Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Salomon, Fischer, Atomic
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Head, Meier, Icelantic
Personal ski: Elan, Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’6″, 130 lbs, 41
Style: Fast, technical, finesse
Started at: Alberta
Home resort: Mt. Washington
JORDAN KOZAK
›TOP 3 All-MT: Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO/Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Line Supernatural 92
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Völkl, Atomic/Salomon
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Line, Nordica, K2
Ski sponsor: K2
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’2″, 245 lbs, 24
Style: Powerful charger; CSIA II
Started at: Hockley Valley, ON
Home resort: Glen Eden, ON
MARC LEDOUX
›TOP 3 All-MT: Kästle FX95 HP, K2 Pinnacle 95, Line Supernatural 86
Personal ski: Blizzard
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’6″, 140 lbs, 42
Style: Technical, big-mt; CSP, CAA II, CSIA II
Started at: Gray Rocks, QC
Home resort: Fernie
IAN MARCH
Ski sponsor: Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 6′, 175 lbs, 52
Style: Technical, aggressive; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Craigleith, ON
Home resort: Whistler
RYAN PETERSEN
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO, Atomic Vantage X 83 CTI/Kästle FX95 HP
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Salomon, Kästle, Atomic/Nordica
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Meier, Völkl, Kästle
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’1″, 180 lbs, 37
Style: Performance with flare;
CSIA III, CSCF III
Started at: Lake Louise
Home resort: Marmot Basin
PAUL SCHMIDT
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Kästle FX95 HP, Blizzard Brahma/Head iSupershape Titan
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Salomon, Nordica, Blizzard
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Salomon, Blizzard, Fischer
Ski sponsor: Rossignol
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’3″, 230 lbs, 44
Style: Technical, power; CSIA III, CC I, CSCF II, CADS IIa, AST I
Started at: White Track, SASK
Home resort: Marmot Basin
CHRIS SENECAL
›TOP 3 ALL-MT: Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO, Salomon X-Drive 8.0 FS
›TOP 3 CRUISERS: Völkl, Atomic, Nordica
›TOP 3 BIG MT: Fischer/Völkl, Atomic
Personal ski: Völkl
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’11”, 215 lbs, 34
Style: Power charger/carver
Started at: Grouse Mt, BC
Home resort: Blue Mt, ON
MARK STEIN
›TOP 3 All-MT: Head iSupershape Titan, Atomic Vantage X 83 CTI/Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO
›TOP 3 CARVERS: K2, Atomic, Head
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Atomic, Head/Völkl
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 6’3″, 205 lbs, 56
Style: Expert, racer; CSIA II, CSCF III
Started at: Edmonton SC
Home resort: Marmot Basin
FRITZ STEPHENSON
›TOP 3 All-Mt: Völkl RTM 84 UVO, Kästle MX89, Nordica GT 84 Ti EVO
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Völkl, Kästle, K2
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Nordica, Head, Atomic/Blizzard/Völkl
Personal ski: Dynastar
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’8″, 168 lbs, 44
Style: Aggressive, technical;
CSIA III, ÖSSV Level IV
Started at: Zell am See, Austria
Home resort: Sun Peaks
GEORGE TERWIEL
›TOP 3 All-MT: Head iSupershape Titan, Blizzard Brahma/Kästle MX89/Line Supernatural 86/Nordica Enforcer 93
›TOP 3 CARVERS: Völkl, Fischer, Nordica
›TOP 3 SLALOM: Völkl, Atomic, Blizzard/Fischer/Head
Ski sponsor: Head
Ht, Wt, Age: 5’11”, 185 lbs, 53
Style: Technical, power; CSIA III, CSCF II
Started at: Grouse Mt, BC
Home resort: Sun Peaks
