BIG MOUNTAIN TEST 2010 from Fall 2009 issue
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 |
RECOMMENDATIONS: skier weight, skier ability, snow conditions, skier style
BIG MOUNTAIN TEST REPORT: full magazine page layouts as a PDF file
