Skippress - Index

Skippress - US_2007_2008 - Index

TOP 3 HIGHEST SCORES
58 BUYER’S GUIDE 2008
SKI PRESS SKI TEST '08 08
NORDICA • Dobermann GS Pro
PRICE: CDN$1,399.95 WITH 5-14 XBi (ONLY DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA)
LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 171, 176, 181, 186
The Dobermann GS Pro is like a
benevolent dictator — forceful
yet forgiving. To be brought under
control, skis loaded with this much
power usually demand equal power
from the skier. Not necessarily so
with the GS Pro. One tester gushed:
“Superb! Easy to initiate but with
plenty of power.” That said, if you
want to fully appreciate the ski’s
racy precision in linking GS turns,
you’ll want to give it as much oomph
as possible. It’s stimulus-response
— the more energy you put into it,
the more you get out of it.
ROSSIGNOL • Radical 9X Oversize
PRICE: $1,249.99 WITH AXIAL 120 TPI • LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 160, 167, 174, 181
On some high-end skis, HP doesn’t
stand for high performance but heavy
pressure. They require a forceful skier
traveling at high speed before they
show their true colors. The Radical
9X is the sweet exception — a ski forgiving
and versatile enough to be an
all-day, all-conditions ski as well as
an occasional racer. It adapts to your
skiing style, rather than the other way
around, its relatively tight, 15.9-metre
radius permitting a variety of turn
shapes. It can work well for skiers of
different sizes, with different stances
and in different snow conditions.
BEST BUY
STABILITY 8.56
EZ TO INITIATE 8.44
EDGE GRIP 8.11
FORGIVENESS 8.22
ENERGY 8.33
SHORT RADIUS 7.78
LONG RADIUS 8.78
VERSATILITY 8.22
RATING
BEST BUY
STABILITY 8.56
EZ TO INITIATE 8.67
EDGE GRIP 8.89
FORGIVENESS 8.56
ENERGY 8.56
SHORT RADIUS 7.56
LONG RADIUS 9.00
VERSATILITY 7.89
RATING
For more winning skis, look for the Online Ski Finder MySki, only at skipressworld.com
87.67
THE HARDER YOU SKI IT, THE BETTER IT GETS.
STEERING average to strong • WEIGHT medium • FLEX medium to stiff
TESTED LENGTH 181 • DIMENSIONS 111-67-97 • RADIUS 18
86.81
RADICAL SIMPLICITY — HIGH-PERFORMANCE SKIING MADE EASY.
STEERING average to strong • WEIGHT medium • FLEX medium to stiff
TESTED LENGTH 174 • DIMENSIONS 116-68-100 • RADIUS 15.9
ATOMIC • GS 12
PRICE: $1,175 • LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 165, 170, 175, 180, 185
Giddy-up, cowboy — the GS 12 is a
bronc just snorting with energy and
need for speed. “It knows only two
speeds — fast and faster,” wrote one
tester. And like a wild horse, this
pony needs room to romp. On long,
race-speed turns it’s exceptional,
but try to keep GS 12 confi ned to
tighter turns and tighter spaces, and
it might buck you around. Racers
and racers-to-be, saddle up — for a
pure GS experience, it doesn’t get
much better than this.
BEST BUY
STABILITY 8.50
EZ TO INITIATE 8.00
EDGE GRIP 8.63
FORGIVENESS 8.25
ENERGY 8.75
SHORT RADIUS 7.13
LONG RADIUS 9.00
VERSATILITY 7.63
RATING
Top Top 88
86.22
POWERBRIDGE UNDERFOOT ALLOWS SKI TO FLEX SMOOTHLY BENEATH
THE BOOT.
STEERING strong • WEIGHT medium • FLEX medium to stiff
TESTED LENGTH 175 • DIMENSIONS 110-66-93 • RADIUS 18.5
Groo mers HIGH-PERFORMANCE GS
BEST BUY FISCHER ELAN DYNASTAR HEAD VÖLKL
STABILITY 8.60 9.14 8.22 8.11 8.78
EZ TO INITIATE 8.40 8.14 8.33 8.56 8.33
EDGE GRIP 8.40 8.86 8.22 8.33 8.67
FORGIVENESS 8.10 8.00 7.78 8.22 8.00
ENERGY 8.40 8.57 8.33 7.89 8.56
SHORT RADIUS 7.90 7.29 7.56 7.56 7.56
LONG RADIUS 8.80 9.00 8.44 8.33 9.00
VERSATILITY 8.20 7.86 7.89 8.00 7.89
RATING 86.08 85.19 84.80 84.45 84.36
TOP 5 ALSO BEST BUYS
FISCHER • RC4 World Cup RC Flowflex
PRICE: $1,350 WITH Z 13 FLOWFLEX • LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 170, 175, 180, 185
Consistency and predictability are admirable qualities. But it’s not often you
fi nd that combination in race-oriented skis, which, like a nervous thoroughbred,
can run away with you if you aren’t constantly attentive. The RC4 World
Cup produces predictable, consistent results without sacrifi cing race-ski
energy. “A lively ski that’s easy to ride at high or low speed,” wrote one tester.
Calling all race-minded skiers looking for all-mountain performance.
TESTERS OVER 200 POUNDS WERE ESPECIALLY HAPPY FELLAS.
STEERING average to strong • WEIGHT medium • FLEX medium
TESTED LENGTH 175 • DIMENSIONS 112-66-96 • RADIUS 16
ELAN • GSX Race Green Fusion Pro
PRICE: $1,150 WITH ELD 12 FP • LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 164, 170, 178
Shift straight into overdrive and stomp on the accelerator. The GSX Race
won’t be bothered with puttering around at anything but race speed. “Very
specifi c for GS — performs better, the faster you ski,” wrote one tester.
Short turns? Nah. Versatility? Maybe not. But fi nd the combination of
speed, hard snow and long turns, and it doesn’t get much better.
PUSH ‘EM HARD AT HIGH SPEED — THAT’S WHEN THESE POWER BOARDS ENTER THEIR ELEMENT.
STEERING average to strong • WEIGHT medium to heavy • FLEX medium to stiff
TESTED LENGTH 178 • DIMENSIONS 107-66-95 • RADIUS 18.3
DYNASTAR • Course
PRICE: $949 • LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 158, 165, 172, 178, 182
For some people, skiing is a form of dance, requiring artistry rather than
pure power. For them, the Course Pro was invented. “Ride it with fi nesse
and it will give everything you’re asking for,” wrote one tester. It can still
handle the rough stuff — the speed, power and hard snow of race-like
skiing. It just prefers the delicate touch. Shall we dance?
VENERABLE AUTODRIVE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVED BY NEW FLEX PLATE.
STEERING average • WEIGHT medium to heavy • FLEX medium
TESTED LENGTH 178 • DIMENSIONS 112-67-98 • RADIUS 17
HEAD • iSupershape Speed
PRICE: $960 WITH CP 13 • LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 156, 163, 170, 177, 184
Balance is the name of the game, fi nding the perfect equilibrium between
race performance and versatility. The iSupershape Speed can handle race
conditions but won’t feel lost outside the gates. “Easy to ski, easy to initiate
turns — a Cadillac,” wrote one tester. Former racers who don’t want
to work as hard as they used to might fi nd that the iSupershape Speed is
balanced perfection. In short, a Cadillac.
THE LEAST EXPENSIVE SKI TO MAKE THE FINAL CUT IN THIS CATEGORY.
STEERING average • WEIGHT medium • FLEX medium
TESTED LENGTH 177 • DIMENSIONS 113-67-99 • RADIUS 16.6
VÖLKL • Racetiger GS Racing Motion
PRICE: $1,200 WITH IPT R 14.0 • LENGTHS AVAILABLE: 165, 170, 175, 180, 185
A race ski should be built like a Formula One car — stiff, able to hold its
line through turns, and loaded with energetic horsepower. That pretty much
sums up the Racetiger GS... with one added bonus — it’s as easy-riding
as a Cadillac. “A superb combination: ease of use and the exactitude of a
race ski,” is the way one tester described it. Racers ready!
SURPRISE: FINESSE WORKS FINE FOR A SKI WITH SO MUCH POWER.
STEERING average to strong • WEIGHT medium to heavy • FLEX medium to stiff
TESTED LENGTH 175 • DIMENSIONS 108-67-94 • RADIUS 19