fall-newsletter-2 - Down Wind Sports

Transcription

Down Wind Sports
Winter 2011
Newsletter
w ww.d o wnw i n d s p o r ts .c o m
Winter Events & Specials
October
8th..............Houghton Huge-normous Ski Sale
This is the sale that everyone’s been waiting for. Join us this Saturday if you’re looking to
save. We will have a large tent set up out back and everything will be on sale. We will have
last years ski and snowboard equipment and clothing marked down 40-70% while all of the
new equipment and clothing will be at 20% off... including special orders that are paid in
full. Regular Hours
15th............Marquette Gi-mungus Ski Sale
November
This is the sale that everyone’s been waiting for. Join us this Saturday if you’re looking to
save. We will have a large tent set up out back and everything will be on sale. We will have
last years ski and snowboard equipment and clothing marked down 40-70% while all of the
new equipment and clothing will be at 20% off... including special orders that are paid in
full. Regular Hours
17th............Ladies Night - Marquette 7-9pm
The refreshments are stocked, the prizes bagged, and by all accounts we’re ready for
the ladies! Be sure to get here early so not to miss out on all of the fun! All clothing and
equipment will be discounted all night long.
26th............Nordic Waxing Clinic - Marquette 10-11am
December
Waxing self-sufficiency is the goal of our free cross-country ski waxing clinics. We cover
everything from selecting simple waxes, cleaning and application, to more advanced topics
such as base prep and repair. We will show you the basics of waxing and will explain why
it is important to take the time to properly maintain your skis. You will also receive 20% off
any wax or tool purchase.
3rd..............Nordic Waxing Clinic - Marquette 10-11am
15th............Holiday Open House - Marquette & Houghton 5-8pm
This is that time of year... time to celebrate what fantastic customers and friends we have.
Stop by for some delicious snacks prepared locally with a side of Cheer... wink, wink. There
will be special deals and free gift wrapping all night long.
17th............Nordic Waxing Clinic - Marquette 10-11am
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www.downwindsports.com
Winter Events & Specials
w w w .dow n w in ds por ts.com
January
7th..............Nordic Waxing Clinic - Marquette 10-11am
14-15th.......Ice Pit Ice Climbing Festival - Green Bay, WI
The Ice Pit Climbing Festival is a new ice climbing event in the Midwest. The event takes
place just west of Green Bay, WI and is a great opportunity to see what ice climbing is
all about, or throw down on some of the longer pure ice climbs in the area. There will be
presentations, clinics and gear demos. For more information goto www.theicepit.org
26-28th.......Noquemanon Ski Marathon - Marquette
February
Starting from Ishpeming and ending in Marquette, the “Noque” showcases the scenery and
terrain characteristics of Upper Michigan. In addition, due to its proximity to Lake Superior,
the race is well known for its premier snow conditions, a result of lake effect snow. There
is also a Half-Noque, Jr. Noque, and 12k races. For more information please visit www.
noquemanon.com.
2-5th...........Icefest - Munising, MI
The Michigan Ice Fest is held every year on the first weekend of February at the Pictured
Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising, Michigan. Here you will have the opportunity to not
only look at the latest and greatest equipment, but to test it outside on real ice. There will
be boots, crampons, axes, and even clothing to demo. After a long day at the demo, what
better way to relax than with dinner at Sydney’s and a slideshow by some of the worlds best
climbers. For more information please goto www.michiganicefest.com.
10-12th.......Telefest, The Porcupine Mountains
March
Ever wanted to try telemark skiing? Well, this is your opportunity. Telefest is a weekend long
festival celebrating the telemark turn. There will be demos, clinics, tours, live music, food,
dancing and good people. For more information goto www.midwesttelefest.com.
2-4th...........Copper Dog 150
Grab a warm jacket and come on up to the Keweenaw for the third annual Copper Dog 150.
Over 30 professional teams will be competing for a piece of the $20,000 race purse. While
you’re watching the dogs don’t forget to check out the other festivities. There will also be
art exhibits, live music, sled dog rides for kids, kids kick-sled and dog sled races, and the
Copper Dog weight pull. For more information goto www.copperdog150.com.
Marquette Backcountry Ski Demo Center!
We are proud to announce that based in the Marquette store we will be an official Marquette
Backcountry Ski Demo Center! Come see what all of the buzz is about with these new backcountry
skis! Part snowshoe and part ski, The Marquette Backcountry Ski gives you unprecedented winter
access and fun. Climb up and slide down snow covered terrain. Stop by and rent Scarpa T4 boots,
Marquette Backcountry Skis, and Black Diamond Traverse poles for only $30.00! Also remember that a
one time rental can be applied towards the purchase of the Marquette Backcountry Skis!
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Winter Treks & Socials
Monday Night Skate Skiing Lessons - Marquette
Join Jeff and the gang out at the Forrestville Trail Head for our popular Skate Ski Lessons every Monday
from January 9th through February 20th.
Skate-skiing is the fastest, most efficient way of traveling on snow. If you like in-line or ice skating,
cycling, or running, you will want to try skating on skis. The 75-minute lesson teaches you the basics
of weight transfer, edging, and timing. All abilities are welcome and please dress for the conditions. A
limited amount of free demo equipment is available by contacting the store. The Skate Ski Lesson is
free but a $5.00 trail pass is required and can be paid for at the trail head.
Winter Equipment Rentals - Houghton & Marquette
Here at Down Wind Sports we firmly believe in the concept of “Try Before You Buy”. Our rental program
provides the perfect opportunity to try out a particular piece of equipment or activity without having to
make a large monetary commitment. The things we like to do for fun can be expensive and we want
you to feel good about the purchases you make. That’s why here at Down Wind Sports we have an
extensive selection of cross country, alpine, telemark, snowshoe, and ice climbing equipment available
for you to rent. And don’t forget – a one-time rental fee can be applied to the purchase of any new
equipment if you do decide to buy.
Rental Equipment
»» Various Rossignol and Madshus skate and classic cross country skis - $20/day
»» Men’s and women’s snowshoes from Tubbs - $15/day
»» Alpine and Telemark skis from Rossignol and Volkl - $40/day
»» Ice climbing equipment from Petzl, Black Diamond, Grivel, and LaSportiva
Boots - $25/day
Crampons - $15/day
Tools - $15/day
Down Wind Sports - Side Treks Adventure Guide Service
When visiting the Upper Peninsula consider an adventure with Side Treks! Side Treks was formed
because we all have a common interest: the love of the outdoors. We specialize in custom trips for
small groups and our goal is simple – to provide you with a high quality, safe and unique outdoor
adventure opportunity.
Side Treks offers a variety of courses from mountain biking and sea kayaking to rock and ice climbing.
Classes range in cost from $99 to $175 per person and that includes all equipment and instruction for
the day. More information can be found on our website, www.downwindsports.com, or by calling one of
our stores – Marquette 906.225.7112 or Houghton 906.482.2500
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Even More Purchasing Options
Well, it’s been almost a year since we launched our
online store and we have to say it’s been quite a learning
experience for us. That said, we have been quite pleased
with the response and hope our customers continue to
find it to be a useful and easy way to pick up their favorite
outdoor related products.
Our goal of providing easy access to high quality equipment
from a name you trust is something we are committed to.
All summer we have been working hard at updating the
site, and this fall you will find a much larger selection of
winter equipment including alpine and cross country skis
and snowshoes.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact
us. You can be sure that a real person will answer the
phone and they will be happy to help you with whatever it
is you need.
So, if you still have checked out the site you should head on
over and see what it’s all about. If you are already familiar
with the site you should take another looks as quite a few
things have changed. And if you find something you like
please take advantage of the promo code found below.
Use Promo Code “winternews10” to
receive an additional 10% off any order
from now through Thanksgiving!
www.shopdownwindsports.com
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Michigan Icefest - Feburary 2-5
Why does anyone go to the Michigan Ice Festival? The
climbing for sure, but it’s also to be inspired by the amazing
slide shows, it’s to learn and develop skills, but it’s also to
reconnect with friends and fellow climbers from around
the Midwest! During Ice Fest there will be opportunities
to try out the
latest
climbing
gear and clothing,
instructional
courses,
clinics
on a variety of ice
climbing-related
subjects, as well
as
interesting
and
inspiring
slide
shows
from world-class
climbers. It’s also
an
opportunity
to
reconnect
with friends and
fellow
climbers
from
around
the
Midwest!
Never been ice
climbing?
Here
is your chance! A
good portion of our participants have never ice climbed
before and this event offers the opportunity to learn and
experience the sport of ice climbing.
We hope that you will all come and enjoy the incredible
ice routes that the Upper Peninsula has to offer, and
become part of our growing group of friends. From first
time climbers to the seasoned veteran, all will have a great
time! For more information regarding the ice fest please
visit our web site at www.michiganicefest.com
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Midwest Telefest - February 10-12
Telefest is the largest gathering of free heeler’s in the
Midwest! The fest takes place in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan and is a celebration of good friends, good food
and great skiing!
Now in its 21st season, Telefest has evolved into a tradition
and is a hallmark celebration of the telemark turn. During
Telefest there will be opportunities to try out the latest
tele gear, take an instructional course or clinic, compete
in races, cut turns in the backcountry, watch a movie, and
dance with friends at the pasty party where everyone cuts
loose for the evening!
As always, we have tried to enhance this event in hopes that
you will all come and enjoy the beautiful skiing the Upper
Peninsula has to offer, and become part of our growing
group of friends. From first-time skiers to the crusty
veteran, all with have a great time! Go off the backside
and hunt down the powder, then come back in and enjoy
the fire, eat and celebrate! For more information regarding
how you can become involved with Telefest please visit our
web site at www.midwesttelefest.com
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New Fall Products
the jacket was carefully examined to design the Alibi. The
durable, weatherproof sleeves and hood bear the brunt
of nature’s assault from above. The stretchy soft shell
lower body stays warm but also breathes well to avoid
overheating and won’t restrict motion. Finally, the alpine
cut reduces bulk and allows the jacket to move with you to
eliminate bunching and binding. Pair the Alibi Jacket with
the Trail Breaker pants and we know it will be a perfect
soft shell system for cutting turns in the backcountry or
ascending ice pillars this winter in Munising!
Granite Gear Expedition Pulk
New this winter season we will be carrying the Granite
Outdoor Research Outerwear
For many years DWS has carried the Outdoor Research
brand outfitting Upper Peninsula outdoor enthusisasts
with gaiters, hats and handwear. OR has always made
bomber products and we are happy to announce that this
season we will be carrying OR’s extremely popular line of
outerwear!
Passion for human powered adventure inspired the birth
of Outdoor Research, an outdoor gear company based in
Seattle, Washington. And
27 years later, this passion
remains as strong as ever.
You can see that passion in
their products and hear it
in their voices, “Over the
years, we’ve learned it’s
not simply about what we
think. It’s about listening
to our customers and
building their ideas into
our products”.
Gear Expedition Pulk Sled. This smooth pulling, covered
sled and innovative harness system team up to provide a
great way of getting your gear through the deep Upper
Peninsula snow and into the backcountry. The sled has
a huge carrying capacity—15,000 cubic inches. With a
crossed fiberglass stay system, flexible nylon connecting
rods and a “zero play” full body harness, this pulk sled
pulls and turns like a dream. So if you are planning a trip
into the McCormick Wilderness or winter camping in the
Porkies, go in style with the Granite Gear Expedition Pulk
Sled!
The Men’s Alibi jacket is
a perfect example of the
amount of design that goes
into an Outdoor Research
product. Each element of
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New Fall Products
Crescent Moon Snowshoes
Skhoop Skirts
Since 1997 Crescent Moon has been focused on producing
the best snowshoe binding on the market. They understand
that of all the components that make up a snowshoe,
the binding is the thing that
really matters and can be
the difference between an
enjoyable winter hike in the
woods and a death slog. The
guys at Crescent Moon want
you to focus on the experience
not the equipment and the
result of their efforts is the SPL
(single pull loop) binding. The
SPL binding captures a larger
portion of the foot providing
stability and control not found
in other snowshoes on the
market. On top of that they are
some of the easiest bindings
to get on and off—what more
could you want.
Alright so the Skoop Skirts aren’t really new this season.
But, we thought we would remind everyone that they will
again be available from Down Wind Sports and that you
should really check them out if you haven’t already.
Snowshoes from Crescent Moon come in three flavors,
Gold, Silver and Running. This winter at Down Wind Sports
we will be carrying the Gold 9, Gold 10, Women’s Gold
13, Silver 9, Silver 10, and the Gold 12 Running. Each
and every model features Crescent Moons TGS (the good
stuff) decking, tapered teardrop shape, SPL Binding and 3
claw crampon. There’s a snowshoe for every purpose and
budget and can sleep soundly
at night knowing that you would
be supporting a company that
makes their products right here
in the USA, uses wind power for
100% of their manufacturing
and recycles 95% of the scrap
produced during production.
Crescent Moon is intent on
making the best products on
the market using the most
environmentally
conscious
practices possible. Stop by
Down Wind Sports sometime
this winter and check them out!
Last winter was our first season selling any of the Skoop
product and as excited as we were about Skoop’s line of
insulated skirts we often had a difficult time convincing
some of our customers that they were as cool as we
thought. The thing is you can’t think about them in terms
of your typical skirt, as they are anything but typical. The
Skhoop insulated skirts are really more like mittens for
your legs, and they are becoming extremely popular with
our backcountry and cross country skiers, students, and
anyone that lives within walking distance of their place of
work. We’ve even had a handful of guys interested because
a Skoop insulated skirt is warmer, lighter, packs smaller,
and is easier to put on than your typical ski pant.
The insulated skirt from Skhoop really is one of those
products that makes you smack yourself in the noggin and
say “Why didn’t I think of that.” Once you use one you will
wonder how you ever got through a U.P. winter without
one. And maybe this winter they’ll come out with a camo
version or something with a skull and crossbones for the
dudes out there that realize how brilliant an idea this is.
Come on in this winter and check out the selection. With
all of the different lengths and colors there is sure to be
something for just about everyone.
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{seen }
Friend of the shop Timmy Kostner taking a breath during
an early morning run at Mont Ripley in Houghton. Even
though we didn’t get the massive amounts of snow seen
on the east and west coasts... that didn’t mean no snow.
Here’s to Midwest faceshots!
{seen }
Participants at the 2011 Michigan Icefest. This formation
is called the Dryer Hose and is just around the corner
from the main demo area at the Curtains.
{seen }
Employee Emily Oppliger at the main trailhead of the
Michigan Tech Trails. The 7km of lighted trails at MTU
ensure that you can get your workout in no matter what
time you get off work.
{seen }
Watson Geshel grabbing some
air during an evening session
in the park at Mont Ripley.
{seen }
Andrew Martin scrubbing some wax off his skis on one
of the many, many features in the park at Mont Ripley in
Houghton.
{seen }
John Mancini waiting for the next set to come in at Big
Traverse Bay on Lake Superior on the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Stand up boards are proving quite useful at making the
most of smaller days on the lake and are especially welcome
during the inbetween seasons when the waves are good.
2012 Ski Preview
Every fall on newsstands across the country outdoor gear and ski magazines publish their winter gear guides and ski
previews. Inside these publications are hundreds of skis from all of the different manufacturers and guess what... All of
the skis are just amazing! The mid-fat all-mountain skis are rip on the groomers but still hold their own when the going
gets deep, and the super-fat powder specific skis make you feel like superman after a dump but will surprise you with
their ability to lay trenches on the groomers. Basically, no matter what skis you decide to go with, they are going to
destroy it in any and all conditions so why not start throwing darts and let fate decide.
Here at Down Wind Sports we too are amazed at the quality and versatility of the skis on the market today. This season
our daily drivers will sport dimensions larger than skis we would have considered powder-specific 5 years ago. But, we
also understand that not every ski can be everything to everyone in every condition. So here we will try to help you wade
through all of the marketing and hyperbole and maybe help you find some understanding and provide some guidance
when looking at all of the ski options available this season.
Rocker and Early Rise
Rocker first appeared in the super-wide powder-specific
skis. Adding rocker to these skis helped the tip of the ski
float to the surface and allowed the skier to get off their
heels and ski more aggressively. More recently rocker and
early rise designs have really come into their own and now
you are seeing these features incorporated into just about
every category of ski out there. By adding rocker to the
tip or tail of a ski you bring the contact point closer to the
ski’s middle effectively making the ski shorter and easier
to turn. For the most part this is a good thing. New skis
are easier to turn, naturally float in powder, and are easier
to handle in crudy conditions. But rocker isn’t great in all
conditions and it comes in quite a few different flavors.
Here’s a short guide to help sort out some of the mystery.
much in the way of hard snow performance. Example Volkl Mantra
Rockered Tip and Tail
By rockering the tail you shorten the effective length of
the ski even more. If you combine this profile with a wide
waist, 115mm or so, you get a ski that has phenomenal
soft snow performance, is incredibly maneuverable in trees
and on the steeps and can still get around and be fun on
the groomers. If you’re headed out west and you can only
take one pair of skis, this is what you want in your bag.
Examples - Rossignol S7 & S3.
Camber
Full Rocker
Cambered skis are still the best option for hard and icy
conditions. Fully cambered skis have the longest running
length and generate pressure along the full edge of the ski.
This is what you want if you are racing or hitting up an icy
half pipe. Example - Volkl Kendo & Wall
Skis that are designed for nothing except the deepest
powder will almost definitely take advantage of a fully
rockered design. With this profile your contact point is
directly underfoot. This makes for a ski that just won’t sink
and turns with the slightest amount of effort. This profile is
also popular in park skis because it reduces the chance of
catching an edge and lets you to spin like a top. This design
tends not to perform very well on harder snow. Because
of the short effective running length you end up with a
pretty unstable ski. Most manufacturers have moved away
from fully rockered designs and skis like the Volkl Kuro
and K2 Hellbent now have an short uncambered or flat
section under the boot. This helps preserve the soft snow
performance while adding a little stability on the groomers
to help you get back to the lift.
Early Rise Tip
Adding rocker to the tip of the ski makes turn initiation
easier and helps the tip naturally float to the surface in
softer conditions. This design is popular in the all mountain
skis making this category more versatile without giving up
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2012 Ski Preview
Terrain Types
Choosing a pair of skis is about matching equipment to
your terrain preferences and to your ability level. The
typical types of terrain you might encounter while skiing
are:
Groomers: Groomed runs are relatively hard
surfaces that are typically very smooth. On groomers
you ski ON the snow.
are taking advantage of early rise tips and tails to help
ease turn initiation and improve performance in crud and
powder.
wider waist
Waist Width: 85mm - 117mm
Powder: Powder runs are very soft surfaces where
you and your skis sink in below the surface of the
snow. On a powder run you ski IN the snow.
Pros: Best performance anywhere on the mountain.
The wider waists provides more floatation in powder,
stability in the crud, and their increased weight
helps the skis hold their line in chunky snow while
reducing chatter.
Crud: Crud refers to conditions you have the day
after a powder day. Here you have sections of soft
snow and hard snow, bumps, troughs, etc... It’s a
very inconsistent surface and can be very difficult
to ski.
Cons: While skis in this category might surprise you
at how well they ski on groomed trails, they will
never match the performance of something with a
narrower waist and more sidecut. Less edge hold in
hard and icy conditions.
All-Mountain Skis
The term all mountain is a little bit of a misnomer. These
skis have the narrowest waists and are designed mostly
for groomed runs, including moguls, with the occasional
foray into powder.
narrower waist
Waist Width: Typically narrower than 85mm. These
skis also tend to have the most sidecut meaning
they are very easy to turn.
Pros: These skis tear it up on the groomers. They
are easy to turn and hold their edge very well even
in hard and icy conditions. Great for the beginning
skier and anyone that likes to go fast and turn hard
on groomed trails.
Cons: Not as proficient in powder and crud
conditions. The narrower width doesn’t provide as
much flotation in powder, and their lighter weight
causes them to get pushed around a lot in the crud.
Bindings: Most are available with or come standard
with integrated bindings.
Bindings: Most of these skis are sold flat letting
you decide whether to use an alpine, alpine touring,
or telemark binding.
Powder Skis
Powder skis have the widest waists, less sidecut and will
most definitely have a significant amount of rocker. Some
skis in this category will have a narrower than normal
tail which lets the tail sink keeping the tip right at the
surface. Skis is this category might only come out a
few times a season, but when you get to use them...
IT’S AWESOME!
widest waist
pin tail
Waist Width: 115mm and bigger
Pros: I’m pretty sure you could land upside down
and they would still float.
Freeride Skis
Cons: Not very versatile. Might only get used a
handful of times each season. Some designs can be
scary on groomers.
This is largest category of skis and the most versatile.
Skis in this category combine a wider waist with a good
amount of sidecut, and more and more of these skis
Bindings: These skis are sold flat letting you decide
whether to use an alpine, alpine touring, or telemark
binding.B
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Ski season is almost upon us and if you’re anything like us
you’re always on the lookout for new skis. The problem
is there are a ton of skis out there and most of them are
pretty dang good. Fortunately you have us to help you sort
through all the marketing BS.
During the last few seasons the ski industry has been all
over the place. For a period it seemed that many of the
companies were just throwing designs at the wall and
waiting to see what stuck. Well, things are starting to
settle down. Rocker is the new black and just about every
ski on our wall this season will incorporate it in some way,
shape or form. Wide skis are in and tapered shapes will be
a common sight on the slopes this winter.
Below we will highlight some of the skis we are pretty
excited about this year.
Volkl Skis
2012 Ski Preview
weighty, and like the Katana, it encourages you to drop
the hammer. If you’re just cruising around you have to
stay on your toes. The fully rockered profile means less
engaged edge on groomers and hard packed trails and
the tails can get away from you fairly easily if you’re not
careful. I didn’t get to ski in powder conditions, but the
Gotama was great in crud and was a ton of fun on the
late season groomers at Searchmont Resort so long as
you were going fast and really flexing the ski in the turns.
The Gotama would make a great daily driver here in the
U.P. and is well suited for those that like to charge.
Ideal Skier: A go-fast skier looking for a daily driver for
use here in the U.P. You think groomers neat, but prefer
to spend the majority of your time out of bounds or in
the trees, and occasionally play in the park.
Mantra/Aura 132-98-118, all-mountain, tip-rocker, $700
Katana 143-112-132, freeride, full-rocker, $900
The Katana has been one of our goto powder skis for
the last couple of seasons. It’s wide, but not super wide,
and with its fully rockered profile the Katana floats and
turns effortlessly. It’s stiff flex helps it hold an edge on
the groomers and punch through crud with authority.
If you’re an ex-racer or someone who just likes to go
fast and you want a ski that can go anywhere on the
mountain this might just be your ski. The Katana is a
great U.P. powder ski and is the ideal candidate if you’re
headed out west and can only travel with one pair of
skis.
Ideal Skier: Ex-racer looking for a powder ski for the
Midwest and a one-ski-quiver to take to the Rockies.
Gotama 139-107-123, freeride, full-rocker, $700
The Gotama got a little wider for the 2011/12 season
going from 105 to 107 at the waist. I skied the Gotama
quite a bit towards the end of last season. It’s stiff and
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This season the Mantra (Aura is the women’s specific
model) will be sporting a new rockered tip. This will make
turn initiation and edge transitions easier and faster and
will help the tip float when busting crud or chasing pow.
With the more traditionally cambered profile the Mantra
is going to be happy at a wider range of speeds than a
fully rockered ski. It’s not going to perform as well in
crud and powder conditions as something wider, but if
you’re coming from a carving ski you are going to see a
huge performance increase off-piste while not giving up
any performance on-piste.
Ideal Skier: You’re not a fan of the park and you think
groomers are awesome. Your local hill doesn’t get a lot
of fresh snow but its not often icy, and when the powder
finally does arrive you don’t want your skis holding you
back.
Kendo/Kenja 127-88-109, all-mountain, full-camber, $650
The Kendo (Kenja is the women’s specific model) is a
fully cambered ski and with an 88mm waist it’s definitely
going to be happier spending it’s time in bounds. Now,
2012 Ski Preview
don’t get me wrong, this is a ski that 7 years ago would
have been considered a powder ski. But, the Kendo was
made to rip on-piste. With a fully cambered profile and
no rocker you are going to have a ski that engages the
full length of its edge when making a turn. This translates
into excellent hold and stability on hard-packed and icy
conditions. The Kendo is going to be comfortable at a
variety of speeds and you’re just as likely to see someone
on a pair running gates during Tuesday night’s beer
league as you are on the bunny slope chasing kids. If you
live south of the Bridge or are looking for a performace
oriented ski for use in-bounds the Kendo could be the
way to go.
Ideal Skier: You’re more slalom than GS, potentially an
ex new englander who liked the Mantra but is still afraid
of fat skis. Groomers are where it’s at and the more turns
you can make the better.
Rossignol Skis
S3 128-98-118, all-mountain, rockered tip & tail, $600
The S3 is probably one of the best skis you’ve never
heard of. It’s the little brother of the award-winning S7
and incorporates many of the features that make the
S7 so amazing, but in a slightly smaller package. By
rockering the tip and tail you effectively shorten the
running length making for a super agile ski without
giving up too much in the way of stability and edge-hold
on hard-pack and groomed conditions. The S3 isn’t the
fastest or the floatiest, but it is one of the most fun skis
out there. I’ve been skiing the S3 for the past 2 seasons
and it’s just easy to ski. The S3 is a happy maker whether
you spend your time in the park, in the trees the S3 or
are just starting out.
Ideal Skier: Everyone...Truely. At 98mm underfoot the
S3 will feel at home in anyone’s quiver. It’s big enough
to serve as a powder ski for you east-coasters, versatile
enough to be a daily driver anywhere west of the
Mississippi, is great in the park and is so easy to ski and
confidence inspiring that it makes a great beginner ski.
S7 145-115-123, powder, rockered tip & tail, $700
When the original S7 was released it created a sort of
revolution in the ski industry. Even though it was intended
as a powder specific ski the reverse sidecut tip, tapered
tail and significant sidecut (17.5m@188length) made for
a ski that performed incredibly no matter where you were
or what conditions you encountered on the mountain.
Contrary to other “all-mountain” claims the S7 really can
ski everywhere. The S7 a is big and relatively heavy ski,
so if you’re going to spend a significant amount of time
on groomed runs you should look elsewhere. However,
if you like powder, trees, steep wide open lines, and
occasionally get skunked and have to make due inbounds the S7 should be on the top of your list.
Ideal Skier: Someone with multiple pairs of skis looking
for an extremely turny and manuverable powder ski that
kills it when the snow is deep and the trees are tight. The
S7 would be perfect paired up with something like S3 or
Volkl Kendo.
Super 7 146-117-127, powder, rockered tip & tail, $800
The Super 7 is the S7’s big brother. It will be available
in the 188 and 195 lengths this season and besides the
different graphic it sports an additional layer of titanium
to beef things up a bit for those that thought the regular
S7 was a sissy or for someone looking for to make 4-5
turns on one of those big, wide open Alaska lines you see
in the movies. But really, this is a serious ski made for
people skiing seriously big lines, seriously big people, or
seriously serious skiiers... you know who you are.
Ideal Skier: Your name is Chuck Aukland or Kyle Rubin,
you’re a sponsored skiier, or you skied the regular S7 and
thought it was too soft.
Note: Potential S7 Customers remember to
size up from your normal ski length. S7’s ski
much shorter than they look and you’ll be
happier with the larger size.
19
Black Diamond Skis
2012 Ski Preview
Hellbent 160-132-151, deep powder, rockered tip & tail, $749
Amperage/Element 142-115-124, powder,
rockered tip & tail, $669
The Amp and Element (womens version) are brand new
skis in Black Diamond’s lineup for the 2011/12 season
and we’re pretty excited about them. Looking very similar
to the Rossignol S7 the Amp sports a slightly narrower
tip, same waist, wider tail and less sidecut we expect
them to perform similarly while being slightly less turny.
It’s good to see other skis like this on the market. No ski
is perfect for everyone and as good as the S7 is there are
people that don’t like it. That said the design philosophy
behind these skis is solid and more options means a
better chance of finding your perfect ski.
Ideal Skier: You like the backcountry and are looking for
a ski that inspires confidence anywhere from windblown
slab and breakable crust, to spring corn and neck deep
pow.
K2 Skis
Obsethed 146-117-134, powder, rockered tip & tail, $699
The Obsethed competes directly with the likes of the
Rossignol S7 and Black Diamond Amp. It features K2’s
powder-rocker in the tip and all-terrain rocker in the tail
with a small amount of camber underfoot and a more
traditional tip shape. Just as versatile as the S7, the
Obsethed was made for skiing big mountain lines but
can hold it’s own anywhere on the mountain. You hear
the term “One-Ski-Quiver” a lot nowadays. This ski isn’t
quite there. But, in all soft-snow conditions including
groomers, it rips!
Ideal Skier: Someone who enjoys playing in the park
and is looking for a ski to conquer everything from soft
groomers on up to goggle deep powder. You like to go
fast and jump off stuff and you think going heli-skiing in
Alaska would be sweet!
The Hellbents fall into the category of “Ultimate Powder
Ski”. Being 160 at the tip and over 130 underfoot you
could land upside down and still not get these skis to
sink. It doesn’t matter if there is 3 inches or 30 every
day is a bottomless day when riding on these guys. Now
the Hellbents are definitely not your everyday ski. They
are meant to come out of the closet on a few special
occasions every season. That said, the small amount of
camber they do have grips surprisingly well and makes
getting back to the lift less sketchy and actually pretty
enjoyable.
Ideal Skier: Anyone looking for the maximum amount of
float in the maximum amount of snow. The Hellbent is
especially well suited to those skiers looking for a ski that
can destroy deep snow in forward and reverse.
And Don’t Forget About:
The HUGE-NORMOUS
Down Wind Sports
Winter Ski Sale!
This is our biggest sale of the year and is
the perfect time to stock up on supplies for
winter. We will have a large tent set up out
back where you will find all of last seasons
equipment and clothing on sale at up to
70% off.
And That’s Not All...
All of the new winter clothing and equipment
will be on sale as well, including special orders.
So grab your calendar and mark it down.
You’re not going to want to miss out!
October 8th in Houghton
October 15th in Marquette
20
Tecnica AT Boot Preview
the coolest features found
on these new boots is the
new
powerstrap/buckle
combo. The buckle really lets
you get everything nice and
tight, and when you switch
into touring mode just open
the buckle for more mobility.
When it’s time to ski vclose
the buckle... no fiddling.
The boots also come with
replaceable soles. You have
the option of running the DIN sole which will fit into all
regular alpine bindings, or an AT sole which has tech
inserts and a rockered, treaded sole which is typically
only compatible with AT bindings or alpine bindings with
adjustable toe height.
With the recent rise in popularity of backcountry skiing we
are seeing many of the more mainstream manufacturers
introducing products catering to the customer that wants
to get away from it all. Marker now has bindings like the
Duke, Baron and F12 that are just as at home on piste
as they are off. Black Diamond introduced the Factor and
Method boots which emphasize performane going down
but include many backcountry friendly features. None of
these products are for the overly weight conscious. They
are designed to give you access to the backcountry without
sacrificing an ounce of downhill performance.
This season Tecnica will be entering the slackcountry
market with three new boots, the Cochise (120 flex),
Bushwacker (110 flex), and Crossfire (100 flex). One of
The toe blocks are held on with 4
bolts that pass through the shell
and thread into metal t-nuts. This
is a much stronger albeit slightly
heavier solution, but it should be
bombproof and looks a lot better
than some of the other options on
the market.
All of the boots are built on a
100mm last, and the Bushwacker
uses Tecnica’s Airshell system to
provide a semi custom fit that
really helps hold your foot in place and adds just a bit of
warmth... a great feature if you have tough to fit feet.
These boots are perfect for patrollers and we were
fortunate enough to get our hands on a pair of the Cochise
boots for a customer. Here’s what Kyle had to say:
“Tecnica has managed to make a sick, sick, sick boot that is
versatile, lightweight, yet seemingly extremely durable.”
If you want to know more check out our website for
addititional info and Kyle’s full review of the Cochise, or
stop by the shop and get all touchy feely and maybe even
try something on.
21
{parting shot }
One of the elite teams approaching a
checkpoint early in stage 2 of the second
annual Copper Dog 150 Dogsled Race. More
info at www.copperdog150.com

fall-newsletter-2 - Down Wind Sports

Transcription

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