Utah-based Surface Skis set up a tent at the 2012 Outdoor Retailer All Mountain Demo and showed off their new line of skis belonging to their Free Series. This new lineup of sticks focuses on backcountry ski touring and are built specific to that end. Among the line are the Powder-loving Live Free, mountaineering-ready Walk Free, and the Sherpa, which is a cross-country traveling skinny ski. Based on the snow conditions at Solitude that day, I grabbed the Walk Free and took them for a spin.
The Surface Walk Free are light weight, but not so light as to be considered something you’d go compete in the Wasatch Powderkeg on. With a Austrian Poplar wood core and surf-inspired top sheet, the natural beauty of these skis stands out. Also noticeable is how standard these skis are shaped compared to other wacky skis in the Surface fleet. The Walk Free are fully cambered with an early rise tip for some floatation, and flat tails for backcountry utility.
On the snow, the camber and sidecut allowed for easy turns, whether I was on the choppy hardpack or groomers. Overall, I didn’t think they were the most playful skis in the world, especially when terrain got more technical among icy bumps, but they still got the job done. Bottom line, I’d say that backcountry construction, especially with the mountaineering DNA of the Walk Free, gives the skis a utilitarian personality. You won’t be joking around too much with these boards, but instead you’ll be doing hop turns on styrofoam, 60-degree couloirs with dangerous exposure. If I were in that kind of situation, I’d be glad to have the Surface Walk Free skis on my feet.
The Surface Walk Free will be available for the 2012/2013 ski season with the dimensions of 132/108/122.
For more from Surface Skis, check them out at www.surfaceskis.com