Yep, Salt Lake City’s own backcountry ski company, Voile, has been killing it with their skis the past few years, and what they’ve been showing off at the Outdoor Retailer 2013 Winter Market proves that they’re ready to slay the competition again in 2013/14. While we got to test the Buster that was released last fall, we didn’t get a chance to click our ski boots into their latest creations. We did however, get to check them out at the Salt Palace and came away impressed.
The big story for Voile next ski season will be the V8 skis. They’re backcountry-centric and are comparable to the Chargers, especially in dimensions. But a closer look reveals that they’re even more backcountry friendly with lower weight, a more tapered tail, and a supple flex. The V8 will also have more rocker in the tips and tails, and will be constructed with one layer of carbon at the bottom of the ski (whereas the Charger has two layers at the top and bottom.)
The effect, according to Voile’s Marketing Manager, Davis Grissom, is that these will be the “go-to” backcountry skis in Voile’s expanded lineup. Looks to us that, like a V8 vegetable juice commercial, these V8s will also set you straight if you’re feeling a bit off kilter.
The V8 will come in sizes of 165, 176, 186 and 195, and waist widths will vary from 107 to 119 depending on ski length.
Also new from Voile is entry-level ski mountaineering planks. The WSP, or Wasatch Speed Project, are new race skis for randonee racers looking for an affordable ski for competitions. Skimo has been gaining in popularity in Utah these days, with the rise in Brighton’s Wasatch Citizen Series, as well as the venerable Wasatch Powderkeg. Voile has seen an opening here and will offer this ski for the racer who wants a light weight racing ski that won’t break the bank. The WSP will have a full wood core made from albus, and carbon glass topsheets. As for that low price… how does under $500 sound?
The Wasatch Speed Project will come in one size at 160, and will feature dimensions of 84/63/72.
Of course the most eye-catching thing at Voile’s booth was their new topsheet designs on their classic models. The Vector and Charger skis are getting a serious makeover with trippy graphics that look like paintings and murals. The 2013/14 Chargers are especially bright, like a neon nightmare in downtown Tokyo. It’s a huge departure for Voile’s branding and it will be interesting to see what it does for their street cred.
All this will be available for the 2013/14 ski season.