Outdoor Retailer is back in Salt Lake City, and the winter show kicked things off with the 2016 All Mountain Demo at Solitude Mountain Resort. There is so much to see and try out in a short 6 hours, and I skied as many new skis as I could, but it’s just impossible to do it all. So here is just a smattering of new skis and other winter gear that we can expect to see available in the fall of 2016.
SKIS
Black Diamond Helio 95
The new Helio series of skis from Black Diamond will see a very limited release this spring, but won’t be stocked at gear shops until the 2016/17 season. The Helio Series will feature a pre-preg carbon fiber layup that Black Diamond says makes these skis extremely light with a balanced flex and supreme edge control. The BD booth had all the Helio skis available for demo, but I only got to try the Helio 95.
These skis weigh practically nothing. They are so light weight that when I picked them up I had doubts about how well they could possibly ski at a resort with variable snow conditions. Boy did I have nothing to worry about. The Helio 95 are like scalpels. They cut the snow with a surgeon’s precision. Edging in hard snow is super easy and intuitive. In the choppy stuff, I was very impressed with how stiff and capable these skis are considering their weight. I experienced no deflection. It’s hard to get a total read on these skis with only two runs in-bounds, but I think it’s safe to say Black Diamond scored a hit. I’m now very interested in testing the larger Helio 105s and to spend some time in the backcountry with them.
Atomic Backland 109
Next season, Atomic is phasing out the popular Automatic line of skis and is replacing it with the Backland series. Basically they are the same ski as far as dimensions go. The main difference is the Backlands feature HRZN Tech – that boat hull-shaped, spoon tip found on the Bent Chetler. They will also have carbon backbones to make the skis lighter and stiffer then their predecessors.
I tested the Backland 109 on the mountain. These skis are beasts! Very aggressive. I found them easy to ski, much like the Automatics were, but the Backlands are definitely stiffer. It takes a little more muscle to throw them around. I found them to be much happier bombing down groomers rather than diddling in the bumps. These skis want to go fast.
Voile X7
Voile released the X7 and X9 skis this season, but this was the first time I got to try the X series out, but only got to ski the X7s. They are a bit slimmer than the big brother X9, and both skis are a departure for Voile as they are almost twin-tip skis. Have a hankering to ski backwards in the backcountry? These are your skis. Spinning laps under the Eagle Quad at Solitude, I found them to be sprightly, quick-turning, and light weight enough for serious ski touring. They also feel shorter than the length # would have you believe. While they are fun to ski, the X9 isn’t really my style.
Voile Supercharger
The Voile Supercharger were my favorite skis at the All Mountain Demo. Voile just announced their existence a few days before Outdoor Retailer, and had them on the snow for all to salivate over. They are built with an Aspen wood core, Triaxial and carbon fiberglass layers and Voile Hybrid Rocker. Voile says the name may imply that the Superchargers are bigger, stiffer, and more beastly than the Chargers of old… but it’s actually the opposite. The Superchargers are supposedly easier to ski, weigh less, and are narrower at the waist.
Voile Chargers are my daily driver in the backcountry, so skiing the Supercharger felt like I came home. They do feel like Chargers, but are more responsive and maybe more stiff. Damn they are fun. I could mow through variable snow, make tight turns through the trees on one pitch, then turn around and crush open zones at speed. I even took them in the moguls and had a blast. These babies are capable on just about everything. I’ve said before that Voile Chargers are my favorite ski ever… and the Superchargers are even better.
GEAR
On the gear side of things, I saw a lot of innovation in winter equipment. Here’s a rundown:
Polaris Electric Bikes
Polaris may be better known for snowmobiles and off-road vehicles, but they may soon be heralded for their bikes. I know, I know, electric bikes will ruin mountain biking forever, and they are already banned on most singletrack trails. I agree with that. But on snow-covered roads, a wide-tire E Bike is really damn fun and I can totally see the possibility of using one to access backcountry ski zones that would otherwise be too remote to access unless you own a snowmobile. The Polaris bike would be an excellent, non-gasoline compromise.
Julbo Aerospace Goggles
These goggles came out this season, but sold out almost immediately. Next season, you can hopefully get a pair. And you should. They won an ISPO award because they are the first goggle you can wear on the skin track. Their proprietary “SuperFlow” System enables you to pull the full lens forward from the frame for ventilation. Ready to ski? Simply push the lens back into the frame for a perfect seal. I skied with a pair all day and fell in love. Believe me, it was hard to give them back at the Julbo booth.
Atomic Screwdriver Ski Poles
Check out these new ski poles from Atomic. I forgot the model name, but they are adjustable poles that, surprise, have screwdrivers hidden inside. Simply pull them apart at the middle to reveal a Phillips screwdriver on one pole, and a flathead on the other. This is a great idea for those unexpected repairs in the field.