The new Salomon BBR ski has gotten a lot of hype lately, thanks to its promise to be the ski that can do everything. From groomers to hardpack, powder and ice, the BBR’s V-shaped design should handle it all, while making skiers look good in the process. The ski is currently on a multi-state “Shape Your Adventure Tour” this winter for demos. Callista and I caught up with them at Park City Mountain Resort to test out the Salomon BBR and see what all the fuss is about.
We met Seth Warner from Salomon on PCMR’s plaza and took the BBR skis out for a morning spin. My initial impression after seeing it in person is that it looks like a throwback to earlier ski designs of the 90’s, only bigger and more burly with a sort of surfboard inspired shovel. I decided these boards, with thier huge sidecut, will carve the crap out of any snow. So how does the Salomon BBR ski perform, and will they revolutionize ski design as we know it?
My Review of the Salomon BBR Ski:
There is currently so much excited publicity around the Salomon BBR, that I thought they would give me the ability to levitate or something. But no, these skis won’t give you super powers, but that’s not to say the hype is unfounded.
We first took the skis out on the snow for a test drive on freshly groomed trails to get a feel for them. Usually it takes a few runs to find the personality or sweet spot of a ski before getting the hang of it, but with the BBR, I immediately figured them out on the first turn. The BBR is the most forgiving ski I’ve ever had under my boots. From quick slalom turns, to carving wide swaths, I felt like they responded just the way I wanted them to. In fact, the BBR made skiing feel as easy as walking… I didn’t have to think about my form or how to transition from turn to turn. I just skied and enjoyed the ride.
After bombing down the groomers, it was time to up the ante on more challenging terrain. We sought out some mogul fields where I could see how the BBR handles the bumps. The bumps were handled. The BBR’s short turn radius and carving capability made quick work of the moguls, although the wide shovels did knock together a few times, throwing me into the backseat. But here’s another beauty of the Salomon BBR: if you get thrown in the backseat, the skis are so forgiving that they still respond and stay in control so you can easily get your weight back under you.
So what qualities make the Salomon BBR more forgiving than a Catholic priest, even when a skier commits mortal sins? First, Salomon put the narrowest part of the ski right behind the heel of the boot, rather than directly underfoot like standard skis. This unusual waist profile allows a skier to turn whether they’re in a powerful, forward stance, or riding the tails like beginners tend to do. Second, the BBR’s pintail also helps out as its skinny, rounded profile allows super smooth transitions from turn to turn, instead of the hooky turns that traditional wide tails are known for. Third, the BBR are pretty stiff and a bit heavy. This is a good thing though, as they don’t get thrown around in choppy conditions or chatter on fast, sweeping turns.
Salomon claims the BBR is a true one-ski-quiver that performs well in any condition and at any ability level. But the weather at Park City that day was unseasonally warm and wet. Morning rain had turned into a light drizzle of snow/rain mix, and the snowpack was very soft. As a result, we didn’t get to ski any hardpack or powder conditions. I would really like to try the Salomon BBR on a deep powder day and see how the rockered shovel stays afloat despite the skinny waist, and if they can still carve on crust and ice.
My thoughts on the Salomon BBR are from an expert skier’s perspective, but the BBR doesn’t fall into any one category or ability level. Callista Pearson is an intermediate skier, and her first ski day of the season was spent on the BBR. Here are her thoughts:
Callista’s Review of the Salomon BBR Ski:
“Curse you free demos! Ignorance is bliss, but then I stepped into the Salomon BBR skis. Unlike most skis, there was no learning curve for me, an average skier. In fact, this was my first day on the slopes for the 2011 season. The bright blue top sheet and odd shape drew stares from other skiers. I was a hit… I mean they were a hit. The snow was sticky and wet from rain, but these skis cut through the snow and the edges grabbed just right. Never once did I feel out of control, or fear the skis were too long for me. After skiing several groomers and some slush we took the BBR’s back to the demo booth.”
“Because the day was young I grabbed my old Rossignol BC90s and took a few more runs before quitting for lunch. Within moments I was wishing I had the Salomon BBR skis back. My Rossi’s had too much chatter and felt flimsy after cruising on the BBR – a sturdy, cut-up anything ski. Would it have been demeaning if I crawled back to the booth to beg for the BBR demos back?”
“The only thing that bugged me about the Salomon BBR is they are a bit heavier than my other skis, both when I was carrying them to the lift and when I my legs got tired from hours of turning in heavy snow. But if someone were to throw me a pair and say, ‘enjoy,’ I would pump more iron and carry those BBR’s with pride.”
So there you have it. Beginners and experts alike give the Salomon BBR high praise. While I don’t see powder junkies trading in their super-fat rockered monsters for a pair of BBR’s, I do think that if you’re a skier who wants to own just one pair of skis that are fun, playful, stable, and capable in any condition, then the Salomon BBR skis are “The Answer.”
More about the Salomon BBR ski:
The BBR ski is the latest design from Salomon’s ski designer Bertrand Krafft. The man is responsible for Salomon’s highly successful X-Scream series, and the Pocket Rocket, which launched twin tip skis into the mainstream. Krafft’s newest design, the BBR, was inspired by water skis which have the ability to do everything the skier wants to do including “carve, cruise, float and play.”
The BBR’s dimensions are 147-88-102 with lengths of 166/176/186. But Salomon says not to get hung up on the numbers, because the dimensions of this ski are not what’s important. They say the BBR doesn’t fall into any current product category, and to find out what the ski is all about, you just have to try it for yourself.
To get all the latest about the Salomon BBR, visit their Twitter page. They’ve also launched a Facebook page as well.
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