Category: Employee Product Pick

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K2 Mindbender 88 Alliance Vs. Blizzard Black Pearl 88

A Comprehensive Review of these two 2020 Ladies All-Mountain Skis

K2 Mindbender 88 Alliance Vs. Blizzard Black Pearl 88- A Look At The Pro’s and Con’s Of Both

 

As the holidays of 2018 approached rumors started to swirl that K2 Skis had something psychedelic brewing. When our industry Demo Day rolled around and we had a chance to take out the Mindbenders we were blown away by their performance in a multitude of conditions. But the question we’ve been getting a lot is how it compares to the Black Pearl or Santa Ana (which we’ll do another review on). How does this rookie in the ski world compare to the best selling women’s ski ever? Well lets jump into is shall we. First we’ll go over each skis key features, then we’ll throw them head to head and let you decide who’s the winner.

 

K2 Mindbender Alliance 88 Ti

 

K2 has been struggling to create a ski that worked well for most skier types. Not to say the pinnacle wasn’t a good ski, it just didn’t necessarily perform well in the many “all-Mountain” conditions. The K2 Mindbender is here as a replacement to the Pinnacle and Luv Series. Speaking of Luv series skis- The Alliance series was created as a replacement for that. Why the name change? The women at K2 wanted to create a ski series that better connected with their audience base and resonated with female skiers, so Alliance was born. Though there is a full line-up of waist width options for men and women, the 88 Ti is the best east coast all-mountain option (in our opinion. This would translate to 90 in the men’s version too). The Mindbender 88 Alliance Ti comes with an Aspen Veneer core for it’s wood construction. This is going to be like the 90, but the veneer and sandwiching of the core makes the 88 lighter and easier to turn. Then there’s the Titanal Y-Beam. Think of a tuning fork used to tune pianos. The Y-Beam looks like that, laid into the ski. It makes the Alliance stiff and reliable underfoot while allowing the tip to flex more easily. There’s a carbon spectral braid on top of all this construction which also helps to reduce chatter as well as help power imitation through turns. The sidewall is ABS which is a standard for most ski companies. In the alliance it is oversized. This translates to you can lay the ski all the way over. Want to go from making Slalom turns to jumping into a mogul field and bashing bumps? Yep, this ski is going to do that. Another honorable mention is that K2 has a 2 year warranty on their skis which is awesome!

 

Blizzard Black Pearl 88

 

The Blizzard Black Pearl 88 is undeniably the best selling women’s ski- ever. There’s a reason for that too. Virtually any female skier can take this ski out and have a good day on it. It’s going to do well at most All-Mountain conditions and since it’s not over powering and easy to turn ladies love it. But it’s what’s on the inside that counts right? The Black Pearl is a light ski, made with what Blizzard calls their Lite Wood Core. In the case of the Black Pearl 88, it’s a poplar beech core that’s sandwiched into the Carbon Flipcore WSD. W stands for women’s. No metal here, just good old wood and carbon. This makes the Black Pearl poppy and maneuverable across many conditions. We personally found them to carve exceptionally well too. The topsheet is a duratec composite which helps with scratch resistance. Sidewall will be the same as the Mindebender Alliance 88Ti, made with ABS Sidewall. Since there’s no metal in the Black Pearl so it retails at $600 vs $650 for the Mindbender.

 

Head To Head

 

Head to head you’re getting so skis that are similar, yet different. The Mindbender 88 in our opinion is for more aggressive skiers whereas the Black Pearl is focused on intermediate level skiers. Both the Black Pearl and Mindbender were great carvers and the Black Pearl made longer methodical turns whereas the Mindbender could get laid all the way over and make tight slalom like turns then transition into smooth GS style carves. The Mindbender wasn’t limited to a select level of turning. Whatever your style was it responded. In deeper snow, both felt similar and responded the same, nothing really changed here. Then moguls- This was a game changer between the two. To be honest the Black Pearl just felt sloppy in bumps. It could be my style of bump skiing, or the lack of metal in the ski, whatever the culprit the Black Pearls felt dead and confused on how to respond in bumps. The Mindbender was different. The Mindbender snaped through turns easily and launched you into the next bump almost like you intended to do. The Mindbenders are just fun- and as I’ve been saying around the shop are totally psychedelic.

So my final thoughts? Both skis are great skis. The Black Pearl seems to favor softer conditions and intermediate level skiers more. When the terrain got more aggressive the Black Pearl struggled to keep up. The Mindbender is definitely stiffer and more aggressive than the Black Pearl but that’s not to say a beginner could take it out and not have a good time. The Mindbender is flexible and would be a great ski for someone looking to progress their skills over a long period of time. The Black Pearl is predictable though and is a great value for an All- Mountain Ski that does everything okay.

 

K2 Mindbender 88 Ti Alliance Blizzard Black Pearl 88
Core Wood: Aspen Venner Lite Wood Core
Metal Titanal Y-Beam None
Carbon Carbon Spectral Braid Carbon Flipcor WSD
Topsheet Unsure (looks like Duratec) Duratec
Rocker Rocker/Camber/Rocker Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Sidewall Oversized ABS Full ABS Sidewall
Warranty 2 Year 1 Year
Price $650 $600

 

* Obviously this Review is extremely biased and based upon my skiing style and the brutally odd East Coast Conditions. Hopefully, we’ll put together a video soon. If you like this head to head style review and want to see more let us know! If this was crap let us know! We are only human after all.

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Devinci Troy Carbon GX Review

A Technical All-Mountain Brawler – Devinci Troy Carbon GX Review

Devinci Troy

The Devinci Troy at first glance looks like any modern trail bike. It’s low, slack and comes equipped with 150mm of travel. Basin Sports brought in Devinci this year so we were excited to put a “new to us” trail bike on dirt. I’m going to be doing a lot of comparison to my trail bike, a 2017 Santa Cruz Bronson- so bear with me as I digest my remarks.

When testing the Troy I actually sized up. I’m 5’10” so my go-to sizing falls in the Medium range (at least on a Santa Cruz). On this the Large actually felt more comfortable which could be the result of a multitude of things. So I geared up and headed out. I rode the Devinci Troy at one of the local bike trail networks, Pine Hill. This network leans more towards the groomed side of trails with short, steep, technical bits and some pumpy flow as well as few little jumps. Well rounded as trail networks go, but short enough to cover the entire park in a couple hours. The elevation here is not high, the highest point in the park will leave you with maybe 400 feet of gain, so not too difficult.

Right out of the gate the Troy climbed well on the mellower, consistent gradient. The moment I hit a steep pitch the bike really struggled to stay grounded (tires slipping and this was after adjusting body position). In areas that I could climb fine on my Bronson, I couldn’t even muster on the Troy. This could have been partially due to it being a Large and not a Medium but the Medium just felt too small. In my mind the Troy was not a great climber, I exerted a lot of energy to justify gains.

 

 

As I reached the highest point in the network I was granted a short bit of downhill featuring tight, flowy turns, a few jumps, drops and technical sections. From there I got to an outlook point and then could enter a trail named Stegosaurus, which I’m hoping you can put two and two together and maybe even formulate what the trail looked like.

One area where the Devinci Troy excels is in groomed flow. The short chainstays make the bike nimble and agile in tight, bermed corners. Turning never felt so easy and that’s one area where this bike gets high marks. It was pretty unbelievable how good the Troy corners. Next, there was a short uphill to down with a small jump then a manmade drop. I hit the jump and the bike just doesn’t want to give, it wants to stay glued to the trail (almost like a downhill bike). When I hit the drop it didn’t feel elegant or graceful by any means, rather it surged forward and sought out the ground.
When I finished the flow trail I got into Stegosaurus, the technical part of my ride and the Troy was a beast. Some have referred to it as an all-mountain brawler and in the technical terrain, it showed. Like a downhill bike, the Troy got into its line and held it without fumbling or skipping. In this respect, it felt more stable and more precise than on any other section of trail. It almost felt like well, riding flow. You lined it up and the bike did all the work, you didn’t have to put a lot of thought into it.

My takeaways are this… That this bike wants to stay grounded. Some say this bike likes to jump and I just didn’t see it (or feel it). By comparison to my Bronson, the Troy felt horrible in the air. If I were a semi-pro or recently retired downhill rider looking for an all-around trail bike, I’d say look at the Devinci Troy. My reasoning is that it feels and rides very much like a downhill bike would, but with uphill capabilities and shorter travel. If you’re a technical rider who enjoys the occasional flow trail, you’re most likely going to enjoy this bike. It’s mean, it’s ready to fight and it’s fun.
Ask us about our Devinci Demo Fleet and how you can get your hands on one to test ride or maybe even buy.

 

Devinci Troy

 

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Basin sports is the premier mountain sports retailer in Vermont, specializing in skiing, snowboarding, and biking. Basin Sports has received the Ski Magazine Gold Medal nine years in a row and twice naming Basin Sports the best ski shop in New England. Basin Sports has some of the best technical boot fitting service in the country, with certified Pedorthists on staff. As much as we love getting Basin Sports customers into the perfect gear for them, there is one thing we love just as much, if not more. You guessed it, skiing, riding, and just plain enjoying the mountains. You can rest assured that all of us at Basin Sports is taking every opportunity to get out and enjoy all that Killington has to offer. In the winter we ski daily and we are constantly testing new gear, sampling the conditions, and sniffing out powder stashes. Feel free to ask us any questions that you may have, we love to talk about skiing, snowboarding, cycling, hiking and even snowshoeing. In fact, in the winter, we update our website, basinski.com, every day with conditions reports, photos, and videos. Check us out for the most up-to-date and honest info around

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Salomon Shift Binding Review

An Overview of the Highly Anticipated Salomon Shift Binding

I first heard of the new Salomon Shift Binding through my College Alumni Group on Facebook. See I went to school for Mountain Recreation Management so when something this big (that could dramatically change the AT binding game) gets released we gear addicts get a little excited. It was there that I got into a conversation with an old professor where I questioned the reliability of the binding. It’s new, it’s different, it’s made of polycarbonate (ever heard of a six-foot drop test?). Yep, going to question the binding durability. Through that our Salomon Rep reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in testing the ski and binding out (the New England Ski Industry is a small, small world). I’m not the biggest fan of the QST 99 either. I like it but don’t love it. This new binding was intriguing though and I wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to test a binding that quite literally will change this ski industry. My only request was to put the binding on the QST 106 instead of the 99. I hadn’t had a chance to test the 106 yet so it would allow me to test two new products at once.

The Salomon Shift Binding

Salomon Shift Binding

The Salomon Shift Binding itself is sleek, relatively lightweight and simple enough to understand after a few walkthroughs. I’d consider the binding light for AT standards and heavy for tech standards. It’s both, so to be a light AT and a heavy Tech binding seems more logical than not.

The idea is that you have a WTR/ Multi-norm tech boot that you can skin up in, then hit a few switches and lock into alpine mode with Alpine release values. This is revolutionary because before this you had two options. A tech binding like a dynafit or fritschi which locks you into the ski and allows uphill travel but won’t release like an alpine binding. If you crash you better know how to crash gracefully- so don’t crash. The other option was an AT binding which is short for Alpine Touring. It’s basically an Alpine Binding on rails that pivots for uphill travel and locks down for downhill. The downside for Alpine Touring is that the bindings are quite heavy.

The Salomon Shift Binding is the happy medium. It takes the best parts of a tech binding. The pivot range, the uphill mobility and combines it with the best parts of an Alpine binding- safe release values, actually releasing and control at speed downhill.

When the binding is in uphill mode it’s range is incredible. It’s most likely due to the higher placement of the pins where they interface with the binding.  Salomon says it can pivot a full 90 degrees and I totally believe that. In touring mode the binding pivots and glides with ease. It works as it should and didn’t seem to have any issues with pivoting. Granted I’ve been testing this binding in east coast conditions, not breaking trail on a powder day. Since the pivot is so high up the binding could potentially get jammed up with snow. The other notable point to make is that you have to completely step out of the binding to get from touring to alpine mode. You also need a thin pair of gloves to access the levers, they don’t really work with a set of Hestra mittens.

For alpine or downhill mode the bindings were phenomenal. There was not wiggling, no give and the bindings worked as they should. In fact, they were so good they tested in our Binding Release Machine better than any Marker binding has. Hitting little jibs on trail was also effortless and even ripping groomers was easy.  I could easily say I trust these bindings.

We have the Shift MNC 13 Available in Salomon and Atomic Badging. This binding is HOT and we’re actually having trouble special ordering it. Get yours before they’re gone.

Salomon Shift Shop Here

Atomic Shift Shop Here

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Basin sports is the premier mountain sports retailer in Vermont, specializing in skiing, snowboarding, and biking. Basin Sports has received the Ski Magazine Gold Medal nine years in a row and twice naming Basin Sports the best ski shop in New England. Basin Sports has some of the best technical boot fitting service in the country, with certified Pedorthists on staff. As much as we love getting Basin Sports customers into the perfect gear for them, there is one thing we love just as much, if not more. You guessed it, skiing, riding, and just plain enjoying the mountains. You can rest assured that all of us at Basin Sports is taking every opportunity to get out and enjoy all that Killington has to offer. In the winter we ski daily and we are constantly testing new gear, sampling the conditions, and sniffing out powder stashes. Feel free to ask us any questions that you may have, we love to talk about skiing, snowboarding, cycling, hiking and even snowshoeing. In fact, in the winter, we update our website, basinski.com, every day with conditions reports, photos, and videos. Check us out for the most up-to-date and honest info around.

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Descente Izzy Gear Review

Descente Izzy Gear Review And The Ski Industry Values Descente As A Brand

Descente Izzy

When I think of Descente I think of those new Buick Commercials on TV. There’s the young “millennial” saying to their friend over the phone, “I’m in the Buick.” And the friend responds, “I don’t see a Buick.” Though they’re standing right in front of it. The point that Buick is trying to make is that their cars are not just for older generations, in fact, they’re great for the younger crowd. This strategy can be transferred onto Descente.

If you’re from a family of skiers ask your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother if they’ve heard of the brand Descente and they’ll probably say they still have that Descente jacket from 20 years ago. That’s because Descente isn’t just another ski brand, their a staple within the ski industry and they know a thing or two about making jackets that last for decades.

The Descente Izzy is no exception to the Descente brand, known throughout the Ski Industry as a durable, fashionable and quality performance piece. Over the years Descente has been used by the US Ski Team, Canadian Ski Team, and many, many others. The Izzy is just a step up from the warm-up pieces the ski teams would have been wearing.

The Descente Izzy is made with 4-Way stretch for ease of movement. The thing about Descente is you have to try it on. It never looks like much on the rack. You HAVE to try it on to understand the stretch and fit. There’s no such thing as bunching or pinching and the fit accentuates your curves in all the right places.

Besides that, there’s the added touch of removable Raccoon Fur which you can opt in or out of. Some don’t like the fur on the slopes but add it for après. The Izzy also has a 3D fit which I touched on about. The 3D Fit is the non-bunching fit of Descente. It will fit almost anybody and really shape to your size. Then to keep your warm there’s 3M Thinsulate which is a synthetic fill at 100 grams. Many of the Basin Staff that own Descente wear it on the coldest of days because it does such a good job of keeping you warm.

Descente is the go-to option when we talk about high-fashion ski apparel. Not because of its great features but because of it’s standing within the ski industry. It’s not just another brand, it’s a brand that’s been approved and sworn by across the globe. It’s a brand that’s going to do more than your average company, they understand the importance of valued customers.

Shop The Izzy

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Jones Dreamcatcher Snowboard Review

New for 2018 the Jones Dreamcatcher is catching ladies eyes. It’s not just the pretty graphic that makes the Jones Dreamcatcher so special though. The technology, design, and durability make this deck stand out amongst the rest.

First off, you get directional rocker. Now in a snowboard and if you’re new to snowboarding you’re probably going, “well what does that mean?” It means that the tip is more rockered than the tail and the stance is set back slightly to allow turn initiation and overall comfort to increase on the board. The Dreamcatcher also has Spoon 1.0 Rocker. There are 4 levels of Jones Spoon. Spoon 1.0 is the amount of tip and tail rise and where it tapers to camber on the board. Women dig the Spoon tech because it allows for easy turn initiation and that extra bit of pop and float in more challenging terrain.

Jones Dreamcatcher Snowboard Review

The turn radius, in part to directional shape and the Spoon tech makes the Dreamcatcher bend and snap like a professional dancer. On snow, it performs well and is a great, well-rounded board. Jones calls this board a 6 out of 10 for stiffness. We’d call it a true medium and on the softer side when it comes to Jones who is not known for having soft boards. The board has some serious pop and ladies are raving about the snap and pop feel that the board gives off.

Jones is all about recycling and being as environmentally friendly as possible. The Dreamcatcher has recycled sidewalls and an eco-plastic topsheet.

Jones is committed to being an outdoor industry leader in the fight against climate change. Building snowboards will always have an environmental footprint so we strive to minimize this footprint whenever possible by developing new eco-tech and supporting organizations that fight against climate change on the front lines. We take these efforts seriously because we care about how our actions will affect the environment for future generations.

The men’s equivalent of this board would be the Explorer. We’re just stoked to see more options out there for the ladies who aren’t afraid to throw down on the slopes.

Art by RP Roberts

Jones Dreamcatcher Snowboard Review

The subtle textures and vibrant colors on the Twin Sister’s mountain graphics are the work of UK landscape painter RP Roberts. Born in North Wales and a veteran snowboarder, RP always has mountains on the mind as he lives to paint stunning mountain scenes including the peaks featured on six models in the Jones 2018 collection. The Mountain Twin, Ultra Mountain Twin, Dream Catcher, Prodigy and Twin Sister all feature RP’s signature mountain art.

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Black Diamond Mission Parka Gear Review

Black Diamond Mission Parka Gear Review-5

From Epic Backcountry Adventures To Deep Resort Days The Mission Parka Is Your Best Friend

Skiing just got a whole lot warmer…

Black Diamond Equipment is rooted in a mountaineering background. Their product is simplistic in design, but built to last. For decades Rock Climbers and Mountaineers alike stood by Black Diamond for its reliability. So a few years ago when they decided to expand to ski apparel (they’ve been making skis for a while) we were more than thrilled- we were ecstatic. This is not a dream, the perfect winter jacket does exist. The Black Diamond Mission Parka is simplistic in design yet complex in protection. From the outside it looks like nothing. Zippers are hidden beneath a subtle layer of 2 Layer Gore- Tex. The clean lines run vertically across the jacket to give it a better fit on most male bodies. The hood is helmet compatible and extends beyond the edge of your helmet/goggles to reduce dripping and building up in visibility. The Mission Down Parka is the perfect blend of warmth and versatility. And we get it, everyone says that about their jacket. But this isn’t just any jacket, it’s what’s on the inside that makes it extra special. The jacket at its core is insulated with a down fill while the arms are synthetic to help reduce moisture build-up. And that’s not all, it even has insulation in the hood. Some may call that overkill, but when you need it most you’ll be happy to have it.

Think of the Mission Down Parka as the go-to jacket option. It’s warm, simplistic and yet complex. Besides outer protection and durable insulation the mission also touts a zip away powder skirt and many inner pockets including one for your tunes. The seams are fully sealed and the YKK zipper is concrete and water repellant. You stay warm, nothing gets in. Think of the Mission Down Parka as the 4-wheel drive winter jacket. It can handle a whiteout blizzard and the heats are seated. Your core is the most important part of your winter kit, so make sure it comes first. Pair it with the Mission Pant and enjoy creative connection through Black Diamonds clip-in ability.

Still not convinced? Ask us why we enjoy Black Diamond and get more out of your gear every day this winter.

#thriveoutside #ariseadventure

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Top 3 Skis of 2018 From Basin Sports in Killington, Vermont

Top 3 Skis of 2018 And Why You Should Be Taking A Closer Look

Pre-Season Purchase Coming Soon!

Top 3 Skis of 2018

I did it, I narrowed down my selection from 5 Top skis to 3. I wasn’t wildly impressed by the ski industry this year. That’s not to say there weren’t amazing skis by all the ski companies because when isn’t there really? In a way it felt similar to the slump that the bike industry is having. Maybe I’ve just gotten pickier about my choices. I’m like a food critic but for skis! Typically I would do top 4 or top 5 skis of the year but really got strict on my preferences and requirements to make it onto this list. Two of the skis on this list are entirely new skis the other is hitting it’s 1 year birthday. I’ll explain my reasoning as I progress through the skis.

2018 Nordica Enforcer Pro

This ski will be available for pre-season purchase at Basin Sports. Nordica has been hugely popular with the Enforcer line and as we move into next year will be offering narrower and wider waist width options. The Nordica Enforcer Pro is unique though. Boasting 115 underfoot the 2018 Nordica Enforcer Pro will only be available in the 191 length. The rocker in itself is also different. With a rocker profile mirroring the retired Helldorado this ski will be perfect for the shredder looking to replace their old black on black ass kickers. Big Mountain minded the 2018 Nordica Enforcer Pro is no joke. With a 21.5 meter turn radius this ski is for advanced level skiers. A mention in itself for the Top 3 Skis of 2018 due to its appealing name and joke inspiring name. Do you think your pro enough for the 2018 Nordica Enforcer Pro?

Specs:

  • 143-115-132
  • 9 Meter Turn Radius
  • Only Available in 191
  • Big Mtn Inspired and a direct replacement of the Helldorado
  • Unique Rocker Profile
  • Same Layup as other enforcers

2018 Atomic Vantage x 83 Cti

This ski will be celebrating its 1st birthday this year as it’s been around for a year but is notable in the Top 3 Skis of 2018. I’ve noticed an interesting trend with any and all Atomic Skis though. They almost never get the recognition they deserve in their debut year. It isn’t until their second season that they start racking up awards. Think about the Atomic Vantage 100 Cti and the Women’s Vantage 95 C. Both won awards this year but this is their second season in existence. So I predict that the 2018 Atomic Vantage X 83 CTi will win some awards next season and here’s why.

First off not much has changed, just minor tweaks to make it better than it already is. This ski is perfect for those hard pack ski days or groomer days. They’re in fact quite forgiving in bumps too which I found incredibly surprising. For 2018 you’ll see a new graphic on the 83. Less loud and in your face. Last year’s ski was Neon Orange vs the 2018 which is blackout with orange highlights, much more sexy if you ask me. The only other major difference between 2017 and 2018 is the beefed up layup underfoot. Not that it wasn’t all there, it’s just more there than ever before.

I like this ski because at 174cm it has a 16.4 turn radius. It’s got a carbon mesh and Ti backbone construction. All while keeping that 10/90/0 rocker profile that the iconic Atomic Redster has. Don’t forget the plate system that looks incredibly similar to the race plate on the Redster. All this at $899 (bindings included). A hell of a deal and a hell of a diverse ski. I wouldn’t overlook this ski this coming season. Often passed by, this ski has rockets attached to the tails of it….At least that’s what it feels like.

Specs:

  • New Graphic
  • Beefed Up Underfoot
  • 4meter turn radius @ 174
  • AMT Rocker 10/90/0
  • Ti Backbone 2.0
  • Carbon Tank Mesh
  • Plated System Ski

2018 Armada Tracer 98

Basin Sports Staff Favorite and all-around 2018 Pick of the year.

The 2018 Armada Tracer 98 was the third Top 3 Skis of 2018 and was number 2 on my list of favorite skis at the New England Test Fest this year. I skied the test fest the day it decided to drop a foot of snow on us. My number 1 ski was 115 underfoot for reference. A 98mm ski on a powder day was #2?! Yes, yes it was. Also I should note that this ski has no metal in it. But don’t let that turn you away. See Armada came out with this tech called Xrystal Mesh. It feels like metal but it isn’t. This ski was light, playful and nimble. A foot of champagne powder? No Problem. Tight New England Trees to wide open powder fields I was surprised and amazed at how well this ski handled. The 2018 Armada Tracer 98 is part of the Tracer collection and comes in narrower and wider waist widths. Ladies should look to the Trace series which boasts the same construction but with a better graphic.

Armada has come a long way since its Freestyle Days. I love the older generation whose been taking out the invicta skis by Armada and say how surprised they are that a “freestyle” rooted ski company has such a diverse collection. Don’t overlook Armada, they’re legit.

Specs:

  • New Series
  • No Metal/ Instead Xrystal Mesh
  • Hybrid Ultra-light core
  • Tour/ AT Ready
  • @172/ 130-98-121
  • 5m radius @172

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2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski Review

The 2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski Review Revolutionizing and Finessing the Women’s Ski Industry

2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski Review

The 2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski is relentless but in a good way. Relentless in the since that you can ski all day with ease. You can navigate variable terrain and feel right at home. For the woman who’s an intermediate to advanced level skier and wants an affordable stick to shred gnar on, well yeah the 2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 is going to rock your socks off.

So let’s get into the nitty gritty right away shall we? The sport of skiing has exploded in popularity in the last 5 years thanks to rockered ski technology. At the forefront of this wave stood K2 and its Women’s ski line. Believe me when I say it but “women’s” skis weren’t always badass and well-constructed as they are today. For a little while companies believed “women’s” skis needed to fit what was thought to be the typical female skier- an intermediate level skier who was cautious and well weak. K2 was NOT one of those companies and the LUV line proves it.

Durable, not to aggressive but not too soft either. Perfect pretty much sums this ski up. The 2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski is for the women looking for adventure. The lady who loves to ski but wants something that does everything. This ski embodies a do all, go everywhere and fit into a few different levels of skier types. In fact, K2 is so anti “Women’s Specific” they even wrote this in their product description on their website.

With the same Bioflex Konic genes as its bigger sisters, the 2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski slims down and bridges the gap between versatile freeride and confident all-mountain skiing. We don’t throw the term “women’s-specific” around lightly – the 2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski was built for the lady shredder who stuns the slopes in deep powder, over fresh cord, and through wily bumps alike.

So the dirty details are this. You’re getting a 88 underfoot ski. This is a good width for the All- Mountain skier that’s mainly east coast based. If you’re out west possibly consider going wider. It’s a flat mount ski so you’re responsible for your binding option. It comes in 156, 163 and 170 which is great if you’re tall like me and ski a 170. The 2017 K2 ALLUVit 88 Ski has K2’s All- Terrain rocker which enables off-piste skiing while maintaining control on the groomers. It’s got a metal laminate in it for snap and control at high speeds and in bumps. That mixed with a Fir- Aspen core makes this ski fast, light and fun. For some reason the Beach Boys Song, Fun, Fun, Fun just popped into my head- fitting for the image this ski portrays.

For the lady looking to get on a new All- Mountain ski, well look no further. Give us a shout if you have any question too, we love to just chat about skis. If you’re already convinced that this is the ski you want, the ski you need well Click Here for free shipping and smiles!


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2017 Jones Mountain Twin With NOW Pilot Bindings Snowboard Review

jones-mountain-twin-and-now-binding-snowboard-review

2017 Jones Mountain Twin With NOW Pilot Bindings Snowboard Review

The Jones Mountain Twin Snowboard Review is as close to a one board quiver as you’re going to get. The first time I took out the Mountain Twin I expected it to ride like, well, a twin. And it did. But what I did not expect was how well this board handled at high speeds and in deep carves. No, it’s not your set back, point and shoot, freeride board; but that is the beauty of the Mountain Twin. You can run park laps for an hour and then go dig some trenches in groomers the next without having to walk back to your car and grab your freestyle or freeride specific board. The new 2017 graphic actually says “Freestyle X Freeride” on the topsheet, which I thought was pretty awesome because Jones is owning it and standing behind what they have created. So if you’re looking for a board to satisfy every aspect of the mountain my pick would be the Jones Mountain Twin.

As for bindings, I matched the Mountain Twin up with the NOW Pilots for a solid Snowboard Review. I thought these guys would mesh perfectly together and they definitely came through. The NOW Pilot has what NOW calls their Flex Hinge Highback. The Flex Hinge Highback remains stiff, responsive, and supportive when leaning into turns but easily flexes laterally to allow for some extra give and playfulness in the park. Versatility made the ride that much more fun. I felt comfortable and confident doing everything on this setup.

 

We’re Ready To Shred, Are you?
Shop Now For the Latest Outdoor Gear

We can be reached 7 days a week at 802-422-3234

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