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Why Are Ski Companies Moving Away From Surfy Pow Skis?

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@LANTASKI
Posts: 599 - Karma: 1,586
What is the new trend then? Is creative pow/big mtn riding not cool anymore? Or have companies been able to find a compromise between incorporating stability and playfulness in a ski?
Feb 10 2013 12:48PM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
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Feb 10 2013 12:52PM
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TheSkiMonster
Posts: 155 - Karma: 327
Acutally there is a whole category of ski coming out for next year, Volkl is kind of spearheading the whole thing with their new Volkl One and Two skis. The name of the category which will be in all the magazines next fall will be called something similar to 'Powder Surfing' or 'Smearing'. Maybe those exact words.

We skied on the new One's and Two's last week and they're super fun. Only contact point when the ski is sitting flat on the snow is right underneath the boot which is pretty gnarly feeling. Throw the skis sideways maching down the hill and slide sideways going 50, it's pretty fun. If you're looking for a wide jibby, playful and forgiving ski, you gotta check em out.
Feb 10 2013 1:04PM
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kevin_k
Posts: 111 - Karma: 144
Also, check out the DPS Spoon/Lotus at this years SIA.

http://www.earlyups.com/featured/company-feature-dps-spooning-merica-and-carbon-fiber/
Feb 10 2013 3:19PM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,564
I wouldn't say companies are moving away from the surfy style ski, so much as moving away from floppy big mountain skis. Distinctly companies are moving away from big floppy pow planks, as they just aren't practical. The harsh reality is big mountain skiing isn't always perfect pow. On floppy pow skis, sastrugi and other types of undesirable snow can be a bit of nightmare.

Many of the new bidirectional big mountain skis are more medium to medium-stiff flexing skis as this still allows the rider to be creative and ski with a surfy playful style whilst maintaining enough stability on all the different types of snow which you will undoubtedly find in the big mountain environment.
Feb 10 2013 3:53PM
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[Steeze_Please]
Posts: 281 - Karma: 279
Most companies are just transitioning from chest deep pow only skis, into more versatile options. This is for the simple reason that most people can't afford a big mountain ski, pure powder ski, and all mountain ski. Therefore, they are trying to blend this categories together with a single ski.
Feb 10 2013 10:18PM
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Thadius.Castle
Posts: 1436 - Karma: 250
Such a limited market for them.
Feb 10 2013 10:35PM
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SlurrP
Posts: 172 - Karma: 26
What all of these smart dudes said.

But to answer your question, creative pow / big mtn skiing are NOT cool anymore.
Feb 11 2013 2:53AM
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Kreech
Posts: 4178 - Karma: 3,024
Why can't you be creative on a medium/stiff ski? My caylors feel very playful but also have no speed limit, which is really nice coming off of 179 hellbents.
Feb 11 2013 1:55PM
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