My first impression was that the box they came in was really light. Almost too light. The skis out of the box maintained my impression. Top sheet are fucking awesome looking.
Back to my order, I ordered right through the web, and got them in 5days. I never received the tracking number I'd been told I'd receive later after my order confirmation. After a few days I started to get worried, but then came home from the Mountain and they were waiting on my porch. The package looked like these skis came from a warehouse in Canada. The skis cost was true to what the Website said. So I was stoked, they came quickly with no surprise shipping or import duties.
They're made in China which I am not thrilled about having skied a heritage of well manufactured European skis, but I understand there are lots of great skis made in China, just none I've skied. :) They feel like they are a blended core of fiberglass and wood, but with no metal. The mounting point was not readily apparent but there was a small gold arrow 4cm back from true center that seemed to be the recommended location and was were I got them mounted. The most forward mounting position of all the skis I've owned. My last impression was that they flexed well for a light ski (not a Dyna XXL stiff) but they had a reasonably stiff tip and a nice even flex through under foot to a slightly softer tail. I got them mounted with a 2007 Scratch 140 binding that adds some weight but is a really trusted binder.
How they ski: I've skied them for days straight in a row and I love them. Super playful and with a great flex. They'll butter pow piles really well with a soft flex right under the toe pieces. The first day I skied only a dusting (0-3") of new snow. I started with some groomers where they railed a steady wide turn both forward and switch and buttered great. Off the little trail side jumps they had good pop and spun quick. I am a VT skier and took em through the tracked out bob-sled run trees where they edged and turned very well.
Day 2: I got to ski some great 10-12" windblown upslope effect powder at the Bush where I truly loved them. The tip floats sick(esp for non rocker, although compared to my other boards I've wondered if it could be unofficially called early rise) and the soft tail flexes well despite the more center mount. I am a very strong skier with a GS background and I pushed em hard in the pow filled trees and they really handled it. I was taken back, based on my understanding that they don't have a metal top sheet, the low price, and chinese construction, but somehow it went against my beliefs and skied pow hard and fast like a champ.
I probably won't use them for rails in interest of keeping em around for awhile, but I am really psyched to get on some park jumps out east and some natural features in SLC later this year, because I can tell they will really shine under those conditions. I've gotten to take some little VT style rock drops and they seem strong enough. I'll probably bring my XXLs for out west trips and the tracked and packed days, but for playful all mountain days, tree skiing, BC jumps, VT trees, park jumps and spring corn this will be my ski.
I would say go buy CoreUPT skis with confidence because they seem to be making some great products. I'll update my reivew with information about durability as I ski them more.
Ha took an opportunity to brag about my quiver.
