I have the Krypto. I think it is the funnest ski I have been on. I've been skiing Snowbird 40 days a year longer than many of you have been alive. I'm now 30. So that goes for most of the people here.
About the company. The founder is Ludo Boinnard, he's from San Diego. He is supper nice and actually cares about the people in the company and the team. He came from the Motocross industry where he had a lot of success because he did things from the ground up and kept in touch with the riders. His goal is to create a company that is the middleground between the start up experiment no budget companies that promise big stuff to there reps and athletes and then leave them empty handed, and the big out of touch giants that don't care about anything but profits for shareholders. I communicated with him about this personally.
I can name several "hard core" companies that unfortunately used my close friends reps. They never never got paid for busting their asses to grow these companies. I wont say names, but you wouldn't be surprised. This kind of using and abusing people to climb to the top is just as bad for skiing as the big self interested corporations.
I sub rep once in a while with Spyder for a buddy of mine when he's out of town. I use to do it as a part time gig, but now have more demands with my real job. Unannounced he showed up last March with a bunch of kids skis in the back of a truck and stuff that looked like it belonged at Deer Valley.(though I understand that skiing is a family sport, it's not exactly the kind of stuff that gets my blood flowing). I found a pair of Kryptos at the bottom of the pile. I looked em over and liked the shape and told him I was going to mount them. I basically forced them out of his hands and took them home.
My honest review of the Krypto is found on this site. If I didn't love the ski and the management, I wouldn't have volunteered my time and believe in this company. I don't need the hook up as I can always trade favors to get what I want in the industry. I also have a good full time career in the car industry. I've always been picky about what I willl and won't ski. I volunteer my time to promote Klint on my own free will and without being asked because I like the Krypto and I think the company is what skiing is missing. I don't care for anything in return I simply want o see this company succeed. (And it's really fun to give some needy kid a pair of boards at a ski flick too.)
The owner is in touch with skiing and has ethics. I'm confident that his loyalty to skiing and business sense will create a quality company with loyalty from it's employees, vendors, and team.
I haven't skied the Pure or the Pipe Star, but it's hard to argue with reviews. I'm excited to try 'em.
The Krypto is very floaty, super quick side to side, and cake to ride switch. It's only weakness is at high speed on bad snow if you tip the scales with a bigger build and I mean bigger as in 200 lbs plus or you are bombing a thrashed big mountain comp venue.( I weigh 195 and am use to skiing super stiff boards like the Dynastar Pro XXL and the Atomic Big Daddy).
This will very likely be addressed for heavier skiers with a stiffer pro model. There will also be some really cool side-mountain skis added to the line for next year. Think not quite as fat, but an any day any snow chargers with rocker.
I'm confident that Klint is here to stay and believe a lot of the haters will end up being fans in the long run.
Lindsey Balser
Draper, Utah
P.S. It's coming sown outside.
P.S.S. Oh and if anyone wants to dog Spyder for being big as well, do some research, the sport wouldn't be were it is today with David Jacobs. It's a damn good company for skiers by skiers, not by softball players. You know who I'm talking about.
