Posted in Uncategorized by Trip
Jan
6
10
It was a pretty typical Boxing Day afternoon at the local town ski hill, especially for the type of snow season we’ve had so far: just a pair of trails open, marginal groomed sugar and ice with not much fresh snow and hardly a soul to be seen in any direction. My friends and I decided to hit the chalky corduroy of the main trail for one last run before we called it a day.
And then it happened. I was in a pretty deep carve, coming over one of the last roll-overs of the main trail. For a split second I got a bit more back-weighted than usual and leaned into my turn slightly more than normal. This position on the unforeseen sheet-ice ahead led my edges to completely loose bite, whereupon my feet kicked out of from under me and I was in a full-on, 30-mph sideways slide. As I braced myself with my hands to slow the fall, I didn’t consider the position of my right thumb, wrapped in a pole strap and placed between the palm of my hand the snow. Big mistake.
As I came to a stop, collected myself and skied off to the bottom, I realized that something was not right with my right digit. At first it felt like an occasional sprain. But as time wore on, I knew something about it was worse. And I was to be proved right: a torn collateral ligament and a disrupted dorsal hood on my basal thumb knuckle, otherwise known as Skier’s Thumb.
That was almost 2 weeks ago, and now I am 2-days away from thumb surgery to install a permanent implant and a temporary pin into the basal joint of my thumb, finished off with a plaster cast for 1 week, a splint cast for 3 more weeks, a light splint for 6 weeks more, and then several more weeks of physical therapy. All of this because of one little sliding fall across a groomer on a tranquil afternoon.
So where does this leave my ski season in the coming months? Stay tuned to find out more, as I find out more myself!
9 Comments »
Posted in 3 Expert Level, 4 Extreme Skis, 6 Powder skis, 7 Park & Pipe Skis, 9 All Mountain skis, High Performance by Trip
Dec
28
09
RateSkiGear.com user Paul recently rated the “175” from a SCC Skis 97 out of a possible 100 points.
Paul’s likes: “The SCC 175 Twin Tip was one of the most impressive skis that I’ve demoed in recent weeks. Fully symmetrical from tip to tail with a center mount, the SCC 175 would be a blast for the park & pipe (it’s early season and Winter Park hasn’t opened the Railyard or the Super Pipe yet). I ran these skis down some wind scoured hardpack and they held the snow like a Ferrari. They actually got more stable as I loaded them with speed. Terrific in the few bumps that I found on Upper Chesire Cat, the SCC 175 really showed their airworthiness when I caught 40-50 feet of air launching off the crossroad. Very quick edge to edge I could transition from carving to wedl without a hitch.”
His dislikes: “I couldn’t find anything to dislike about the SCC 175. The pair I tried had been recently tuned and the tails were a little grabby but that was due to an inadequate de-tuning, and that was only noticeable on the windswept flats.”
Click here to see the review in full detail!
13 Comments »
Posted in 3 Expert Level, 4 Extreme Skis, 6 Powder skis, High Performance, Rossignol, Ski Test by Trip
Dec
21
09
RateSkiGear.Com user Paul recently rated the Rossignol S7 BC twin-tip, reverse and conventional camber ski a 98 out of 100!
His likes: “The S7 BC by Rossignol is one of the most innovative and versatile skis on the market. Combining all of the recent developments in ski technology the S7 is a rockered reverse-camber twin-tip fat ski with reverse sidecut on the tips and tails and regular camber and sidecut underfoot. With superb flotation this is the ski you want on your feet on a big powder day in the backcountry. But just because the S7 is a fat powder ski doesn’t mean you can’t hit the groomers at your local resort. The regular camber and sidecut in the waist mean the S7 performs equally well on groomed cruisers.
Okay I’ve skied over two weeks now on the Rossi S7 and I had to come back to re-rate them. The S7 has gained an additional 4 points on the rating (originally 94/100) as I’ve come to ski them under more varied conditions and terrain. They rip in the bumps, and I’m a Mary Jane skier so I know a little bit about moguls. I’m having a blast skiing in the trees with them. I’m an avid tree skier but these skis have given me a whole new level of confidence in the woods. And now that we’re actually getting some snow here I can say that the S7’s rule the gnar! I’m floating over freshly fallen fluff over 18 inches (give or take) of structureless sugar. While my buddies are all crashing and burning into the bottomless I’m floating along laughing. As hard as may be to believe these “fat” skis actually carve, take them out on some groomed pack powder and see. Once you find your “center” on these you’re not going to want to ski on anything else. Featured on the cover of Powder Magazine three times so far this season (you may want two).
Get a pair before they’re all gone”
His dislikes: “As no ski can truly be all things for all conditions the Rossignol S7 is not an ice skate, so if you have to ski ice, then you might want something a little narrower underfoot.
I’ll stick by this dislike. The S7 is not bad on the ice and slick hardpack but it’s no ice skate.”
Head on over to his review to check out the pictures and video of the ski in action!
20 Comments »
Posted in 6 Powder skis, 9 All Mountain skis, Alpine Ski Brands, Fischer by Trip
Dec
17
09
RateSkiGear.com user Team Billy rated the Fischer Watea 94 a 97 out of 100. His comments: “I don’t like “fat” skis. I liked this ski. It was tested on groomed runs only with patches of firm snow and the edge hold was amazing. Easy to turn, very damp, like all good Austrian skis. The design innovation is very unique and will definately draw attention. In addition, logic tells me that the “boat” tip will get you up on the snow.”
For more on his review, check it out here!
11 Comments »
