There are SkiProphet Teams at Snowbasin, UT, Mammoth Mtn., CA., Alpine Meadows, CA. and several nordic centers…

See how the skis are stacking up at www.rateskigear.com.

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!

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!

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!

For more on his review, check it out here!

By: Nyaxter

Likes:  This ski was very responsive in powder and soft conditions, made quick smooth turns in the trees, and maneuvered through the crud and powder ski up with ease.  Likewise was very responsive in soft bumps.

Dislikes:  I did not like its edging on hardpack, it was very grabby and almost threw me a few times when I made the transition from powder to hardpack.

Flex, Energy, Power and Acceleration 4

Responsiveness in Short Radius Turns 4

Responsiveness in Medium Radius Turns 4

Responsiveness in Long Radius Turns 5

Stability and Control at Slow Speeds 5

Stability and Control at Cruising Speeds 5

Stability and Control at Fast Speeds 5

Performance and Edge Hold on Hardpack/Ice 2

Performance on Groomed Lift Served Packed Powder 3

Performance in Crud/mixed conditions 5

Performance in Powder 5

Performance in Heavy Wet Snow Spring Conditions N/A

Performance in Steeps, Chutes, Couloirs, Backcountry 5

Performance in Bumps, Trees 5

Performance in Racing and Competitive Events N/A

Design, Innovation and Graphics 4

Durability and Warranty N/A

Value vs. Price Paid    N/A

Overall Impression 4

Would you buy this product (again)? 0

TOTAL SCORE = 85/100

I use this Product for Recreation (NO)

I use this Product for Work (NO)

This was a Product Test ONLY (Yes)

Name: PJ Collins

Discipline: Alpine Skiing

Age: 50

Gender: Male

Ability Level: Expert

Years skiing/riding: 42

Average days per season: 100+

 Favorite type of terrain:

•        Steeps
•        Trees
•        Bumps

Favorite conditions: 

•        Powder
•        New England Creamed Corn

Are you a paid professional skier or snowboarder?: No

Are you a sponsored athlete?: No

Professional Snowsports Affiliation: (Shop name/Resort Name/Company/Brand):

•        SkiProphet.Com^TM

Title: Powderoyabun

Certifications:

•        Rasta Hut Inspector

Years working in the Snowsports Industry: 10

 Current City, Province/State and Country of Residence: Winter Park, Colorado, USA

Favorite Product Brands:  Old Kastle’s

Major accomplishments: Knocked Robert Redford on his butt at Park City

Likes: Loved the ski! Really fun ski, was right with me in the turns and I was gliding through powder. I skied the whole mtn. with these and never felt out of place. These skis were a blast!

Dislikes: Maybe a little wider than I would prefer…but I was lovin them.

Scoring by Survey:

Flex, Energy, Power and Acceleration 5

Responsiveness in Short Radius Turns 5

Responsiveness in Medium Radius Turns 5

Responsiveness in Long Radius Turns 4

Stability and Control at Slow Speeds 5

Stability and Control at Cruising Speeds 5

Stability and Control at Fast Speeds 5

Performance and Edge Hold on Hardpack/Ice 4

Performance on Groomed Lift Served Packed Powder 5

Performance in Crud/mixed conditions 4

Performance in Powder 5

Performance in Heavy Wet Snow Spring Conditions 4

Performance in Steeps, Chutes, Couloirs, Backcountry NA

Performance in Bumps, Trees 5

Performance in Racing and Competitive Events NA

Design, Innovation and Graphics 5

Durability and Warranty NA

Value vs. Price Paid NA

Overall Impression 5

Would you buy this product (again)? 5

TOTAL SCORE = 95/100

Likes: Graphics and look of ski were very cool

Dislikes: Very chattery at speed, and lost control when pressured in the corners

Scoring by Survey:

Flex, Energy, Power and Acceleration 4

Responsiveness in Short Radius Turns 4

Responsiveness in Medium Radius Turns 5

Responsiveness in Long Radius Turns 3

Stability and Control at Slow Speeds 5

Stability and Control at Cruising Speeds 5

Stability and Control at Fast Speeds 4

Performance and Edge Hold on Hardpack/Ice 4

Performance on Groomed Lift Served Packed Powder 4

Performance in Crud/mixed conditions 3

Performance in Powder 4

Performance in Heavy Wet Snow Spring Conditions NA

Performance in Steeps, Chutes, Couloirs, Backcountry NA

Performance in Bumps, Trees 4

Performance in Racing and Competitive Events 2

Design, Innovation and Graphics 5

Durability and Warranty 4

Value vs. Price Paid 4

Overall Impression 5

Would you buy this product (again)? 3

TOTAL SCORE = 89/100