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Favourite Skis Winter 2022/2023 – What were yours?
Back in the late 90s it was simple “Salomon X-Scream please” until they broke – especially if abused by a Seasonaire. Their weapon of choice became the original Dynastar PowerTrack 4×4 which was a bullet proof, go anywhere, all mountain ski.
Roll on to 2023 and there’s a multitude of manufactures from huge corporates to small independents with masses of models of skis – everything becoming more specialised and less and less of a one ski can do all (moderately well) type of ski.
Plenty of Seasonaires and keen, regular, commuted skiers now have more than one pair of skis and use them as conditions dictate.
So I’ll stick my head up and say the Elan Wingman is the closest I’ve come to this season as a one size fits all ski.
I’ll not get in to turn radius, double side walls, dual wood cores, reverse rockers etc etc – it’s just how they feel. At the end of March we had ice, packed pistes, soft pistes, powder and slush (sometimes all in one day) – they just excelled and you didn’t even think about what you were skiing on – just enjoyed it!
“You’re not getting these back!” I said to Charlie at Ski Higher probably the best complement I could give them.
More manageable than the Elan Rip Stick in all conditions and more all round than the Elan Amphibio (but you can write underwater with both hands with those!).
Remember our hero Glen Plake rides Elan these days too! Spotted in Chamonix in March by ex Ski Higher Tracy.
Got to mention the Völkl Deacon – another amazing ski especially on fast pistes but it should be at over €800. We reviewed this back at the beginning of March and it was all over an amazing (proper) review on the#LaTania edition of The Ski Podcast).
The Völkl Deacon 7.2 is expensive but immediately stands out as soon as you roll it on to an edge, the more you work it, the more you love it, you can feel the acceleration out of a turn.
Incredible grip (never skied anything close to it) and good skiers will really get the most out of it. Definitely not the cruisey lazy carve / skid turns home after a long lunch type of ski (maybe too much of a skiers ski for me then!). We nicknamed it the Deacon Blue…. (for older seasonaires).
Finally a mention for these Movement rentals…
Skied the orange ones in December and one of the first skis I’ve just put on and never even thought about when it comes to the first turn – it just worked.
The wider green version I enjoyed in April and it was very enjoyable on the off piste on the sides of Biollay and Pralong. Really felt effortless in soft snow and performed superbly in the cold, soft snow in Tignes at the end of the season.
Of course all reviews are subjective, personal opinions and while some people are obsessed with sidecut, radius, width under foot etc etc – for many recreational skiers, you know by that second run if you like your skis. Remember the best skier on the mountain, is the one having the most fun!
Check out the corridor to the toilets underneath the L’Altigel Restaurant at the Bruyères Gondola mid-station in Les Menuires for a great selection of older skis (but recognisable) skis.
So what was you favourite ski this season?
Many, many thanks to Charlie, Phil and all the staff at Ski Higher in La Tania for putting up with me this season. Remember, they Deliver (but not kidneys)!
Atomic Redster QTi – bought unexpectedly when my old Fishers gave up early in the season. Great on all pistes & a fair bit of hors piste (tho I do use my Salomon QST99s with shift bindings for big off piste days).
It’s become much harder to buy skis in resort now – one good alternative option is a trip to Ekosport in Frontenac near Albertville!