Ski: 2012-2013 Scott Lola, 175cm
Dimensions (mm): 131-98-127
Turn Radius: 15.7 meters
Actual Tip-to-Tail Length: 175cm
Boots / Bindings / DIN setting: Lange Rx90 / Marker Jester / DIN (8)
Mount Location: Factory recommended
Days Skied: 8
Test Location: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
In the past, Scott has been better known in the United States for their goggles, poles, and outerwear than for their skis. But with the star power of international team riders like Dane Tudor, Tom Wallisch, James Heim, and Erik Roner, Scott has been getting more attention as a brand in the U.S. Their skis have long been very popular in Europe, and that popularity is beginning to take hold on mountains here Stateside.
I skied Scotts for the first time last winter at the shop where I work in Teton Village. We had several models for sale on the floor, and I was able to try the Crusade, Venture, and Megadozer. I was immediately impressed. For the price, you get a lot of performance. And this made me eager to see what kind of skis Scott was putting out this 12/13 season.
The Lola is Scott’s answer to a women’s one-ski quiver, and it’s the women’s version of the Scott Dozer—a ski that’s been praised in years past for its ability to pivot and smear easily. At 98mm underfoot, the Lola is the widest ski offered in Scott’s women’s-specific category, and it combines tip and tail rocker with significant sidecut to handle a variety of different types of terrain and conditions.
After spending time on the Lola, I would agree that it is a very versatile ski for different types of snow conditions. Because of the phenomenal snowfall at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort this season, I’ve been fortunate enough to try the Lola in many conditions, and have been impressed by its ability to perform well in all of them.
However, while this ski is versatile when it comes to snow type, the Lola is less versatile with regard to skier type. The short turning radius, ample sidecut, and softer tips are great for skiers who prefer to make shorter, frequent turns, but will likely frustrate skiers who prefer fast speeds and large turns.
The first run I took on the Lola was down Renzedvous Bowl, off the Tram. The bowl is wide open, relatively steep, and so far this season we have been lucky enough to have a relatively smooth, chalky bowl from nightly wind buffing, which makes it ideal for huge, arcing turns—the kind that is difficult to make when you are on a ski with a turning radius of 15.7 meters. I was fighting hard with the ski for the first few turns until I adjusted and let the ski have its way.
If you enjoy making smaller turns, the Lola is awesome. It is extremely forgiving and pivots effortlessly, which may be attributed in part to the 3D sidecut. 3D sidecut is produced by combining two radii with a flat running length underfoot, to improve pivot and ease in turn initiation. The straight length underfoot increases edge contact to offset the tip and tail rocker, which helps to create a strong grip on the snow and increases edge control. The result is a ski that can almost turn itself. If you let it, the Lola will do most of the work for you.