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Why is reviewer and heli-skiing guide Paul Forward in Crested Butte testing skinny skis? How did I end up being the one in a helicopter? And why have Jonathan and I been able to test the same new ski boot? Today we discuss it all, as well as a bunch of new freeride skis from 4FRNT and Heritage Lab; Jonathan swapping skis with Daron Rahlves; me face-planting in front of some other pro skiers, and more.
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TOPICS & TIMES:
Carv (1:38)
Snowbird & Giveaway (2:23)
Luke’s Trip Report (5:39)
Jonathan’s Trip Report (15:43)
Salomon S/Pro Alpha C BOA (21:24)
4FRNT Sinister (32:28)
Heritage Lab Skis (37:08)
Part 2: Jonathan & Paul Forward (41:05)
Testing Ski Boots, Skis, & Carv (45:35)
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Sure enjoy podcasts and articles with Paul Forward.
Thanks so much!
It sounds like you fellas had a GREAT week. Well done!
Pete
go kurt!!
wrt the Cortex 140 being too much, it comes with a “power plate” (basically a frontal spoiler) installed in the tongue, that you can remove to soften it. My acquaintance who’s a PSIA examiner and K2 boot collector thinks that removing that takes it down to what most brands would call a 130. Conversely it appears that the 130 doesn’t include that, and that might account for much or all of the difference between the two.
I love FIS SLs for firm groomer days, both because they challenge me technically and because they can access the full “race-ski experience” at reasonably sane speeds. Even the eSpeed Pro (21.7m sidecut in my 185 cm length) really needs to be skied faster than is often socially acceptable to access its full power, and FIS GS and SG skis are for early weekday mornings only. SLs in particular have to be handled with a lot of respect as Paul says – if you’re out of position when those tails load up the best-case scenario is that you’ll get dumped on your hindside. There’s plenty of footage out there of WC-level racers losing their ACLs that way.
It sounds like the Magnum (which I haven’t tried) is similar in that it provides the “high-intensity carving experience” a fairly modest speeds.
Good stuff Patrick. Thanks! I should probably try the Cortex without the plate but I really like it with it in. I wish more boots had options like that. I suspect most users wouldn’t necessarily appreciate it but for the tinkerers amongst us, K2 really delivers without having to buy more stuff.
Paul you are absolutely correct. Cowboy Pow is a couple inches of fresh snow on groomers. We like to think it was coined here in Jackson but where ever it came from it is very fun to ski! Also use the term gun pow for an inch or so of man made snow on groomers Both term are, at times, used in the mountain snow report.
Thanks! that makes sense to me. I figured it was from Jackson or maybe Steamboat. Thanks again!