Ski Reviews

2022-2023 Season Kin, 181 cm

Reviewer Username: rillburgher

Reviewer Height: 5’10”

Reviewer Weight: 160 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced

DAYS USED: 55 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Seven Springs PA, Mammoth CA, Mt. Bachelor OR

TEST CONDITIONS: Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow | Firm, off-piste chop or crud

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 9/10

FORGIVENESS: 9/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 9/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 7/10

STABILITY: 6/10

SUSPENSION: 6/10

EDGE HOLD: 8/10

PLAYFULNESS: 9/10

PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):

easy to finesse into doing nearly any sort of edging and sliding imaginable

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (181 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Softer groomers | Softer moguls | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Trees | Terrain Park

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow)

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

A finesse-oriented, occasionally-adventurous resort skier who favors a somewhat centered stance, groomed terrain including park, rides at generally moderate speeds, and enjoys nice-not-gnarly off-piste, bumps, and trees at up to medium speeds. A skier who craves the comfort of secure edge grip, easy edge release, easy maneuverability, easy switch riding, a flexible feeling on all surfaces, and soft snow handling that’s as good as its hard snow handling. A skier who might chill out sometimes, but at times could be hyped to boost side hit jumps, or lap the park, or hike the summit, or drop into tight trees, or splash through some slushy spring bumps, etc. A skier who loves (or wants to learn) to carve and loves to smear turns too, and relishes blending the edging styles seamlessly at slow through medium speeds. An accomplished skier who wants something great fun for skiing with slower friends, or maybe with little kids, that also is perfectly adaptable to flying at high speed on occasion. An instructor could love it because it can do all the moves at instructing speeds, and could recommend it to low intermediates on up to finesse-oriented advanced skiers. A telemark skier could definitely love it (that’s me)!

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

No, this is my favorite ski since starting in 1978. And, it is in a small “fun carve twin” category, a niche ski that exceeds and expands its niche.

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

Not a carving ski, but offers better carving and edge grip and than my last 5 pairs owned. And it’s spectacular at skidding / drifting / pivoting which is a weird thing because it has such solid and secure edge grip. It can be skied pretty fast and it glides great, but the fun performance on tap at slow to medium speeds is a standout trait. A seamless blending and transition from edge grip to edge slip is so controllable, subtle, and feathery, that a skier can drift from carving as if on rails to finding new unlocked levels of finesse and balance. Not a park ski but appreciated by me for my moderate park and pipe riding because it’s an easy ski to stay balanced on and the Season Kin and doesn’t punish a crooked landing. The tip is 140 and tail 136, which is wide and both can hang up – tip catching tip or tail snagging tail – leading to some awkward moments which are most likely when skiing firm bumpy conditions. In the East it dances down ruined groomers (crud of a sort) and in the West it thrives in nearly all conditions and most scenarios too, except it shouldn’t be expected to securely cope with high speeds on steeps. People love the graphics – all black everything – and say so.