2011 Volkl Bridge Skis

With the Volkl Bridge getting a little long in the tooth Volkl decided to just scrap the old mold and go all new and new they did. Now with an all new 95mm waist and a step down sidewall not only is the 2011 Volkl Bridge more versatile than the 2010 version but it also is more durable. The step down sidewall really helps keep the ski from chipping as badly as older versions. Besides these important changes Volkl made a big move and put ELP Rocker which gives the ski not only more versatility in powder and soft snow but also make sit more versatile when skiing the woods and sides of the trails when you don’t always want to be on the edge. If you are looking for a mid fat ski for East or West Coast the 2011 Volkl Bridge Skis should be a top choice as your one ski quiver ski. Volkl did not anticipate the popularity of their skis for the 2011 skis and many models have already sold out for the year so there will not be any pro form or reorder left for shops later in the fall when they run out of what they have in stock. Don’t wait and be left out.

MSP Films & Helly Hansen Present “The Way I See It”

On Friday October 22nd, 2010 www.untracked.com AKA: Al’s Ski Barn along with Saddleback Ski Area, Matchstick Production Films and Helly Hansen present to you the newest MSP Film “The Way I See It” Show time starts at 8PM and doors open at 7PM. This is an all ages show, however if you are under the age of 18 you will need to be accompanied by an adult. The show will be at Port City Music Hall in Portland, ME off 504 Congress St.

There will be many prizes to be won just for coming to the show along with our friends at Saddleback Ski Area who will be giving away a free lift ticket good before Christmas to everyone who comes to the show! Not a bad deal, a movie and ticket for $15!! Not to mention your chances of wining gift certs and other swag are excellent! Come join the fun and after the show there may just be more fun activities for everyone! Tickets will be $2 more the day of the show so be sure to buy them early at Al’s Ski Barn and save yourself some money!

2011 Ski Reviews

Many magazines have hit the mailboxes with all the new 2011 Ski Reviews. Remember when using these magazines as guides that sometimes these reviews go the way the magazines want them to go. How can a ski get “Ski of the Year” one year and the very next year it is in the lower end of the category. Yes times change but if the skis do not change then what caused a ski to get rave reviews one year and poor the next. Advertising has a large part to do with it, typically companies that sponsor a review or take out large advertisements in magazines typically score better on their skis. Companies who do not advertise many times will have down graded scores. The other thing to watch out for is if the ski was tested in the correct category or not. If you have an all-mountain ski that is being tested in the big mountain powder section it will most likely get a poor score as that is not what that ski was designed as. Some skis are hybrid so they fit in multiple categories and when you try and pigeon hole it into one category it is not going to score nearly as well then if it were tested in multiple situations as it was designed. Be sure to email and call shops who have actually skied on the skis themselves and ask their honest opinion. Most shops if they liked or disliked a ski will tell you up front what they thought of it and why, just because they don’t like it does not mean that it will not be a good ski for you. With different skiing styles comes different skis and skiers. Just like cars not everyone likes the same thing, but good shops are going to be able to tell you why you would like a ski or why you would not like the ski once you tell them more about your skiing style, ability and where you tend to ski on the hill.

2011 Armada JJ Skis Review

One of the best selling skis of last year was the Armada JJ Skis. These skis sold out by January from most places. Armada is known for building to order which means they do not make very much above what shops order. If you went with out JJ’s because you waited to long last year then jump early this year because the graphic is even stronger and even more people now about the JJ then last year.

The 2011 Armada JJ Skis was one of my favorite skis to test. It scored high in everything and I really only found one weakness and that was high speed straight line groomers. For me that is not a problem as I enjoy cranking out turns and with the very tight turn radius of the 2011 Armada JJ Skis cranking out turns is a blast. If you want a light, quick, energetic ski with lots of float and easy maneuverability in the trees and moguls then look no further than the Armada JJ Skis. The Armada JJ really enjoyed skiing everywhere on the mountain and in any condition, but get them in Powder and Trees and you will have the best run of your life every run out! Bo no means a stiff ski but with amazing rocker and reverse sidecut it does not matter becasue the ski is stable all day long. If you show up with JJ’s everyone will be envious of your quiver because with the Armada JJ you have a quiver of 1.