Month: May 2012

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2013 Volkl Kuro Ski Review

 

Ski: 2013 Volkl Kuro

Size: 185cm

Dimensions: 164-132-139

Powered by Titanium

For 2013 the Volkl Kuro receives Titanium Power/Tough Box Construction meaning that the soft forgiving Kuro of the past is no longer. The all new Kuro is stiff and powerful and is now a true big mountain ski that can handle the biggest and steepest mountains that AK and BC have to offer. There are a few shops that still have the older Kuro and if you want a more forgiving powder ski that is an amazing choice and one that I ave enjoyed trying every year. For testing this spring I had a chance to get on the new Kuro and what a ski it is. The older Kuro was like a couch, super comfy and no effort at all in any condition except at higher speed. The new 2013 Kuro wants to go fast and boy is it ever stable. It will handle any speed on any kind of condition and it will still arc turns on groomers no problem at all. The one area where the new Kuro is a lot of work is in the bumps and tight chutes. If you are straight-lining areas this ski will be perfect thanks to the ELP Rocker and Titanium Construction. If you are going to be in areas that have a good amount of bumps you may want to consider the older Kuro or another ski that will be lighter and more forgiving.

 

The 2013 Volkl Kuro is a totally different ski from the past.

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2013 K2 SideSeth Backcountry Skis Review

Skis: 2013 K2 SideSeth Skis

Size: 179cm

Dimensions: 147-118-135

Turn Radius: 26m @ 179cm

Rocker: Powder Rocker Tip/Tail Rocker

The all new 2013 K2 SideSeth Skis are unlike any Seth ski you have used before. Seth has changed his skis like he has changed his skiing to allow for more technical lines in more variable terrain and snow. Seth the past couple years has not been skiing the big mountain powder lines he was always known for up in AK. He has searched out the Alps and other areas that require more technical skiing then big fast lines in deep pow. If you want a ski that can handle every condition the backcountry can throw your way the all new 2013 K2 SideSeth Ski is one of my favorite choices. The major difference you will see in the 2013 K2 SideSeth is the ski is much stiffer than any of the Obsethed Skis and the tail is no longer a true twin tip it now has a more versatile shape not only for skins but to also be able to stick the skis into the snow. K2 also makes precut skins specifically for these skis which makes putting them on and off very simple. Because of the change Seth has made to these skis no no longer will be found in the Factory Series they are now in Backside Series. The ski comes with a good amount of powder rocker but also has enough camber to make the ski more versatile when skiing hard pack snow and those days where you are skiing big mountain hard-charging lines. The tail is much stiffer and has less rocker than in the past and this all has to do with making for a more versatile ski on big mountain lines. If you need a real ski to handle everything that the mountain can throw at you then you will want to consider the 2013 K2 Sideseth Ski. The ski was amazingly quick edge to edge and it was really at home in the trees easily skiing bumps and varied terrain with ease. When skiing on groomers the SideSeth got on edge much quicker than the 26m turn radius that K2 says it has. I think part of that has to do with the stiffer less rockered tail combined with a progressive sidecut. If you are looking for a similar ski, but one that is more playful everywhere on the mountain then you want to look at the Line Mr. Pollard Opus and the K2 Pettitor Skis.