In talking with different retailers and vendors there is not a lot of extra stock of new model skis to be had, so if you want a ski don’t wait or you may just have to wait for another year to get the ski that you wanted. All companies are already really low on Freeride and Powder Skis so do not expect the same deals that you saw last year on equipment in the spring. There are some great deals on last years equipment right now and that is selling really quick as not many companies made drastic changes in their 2010 Ski Line. By early to find the best selection and many companies may be able to work deals on packages so look to see if they have binding specials with the skis and especially places that have free mounting that will save you $30-$50.
Win Skis for Life with the K2 Skis Golden Ticket
When you purchase a 2010 pair of K2 freeride skis you receive a Golden Ticket from select retailers that are participating in the program. Entry’s need to be postmarked by December 31st, 2009, so there is an incentive to buy early as there are only 1250 Golden Tickets so your chances of winning are very high as not everyone will send in their Golden Ticket. Official rules are on the back of the Golden Ticket so get your 2010 K2 Skis today from a participating dealer and send in your golden ticket to receive skis for the rest of your life!!! Not a bad deal at all.
2010 Volkl Gotama Junior Rockered Skis
The new 2010 Volkl Gotama Junior Skis are a great addition to the Volkl line up. With one of the first junior skis with tip and tail rocker their Volkl Gotama Jr. will be sure to sell out quickly. The 158cm length is a wonderful tweener ski and a ski that not many companies have. If your kid weighs under 130lbs and is not ready for an adult ski but is still a very solid skier you really should consider looking into the Volkl Gotama Jr Ski. It skis very well all-mountain and really skis well when you get it on steep and deep terrain. If your kid needs a ski to keep up with you this is a great choice for 2010.
Meathead Films “Wild Stallions”
Last night I went to a movie premier with the Meathead Films crew and what a great time it was. If there is a movie premier coming near you I would suggest getting off your couch and going to check it out. Great people, great film, and endless entertainment by the crew from Meathead. Tons of shirts, beanies, magazines, stickers, dvd’s and everything else are given out for free. Support your local clubs by going to check out the movie premiers near you and enjoy watch some pure ski entertainment from the guys at Ski The East.
Blizzard Skis
So after looking at my 401k from last season I have realized that maybe it is time I save a little money when looking for what i am riding this winter. I saw some places that had a ton of last years Blizzard Demo Skis that are an excellent price and there where even a couple of Coupon Codes for differetn sites. One was for 10% off all Used/Demo Blizzard skis which made the prices ever more inviting. Just type in Blizzard Ski Coupon Code and you should see some links pop up that will give you the codes for yourself.
2010 Volkl Mantra Skis (Different material than 2008 and 2009)
The 2010 Volkl Mantra was supposed to be the same as the 2008 and 2009 except for a different topsheet graphic, however after comparing the 3 skis the 2010 is totally different from the 2008 and 2009. With the thickness of the ski different I decided to weigh the ski and see what the weight difference was and to my surprise the new 2010 Volkl Mantra in a 170cm weighed almost the same as the 2009 Volkl Aura. This is not what I expect out of Volkl. Remember that a bend is not considered a warranty as it is not a manufacturer’s defect. Volkl has accepted very few bent Mantra’s back as warranty the past year or two so this is a major concern for those looking to purchase the new 2010 Volkl Mantra. It looks and feels as though the 2008 and 2009 Volkl Mantra models will hold up better than the new 2010 version which seems too light for what it is. I would only suggest the new 2010 if you are a lighter weight skier. If you are not then the 2009 is going to be your best option so buy before they are all gone!
2008/2009 Volkl Mantra Weight 2010 Volkl Mantra Weight
170cm – 8.38 lbs 170cm – 7.70 lbs
177cm – 9 lbs 177cm – Not in Stock
184cm – 9.45 lbs 184cm – 8.9 lbs
I would be interested to hear other people’s opinions on this matter.
2010 Line Prophet 130 Ski Review
Line skis year after year continues to up the anty when it comes to designing their skis. With one of the better selling powder skis on the market already with the Prophet 130 Line decided they needed to do a few subtle changes in order for us as skiers to get the best possible ride out of the ski. The major change in the ski is that it now has 25cm’s of early rise in the tip. What this does is allows the ski to stay on top of the powder even easier. The Line Prophet 130 is one of the best true powder skis on the market and will serve you well on the steepest and deepest of terrain. Thanks to the 25cm’s of tip rocker the 2010 Line Prophet 130 ski easily turned on a dime, yes at high speed you still felt just as comfortable. Very impressive ski and an excellent upgrade for the 2010 season.
2010 Marker Duke AT Ski Binding Review/Testimonial
Once in a great while technology comes along that changes the way we feel about something. Marker with their new AT line has really stepped up to the plate and delivered a really well thought out series of bindings called the Royal Family. Today our focus is going to be on the Marker Duke which will under go a color change for the 2010 season. Since 2008 the Marker Duke has been the best selling AT binding on the market thanks to the ease of use for Slack Country skiers and the affordable nature of a high DIN backcountry binding. Below is a testimonial from Gregg Wardle who skis 200+ days a year between the northern and southern hemisphere. He is hard on equipment and this is what he has to say about the Marker Duke Bindings.
“Having used rondo gear for over 30 years now I have to say for side-country skiing and in particular for Las Lenas the Marker Duke is truly impressive, first it feels and sounds like a Marker (solid) and where I have been using Fritchis for years I always worried about coming out (and have) now I have a little better margin going to 16 din most of my skis are at least at 18-20 din depending what I am doing and where I am skiing. The biggest difference is the solid contact feel with the Duke on my Gotamas vs the soft feel of the Fritchis mainly due to the wider mount etc. For skinning they work very well and after becoming familiar with adjusting the climbing bracket and the fact you have to remove the ski to change from locked or free-heel, it is also an advantage to have the binding move back when in free-heel mode especially in soft snow and kick turns. I now have about 100 days on these and can honestly say they rule and no going back to Fritchis. The pair I received were prototypes and I had a problem with the brake but after I remedied a minor design flaw they have worked super. The Mantra or Gotama with the Marker Duke is a perfect combo for the backcountry access and designed with the big mountain skier in mind. I live in a world where if my equipment fails I can die almost everyday so it is great to have tools that are designed for my needs. Marker Duke skis like an alpine binding and works well for rondonee it may be a few grams more than the Fritchis but the transmission to the fatter skis is impressive. Needless to say I like them!”
Gregg Wardle
2010 Salomon Oversize Binding Review
Many people have been asking what the deal is with the all new “Oversize” label on some of the new Salomon bindings for the 2010 ski season. The new 2010 Salomon Oversized bindings gives the Salomon binding exceptional power and precision thanks to the increased contact zone for better foothold by keeping the required release values. With the new Oversized bindings you will feel even more secure. Built for skiers who are hard on their equipment and are constantly putting high torque values on their bindings. This is a great step forward for the Salomon Z and STH ski Bindings. They will only continue to get better. 2010 Salomon Bindings are now out in select online shops so get yours now and think snow!
2010 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis Review
The 2010 Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis is one of the most versatile skis that Eric Pollard has designed. Now with an all new 172cm length being made it leaves the question as to why they are still making the Line Elizabeth. Well there are actually some good reasons why. The Line Sir Francis Bacon has similar dimensions and yes they are both 172cm, but one of the biggest differences is that the 2010 Line SFB is a stiffer ski all around and made for skiing everywhere on the hill at anytime. The 2010 Line Elizabeth is softer so it is made more to be a freestyle ski that still skis the entire mountain, any conditions, well. The Line SFB is a Freeride/All-Mountain ski that will still ski the park well. There is only a cosmetic difference between the 2009 and 2010 Line Sir Francis Bacon. This is one of the best skis you will ever get on, especially if you live in a place with good snowfall the Line Sir Francis Bacon will ski any snow conditions thanks to Eric Pollard’s ability to design useful skis better than anyone else.