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So, I don't know exactly where to start with this ski, other than to say it is so damn fun. Turns the mountain in a slash-fest playground. Grinding down moguls. Airing every lip in sight. Slashing turns into chokes. Drifting out of 55mph straight lines. It's nuts.
The overall objective was to make a modern/progressively shaped full reverse camber "most days" / soft snow biased ski.
Design Notes:
1). Flex Pattern and stiffness. It was really important to me to find the right balance between stable and fast, but not abusive or rough. On reverse skis, biofeedback is multiplied, as the energy of the skier is translated right under foot first, then dissipated out to the ends (opposed to a cambered ski, where the energy goes for the ends in). We ended up with what I feel is a very nice, round, responsive stiffness, that holds up at speed but is still very very smooth on rough snow. The Freeride build (Bamboo/Poplar, Full VDS Rubber, 38oz Fiberglass) really complimented and gave a super nice snowfeel.
2). Rocker Profile and splay. My main concern was to avoid the dreaded "see-saw" feeling many reverse skis have when used all mountain. At least for me, I feel there is no see-saw at all, but plently of splay to make the ski loose and drifty any time you ask it to be so. It is a surf machine and just rips around and carries speed through tight technical terrain really really well. I was very pleasantly surprised at how composed the 186 is for me nuking through chunder, avy debris, wind skin, etc. Just slices right through without being phased. There is 1.5cm splay per ski at the tip's widepoint and 1.25cm splay per ski at the tail. This was actually increased from the original CAD (from 1.0/.75 respectively) and I am really really happy that it was done. Rides exactly how I wanted them to.
3). Carving. This was #3 of my priority, important, but less so than other skis in the HL line. I find the ski to engage and hold edge really well, and in nice softer groomed conditions, it holds and edge and tracks through the entire effective edge, and certainly will track on hard groomers well at the appropriate edge angle... but there will be a little tip/tail off the snow here. However, the mass and dampness of the construction ensure that that again, as long as you are up on edge and angles, the ski tracks well and holds without any drama. For the Sickle lovers out there, it won't carve quite as well as that ski. Just to be honest.
4). Lengths. I'm sold on the 186 (188 material length, 186.5 straight tape) for what and how I will use this. But based on requests, I am going to offer 192 and 180s for preorder this summer/fall, with a Jan-Feb delivery date... and can very much see 174 and 168 sizes for next season. If these lengths are interesting, please let me know, as the go/no-go is entirely based on folks asking for them...
The FR110 gives a more progressive ride, shreds tighter lines lower mountain, carries speed nicely through tech and minigolf, but has the balls to hang too. To me, it feels like the intersection of an OG EHP and Dev. So, I see the FL113 is the big mountain ski (modernized more rewarding and less demanding RC112/Thirteen/etc). Great for Bluebird. Soft pow. Weekdays when the upper mountain is ready to rip. This is complemented by the FL105, which is more directional, more engaged on edge, relatively surfy, but much less drifty. The FR110 is for making the mountain a playground while storm riding, chasing lines in the woods on the weekend, funky spring snow, etc.
Eager to answer any questions folks have!
The overall objective was to make a modern/progressively shaped full reverse camber "most days" / soft snow biased ski.
Design Notes:
1). Flex Pattern and stiffness. It was really important to me to find the right balance between stable and fast, but not abusive or rough. On reverse skis, biofeedback is multiplied, as the energy of the skier is translated right under foot first, then dissipated out to the ends (opposed to a cambered ski, where the energy goes for the ends in). We ended up with what I feel is a very nice, round, responsive stiffness, that holds up at speed but is still very very smooth on rough snow. The Freeride build (Bamboo/Poplar, Full VDS Rubber, 38oz Fiberglass) really complimented and gave a super nice snowfeel.
2). Rocker Profile and splay. My main concern was to avoid the dreaded "see-saw" feeling many reverse skis have when used all mountain. At least for me, I feel there is no see-saw at all, but plently of splay to make the ski loose and drifty any time you ask it to be so. It is a surf machine and just rips around and carries speed through tight technical terrain really really well. I was very pleasantly surprised at how composed the 186 is for me nuking through chunder, avy debris, wind skin, etc. Just slices right through without being phased. There is 1.5cm splay per ski at the tip's widepoint and 1.25cm splay per ski at the tail. This was actually increased from the original CAD (from 1.0/.75 respectively) and I am really really happy that it was done. Rides exactly how I wanted them to.
3). Carving. This was #3 of my priority, important, but less so than other skis in the HL line. I find the ski to engage and hold edge really well, and in nice softer groomed conditions, it holds and edge and tracks through the entire effective edge, and certainly will track on hard groomers well at the appropriate edge angle... but there will be a little tip/tail off the snow here. However, the mass and dampness of the construction ensure that that again, as long as you are up on edge and angles, the ski tracks well and holds without any drama. For the Sickle lovers out there, it won't carve quite as well as that ski. Just to be honest.
4). Lengths. I'm sold on the 186 (188 material length, 186.5 straight tape) for what and how I will use this. But based on requests, I am going to offer 192 and 180s for preorder this summer/fall, with a Jan-Feb delivery date... and can very much see 174 and 168 sizes for next season. If these lengths are interesting, please let me know, as the go/no-go is entirely based on folks asking for them...
The FR110 gives a more progressive ride, shreds tighter lines lower mountain, carries speed nicely through tech and minigolf, but has the balls to hang too. To me, it feels like the intersection of an OG EHP and Dev. So, I see the FL113 is the big mountain ski (modernized more rewarding and less demanding RC112/Thirteen/etc). Great for Bluebird. Soft pow. Weekdays when the upper mountain is ready to rip. This is complemented by the FL105, which is more directional, more engaged on edge, relatively surfy, but much less drifty. The FR110 is for making the mountain a playground while storm riding, chasing lines in the woods on the weekend, funky spring snow, etc.
Eager to answer any questions folks have!
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