The Official Salomon AK Swallowtail Review

[marshalolson]

Still at center mount (Salomon's recommended mount), or 1cm or 2cm back?

this years should be -2cm; last years (SAC) should be -1cm

[Alkasquawlik]

Still at center mount (Salomon's recommended mount), or 1cm or 2cm back?

about 3cm forward of the new line. it's actually about on the line of 2 years ago model.

they pushed back (about 2-3) cm the recommended mount line on last years model.

[focus]

what's the measurement from the tail?

[Alkasquawlik]

Don't know off the top of my head. But I'll try to an approximate measure soon.

[El Chupacabra]

about 3cm forward of the new line. it's actually about on the line of 2 years ago model.

they pushed back (about 2-3) cm the recommended mount line on last years model.

Any tip dive with that mounting position?

I'm not looking for versatility with this ski -- where would you mount the ski as a pure powder ski?

[Alkasquawlik]

Any tip dive with that mounting position?

I'm not looking for versatility with this ski -- where would you mount the ski as a pure powder ski?

If you aren't looking for versatility then I would go with the recommended mount position. I like the more forward mount for stomping, spinning and hard gnarly crud. But, yes, is some cases it makes the tip dive a bit more. Not as much as a normal pow ski mounted that far forward, because of the swallowtail, but it does push the tip down a tiny bit.

[MnO]

I still use them and will do so for a while. Currently on my third pair and I like them very much for the snappiness and easy turning. I have mine mounted at 84,5cm from tail at the moment. I´ve tried 82-87 cm and like the 84,5cm setting best.

[El Chupacabra]

Thanks all -- I'll do some measurements when my skis show up (hopefully today) and see where the Salomon recommended line is on my pair.

[El Chupacabra]

My SAC Swallowtails arrived. They have the 2 marks for a mounting point, one "punch" hole, and one short line, like MnO described here:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=15948

The short line is rearward of the punched hole. The short line is at the 84.5cm mark from the tail. Looking at the ski, I'm going to use the short line for the mounting point on these skis.

Another question before I drill: do these skis have a metal topsheet? According to backcountryoutlet.com, it's a "Monocoque titanium spaceframe" and "Core Material: Race room wood core --
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...lpine-Ski.html

Asking basically to determine whether to use a 3.5 or 4.1 bit. There are no markings on the ski that would indicate metal topsheet, or bit size to use.

[marshalolson]

i \'ve drilled last years and this year w/ 4.1 no tap. no issues.

SAC's were foam core w/ titanal.

this years are wood core and titanal.

i generally only tap on stainless topsheets and generally only use 3.5 bits on non-metal topsheet skis (k2, iggy, bro, etc...)

[El Chupacabra]

Thanks marshal --

You sure about the SAC swallowtails being foam core? Website said wood core for this model (orange graphic with "SCREAM" in huge letters on tip).

BTW - what skis have you found that use a stainless topsheet?

[kneedropper]

I have the same graphic that was on Steep and Cheap the there is a wood core with metal.... if that helps. I've got them mounted tele and started with boot center between the marks. I now have them 1 or 2 cm behind the rear mark boot center tele. They feel a bit more squirly mounted back (I expected the opposite), but for tele the rear ski was too far forward droping the knee. If they were a alpine only mount I would mount 1cm forward of the new rear black mark.

I have bobers on them, so I've been able to move them all around without drilling... and I'm lazy on hardpack and tend to "alpine" unless it is good... for what it's worth.

[yesIsaidyes]

BTW - what skis have you found that use a stainless topsheet?

Ski the steel, steal the thunder!

[El Chupacabra]

Ski the steel, steal the thunder!

Oh yeah, duh.... forgot about the Volants. I was thinking of something with a stainless topsheet underneath the top graphic/ fiberglas/ whatever.

[Bandit Man]

My arrived yesterday and have been mounted to the "small line" mark. Once we get some more freshies in WA, I'll share my results. Would love to hear from others once they get to make some turns in pow-pow what the verdict is.

[marshalolson]

Oh yeah, duh.... forgot about the Volants. I was thinking of something with a stainless topsheet underneath the top graphic/ fiberglas/ whatever.

powder plus, axiom, monster 103, supermojo, nordica FF off the top of my head...

[uglymoney]

I've received mine as well, and have no reason to mount them for 2-3 weeks and still shoping bindings for mine, so I'm hoping to read a couple more reviews with mounting point info included from some just mounted AK's to expand the data points some more.

Great info so far. I measured about 14 cm from the back of the swallowtail to the start of the metal edge on these, so the effective edge seems like its 181 or so. If they really ski that short, I'm probably going to go 0 or +1, but maybe as high as + 2 depending. I like to be able to swivel my sticks and don't really have a problem dealing with sinking tips, mounting AT, but with my current quiver being on the skinny side, I'll likely be using these more than I should for a while.

[El Chupacabra]

I put bindings on my SAC swallowtails last night, using Salomon 997s centered on the rearward of the 2 marks (the line, not the dot). Used a 4.1mm bit per marshal, and yes, there is a metal sheet under the topsheet, and also a wood core. Stuffed a little wood glue in there when mounting.

The marked line is pretty far to the rear, but the flex on these skis is medium-stiff, so hopefully they won't feel like they're wheelie-ing in pow. Looks like the sidecut has a very long taper to it, with a lot of width up front, narrowing down only at the binding marked line waaaay towards the rear of the ski. Interesting design. I hope it works.

Too bad it's not going to snow in the Sierras this weekend, or else I'd try them out. Instead, I think I'll wax the car, maybe wear shorts & tevas around, wash the dog... that sort of thing.

[vtdownhiller]

I ski mine on the center mount, but I need to carve them as well.....2nd season and still loving them...I take em out on coaching days on hardpack just for fun....still a versatile all around stick
Although I'll be on the spatulas in valdez

[marshalolson]

I...also a wood core...

damn you lucked out. the retail version is "supposed" to have foam from that year. your sick score just got sicker!

[El Chupacabra]

Unfortunately, it snowed in the Sierras, so I couldn't wax the car, wash the dog, etc., etc.

Damn. Nothing else to do but go ski the 10" of blower that landed at Mt Rose.

As I noted above, I mounted my SAC swallowtails on the Salomon-marked rearward line. They are really easy to ski, forgiving, but stiff enough to hold a line and not chatter on the cut-up bumps (or crust underneath) as the day went on. They turn super fast, almost Spatula-like -- they feel a lot shorter than 195cm, more like a 180-185cm ski.

They're worse in bumps & hardpack than stiffer skis like Bros or Explosivs -- feels like they're not particularly torsionally rigid in those conditions. They do not hold a line nearly as well as Explosivs or Bros on really hard conditions (chalk); this could either be torsional softness, or the factory tune (not as sharp as my Explosivs or Bros).

After 1 day, I still like the Spatulas better in tight conditions (trees, chutes), but the AK swallowtails seem to do everything else better -- groomer runout to the lift, straightline stability, traversing, can hit bumps without feeling like your knees just slammed into concrete (drawback on the Spats). And they're a lot lighter than Spats.

I like the mounting point on the Salomon rearward line too. Not tip divey at all, and there's plenty of tail left for stability (no wheelie feeling like with a soft tail ski).

[roorfan]

damn. i want some!

[El Chupacabra]

Day 2 update:

Slammed into a big rock at Kirkwood, thought I mostly hit edges... nope. 3" long core shot.

I think the bases are kinda soft... I remember some Salomons I had awhile back as having bases that gouged pretty easily too. I've hit Spatulas on sharper rocks which only left shallow gouges.

Oh well...

[mc_roon]

I bought AK rocket labs from S&C and skiied them in Tahoe this past weekend. I love these skis. They are fantastic. I will admit that they were a little daunting at first, but they really perform like a much shorter ski. Mine are mounted 1cm back, and that seems to work great for me.

[kneedropper]

The bases in the skis next year (labs) are changing from the "race" base to a harder compound. The current lab bases can be "marked" with a stick, let alone a rock. But when you start hitting the gates on the course you'll appriciate the extra speed