First Nordica is a First Belle

I really can't believe how many skis I've had the opportunity to test out this year. So many of the local reps have heard that I'm writing this blog and have been super generous with skis as a result.

Recently I had the chance to take my first pair of Nordica out for a spin – grabbing the First Belle. This is an all mountain ski that Nordica considers a great ski for intermediate to advanced skiers, be it on groomers or on the looser snow. I grabbed the 162cm ski, which has the following curves: 128, 88, 112. All this on a 13.5m turn radius.

I have to say that I would agree with Nordica on their take for this ski. I quiet enjoyed the First Belle. I put the ski through its paces on some fairly hard snow, including a smattering of icy patches. The First Belle gripped the ice remarkably well. There was no wash or sliding out and I felt very in control. The ski transitioned well from turn to turn, really quiet smoothly. There was no real pop at the end of the turn like you can experience on some skis, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. While I enjoy this little pop, not everyone does. And it doesn't affect your skiing to not have it.

Not only did the First Belle preform well on ice, but it cut through looser snow really well. It didn't chatter or bounce you too much while transitioning from harder pack to looser snow. All of these traits allowed me to feel very comfortable and in control of the ski.

The features of the First Belle come together to make for a solid ski, but one that I would also describe as predictable. I am not using this term poorly, just simply saying that this ski gives you exactly what you expect and want. Which are good thing. It just didn't offer up any surprises.

Predictable is also what I would use to describe the graphics of the First Belle. Nothing too exciting, a nice mix of a few shades of blue and brown, but also pretty basic. Again, there are many out there that will appreciate the graphics of this ski and like the subtlety of the colouring.

Overall, I would say that the First Belle is a great ski if you are looking for a good all mountain ski that will preform as desired and expected. It should be a solid ski for you if you go this direction.

The Goods...

-good edging on ice

-cuts through chop well

-predictable

-intermediate-advanced ski

-all mountain

The Not-So-Goods...

-predictable

-graphics are less than exciting

-no “pop” at the end of the turn

Fun times on Fischer Koa 88's

I had the opportunity to take Fischer's Koa 88's out for a ride. These skis are currently in the Fischer lineup, but they have updated the graphics for the 2014-15 ski year. I quiet liked the new look – a nice mix of colours. Maybe slightly excessive on the pink side, but I also think it works fairly well.

These are an all mountain ski that Fischer sees as being a bit more off piste, aka choppy, not groomed runs. They come in 3 lengths, I rode the 160cm length, which has a 15m turn radius. The measurements of the ski are 128 tip, 88 underfoot, 115 tail.

I enjoyed this ski a fair bit. At first I felt that maybe it washed a bit in the tail when turning, but as I got the hang of the ski, I found the happy spot and how to make the ski work better for me. As I got the hang of the Koa 88 I found that it really popped at the end of the turn. This helped to kick you into your next turn and made the ski fun to ride.

While I found this kick in the skis fun, I also found that the Koa still transitioned well from turn to turn. There was a good flow and linking the turns was smooth.

One downfall was that I didn't feel that the ski gripped well on icier conditions. This is not too surprising when you realize that Fischer themselves see this as being a ski with a forte in the chop. So riding the Koa in the chop brings out the strength of these wonderful skis.

These are a ski that I can recommend to a more experienced skier that likes to get off the groomed track. A great consideration and something to look at for sure if you're in the market for new skis.

The Goods...

-fun

-really pops you into the next turn

-all mountain

-smooth transition from turn to turn

-good graphics

The Not-So-Goods...

-not a great grip on icy terrain

-bit of a tail wash at times

-maybe a bit too much pink on the graphic

Panorama family fun

We had the chance to get away for a little family time at Panorama ski hill this weekend. What a great place for a family to spend a little time.

We stayed in a nice room that had a kitchenette and separate bedroom – perfect for travelling with a wee one. We did hull our own pack-n-play and other baby gear. There were no baby/kid items in the room, but we had all the gear we needed. Including this handy little chair attachment. It's called a SIT-seat by G-Baby Designs and attaches to any chair – we've used in many times and it's super handy to have tucked away in a diaper bag. Check out the independent owner of this little business. She has lots of great baby gear available.

Taynton Bowl

But outside of the limited baby items in the room the resort was super baby/kid friendly. All restaurants had high-chairs in them. And not just one, but many. The coffee shop/restaurant (the Picnic Cafe) where I ate a few times had 4-5 chairs. The pub we went to the first night, the T-Bar and Grill, where you might think kids weren’t welcomed, was more than happy to accommodate us until 8:00pm. In reality the pub had a lot of kids in it. And all places had kids menus and a variety of foods that kids enjoy. I had no problem finding food for a 12 month old. And my picky eater was more than happy to chow down.

Hiking to access Taynton Bowl

And the activities! Yes, there is skiing an amazing hill. The runs can accommodate all levels of ability. They even have a back bowl – the Taynton bowl. This is a super fun area full of black runs, that offers a variety of open bowls and tree skiing. A superb area for the more experienced skier. The front side has a great mix of runs for all abilities and can really be a fun time for all members of the family. We've skied there in the past with friends and had no problem finding runs that made everyone happy and gave us all a great skiing experience. And don't forget the all important magic carpet. It's interesting how ones perspective changes when they have a kid.  Not sure I ever would have noted this part of the hill before. It's right there, very easy to access and use for the little people in your group.

Beyond skiing there are lots of activities for kids and parents alike. There are ski and play programs – a half day skiing, the other half spent playing. With lunch included. There are heated outdoor pools – great for young and old. In the summer they have a little water park, including a water slide. They have tubbing and tobogganing. They have daily/nightly activities. I know when we were they they were offering a cupcake decorating lesson. There were art activities for all ages. On Friday nights they offer a program where kids can be dropped off to play while being cared for by experienced child minders   And parents can go have a little alone time. And they offer private baby-sitters as well. I could go on and on about all of the activities offered. And the ones I've mentioned are just some of the winter ones. They have summer specific programs as well.

In all, even though it was late season, there was so much to do and it was a great weekend away. I'm seriously plotting our next family trip there. Can't wait until the Kraken is a bit older and will will enjoy the experience.

Hello my dear friend... Spring!

I can’t get enough of the bright orb in the sky. Yep, the sun is shining and the temperatures are climbing – finally. And with that comes a time of year that skiers love and hate – Spring Skiing. With the change in temperatures, snow changes as well. This means you need to make a few changes to your ski routine and style.

A first to making spring skiing successful is taking care of your skin. Remember that the sun is more intense with each day. Add altitude and reflection off the snow and you have a recipe for nasty sunburns. It's time for sunblock. Lather up your face before you start the day and be spared the teasing around the water cooler tomorrow.

Another consideration is the reflection and what it can do to your eyes. Be sure to wear a goggle that has the proper tint or a pair of sunglasses. Anyone who's had snow blindness can tell you it's not fun – trust me.

Now that you've cared for you body a bit, take the time to care for your skis. Get a proper tune-up to account for the needed sharp edges on your skis and the altered snow conditions. The changing snow means that you might need to change up the wax as well. Talk to you local shop to find out what they are advising.

And now hit the snow... But not too early. With the sun warming the snow during the day and then temperatures dropping over night, spring snow can get quite hard. So you want the sun to be out for a bit to start softening the snow before you head out. This is not really a time of the year to make the first chair. Give the day a chance to get started.

At the other end of this, skiing hard late into the day is not where it's at either. With the sun warming the snow during the day the snow changes consistency and can get very soft, even soupy at times. It's spring time, time to relax, enjoy the sun and not push the extremes at either end of the day.

A good rule of thumb to go by is to follow the sun. If you ski the areas where the sun is shining then they are the softer areas. Areas where the sun has not hit or has hit and moved on from tend to be harder and potentially icy. So gauge the runs you are looking at and plan your day and ski style accordingly.

A few tips for when you are heading down the run. Let your skis run a bit. Really working the edges is only going to tire you in this heavier, spring snow. But if you've timed the day well and the snow has started to soften the skis will grip the snow well and you will carve some of the best turns of the year.

Also try to pick a line that hits some new snow that has not been skied. At least work at avoiding the larger piles of snow. These can really bounce you around or pull a ski in a direction you were not expecting. The smaller piles will be easy to slice through, but avoid the larger ones. Heavy spring snow can quickly toss surprises your way, so be aware and keep your eyes downhill for the next obstacle.

Now get out there and have some spring time fun!