Salomon's Lumen, a bright light

Took Salomon's Q-96 Lumen skis out for a day the other week. This is an all mountain ski that is currently in the Salomon line-up. They have given the ski a face-lift for the 2014/15 ski year. The ski is now a mainly blue ski with some detailing, that kind of looks like a forest to me. It's not a bad graphic, but I have to say that I prefer the old look of the ski. Oh well.

This ski comes in four lengths, of which I took the 162cm out for a spin. It's curves are as follows: 128 tip: 95 underfoot: 114 tail. At this length the ski has a 18.4m turn radius. This is a pretty big turn radius. And exactly what I found when riding this ski. It was at it's best when I was riding it in areas where I could do large, sweeping turns. In tighter areas, that required more manoeuvrability, this ski was a bit sluggish. But as soon as I let it run, in large sweeping turns, it became a smooth ski.

I did find that the Lumen cuts through choppy snow really well. It

has a wood core that gives it stability, but also some other technologies (honeycomb tip) that make it not a super heavy ski. But this construction also makes the Lumen a power house. It cuts through chop with no chatter and without bouncing you around a lot. That was a great feeling – I felt like I could charge through anything. Fun times.

The Lumen had none of that pop that I so love at the end of a turn, but I also think that this would be too much from this ski. This ski really just isn't a ski that you expect or want to pop once you get going on it. It's a beast that holds you in good stead, but not a heavy ski.

I would recommend this ski as your 3^rd or 4^th ski – unless you are lucky skier who hits open bowls weekly. When you have a good carving ski and a good all round, all mountain ski, than this is a great addition for days when you are skiing open bowls or fresh snow. As an addition to other skis, I think you would really like this ski. I might have to see if I can add it to my wall next year...

The Goods:

-big, sweeping turns

-cuts through chop

-a power house of a ski

-good as a 3^rd or 4^th ski

-intermediate or advanced skier

The Not-So-Goods:

-sluggish in slower speeds

-hard to do short radius turns with

-not a “poppy” ski

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!

What's the DIN all about?

Have you ever bought skis/bindings or tested a pair of skis, only to be asked what your DIN setting is? Or have you been asked questions about your height and weight, do you really have to share that? Well, the answer is yes and it all comes back to setting your binding correctly for your skiing ability.

The DIN, or the Deutsche Industrie Normen setting, on bindings is a determination of how easily the binding and subsequently the ski will release if you fall. The DIN was set by the German Institute for Standardization and is a scale that was adopted by the ski industry to determine the release force of ski bindings. And this is important in preventing injuries when skiing.

While I will tell you how to determine a DIN, I'm not going to really tell you how to set you DIN. This is because, in all honesty, this is not something you should be messing with on your own. To change your DIN, go to your local ski shop. They are the experts for a reason...

Binding Toe piece

Binding Heel piece

To find the correct DIN for you and your ability a number of factors are considered. First off your hight and weight are considered. This is based on the fact that a larger person will put more pressure on the binding than a lighter person. So a taller or heavier person will have a higher base DIN setting. You age is also in there as a factor. This is because when younger you might need the binding to release easier (sooner in a tumble). Also as you age and your bones and joints can't take the same force, you need your binding to release sooner.

Another factor considered is your boot sole length. This is a measure of how long your boot is from heel to toe on the outside. This number is in mm (millimetres) and is written somewhere on your boot. This measurement comes into play as it a factor in torque. Larger and smaller boots create different levels of torque on the binding as affect how easily it can pop off.

A final competent for determining your DIN is your ability. Skiers how are more cautious and ski at a slower rate have a lower DIN setting. More aggressive skiers, who ski faster will have a higher DIN setting. These levels of ability are ranked into a “type” of skier chart and used to help determine your setting.

Here's a summary of the types:

Type 1 - Cautious skiing at lighter release/retention settings.

Type 2 - Average/moderate skiing at average release/retention settings.

Type 3 - Aggressive, higher speed skiing at higher release/retention settings.

Type 3+ - For skiers who desire visual indicator settings higher than settings for a Type 3 skier.

Type -1 (neg. 1) - For skiers who desire visual indicator settings lower than settings for a Type 1 skier.

And here's a copy of a chart that is used you determine your DIN:

Finally, here is a quick link where you can enter your data and get a sense of you DIN setting.

                           DINsetting.com

So what all this means is that with a lower DIN setting your ski will release more easily. This is a great thing for a person skiing slowly, and who weighs less. When you fall and have a lower DIN setting, your ski will release easily and without a lot of pressure and twist. This is beneficial at preventing injury from a ski being attached to you while you tumble.

A DIN on the higher range means that the ski will stay attached to you. This is great for a more aggressive skier, who is pushing their limits and skiing lots of variable terrain. This also means that you wont pop out of you ski. We've all experienced this, where you're happily skiing and all of a sudden your ski is no longer attached to you. While, a higher DIN setting helps prevent this. But this also means that your ski doesn't come off as easily when you fall, so there is an increased risk of injury from your ski still being attached to you as you tumble down the hill.

And there you go, a brief breakdown of DIN and what it's all about. I know I've not told you how to adjust this, and as I said before, that's for a reason. It's for your safety as you really shouldn't be messing around this with on your own. If you feel that you DIN needs adjusting based on what I've said or the link I've shared with you, please visit your local ski shop. They will be happy to help you and help to ensure that you really are riding at a safe DIN level.  

Seeing the sights in Smith I/O goggles

Ignitor Mirror lens

I had the chance to take a pair of Smith I/O goggles out for a test run a few times recently. These goggles come in a variety of looks. The ones I was testing our were the Charcoal Batik - black and white band with mainly black detailing. These are a frameless goggle that have a quick release lens system to allow for efficient changing of lenses. They even come with two pairs of lenses, so you can buy a lenses for different sun conditions. You can always buy a few more pairs if you want really specific lenses for different light, or if you sadly scratch a lens.

Smith considers the I/O to be a medium fit goggle. I found them a bit big on my face. They sat nicely against my helmet, they are advertised as being helmet compatible. But I found that they sat low on my checks and over my nose. They weren't so low that it made breathing annoying, just low enough to notice the fit. I did adjust to the fit and was less bothered by it as time went by, but they were big. But there is a bonus to the large size, they have an amazing field of view. With the frameless design and the large size, I could see everything. There was no interference from the goggle in my field of view. I really enjoyed this aspect of the I/O.

Red Sensor Mirror lens

One thing I did note about this goggle was how cold my face got at one point. We were riding the chair with a strong wind blowing into our faces. With the frameless design there is a lot more venting and this meant that the wind was blowing right into and through the goggle. Not much fun. While I can say I didn't enjoy the goggle at this moment, it's also not an issue I had when skiing. I never left that they were windy or cold when I was moving. Like I said, the only time I had this issue was when we had a strong head wind. But it is something to note and consider.

During my test days with the I/O I had the opportunity to give two lenses a preview. I was lucky enough to test out the Red Sensor Mirror lens and the Ignitor Mirror lens. Both were great lenses.

The Red Sensor Mirror is a lens for all light conditions that has a strength in falter lights. As the name implies there is a rose tint to the goggle. As with all rose tints, you notice it a lot when you first put them on, but adjust to the colour tint in no time. I was wearing these lenses just the other day when we ran the range of sun. Bright sun, to overcast, to snowing. In all situations I found that I had fairly good definition. And I can tell you that the light was quite flat when the sun left and the snow started. I really enjoyed this lens and the definition it gave me. A good option to have in your pocket.

The other lens I tested was the Ignitor Mirror. This lens is meant to be a bit more of a broad spectrum lens. Smith states that it enhances contrast and depth perception. I tested this lens when there was variable lighting, but nothing too flat. Overall, I really enjoyed this lens and the visibility that it gave me. I felt that I had good definition and was able to easily visualize the terrain I was skiing.

My final take on the Smith I/O is that it's a great goggle option. If you have a larger face or enjoy larger goggles give this one a thought. There are a number of goggles in the I/O line so if you have a smaller face, but like what I've been mentioning, give the Smith I/OS a glance. Or if you want something even bigger than the I/O, take a look at the I/OX. Smith really has you covered with the I/O series. If you want to go for all the bells and whistles, take a look at the I/O Recon – I think I would find this one overwhelming...

The Goods:

-medium size

-great field of view

-helmet compatible

-come with two lenses

-quick release to make lens switches easy

-lifetime warranty

The Not-So-Goods:

-a bit big for my face size

-frameless set-up allowed for lots of air flow and a cold face in certain situations