THE FREERIDE REVOLUTION

A few years ago, ski makers started putting deep side cuts on skis so they'd turn easier. Then the companies began fattening skis up to change how they turn and how they mash through a variety of snow conditions. As materials began to develop, skis could be skied shorter, make tighter carving turns and hold firm snow BETTER.

So the snow never stopped getting deep and in the mid-90's fat skis began coming out as an answer to deep snow. These skis had little side-cut and could do little more than be used for deep, soft snow. That's come full circle and going into 2007 we see more fat skis than ever, getting sidecuts cruising skis of 5 years ago would lust after. This has moved the fat ski into a realm of real-world option for more and more skiers, intermediates and experts ALIKE!

A good example of this type of ski is the Head Mojo 90. We've’e had a chance to ski the Head Mojo 90 quite a bit now and we are in awe at how fun it is. Upon initial inspection were quite skeptical. First of all, it has a squared off tip and tail, with the latter being as upturned as the former... freestyle ski, right? Then, we looked at how the ski was made. It was put together layer by layer like a true race ski. One look at the side cut and we would see it would WORK on groomers, but it's relatively wide underfoot, even by last season's standards. This means it works well as a powder ski as well! Now our whole staff has added a ski of this type to their “quiver”. Most of us find that is the most fun ski we own! This type of ski is creating the biggest buzz in the industry since shaped skis!

These skis typically have waists of 80mm-95mm and twin tips. We stock models from Völkl, Head, Fischer and Stöckli.

Head Mojo 90