STEVE LEE REVIEWS – New Innovations

Equipment Blog | Steve Lee

Some great stuff hitting the market place in this category. I’ve selected a variety of products to test out, and included some which I’ve locked into using on a daily basis now, which certainly have my tick of approval. This blog offers a cross section of kit that is both progressive, innovative and usually a lot of fun to use.

The forward progression of skis really kicked into overdrive a few years back. It seems all the big guys were driven by many smaller companies doing some pretty amazing stuff. The result is loads of innovative and fun gear to make turns on, the main focus seems to be ease of turn with skis remaining short. Rocker is here to stay as is more width under foot, with 80mm+ now pretty much a standard ski and up to 100mm working fine across all conditions. All resulting in a major step forward for the progression of skis and skiing.

The touring scene continues to grow with a lot of skiers no longer just looking at those nice lines outside of the lifted areas, they are hiking up and skiing them. To do so there is certainly some great stuff out to make the hike up real easy, while not compromising on your performance on the way back down.

Boots, how much do we all talk about boots, agonize over the fit, the feel the performance. While not a lot changes dramatically with boots, the majority and in my view the best are still a simple four buckle two piece cuff shell design, which has been around for decades now. However, there are subtle changes always going on. I like a high performance low volume boot still (basically a race fit), but I also have to be in it all day every day, so I really need that boot to fit well and ultimately be comfortable. Not an easy balance to strike. It can often be a work in progress to achieve this, and I use a few good additions to compliment the out of the box product that makes my boot just right.

Staying warm and comfortable is always a challenge in the mountains, you get hot on the way down as your body works hard, then sit on a lift and cool right off on the way back up. I tested a great product to help the comfort levels in a super easy and toasty way.

Lastly, most of us have a very powerful instrument in our pockets these days. The Smart phone. We can do all sorts of things now, like checking the weather and info on the Mountainwatch app, which is very cool, doing our banking, emailing, skype and amazingly even make the odd phone call. We have the world instantly at out fingertips, even on a chairlift. Last year in Japan I was put on to a very cool app that gives you an amazing amount of info on your daily gravity plunge.

Name of ski: Salomon BBR 7.9
Category: All mountain
Tested by: Steve & Kerry Lee
Overall impression: This is a really different looking ski, and one I was keen to check out. Very much a surfboard look about it which appealed to me, nothing else in the market place is similar, Salomon has really put themselves out there with this one. First impression was its quite a weighty ski, which I don’t mind. The very fat tip has some volume to it and you do feel that. Our test morning was soft spring snow, with the odd firmer patch in the shade to get a feel for edge to edge and higher turn performance. For me it was a ski that got better the harder I pushed it. Doing flat edged sliding turns, which most intermediate skiers do I felt it was harder to control with the fat flat tip often causing the ski wig out through the turn. However when you cranked it over it really took of, I found it pretty quick edge to edge as its relatively skinny underfoot at 78mm. Fun in the slushy spring snow and I’d expect the same in pow, no way you are going to bury a tip with this thing. I’d place it as a good ski for intermediate to strong skiers looking for something that’s versatile and will allow you to ski up to, you will not pass this skis capabilities by as you progress in your ability. Not bad at all.
My Sis Kerry did not get her head around it so quickly, mind you watching her ski she looked pretty comfortable on it. I think the shape and feel was initially doing her head in a bit. See the vid for her take and my rap up on this very innovative product.
Strengths: Ease of turn, float of tip
Weaknesses: Not super stable in a flat edged turn.
Most suitable for (style of skier & conditions/terrain): Mid intermediate to advanced. Best suited for fresh pow or soft spring snow. Works pretty well on piste also but you have to drive it, so pretty adaptable
RRP: $ 875, ski only.
Available at: Salomon Snow rider Falls Creek and plenty of good retailers.

Name of ski: Rossignol S3
Category: All mountain. Auto turn is on many new Rossi skis
Tested by: Steve and Kerry Lee
Overall impression: I finally got to jump on the new S3 last week, which is my new back country and work ski. I have the Marker Tour binding on it so I can also hike with it. I tested again along with my sis Kerry, my daughter Layla also tested this ski earlier in the all mountain segment. I have to say I was dubious about this ski and its shape. I am not a great fan of the massive tip and tail and banana shape. However the more I ski on it the more I am liking it. I also have this ski available for my tours, so a lot of my guests are skiing on it and giving great feed back. The Rossi “Auto turn” aspect is the main talking point here. Its basically the way Rossi have developed the Rocker, which comes in 3 different styles. The S3 is a 70-30 style which also comes in the new Experience range. Along with Auto turn Rossi has three other “turn” categories. Power turn with no rocker and 100% camber, which covers off the more traditional style skis and race skis. The Auto turn at 70% camber 30% rocker, which the S3 has. Powder turn with 50-50% camber rocker and Spin turn which is all rocker or full reverse camber.

From my own perspective, the ski does auto turn, you really only have to think about making a turn and away it goes, almost to much for me as I initially found myself overturning somewhat so had to dial back the power a bit. Its super easy in the fresh pow and soft spring slush but also work well on the hard back with the 70% camber. A good all rounder for the modern skier, and again one that will move with you as you improve.
Strengths: Ease of turn, yes the sales pitch is true. Loads up well, holds on the groomers and rips in the soft and pow.
Weaknesses: Some times you catch the big tails on each other, no good for teaching as you leave a wicked rooster tail, and they will not stand up in the snow, no matter how hard to try to stick them in.
Most suitable for (style of skier & conditions/terrain): From mid intermediate to advanced skiers. Good all round top end ski.
RRP: S3 $799 ski only, with basic binding package $1099
Available at: Widely across the retail sector.

Name of product: Marker Tour binding
Category: Back country, side country, touring
Tested by: Steve Lee
Overall impression: This is a fantastic and simple to use product. I had the previous model also, the Duke binding which was bulkier and heavier. The Tour is simple easy and light. You can ski with it all day in the resort and never know you have a touring binding on your foot. When its time to put on the skins and hike, a simple lift of the loop lever and in seconds you are in walk mode. It has three tilt levels that you lock in depending on the pitch of the climb. Bottom line is, this is a piece of kit that just works. I combine it with a standard alpine ski, the Rossi S3 currently. Standard alpine ski boots, I’m in the Rossi Squad Pro, so not a touring boot by any means and use the Gecko skins which are the easiest of skins as they have no glue to deal with. With this set up you are good to hike small to medium climbs with ease. Like you would do in Australia or Japan and most side/slack country areas of the US and Canada. If you are going to take your touring to a more serious level, and regularly climb say 1000m + runs then you’ll want to check out the more specific equipment that’s a lot lighter but you’ll looses out on the downhill performance aspect.
Strengths: Skis like a regular binding, then in seconds you are set up and ready to tour.
Weaknesses: Have heard they are not as strong as the old dukes, and can break across the plate, which ends your touring day, but you can still lock back in and ski home.
Most suitable for (style of skier & conditions/terrain): Up to medium level touring and hard core skiing back down.
RRP: $399 for the F10
Available at: Central sports Falls Creek and selected retailers or on request.
Name of Product: Svenfit World cup liner
Category: top end ski boot fit and performance.
Tested by: Steve Lee
Overall impression: Svenfit liners come from the mind of Sven Coomer, who by the way is Australian, and has been at the pointy end of ski boot design for decades. He was at the forefront of ski footbeds, designing the original cork superfeet footbed, and has had a hand in many of the best boot design concepts we are skiing in today. His range of liners has been around for years also. I skied and raced in a single set of his then Zipfit silicon injected race liners for 10 years, yes the same ones, which is amazing as they never broke down or fell apart. Now I am in his latest race liner, no longer injected, rather a cork silicon compound liner that moulds and will continue moulding with your foot or change of boot shell. I’m into winter 3 already with this one, 2 Aussies and one in Japan, and it is still perfect. That is about 300+days of hard skiing and no sign of it braking down either. I am also still using the original foot bed Sven made for me when I was 19. That piece of kit has seen some action let me tell you.
The bottom line with Svenfit liners are the work, they last, and they are awesome.
Strengths: Ease of use, warm up and wear. Tough, you will get endless seasons out of this product.
Weaknesses: Can’t fault it.
Most suitable for (style of skier & conditions/terrain): Anyone that wants performance and fit from there ski boot.
RRP: World Cup $349
Available at: Central Sports Falls Creek and selected retailers
Name of Product: Ripcurl S bomb Vest
Category: clothing
T*ested by:* Steve Lee
Overall impression: If you are a surfer, then you know of Ripcurl wetsuits, and possibly the H Bomb heated wetties. Well Ripcurl has transferred that same technology and concept into a ski product, the S Bomb heated Vest. An easy to use piece of clothing that works a treat. Ripcurl were kind enough to send me some vests to demo for my Back Country tours for guests. I started wearing mine the day I got it and absolutely love it as has everyone whom tested it. We all know that feeling of getting a chill after a run as we cool down on the lift up, or as the temps head south during the day. With this vest anytime the body starts to feel the cold you can combat that with a push of a button, not having to worry so much about layers and layers of clothing going on and coming off. The heat pack is focused around the kidney and liver area where high blood circulation occurs, basically keep that area toasty and your whole body stays warm. Simple, effective all in a really slim and stylish vest.
Strengths: Really does warm you up.
Weaknesses: With any battery operated gizmo, its only as good as the battery lasts, but you do get about 3hrs of continual use, which means you should get through the day if you economise when you use it.
Most suitable for (style of skier & conditions/terrain): Awesome for all skiers and boarders. Also crew who work out in the snow like Patrollers, Ski School, Lifties etc. Also at the footy for soccer moms. Any situation when you need a little boost of warmth.RRP:
Available at: Ripcurl stockists
Name of product: Ski Tracks
Category: technology
Tested by: Steve Lee
Overall impression: This is a very cool App at only 99c. Can’t believe its so cheep. However if you are a total tight ass there is a lite version for free also. No idea what less options the lite version offers as I lashed out and spent the buck for the premium offering.
What does it do, well it will totally track your skiing day, anywhere in the world. It give you your max speed, distance skied both up and down and a total. Vertical skied and lifted. Max, Min and delta altitudes. Nr of runs, degree of slopes skied and duration. Hit the globe button and you see your whole day on Google maps. You can take snaps on your phone that lock onto your GPS position. Go back and look at each runs stats and then post on Facebook or email to yourself then open and see your day on your computer overlaid on goggle maps or earth. It runs seamlessly in the background on your phone, will operate on a single charge for a good 6-7hrs and switch off when battery level gets low.
I think this is just an awesome piece of technology.
Strengths: Covers everything you need to know about your day on the hill.
Weaknesses: At a under a buck, I don’t think it matters.
Most suitable for (style of skier & conditions/terrain): All mountain folk, fun also for your après pub crawl.
RRP: .99c
Available at: App store.