NEW SKIS FOR THE 2020-2021 SEASON
Every year in January, new skis (and other winter sports gear and clothing) are presented. In videos, catalogues and online, products are described and sometimes reviewed. From these new product presentation, here are the highlights. This is by no means a complete list, by the way. And it’s all based on what the brands have presented. I have not skied these models yet, as one of my main test events was canceled due to the Corona virus.
Armada is mostly a freestyle and freeride brand. But they are coming with a narrower allmountain ski range: Declivity. There will be a 82, 92 and 102 version. All have some rocker, metal as well and a full sidewall. These are probably the most stable skis that Armada has ever made.
Black Crows the Deamon (full rocker) and Navis are out in the ~100 mm category. They are replaced by the new Justis. A directional allmountain ski in that same width, roughly. It should bridge the allmountain line wih the Orb and the freeride line with the Atris as its flagship. If it would just be a ~100 version of the Atris, this would be an awesome allmountain ski.
Blizzard are updating their very popular Brahma and Bonafide skis. Different length offerings and a bit smaller sidecut radiuses. But I don’t expect them to ski that much different from last year’s models.
Dynastar the Legend X lines are out. The new M-Pro is in. There’s a 90, a 99 and a 105 in the allmountain range (flatter tail) as well as a 108 and 115 M-Free. Those have a bit more tail rocker. The 90 has been marketed as a resort touring ski, as they are not the heaviest.
Fischer after many year, Fischer has a redesigned consumer GS and SL ski. The RC4 Worldcup RC and SC have not changed in name, but definitely in shape (square tips) and will probably be more prone to just carving. There is also a CT model, which lies in between the two in terms of radius.
Head has updated their very popular Supershape line. They are called roughly the same: not i.Magnum, but e-Magnum. A new version of their KERS system (using the vibration energy as rebound later in the turn, that’s the story). There is even a new member: the e-Origin with an even smaller radius that you regular slalom ski. They all have tiny radiuses, as did the current ones. There also is a narrow Kore: the 87. Same construction and probably same overall feel as the other Kores.
K2 are getting rid of both the Konic and Charger lines. In their place comes the Disruption line. Front side skis with short radius (STi), longer radius (MTi) and a all condition 82 TI version.
Line a wide ski with lots of float, but still with a slalom radius? It will be there next season. The Line Blade. A wide tip (154 mm!), and a sidecut radius that Line itself just describe as ‘Tight’.
Nordica are replacing the GT fronside line by an extension in their Spitfire series. More version of the Spitfire 76 and new skis of 70 and 73 mm wide. This will be the only frontside line Nordica offers, next to their Dobermann racing line.
Rossignol is replacing the very successful Soul 7 (the entire 7 series, actually). The Black Ops series that already existed (freestyle twin tip skis up until now) will be extended. There will be a Sender TI (106 mm) as a flagship model. There will also be a non-metal version of that ski and a 94 mm Escaper 94. Also, the Master race skis are updated with smaller, more manageable radiuses.
Salomon leave the XDR series behind. In its place, they launch the Stance 90, 96 and 102. Allmountain skis with a flat tail (a bit of early rise in the 102), that will probably do very well on hard snow as well.
Völkl is abandoning their One, Two and Three freeride skis. They will be replaced by the lightweight Blaze 94 and 106, both of which will also be available in a women’s version.
www.snowplanners.com
