Freeride - skiing in the absence of paved and rolled tracks - is an activity for skiers who have mastered skiing well. Riding on untouched snow outside the ski infrastructure gives a fantastic feeling of freedom. But such skiing is dangerous, it requires a certain physical preparation, the ability to navigate the slope, the ability to quickly respond and make the right decisions.
Since far from newcomers to freeride are fond of skiing, as a rule, every freerider knows which ski suits him the most. Here much is decided by personal preferences and subjective feelings when riding. For example, someone likes skis that are shorter and more maneuverable, while others prefer longer and stiffer ones. However, some basic questions need to be answered to give beginners a general idea about freeriding skis and their choice.
If you want to ride not just well, but perfectly off the prepared tracks, then you cannot do without special freeriding equipment.
It's no secret that you can also ski on unprepared snow in universal skiing. Most skiers do just that: the first few times they go down the unpacked slope on their regular skis, and only after some time they try to buy special ones for freeride. Station wagons with a waist of 80-90 cm behave well on trails of different quality, including virgin soil up to 20 cm deep.
What are freeride skis?
Traditional freeride skis are powder skis. They are the widest of all ski boots: they are about 150 mm wide at the toe and heel and about 120 mm wide at the waist. There are also super-wide models with a waist up to 140 mm.
Powders are ideal for skiing on soft snow with a depth of 20 cm. Untouched "wild" slopes of mountains or hills, wooded and ravine places with a layer of snow 1 m thick - the conditions for which powders are created. At the same time, on rolled slopes they are slow and clumsy. And super-wide options for this purpose are not suitable at all.
Freerider wagons are narrower than powder, but wider than usual all mountain: they are within 130-140 mm at the toe and heel and about 100-105 mm at the waist. They are good on soft snow up to 30 cm deep and on prepared slopes with broken snow.
How to buy freeride skis
Lenght and width
As a general rule: the larger (longer and wider) the skis, the less maneuverable they are and require greater forces to control. For this reason, too long and/or wide skis have no obvious advantages for novice freeriders.
Optimal parameters of freerider skis for beginners:
- length - corresponds to the height of the skier +/-5 cm;
- waist width - 100-105 mm.
For most experienced riders, the following settings will be sufficient:
- length - height + 5-10 cm;
- waist width - up to 120 mm.
The wider options are highly specialized: they are ideal for half a meter of winter snow and more.
Notch Radius
General rule: the smaller the radius, the smaller the arc of rotation. That's why:
- if you are going to ride in the forest and along ravines, then it is better to take more nimble skis with a radius of up to 15 m;
- if you are targeting slopes, then a radius of 20 m (or so) will be optimal.
As a rule, narrower skis have a larger radius. They don't need any extra fuss, and the larger radius on the slope allows for better handling. And vice versa. For example, one of the unique powder versions has a geometry of 165-108-140 and a cutout radius of only 11 m. According to skiers, skis with the following parameters are ideal for professional freeride:
- never drown in the snow;
- on the firn they demonstrate the same move as on the prepared track;
- do not break the snow crust.
At the same time, such skis can be a good option for beginner freeriders who have a serious intention to ride off-piste.
Rigidity and weight deflection
For classic freeride, it is better to choose soft and wide skis than hard and narrow ones. Rigidity is traditionally associated with speed and aggressive riding style. In freeride, the opposite is true: deep snow and low speeds. Plus, softer skis are easier to handle. But there may be exceptions. For example, if you intend to ride mainly in the spring, when there is little snow and it is quite dense, then stiffness will be preferable to softness.
The weight deflection is determined visually. In freerider versions, it is very small. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the level of stiffness of such skis using the usual method.
Naturally, the stiffness parameter is directly related to the dimensions of the skier and the length of the skis. Let's say if your height is 170 cm, and you take 180 cm skis, then the stiffness should be average with a weight of 60 kg. If the skis are shorter, then they should be stiffer.
In general, the stiffness category is very ephemeral, and until you stand on the snow, you will not be able to make an adequate assessment. Therefore, before you buy, be more interested in the reviews of other freeriders, get acquainted with the reviews of models released in previous seasons and already run in by other skiers.
Manufacturers and prices
Dozens of companies are engaged in the production of alpine skis. Each manufacturer has 10-20 or more exclusively freerider or universal models. The following brands of freeride skis are popular in Russia: Volkl, Movement, Salomon, DPS, Fisher, Rossignol, Majesty, Stockli, Whitedot, Atomic, Goodboards.
Traditionally, Fischer and Rossignol are leaders in the premium segment. In general, the price difference between brands is not significant. Each manufacturer can find cheap or expensive models in the same price category. The price range is from $200 to $1300. The most popular models are in the $400-$700 price segment.
The cost of the model is more influenced not by the brand, but by the release season: the most expensive are skis released this year and focused on the upcoming season. Over time, these models lose value and are replaced in the top with the latest versions.
Freeride is one of the most interesting and dangerous types of skiing. It involves descents on loose and deep snow outside of prepared mountain ski slopes. The athlete is required to have a good physical training, experience and decent equipment.
In the last article, we already described the features, and now we will focus on skis of a more extreme direction (freeride).
This is what it looks like live:
The main question is: what do you want from skating?
The main difference between freerider skis and all others is the width and total surface area.
In comparison with other models, they are extremely wide and are distinguished by huge noses that have a kind of bend (rocker). Thanks to this design, skiers do not sink in deep snow and at high speeds feel like surfers on a sea wave.
In addition to structural differences, freeride skis have age and gender differences. All of them differ from each other in softness, sensitivity to snow cover, as well as in geometry.
Let's get straight to the selection. First of all, you must understand where and how you will ride. To do this, answer the following questions:
Do I want to ride fast or slow but with maximum maneuverability?
Do I want to ride steep slopes, or medium "steepness"?
Always on deep or light snow, or on broken snow?
The weight of the athlete is the most important characteristic of freeride skis.
For virgin land, the weight of the skier is important. How more weight and the softer the surface (snow), the greater the total surface area of the skis should be.
The exact figures are already determined with experience and individually, but some patterns can be deduced.
Beginners should remember a simple formula: take your height and add 10 centimeters. With this approach, the skis will be as predictable as possible at speed, maneuverable and controllable. Professionals “play” with the length and often add only 5 centimeters to their height - this way it becomes possible to control all movements and do tricks.
Width and surface area
The faster you want to go down the mountain, the smaller the ski surface area. In freeride, the following proportion works:
- For slow riding you need wider skis.
- For fast driving, respectively narrower.
The spread in numbers in width is quite large, the width varies from 80 to 140 millimeters.
If you are going to virgin lands with half a meter of snow, then take the widest models, but if you are riding on compacted slopes and want adrenaline from speed, then limit yourself to the universal width (on average - 100 mm).
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We would like to remind you that in winter, almost all air carriers allow. But it is better to check the allowable norms for weight and size in advance.
Directional and omnidirectional skis
There is another important characteristic responsible for the direction of the structure.
The "directional" design is directed clearly forward. Work mostly on longitudinal sliding. What is on the slope is called carving or carving.
Give good stability at speed. They demand speed because they float themselves. Directional freeride skis are narrower, so they work along direct movement and all its length. They are prone to long turns and need a lot of space.
Omnidirectional skis
The skis are wide enough. The ratio of length and width is different from the directional ones.
After we have decided on the type of construction, we begin to choose skis by surface area, length and width. Using the rule that we wrote about above:
Longer and narrower - faster ride. Shorter and wider - slower and more maneuverable.
Side cutout
This indicator controls the turning radius. If you are just learning to ride and choose a leisurely descent, then the radius should be no more than 14 centimeters, but if you already have some experience behind you, then feel free to increase it to 20 centimeters.
Making adjustments for snow conditions
The harder the snow, the better it is to take longer and narrower freeride skis so that they show stability and do not “goat” on bumps.
The better the snow is, the softer it is, then you can take shorter and wider ones in order to better plan on it.
That, in principle, is all the main characteristics that should be considered when choosing skis for freeride. Then we dive “inside” the concept and begin to select the manufacturer, certain models, color, and so on.
The design of skis does not go to the background. Remember that the equipment should suit you in all respects. It is not at all necessary to sacrifice the aesthetic component - there are hundreds of models on the sports market, the main thing is to find “your own”, which will fit the boots.
How much do they cost and which manufacturers' models to buy?
Today, freeride skis are manufactured by dozens of global companies. Each manufacturer tries to surprise a potential buyer and provides a wide range (an average of twenty models of the same type).
Russians most often prefer European brands known since ancient times: Salomon, Atomic, Volkl.
There are two clear leaders in the premium segment: Fischer and Rossignol. Not everyone can afford them, because the prices for their pairs can reach up to 1500-2000 dollars. For those who are not ready to invest so much in a hobby, there are budget options- for 200-400 dollars.
Skiing Atomic Backland with Powder camber and rocker. The radius of the side cutout is 117 cm. The cost is 42 thousand rubles.
As a rule, the cost depends not only on the brand, but also on the year of manufacture. The latest models are expensive, but over time they all lose their place in the top, and with it their value.
As you may have noticed before, almost all the nuances of choice are based on a correct assessment of one's own abilities and capabilities. Riding will be safe and enjoyable if you take into account your level of training and listen to the advice of people who have been freeriding for a long time.
- Keep up with the times and monitor the market as often as possible. Technology does not stand still, so every year new forms and materials appear, skis are modified;
- The feeling of flight will give a reverse deflection - a rocker. Rocker skis do not sink in the snow, are easy to control and give the owners an incomparable feeling of surfing on virgin snow.
- It will be possible to ski in the spring if you prefer skis with a pronounced sidecut radius. They will not get stuck in wet snow and will go over almost any surface.
We all often try to avoid intrusive consultants in stores, but when choosing sports equipment, they should be given preference over advice from the Internet.
Remember that skiing on a mountain slope is your main tool, on which the comfort and safety of the descent will depend. Without a quality pair, you will not master freeride and begin to enjoy riding!
We continue to talk about equipment and the second interviewee is Albert Baidaev (professional freerider, multiple winner of freeride competitions, guide, lifeguard).
BM: How do you choose skis for freeride? And first answer, as if it were your only couple, and then, as you would like it to be ideally.
AB: In general, I have only 2 pairs of skis. One is the main one, which I ride most of the time, and the other is for ski touring, I use it less actively. Therefore, willy-nilly, I choose a universal ski, so that it is comfortable to ride on it both on virgin soil and on hard. Therefore it should not be soft ski, which will be sausage on all irregularities, but not too hard, because in order to push through a hard ski you need big weight or high speed, which you can’t develop in places where you need to drive in small turns. For example, in narrow corridors (unless, of course, you do not pass them in a straight line). Or in the forest...
I do not really like long skis, with a height of 172 and a weight of 70 kg, I prefer to take a ski from 181 to 185 cm. On such a ski, you can accelerate well and maneuver comfortably.
As for the width, I’ll say that 100 mm is enough to ride both on powder and on tin that is too wide universal ski should not be, because on a hard slope it will be necessary to apply more effort to turn. Also, I think you need to keep up with the times and get a ski with a rocker, as it provides good pop-up skis from deep snow. True, on a hard one, due to the shorter contact length, skis with a rocker hold an arc worse, but you quickly adapt to this (if the ski is good, of course;)).
A few words about fastening. Now many who like to ski not only with the help of a lift, but also walk to wilder places, for greater versatility, they put a ski-touring binding, such as Salomon Guardian, on their only pair of skis.
Still, I preferred to assemble a separate lightweight kit for ski touring, because such ski touring fasteners make the ski much heavier and I don’t like the platform because you stand higher from the ski and therefore you feel it worse.
On my everyday skis, I screw fasteners Vist v614 with adjustment range 6-14 (58-130kg).
And now I’m dreaming that I have as many pairs as my heart desires, and since I ski for the Icelantic ski brand, I’ll tell you about the skis I ski on and about those models in the line that I don’t have enough.)))
For daily riding:
For powder:
I'd go for the Icelantic Gypsy 180cm with reverse camber. If one word describes the feeling of skiing on these skis, it will be the word "power". On the pauper you feel like a surfer. You can not be afraid to pass one leg and "drown" because of this, you just stand by yourself and go as you like. She's super bouncy, like a spring. When you jump from the relief directed upwards, it feels like someone gave you a kick to soar))). To some, the size of 180 may seem short, but no, the Gypsy has such a geometry of 152x125x148 that you can’t drown in the snow and the ski is well controlled.
Note: Since 2016, the Gypsy model has become Nomad RKR 125.
For ski touring:
I am a guide and therefore I walk up a lot, so that later it’s cool to go down the wild slopes). If the terrain allows, then you go skiing, but if it’s too steep or hard, then you carry the skis on your back - for a skitourist, the weight of the equipment is very important.
That's why I use the Icelantic VANGUARD 107, 178 cm. A pair of skis weighs only 3,200! Moreover, this is a normal strong ski with a real wooden core. No foam, which is so fond of sticking into skis at big factories. Manufacturers are so confident in the quality of their products that they give a three-year warranty on it.
The ski is quite rigid, the geometry is more classical than that of the Nomads. Those are the normal classic camber and flat tail. Rocker front. 
Due to the fact that lightweight ski touring boots are still softer than usual ones, the skier often sits down on the fifth point, but since Icelantic Vanguard skis have a flat tail, this effect is somewhat compensated. In addition, the ski does not pop out from under you.
Camber (camber) - classic, stiffness - above average, which allows the ski to cling tightly to the slope and keep the arc even on the ice fields of Elbrus (in spring this often happens, especially when descending from the top).
But in front, nevertheless, there is a rocker, which allows the ski to float in the snow.
The weight of the ski is, of course, very important for me, but downhill is still a priority, and therefore, of the two Icelantic ski touring models, I took the wider one, with a waist of 107 and never regretted it!
For spring:
For spring skiing I would go for the 179cm Icelantic Pilgrim with a 90mm waist. This is a light ski with pronounced carving properties. In spring, the snow is heavy, wet and dense. It sticks to a wide ski and it becomes hard to ride, you get tired, so you need a lighter model. Yes, and on the track you sometimes want to vilify and feel the control that a carving ski gives. In addition, Piligrim is a twin type, so you can spin on it.
Now let's recap...
VM: Favorite length?
AB: My favorite length is 181 cm with a width of 105 mm, but as a piece of advice to everyone, when choosing a ski for freeride, one should take into account height and weight, on average a universal ski is height + 7 +10, if the weight is large, then you can take a longer and stiffer ski.
VM: Favorite width?
AB: 100-110mm.
VM: Rigidity?
AB: Above average
VM: Geometry?
AB: If everyday - then with a double-sided rocker, for ski touring - with a front rocker and a flat tail.
VM: Is design important to you?
AB: Yes, preferably not stressful. I don’t like skulls, if I suddenly get such a ski, I always try to glue them. I don't like any evil mystical creatures. But I like it when nature is depicted. Mountains, animals. Just like Icelantic.
Freeride (from the English freeride - “free riding, riding”) is one of the styles of the most magnificent winter hobby, namely. It is believed that it is skiing in the style of "freeride" in off-piste mountainous terrain and untouched snow that reveals the fullness of opportunities. skiing. Of course, freeride is not a place for skiing beginners, as it is often accompanied by various dangers (from avalanches to an elementary loss of the route in space). In preparation for mastering the freeriding style of riding, it is necessary to responsibly approach the choice of terrain, route planning, exploration of climate and weather conditions. The only thing left is to choose the right skis for freeride.
Before skiing, it is necessary not only to plan the route, but also to choose the right skis
In this article, you will learn what criteria should be used to choose freeride skis among a rich modern assortment.
Freeride types
Before you start, you need to figure out what exactly you have to deal with, or rather, what kind of freeride you are going to do.
- Freeride light, or lightweight - a type of skiing on loose snow (powder), outside of ready-made ski slopes. People are taken to the top of the mountain with the help of lifts, then there is a free exit from the mountain along the selected untouched terrain. It is worth noting that this view is a relatively budget entertainment.
- Cat skiing - is that skiers are thrown onto snowy mountain peaks with the help of special transport, famous for its absolute cross-country ability, called "snowcat" (which immediately affects the cost of this type of skiing). After that, freeriders carry out off-piste free descent from the mountain.
- Backcountry, or skitour, is another form of freeride available on your budget. In this case, the ascent to the top of the mountain is carried out by a comfortable ascent by freeriders on skis to the chosen end point of the route. This is followed by free descent.
- Snowmotoboarding is perhaps one of the most fun types of freeride. Here skiing becomes only an auxiliary element of skiing. The main part of the process is taken over by a mountain bike, an ATV or a snowmobile, to which they hook it with the help of special freerider equipment. This is how snow skiing is carried out, reminiscent of water skiing.
The above types of freeride skiing are just the main and most common variations of skiing, which even a beginner or amateur can initially get acquainted with, having decided to master this style.
The choice of ski equipment
So, if you have already decided on the route and type of freeride, then it's time to choose skis for freeride. It should be noted that your level of training and skiing skills are important here.
Alpine skiing is divided among themselves into several categories and types according to different criteria.
Ski categories
First of all, the selection of a category depends on the professionalism and personal physical data of the skier.
Here we can distinguish the following categories of skis:
- for beginners;
- for advanced amateur skiers;
- for professional sports skiing.
Without a doubt, the consultant of any sports store will help you make this primary choice. Next, you should take into account the age and constitution of the skier. The gender of the athlete is also important.
Age and gender difference in alpine skiing
There is an age limit for ski equipment. Based on this, shells are divided into the following types:
- adults;
- junior (teenage);
- children's.
In turn, adult and children's shells from the category for beginners can also be divided by gender:
- men's;
- female.
All of them differ in softness or rigidity, sensitivity to the surface of the snow cover and the geometry of the ski structure, which will be able to ensure the safety of the descent in difficult conditions (ice cover, avalanche). We will talk about this in more detail later.
Skiing for freeride style
The main feature of freeride devices lies in their design: they have a fairly wide middle part of the shells (up to 11 cm) and a short length relative to their owner.
Professional riders are advised to focus on their height: vertical ski boards should be slightly (2–3 cm) higher than a person.
Freeride skis must be, of course, comfortable for any maneuvering, taking into account the possibility of skiing both on loose snow (powder) and on hard ice surfaces.
It should be understood that professional sports ski equipment is distinguished by the rigidity of the board when pressed, which means that only a person from a certain weight category can own such skis. An athlete will undoubtedly select this category of equipment based on the recommendations of his coach and the type of descent (ski-cross, slalom, freestyle, etc.).
But there is also a universal product.
Universal mountain equipment is more malleable in mastering by both amateur skiers and beginners. They will allow you to ride both on a prepared track and on a steep, unbroken mountain slope.
The size and length of skis for amateur freeride
Usually the equipment for any freeride downhill is distinguished by its length and width, which consists of different parameters of the front, middle and back parts of the projectile. Also, when choosing ski equipment, the radius of the side cutout of the projectile is taken into account. For example, wide alpine skis are suitable for a soft powder slope. For hard mountain slopes, you should choose narrower devices (with an average width of the "waist"), which will allow the skier to easily ride even on a bumpy track.
The usual average width of universal alpine skis for amateur riders varies from 6 cm to 8 cm. Such shells should not be long. Often they are shorter than their owner by 5-10 cm. This length provides a safe descent for beginners, as it is relatively easy to control and maneuver.
Alpine ski design
According to their design, ski equipment is divided into three main categories:
- sandwich;
- box
Sandwich - ski design, which consists in the multi-layer filling of the device with various materials. Each layer of such filling is responsible for its function. As a rule, the upper and lower layers are responsible for ensuring the rigidity of the projectile.
Cap - a design option, which also represents the presence of several layers of different composition, but, unlike the first option, the "foundation" of the cap is the upper rigid layer, to which all subsequent forming layers of the ski equipment are attached.
Box - a design with the presence of a "core", which is enveloped necessary material over its entire surface, which, in turn, ensures the torsional rigidity of the ski board for good grip on any track and smooth control.
To complete the picture, it would be useful to listen to freeride style professionals. Most often these are guides and rescuers who are trained and have the most sophisticated and dexterous professional skiing skills.
- The 10cm freeride ski width is more than enough for any skiing level. Suitable for skiing on both hard surfaces and soft loose snow.
- You should always keep up with the times and listen to new sports trends. In this case, we are talking about the acquisition of ski equipment with Rocker technology. These skis are much faster and lighter at lower speeds, allowing you to master powder skiing without compromising hard-surface skiing. Thus, when skiing with a rocker, you can safely alternate the terrain for skiing, which is perfect for both beginners and more advanced freeride lovers. For daily free skiing, skis with a double-sided rocker are suitable.
- It is worth noting that hard skis with a straight tail are suitable for ski touring. Ski touring fasteners often make the skis heavier and reduce the sensitivity of their control, this should be remembered by skiers with low weight class, and must also be considered when choosing equipment for women and children.
- When riding on powder, it is advisable to purchase shells with a reverse deflection. This will create the feeling of flying and "snow surfing". Skis with such a deflection do not sink in the snow and are easily controlled.
- Spring skiing will provide you with light modeling skis with pronounced carving like a twin-tip. Such skis will not get stuck in dense wet snow and will provide good cross-country ability, taking into account spring weather conditions.
That's all the initial knowledge about the features of freeride skis, which should be considered when buying ski equipment. It remains only to choose the design and color scheme of your equipment, and forward to mastering the freeride style.
Sheregesh is a traditional place for the opening of the ski season for most riders from Russia and neighboring countries. The resort is famous for its loose snow and off-piste skiing. But ideas about the ideal skis for freeride in Sheregesh are ambiguous and directly depend on the preferences of the rider. Someone strives to roll out exclusively untouched fields of fresh snow, and someone - to master the entire space of the resort, regardless of the condition of the slopes on the slopes and beyond. We interviewed several experienced skiers to tell you what kind of skis they ski in Sheregesh themselves and give advice on choosing the perfect freeride model for this resort. In some ways, their opinions coincided, but in some ways they predictably diverged.
Rostislav Akava
About the rider: Instructor at SnowPro school, ski instructor category B at NLI ( National League Instructors), athlete - finalist of Russian freeride competitions in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Rostislav Akava
Now in my arsenal there are two pairs of skis - Black Crows Corvus 2011 and Rossignol Super 7 2015 year. The first is a rigid freeride equipment for steep slopes in large mountains. The skis are demanding, and it took a whole season to get used to and make friends with them. But after that, they proved to be an excellent all-rounder and deservedly became my favorite “workhorse” - I ride Corvus almost everywhere. In addition, they help in my instructor practice. Since these skis are technically demanding, everything needs to be done on them as correctly as possible, and this is very visual and useful for riders learning off-piste skiing.
Rossignol Super 7- quite soft, but at the same time stable skis that ride great not only in virgin lands. I also liked them because of their relatively light weight, since every year I ski touring in Luzhba and Kazyra.
Speaking about the ideal skis for off-piste skiing in Sheregesh, you should understand that the snow here can be very different. The “same” puff that everyone usually talks about falls during the “Big Snow” period at the turn of November-December. At this moment it is really soft, very crumbly, snowfalls are frequent and the snow cover is constantly renewed. For fun skiing on such powder, wide skis with a waist from 115-120 mm and a deep rocker at the toe will really be relevant. Classics here are wide Fischer Watea/Big Stix, Atomic Bent Chetler, Line Eric Pollard, old Armada JJ.
Glory to Akava. Riding in the area of "Camels" Sheregesh © Yulia Grebenyova
But the period of "Big Snow" does not last long. In the "high" season, there may be no snowfall for several weeks, and fresh powder rolls out in the first half of the day. So you need to be ready, including for skiing on broken slopes. In my opinion, maneuverable freeride station wagons with a waist up to 115 mm are suitable for this. You definitely need a Camber deflection under your feet - for proper control over the skis in areas with rolled, blown or icy snow - there are enough of them in Sheregesh, especially when there is no snowfall for a long time. Such skis include Rossignol Super 7 and Soul 7, modern Fischer Ranger. It would be interesting to try the Movement Fly Swatter on the Sheregesh slopes, and Volkl Two exclusively for jumping in powder and fun.
Andrey Makov
About the rider: A veteran of Sheregesh, who rolled its slopes long before the resort gained its current popularity. Experienced ski instructor (“C” VAGI) with many years of experience. Preferences: off-piste skiing, hillocks. Not indifferent to skitour. Winters in Krasnaya Polyana.
Riding experience: For the first time I started skiing in the spring of 1996 in Sheregesh!
I learned to ski on the “classic” shortly before the “carving revolution” that opened the era of bold experiments with ski geometry. Together with the ski industry, so to speak, both the skier and I have evolved. He rode a wide variety of skis: wide, long, "rocker-shmoker", etc. After experimenting with extremes, such as Hell Bent from K2 or Armada ARG, he came to moderation and sound conservatism. The warmest memories are from Scott Pure and Scott Mission. The latter, without exaggeration, can be called legendary skis for Sheregesh in the early 2000s.
By the way, about Sheregesh in the 1990s and early 2000s. At the time, it was a regional weekend resort. The snow that fell during the week lay quietly until the weekend and “waited” for its snowriders. We rode either in waist-deep virgin soil, or on mounds of the same height. Teardrop... :)
Now my main skis are Black Crows Corvus- they are quite strict and demanding on the rider's technique and are more suitable for big-mountain freeride than for the simple relief of Sheregesh with its soft snow. But I got used to them and I can ride them in any conditions, on completely different snow conditions on the track and beyond.
If I recommend some ideal skis for Sheregesh, then I would stop at freeride wagons with a waist in the range of 105-108 mm, with a classic Camber camber and a slight rocker at the toe. Rostovka, without fanaticism, height + 10-15 cm. Fortunately, today there are a lot of such models. Why stop at them?
- This will be a truly universal projectile, on which you can ride off-piste at a variety of resorts - from Krasnaya Polyana to Sheregesh.
In Geshe, contrary to popular belief, snow does not fall all the time, and fresh "powder" rolls out from the lifts very quickly - literally in 2-3 hours. Therefore, it is possible to single out one pair of skis specifically for loose powder only if you can afford to pay not only for them, but also for freeride programs. Most often, on days of plentiful powder, it is more profitable and easier to rent wide skis.
In the middle of the day in Sheregesh, you usually already ride on a real "split". On it, wide skis with a waist of 115 mm hit the legs and really fun skiing does not work.
For beginner freeriders, when choosing skis, let me remind you: “It’s not the skis that go, but the legs.” You need to improve your skating skills, maintain physical form. Otherwise, no amount of "rocker" and geometry will get you out of deep snow or a steep slope. Ride the bumps, ride with your friends! :)
Sergei "Kamikaze" Turikov
About the rider: Co-founder and guide at the Mountain Patrol company, which organizes freeride programs in Sheregesh and Altai. Athlete, head coach of the Novosibirsk Federation of Alpine Skiing Freestyle.
Riding experience: Skiing experience for over 20 years. I have been riding in Sheregesh since 2002. With the advent of the season, training from the gym turns into daily skiing on Gora. Taking into account the specifics of work, I have the opportunity to regularly ride in areas of Gornaya Shoriya, remote from the resort.
Freeride in Sheregesh © Ekaterina Klimova, Instagram @egklimova
For the entire experience of skiing, I have tried many models of alpine skiing. If we consider the options specialized in freeride that I had a chance to test and run in, then, including a bunch of rare “firewood”, these will be:
- Rossignol Bandit (XXl, B-Squad, Scratch BC);
Fischer Watea, Big Stix, Ranger;
Armada ARV, TST, Norwalk, ARG;
Line Eric Pollard, Sir Francis Bacon;
Scott Mission, Dozer, Punisher, Scrapper, SageBrush, Rock Air, Cascade 110; Icelantic Shaman, Nomad; movement buzz; Atomic Pimp, Bent Chetler, Automatic 107;
Salomon Czar and the Rocker series.
Maybe there was something else, but I don’t remember now :) Every time I tried to try something new in order to find my cherished ideal. As a result, when I “settled down” and realized what is really important for me, I came to the conclusion that I need to have three pairs in my arsenal :) But for skiing in Sheregesh, I have two favorite shells - Fischer Ranger 122 And Scott Scrapper 115.
Of all the things I've tried, I've been wildly fond of the Armada TST for a while. Cool, light, nimble ski. But the lack of width made me try its older brother, the Norwalk. Was satisfied. But still, the aggressive riding style and the desire for more confidence in the projectile persuaded me to try the Fischer Big Stix 122. Actually, I still ride them :) To be more precise, the Fischer Ranger 122 (they are the Big Stix 122 in the past). Over the years, the model has undergone significant changes and has become an excellent universal projectile for different snow conditions due to its geometry and a number of design features. It is on this ski that I like to “elk” on broken soft snow and on the track. Skillfully, they can be used in almost any conditions. But, in the upcoming 2017-2018 season, we will not see them in the Ranger line.
The Ranger 122 has been replaced by a new model with a 115th waist, lighter weight and a maximum size of 196 cm. 196 cm, Karl! Apparently, the manufacturer considered that 192 cm was not enough and decided to cut two-meter "sleepers" for real men. I have not tested these skis yet, I will try them this season and it will be clear what they are like.
Scott Scrapper 115 I like to take when we go to rough snow fields on a snowcat. I like them for the noticeably lighter weight compared to the Ranger 122. I love jumping and spinning, which is noticeably more comfortable to do on them. Scrapper 115 is slightly softer and lighter, but in terms of maneuverability they are not inferior to the Rangers. Scrapper, to put it in an accessible language, is more sophisticated or something ... :) Fischer Ranger 122 for me is a “locomotive” that doesn’t care where, it doesn’t matter what snow condition and it doesn’t matter how to drive. He will go everywhere. But Scrappers are not very fond of “splits”, and on hard blown snow you need to be on the alert with them. In general, I would like to take the geometry of the Scrapper 115 and stuff the “stuffing” Ranger 122 into it, and then taste this explosive mixture :)
But seriously, I want to try out the 196 cm Fischer Ranger 115 this season. I think this is a really bad ski that should go straight and fast!
Dmitry Bogdanov
About the rider: Ski instructor since 2009. He teaches at freeride schools and Snowpro advanced skiing courses. Led upper groups in Krasnaya Polyana, Sheregesh, Tignes (France), Monte Rosa, Courmayeur (Italy), Gulmarg (India).
Riding experience: Skiing experience for over 20 years. I have been riding in Sheregesh since 2001.
My main skis for Sheregesh and not only - Line Influence 105, waist 105 mm, minimal rocker at the toe, rather rigid heel and additionally reinforced with a titanal plate. Thanks to this design and geometry, they are very versatile - they behave adequately on the track and float quite tolerably in soft deep snow, unless it is a super-fluffy powder. Therefore, 95% of the time I ride on them.
