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A review of the Z-77 by The Ski Diva: "My first day on them was ideal for putting them to the test: 2-3 inches of fresh powder that was eventually scraped away to reveal a surface of alternately packed powder and ice. This was great; I got to try them in everything from the sublime to the miserable. And in every instance, these skis rocked. If I had to reduce it to one word, I’d say they were smooth. No, let me change that to two words: smooth and stable. No, let me change once again: smooth, stable, and OMIGOD THESE ARE SO MUCH FUN. Okay. I got carried away....

Here’s a ringer for ya. My company, RENOUN, actually prides itself on its technology and the ability to make a better ski. So why would I put this on the ‘unimportant’ list? Because I’m an engineer and have run the numbers behind many of these ‘technologies’. Sometimes they do actually work, but often they work to actually make a ski worse while making for a good marketing effect (usually the case). Other times, they would actually improve a ski’s performance, but no more than gluing a hunk of quarters to your ski - which would be much cheaper.   So,...

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard someone say “I’m surprised this is an XYZ ski!!” because they typically prefer another brand. Yes, every brand has their feel on the snow, but it’s constantly evolving and there is plenty of overlap in designs out there. The ski industry is like a really small town - everyone has had dinner the family next door. The ski design for Volkl, has also worked for Atomic, Elan or Salomon (or maybe all three).   Trust me: In every single conversation, I’ve ever had about ski design with other ski designers...

Ok, calm down. Yes the quality of skis matters, but in all my years designing and building skis I’ve found this: every company has their good and their cheap models, and every company has had some lemons. Yes, some brands skis are known to last forever, like ON3P, and some brands break down quicker than I think is good. I’ve personally seen almost every ski snapped, cracked, scarred and marred beyond repair. It just happens.     The reality is a company that makes bad quality skis goes out of business. So, if you’re buying a pair of skis, then that...

When deciding the width for you, remember you’re picking for the conditions you actually ride, not the one you wish you rode (that’s why people make powder skis). Also, keep in mind width is subjective: I know people who swear their 77mm sticks are “powder skis” and guys riding 120mm underfoot as their ‘everyday ripper’. It all depends. Generally speaking, the wider you go, the better it’s going to float - obviously. But here are some benchmarks: Under 85mm — On-piste with occasional side-of-trail foray. Great if you ski 90% on-piste/groomers 85-93mm — On-Piste focused but with more forgiveness off-trail....