2014 Stockli Stormrider 107 Review

Posted on 04/08/2013 by Start Haus

As we’ve mentioned elsewhere in our 2014 ski reviews, the 100 to 110 mm wide segment of skis is going to be big next year. We’ve already reviewed the Nordica Vagabond and the Rossignol Soul 7.

But one of the skis in this class we’re most excited about comes from a brand we haven’t carried in the past – the Stockli Stormrider 107. The top pick for many of our testers in this group, the Stockli SR 107 is a departure for Stockli, and an impressive ski for soft-snow oriented all mountain skiers.

“All I wrote on my testing card was ‘wow!’” said Kenzie, one of our expert testers who participated in Powder Magazine’s Powder Week at Jackson Hole.

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2014 Nordica Vagabond Review

Posted on 03/25/2013 by Start Haus

Looking to next year’s skis, we’re seeing a lot of growth in the 100-110 waisted all mountain ski category. One of the shop favorites so far is the Nordica Vagabond, a 107 mm underfoot ski that got Jim and Phil re-thinking ski widths for next year.

Philpug getting after it on the Nordica Vagabond

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2014 HEAD REV 85 Pro Review

Posted on 03/14/2013 by Start Haus

While fatter skis get more attention these days, a mid-80 mm underfoot ski is a must have for the days the snow isn’t fresh & deep.

One of the best – and one of the best values – in the category, is the HEAD REV 85, coming in at only $799 with 12 DIN bindings.

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2014 Rossignol Soul 7 Review

Posted on 03/12/2013 by Start Haus

2014 introduces a lot of 100-something mm underfoot all mountain skis, and one that’s getting a lot of attention is the Rossignol Soul 7.

Landing somewhere between the 2013 Rossignol S3 and S7, the Soul 7 is 106 mm underfoot with a 17 mm turning radius and a little less rocker in the tip, and substantially less rocker in the tail.

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2014 Volkl One Review – Playful Powder Ski

Posted on 03/06/2013 by Start Haus

As we’ve spent some time on next year’s skis, we have – believe it or not – been able to get a handful of powder days in, and one of our favorite powder skis for 2014 is the Volkl One.

That is, it’s been one of Jared’s favorite powder skis for 2014 for a while, and once we pried them away from him, the rest of us agreed. In a 12-inch storm, Jared quickly grabbed a pair of 186 cm Volkl One’s and headed into the backcountry outside of Sugar Bowl, foregoing his touring skis and skins, booting lap after lap.

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2014 Volkl V-Werks Katana Review

Posted on 03/04/2013 by Start Haus

One of the most unique skis that’s got everybody at the Start Haus excited for next year is the Volkl V-Werks Katana, a cutting edge evolution of the popular Volkl Katana big mountain ski.

V-Werks skis from Volkl typically blend high tech materials like carbon fiber and titanium to get the best performance and the lowest weight possible for a ski.

In the case of the V-Werks Katana, Volkl created an innovative structure with a wood core sculpted into a Carbon Fiber frame, resulting in what looks like a rail extending down the length of the ski, leaving the sides of the ski super thin.

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2014 Ski Testing at Powder Magazine’s Powder Week – Jackson Hole

Posted on 02/27/2013 by Start Haus

One of the Start Haus ski experts, Kenzie, was selected to be a part of the Powder Magazine Powder Week at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort!

She’s been sending us feedback on the 2014 skis she’s testing, photos of epic conditions in Jackson and more.

Kenzie getting after it at Powder Week.

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2014 Ski Reviews from the Start Haus

Posted on 02/19/2013 by Start Haus

Between Outdoor Retailer, SIA, WWRSA at Alpine Meadows and Mammoth Mountain, our ski testers have been hard at work figuring out what goes on the ski wall for next year.

It’s been mostly firm snow across the west, but we tested everything from skinny carving skis to fat powder skis, and a few favorites have started to surface. This isn’t a comprehensive list, just the skis that have already started catching our attention.

Just a few of the Start Haus crew out testing at Alpine Meadows.

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2014 Blizzard Ski Sneak Peak & On The Snow Blizzard Brahma Review

Posted on 01/29/2013 by Start Haus

2014 is already shaping up to be an awesome year for Blizzard Skis, with an expanded line of Freemountain skis.

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Nordica La Nina Review – Women’s Powder Ski

Posted on 01/24/2013 by Start Haus

One of our absolute favorite women’s powder skis is the Nordica La Nina. Based on another favorite, the Nordica Patron, we weren’t surprised when our female testers came back with big praise for these skis after testing.

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