Test Ski

Spring Skiing – La Sportiva Race Ski 717 grams !

May, is the fifth month of the year on the Gregorian calendar. May is also known as ‘the springtime of life”. In some countries, it is the month ‘to honor labor.’ Well, it sure sounds like a good month for ski mountaineering – Springtime of Life and Labor. Long days and shadows coupled with warm temperatures have changed the look of the landscape. The once all white landscape of winter has transformed to a deep snow pack in the high alpine and the green of spring reigns in the valley below and the alpine trees soak in the sun.

               Early starts are required for ski touring now if the sun is forecasted for ski day. One can occasionally get away with a later start if cooler weather or wind hold temps down. Animals are migrating and breaking out into the warm sunny meadows. Moose and Elk post hole around the lower elevations in the melting snow and tributaries are gushing water.

                                                                           
If this sounds like spring, it has arrived here in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The storm track remained pointed at Wyoming in April and we continued to add to our already solid snow pack. With the ski mountaineering racing season coming to a close at the end of April in Colorado ( a great year it was..), my eyes now look to the mountains for long days of ski touring and ski mountaineering.

I received a pair of La Sportiva race skis in April and was asked to test the strength of the ski. The prototype ski weighs in at 717 grams. The ski has structure mechanics including carbon, wood, and a new technology from the factory. I was super psyched to be on the new race ski by La Sportiva.

The ski arrived with a top sheet cosmetically ‘white’. No graphics. So, it creates a lot of attention, double takes, and questions. They look stealthy. I put a pair of race bindings on them and was off to the mountains. I have used them in the backcountry and let them fly at 2 skimo races since April. After nine days of testing the skis I have found no major weakness. I have intentionally skied them hard, but not trying to break them. The skis have predominantly been taking in the spring snow conditions which include: firm snow, unforgiving undulations, some lower elevation bush whacking, breakable crust, wet snow and other surprises. Sounds bad, but the skiing has been really good. The skis have performed well and I will continue to test the La Sportiva skis. I have been using these skis regularly in the backcountry the last month. A few pictures capture the various terrain and the joy of spring skiing.

                           

However, nine days of skiing in the last month is a major drop from the every day skiing of winter. But, I am well aware the ski season if far from over. The ski mountaineering season begins for this racer and I look forward to ski touring, peak bagging, corn, couloirs, sunrises in the alpine, and big open descents for many weeks to come. 

The couloir we skied was from the summit and goes from L-R behind the ridge

The La Sportiva prototype skis dropping in the shady side of things...