We're creating a new ski!
Yup! I'm talking to you about a new ski in the middle of summer! haha
WHY? Because while you're swimming, camping and biking, my crew and I are still hustling to create the funnest ski you'll ride next winter... so I wanted to give you a little update!
By the way, this new ski was actually conceived by YOU! Last season customers would often say, "J, you should totally make a narrower version of the Escalator. On firmer days it would be sick!"
Well, my mission has always been to make skiing more funner FOR YOU, so we designed it for everyone who loves making perfect arcing turns but don't want to feel like they're wrestling a 2x4!
Here's a little behind the scenes sneak peek of our process developing it!
- J Lev
It all starts with the engineering. This is where pro-skier / super nerd Giray Dadali uses CAD to transforms our wildest ideas into numbers! Here he's adjusting the tip width and sidecut radius to enhance turn initiation.
The goal was to keep all our usual magic – the playful feel, the bombproof build – but apply our lightweight construction and dial in the geometry so it's super intuitive to carve since it will now be the narrowest ski in our Explore Collection, just like you asked!
Every round of prototyping consists of 3 to 6 flex variations. We ski them all back to back on the exact same run to clearly feel the difference between the skis. We actually don't know the technical differences between the skis until AFTER testing so we have unbiased opinions on which version skied the best. 📈
Being this ski is 95mm wide, early morning firm groomer laps make for the best test conditions so we have a consistent surface to feel the edges and understand the effects of the ski's geometry on the radius of the turns... it's just science! 🧪
We test the skis in Vermont, and Giray tests the same skis out in Utah so we have a good comparison of firm ice coast vs bigger mountains with deeper snow. We compare notes after to see if we noticed the same characteristics like speed limit, edge hold, flex, weight, maneuverability, and more. It's amazing how similar our conclusions are per prototype variation.📝
Both groups appreciated the ski's light, quick feel while still holding their own at speed. Giray even went touring and reported the weight savings enabled him to bring an additional 12oz can of beer up!
We always invite customers like you to join our tests so we gain a broad variety of opinions. We're making these skis for YOU... not just the pros!
One part of the process is testing against other models in our line up to make sure every ski works the best for its intended purpose. In this case we tested against our Masterblaster, Fastforward, and Escalator skis, and it was great to feel how much they stood out from the rest!
After skiing all of the different versions, we go back and make tweaks based on our notes. Design, test, repeat! The mission was to keep a similar feel to The Escalator with enhanced performance on firm snow so you can have an even more funner time when carving around the mountain... Mission accomplished ✔️
More juicy details about this ski!
We named it "THE FLIGHT". I know it's a little cheesy... but this thing literally feels like you're flying above the snow, and is soooo damn light on my feet! Fly + Light = FLIGHT ✈️ 👌
It's the narrowest all-mountain ski in our Explore Collection now. The 95mm waist width provides insane edge to edge quickness on firm snow!
It's easier to initiate a turn because Giray ran the sidecut geometry longer into the tips than the Escalator with a tighter radius so it hooks turns without even trying.
It floats in fresh snow even though it's one of our narrower skis because we maintained gentle tip & tail rocker that keeps your tips on top of freshies and pivots easy in tight trees without sacrificing edge grip when laying it over.
Your knees will thank you for using our Explore Collection's ski construction. The Carbon Fiber stringers and Aspen core reduces swing weight for a super light feel, while remaining sturdy for the way down.
I can't wait for you to get on a pair this winter! Whether you're a corduroy killer or looking for a lighter touring setup that can still party on the way down!