By Brand

Salomon X Wing Fury w/Z12 Ti Skis

The Fury returns for ’09 with no significant changes other than graphic. I ski the Fury often and find that it is a great blend of groomer performance and grip with a nimble and compliant feel in the off trail and in softer snow. Among the 50/50 skis, this is one that can be a fit for a wide number of skiers. Edge grip is better than average for the 50/50 group and the deep sidecut makes the Fury feel very quick and "carvey" on the groomers. Last year at Mammoth I had the chance to take the Fury from the top of the mountain to the bottom in one shot. I encountered some soft choppy crud at the very top of the mountain and the Fury punched it nicely although it was not real floaty. As I got lower on the steep pitch, the snow was more skied out and started to get more solid and even a little bumpy. The light and nimble feel of the Fury made this stretch feel easy. A long traverse got me back to the groomers and some very firm snow. In that condition, the Fury wanted to be up on edge and pressured. The Fury has a natural medium turn radius but it was comfortable in both short and long turns as well. The turn finish is quick and positive with good grip and the tail generates a nice pop as the ski comes back underneath the skier. The 50/50 category is targeted for skiers that are above average in ability and the Fury is about in the middle of the category in flex and aggressiveness. On our aggressiveness scale, the Fury tops out at about 85. I like the 177 as an all around choice although for bigger wide open mountains the 184 would probably be my choice. Given the width and shape, this is not a great choice for some "old school" oriented skiers unless they are willing to adapt a bit and embrace a wider stance.