By Brand

Salomon X Wing TornadoTi w/Z12 Skis

The Tornado Ti is a new model that uses the same shape, core, and sidecut as the other Tornados but has added two Titanium alloy stringers that run the full length of the ski. This simple addition gives this version of the Tornado more appeal for the heavier or more aggressive skiers out there who thought that the non Ti versions were a bit lacking at the highest end of the performance range. This is a great example of the new breed of skis that we place in the 90/10 category. While it is wider in the waist than 90/10 skis have been in the past, it is still a great groomer ski but is not as specialized as this category may have previously been. The new Ti is much stiffer, and somewhat heavier and more damp than the earlier models and the result is even more grip for heavier skiers on the hardest snow. The Ti gives up a bit in powder and moguls relative to its non Ti sibling but the added stiffness improves its performance in crud. This category is for the skier who loves the groomers and skiing fast yet still wants the ski to handle some shallow powder, choppy crud and spring slush. Within this category, I give the Ti an aggressiveness range rating of 75-85. Despite the deep sidecut and relative tight 14M turn radius, the Tornado Ti make a fine long radius turn as well as short snappy ones. The added stiffness will require that the average weight skier work a little harder to flex the ski for those short radius turns. While I prefer the 178 length in the standard Tornado Flat, I like the Titanium in 170, especially for primarily groomer skiing.