For ’09 the Burnin’ Luv has gotten a major upgrade with the change to a sidewall/laminate construction. In years past, the BL has had a rap of not being stout enough for some very aggressive skiers or those who regularly deal with east coast ice. With this new build, that has all changed for the better. The new BL has more grip, more stability and more energy than in the past. For all those bonuse...

The One Luv is amazingly comfortable in a wide variety of snow conditions. The waist width @ 74mm is wide for the 90/10 category and when combined with the fairly soft flex makes this the easiest of the 90/10 skis in variable conditions. This, like all K2’s has a smooth, stable, and quiet ride over rough snow. While not as nimble as some lighter skis, the One Luv pays the skier back with an unflap...

Rossi jumped into the wide carve category a couple of years ago with the Zenith series. This category of ski was intended to blend a dramatic sidecut with a wider waist to create a "one ski quiver" for the skier with mostly groomed slopes on his agenda. The Z-9 was "ski of the year" in its first year and has remained successful. The z-10 is the newest version and it now fits o...

The Attraxion III returns to the Rossi lineup unchanged from last year. This is a ski that fits the term "all mountain cruiser" to a 'T’ The A-3 is fairly firm in flex but has enough shape to turn easily at moderate speeds. This ski is at its best in medium and even long turns and rides exceptionally quiet on the hardest snow. The grip is enough for all but the most aggressive advan...

The Z3 has been in the Rossi Zenith collection since its introduction and returns unchanged for good reason. This is a ski that hits its target customer almost perfectly. While it’s easy to make a ski in this range soft and noodley, Rossi doesn’t do that. For the intermediate to relaxed expert skier, there is a lot to be said for a ski that is moderate in shape and flex but has above average dampe...

Last season the Joyrider was one of Sierra Skis most popular womens skis. The Joyrider is a 70/30 ski with a waist width of 74mm. There is a common misconception about Roxy, that they are ski for teenagers this is simply not true. The Joyrider is a perfect example of how Roxy knows what to do to build a great ski, in 2008 it was ski of the year. With a great balance between high speed stability an...

The Opal is a new addition to the Origins lineup this year and is basically a women’s specific Tornado. The Opal uses the same shape and wood/isocell core of the Tornado but with a slightly softer flex and lighter weight. When I tested the Opal I knew immediately that this was a winner because the trademark Salomon "feel" (i.e.: light, nimble, and snappy) is right there in the Opal. This...

The Topaz returns from ’07-’08 with a new graphic but is unchanged otherwise. This is another ski that bears the Salomon family characteristics. Light, nimble, and energetic are the hallmarks of the Topaz. This is a 90/10 ski with a moderate shape and enough edge grip and stability for most skiers up to the solid advanced level. The Topaz has a fairly conservative sidecut and that makes it a great...

The Salomon X-Wing Tornado returns this year with a graphical change. Other than that, it is the same fun ski as the 07 model. If you are looking for a lively and nimble ski that is still stable in rough conditions, the Tornado is for you. It's wide enough for some fresh powder. It's steady enough in crud. It will hold an edge on the groomers when skiing at mach schnell. It's ...