Sierra says: The System Jacket from Burton is a great jacket for all types of weather. The System Jacket comes with a removable liner that can worn with the jacket on those really cold days or it can be worn on its own while chilling in the lodge after a hard day of riding. Burton says: Systematic shelter with options for any weather. Understanding the color drop down: First color is the outer...

Sierra says: This is an entirely new model and width for K2 and fills the spot between the Recon and the Outlaw. The Apache Explorer adds 6mm of width over the Recon and is somewhat stiffer. The Explorer does not make the popular Recon obsolete by any means; it is really for a different skier. The Explorer is an ideal choice for the skier who is at a higher level of aggressiveness or has more of a...

Sierra says: The Outlaw is yet another completely new ski from K2 this year. This new model is wider than in the past and has a fairly straight sidecut but like the Explorer, it is quicker turning than you might expect. This comes from the progressive sidecut which allows a pretty quick initiation at the tip but a more stable turn finish. The Outlaw also has an unusual tip shape that is a little ...

Sierra says: It is very difficult for a ski to stay at the top of the sales charts for a very long time. Yet, the K2 Apache Recon has managed to do just that. Each time I ski the Apache Recon, I am reminded of why this is. This is simply a high end ski that almost anyone can enjoy. The magic that makes this possible is a fairly soft flex to make the ski easy to turn, but it is combined with the pa...

Sierra says: The Sidewinder is an updated version of the Stryker which has been around for a bit. This year's ski is a nice improvement over the prior years. It has the new Mod structure which reduces weight somewhat and the new MX heelpiece which produces a tighter boot/binding coupling. The 'winder gives us a 90/10 ski with a softer flex and more damp ride than some of the more aggress...

Sierra says: 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...

Sierra says: The Lotta (like the unisex Recon) has been the best selling women's on road/off road ski for some years now. This is a crowd pleaser for many reasons. Lotta is smooth, stable and quiet on the roughest snow imaginable. The K2 Mod dampening system makes this ski the "Cadillac" of the skis in this category. The LL is softer than some other women's expert skis in this ...

Sierra says: 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 b...

Sierra says: The Sweet Luv gets a new shape this year with a wider waist and a notably wider tip. This gives the aspiring skier more shape to work with as she develops turning skills and starts to break the skidding style of the lower level skier and learn the more Carve oriented style of the intermediate. The Sweet has less of the secondary "Mod" core material and thus is lighter and le...

Sierra says: The Tough Luv is K2's 50/50 ski in the Women's category. This one qualifies as a wide cruiser for a pretty aggressive skier. The TL is not terribly stiff, but it is wide and fairly heavy so nimbleness in bumps is not its forte'. However, those qualities make the TL stunningly stable in soft, deep, and especially broken snow. I felt that the progressive sidecut enabled t...

Sierra says: The Tru Luv is K2's classic "recreational" ski. To many, that might mean a pretty nondescript performer or an unsophisticated construction. In this case, that wouldn't be accurate. The Tru Luv still has much of the "Mod" dampening technology of the higher level skis. This technology makes the Tru Luv smoother than most other offerings in the mid-price ran...

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...

A great low priced alternative to get you out on the snow and having a great time skiing, the Rossignol Passion is your ticket. If you're looking for a reason to get out on the groomers and to stop sitting in the bar while everyone else is out in the fresh air having fun, then look no further. The Passion will get you there.

This is not another rebadge job on the old Rossi Bandit/B-series from years past. The width of the new SC80 falls right in between the old B2 and B3 models and it is a whole new build which features a new solid wood core. This is an entirely new ski and is a fantastic upgrade. While the Bandit series pleased a lot of skiers there were complaints from some skiers that the skis were not aggressive e...

The Voodo is an entirely new ski that replaces both of the prior B2 and B3 models. This is an exceptionally versatile ski that was built with the 70/30 skier in mind. Like most Rossis of the past, the Voodo has a light and easy feel. Where the Voodo improves on the prior offerings is in energy and stability. The new lightweight milled wood core delivers a snappier feel than the prior skis and the ...

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...

Sierra says: 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...

Sierra says: The Roxy Juicy is the perfect escape route out of the rental line. With an easy going flex that will easily let you progress quicker with ease and comfort you will have a sweet ride. This ski would be a great ski for a teenager that is too big for junior skis but at the same time is not quite advanced enough to ski more aggressive adult skis. With a 70mm waist width this 90/10 ski wil...

Sierra says: Are you an intermediate skier?? Do you want a ski that makes turning easier?? If so the Roxy Sugah is a great option. The Sugah allows you to leave your comfort zone with style. This ski has a Carbon Y structure that allows intermediate skiers to turn with ease. Along with a forward mounting position this ski makes turning effortless. Check out the Roxy Sugah this season if you lookin...

Sierra says: 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 an...

Sierra says: 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 sidec...

Sierra says: A couple of years ago, Salomon introduced the first generation X-Wing Fury. This was a very user friendly 50/50 ski that was rapidly embraced by skiers of varying ability levels. Since then, Salomon has moved on and the newer generation Fury, is stiffer, wider, and like most other 50/50 skis, is targeted for skiers of a pretty high aggressiveness level. Such skis, can sometimes make l...