It is that time of year where the bargan hunters come out from hibernation and do their best to save money as the Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) restrictions start to loosen. Due to the supply chain isses , this year the ski/boot/binding walls are a little thinner than they were in past years. We are seeing the usual early release of next year‘s gear like Fischer's new Ranger collection and Völkl’s newly revamped Kendo And Kenjas, along with the usual continuation of popular models with New Graphic Technology (NGT).
But for next year, there are a few products that will be leaving us. We suggest you start scouting them out while there are still some good sizes left in the discount racks. These are models that have not had just a graphic change or even a construction update, but will be completely gone, gone, gone from the collections.
Salomon/Atomic/Armada Sth2 13
While the driver toe hasn’t been completely abandoned from Amer's line, and the big spring Sth2 16 continues to march on, it is the Sth2 13 that drew the short straw with the introduction of the all new Strive binding.
Where to spend your money now: You have to either step up to the Sth2 16 or over to the Strive 14. As someone who is a fan of longitudinal spring toe pieces, The Strive is a worthy successor.
Salomon S/Force Bold
I doubt much more than a gross of these sold in the time they were on the market and that is indeed, gross. This is one of those skis that as soon as I saw it and flexed it, I knew it was a special ski. The S/Force Bold was a special ski, a linebacker that could quote Shakespeare while cooking a gourmet meal.
Where to spend your money now: Salomon’s cousin, Atomic is offering an all new Redster in a Q9.8. At 85mm underfoot, and offered with the same Neox 12 binding as the Bold, this is a ski that is definitely a viable option. After skiing with @utskier, a S/Force Bold fanboy, we were in agreement the Atomic Redster Q9.8 is indeed a worthy successor.
Stöckli Laser AX & AR
Good bye Laser AX (and AR). Hello Montero AX and AR. Like many Americans in the last two years, the AX and AR have gained extra waist width by an additional 2 mm. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, it brings the AX to 80 mm underfoot and Stöckli obviously felt it no longer could be deemed a “Laser.” So they created a new collection called “Montero” which now splits the difference between the race-derived Lasers and off piste-oriented Stormriders.
Where to spend your money now: We have seen a migration already from these two Stöcklis to Blossom‘s AM series and we see that continuing. But for the Stöckli zealots, I am sure they will be fine handing their money over.
Fischer RC4 CT
The Fisher RC4 CT is a halo model to which tens of technical skiers flocked. The CT used the same construction as their winning race skis in a mid teens radius ski. For all but the top end skiers, Fischer is continuing its little brother, the RC 4 RC. While it comes out of the same mold, its best attributes are (slightly) more accessible and it loses only an Nth of the top end that admittedly few were able to tap into.
Where to spend your money now: The black-as-night RC4 RC should suit the fast majority just fine. Oh, and as with the CT, choose the length by the turn shape you want.
Fisher Ranger 102 Pink
Pink has always been the new pink. There are few colors so feminine that even the most masculine man flocked to like the pinkest of pink, pink, pink Ranger 102. Fischer took a chance with their last Ranger 102 and offered it in a bright PINK but hedged their bets by complementing it with a blue for those not so confident in their masculinity. But it was the hot pink that everyone wanted. Fischer is now going a little more muted with the color palette of the all new Rangers and we truly believe the pink will be missed.
Where to spend your money now: Sherwin Williams?
Full Tilt
Yes, our beloved Full Tilt brand is gone and now the collections are a part of sister company K2’s boot line. This is nothing new for the 3-piece boot line that started off as a Raichle, then went to Kneissl, only to be resurrected again by Jason Leventhal as Full Tilt. Now as K2, this cat is in its fourth of nine lives, so according to my calculations, they should be around for a while.
Where to spend your money now: Chances are you will have more retail options to find your beloved three piece cabrio boot, because there are way more ski shops that carry K2 than carried Line/Full Tilt.
Look Pivot Forza 2.0
Yes, these qualify just as a color change, but like version 1.0, 2.0 was never meant to really match anything but instead to stand out. And stand out it did.
Where to spend your money now: The change to the 3.0 is an important one that, as with the original Forza 1.0, was influenced by our community in its new direction.
We are sure there are a few more models that have been put out to pasture, but these are the ones that stood out in our minds. Sure you can wait for next season's latest and greatest, but don't hesitate to purchase any of the skis/boots/bindings mentioned here ... and enjoy the fruits of your frugalness by saving a few bucks.
But for next year, there are a few products that will be leaving us. We suggest you start scouting them out while there are still some good sizes left in the discount racks. These are models that have not had just a graphic change or even a construction update, but will be completely gone, gone, gone from the collections.
Salomon/Atomic/Armada Sth2 13
While the driver toe hasn’t been completely abandoned from Amer's line, and the big spring Sth2 16 continues to march on, it is the Sth2 13 that drew the short straw with the introduction of the all new Strive binding.
Where to spend your money now: You have to either step up to the Sth2 16 or over to the Strive 14. As someone who is a fan of longitudinal spring toe pieces, The Strive is a worthy successor.
Salomon S/Force Bold
I doubt much more than a gross of these sold in the time they were on the market and that is indeed, gross. This is one of those skis that as soon as I saw it and flexed it, I knew it was a special ski. The S/Force Bold was a special ski, a linebacker that could quote Shakespeare while cooking a gourmet meal.
Where to spend your money now: Salomon’s cousin, Atomic is offering an all new Redster in a Q9.8. At 85mm underfoot, and offered with the same Neox 12 binding as the Bold, this is a ski that is definitely a viable option. After skiing with @utskier, a S/Force Bold fanboy, we were in agreement the Atomic Redster Q9.8 is indeed a worthy successor.
Stöckli Laser AX & AR
Good bye Laser AX (and AR). Hello Montero AX and AR. Like many Americans in the last two years, the AX and AR have gained extra waist width by an additional 2 mm. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, it brings the AX to 80 mm underfoot and Stöckli obviously felt it no longer could be deemed a “Laser.” So they created a new collection called “Montero” which now splits the difference between the race-derived Lasers and off piste-oriented Stormriders.
Where to spend your money now: We have seen a migration already from these two Stöcklis to Blossom‘s AM series and we see that continuing. But for the Stöckli zealots, I am sure they will be fine handing their money over.
Fischer RC4 CT
The Fisher RC4 CT is a halo model to which tens of technical skiers flocked. The CT used the same construction as their winning race skis in a mid teens radius ski. For all but the top end skiers, Fischer is continuing its little brother, the RC 4 RC. While it comes out of the same mold, its best attributes are (slightly) more accessible and it loses only an Nth of the top end that admittedly few were able to tap into.
Where to spend your money now: The black-as-night RC4 RC should suit the fast majority just fine. Oh, and as with the CT, choose the length by the turn shape you want.
Fisher Ranger 102 Pink
Pink has always been the new pink. There are few colors so feminine that even the most masculine man flocked to like the pinkest of pink, pink, pink Ranger 102. Fischer took a chance with their last Ranger 102 and offered it in a bright PINK but hedged their bets by complementing it with a blue for those not so confident in their masculinity. But it was the hot pink that everyone wanted. Fischer is now going a little more muted with the color palette of the all new Rangers and we truly believe the pink will be missed.
Where to spend your money now: Sherwin Williams?
Full Tilt
Yes, our beloved Full Tilt brand is gone and now the collections are a part of sister company K2’s boot line. This is nothing new for the 3-piece boot line that started off as a Raichle, then went to Kneissl, only to be resurrected again by Jason Leventhal as Full Tilt. Now as K2, this cat is in its fourth of nine lives, so according to my calculations, they should be around for a while.
Where to spend your money now: Chances are you will have more retail options to find your beloved three piece cabrio boot, because there are way more ski shops that carry K2 than carried Line/Full Tilt.
Look Pivot Forza 2.0
Yes, these qualify just as a color change, but like version 1.0, 2.0 was never meant to really match anything but instead to stand out. And stand out it did.
Where to spend your money now: The change to the 3.0 is an important one that, as with the original Forza 1.0, was influenced by our community in its new direction.
We are sure there are a few more models that have been put out to pasture, but these are the ones that stood out in our minds. Sure you can wait for next season's latest and greatest, but don't hesitate to purchase any of the skis/boots/bindings mentioned here ... and enjoy the fruits of your frugalness by saving a few bucks.
