I have always been a crappy SL skier, being far better at speed events. But with the endless blizzards this year and massive quantities of deep snow, we had no opportunities for speed training and all our Masters speed races were cancelled.
Our Masters Race season has now concluded and much to my surprise, I had my best SL performance in nearly 40 years during our final days of racing. The final SL was run on the same lovely practice hill used by athletes during the WC races conducted this season at the former Squaw Valley.
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The surface was quite hard all morning and then softened in the afternoon after the sun did its natural thing. I took the opportunity to run my two favorite 165 FIS SL (both tuned 0.5/3) skis alternating back to back on the same course and learned a lot.
I again found the Blizzard FIS RD (identical to Nordica) with XComp 18 bindings to be an extremely powerful and stable ski with a tenacious grip on the snow, however it is very serious, with less tolerance for error—something that had to be managed as the snow softened and ruts formed.
The Dynastar (identical to Rossi) with SPX15 bindings was fun and easy, with a large sweet spot and tremendous rebound energy. It shrugged off little mistakes and was not bothered as the snow degenerated.
As noted previously, while not subjectively my favorite to ski, I actually objectively ski the best on Blizzard/Nordica--getting higher edge angles, better lines, faster times. Subjectively I prefer Dynastar/Rossi, as they are such a joy to ski--fun, energetic, and forgiving, yet I am not quite as fast on them—however that is all relative, as even at my best in SL, I am still slow!
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Never skied anything like a FIS SL ski in the past. My previous carving ski was a Fischer Progressor 8+ which have lost their torsional rigidity. My current narrow ski is a Liberty V76 165cm which is a really fun all mountain carver but lacks top end and true hard snow performance. Jumped on the bandwagon and got Rossi FIS SL 157cm skis this season. I have 2 days on them and agree whole heartedly with the above. During my warm up skiing slow, SL turns on a green I was wondering what all the FIS SL fuss was about. Then on my next few runs on firm blue groomers skiing faster and faster, pushing the skis and myself more and more I saw and felt what the hubbub was all about. What fun skis and amazing carving like I’ve never done before. Such rock solid edge hold and does exactly as expected. Short, medium and long turns at just about any speed as well. Does it all with stability as long as they’re on edge of course. Skied off piste and moguls in the afternoon on ungroomed blues and blacks. Predictable on that terrain as well. Certainly not forgiving but that’s to be expected and one of the reasons I got them. 2nd day on them was spring conditions. Skied with my 9yo very slowly on greens in the morning working on technique and with my teenagers on blacks and double blacks at Beaver Creek in the afternoon. Confirmed my 1st day findings. Again, amazing edge hold, do exactly as expected and versatile. At the end of the day and the next day definitely felt it a fair amount more physically. I think these skis work me as much as I work them. They’re definitely keepers and will probably become my daily drivers for anything less than 3-4” of fresh. Can’t wait to get on them again. Thanks to all those who have been preaching about FIS SL skis. I’m a convert and believer.Finally got my Rossis (printed with A12, made in France) on snow. Fantastic ski. Edge hold, rebound, everything I was looking for. They’ll manage nearly anything you want to do, ie skid, slarve, soft snow, crud, without complaint. But when you open up, push the gas, and get the edge in some firm snow, they are simply amazing.