Dimensions: 121.5-77-107.5
Radius: 16.5m@175cm
Sizes: 159, 167, 175
Size tested: 175
Design: New Graphics Technology
You might have heard of Augment, but chances are you haven’t. How about this name: Croc? Not the soft squooshy clogs that seniors wear with white socks around Boca Raton, but the premium race ski that has earned its way into many countries' alpine racing pools. Still no? Well, let's fill you in with a bit of background, as we started talking about Croc Skis HERE. Although the company had marketing rights to the name "Croc" for skis, it knew opportunities would be limited when expanding to clothing and other items, so it decided midstream to change its name to Augment.
@ScotsSkier has been testing Augment's race skis over the past few weeks, and some of our testers were able to get on them at the trade show; these reviews will be published in due time. This review is about the AM77 Ti-Carbon. Augment isn’t just jumping into the deep end of the premium ski pool; it isn't even cannonballing in. It is doing a reverse 2½ somersault with 2½ twists. The company is going in a unique direction by offering its race and premium all-mountain skis in a range of flexes, from 1 as the stiffest to 10 as the softest (or, as they refer to it, “flimsy” -- I think they might want to work on their translations). The pair that we are testing is a 4, or “stiff.” After spending a half day on them, I wonder what level of World Cup athlete would be needed to ski a 1.
Occasionally I get on a ski that just slows down time. What do I mean by that? Well, it's when you have so much control that everything around you slows down, including your heart rate and breathing. If you have experienced this in skiing or any other sport, you know what I am talking about. If you have never had this sensation, when you eventually do, you will think, “Oh, that's what Phil meant.” The Augment AM77 Ti-Carbon is one of those rare skis that does that for you.
Like many premium skis, these are very understated, not only in the graphics but in the dimensions, 121.5-77-107.5 with a modest 16.5m radius in the 175 length. But like most skis in this realm, don’t go by the numbers alone; the AM77 will make huge GS turns. In fact, that feels like what the ski was bred to do. But you will also be fine lightening things up with short swing turns. Augment’s description of the AM77 likens it to an Audi RS4; IMHO, it feels more like an RS7.
The day I skied the AM77 at Rose was beautiful wind buff with a 2 or 3 in. of fresh on top. We were testing a few other skis, and as the day went on, snow piles started to accumulate and the conditions got a bit varied. Some of the other skis started to show their limits at this point, which is when I got on the Augment. The AM77 just flattened everything as if it were freshly groomed again. My legs has started to feel a bit fatigued on the previous run, but the Augment gave them a shot of life. I felt rejuvenated and was starting to ski stronger and faster and more confidently than I was earlier in the day.
- Who is it for? The well-heeled good skier. If you know how to make a strong turn and you have deep pockets, you will be handsomely rewarded.
- Who is it not for? Those who have trouble deciding and second guess their own decisions. "Should I buy a 4 or a 5 flex?" "Should I have bought the 6 or gone to a 7?" This could cause insomnia.
- Insider tip: I would like to try same ski in different flexes to discern the differences. Honestly, I think Augment could get away with three flexes: soft, medium, and stiff.