Whether groomers are your go-to or just your sunny day Sunday drive, these gear suggestions will amp up your game and help you edge while laying down some deep troughs under the chair.
Blizzard Firebird HRC + XCELL 12
Carving skis are this season’s powder boards—the race car-style quiver sticks for giving you the ultimate grip and arc on hard snow. Blizzard’s Firebird collection has been kicking gates and taking podiums since it was introduced a couple seasons ago. Built with the brand’s award-winning Racing Construction, the new 126-76-107 mm (in a 174 length) HRC’s feature incredible hold and stability, as well a multi-radius sidecut for perfectly accurate slalom and GS turns. Comes in 158, 166, 174, 182 cm lengths.
$1,260 (with binding); blizzardsports.com
Völkl – Flair 81 Carbon
This woman’s frontside ski provides the stability to rail turns on hardpack, wiggle through the bumps and run gates. At 128-81-109 mm underfoot and with rocker in tip and tail, it’s a do-it-all weapon that cuts a snappy 14.7-meter turn radius in a size 163 cm ski. And the Wideride XL binding system gives these frontside beauties that can crush soft snow all the control of a race ski.
$1,065 (with binding); voelkl.com
Atomic – Hawx Prime 100
The crowd-pleasing Hawx Prime 100 makes carving and performance easy to attain, and affordable to boot. The Memory 3D Liner hugs your feet for comfort, while the Prolite construction offers simple-to-access performance at a lighter weight than most clunky alpine boots.
$399; atomic.com
Goldwin – Lucus Hybrid Down Jacket + Stream Pant
Carving cold snow is even more fun—and comfortable!—in Goldwin’s warm, super stylish Lucus Down Jacket, made with 4-way stretch Dermizax and recycled Greendown for the warmth to endure the cold of early mornings cutting the corduroy. Don’t limit that performance to your torso; the cool, cozy insulated Stream Pants complete this kit.
$649 jacket, $349 pants; goldwin-sports.com
Smith – 4D MAG Goggle
When you’re warping groomers, you need to see every undulation in the snowpack. Smith’s 4D MAG Goggle features new BirdsEye Vision, with a 25 percent increase of overall field of view over the brand’s I/O MAG goggle, so you can see exactly what you’re going down.
$280; smithoptics.com
mountainFLOW Eco-Wax
When it comes to carving, wax is your gas for smooth handling and easy speed. This new eco wax takes the petroleum out of your fuel supply, through a proprietary blend of plant-based waxes and oils for guilt-free (and fast) schussing. $19; mountainflowecowax.com
Leki – Peak Vario S
This versatile pole sports all the power and durability required for World Cup racing, as well easy adjustability so you can customize it to your style and the snow conditions. Each pole includes race and snowflake baskets.
$150; leki.com
