Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/26434
BLACK DIAMOND PURGATORY* This is a very light and responsive backcountry ski. It has a fatter profile than traditional skis, but makes no sacri fice in edge-to-edge quickness. The Purgatory floats through deep powder and blasts through crust. It's the ideal shape for aggressive hardpack turns and linking powder eights. Weight (per pair): 6 pounds, 6 ounces Width: 90-69-80 millimeters Length: 170/180/185/190 millimeters Black Diamond, 801-278-5533, www,blackdiamonde quipment,com, $369 .:::. K2 WORLD PISTE* Affectionately dubbed the "Carp" for its distinctive graphics, this ski is for the big boys (someone who points 212 millimeters Olin Mark IVs down an Ajax bump field). The ski's flex and girth are ideal for just pointing 'em. A behemoth of a ski, lesser folk will have trouble powering the Carp onto its edge. Tilis ski is the perfect evolution from the Piste Stinx, providing a larg er platform and greater rigidity that commands respect in every condition. Weight (per pair): 7 pounds, 6 ounces Width: 107-75-98 millimeters Length: 175/180/185/190/195 centimeters K2, 206-463-3631, www.k2skis.com. $430 BLACK DIAMOND ARC ANGEL If the Purgatory is the all-American sweetheart, the Arc Angel is Sophia Loren: soft and shapely. This ski cuts across the fall line so powerfully you need a seatbelt. The big tips, firm tail and narrow waist are thrill ing on hard pack and lively in powder. However, their soft flex and I ight weight get bossed around by breakable crust. A great ski for steep and deep descents, but too much swagger for variable conditions. Weight (per pair): 7 pounds, 3 ounces Width: 107-71-99 millimeters Length: 170/1801190 centimeters Black Diamond, 801-278-5533, www,blackdiamonde quipment.com, $485 TUA, EXCALIBUR MITO MX ..... ::::. Ostensibly a rondonnee ski, to us it makes a very light telemark ski, perfect for long hauls. The Mito floats high and gently in powder and snaps quickly edge-to-edge. The skis are a bit floppy on hard pack, but generally pound through crust and variable snow. Weight (per pair): 5 pounds, 8 ounces Width: 98-70-88 millimeters Length: 170/178/185/192 centimeters Tua, 800-343-6752, tuaskLcom, $499 ATOMIC, TOURCARVE LITE This ski is another lightweight backcountry travel er with enough waist to float through powder. The ski feels soft and light and has a moderate side cut that rolls the skis quickly on their edge. The heels tend to wasil out on hardpack, primarily due to the skis' softer flex. Weight: 5 pounds, 13 ounces Width: 98-69-87 millimeters Length: 163/170/177/184 centimeters Atomic, 800-258-5020, www.atomic.at. $495 ..... ATOMIC, BETACARVE TM,26 This is a very stiff, aggressively cut (35 millime ters) carving ski. The Betacarve has incredible edge control and speed. The narrow waist and overall weight of the ski do not make it an opti mal touring choice, but on groomed corduroy it's all smiles. Weight (per pair): 7 pounds Width: 97-62-88 millimeters Length: 170/180/190/200 centimeters Atomic, 800-258-5020, www.atomic.at. $438 66