I knew where to find the new BD skis and snuck in for a spy shot. The guy packing the skis tried to block the shot but only succeeded in covering the Kilowatt logo, and we’ve already seen that so too bad BD, everything else is outed!
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| Check these guns out, nice graphics and quite the lineup for 2007/2008!. Interesting how smaller ski companies are coming out with fairly complete lines decorated with beautiful graphics. Who ever said corporate homogenization was taking over ski equipment? Think of the options out there: PM Gear, Trab, Scotty Bob, Dynafit, Black Diamond, to name only a few. It’s a veritable cornucopia! Black Diamond is making a big effort to produce skis that truly work and I was very happy with the Kilowatt when I tested it, so I’ve got high hopes for all the Black Diamond line. Click photo to enlarge. |
Support WildSnow, shop for BD skis here.
While sneaking around I also grabbed a product manual:
From left to right. Zealot, fattest of line. Cult (yellow), is a lightweight rando-race type ski which I guess is named in honor of Utah style shannaigans. Killowatt is “user friendly,” and turns variable snow into “hero” — a bit of koolaid in there, but I’d say that’s a reasonable statement based on my having skied them. Havoc, a favorite from last year, is revamped with wood core and I suspect will still satisfy.
To right of Havoc is the Voodo, a plank for he who likes something with some width but “fears weight.” That’s me. They’re mine, Louie. Mine.
Next in line is the Stigma (orange with white lettering). This is more a classic touring ski for trad guys like me. In fact, I’ll be testing a pair here at WildSnow.com headquarters as soon as I get them mounted (as in, when am I going to find time for that!?). Then we have the Machine, which is designed to carve, yep, like a machine.
And for the ladies Black Diamond presents the Joule, which is defined as the “flow of energy derived from the utilization of physical or chemical resources.” Otherwise known as hormones? Seriously, a fat ski for the chicks, dig it. Next in line, Velvet is a women’s ver of Havoc (a bit lighter and more nimble than the Joule).
And lastly (with bindings already mounted, if that tells you anything), is the Verdict. Only this revamp of the venerated Verd’ increases in width by 4 mm and contains a damper wood core. Previous Verdict is amazingly light for it’s size, but was indeed a bit lively. It’ll be interesting to ski on this version.
There you go boys and girls, spy shot complete. Now I’ll have that Weissbeer, neither shaken nor stirred.
Support WildSnow, shop for BD skis here.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
