Powder is like an addiction for many of us. We're willing to drive or hike way too long to reach it. And once we're in it, the rest of the world disappears. We can be freezing, dehydrated and malnourished, but we wouldn't even notice because we're floating along in deep, untouched snow.
Such was the case when I sat in the car for five hours to get to Colorado's Wolf Creek Ski Area so I could take advantage of a recent storm. Unlike the rest of the Southwest, where the snowpack has been anything but stellar this season, Wolf Creek is up to its goggles in fluffy stuff. The ski area is located in a strange weather pattern where it always seems to be snowing. When it's blue skies for the rest of us, Wolf Creek is getting pounded. It's not only known for its deep snow, but also for its extensive sidecountry terrain where skiers have the opportunity to hike out of bounds to access some steeper runs that stay fresh longer because they're not serviced by a chair lift.
With a truck full of all-mountain gear designed specifically for such terrain, I was pumped on adrenaline like a little kid on Christmas when I pulled into the parking lot with a long day of freshies in front of me. Let the testing begin...
Line Influence 115s
Thanks to these bad boys, I had one of my best ski days in recent history. I'm normally a telemarker, which makes me graceful but inefficient, and I normally can't unlock the full power of a traditional downhill ski. But with my heel fastened into the
Influence 115s ($750), I felt like Superman.
With just enough rocker in the tip to ensure they plowed above the deep stuff, and a nice fat 115cm midsection to keep the rest of the ski floating as well, the Lines were designed for hard-charging powder days. They're built with a maple core, which provided the dampness I needed to jump off a cornice and proceed to rip through a series of big, sweeping deep-powder turns. But down in the trees, where things are tighter, the skis also responded well. They deliver plenty of pop, so I could bring them around fast enough to not ruin my day by hitting a tree.
The skis have a traditional camber underfoot, which means that as the day went on and the runs bellow got packed down, I didn't hate my life. The skis is designed to hold an edge on the harder stuff too, so they can easily become your daily drivers, and you won't have to invest in multiple pairs of skis for variable conditions.
WIRED Fat enough to kill the pow on even the deepest days. Stable underfoot so you can rip steep lines or tight trees. Versatile enough that this can be your only ski.
TIRED I'd haul them into the backcountry, but it would be a workout. Not friendly on ice.
Rating: 9 out of 10Photo by Jakob Schiller/Wired
