Icelantic Ski Review

Hello Snow Fans,

This week for my Skiing in North Idaho blog, I am going to introduce and review Icelantic skis.  I have had the opporunity to demo a variety of Icelantic skis with Hayden Ski Shack as well as own a few pairs.  Big shout out to Ski Shack.  Seriously is there anywhere else you can go to get some awesome ski gear from some raddest cats in the game and walk out of the door with a fresh haircut.  No joke.  Truely unique and awesome ski shop.  Go to Hayden Ski Shack for all your winter needs as well as a tight fade.  The staff is super friendly, and truely awesome at what they do. 

Now back to Icelantic skis.  I am a huge supporter of the little guy in the ski world, and Icelantic fits the bill.  Icelantic skis, which are handmade in Colorado, is a self described  "community that represents a lifestyle of art, adventure, creativity, passion and innovation" of the sport of skiing.  This motto is an excellent defintion of the company.  It is not like the "big boys" of the ski industry like Rossi and Salomon, and they don't subscribe to be.  They are in the industry for the love of the sport and the love of the lifestyle as oppose to making top dollar. 

Each set of skis has a unique piece of artwork displayed on the top sheet. All art work is done by Denver artist Travis Parr.  The artwork is truely outstanding encompasses a variety of natural and native cultural elements.  The artwork has become as synmounous as the skis and have developed into a cult-like following with people purchasing the new sticks every year just for the new topsheet design.  The artwork is displayed online or if you are ever in Denver, swing into view Icelantic's work at their Neversummer Factory for the full Icelantic experience.

Now to the skis.  I have had the opportunity to ride and reflect on several of Icelantics skiis over the past few winters.  I will take an opporunity to review the Nomad RKR, Shaman, and Gypsey. 

The Nomad RKR is new the the Icelantic fleet this year.  It takes the classic Nomad and has an added rocker to it for awesome float in the pow and ease through the crud.  It comes in lengths of 161, 171, and 181.  Its dimensions are 140, 105, and 130 in the tip, waist and tail respectivly.  I demoed it at last years demo days at Mission Ridge and again on a pow day at Silver Mountain, and let me tell you, one of the funniest pairs of skis I have ever been on. Playful and poppy all day long.  Recommended for you all-mountain day to dayier, or drop some AT bindings on them for a great pair of backcountry sticks.  I had to.

The Nomad Shaman is a classic.  First big pow ski I owned, and it changed my skiing world.  It has a unique shovel tip that is 160 in width.  It is 110 under foot and 130 in the tail with traditional ski camber.  This ski has a true cult following with many wondering what the next top sheet will look like.  Don't let the size fool you as it rocks on a groomer, but beware, with this stick on your feet you will have to explain its story everytime you get in a lift line it is so unique looking. 

The final ski to review is the Gypsey.  The Gypsey was new to Icelantic lineup last year, and it has impressed.  It is a full camber ski that allows for outstanding float and playfulness in the pow.  It comes in lengths of 170, 180, and 190.  Its dimensions are 152, 125, and 148 which allows for it to ski like it is on rails on groomers.  This ski is for the expert who likes full reverse camber ski, and big time float on a pow day.  As Icelantic describes and this testers reitterates, "this ski will rock you world."

For more information Icelantic Skis, go to http://www.icelanticskis.com/

Hope you enjoyed the review, and look for blog/discussion over my top pick for local ski shops in North Idaho.