We finally got the review up for Dave Mazzarella's Skilogik Rock Stars in 188cm.  First of all, we had to supress the urge to give these skis a big thumbs-up simply because they look so cool.  The real worth of a ski is not how they look, but how they ride in different snow conditions and terrain.  That said, we are happy to report the "big mountain show ski" (as Skilogik describes the Rock Stars) is indeed a high-performance, stout and fun powerhouse for athletic skiing.  An excellent crud-cutter, and rock-solid platform while being a silky powder surfer, the Rock Star is not for intermediates, but is not difficult to manage, and makes powder skiing pretty effortless.  While this ski might feel a bit stout in bumpy terrain, and works more easily when properly detuned, the Rock Star has impressively secure edge hold and stability...all while being distractingly attractive.  Click here to read the ExoticSkis.com review of the Skilogik Rock Star.

Skilogik Rock Star (left)
(Front Burner - center, Occam's Razor - right)

Thanks to Brian Finch, Importer for the Italian Blossom ski brand in the U.S.A,, we got to spend quality time on Vermont's classic boilerplate and race-ready hardpack with the Flere RC SL racecarver for civilians.  More tolerant than the World-Cup quality pure race slalom, the Flere RC SL is easy to ski, but packs a lightning-quick, potent zing on hard surfaces that will keep high-angulation trench-diggers and grip addicts happy.  The 66mm-waisted ski is an ice skate on boilerplate, but won't make you pay dearly for the ride.  Compliant, friendly and spunky, the Flere RC SL can be skied all day without requiring an olympian at the helm, yet has the traditional Blossom vibration dampening and control. 

The Blossom factory and its predecessors in Valchiavenna, Italy have been the sources of some stunning race skis for decades, favored by racers around the World for their power, control and accurate behavior in and endless array of custom builds.  The Blossom factory has some of the most experienced ski builders in the business and they build skis for a number of brands such as VIST and others who want superb quality materials constructed by craftspeople with generations of experience. 

The Blossom Flere RC SL is fun and does what it is designed to do on hard surfaces - bite and change direction in rapid fashion with remarkable edge grip.  When the conditions aren't powder fluff and off-piste adventureland, the groomers are all that's left, and this is a ski you can have a blast with on the frontside, remembering the intense fun of high-angulation arcs on hardpack.  It's the right tool for the job...just stay on top of it or you'll find yourself chasing your skis out in front of you.

See the full ExoticSkis.com review and photos of the Blossom Flere RC SL HERE.

JV LeBrun's DID Custom (Deliberate Industrial Design) out of Fernie, British Columbia in Canada is producing some outstanding stock and custom skis.  We tested one of this stock models (P1 stock model a.k.a. "Kootenay") and a custom design ski he prepared as a ski he would want in the Eastern North American environments of Canada and the U.S.A.  We found the attention to detail, quality and performance very impressive, and at a compelling price for the stock or custom designs. One of the interesting design features is the combination hardwood maple / poplar core extending the entire width of the ski...out over the edges (no traditional sidewalls), with the maple hardwood supporting the edge pressure areas.  As with other hardwood sidewall or hardwood edge-support skis we have tested, the edge grip is superb and solid, and the P1 stock model was one of our favorite skis this year.  These are serious skis built by a serious designer who is passionate about his craftsmanship and designs. 

See the review of the DID Custom Skis HERE.

See a photo gallery of some custom graphics from DID Custom skis and snowboards HERE.

DID Custom Skis:
(Custom "East Coaster" - left)
(P1 Stock Model "Kootenay" - right)

An example of JV LeBrun's custom work
(see more examples HERE)

The friendly folks at Whitedot Skis have cooked up a new construction recipie called "CarbonLite"  for their proven ski geometries which incorporates carbon fiber and renewable flax fiber components to produce significantly lighter and ultra-responsive skis.  We were lucky enough to get significant time on a pair of 180cm Redeemers in both the "standard" and "carbonlite" constructions and put them head-to-head to see what the real difference is.  Suffice it to say the difference is indeed dramatic and positive, with the same ski designs displaying very different personalities when built in the two versions.  Read the full test of the 2013-2014 Whitedot Redeemer Shootout here.

ARTificial. Skis is an amateur operation in the state of Washington started by Tyler Williams and Connor Craig. As they say on the website:

"A unique philosophy based on friendship and life continues to fuel the collaboration between two college students, who together serve as the builders, riders, and owners, carrying ARTificial. into its second production season. No competitions.  No judging.  No filming.  No obligations.  Just two average students doing what they love and striving to keep skiing fun… Because skiing is an ART."  

There is a good summary of Tyler and Connor's adventure into making skis (complete with pics) at NewSchoolers...  We tested the bamboo-core powder ski called "Nature", and it's a big ski (156-126-152 @ 185cm) with rockered tip and tail, camber underfoot.  While we did not get it in really deep powder (snow drought in Vermont this winter...), we got plenty of time on a variety of wacked-out snow conditions, and we have to say, this ski is fun, fun, fun and serious about providing a stable, quiet, confidence-inspiring ride across any surfaces you can throw at it.  The only thing more fun than seeing a new ski company start from humble beginnings, is to see one of the first models from that company excite us here at ExoticSkis.  We liked this ski a lot. Tyler Williams and Connor Craig should be proud.  See the full review of the ARTificial. Nature with pictures here...