What "Nationality" Are You?

[thetrailboss]

Nationality, as in ski nationality. A few years back, Skiing discussed the characteristics of different skis...which were designed and manufactured in different countries. They observed that skis from different countries seem to handle differently than others....so American skis were different than say Austrian skis. Swiss skis different from French.

Your thoughts? Does it matter, considering that some manufacturers are leaving these countries and going to China (no political comments). Your preference?

Well, after skiing on French (Rossi), American (K-2), and Austrian skis (Head, Atomic), I must say that the Austrian are the best. They are precise handling, smooth, sexy, and powerful. They are peppy. I find that the K-2's are a bit soft, easy to turn, and fun, but go flat. Rossis are good, but go flat as well....

Another observation I have made is how certain ski areas are dominated by certain brands of skis. Burke and Cannon have a lot of Rossi's in my experience, while Stowe and Sugarbush have a lot of Head skis.

 

[ccskier]

Austrian for me. Atomic skis for the past 10 years. Have the Snoop Daddy's now.

 

[thetrailboss]

My next pair will be Atomics or Heads almost for sure...

 

[andyzee]

I'm mixed, 1/4 Atomic, 1/4 Nordica, 1/2 K2

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

Austrian...

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Sugarbush have a lot of Head skis.

That's probably because all of the rental skis are heads.

I'm a K2 guy. I love my CaBrawlers!

 

[severine]

All French for me now! (Dynastar) It could be a variety of things (different sidecut, longer skis, etc.) but so far, I'm liking the pair I've tried out much better than my old Rossis (which I don't think were actually made in France, though both pairs of my Dynastars say they were made in Chamonix).

 

[riverc0il]

I have never noticed differences in brands across various ski areas. Certainly I have noticed differences regarding how new most people's equipment is and how many people are skiing on "the hot ski" during a particular year.

I have no specific brand loyalty. My quiver has Volkl's and Dynastar's currently but I have also skied Rossignol and K2 (which to be frank, I am still biased somewhat against based on skis a dozen years or more old even though I know it is illogical). There are so many skis out there, I would love to try them all.

Doesn't much mater since most of them are made in China. :lol: For the American market, the only "major" ski manufacturer that produces 100% in American is Voile with the Insane. Even many Volkls have been shipped to China though many are still produced in house.

I have only tried a few, but Volkl, Atomic, and Head all skied completely different to me (given skis on the same tier). I think by lumping skiers together based on "country" that the brand is home based out of someone is seeing more random correlation than anything else.

 

[davidhowland14]

whatever nationality salamon is.

 

[skibum9995]

Italian, Nordica skis and boots for me this year.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I ski mostly K2....Although I have a pair of 1080's for the bumps.

 

[millerm277]

I think 1/3 Italian (Old nordica boots), 1/3 French (Rossi Bandit BX's), 1/3 Austrian (Atomic skis)

 

[bill2ski]

North American, I have a pair of LINE ( made in Canada ) Claws ( Jay,Maine)
I guess, I like the fact that the manufacturer is ( or in LINE's case was ) independent.
Just guy's who make great ski's for people who love to ski.

 

[Warp Daddy]

currently Austrian several prs of Atomics -- these are the BEST i've been on

but have been French with Dynastars and several prs of Rossi's and American I think with Head in the past

 

[thinnmann]

Melting Pot

Doesn't much mater since most of them are made in China. :lol:

Is that a fact? I know you have that little smiley thing happening, but now you have me worried....

For me, Austrian are the best. Both my Atomic m:EX and 9.22s say "made in Austria". But my boots are Rossi (same factory as Lange and Caber, I hear), and poles are Goode (American, I think.)

I used to be a big fan of the older USA-built Volants. Still ski them once in a while. My son and wife ski Volant 100% of the time. They were way ahead of their time, in terms of torsional rigidity. My 14-year old son just thinks the stainless steel looks cool. My wife's are of the Austrian Atomic-owned vintage, and they say "made in Austria".

My daughter will be on "made in Bulgaria" Atomic junior race skis this winter (though she was on "made in france" Dynastar's last year).

I also have a pair of "made in France" Rossi VS Oversize, "made in Germany" Volkl P40, and "made in Austria" Blizzard Sigma SL.

Are they really made in China and we are victims of a big lie? What about Volkl's private forest - is that a myth or reality?

 

[wa-loaf]

I've always had K2's, but I'm now on Elans. So I guess that makes me a Slovenian. I've liked all the Volkls and Atomics I've ever demoed. Although I want a pair of Fischers next.

 

[Beetlenut]

Austrian for me. Atomic skis for the past 10 years. Have the Snoop Daddy's now.

Austrian for me too. Atomic Betaride 9.22's, C7, and soon the Snoop Daddy's too!

 

[tirolerpeter]

Ski nationaliyt

My new "Black Diamond Verdicts" are Chinese. My "Volants" are American.

 

[freeheel_skier]

Chinese---------------K2
Chinese---------------Karhu(K2 owns karhu)
Chinese---------------Line(k2 owns line)
USA--------------------Rossignol(heard they moved manufacturing to Ogden, Ut.) but not sure?

 

[riverc0il]

Is that a fact? I know you have that little smiley thing happening, but now you have me worried....

A lot of companies have outsourced. Not all (certainly all major American except Voile) but quite a few even of the Euro persuasion. I do not have specific information on each manufacturer but I would be very surprised if many of the Euro's still do in house production. As mentioned before, Volkl does on some models, not sure about the other companies.