Fischer

Speedmax Plus Skate Ski

Like a cheetah that's been lit on fire, the Fischer Speedmax Plus Skate Ski has one thing on its mind: speed. In fact, it's probably even more single-minded than the flaming cheetah, which is presumably also thinking about extinguishing its smoldering tail. The Speedmax has never been near flames--it was raised in an icy Austrian laboratory, where it was given a cold-bonded base in a heat- and pressure-free process which preserves the molecular structure of the base for better wax absorption and glide, giving you a smooth, lightning-quick ride in all conditions. That said, the Speedmax is most at home in compact to soft snow, thanks to a pre-waxed DTG World Cup Plus base structure that's coarser, deeper, and designed to excel in slightly warm and moist conditions. Computers control the entire ski-shaping process, ensuring that every board has an identical flex and camber profile.

As all cheetahs know, weight savings are key when it comes to increasing top-end speed, and the Speedmax abides by the same principles. It's made with a lightweight Air Core reinforced with highly molecular (really strong and light, pretty much) carbon fiber, and a multiaxial carbon laminate that gives the ski a stiff flex with a load of rebound energy and torsional stiffness, so none of the energy you put into it is wasted. To further lighten the load, Fischer cut out the tip of the Speedmax, reducing swing weight and encouraging a quicker ski return for easier, faster strides with less tip drag. A World Cup sidecut keeps the ski tracking in the direction of your forward momentum and ensures maxiumum stability and energy savings, so if you ever do meet a cheetah on the track, you can whoop him in an endurance race.