Liberty Hazmat Ski - 2009 BCS

I bought these skis last summer and used them all season last year, for everything. For years I made do with whatever skis I could get my hands on for a good price and found these on Tramdock for a heck of a deal. I have the 186, I am 5'11", 210, and an advanced skier, mostly back bowls and slackcountry, though not an expert. Despite the length of the ski and significant width, I find them to be the most responsive ski I have ever owned...I don't know if that is the bamboo core. These skis are also very stable and well...fast...over anything you point them at, which allows for a little confidence to continue to push the envelope. The only place I've had issues with them is in trees. Build quality seems exceptional, and these have weathered the worst of A-Basin Spring skiing. The graphic top sheet is a little prone to dings...but that is what stickers are for, right?

Ok - this is my every day ski. I just wrote a review of the Double Helix, which is killer, but I don't own them. What I really want is these Hazmats (I ski on the 181) and the double helix. What I like about the Hazmat is that I can take them in the park, and they are every bit as good as a pure pipe ski, but they aren't as floppy - I can also ski through crud at a *ahem* high rate of speed, with stability. One of my knees is shot, but I can ski all day (and then some) with these. One of the guys in Breck told me that it was becuse of the bamboo core - whatever the reason these are the real deal - now if only I could get these AND the DH. Maybe santa will through some down my chimney. If I had a chimney that is.

I got these along with san AT setup. I love the setup as a whole. And I know a lot more has been done for women's specific skis, but I am still quite wary of that. These skis make excellent go-to planks whether staying inbounds or heading out for alpine touring or snowmobile skiing.