For groomer-phobes, and wheelie haters alike

By Jack Wizo Ranked #7 - Big Mountain Freeride Skis January 1, 2010

These sticks aren't like other early-rise or reverse-camber models. The shovel rises up like a fire shovel, and looks like it could be used as one. The sudden upturn is unusual, unique, and effective at keeping tips from sinking, even if the sticks are short.
Sure, this early rise shortens the effective edge, and with such a dramatic rise, it will not hook tips into the groomers like other moderately rocked skis would. Other skis like the ObSethed, Gotama, Anti Piste, or Sir Francis Bacons which have 'rocker,' can carve into hard snow like a regular cambered ski, because a regular cambered ski is de-cambered in a turn. The 'rocker' is accentuated when the ski is further de-cambered.
The Megawatts don't really have camber but have 'early-rise,' so when the ski is de-cambered it does not really raise the ski tip anymore.
The main thing that I like about the Megawatts is that the tail is stiff. This is especially good for telemark skiing because you don't get the 'wheelie' effect like you would with Hell Bents or JJ's, which have early-rise tails, too.
With tele-skis, you don't have a back-seat like you do on Alpine setups. The Megawatts' stiff tails give a more stable feeling behind you, so you don't pop a wheelie and land on your ass. This tele-friendly stiff tails is what sets these whips apart from the rest.
Even with the early rise tips, the M'watts handle pretty well on the hard-pack back to the lift, but they are far from a one ski quiver. These are a great ski for people who look at groomer days like vegan looks at bacon.

View Details: Black Diamond Megawatt Ski

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