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Outside Magazine November 2002

Ski and Snowboarding Report 2003
Downhill Suspects (Cont.)
Powder


	(Dan Winters)

Harvest the waist-deep powder of Alaska's Chugach or British Columbia's Lizard Range with smooth-flexing boards. Here, an even flex, wide platform, and deep sidecut will allow you to more efficiently match your turns to the terrain. And this gear isn't just for the subarctic; bust out these big guns anywhere there's more than six inches of cold smoke. THE SKI: Dynastar Inspired by Jeremy Nobis ($775). There are fatter Alaska-style skis than the new Inspired, which offers a relatively modest 89-millimeter waist. But as Nobis (best known for star turns in Teton Gravity Research ski-porn) knows, you don't need anything wider unless the powder turns to white mud. The Inspired's aggressive sidecut—the tip is 117 millimeters—and even flex let you porpoise through the snowpack, while exaggerated prow-shaped tips keep the noses from diving.

THE BINDING: Look Pivot 18 ($365). On big, ungroomed slopes, you want the close-to-the-deck feel of the P18, a traditional two-piece binding. THE BOARD: Burton Republik ($500). Smack some crusty avalanche debris while going 30 on a soft board and your ride will quiver so violently you'll soon be cartwheeling into a crevasse. Boards built for powder and steeps—like the Republik, designed by Burton backcountry master Johan Olofsson—gain high-speed stability with stiffness. High in the nose for enhanced point-and-shoot tracking, the board's pronounced sidecut keeps it fast edge-to-edge. And hikers, take note: A Superfly II wood core saves precious ounces. THE BINDING: Burton C14 ($300). Packed with Burton trademarks like the "Gas Pedal"—an adjustable ramp beneath the toes for added toe-side pressure during turns—and quick-tensioning Slap buckles, the C14 is crafted from carbon fiber and anodized aluminum, then outfitted with Milano-leather straps for a precise fit.

Where to Find It: Dynastar/Look, 800-992-3962, www.dynastar.com; Burton, 800-881-3138, www.burton.com;

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