Ski Tracks App Review
“Dood I swear I was going 100kph on that last run.” “No you weren’t dood.” Now, thanks to the Ski Tracks app for iPhone, this dispute can be settled easily. The Ski Tracks app for iPhone is an advanced GPS app that tracks and records many different stats while you are riding. Including; top speed, avg speed, total vertical feet, vertical feet per run, # of runs, where you ride and more.
Ski Tracks & the Tracks Screen
Ski Tracks app
- Cost: $1.99 or FREE for the Lite version
- Cool Factor: Pretty Cool
- Functional Factor: Very Good – you can track where you go so you can keep from getting lost
- Freestyle Factor: Pretty Low – it doesn’t track air time or rotations
- Website: www.corecoders.com
If my freind Joe had this app a few years ago, he wouldn't have gotten lost, spent two nights off the back Cypress, and he would still have all his toes.
The interface is easy to use and the many functions are fun to play with. You can save different tracks from different mountains and view these tracks in either satellite, standard or track mode(which looks like sonar). The app can also be used to track how many park runs you get in a session and with the Altitude & Speed screen you can see when you picked up speed and when you slowed down graphed over the whole session(see image above). In ‘Settings’ you can toggle back and forth between metric and imperial so that you can review your elevation and vertical skied in feet and speed in kilometers. This is actually the one drawback to the app because Canadians tend to refer to height in feet and speed in kilometers and you cannot set each of these independently. The other drawback, mentioned earlier, is not tracking airtime, rotations or amount of time spend on rails. 
One of my favourite things to do with the app is Freeracing. Which is kinda like Freeskiing or Freestyling except its racing. Here is how you play:
- Get a group of friends together and download the Ski Tracks app
- Turn the app on
- Pick a run
- Race it*
- Pull out you iPhones at the bottom of the chairlift and see who clocked the top speed
Winner winner chicken dinner. Brad hit 98kph.
*Grouse Mountain is making a concerted effort to promote safe skiing and boarding. So make sure you pick an appropriate run to race on.
Overall I give the Ski Tracks app 4 out 5 Highfives.
-Myrosha
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Liam Casey Reviews His 2010 Surface New Lifes
As many of you may know, Liam Casey is now a Surface team rider. As he has just gotten the 2010 Surface New Lifes, I got him to tell us what he thought.
Photo - Scott Titterington
First Impressions
My first lap on these bad boys was down Couloir Extreme above Jersey Cream Chair on Blackcomb Mountain. I was pretty nervous at first as I have never skied on rockered skis in my life and this was one of or the steepest run on blackcomb. The conditions were soft which helped and after a few turns I got into the groove and ripped the rest of the bowl. WOOO so much fun! James Anderson and I ripped down to go up Glacier Chair and headed to good ol’ spanky’s ladder. We ripped Ruby Bowl twice and oh boy these skis were just a treat. I did a few 180s off cliffs and airs and was amazed how well riding switch was on these babies. I remember thinking “I should have fallen by now. What’s going on?” but I hadn’t. I have never skied that fast switch in powder before. It was as if I was if I was on a normal groomer… suuper easy.
After this we met up with Andrew Pires, Zavier Vaillancourt, and Yu Sasaki (4frnt freeride slayer). We spent the rest of the day in CBC trees and my skis were allowing me to stomp cliffs, ride pow, hop pillows better than I have ever done. The rocker and the width on these allow you to land upright and not backseat so you are in more control and comfort. just like a groomer.
Anyways that was my first day. I have never skied a better ski in my life and I had a grin from ear to ear all day.
2010 Surface New Life
Groomers
I knew that these were going to be able to slay pow like nothing, but I was worried how riding groomers was going to be like. To my surprise, these actually ripped! I was still able to lay down fast carves all the way to the next pow run. I was very pleased.
Performance Spec
Flex
The flex on these is quite stiff, just the way I like it. Actually, all the Surface skis are on the stiffer side. No noodles here.
Strength
They seem to be stronger than an ox, although I haven’t had many days on these guys, so time will tell I guess. I haven’t heard of any issues yet with them or any other skis in the line as of yet from the Surface Skis boys or anyone else.
Overall
My overall impression on these beasts is simply wow. By far the best ski I’ve ever had the pleasure of riding. They make pow skiing a breeze forwards and switch. The rocker makes for great landings way more often. Really a nice solid, fun, ripping ski.
If you want to check these skis out or any other Surface skis, North Shore Ski and Board on Lonsdale carries the brand. Eliel Hindert (Surface Skis rider and rep) and crew will be in Whistler January 18th at TMC shop for you to demo them out. If you can’t make it on that date, send Eliel a facebook message to demo a pair and I’m sure he can hook it up as he will be in Vancouver and Whistler a lot this season.
Thanks for reading.
Late Release Capita HORRORSCOPE Flat Kick
The Horrorscope is Capita’s reverse camber/rocker board for this year. It was a mid season release so these boards were shipped even later than the already late Capita line to stores. These were a very limited run as only 500 were made. I managed to snag one of the first ones without having to pay! Props to Capita for their handling the warrantee on last years Capita Stairmaster, which some of you may or may not know that they had problems with using the wrong epoxy and delaminating topsheets were used as ice breakers around the world.
Now, to get started, I would classify myself as an above average(not professional by any means) rider. I have ridden all sorts of terrain including groomers, park, deep pow, choppy crud, slush, rocks and hit runs at both Grouse Mountain and Whistler Blackcomb. I have taken it off 20+ foot cliffs and a couple park jumps, but that is because of the lack of tables in the early season, but with the coming jump lines being finalized the horrorscope will soon see its fair share of jumps.
I am riding Union Forces and Vans dk5 boots with this board.
The first thing I would like to say is that Capita’s rocker/reverse camber technology is called FLAT KICK technology where there is zero camber (flat) between the inserts, and then kicks up, much like a skateboard.
I found the Horrorscope to ride true to its size or even a little smaller. One issue that has risen with all reverse camber boards, is its ability to hold an edge.
What camber does is it allows you to ‘pop’ out of your carves, and it applies pressure to hold an edge. with reverse camber there is no pressure on the edge, becuase when you stand on a regular camber board, it pushes flat and when you step off, it returns to its original position. This is what gives you ‘pop’ out of your carve. Libtech’s solution to this was magnatraction which give the edge seven edges instead of one.
I found the horrorscope to hold an edge quite well, but definately noticed that it was not as good as regular camber boards. I find myself washing out but not enough to deter me from wanting to ride the board. It is something you get used to over time.
Regular camber also gives a board its pop, using the same principle when you apply pressure to the board, when you let go it will want to return to its original position, the faster/more powerful it does this, the more pop it has. Now, this board has ALOT of pop, I find it very very fun, and can load the tail or nose and (n)ollie to the moon. Love this board.
grab TINDY!
The flex of this board is very similar to that of a stairmaster. The reason it rides like a really soft board is because of the flat kick. The flat kick turns the board in a very soft board, pressing it is like cheating.
Took it into the pow a whole bunch when it was dumping that week before Christmas. The board is soft, but it handles the pow all right. The flat kick lets the board float with ease, but felt really squirrely goin fast in choppy conditions. I would not want this for a pow specific board at all, it can ride pow for sure, but is a tad soft. It is fine if you want to ride some pow on the side if you are not way past the weight range. I’m 13olbs and on a 148, so for me, it rides like a regular sized snowboard, not a jib board.
This is a pure park/jib board but is still tons of fun when you take it out. It destroys rails, jibs, bonks, ledges, walls, and bamboo poles.
Another thing I would like to add is the skate style influence this board has on the rider. With the flat kicks, it is very easy to loop out and landing on the “trucks”/inserts is a must or you will be on your ass alot.
This is a very fun board and will be a jib board for many people because of its soft flex similar to that of a k2 www, rome artifact or ride kink. Good luck finding some, refer to Sam’s Boards, Boards, Boards! post if you are still looking for one. From what I have heard, the 48 and 56′s sold out in a heartbeat.
I love this board, its a great fit for me because I am a small guy, and this board I can take anywhere. For others, pure jib/park specific. This is a very fun, playful and forgiving board. Great for playing around on, not so great for pow or bumps.
Next review will be for the Bataleon Airobic and TRIPLE BASE TECHNOLOGY! YEAH FOR IT!
Shout out to grouse local Rodrigo Caula and his fast expanding company: Choice Clothing; get them quick! they are selling out fast!
Another note to add is a friend of mine, Matt Munn from Alberta is putting out webisodes of his snowboarding antics where ever he goes. Check it out, MEAT MAGIC!! check it out!! lots of sick sick riding.
-Dan Jonas