Copyright © 2010 Mountain Pro LLC.
Written in winter 07/08
Stats
Skis (make/model): Praxis Powder Boards
Dimensions: 131/136/134
Weight per pair: ~
Size Tested: 185
Tester’s Name: Mike Bromberg
Tester’s Height/Weight: 5′11″ 165lbs, 190lbs with full guide pack
Bindings: Fritschi Freeride Plus
Boots: Scarpa Hurricane
Summary
The current trend in soft snow ski technology, as will be apparent in almost every major manufacturer’s line for next season, is rocker and often reverse sidecut. Having the opportunity to ski soft snow this season without the burden of crud or human powered uphill travel, I decided it was time to experience some of the more radical ski designs out there.
Located in Truckee, CA Praxis is a “progressive company looks to bring new designs and enlighten the skiing experience. Nothing we create follows the industry standard mold, we design skis for real skiers. Handcrafted with care and precision using the highest quality materials, creating a ski that you can rely on at a price you can afford.”
Testing Notes |
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After searching for weeks for a reasonably priced pair of the Praxis (not that they are unreasonable, i’m just cheap). I found a pair of lightly used boards and mounted them up with a pair of Fritschi Freeride Plus binders. My first challenge of owning this ski was finding a way to mount the bindings (the fritschi jig was hopelessly undersized for the 136mm waist) as well as bend the brakes in a semi-functional manner. Considering the other skis that I currently own (a 181 K2 Coomba and a 174 K2 Mt Baker Superlight) these skis seemed skis seemed huge, and the idea of actually touring in these skis seemed laughable. Surprisingly, the Praxis is rather lightweight for it’s size and probably wouldn’t be the worst thing you could drag uphill.
The only other ski I have tested with similar dimensions is the Armada ARG. Having skied the ARG in perfect conditions and feeling exceptionally confident and impressed, I had particularly high hopes for the Praxis. The first several runs I had a hard time realizing just how much farther forward I could weight my skis without diving the tip. While they ski slightly differently than the Armada ARG (I felt the Praxis required a touch more work to ski), after getting used to the kind of input that these skis need, I am completely sold on them in soft snow. During several helicopter assisted days on these skis I can confidently say that the praxis handled breakable and variable conditions with ease.
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The Verdict |
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Pros: Long radius or short radius turns, appropriate flex:size ratio, Ski beautifully in soft snow. Makes breakable crust a little more pleasurable.
Cons: A true pain to deal with when in precarious situations due to the rocker. Tight hard/hardish terrain is just not the place for a reverse camber ski. |
June 16, 2009 at 5:20 am
These days praxis has a whole lineup of great skis with varying shapes and rocker. Check em out!