Alpina X Terrain Skis

As a photographer and outdoor enthusiast, the equipment I use is key to my success for a photographic assignment or a day of skiing in the woods or a combination of both.  I choose my equipment carefully and always thoughtfully.  I ask myself, how will this equipment perform under the many circumstances I will encounter?  I try to play out all the scenarios in my head before making a purchase. 

This has been a great season for alpine skiing for me, so far I have logged over a dozen days and the winter is not over yet.  In order to make my winter complete I usually like to get into the woods or backcountry for at least one trip per season.  For years I have owned dedicated telemark skis and backcountry touring skis with a waxless base.  I love the touring skis but their limitations on the more challenging terrain and adventures are their lightweight construction and very limited side cut for carving confident turns downhill on a variety of ever changing Eastern snow conditions. 

Last week I decided I needed to find some new skis that would bridge the gap between my telemark and touring skis.  On Friday with a quick stop at Allspeed Cyclery in Portland, I found exactly what I was looking for, the Aplina X Terrain Ski.  I wanted a backcountry ski with a waxless pattern for kicking and gliding on the rolling terrain and a ski wide and stable enough to plow through funky snow, float through powder and provide me with confidence when conditions got icy or crusty on the downhill.  I have not skied these skis yet, but from what I can tell this ski is going to provide me with the all around performance I am looking for.  The Aplina X Terrain is pretty wide in the shovel 110MM, has ample side cut, nice flex and an aggressive waxless pattern.  It may not be the fastest ski downhill but a nimble ski that can climb and carve efficiently will be a welcome addition to my ski collection.  Hopefully in the next two weeks I can report back from the field on how the skis performed.  For now I will be watching for the next snow storm system to roll into the Northeast and make my adventure possible.