![]() ![]() In many ways, these are the indie equivalent of the Dynastar Huge Troubles in my quiver, with a little extra sidecut thrown in for good measure.Įdge to edge, they’re considerably quicker than you’d expect for a ski that’s 105 under foot, something I recall enjoying on the even wider Shamans, but that’s the thing: given that the Shamans also appear in the Icelantic lineup, I’m not sure what to think of the Nomad. Your call on whether that’s a good thing. The Nomads had me feeling fairly comfortable at any speed and they’re damp enough that you won’t feel every change of surface condition. In the all-mountain category, these are pretty playful skis, not really poppy enough to launch you out of turns but still happily willing to hang on to whatever radius you select. Typically, my suggestion is the Volkl Mantra, but if you’re willing to give up some hard snow performance, you’d do well by the Nomads, too. Buy yourself a groomer-specific pair and something else for powder, and you’ll enjoy every day more, but if for whatever reason you have to buy just one ski, then I guess you’ve gotta do it right. Over the last couple years, I’ve gotten tired of all-mountain skis. But if you find yourself looking for a little more enjoyment as you take the groomers home from Vail’s back bowls, then the Keepers will do you right.Īs tested dimensions: 178cm. Just don’t expect expect a ski that will offer much feedback through any of that. And they’re flexible enough that lazy skiing will still get you down the mountain. They’ll slide just where you want them through bumps. So, yes, you can get these up on edge, though it takes a bit of work to get the tips to engage. Icelantic has been slow to get into the rocker game, and now that they have, they’ve stayed true to the idea that a ski ought to be fun-not just usable-anywhere on the mountain. You won’t be running gates with the ski teams at Copper, but you’ll definitely enjoy blah conditions on the Keepers more than you ever would with a pintail like the Pontoons. Come to think of it, they just rip, period. For featuring an early rise tip, these boards rip. That said, for being this huge, these boards rip. Anyway, the Keeper name, I think, is supposed to indicate that this is a ski you’ll always have around, but having it around doesn’t mean that it’s the ski you ought to select for an early season day. I’m not even sure I should be reviewing these since powder is their purpose, but if I get them again on a Powder day, I’ll come back and add some thoughts. Nothing special.Īs tested dimensions: 178 cm. Conditions were the early season norm of hardpack, crust and some crusty lumps on their way to becoming moguls. I’m reviewing Icelantic’s Keeper and the Nomad this time around, but you can also check out last year’s review of the Shaman. And although Icelantic creates those graphics and designs the skis themselves, Never Summer, another Colorado company, does the construction, so you can be fairly certain the things will withstand a beating. Take a look at the topsheet graphics and you’ll understand why this company feels okay showcasing products alongside area artists. Icelantic runs a First Friday event in conjunction with the rest of the galleries on Santa Fe that features boards and beer at their Battery 621 headquarters (6th and Kalamath). If you’re unfamiliar with the company and live in the area, they’re worth checking out in person. Icelantic brought its entire line-up to Copper a couple weekends ago. ![]() There’s been precious little snow out here in Colorado, relative to last year at least, but with all the new terrain opening anyway and the ski movies on tour, it’s hard to stay gloomy for more than a moment, especially when you’ve got new skis to demo. Hope you folks had a happy Turkey Day, enjoyed the tradition of watching Detroit lose and managed to get some skiing in on either side of it. Tags: Colorado, Icelantic, reviews, Skiing, Skis Ski Review: Icelantic Keeper and Icelantic Nomad 29 November 2011 Posted by magicdufflepud in Reviews, Skiing. ![]()
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