Everyone needs a Slalom Ski
Written: Nov 23 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Skis like a REAL slalom ski, with pop and power. Forgiving enough for most experts.
Cons: not for Powder, Slush, Crud, big turns on ice, not for junior or your spouse.
The Bottom Line: Everyone needs a slalom ski if they are going experience all aspects of skiing, and the 3V is a darn good one. Certainly the best of Salomons products.
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| RONinPC's Full Review: Salomon SuperAxe Equipe 3V |
Its true. Everyone needs a slalom ski.
We've made such a move en-mass to big mountain fat skis; high-g-force rippers have been lost along the way. Sure, you could get a pair of Volkl Six Stars or Elan S-12's and ski them short (and that'll get you close), but for true Slalom performance, you should have some.
Why? Slalom skis let you enjoy the ultimate in skiing take on physics. Centrifugal, Centripetal, Inertial; all those massive forces come to a crushing crescendo when your making real arcs on a slalom ski.
Salomon has continually attempted to make the perfect skiers ski. They have test-marketed and engineered their products to make you believe that without their side-mounted-aluminum-sub-carriage-teeter-totter-binding-mount, you won't be able to ski. As a result, the Salomons you read about are their high ticket, high margin, mediocre stuff; like the X-scream. Yeah, The Pocket Rocket rips in Powder.
Where they don't put their ad dollars is into skis like the 3v. Race skis cost a lot to make, and are difficult to sell. Shops have given up, knowing they can sell a twin-tip or an all mountain ski with less effort and greater profit.
So we, the consumers lose. Shops don't carry race skis, salespeople poo-poo them (cause they don't get em?) and you end up on the hill wondering how "that guy" can make those amazing arcs.
Ironically, the Equipe 3v is perhaps the best ski Salomon makes. It is closer to their "real" world cup race skis than anything else in their line.
Could the 3v be the only ski for you to own? well, maybe if you live at a small, eastern resort. It is not a powder ski, and you'd buy it too short for crud. It's not going to enjoy high-speed GS arcs on ice (and neither will you).
Then 3v is a specialty ski, like the Pocket Rocket is for Powder. If you have the means though, I highly recommend it.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: RONinPC
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- Top 500 |
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Member: Ron Shepard
Location: Park City, UT
Reviews written: 133
Trusted by: 136 members
About Me: Skiing, Biking, Sailing and Hiking are the passions of this Park City Family.
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