Dynafit FR 10

Stable, quiet, edge-holding carve.<br><br>Today I skied my new 178 cm Dynafit FR 10 skis on-piste for a few hours at Stevens Pass. I have not had the opportunity to go to anywhere that I would tour on these new skis. My planned trip to Crystal and Paradise was cancelled after the I-90 closure (I live east of the passes).<br><br>The significant adjustment for me was the length- I have never skied anything this short, even as a beginner. I just told myself to not look down, then embraced the fact that the 178 FR 10 felt as stable as longer skis that I have skied. It is clearly more stable at speed than the 190 cm Shuksan that it replaces.<br><br>On-piste the snow was packed powder, about 1/2 very nice, and some hard patches. The FR 10 is a dream in soft snow carving, and hard patches as well. With hardly any effort, the skis carved the hard slick sections and never slipped. At speed simple weighting and moderate angulation made the skis carve the hard polished easily- I do not recall a lot of angulation being necessary. There had been rain yesterday that froze and some (groomer tilled) death cookies were in a few spots-the skis carved right through, no deflection, I did not even feel the cookies. <br><br>On the edges were some untracked patches maybe 6 " deep without a solid base feel (there was not enough coverage to really go off-piste). The few turns in the untracked were sweet- fat skis are fun! Some of the untracked had a rain crust on top of the pow. Turned right through it, no deflection, no problem.<br><br>I met up with an old friend, Danger Dan, on his long lift skis. As since 1979, he pointed em' to leave me in the dust and I followed on my Dynafits, and stayed on his tail at a rather silly rate of speed. The FR 10 is stable. Fortunately the Comfort bindings held fine.<br><br>The limiting factor at speed was my boot, last year's 3-buckle Aero. It is stiff enough for a rando boot, but a 3-buckle boot feels short at speed. For normal randonnee use, it will be perfect. I personally prefer the 3-buckle for touring, but I also think that the new 4 buckle Aero Freeride will be a good match and will allow aggressive Freeride antics on the FR 10. A young, pliable skier on the 187 cm FR 10 with the Aero Freeride boot could certainly get crazy while maintaining a high velocity.<br><br>I have ski toured since 1976, randonnee since 1980. I weigh 100 kilos and ski randonnee 60+ days per year, and nordic skate or tele locally on days that I cannot ski tour (work days). Today I was recalling pre-family days at the ski area, somewhere around 1200 days skiing there as of 1995, about 20 since (backcountry is where it is at).<br><br>

Yesterday and today I skied powder on the FR 10s. Today was big time face shots!<br><br>The FR 10 is fine in powder, as well.<br><br>It is an entirely new technique to me- short, fat skis. All that is required is a knee twitch or subtle unweighting or slight initiation, and they turn. <br><br>It is stange to me in powder to not feel long narrow skis bend and turn, rebound, unweight, bend, turn. I will get over it fast. The FR 10 skis just fine in powder. <br><br>The shorter 178 cm length is very nice for climbing and uphill turns

Three days in powder, two days were face shots. I like my FR 10 178 cm in powder. Today I felt "on" them, powder turns long or short as I wished, very maneuverable.<br><br>I would caution that the skis are stiff. A lighter skier or poor technique may not work well on such a stiff ski. I weigh 100kg (220 lbs.).<br><br>I just read on the Couloir Forum that the French do not like them. That is a ringing endorsement in my mind.

I just spent three days skiing my new FR 10.0's in the Baker Back country. 187 size. Skier 6'2", 175 lbs. These skiis rock!!! The lightest skiis I have ever used. Previous skiis were Tua CR 112.<br>It took a few runs to get used to them but after making the adjustments they ripped. I skiied waist deep powder in the main gulley on Hermann and long runs off the north face of Table in knee deep fluff and they were amazing. Stable at speed and very easy to ride in powder. They loved medium to long radius turns. Once I figured out how to swing 'em around you can also bounce them through short turns on the steep. Lower angled powder they ride on auto pilot. Initiate the turn with your hips and the skiis finish a smooth carve. I would not call them stiff as they have more flex then the Havocs. Very pleased. Fat, light and great climbing tools in the fluff. Last weekend I used a pair of Dynastar Inspireds (188) and the 10.0's gave a similiar but sweeter ride.

With all the hype, I decided to buy a pair last week at the Pro Ski shop in Seattle, mounted with the Rottefella Cobra bindings for tele.  Can't wait to give them a ride.  Got the shorties, 169, I'm 5'8" 160.  Will post after I try them.  Had been considering the Atomic TMX replacement (Kongur), G3 Barron, or Volkl Snow Wolf.  Still plan to use the K2 Work Stinx for pow, but we'll see. Thanks for posting your report on them Gregg. We'll have to get out and do some turns on them together this year (I'll buy you a new pair of leashes so you don't lose them )

I'll be looking forward to your review of the FR10s. I'm thinking of getting a pair of wider skis, but still want something very lightweight. I'm currently skiing AT on 170 cm Tua Hydrogens. Possibilities: SkiTrab Freerando, Volkl Snowwolf, Goode Carbon 82, and FR10s in the length you bought. If you're happy with 169cm, that suggests they would be too long for me at 5ft. 3 in and 125 lbs. Helps to narrow the choices.