It鈥檚 not often a ski designer gets a blank slate, a clean piece of paper, the go-ahead to start from scratch. When he sat down to design 2013-14 ski line, that鈥檚 the opportunity Thomas Laakso had helped build, along with Black Diamond鈥檚 brand new, state-of-the-art, multimillion dollar ski factory鈥攑art of the Black Diamond campus in Zhu Hai, China.
Laakso, who has been in charge of Black Diamond鈥檚 ski business for a decade, didn鈥檛 scrap the efforts of the last 10 years, or rethink Black Diamond鈥檚 identity as a ski brand, but built upon them. From the start, Black Diamond鈥檚 skis have been about 鈥渟kiing outside the lines,鈥 according to Laakso. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about the powder hunt, whether it鈥檚 deep in the backcountry, or just beyond the rope.鈥
Most of the dozen skis in the 2013-14 collection have the same names and same or similar shapes as previous Black Diamond boards, but names can be deceiving. Thanks to the new factory, built with Laakso鈥檚 pre-preg expertise, all of Black Diamond鈥檚 2013-14 skis are lighter but higher performance than existing models.
Laying up a ski, there are two options for bonding fiberglass layers. Standard construction, the more affordable option, uses a sloppy, sticky and wet epoxy-like mix applied to dry fiberglass. By nature, it鈥檚 imprecise. The resin adds weight, and because the application is inconsistent, once the ski is pressed, the manufacturer needs to work the ski鈥檚 bases to flatten them, which can sometimes compromise the bases鈥 ability to hold wax. The second method, prepreg, eliminates the sticky mess and the toxic emissions that go with it. Resin is embedded into the layers鈥攏o muss no fuss鈥攚hich allows a manufacturer control and precision in its layups at a significant weight savings that yields more consistent and durable skis. It also allows more creativity and control in ski design. Instead of three goopy layers in a layup, Laakso can now use six super thin layers oriented how he wants them. It鈥檚 a typically a more expensive process reserved for only the highest end skis.
The weight savings of prepreg is so significant, it in turn lets Black Diamond use sidewall construction, which stiffens the ski extremities and adds a pleasant dampness without effecting the underfoot ease. It鈥檚 a construction technique usually saved for the highest end skis because, but adding that capability at the new factory was at the top of Laakso鈥檚 list. 鈥 With our new line, we鈥檙e pushing the strength to weight ratio. We鈥檙e hitting DPS weights at K2 prices,鈥 said Laakso.
Black Diamond鈥檚 new collection is divided into freeride and touring categories, and by ski/skier personality.
鈥淪kiers tend to either like agro or easy skis,鈥 said Laakso. So he made the super powerful Megawatt ($899), and the super-fun AMPerage ($799), the agro Zealot ($849) and the playful Verdict ($799).
Last week, we had the opportunity to put next year鈥檚 skis on the snow along British Columbia鈥檚 Powder Highway. And they lived up to Laakso鈥檚 claims: playful and powerful, fun and agro, stable and reliable and top of their game. The 2013/14 Megawatt is more than a pound lighter, with thicker crud busting edges. The 100 mm underfoot Verdict is a fun twist on a GS race ski. You can still carve like a madman, but it鈥檚 friendly in soft snow.
鈥淭hose are just a couple of examples of what the best available technology can do.,鈥 said Laakso. 鈥淏lack Diamond has been making skis for 25 years鈥攚e鈥檙e not reinventing ourselves. We鈥檙e just inventing.鈥
Available August 2013,