powder tools

ONCE you've been to Japan a couple of times in long lace up boots, you tend to get over the ‘please remove your shoes before entering’ part of the culture...

THE Lib-Tech Skate Banana ruffled a lot of feathers on its release last year, outselling Burton in the US by a reported 10:1.

The S7 have a massive reverse-camber tip and tail, a regular-camber midsection and short-radius side-cut under-foot making them possibly the quickest, most versatile, and most intuitive rockered ski on the mountain.

WHEN it comes to touring bindings, most will plump for the Marker Dukes or Black Diamond Diamir – but the Dynafits are the dark horse, and have gained No.1 billing amongst the European hardcore.

The Lobes are my favourite of the POC line-up, with a cutting-edge spherical lens to eliminate optical distortion, and futuristic look that’ll be the envy of your mates.

FOR Niseko, you’ll be wanting to eschew the American skateboard/park-designed cambered twins that the marketing guys thrust upon you, and get something directional with some rocker – like the 145cm Rocket Fish.

THE 2010 Nordica Girish is the updated, re-painted version of the 2009 version called the Blower.

CONFUSED whether to go for a natural fibre or synthetic fleece? Join the queue.

THE Blizzard IQ-Max is your one-ski, multiple-binding solution to the backcountry/frontside dilemma.

Gentemstick and Dupraz have been making boards with rocker for years, while Burton and the rest made snow/skate cambered boards that don’t perform well in the pow. What redeems Burton is their V-shaped Custom Rocker.