First Look: Karhu BC 100
Lengths: 172, 179, 186 ..Dimensions: 134/100/125 . Weight:
7 lbs 11 ozs (3540g)
May 19, 2006-- More
and more backcountry skiers are choosing fat skis for their backcountry
ski tours, trading off the weight penalty for higher performance
on the downhill. We just received a pair of skis for spring testing
that would appear significantly alter the equation, reducing
the downside and increasing the upside of fat skis for touring.
With its 100mm waist and 134mm tip, the Karhu BC 100 will be
one of the fattest tele skis on the market next fall, and the
pair we have here weigh just a little over seven and a half pounds.
Instead of the metal found in the Jak Team
from which the BC 100 is derived, Karhu ski designer Francois
Sylvain uses the same die cut V-Band Carbon/Fiberglass laminate
found in the current Jak BC to give these new boards a healthy
dose of stiffness as well as apparently excellent torsional rigidity.
They have a healthy amount of sidecut and a seemingly round overall
flex that is somewhat less stiff than big brother Jak Team, attributes
which should make them easy turning boards.
 |
The test pair of BC 100s Karhu sent have a
somewhat square tail, as depicted in the illustration at the
top of the page. We are told that the production models will
have a more rounded tail similar to that of the Jak BC, pictured
at left. Otherwise our test pair is said to match the production
models in all other ways. |
At this point we really don't have a lot
more to say about these skis other than to point out that the
BC 100s are the backcountry oriented version of this year's much
heavier Jak Team (our Teams weighed in at nearly nine pounds)
and are to the Teams what the Jak BC is to the regular Jak, but
with a 100 waist instead of the Jak's 90 waist.
Here is a quick comparison between this
year's 179cm Jak BC, and the new for 2006/07 BC 100 in 179cm:
|
BC 100 |
Jak BC |
|
Weight: |
7 lbs 11 ozs |
7 lbs 4 ozs |
|
Tip: |
134mm |
124mm |
|
Waist: |
100mm |
90mm |
|
Tail: |
125mm |
113mm |
Stay tuned for more.. |