FasterSkier

Tag: Josh Doebbert

  • Fischer Celebrates Strong Carbonlite Rollerski Reactions

     

    Fischer Rollerskis

     

    (Press release)

    New for 2015, the Fischer Carbonlite Rollerskis employ the same air core construction as Fischer’s race skis and as a result, these rollerskis bear a feel similar snow skis from Fischer: lively, smooth and responsive. The response from dealers and athletes alike has been positive:

    “I have been skiing on both the skate and classic skis since mid-spring, and we have had demo pairs go out the door with customers.  Feedback has been great from those that have tried them and the guys in our shop that have tried them.  The skate skis are some of the best that I have used.  They have a damp feel on the road, plus the shaft has a lively feel to it without being overly soft.  The wheel speed is right in the middle of where I like it to be, and the skis that we have tried have tracked perfectly without any adjustments.  We have put them through some good use throughout the last month with no noticeable wear on the wheels.  And they look great.” – Dave Chamberlain, Boulder Nordic Sport

    Composite shafts are superior, both at dampening road noise, and providing some elastic material response. These skis are ground-up designs, and like most everything Fischer does, they’re done right. Very smooth rolling, perfect tracking right out of the box, and great ski feel.

    The risk with composite shafts designed to flex is that they can be too soft, and end up feeling spongy. When that’s the case for a lightweight like myself, the chances are that bigger skiers will be in for a very mushy ride. No chance of that problem on these skis – the carbon shafts are very snappy feeling, and will work well for skiers of all sizes.

    As always, Fischer has nailed the form factor as well. It’s worth noting that the carbon forks are reinforced with metal, and appear to be quite robust. – Zach Caldwell, Caldwell Sport

    Fischer Rollerski

     

    I’m happy to report that although they may at first seem similar to other options out there, there are a multitude of small, well thought out touches that set the Carbonlite rollerskis apart and make them possibly the best overall rollerski models available.First impressions first; the combination of carbon, air-core, and aluminum that Fischer uses for the shaft makes these skis stiff. This is noticeable in two ways: first, they feel slightly higher off the ground than they actually are, and once you get moving their ride is noticeably “responsive.” Those who have switched from a steel or aluminum bike frame to carbon fiber will know this feeling well; the first time you get on, it may feel a bit unforgiving, but given a little time with it, you’ll adapt to the new feel, and everything else will seem sluggish and noodley in comparison, especially when you try to put power down. – Josh Doebbert, Gear West

    Fischer Rollerski Boot
    Fischer’s Rollerski Specific Boot

    For more on the Fischer Carbonlite Rollerski contact your Fischer Sports dealer. Have a reaction to the skis? Connect with us: fischerskis@pressforwardpr.com

  • Gear West Has Fischer Speedmax

    Fischer Speedmax
    Fischer Speedmax

    Gear West is excited to have received a shipment of Fischer Speedmax skate skis. Fischer’s new Cold Base Bonding technology equates to faster skis. By avoiding heat and pressure when the base is added the base material retains a high level of wax absorption.  Better wax absorption equates to faster skis. Three Gear West ski experts: Matt Liebsch, Jan Guenther and Josh Doebbert share their thoughts regarding the Fischer Speedmax.

    Matt Liebsch
    The new Fischer Speed Max skis are quite phenomenal.  They handle a very wide range of conditions and stability is rock solid.  I first tried a pair two years ago at US Nationals and I didn’t even know what I was on… but I could tell right away that I was on something different, they were faster than all my other race proven pairs!  My experience with the Speed Max is that they are always very good but in some conditions the ski just blows away everything else.   I’ve been told this is due to the new Cold Base Bonding technology that leaves the base unaltered from pressure and heat associated with standard production… end result, fast skis!

    Jan Guenther
    I checked out the Fischer Speedmax at the  XC Ski Demo on Sunday after the Birke at 00. It was a great opportunity to try a huge variety of skis and the Speedmax offered the best of everything- light weight, speed and wonderful stability all in one ski.

    Josh Doebbert
    As skiers, we are all taught the importance of not overheating the bases of our skis when ironing.  It closes the pores of the base material and prevents it from accepting wax, we are told.  But no one talks about the fact that to cure the epoxies inside modern skis during production, those skis must be heated to a temperature that, like an iron left on the base too long, does real and permanent damage to those same pores.  Enter the SpeedMax, Fischer’s new design, which separates the processes of core construction and base application and prevents this damage.  It’s a very simple premise, but the result is a ski that’s noticeably faster underfoot than Fischer’s already World Cup proven Carbonlite and RCS models.

    Check out Fischer Speedmax

  • Ski Fit at Gear West – Get Your Requests In Now

    Ski Fit at Gear West – Get Your Requests In Now

    Store owner Brian Knutson – ski fit legend.

    At its most basic level, “ski fit” can be defined as finding a ski that is of correct length and stiffness. This baseline is something you should be able to obtain at any reputable ski shop. But what does a Gear West ski fit entail that makes us so much different that the baseline? We use our hands, eyes, 3 flex benches, and a one-of-a kind ski flex test analyzer to distinguish us a leader and innovator. We have close to a hundred combined years of ski fitting experience and are never satisfied until we have found your new favorite pair of skis.

    Matt Liebsch assembling his Fischer Carbonlite race fleet November, 2011.

    Like many years in the past, we are currently working with our suppliers to obtain the very best quality skis for our customers. Our leadership in the industry allows us to make certain that only the highest quality skis are carried at Gear West. This summer we will be working with and travelling to national and international race departments to score the highest level of race quality skis.

    So what is this “quality” that keeps getting mentioned?

    Quality is a term that can be misleading when it comes to skis and ski fit. What are we talking about when it comes to quality?

    • The quality of materials that comprise a ski?
    • The quality of matched skis? The quality of base or base finish?
    • The quality of manufacturing or finish or graphics?

    In my opinion, quality is how fast a ski is when gliding on snow, how well it kicks and how easy it is to ski on. I want the fastest ski possible when I am racing but stability and ease of use also play a part.

    So back to our baseline length and flex.

    • When it comes to length we typically suggest longest ski possible that you can still ski on comfortably. All things equal, a longer ski is generally a faster ski. For example, just ask Tad Elliott why he is now on 192 cm skate skis vs 187 cm skis. The one caveat to this is, some ski manufacturers are better at building certain lengths of skis. A few years ago, Salomon produced some very high quality skis in 187cm skate and 201cm classic. Production batches and day to day (even hour to hour) quality at the factory can play a factor in this as well. We at Gear West know our inventory very well, and work with our ski manufacturers to ensure only the highest quality.
    • Flex – this is the fuzzy area. So, what’s with all the numbers on skis these days? Basically, they help determine if the skis are matched and give a baseline on how stiff the ski is. No flex number I have ever seen gives a quantitative value of flex. If they did, I wouldn’t have a job! Truth is, ski companies don’t want you to know there is a difference in quality of flex. They would like consumers to believe that one $600 ski is equivalent to the same $600 ski at another ski shop! That is not the case, and is it is also the reason Gear West spends considerable time and money maintaining the largest high quality ski selection in North America.

    So what does this all mean to you, the skier? Well, if I were a consumer of Nordic racing skis, I would find a shop that not only has your baseline fit covered but also understands the “quality” involved in the ski fitting process.

    Josh Doebbert – Gear West Flex Specialist using the one-of-a-kind Gear West Flex Tester to determine a perfect fit.

     

    With that said, I invite you to be involved in the process! As mentioned earlier, I am working with national and international racing departments to find the best skis for Gear West’s inventory.

    If you are in the market for a high level racing ski from Fischer, Rossignol, Salomon or Atomic, we encourage you to fill out a ski request form. Getting your name in the hat early on ensures that we will keep your personal needs in mind, putting the world’s inventory at your fingertips and therefore guaranteeing the absolute highest quality imaginable!

    Click HERE to submit a ski request form.