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Glide, Sally, Glide The latest cross-country ski equipment helps you get into your groove. By Melissa DeVaughn
Scaled-Down Skis Back this season is Black Diamond's Arc Angel. A versatile, easy-to-handle backcountry ski with fatter dimensions for a fast, stable ride, the Arc Angel is available in a smaller size this year. "Last year, we had it down to a (size) 170 (centimeters). This year we brought it to a 160 for women," says Craig Hatton, product manager for the company's ski line. Also scaled down this year is Black Diamond's Arc Ascent, a lightweight ski sized for women in 167-, 175- and 183-centimeter lengths. It's a sprightly touring ski with medium-to-firm flex and enough sidecut for easy turning. New to Fischer's assembly of sport cross-country skis is its Short Cut line, which includes six models: the SL Superlight Crown, SL Superlight Wax, SL Fibre Crown, SL Sport Glass, SL Summit Crown, and SL Power Crown. Suitable for easy to moderately difficult trails, the line boasts some cruising-friendly innovations, including a redesigned grip zone for near-perfect glide and ultra-easy handling. Atomic's new telemark ski, the TM20, is designed for those who like to make turns both on piste and off. The ski's Beta technology helps it grip ice and float through powder. Although the TM20 isn't women-specific, its light weight and lengths down to 160 centimeters make it better for smaller women. Atomic's Tour Guide Superlight is a featherweight backcountry ski in sizes down to the diminutive 159 centimeters. The tip geometry and carving sidecut allow for easy maneuverability in the nastiest terrain.
Smaller Boots, Too Following the success of offering women's sizes in its T2 and T3 boots, Black Diamond has created women's sizing for its popular T1 and T-Race boots. The boots are still based on men's sizes but are built on a woman's last. Look for sizes as small as a 3-1/2 on these high-performance, all-mountain boots. Salomon's Vitane series continues to draw praise from skiers, in part because the boots are so comfortable. An energizer cuff system is built into the boot, and the back of the calf area is notched out to cradle the lower leg. "The boots also have a narrower heel pocket and a little different placement and volume in the boot for the instep area," says Salomon's Doug Nunn. Look for the Vitane 9 Skate and Salomon's best seller, the Combi Boot Vitane 8 Skate/Classic, which has a slightly lower cut and is designed for classical skiing. Fischer also offers a women-specific boot that's built on a woman's last: the SL Vitalis. Like the Vitane, it has a narrower heel pocket and is notched for greater flexibility at the back of the calf. Although not a new boot, the SL Vitalis has been redesigned for this season. Firmer Poles Swix's SR 2000 ski poles this season have a firmer, more user-friendly fit. "We changed the design a little bit to fit both smaller and larger hands," says the company's Amy Halliday. "The poles are easier to put on, and the strap fits more comfortably." Melissa DeVaughn is a freelance outdoor writer living in Eagle River, Alaska, and author of Alaska: Off the Beaten Path.
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