Bodacious

Round 1 – Powder Selection, Pick 9

Arne Backstrom’s brainchild was the sweetest ride I had in Jackson. It skis like a sledgehammer wrapped in velvet, or a luxury Austrian steamroller. I was none too happy carrying these metal-laden behemoths up the bootpack, but that was all forgiven in turn one. Flat light and variable, but the skis felt like a dead-quiet express elevator with no speed limit. Although the subtle rocker makes it easy to pivot and dump the heat, there’s really no need unless there’s a tree or rock in the way, because you can just stand up and erase anything in your path. The flipcore concept (flat camber and subtle rocker) gives the Bodacious the quick turn and effortless drift I love about rocker skis, without the wheelie effect or getting hung out on a rail in the trees.