Anton Ski Reviews 2011

Comment (directly to review)

In the winter of 20082009, Anton Dynamics introduced the Carbon EX Glider to a limited number of professional skiers at private sessions held chiefly in California and the Rockies. Results were mixed. Some of pros jumped on the EX with confidence. Others approached the device with skepticism and disliked the Anton experience.

Carbon EX
106/64/102 (11.2m)    154cm

Controversy surrounds the system. Remember that only highly skilled and very unskilled skiers, skiers at opposite ends of the ability spectrum, embraced the first shapes; the middle majority took time to become accustomed to them. Rossignol and Salomon initially regarded shapes not as "real" skis, but as a passing fad and came late to the party. Elan, Head and K2 adopted the technology early.

Shapes began to gain mainstream credibility when Bode Miller began to win races on off-the-shelf K2 shaped skis. There occurred as well, over time, an evolution in technique toward making turns by tipping, which helped more skiers sense the power of shaped skis. Lower level skiers found early shapes were easy to turn with skis flat,which is how they ski, and liked them because the deep sidecut aided in turning flat skis.

Anton embarked  in winter 2010 on an expanded introduction program featuring a new model, the UFOria, available in two configurations, one with adjustable flex, one with fixed flex. It is very different from the Carbon.

Again, results were mixed. Some skiers, like U.S. Ski Team veteran and hyper-carving pioneer Geoff Bruce—who told us that the UFO is the"best carving ski he has tried"—and 2-time Swiss Ski Team Olympian Stefan Kaelin, who we hear currently skis only on Anton's, embraced the UFO's performance. Other top skiers, including our own John Clendenin, two time World Freestyle Champion, have commented that using Anton's has improved their skiing, even on conventional skis.

In fact, that point was made by a number of our testers. They felt that they skied better on their own skis after a session on UFO's, something we observed during a test program at several Utah resorts last spring. Will recreational skiers suddenly ski like Kaelin, Bruce, or Clendenin? Probably not, but, in our experience, many move closer after training sessions on Anton's.

On the other end of the spectrum, several highly highly respected coaches and their technical students have gone as far as to declare Anton's "unskiable".

We don't know why this divergence of opinion, but it seems at least partly attributable to one key performance attribute, beyond the parallel reality that the system has been undergoing constant refinement and Anton has encountered technical challenges at some points during development.

The ski maintains enhanced ski-to-snow contact, which high level skiers seek: observe some of the world's best free skiing, (although not on Anton's). Note the solid snow contact and seamless flow from one turn to another.

Experts who savor short radius fall line turns seem to crave the "pop" and we suspect its relative absence from Anton's performance may account for some of the reports we've heard. In short, like the first shaped skis, they are different and, like shaped skis, may require time for acceptance.

At this juncture, we suspect that suspension, as was the case with mountain bikes, may prove to be a major area of technological advance in skiing.

Will Anton rule?

Who can say?

Still, with many companies experimenting with suspension and flex adjustment systems, it is certain suspension will remain an increasingly important consideration in ski/binding systems.

Anton has just gone further so far than anyone else.

 

UFOria and UFOria XA

UFOria XA
127/78/116 (11.2m)   162cm

The following verbatim comments and the solid performance scores (available on our member site) come from a group of recreational skiers and instructors who tested Anton Suspension Systems UFOria's during a Utah on-snow event in February 2010.

"Hmm.... Is this the future of ski design or simply the best teaching aid ever devised? Not sure myself, but these skis are incredible."

"Wonderful on groomed. Price? . . . oops!"

"The more you push it, the more it responds. Builds confidence immediately. I'd buy it at a reasonable price."

"Carve it up! Any shape turn."

"Hard pack ripping!"

"Fun! Fun! Fun!"

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for 2011: Confidence Score — Builds Confidence Lowers Confidence No effect either way