Salomon Dumont 2008

Formerly the LAB the Dumont of 2006 and available on a strictly limited basis. Its success has justified its inclusion in the main range this year. Perhaps this is the way Salomon need to go with many of their top level skis- actually make them for people who can ski rather than market them and manufacture them for people who just think they can ski.
The Dumont is a fantastic and powerful pair of skis for confirmed freestyle skiers. The flex pattern, the shape and the core are all tailor made for the job and they are an exceptional pair of skis for skiers with much greater ability than mine in the park or pipe!!

The manufacturer says this about the Salomon, Dumont, 2008, Freestyle, Pipe, Advanced, Expert, Skis:

Simon’s choice
Graphics were huge for me. I really wanted something original and expressive. I worked with an amazing artist from Whistler, Chili Tom, and I was able to get exactly what I was looking for. I love how the artwork on my skis blends together. As for the construction,, I knew I was lookin for a ski with a different sidecut so I could mount my skis more forward than the traditional centre mounting. I couldn’t be more stoked than the end result.
Simon Dumont

Salomon Foil 2008

Another year and we get another Foil. unchanged from ’07 the Foil has proven to be a huge success due to their combination of lightness, reasonable firmness of flex and a sidecut that still gives a good carve with enough width to keep you on top of the fluff. The ski itself has proved itself stronger, stiffer and much more suited to the latest jibbing and back-country adventures of the Freeride generation than the now long gone 1080 of yore. Confidence has been restored in the Salomon brand on the back of the Foils and last years LAB Simon Dumont & LAB Gun which were great skis for the expert.
Sure to continue to be popular amongst the brigades of freeride/ freestyle jibbers the Foil is a versatile and fun allround backcountry to allmountain ski.

The manufacturer says this about the Salomon, Foil, 2008, Freeride, Freestyle, Advanced, Expert, Skis:

Unlimited performance for parks and powder!

this ski does it all…get the fresh powder first thing and then hit the park in the afternoon without changing your skis. Rock solid structure that was built for performance. Mad action requires radical design, so Jamie Strachan dug deep into his sub-conscious to create his acid test vision of the world today.

Salomon Temptress 2008

The Temptress is the latest incarnation of the legendary 1080 but with a feminine graphic. Again Salomon have their graphics sorted for this year and the Temptress looks fantastic. The core is an isocell woodcore with a mix of wood and isocell foam- so you have the lightness and agility from the foam plus stability and durability of the wood.
The Temptress is one of the most versatile skis available with something to offer everyone from intermediate to expert skier and its not only freestylers who will have fun with this pair of twin-tips.
Highly recommended.

The manufacturer says this about the Salomon, Temptress, 2008, Women, Freestyle, Advanced, Expert, Recreational, Skis:

Lead them to temptation.

Tempted to follow the boys to the park…don’t follow, lead them to the park! With all our latest freestyle technologies you’ve got better rail contact and even smoother landings. Just because you can stomp tricks with the best of them does not mean you can’t be punchy and feminine. Show them what you’ve got with this ski inspired by you.

Salomon Mynx 2008

Agile, mid-bodied and enough strength to let you tear it up. The Mynx is developed from the hugely popular Foil but with a graphic inspired for women. For 2008 they look great, feminine but cool without being too girly.
They ski very well and are great allmountain skis and very easy in fresh snow and heavy spring conditions. The light construction makes the Mynx easy to use for even the holiday skier whilst the seasonaire will find them adept throughout the winter.
Perhaps a touch wide for use in the bumps and also a little flappy at speed or on firm snow the Mynx is happiest when cruising off piste or on fresh snow. Both advanced and expert skiers will enjoy the Mynx in the right conditions.

The manufacturer says this about the Salomon, Mynx, 2008, Womens, Freestyle, Freeride, Advanced, Expert, Skis:

Rock solid femininty….

The natural, elegant design of the Mynx may be feminine and delicate but you can still experience twintip action on the whole mountain with this rock solid ski packed with versatility. Show the guys who reigns the mountain!

Salomon Flyer 2008

As per the 151 reviewed earlier in the blue and white graphic. Versatile, fun freestyle skis for teenage skiers or light adults.
Modelled around the original 1080 model the Flyer is a versatile allmountain twin tip ski that is great for the intermediate to advanced skiers. They are available in four lengths and the 171 is fine for light adult skiers and also pretty adept at shredding the bumps. If you’re looking for your first pair of freestyle skis then you will find the Flyers easy to use agile and fun in soft snow conditions. As with the majority of freestyle skis they don’t offer the best in on piste performance but they are forgiving and you can ski pretty much any slope on a pair of Flyers.

The manufacturer says this about the Salomon, Flyer, 2008, Junior, Freestyle, Skis:

To become one of the best…

You can really begin to express your style and fly high. Perfect for park and pipe, this solid twin tip is for aspiring jibbers to take their stand.

Atomic Thug 2008

Big, this ski is real big. Guess it is like a comparing the average to Pamela Anderson, you kinda get the feeling that you are going to have to commit a little more. The Thug’s are 120mm at their narrowest point, fat enough for a weight watcher to faint, so they can handle the powder till it reaches over your head- they are supposedly great and well balanced for landing switch off the cliffs, but I’ll leave that for others to explore. So the new graphic is a little toned down, its fine, nothing revolutionary but adequate for the market but the Thug really does need some taming.
The37m radius is huge and half way between a World Cup Super G and DH ski in terms of turn raidus, so either you need a lot of space to put in an arc, some soft snow or legs like an oak.
Pure powder performance for the dedicated backcountry Freestyler who has really got tired of and too cool to hang in Park anymore.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, Thug, 2008:

The fat kid out of the Freeskiing family. With its 120mm waist width this sandwich babyy makes you float on the top of the fresh powder and gives you the chance to land your backcountry kicker tricks switch. Since last years graphic was over the top we had to give it another go for you.

Atomic Twins 2008

The entry model to the Aotmic freestyle range. The graphics are cool, the price is low-ish and the ski cruises well and can be used as a softer more versatile allrounder. The wood core gives you stability and and good pop when trying to huck the jumps and the Twins have a good image is which is half (at least) of what this sort of skiing is about.
Cool looking freeskis that will let you ski most places with ease.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, Twins, 2008:

With its improved technology and slanted sidewall construction the Twin gives you twin tip fun at a low price- which will leave you enough money in your pocket to buy yourselves skills. By any means this ski can go anywhere from floating over pillows, spinning throught the Park to……..

Atomic Urban Punx 2008

Urban Punx are one of the most focused Pipe’n Grind skis aroundalbeit with a view to hitting some of these kickers in the backcountry. A very specialised ski that you can ski pretty much everywhere but they are designed to excel in the Pipe with their genuine twin tip construction and Atomic’s dual edge "Dura EdgeSidewall Reinforcement". They U-Punx are super strong on the edge and sidewall to give you the confidence to huck jumps & hammer them on the rails. A focused package for the dedicated freestyler.

The manufacturer says this about the Atomic, Urban Punx, 2008:

Believe it or not but the Punx and Urban Punx are the only pure twin-tip skis on the market and seeing guys like Jossi Wells, Travis Redd and Charly Ager on it proves its shred potential. This kinetic core sandwich ski with its double edge annihilated any rail in its path and comes out unscathed

Rossignol Scratch Steeze 2008

Manufacturers review- testing 123

The manufacturer says this about the Rossignol, Scratch, Steeze, 2008, Big Mountain, Freeride, Backcountry, Expert, Pro, Skis

Stunning in every sense. I first caught a glimpse of these on the Grand Motte glacier in Tignes in Autumn ’06 and couldn’t believe my eyes- the graphics are really out there and fun, kinda where skiing should be. Every component is there for an awe inspiring pair of backcountry Freestyle skis and with Rossignols heritage with the Scratch and Bandit range of skis I am sure that they will ride well- Thovex’s choice for the those big powder hucks.

Jon Olsson Pro Model 2008!

Perhaps the coolest and surely one of the classiest graphics for 2008- what they ski like we don’t know yet- imagining they are the Pro Model of one of the Worlds top free skiers I’d expect them to ski pretty well. But with the Olsson Pro Model I am sure they will no doubt be bought for looks alone.

Keep checkin’ out skireviews.co.uk for upcoming skis and more info on the 2008 models such as the JO Pro Model.