Skis For The Stars

Williamstown, VT, Aug. 14, 2001–Dynastar, didn’t have to look past its French roots to come up with a new exclusive and hedonistic ski, the Avant Premiere #1. The ski sports a price tag of $3,000 (yes, that’s three thousand dollars) and does not include a heli-skiing package to Valdez, AK or a case of Dom Perignon as you might expect.

The Avant Premiere features Autodrive Technology (as does the rest of the Dynastar line) designed to allow any type of skier to ride with less effort, more control, and superior performance. To achieve this combination, Autodrive features three unique design elements: the front section of the ski employs a cap construction for initial edge grip and easy turn initiation, the midsection features an over-sized, vertical sidewall for maximum carving power and edge hold, and the tail uses a thin profile to develop more energy while exiting the turn.

So what’s so special about this ski? It doesn’t have auto-pilot or turbo boosters, but it does come straight from the Dynastar race department and is actually a modified version of the company’s World Cup GS ski. So what! The ski caters toward the high-end consumer who is motivated by exclusivity (only 200 pairs are available worldwide), not necessarily functionality.

So what else do you get if you forgo eating, rent, and alimony to buy this ski? For starters, the Avant Premiere is pretty, like the Monet above your mantle. It changes color under various light conditions, from burgundy, to green, to copper (making a hallucinogen-spiked Hot Toddie unnecessary in your daily ski routine). The exclusive consumer benefits program is the crème brûlée of the Avant Premiere package. Each owner will receive a VIP registration card entitling him or her to an annual ski refinishing and tunings by Dynastar race technicians, an annual “Ski With the Champions” ski clinic, and a VIP pass to the Dynastar Café at the Salt Lake Olympics with a chance to watch the Olympic downhill and meet Dynastar-rider, Tommy Moe.

Verdict: The ski bunny next door is still more concerned with what you’re riding “in” rather than what you’re riding “on.” Or is it personality that matters these days?