4FRNT

126)/136/115/133/(123) | $900 The new shape of powder skiing debuted in 2008–09: camber and sidecut underfoot; rocker and reverse sidecut tip and tail. The result: loose, slashy, floaty, get-after-it goodness—fresh as ever as the JJ heads into its fourth season. Testers still love it. Everyone loves it. Lengths: 165, 175, 185 Turn Radius: 14 at 185ABOUT ARMADAHe weighed only about 140 pounds, but when seven-time ESPN Winter X Games gold medalist Tanner Hall stomped his landing on the burgeoning new-school scene, the ski world shook. The Montana-bred Hall, never comfortable with authority, promptly ditched Rossignol and banded with other luminary park skiers to form Armada in 2002. The concept was brilliant: Star athletes would run the show, pimp the brand, design the skis they wanted, and control the message. Sales immediately took off, and now Armada, the giant of indies, rivals some of the mainstream brands for U.S. market share.
Gear

The Best Indie Skis

Dozens of new ski companies have sprouted in the last decade. Are they making good skis? Last spring, we went to Aspen to find out. The answer is yes, and here are our favorites.

benchet 12
Gear

Prime Powder Skis

In the gear world there's nothing more lust-worthy than super fat powder skis, the kind made of heli drops and snorkel-deep days. These are the best of the year.

If you ride switch a lot, this may be the binding for you. The Deadbolts zero ramp angle keeps your boot level underfoot and puts your shins in a neutral stance, which is ideal for switch riding, and 180-degrees of release range relieves pressure to your knees during a regular or switch twisting crash. A 5-15 DIN range and psychedelic styling complete this limited-edition binding.$374.99; 4FRNT.com.
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Best Bindings

A binding is a binding, right? Wrong. Binding technology has come a long way in the last few years. Here is a look at what's new.