Black Diamond ski Catalog 2012

f r e e r i d e s k i i n g 0 8 - 0 9

pre-dawn rituals

Back in the early 1990s, the late, great alex lowe (aka, the Fiend) was

the commander-in-chief of a crew of Bd employees that would wake up

at inhuman hours in order to score turns before having to be at work at 8

a.m.—a task dubbed by the Fiend as “dawn patrol.” For the past 15 years here at

Black diamond the dawn patrol has become the ultimate ski ritual, one embraced by

Black diamond’s at and tele skiers alike as the quintessential tribute to the Fiend.

sure, every dedicated, die-hard skier has their rituals, those practices and hab-

its that are subscribed to with religious fervor. But nothing was as special as going

on a d.p. with the Fiend, a man who had no limit to his endurance and stoke, a man

who was truly a machine. His phone call would come at two minutes to 9 p.m., just

before he would rack out for the night. He was the

master of the Jedi Mind trick. “Hey, it’s alex. You

want to ski tanners tomorrow. You will be at my

house at four.” Click. that was it. You never even

had a chance to say no or yes, no chance to say you

were still exhausted from dawn patrolling with him

the previous day, no chance to bail and sleep in. the

Fiend had called—you were going.

You could hear the espresso being ground from outside his front door. He

would have your caffeine dose ready and waiting: eight shots of espresso (with the

consistency of 40-weight motor oil and served at a scorching 373-degrees Kelvin)

hidden beneath a thick layer of milky foam. On the drive out of town you abided by

the Fiend’s rule of blindly running every red light—even tapping the brakes mid-

intersection would mean getting heckled.

Once you parked the car at the trailhead there was not a moment to waste.

the Fiend would be disappearing into the pre-dawn blackness before you could even

get one ski on. the Fiend was always out in front. Always. no matter how long or

arduous the trail-breaking duty, he would be on top well before the group. the dawn

patrol was his ritual, his special time, and he reveled in doing the heavy lifting. On

top, your heart rate redlined and lungs sucked from the effort of trying to keep up

with the Fiend. He’d quickly take off your skins, roll ‘em up and put them in your

pack, then immediately charge down the chute just as the dim light of a winter’s

dawn pushed through the darkness. at 7:58 a.m. you’d come through the doors at

Bd, still in your ski clothing and boots, dripping melted snow and stinking of sweat,

and get to work on your other ritual, one that, much like the dawn patrol, we pas-

sionately continue to this day: designing and manufacturing the world’s finest ski

equipment. thanks for the inspiration, alex.

– the employee owner s of black diamond

e v e r Y d e d i c a t e d ,

d i e - H a r d s K i e r H a s

t H e i r r i t u a l s , t H O s e

p r a c t i c e s a n d H a B i t s

t H a t a r e s u B s c r i B e d

t O w i t H r e l i g i O u s

F e r v O r

The BD posse post-holing

up the Y Couloir before work,

Wasatch backcountry, Utah.

1 A n D r e W B U r r

freeride skiing 0 8 - 0 9

g e a r

4 - 13 boots 18 - 27 skis 32 - 35 bindings 40 - 43 poles 48 - 51 skins 56 - 63 snow safe t y 66 - 73 packs

76 - 85 gloves

w O r d s

14 - 15 being narajowski a typically hectic day with the Bd boot development team through the eyes of Boot project director, dave narajowski.

28 - 29 a broken season a fractured elbow ruins a year of skiing—or does it?

nick devore

36 - 37 the big dump Forget the easter eggs—Xl prepares for the powder day of the year.

x avier leonti

44 - 45 the pilgrimage a ski season isn’t complete without a spring trip to alaska’s wild chugach Mountains. dan c aruso

52 - 53 the gear i used check out what it takes to ski utah’s Y-not couloir.

br ad barl age

86 - 87 speak out for silence a call to protect and preserve the backcountry ski experience.

mark menlove

88 - 89 parting shot

2 - 3

The late, great Billy Poole f lashing some style, Las Llenas, Argentina.

To learn more about our Billy’s life and legacy visit www.billypoolememorialfund.org.

1 W i L L W i s s m A n / T h e L e v i TAT i o n P r o j e c T

boots | 4 - 5

Alpine overlap

construction produces

a natural and

progressive flex

Unrestricted upper

cuff and ski/walk

mode for unrivaled

touring efficiency

True-lasted thermo-

moldable liner with

Boa closure system

for customizable fit

t h e f a c t o r i n y o u r f a c e

boots

“Freeriding is like playing a real-life super Mario brothers video game.

Whether jumping off a pillow, flying over a cliff or jibbing a tree, you can

do things that you only thought were possible in a virtual world.

the possibilities with freeriding are totally endless… the definition totally open.”

— Drew Stoeckline is a professional skier based out of Idaho,

but once the snow starts to fall he and his beloved Fac tors

c an be found ripping it throughout the nation

in competitions, films and photos.

1 g a b e r o g e l

boots | 6 - 7

InsIde bd’s freerIde boots

black diamond’s all-new line of freeride boots is

going to change the way you ski. Innovative in

design, unique in construction, and uncompro-

mising in versatility, these three At boots and

six telemark boots will break down the boundar-

ies between the alpine and backcountry worlds

through three main areas of focus: fit, flex and

Access. It’s the unique combination of these three

areas that make bd’s boots unrivaled in comfort

and performance.

Accessfor far too long we’ve been jonesing for a boot that

could perform as well on the down as the up. that At

or tele boot was nice for the skin up, but, once we

headed down, its performance lagged. tired of wishing

for that magic boot that had five-star touring efficiency

and alpine performance, we made our own. the result?

not only does our alpine overlap construction result in a

high performance flex, but the smoothly articulating, non-

restrictive cuffs also yield unrivaled touring efficiency for

the ultimate in anywhere anytime access.

f Itsore feet suck. that’s why we were obsessed in making

our boots comfortable enough for a full day of charging

in the backcountry or a first-chair-to-last-call weekend at

the resort. Insulating boot boards… strobeled bases…

true-lasted liners… unique custom foot beds… exclusive

boa closure system—our boots’ ground-up fit system is

stacked with features that vastly improve performance and

comfort for both men and women.

flex“It’s all about the down” is our mantra here at bd. We’ve

built our boots to excel on the down by incorporating

enough stiffness to ensure maximum power transfer when

we’re ripping that dawn patrol dream run or Mach-ing

down a corduroy field of spring corn. the shells of our

boots are built using alpine overlap construction, which

produces a natural progressive flex and ankle articulation

that keeps the knee over the ski. this true progressive flex

results in immediate power transfer with the sensitivity to

absorb and feel—something an unnatural, mechanically

obstructed, traditional tongue construction cannot deliver.

Triple-Density Injection

Overlap Tongue Construction

Powerful Triax Frame Construction

Custom Insole

Strobeled Base

Thermoformable Foam

Boa Closure System

Insulating, Customizable Boot Board

Walk/Ski Mode

Excellent Cuff Mobility

Interchangable Performance Soles

boots | 8 - 9

SHIVA < NEW >

Our premiere women’s AT boot, the Shiva has the alpine stiff-

ness you’re accustomed to while providing an unrivaled level of

customization and backcountry tourability. Specifically designed

for a female foot, the Shiva’s liner, cuff opening, rear spoiler and

more aggressive stance angle address the performance and fit

needs of a woman. The Shiva’s Triax-Performance Frame (with

Flex 100 rating) is built with Pebax to provide a forgiving yet

responsive feel. The Women’s Power Fit Light Liner and high-

performance thermoformable foot bed ensure a top-quality,

custom fit. The Shiva comes with AT blocks with integrated tech

inserts and is compatible with BD ISO Alpine DIN blocks (sold

separately).

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Verdict, Joule and Voodoo

sIZe rAnGe: mONdO 23-26.5, In hAlf sIZes

WeIGht: 3.65 kg (8 lb 1 oZ), per pAIr, sIZe 25

SHIVA | #120205

OpTIONAl ISO AlpINE dIN blOck | #120400

mETHOd < NEW >

The method is for the modern AT skier who craves downhill

performance as much as tourability and comfort. Slightly less

torsionally and longitudinally stiff than the Factor, the Method

is your choice for skiing any and all terrain, from no-falls steeps

to deep powder bowls. With its Triax-Performance Frame™ with

Pebax® and Flex 110 rating, the Method still has power to drive

today’s fat skis. The boot is equipped with both a thermoformable

high-performance foot bed and a Power Fit Light Liner. Changing

the Method between AT blocks and BD ISO Alpine DIN blocks

(sold separately) is third-grade easy due to the sliding, four-screw

attachment system.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Verdict, Kilowatt and Voodoo



mETHOd | #120105

OpTIONAl ISO AlpINE dIN blOck | #120400

FAcTOr < NEW >

The Factor is built for the hardest of hard chargers, who run

it wide open on blower pow, send 30-footers to hardpack and

pull 60 mph straight lines—skiers with tight pants or skinny

skis need not apply. The stiffest freeride boot in the BD line, the

Factor, with its Flex-130 rated Triax-Pro Frame™ constructed with

100% Pebax, is the ultimate combination of backcountry and al-

pine boots. You want a custom fit? You’ll get it thanks to the

Factor’s thermoformable high-performance foot bed and Power

Fit Liner. The Factor comes equipped with ISO Alpine DIN blocks

and is compatible with BD AT blocks (sold separately), which are

quickly and easily changed out with our unique sliding, four-

screw attachment.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Megawatt, Zealot and Verdict



FAcTOr | #120100

OpTIONAl AlpINE TOurINg blOck | #120401

A L P I N E T O U R I N G

POWER s e r I e s

No bouNdaries? No problem.

FIT: Power Fit Liners with true-lasted, Strobeled bases and exclusive Boa closure system

FLEX: Triax-Pro and Triax-Performance Frames ski like your alpine boots

ACCESS: Unprecedented range of motion and a highly tunable, integrated ski/walk mode

b l a c k d i a m o n d e q u i p m e n t. c o m 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

Jeff Knaub freeriding in Haines, Alaska.

1 R yA n T u R n e R

boots | 10 - 11b l a c k d i a m o n d e q u i p m e n t. c o m 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

puSH < NEW >

The boot that will push your skiing to the next level, the smooth

and powerful push will put you in the driver’s seat. The combi-

nation of our lower-cuffed Triax-Performance Frame, Flex 110 rat-

ing and MidStiff bellows yields a boot that is 30% softer than the

Custom. The forward flex feels right in between a Terminator and

Ener-G, while offering exceptional torsional control that defies

comparison. The Push has a Power Fit Liner and thermoformable

foot bed for top-shelf customization and fit. Not compatible with

three-pin bindings.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Verdict, Kilowatt and Havoc



puSH | #120125

STIlETTO < NEW >

Our top-of-the-line women’s freeheel boot, the Stiletto craves

big skis and fluid lines—be it waist-deep pow in the British Co-

lumbia backcountry or off-piste action at La Grave. Specifically

designed for a female foot, the Stiletto’s cuff opening, rear spoil-

er, liner and more aggressive stance angle address the perfor-

mance and fit needs of a woman. The Triax-Performance Frame

(Flex 100 rating), overlap alpine construction and MidStiff bel-

lows work in concert to give the boot a stiff yet forgiving feel.

The thermoformable foot bed and Women’s Power Fit Liner will

dial in the fit on even the funkiest of feet. Not compatible with

three-pin bindings.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Kilowatt, Joule and Velvet



STIlETTO | #120225

cuSTOm < NEW >

born for the steep spines of the chugach, the custom is the

stiffest tele boot we make. Warning: The combination of alpine

overlap construction and Triax-Pro Frame (with Flex 130 rating)

makes the Custom a stiff mofo that demands aggressive skier

input. Additionally, the RidStiff bellows offers a very stiff yet re-

sponsive flex. The thermoformable foot bed and Power Fit Liner

ensure a deluxe fit that’ll keep you on the mountain and charging.

Not compatible with three-pin bindings.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Megawatt, Zealot and Verdict



cuSTOm | #120120

T E L E M A R K

POWER s e r I e s

Big Boots for Big skis

FIT: Power Fit Liners with true-lasted, Strobeled bases and exclusive Boa® closure system

FLEX: Triax-Pro and Triax-Performance Frames are smooth f lexing with maximum torsional power

ACCESS: Unprecedented range of motion and a highly tunable, integrated ski/walk mode

Chris Erickson in the Wasatch backcountry, Utah.

1 J ay B E y E r / P W 0 8

b l a c k d i a m o n d e q u i p m e n t. c o m 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3 boots | 12 - 13

SEEkEr < NEW >

For those who seek out secret stashes of ungodly-deep back-

country powder, the shockingly responsive Seeker is what you’ve

been looking for. The Seeker, with a lower cuff than boots in

our Power Series, is built with an emphasis on light weight while

maintaining efficient power transmission. The thermoformable

Efficient Fit Liner and customizable foot bed provides a tasty

fit, while the Triax-Tour Frame™ (Flex 100 rating) and MidStiff

bellows ensure maximum efficiency for the skin up and high

performance control for the charge down. Compatible with three-

pin bindings.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Kilowatt, Voodoo and Stigma



SEEkEr | #120130

AXIS < NEW >

Our minimalist tele boot bred for all-day comfort in the back-

country, the lightweight Axis holds its own while going hut-

to-hut or hunting for that tasty powder stash. The Axis comes

with an Efficient Fit Light liner that has a single-pull speed lace

closure and is thermoformable for a completely customized fit.

The Axis is built with a Triax-Tour Frame with Pebax and polyure-

thane (Flex 80 rating), and has FreeFlex bellows for a classic feel

with a new level of control. Compatible with three-pin bindings.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Voodoo, Guru and Cult



AXIS | #120135

TrANcE < NEW >

A she-tool for backcountry powder shots, the Trance is designed

for the consummate female tele skier, who needs a lightweight,

high performance boot that can excel as much on the up as on

the down. Trance’s cuff opening, rear spoiler, liner and more

aggressive stance angle address the specific performance and fit

needs of a woman. Built on our Triax-Tour Frame (Flex 90) with

a MidStiff bellows, the Trance also has a Women’s Efficient Fit

Liner that is thermoformable for a custom fit. Compatible with

three-pin bindings.

rEcOmmENdEd SkIS: Joule, Velvet and Stigma



TrANcE | #120230

T E L E M A R K

EffIcIENT s e r I e s

For the backcountry and beyond

FIT: Efficient Fit Liners with true-lasted, Strobeled liners with exclusive Boa closure system

FLEX: Triax-Tour Frames for maximum torsional control in the lightest boots possible

ACCESS: Unprecedented range of motion and a highly tunable integrated ski/walk mode

Cornellia Zamernik at St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria.

1 T h o m A S G S T i r

* more products & info

www.bdel.com/ boots

be InG nArAjoWskI | 14 - 15

The design, development and production of black diamond’s new line of freeride boots has been a three-year, multi-

national collaboration, involving more than 40 team members, frequent-flyer mileages in the seven-figures range and

countless days of on-snow testing on three continents. the project has become the biggest, most logistically-intensive

endeavor in the history of black diamond. It has involved a mind-boggling array of minutiae requiring multilin-

gual meetings, pre-dawn phone conferences, strategy sessions, global logistics, prototyping, 12-person email

threads and field testing that have left the boot development crew juggling multiple time zones and living off

of adrenaline, caffeine, dawn patrols and stoke. for a peek behind the scenes, check out what a typical day was

like for dave narajowski, the boot project director (aka, the pit boss) during the peak of development.

• 12:01 - 6:30 a.m. ~ While narajowski sleeps, 40 or so emails

from bd co-workers in Asia and europe fill his inbox.

• 7:30 - 8:00 a.m. ~ Initial triage on last night’s email, scan-

ning for crucial updates and prioritizing the messages to be

dealt with later.

• 8:56 a.m. ~ pulls into bd parking lot and sees brett keyes,

product developer, commando-changing out of his ski cloth-

ing. keyes and three other bd employees took the latest

Method protos out for a dawn patrol testing session and

briefly tell narajowski about the traction on the new blocks.

• 9:00 a.m. ~ Walks in through the side door, sits down at desk

and turns on email and skype. the voicemail light is flashing

with seven new messages. checks to ensure the phone is set

to “do not disturb.”

• 9:02 a.m. ~ brendan perkins, product developer, beckons

narajowski over to review cAd designs of the size 28 factor’s

tech inserts he is working on. narajowski, based upon emails

he reviewed earlier that morning from dave Mellon, Vp of

product, and thomas laasko, ski line category director, asks

brendan to try and increase strength and trim down weight.

• 9:37 a.m. ~ A quick meeting with product designers jake hall

and jeremy saxton to ensure their original design intent of the

tele efficient line is being preserved. paul terry slides into the

cubicle to discuss liner shape and construction details.

• 10:12 - 10:55 a.m. ~ dives into the emails. A bd press trip

is coming up and thomas wants to make sure there will be

customs in size 29 available for the gig… Andy rosenberg

from the QA lab has the results of the magnesium buckles’

10,000-cycle spring test and the bellows’ latest round through

the bd-engineered flex machine (aka, the rosen-flexer)…

Mellon forwards a message thread that says narajowski has to

rebook his flight next week to Asia to include a 48-hour stop-

over in china to work with the bd cAd team there.

• 11 - 12:30 p.m. ~ design meeting with the entire boot team.

With derek Gustafson, product developer, driving the bus,

every single component of each of the nine boot styles is

reviewed, its green, yellow or red status discussed.

• 12:35 p.m. ~ lunch from the vending machine and two cokes.

More emailing while eating lunch.

• 1 - 2:38 p.m. ~ “tops” meeting with all of the bd department

heads as well as peter Metcalf, the ceo. the main topic is no

surprise: the boots.

• 2:45 - 3:28 p.m. ~ power emailing to various boot team mem-

bers in Utah, taiwan, china and europe about everything from

liner fabric sourcing to approval of buckle colors to outsole

rubber durability testing to revisions and tooling.

• 3:30 - 5:32 p.m. ~ skype conference with bd teams in taiwan

and china. narajowski brings everyone up to speed on the

results of the 11 a.m. meeting. the meeting goes long due to

numerous updates on the liners, moldings and logistics. the

group reviews 3d data posted on the international server.

• 5:45 p.m. ~ passes the torch of responsibility for the night

over to the heads in china and taiwan (Alex holzberger,

developer, and steven Wen, engineer, respectively). Quickly

shuts down skype so he can get out of the office by 6:30 p.m.

and doesn’t get caught by a last minute call from Asia. his

voicemail is now flashing 15 new messages.

• 5:58 p.m. ~ Mellon stops by on his way out. narajowski tells

him “I feel like I was in an Asteroids game today, things were

coming non-stop.” to which Mellon, who has had an equally

hectic day, replies: “Just keep firing, man, and don’t forget to hit

hyperspace every once in a while.”

• 5:59 p.m. ~ follows Mellon out the door.

• 7:30 - 11 p.m. ~ At home, the pinging of new emails from bd

employees continue. everyone on the project takes their work

home with them and all are available throughout the evening.

shuts down computer at 11 p.m. and goes to bed. As he drifts

off to sleep his mind keeps firing… he remembers he needs to

tell thomas everything is cool with getting the 29s on time and

that holzberger needs to send a picture of the progressive die

for the ski/walk mechanism’s t-nut. but those asteroids will

have to wait until tomorrow…

beInG nArAjoWskImaking our boots, our way, from the ground up.

b l A c k d I A M o n d e Q U I p M e n t. c o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

Tom Wayes, dropping pillows, Haines, Alaska. 1 G E N E D W A R k I N

WTF? Log on @ www.bdel.com/wtf to get the full scoop on Wayes’ epic trip to Ak.

16 - 17

sk is | 18 - 19

1 A D A M C L A R k

skis

“it was a Friday morning in late January… reports were calling for

eight inches up at snowbird—the perfect day for the Megawatts. After a

few phone calls i had a posse of work-ditching friends ready to slay the goods.

After six hours of blower and with the snow still falling, i slid the white boards

back into the bed of my truck, kicked off my boots and smiled—it was

Friday and the next two days would be more of the same.”

— Charlie Lynch, is a former gate chaser, sponsored skier,

sous chef, shut tle bus driver, night auditor, bartender,

fry cook and ski bum (not necessarily in that order), and is

currently the Athlete and Events Coordinator for Bl ack Diamond.

He used to have an obscene quiver of skis, but now

he only runs the Megawat ts.

Long rocker tip, zero

camber and 125 mm

waist make it perfect

for floating powder

Standard sidecut for

high-performance

carves when the

powder runs out

3D CNCd wood core

wrapped in Torsion

Box construction for

maximum durability

and minimum weight

h i g h v o l t a g e m e g a w a t t s

sk Is | 20 - 21b l a c k d i a m o n d e q u i p m e n t. c o m 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

Tor Eggeboe at Gaustatoppen, Rjukan, Norway.

1 D A N I E L T E N G S

mEgAWATT < NEW >

because you never want to bring a knife to

a gunfight, don’t roll up for a big pow day

under-gunned—get the megawatt. With an

ultra-fat waist (125/120 mm underfoot for

188/178 cm), long rocker tip and zero camber,

these white monsters will float you in the

waist-deep goods. Pow is where it rules, but

the Megawatt will surprise even the most

hardcore skier with its nimbleness and ability

to plow through the tracked-out crud, eat up

spring corn and stomp the big landings. Built

with a traditional underfoot sidecut, Formula

One Technology™ with 3D dampening and a

CNC-machined solid wood core wrapped in

Torsion Box construction, the Megawatt will

change the way you think about skiing.

mEgAWATT | #115007

ZEAlOT

A really fat ski with plenty of snap, the Zealot

is ideal for big-mountain steeps and high-

performance resort laps. As the stiffest ski in

the BD line, the Zealot is a favorite of hard-

charging all-mountain freeride skiers because

of its balanced and smooth longitudinal flex

that excels in soft snow, plus it’s torsionally

charged for excellent edge hold and responsive

carving on hardpack. The crud-busting 110 mm

waist and solid 3D CNC wood core encourages

a forceful, energetic ride, and the Formula One

Technology and integrated damping create a

solid, substantial feel.

ZEAlOT | #115010

VErdIcT

The powerful, race-inspired design of the

Verdict bridges big mountain and in-bounds

skiing by handling firm on-piste snow as easily

as it rules powder and chunked-up crud. The

Verdict’s 102 mm waist (slightly less-fat than

Zealot), Formula One Technology and a damp

3D CNC wood core provide exceptional agil-

ity and render decisive, high-speed turns. The

geometry is nimble with a terrain-busting tip

and a stable mid-section that floats underfoot.

VErdIcT | #115015

P O W E R S E R I E S

High performance skis for hard-driving skiersFormula One and Dual Torsion Bow construction yields supreme torsional stability

3D CNC wood core is incredibly durable and lively

VEr

dIc

T ~ lenG

th

s: 170, 180, 190 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 134-102-120 (180 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 26.0 m

(180 cM

) WeIG

ht: 4.0 k

g (8 lb

13 oZ

) per

pAIr

(180 cM

)

ZE

AlO

T ~ lenG

th

s: 182, 192 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 136-110-126 (182 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 30.0 m

(182 cM

) WeIG

ht: 4.2 k

g (9 lb

4 oZ

) per

pAIr

(182 cM

)

mEg

AW

ATT ~ len

Gt

hs: 178, 188 c

m d

IMen

sIon

s: 153-125-130 (188 cM

) tU

rn

rA

dIU

s: 42.0 m (188 c

M) W

eIGh

t: 4.7 kg

(10 lb 6 o

Z) p

er pA

Ir (188 c

M)

sk Is | 22- 23

kIlOWATT

This is the bd-employee go-to ski when

conditions are uncertain. Combining wide-

bodied, 95-mm waist stability with an easy-

turning silhouette, the kilowatt sets free

tight turns in mixed terrain. With a 3D CNC-

machined wood core wrapped in Torsion

Box construction, the ride is fun, easy and

predictable, yet powerfully efficient. Formula

One Technology increases torsional stiffness

for excellent carve-ability and keeps the skis

steady at Mach speeds.

kIlOWATT | #115020

HAVOc

A favorite of rocky mountain ski mountain-

eers, the 88-millimeter-waisted Havoc is an

optimized twin tip tool for dissecting techni-

cal terrain. The Havoc features a wood core

and deep 3D pockets for increased torsional

rigidity and a smooth flex. The ski’s Dual Tor-

sion Bow Technology™ delivers a balance of

maximum stability and nimble versatility.

HAVOc | #115025

mAcHINE

designed as a high-performance turner, the

machine is the narrowest ski in our power

Series and excels in hard-carving, tight and

technical lines. Its sidecut and flex are opti-

mized for quick carving and forceful arcs in

consolidated snow. While the dimensions

could be termed “classic,” the construction,

including Dual Torsion Bow Technology with

integrated 3D dampening, transmits excep-

tional power from the body to the turn and

holds rock solid at eye-watering speeds.

mAcHINE | #115030

P O W E R S E R I E S

High performance skis for hard-driving skiersFormula One and Dual Torsion Bow construction yields supreme torsional stability

3D CNC wood core is incredibly durable and lively

kIlO

WAT

T ~ lenG

th

s: 155, 165, 175, 185 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 126-95-114 (175 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 22.5 m

(175 cM

) WeIG

ht: 3.9 k

g (8 lb

10 oZ

) per

pAIr

(185 cM

)

HA

VO

c ~ len

Gt

hs: 165, 175, 185 c

m d

IMen

sIon

s: 123-88-112 (175 cM

) tU

rn

rA

dIU

s: 21.0 m (175 c

M) W

eIGh

t: 3.5 kg

(7 lb 12 o

Z) p

er pA

Ir (175 c

M)

mA

cH

INE ~ len

Gt

hs: 158, 166, 174, 182 c

m d

IMen

sIon

s: 123-79-108 (174 cM

) tU

rn

rA

dIU

s: 17.0 m (174 c

M) W

eIGh

t: 3.4 kg

(7 lb 8 o

Z) p

er pA

Ir (174 c

M)

Stefano Bigio near the Brenva Glacier, Mont Blanc, Italy.

1 P E T E R M AT H I S


sk Is | 24 - 25

Andrea Binning, Le Brevent,

Mont Blanc, France.

1 P e t e r M At h i s

JOu

lE ~ lenG

th

s: 155, 165, 175 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 126-95-114 (175 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 22.5 m

(175 cM

) WeIG

ht: 3.5 k

g (7 lb

12 oZ

) per

pAIr

(175 cM

)

VElV

ET ~ len

Gt

hs: 165, 175 c

m d

IMen

sIon

s: 123-88-112 (175 cM

) tU

rn

rA

dIU

s: 21.0 m (175 c

M) W

eIGh

t: 3.4 kg

(7 lb 8 o

Z) p

er pA

Ir (175 c

M)

JOulE

A women’s version of the kilowatt, the Joule

is infused with boundless energy for the dedi-

cated winterholic. Its geometry and Torsion

Box construction combine to create a stable

ski with a wide 95-mm-waisted platform and

generous sidecut—ideal for ripping big moun-

tain lines. Torsionally, the Joule is powerfully

stiff to hold an edge, transmit power and carve

forcefully on hard snow. The longitudinal flex,

however, is more relaxed for quicker turns and

a reliable, forgiving ride. Formula One Tech-

nology controls high-speed jitters and damp-

ens the hard knocks of variable conditions.

JOulE | #115035

VElVET

A narrow-waisted, all-mountain ski for women

who like to turn, the Velvet is a female-specific

version of the Havoc. Designed around a 3D

CNC-machined wood core for a lively yet stable

ride, the Velvet also features Dual Torsion Bow

construction with integrated 3D dampening to

empower the edges and stabilize at speed. The

hourglass silhouette and generous tip and tail

profiles deliver easy turns and the 88 mm waist

adds good soft-snow float. This hard-carving

ski is a reliable performer for a broad range of

skills and conditions.

VElVET | #115040

W O M E N ’ S P O W E R S E R I E S

For ladies who ripFeaturing a softer longitudinal f lex

Torsionally charged with plenty of snap



www.bdel.com/ skis

sk is | 26 - 27b l A c k d I A M o n d e Q U I p M e n t. c o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

VOOdOO

The 88-millimeter-waisted Voodoo is the widest

ski in our Eff icient Series and shares geometry

with the Havoc—with a half-pound less weight.

It features a damp 3D CNC-machined wood core

with a relaxed Dual Torsion Bow construction for

efficient weight with energetic response. It has

an upturned tail, keeping skin attachments off

the snow for the up, and a smooth round flex for

effortless turns skiing down.

VOOdOO | #115045

STIgmA

Achieving a f ine balance between a mid-fat

silhouette and a lightweight design, the Stigma

has the same shape as the Machine but weighs

nearly a full pound lighter. With a 3D CNC-

machined wood core, the ride is lively and stable,

emphasizing shorter-radius turns for technical

descents and maneuverability. Our Dual Torsion

Bow construction creates edge power and snap

for lively and predicable turns.

STIgmA | #115050

guru < NEW >

When you combine the classic shape and sidecut

of an AT ski with modern stability and perfor-

mance you get the Guru, a 75-millimeter-waisted

performance carver for all conditions. It features

a Dual Torsion Bow construction and a CNC-

machined wood core for a spry ride while keeping

the weight down.

guru | #115053

culT

designed to cover distances with a quick and

eff icient pace, the Cult is the lightest, most

nimble ski in our line and has a devoted group of

followers from rando racers to Sierra High Route

aficionados. With an ultralight tapered design

and low swing weight, the rando-race-inspired

geometry makes uphill travel a breeze. The wood

core with high torsional stiffness preserves a

stable and damp ride that tames varied condi-

tions and holds a hard edge.

culT | #115055

E F F I C I E N T S E R I E S

Inspired by the fast-and-light needs of the European ski mountaineerFormula One and Dual Torsion Bow construction yields supreme torsional stability

3D CNC wood core is incredibly durable and lightweight

VO

Od

OO

~ lenG

th

s: 165, 175, 185 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 123-88-112 (175 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 21.0 m

(175 cM

) WeIG

ht: 3.3 k

g (7 lb

4 oZ

) per

pAIr

(175 cM

)

STIg

mA

~ lenG

th

s: 158, 166, 174, 182 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 123-79-108 (174 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 17.0 m

(174 cM

) WeIG

ht: 3.0 k

g (6 lb

10 oZ

) per

pAIr

(174 cM

)

gu

ru

~ lenG

th

s: 162, 170, 178 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 118-75-104 (170 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 16.0 m

(170 cM

) WeIG

ht: 2.9 k

g (6 lb

6 oZ

) per

pAIr

(170 cM

)

cu

lT ~ lenG

th

s: 157, 167, 177 cm

dIM

ensIo

ns: 102-70-90 (177 c

M) t

Ur

n r

Ad

IUs: 24.0 m

(177 cM

) WeIG

ht: 2.6 k

g (5 lb

12 oZ

) per

pAIr

(177 cM

)

Stian Hagen lays down the carve on the

Marinelli Couloir, Monte Rosa, Italy.

1 P E T E R M AT H I S

A broken seAson | 28- 291 G a b e R o G e l

Tthe snow looked deep and I hit the 30-footer

perfectly, but when I landed my elbow smacked a

rock lurking just below the surface like a shark’s

fin. horrendous pain told me I had really hurt myself, but

as I entered the hospital I clung to the chance that the

prognosis wouldn’t be too bad… that I had just hit my

funny bone really hard and could stay in canada and keep

skiing. When the doctor saw my arm, though, the look on

her face confirmed a serious injury.

“You have a bad olecranon fracture,” she said, intro-

ducing me to a medical term that would soon become part

of my daily vocabulary. “It’s causing a dangerous lack of cir-

culation to your hand.” My mind began to swirl and I only

heard snippets of what she was telling me, none of which

were good. “You have to be operated

on as soon as possible… we have to

send you to calgary… the surgery will

cost around $60,000…”

doom and gloom scenarios raced

through my head: Does my insurance

work in Canada? Is my season over?

How will I get home? What if my arm

has to get amputated? What have I done

to myself ?

I had big plans for the winter. I was registered for the

entire north American freeskiing circuit. january was to be

spent skiing around british columbia, filming sick lines.

I was potentially heading to russia for a cloudveil shoot

and then to Alaska for the spring. then, in the blink of an

eye—or should I say the drop of a body—I was injured and

heading home for surgery a few weeks into the season and

three days into a month-long canadian ski trip.

the emotional rollercoaster ride started soon after

the accident and kicked into high gear after the surgery.

I tried to accept my injury as a blessing in disguise, as

another stage, another lesson in life. More often than not,

however, I was left lost, confused and depressed. the sur-

geon told me it might be three months before I could ski

again. Three months?! My everyday ritual of buckling up my

boots, putting on my helmet and focusing all my energy

into skiing was as destroyed as my elbow. What was I

supposed to do now?

As my elbow’s black and blueness faded away and the

days of physical therapy added up, something surprising

happened: my frustration and depression started leaving

me. I embraced a Zen teaching that says, “In this life,

pain is inevitable—suffering is optional.” I began to see

the positive aspects and make the most of my time, get-

ting important business and personal matters done that I

normally would have put off until after the ski season.

there was noticeable healing in my elbow every day, to

the point where it became fun to watch:

mobility increased, swelling went down,

incisions healed.

five weeks after surgery I woke up to

a fresh couple of feet snow and couldn’t

resist any longer—I padded up my elbow

and hit the slopes with no poles. I felt

rejuvenated, like I once again had a

purpose. the next day the snow was still

falling so I snuck out again. the following

week I started skiing everyday. My confidence was slow to

return, but before I knew it I was taking air and charging.

now, as I resurge from my time out, I’m more moti-

vated, inspired and stoked then ever to get back in the

mountains and charge. Yes, I’ve gained important lessons

from this accident, but, no, it hasn’t made me want to slow

down or play it safe (although I’m way more wary of rocks).

Getting hurt is part of this game and I’m willing to accept

another injury in order to maintain my skiing style and

continue pushing my boundaries. I would rather explore

the mountains and experience life to the fullest through

skiing—accepting that I may go down doing so—than to

never really understand the essence of living and being.

A broken seAsonn I c k d e V o r e

A mere nine weeks after fracturing his elbow and thinking his season was over, Nick Devore placed sixth in the Jackson

Hole U.S. Freeskiing competition against some of the best freeskiers in the country. Two weeks later, Devore won the

World Telemark Freeskiing Championship at Alaska’s Alyeska Resort. 1 N . D E V O R E

M Y e V e r Y d A Y r I t U A l

o f b U c k l I n G U p

M Y b o o t s , p U t t I n G

o n M Y h e l M e t A n d

f o c U s I n G A l l M Y

e n e r G Y I n t o s k I I n G

W A s A s d e s t r o Y e d

A s M Y e l b o W .

30 - 31

Stephane Riendeau ripping it at Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido Island, Japan. 1 A N D R e w B u R R

b indings | 32- 33

bindings

“it is cloudy and raining and i can’t see the mountains.

i’ve skied every day for the last month, and it is difficult to make

a decision whether to ski or not. i should just go to the café with

everyone else, but instead convince myself to go ski a couple of runs.

The gondola brings a few dedicated skiers up through the clouds.

On top, the sun is shining! The clouds that brought rain to the

valley have brought snow to the high mountains during the night.

The atmosphere in the gondola is electric. i end up tele-ing

all day—the snow is perfect, the mountain empty.”

—Tiril Nysted, locked into her O1 bindings and had

what she c alls “one of her best days of skiing ever”

when she ditched the c afé crowd and headed up

to the slopes of swit zerl and’s Engelberg Resort.

Underfoot cable

routing for progressive

and constant control

Easy action Tour

Mode (patented) for

less fatigue on the

climb up

One-piece stainless

steel toe piece for

minimal unwanted flex

and ultimate durability

t h e o 1 : l o c k e d a n d l o a d e d

1 N i l s E r i k B j ø r h o lt

b IndInGs | 34 - 35b l A c k d I A M o n d e Q U I p M e n t. c o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

O1

The ultimate high-performance freeride binding for the freeheel skier, the O1

has become the benchmark in reliable downhill power and control with the add-

ed bonus of resistance-free touring for uphill efficiency. Push-button activation

toggles between ski/tour modes. In tour mode, a smooth ergonomic pivot point

just behind the pin line offers efficient climbing; in ski mode, underfoot cable

routing and a pair of compression-spring cartridges deliver unmatched power

and a predictable, progressive flex for precision downhill performance. A one-

piece stainless steel toe box and solid-wire yoke heelpiece add torsional support

and lateral control. With three cartridge options for customizing stiffness, the O1

is the definitive, no-compromise freeheel binding.

O1 FrEEFlEX SmAll | #101299

O1 FrEEFlEX | #101299

O1 mIdSTIFF SmAll | #101299

O1 mIdSTIFF | #101299

O1 rIdIculOuSlY STIFF | #101299

O2

Our inbounds ripper, the O2 binding transmits power from big boots to big

skis—it’s the benchmark of precision for today’s aggressive skiers. Underfoot

cable routing and powerful compression-spring cartridges keep the ball of your

foot firmly on the ski, and as the heel rises, a progressively stiffer flex delivers

power. The rear yoke features a rigid wire heelpiece, providing lateral stability

and torsional support. Our durable one-piece stainless steel toe box with a vari-

able height toe riser withstands the abuse of hard and fast freeheel skiing. The

stiffness of the O2 can be adjusted with the three different compression-spring

cartridges to suit your boot flex or skiing style preference.

O2 FrEEFlEX SmAll #101301


O2 mIdSTIFF SmAll | #101306



O3

The O3 is for skiers who prefer a classic, neutral-feeling binding, but can do

without the slop of old school cable bindings. With a less active flex, the O3

backs off a little on power, but keeps the driver firmly in control. The softer, tra-

ditional feel of this binding creates less resistance during deep-knee turns, but

the underfoot cable routing maintains positive contact with the sole of your boot

for greater control and ski stability. O3s are available with three cartridge options

for customizing stiffness to provide predictable and precise control over the ski

and the ability to distribute force during the entire turn.




sIZes:

SmAll — boot sole lenGth Under 305 MM

STANdArd — boot sole lenGth oVer 305 MM

WeIGht:

SmAll — 1.60 kg (3 lb 8 oZ) MIdstIff sMAll pAIr

STANdArd — 1.68 kb (3 lb 11 oZ) MIdstIff pAIr

sIZes:

SmAll — boot sole lenGth Under 315 MM

STANdArd — boot sole lenGth oVer 315 MM

WeIGht:

SmAll — 1.33 kg (2 lb 15 oZ) MIdstIff sMAll pAIr

STANdArd — 1.41 kb (3 lb 5 oZ) MIdstIff pAIr

sIZes:

ONE SIZE FITS All

WeIGht:

1.33 kg (2 lb 15 oZ) MIdstIff pAIr

O3O2O1

* more products and info

www.bdel.com/ bindings

the b ig dump | 36- 37

1 j a q u e s m a r t i n e t

i guess the kids will have it hard and cold when

they look for the eggs this year. Springtime is here and

tomorrow is easter. Kids are excited, so are the parents. i

am, too, but not for the same reason. it’s dumping hard out

there—harder than it has all year. As i do every day during the

ski season, i anxiously check the snow forecast: a blessed half

meter for tomorrow!

Yes, the children will have a very tough time tomorrow, but

for me it will be perfect. this is what i live for. my skiing ritual

is skiing. i ski every day, all winter. i ski anything, anytime,

but powder—deep, fresh powder—is what makes me truly

excited. And now, though the snow will make for a difficult

easter egg hunt for the children, it will be one of the best days

of the ski season for me!

As darkness falls, i keep watching through the window,

anticipating the joys of tomorrow’s powder. my photographer

can’t come and the videographer is already busy. i did what i

could for lining up footage for work, but it seems like the only

documentation will be the tracks left on the mountains and

in my mind. tomorrow i’ll ski with a bunch of friends—pure

fun, no shooting. Sometimes you need to choose to just go

skiing for yourself, to keep the flame burning, to “recharge the

batteries.” this time, destiny has chosen for me.

i prepare my backpack now in order to save a few seconds

for tomorrow morning’s rush. One pair of gloves is enough,

and two pairs of goggles. Safety gear is already in; i just double-

check to make sure. Questions are running through my mind

as i pack: “Where to go?”… “Which lines will not be too danger-

ous?” i live at a pretty big resort—in fact, 12 connected ones! A

buddy of mine is working as a patroller at one. he says he will

call me when they’ve finished bombing in morning. the plan

has taken shape. Now i just have to wait until tomorrow!

i’m not very hungry, but i force myself to eat. i’m too

nervous for sleep, but i need to get a rest. i need to be strong

for tomorrow. it is around 10 p.m.—not late but i go to bed

now. i can’t go to sleep of course... like a kid, i am too excited

about the next day. i am tossing and turning in my bed, trying

to find a comfortable position. Still no sleep! One thing is for

sure: time is running and soon it will be dawn. Children will be

waking up, big smiles on their faces, knowing that they will

soon be running around, hunting for eggs. Others like myself

who are older (but not so much in their mind) will do the same.

We will probably be awake even sooner than the children, but

with the same smile, knowing that something—a big thing—is

just out there, waiting to be taken.

Lord knows i will take it—no witnesses but him and a few

friends to share our easter gift.

Xavier Leonti lives in Morzine, France and has travelled to

India, South America, Russia, Japan, Alaska and Canada

in search of adventure and steep, perfect snow.

the big dumpX av i e r L e o n t i

38 - 39

The definition of “snorkel depth.” Geoff North getting in ultra-deep at Alpental, Washington. 1 B i s s e l l H A z e N

WTF? log on @ www.bdel.com/wtf to read about the outrageous dumps of Alpental.

poles | 40 - 41

poles

“Traveling is a rush, always. step out of the plane and run

to catch the next one. In those cases, you are almost sure

your baggage won’t be as fast. Twenty-four hours and three flights later,

I finally land in Japan—but not my bags. No skis, no boots, no poles,

no clothing—nothing but what I wore on the plane.”

—X avier Leonti received his bags, including his favorite set

of ultr alight c arbon fiber poles, a day l ate but just in time

for a massive snow-dumping storm during his 12-day visit

to Japan’s Hokk aido Isl and.

Aluminum upper sec-

tion combined with

carbon fiber lower for

optimal swing weight

Patented FlickLock clo-

sure is durable

and dependable in

all conditions

Dual-density grips offer

all-day comfort and

security with a con-

toured strap

s l i p n o t

1 D a m i a n o L e v at i

poles | 42 - 43

FIXED LENGTH POLES

Stiff, ultra-strong and lightweight, these fixed-length

poles combine a carbon fiber shaft and a Kevlar®

wrap over the bottom half for durability and protec-

tion from sharp edges and rough rock. Dual-density

grips provide a secure grip, even with wet gloves. Our

Powder Baskets have a dense inner ring of teeth to

grip hardpack and a large, outer dimension for sup-

port in the pow. Available in five lengths.

sIZes: 110, 115, 120, 125, 130 CM

WeIGHT: 495 G (1 lB 1 oZ) peR 120 CM pAIR WITH BD poWDeR

BAsKeTs

FIXED LENGTH POLES | #111505

CARBON FIBER POLES

A backcountry essential, our lightest adjustable

poles are built from a lightweight combination of

ultra-strong 7075 aluminum and featherweight carbon-

fiber for excellent balance and an optimized swing

weight. The solid FlickLock® mechanism makes

height adjustment simple and secure. Carbon Fiber

Poles come with BD ¾ Baskets and our comfortable,

grippy dual-density grips. Patented.

sIZes: 100-125 CM (39-49 IN) oR 115-140 CM (45-55 IN)

WeIGHT: 490 G (1 lB 1 oZ) peR 115-140 CM pAIR WITH BD ¾ BAsKeTs

CARBON FIBER POLES | #111500

ADJUSTABLE PROBE POLES

For frontcountry and backcountry skiers alike, these

are our most versatile poles, adjusting quickly from

standard ski pole to avy probe. They feature an upper

shaft of lightweight carbon fiber for excellent swing

weight and superb balance. For use as an emergency

probe, the carbon fiber lower sections screw together.

Dual-density grips provide firm support as well as

ergonomic, all-day comfort. Equipped with the reliable

FlickLock and BD ¾ Baskets. Patented.


pRoBe leNGTHs: 100-125 CM: 183 CM (72 IN),

115-140 CM: 213 CM (84 IN)


ADJUSTABLE PROBE POLES | #111510

EXPEDITION POLES

Designed with three sections and two FlickLocks for

maximum packability, the Expedition Poles are the

traveler’s choice. Expedition Poles compress down

to a stealthy 57 or 62 cm to fit inside duffel bags,

ski packs and European rental cars. Other features

include ergonomic, dual-density grips, variable-width

wrist straps and BD ¾ Baskets with a toothy front

edge for climbing. Patented.



EXPEDITION POLES | #111515

TRAVERSE POLES

With a tradition of reliable performance, Traverse

Poles are a backcountry standby. The FlickLock

mechanism provides 50 cm of adjustability so you

can quickly match the height of your poles to the

terrain and conditions. Dual-density grips combine

soft, ergonomic shaping with a supportive struc-

ture to ensure excellent grip and daylong comfort.

Equipped with BD ¾ Baskets.

sIZes: ONE SIZE (95-145 CM (37-57 IN))

WeIGHT: 605 G (1 lB 5 oZ) peR pAIR WITH BD 3/4 BAsKeTs

TRAVERSE POLES | #111520

WHIPPET SELF-ARREST POLE < UPDATED >

For security/self–arrest capability on steep-line de-

scents and ski mountaineering, the Whippet is an

indispensable self-arrest tool, designed to keep slips

from turning into slides-for-life. This season we’ve

increased the collapsibility as well as ergonomically

updated the dual-density grip and integrated it with

the 4130 chromoly pick and canard wing. FlickLock

adjustability and a BD ¾ Basket round out this back-

country performer. For weight savings, an optional

adapter lets you connect the Whippet’s aluminum

upper shaft with our 11 mm carbon fiber FlickLock

lower shaft. Patented.

sIZes: ONE SIZE (97-140 CM (43-55 IN))

WeIGHT: 395 G (14.1 oZ) eACH WITH BD ¾ BAsKeT

WHIPPET SELF-ARREST POLE (SINGLE) | #111530

fIxeD leNGTH CARBoN fIBeR ADjusTABle pRoBe expeDITIoN TRAveRse WHIppeT self-ARResT


www.bdel.com/ poles

B l A C K D I A M o N D e q u I p M e N T. C o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

THe p IlGRIMAGe | 44 - 45

Dan Caruso dropping into 50-degree steeps on

the Easy Alleys of Couloir Town, Tasaina Valley, Alaska.

1 M i K E M O r r i s

The snow is mushier than day-old oatmeal,

my polypro reeks like french cheese and most of

my friends are heading off to the beach wearing

flip-flops. It’s spring and the ski season is quickly coming

to an end. The obsessed skier inside of me, though, knows

the season isn’t over yet—the Chugach Mountains of

Alaska are waiting and ready. What began 15 years ago as a

maiden voyage to ski the Chugach has become an annual

springtime ritual for me, a pilgrimage to the Mecca of

steep and deep.

forever etched in my mind is that first helicopter flight

at Thompson pass, flying right out of the Tsaina lodge’s

parking lot. The weather had been snowy and cloudy for

a few days and I’d seen nothing of the famed mountains.

on the flight, though, it began to clear

and I finally saw the Chugach: pointy

peaks stunningly thrusting through

the clouds. We were flying straight

towards the steep, gun-barrel couloirs

we were about to ski. on the summit

of Mount Dimond, the snow was waist

deep and there was a school-bus-sized

cornice we had to traverse under to get into the chute. After

effortlessly ripping down the endless chute in stable, waist-

deep powder and airing over a gaping bergschrund to exit

out onto the glacier, I realized that the combination of fear,

excitement and the surrounding beauty had been too much

for me to handle all at once and I’d pissed my pants… it

was warmly funneling directly into my boots.

every year since, I have returned as a heli-guide, and

it’s still awe-inspiring to drive up from valdez and get that

first look at those insanely steep and spiney faces, the

hanging glaciers and the unending ridgelines. every season

it’s a bit of the same, yet somehow completely different.

The mountains don’t change but snow conditions vary

annually; and the tourists that come for the ski vacation

of a lifetime are different, but the same old guides and

addicted return-clientele resurface year after year.

AK is a place made for hard-core skiers because there’s

really nothing else going on except skiing and waiting

around to go skiing. The low-pressure systems that bring

the massive snow dumps can last for days upon days

(good) but these blizzards ground the helis (not good),

leaving everyone more than a little stir crazy. since there are

just a few strange locales in and around the ski-op towns

of valdez, Cordova and Haines in which to hang out and

paris Hilton never flies in for Karaoke Night at The pipeline

Club, we tend to spend our “val-disease” downtime drink-

ing cocktails cooled with glacial ice, jumping from one

motorhome to the next, or standing around in the middle

of the night in below-zero temperatures waiting for the

aurora borealis to crack loose in a mind-blowing greenish-

yellow lightshow. Mostly we end

up talking about how awesome

the skiing up here is: that 10-run,

40,000-feet-of-untracked day, that

first descent in the pink, Arctic light

of 9 p.m., or that 50-plus-degree

spine with the mandatory air in the

middle. The other main topic of

conversations amongst the Chugach-ians during this wait-

ing game is the outrageous sacrifices everyone makes to

keep coming back on this annual pilgrimage: relationships

put on the back burner, jobs left in limbo, credit cards

getting maxed out, and in my case, leaving my kids and

enduring a brutal 24-hour flight from europe.

When the pressure system finally switches and the next

morning promises to be yet another “best powder day of all

time,” those still waiting it out at The pass are the commit-

ted and the patient who just can’t get enough of the sickest

skiing on earth. It’s the heli-guides and returning clients

(an eclectic mix of urban yuppies, adrenaline junkies and

slednecks), as well as international pros, film crews, and

just maybe some green-behind-the-ears kid that’s about to

experience an existence-altering, big-mountain AK descent

and piss his pants in the process.

THe pIlGRIMAGeD A N C A R u s o

Dan Caruso finished this essay less than 72 hours before heading up to AK for the 15th time where he managed to avoid

any fear-induced bladder issues while skiing the steep powder lines of the Chugach. Back home in Davos, Switzerland,

D.C. works as the Marketing Coordinator for BD Europe. inset photo: D A n C A r u s O C O L L E C T i O n

T H e C o M B I N A T I o N o f

f e A R , e x C I T e M e N T A N D

T H e s u R R o u N D I N G B e A u T y

H A D B e e N T o o M u C H f o R

M e T o H A N D l e A l l A T o N C e

A N D I ’ D p I s s e D M y p A N T s … . ”

46 - 47

Thad Stavn working for the goods in the Mount Baker backcountry, Washington. 1 B i S S e l l H a z e n

sK INs | 48 - 49

skins

“Lunchtime comedy in the village of Ramala as the lady of the house

laughs at my inability to sit comfortably in a proper, lotus-like

legs-crossed position. This nice Zanskari family has excellent stacks

of yak dung for the fire and the kitchen hangout has superb views.

The peaks across the valley are some of the most spectacular ever—

jagged, glaciated and all hovering around 6000 meters.

A great day to drink chang, eat bowls of hot patuk and watch it

snow before we begin skiing again.”

— P tor Spricenieks, partnered with Ty Mills, used his

Ascension s Ts skins every day during an at temp ted four-week,

4 20 -kilometer winter ski tr averse through the remote

Himal ayan kingdom of Z ansk ar from Leh to srinagar.

Durable, hydrophobic

Orange Plush

construction

Gold Label Adhesive

stays tacky even in

sub-zero temperatures

Patented STS tail is

convenient, speedy

and secure

a s c e n s i o n d i m e n s i o n

1 A n d r e w B u r r

sK INs | 50 - 51

ASCENSION STANDARD

Designed for skiers who prefer skins

without a tail attachment, the Ascension

standard’s durable, hydrophobic Orange

Plush construction provides an unsur-

passed grip for climbing. The sewn-in tip

loop reduces bulk and drag while still pro-

viding great security.

sIZes: 90, 100, 110, 120 MM WIDTHS

WeIGHT: 545 G (1 lB 3 oZ) 100 MM pAIR

TIp: seWN-IN TIp loop

ASCENSION STANDARD

90 MM | #174090

ASCENSION CLIPFIX

Our classic Ascension system for speedy

and simple attachment, ClipFixs are ultra-

durable, hydrophobic and feature our cel-

ebrated Gold Label Adhesive for a reliable

bond. Ascension skins are constructed

with robust laminate that eases high-wind

handling. Features include our reversible

tip loop and a stainless steel ClipFix cam-

ming lever that’s easy to use and keeps the

skins under a tight and secure tension, lap

after lap.

sIZes: 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130 MM WIDTHS


TIp: ReveRsIBle TIp loop

TAIl: sTs TAIl

ASCENSION CLIPFIX

90 MM | #173090

ASCENSION STS

Ideal for attaching to today’s skis that

have a wide range of tail shapes, the pat-

ented sTs system features a one-touch,

easy-to-tension camming tailpiece with a

tough, stretchy elastomer strap that pro-

vides 10 cm of length adjustment for use

with multiple pairs of skis. Ascension skins

feature durable, hydrophobic Orange Plush

construction and our Gold Label Adhesive,

the world’s best skin glue. The reversible

tip loop fits a wide range of skis.

sIZes: 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 MM WIDTHS



TAIl: sTs TAIl

ASCENSION STS

90 MM | #164209

ASCENSION CUSTOM STS

Our premier Ascension set-up features a

sewn-in tip loop for simple security and

reduced bulk paired with the ease and flex-

ibility of our patented sTs tail attachment.

The skins are sure to stick thanks to our

Gold Label Adhesive, the most durable

and determined ski glue ever made. sold in

pre-cut length increments of 7 centimeters

to accommodate your specific ski length,

these skins offer the best of all worlds.

sIZes: 110, 120, 130 MM WIDTHS

155-162, 161-168, 167-174, 173-180,

179-186, 185-192 CM LENGTHS

WeIGHT: 771 G (1 lB 9 oZ) 120 MM x 173-180 pAIR


TAIl: sTs TAIl

ASCENSION CUSTOM STS

120 MM X 173-180 CM | #161612

*Prices vary by size, see www.bdel.com for all sizes

GLIDELITE KICKER

These half skins are ultralight for moving

quickly and efficiently over lower-angled

terrain. They attach to skis securely with

a nylon strap and a camlock buckle. The

supple GlideLite fabric is soft and folds

easily to pack away in a pocket or jacket,

and they come with a center, glueless strip

for easy removal.

sIZes: 50, 60, 70, 80 MM WIDTHS

WeIGHT: 265 G (9.3 oZ) 70 MM pAIR

TIp: GlIDelITe KICKeR

GLIDELITE KICKER

60 MM | #166160

GLIDELITE MOHAIR MIX NOT AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA

Featuring a European-bred mix of mohair

and nylon combined with our GlideLite

construction, the result is a thinner and

suppler skin than our Ascension construc-

tion that is easier to fold and stick inside a

jacket pocket.

sIZes: 90, 100, 110, 120 MM WIDTHS

WeIGHT: 582 G (1 lB 5 oZ) 90 MM pAIR (sTs)


TAIl: sTs TAIl

GLIDELITE MOHAIR MIX STS

90 MM | #172209*


TAIl: sTANDARD TAIl

GLIDELITE MOHAIR MIX STANDARD

90 MM | #171209*

GLIDELITE STANDARD

As our most packable and stripped down

full-performance skins, supple nylon-fab-

ric GlideLites offer a softer hand with less

volume and increased ski glide, without

sacrificing grip. They also feature a glue-

less strip in the center of the skin for easier

removal and sewn-in tip loops. no tail at-

tachment.

sIZes: 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 MM WIDTHS



GLIDELITE STANDARD

90 MM | #176090

GLIDELITE STS

Super-packable, lightweight and durable,

our GlideLite skins have the same legend-

ary hydrophobic and durable plush as our

Ascension series, but are designed with

a thinner and more supple laminate con-

struction, making them easier to fold and

fit inside a jacket pocket. The patented sTs

attachment system holds skins firmly in

place with a glove-friendly elastomer strap

and one-step camming tailpiece for sim-

plicity and security.

sIZes: 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140 MM WIDTHS



TAIl: sTs TAIl

GLIDELITE STS

90 MM | #176009

*Prices vary by size, see www.bdel.com for all sizes


ReveRsIBle TIp loop

MoHAIR MIxReveRsIBle TIp loop

GlIDelITeKICKeR

seWN-IN TIp loop

seWN-IN TIp loopsTANDARD TAIl

sTANDARD TAIlClIpfIx TAIl

sTs TAIl sTs TAIl


www.bdel.com/ skins

the gear I used | 52- 53

Dylan Freed making the short rap

midway down the Y-Not Couloir.

1 J ay B e y e r , Inset photos:

M at t L a w, a n D r e w B u r r

THE GEAR I USED

y-NoT CouloIRWasatch Range, Utah

Brad Barlage

Why would someone get out of bed at 4:30 a.m. to hike up a cold, dark couloir? y-Not. That’s not a question—

that’s the answer. A narrow 3200-foot chute with a consistent 45-degree pitch interrupted midway by a 50-foot cliff that must be rappelled, The y-Not Couloir is a classic among classics in utah’s Wasatch Range backcountry. for years it called to me as I drove up little Cottonwood Canyon—narrow and steep, intimidating but beautiful. In 1994, I finally skied the y-Not with Andrew Mclean. We met at the park ‘n Ride lot at 5:15 a.m. and it was a two hour boot pack up the equally steep but mellower y Couloir (or perhaps “crotch-deep post-holing” is a better term for conditions we found in the pre-dawn hours). We took turns breaking trail—the front man sweating from the effort, the guy in the back shivering. After a brief rest on top and a short traverse west, we were staring down the y-Not. The skiing was steep and perfect with dry, untracked utah powder. The rap anchors that were first put in by Alex lowe, how-ever, had been badly damaged by avalanches; the webbing torn away, the bolt hangers flattened—a grim reminder of the power contained within the chute. A quick 45 minutes later we were back at the van and 15 minutes later I was at work, tired, wet and stoked. since then, skiing the y-Not has become my favorite backcountry ritual and I’ve skied it and the y Couloir more than 50 times. There are plenty of lines to ski in the Wasatch; dozens that are easier to ascend and typically hold the same quality snow. None, though, have the 3200 feet of verti-cal in a protected couloir, the midpoint bottleneck rappel, the snow-holding north-facing aspect, and the tricky doglegs that define y-Not that have me season after season sending out emails to a few of my ski buddies calling them to action: “5:15 a.m. tomorrow at the Park ‘n Ride lot… bring a harness.”

A BD employee for 14 years, Brad Barlage has skied first descents in Baffin Island, Alaska, California and his beloved Wasatch, where he can check the snow report by looking out his front door.

Y-NOT COULOIR CHECKLIST

the core bd setup

▫ Verdict 180 cm skis

▫ Fritschi Freeride Plus AT bindings

▫ Method AT boots

▫ Whippet poles – “I use them both for

security and to ‘hook’ things on the ascent.”

▫ Ascension STS skins

▫ Avy kit (D3 shovel, 300 cm Guide Probe)

▫ Covert 32 pack with AvaLung

▫ Two 30 m Beal Rando ropes

▫ Neve Pro crampons – “If conditions are

firm, lightweight aluminum crampons such

as Neve Pros are enough to do the job.”

▫ Bod harness (custom-made prototype)

“All you need is a super-light harness since

the rappel is only 30 meters.”

▫ Positron locker & ATC rappel device

▫ Renegade gloves – “I wear ’em on

ascent and if it isn’t too cold, the descent.”

▫ Patrol mittens

▫ Ion headlamp

five other essentials

▫ Pieps® DsP beacon

▫ slings (cord, webbing) “Include enough to replace old tat on anchors. A long sling is useful to tether into anchors for safety prior to rappelling.”

▫ MP3 player – “Loaded with Metallica and the rocky iV soundtrack for motivation.”

▫ Energy bars and snickers®

▫ Watch – “You gotta know how fast—or slow—you are when you have a drop dead time to get to work.”

* get the full gear list and the whole story: www.bdel.com/mygear

54- 55Zach Crist in a spot of trouble, Haines, Alaska. 1 G e n e D w A r k i n

Lightweight

QuickDraw probes

speed response

times and save lives

Trapezoidal shovel

shaft rests securely

in your hand and

doesn’t spin

Integrated AvaLung

unit means there’s

no good reason to

go without

r e a d y f o r a n e m e r g e n c y

snow safety

“as soon as I heard that the northwest face of Gobblers Knob

had pulled out wall-to-wall with a huge, wet slab avalanche,

I grabbed my skis and headed up—alone. It’s important, I think,

to be alone and the first to arrive at the aftermath of big avalanches.

I climbed over the 30-foot-high debris pile, skinned up the

gouged-to-the-dirt bobsled run of the avalanche’s track and

dug profiles all along the half-mile wide fracture. the stupendous

power, the destruction, the horror, the puniness of people

in the face of it... to be first and alone is essential.”

— Bruce Tremper, who never skis in the backcountry without

his Bl ack Diamond snow safet y equipment, is the

author of Staying Alive in Aval anche Terr ain.

1 S t e v e n L L o y d

sNoW sAfeTy | 56- 57

snow safety | 58- 59B l A C K D I A M o N D e q u I p M e N T. C o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

DEPLOY SHOVELS

Built for backcountry travelers and f irst responders, these

shovels deploy instantaneously for emergency situations.

utilizing our trapezoidal, curved-shaft design, they provide

rotation-free, fast activation with the squeeze of a spring pin.

For integrated storage the shaft slides into the metal blade,

which is made of exceptionally strong aluminum and designed

to move large quantities of snow quickly as well as for creating

smooth pit walls. The Deploy 3 incorporates all the features of

the Deploy 7 but with a smaller volume blade. The ergonomic

handle feels like a D-grip but packs like a T-grip.

BlADe voluMe: 1.14 L (0.3 GAl) Deploy 3

BlADe voluMe: 2.65 L (0.7 GAl) Deploy 7

WeIGHT: 565 G (1 lB 4 oZ) Deploy 3

WeIGHT: 700 G (1 lB 9 oZ) Deploy 7

DEPLOY 3 | #102175

DEPLOY 7 | #102176

TRANSFER SHOVELS

For the demands of mountain professionals and serious

backcountry skiers, the ultra-strong aerospace aluminum

blade of the Transfer shovel facilitates maximum snow remov-

al in the smallest footprint of space. Lightweight yet strong,

these shovels are optimized for extended shaft length—the

Transfer’s removable trapezoidal shafts extend to 86 cm (34

in) on the Transfer 7 and 84 cm (33 in) on the Transfer 3. The

strong, ergonomic handle is friendly to both mitts and gloves;

it provides the benefits of T-and D-shaped handles in a low-

profile, packable design. The blades generate clean cuts for

efficient snowpit construction.

BlADe voluMe: 1.14 L (0.3 GAl) TRANsfeR 3

BlADe voluMe: 2.65 L (0.7 GAl) TRANsfeR 7

WeIGHT: 650 G (1 lB 7 oZ) TRANsfeR 3

WeIGHT: 770 G (1 lB 11 oZ) TRANsfeR 7

TRANSFER 3 | #102178

TRANSFER 7 | #102179

FLICKLOCK SNOW SAW

Strong and versatile, the FlickLock snow saw makes clean

rutschblock or shovel shear cuts for your snowpit. small teeth

saw through tough soft-ice layers and the wider spacings rip

quickly through consolidated and powder snow. The snow

saw can be used by hand or attached to a ski pole with its dual

FlickLock attachments for 14 mm and 11 mm pole sections,

providing an extended reach for cutting cornices and working

in particularly deep pits.

WeIGHT: 160 G (5.6 oZ)

FLICKLOCK SNOW SAW | #102173

Deploy 3

Deploy 7

TRANsfeR 3

TRANsfeR 7

flICKloCK sNoW sAW

Andy Jacobsen, Wasatch backcountry, utah.

1 J Ay B E y E r / P W 0 8


www.bdel.com/ snowsafety

sNoW sAfeTy | 60- 61B l A C K D I A M o N D e q u I p M e N T. C o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

QUICKDRAW GUIDE PROBE 300

Our workhorse probe for deep snowpacks, the Guide features

12.5 mm aluminum tubes to increase strength and stiffness and

our QuickDraw system that deploys from inside its stuffsack to

fully assembled in a single, time-saving motion. Easy-to-read

depth markings every centimeter of the three-meter length allow

precise measurements of snowpack and debris. The non-slip grip

provides a secure purchase, even with wet gloves.

leNGTH: 300 CM (118 IN)

WeIGHT: 334 G (11.8 oZ)

QUICKDRAW GUIDE PROBE 300 | #109098

QUICKDRAW CARBON FIBER PROBE 230

For backcountry skiers who count every gram, this lightweight

carbon fiber probe reduces weight without sacrificing the strength

or stiffness necessary for slicing through ice chunks and set-up

snow. Featuring our QuickDraw system, the Carbon Fiber 230

incorporates a rapid deployment stuffsack, speed cone ferules to

accelerate assembly and a non-slip grip. stiff, ultra-light carbon

fiber tubes (marked every five centimeters) provide durability and

strength, and metal inserts at each joint reduce flexing.



QUICKDRAW CARBON FIBER PROBE 230 | #109096

QUICKDRAW SUPER TOUR PROBE 265

The Super Tour is a versatile probe that blends lightweight yet

strong construction with a long length and maximum com-

pactability. seven oversized aluminum tubes mesh together

instantly with our speed cone ferrules to create a tough, smooth

outer surface. Our QuickDraw system allows the probe to

be completely assembled in the time it takes to toss it from

its bag into the air. Other features include markings in five-

centimeter increments for depth readings and a non-slip grip.


WeIGHT: 300 G (10.6 oZ)

QUICKDRAW SUPER TOUR PROBE 265 | #109097

QUICKDRAW TOUR PROBE 190

This is the minimalist’s choice, designed for snowpit evaluation

and early-season skiing when the snowpack remains shallow.

Made from stiff, oversized aluminum tubing to pierce frozen

debris yet pack light for portability, the Tour Probe 190 features

easy-to-read markings every five centimeters to provide fast

depth readings. The Tour Probe incorporates our QuickDraw

deployment system for lightning-fast set-up and is intended for

probing in one to one-and-a-half meters of debris.



QUICKDRAW TOUR PROBE 190 | #109095

Mario Amann in the Lech-Zürs

backcountry, Arlberg, Austria.

1 P E T E r M AT h i s

sNoW sAfeTy | 62- 63

Jus

tin W

ood

heel

s ov

er h

ead

in t

he L

a Sa

l Mou

ntai

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Moa

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1

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To

AVALUNG II

The AvaLung may be the most important piece of life-sav-

ing equipment you can wear when traveling in avalanche

terrain. While a beacon can be a great body locator device,

the AvaLung ii allows you to breathe fresh air directly from

the snowpack, buying you precious time during a rescue. re-

breathing exhaled air when you’re buried causes suffocation

because the air becomes oversaturated with carbon dioxide

and depleted of oxygen. The AvaLung ii diverts the exhaust-

ed air away from your fresh-air intake zone, considerably ex-

tending the time your partners have to conduct a successful

recovery. This nine-ounce shoulder sling is proven to extend

lives—it’s trusted by guides, avalanche control workers,

patrollers and ski mountaineers worldwide.

sIZes: S/M, M/L

WeIGHT: 265 G (9.3 oZ) s/M

AVALUNG II | #150011

Clemens stieböck caught in the deep end of the pool, Krippenstein Freeride Arena, Austria.

1 h E r M A n n E r B E r

WTF? Log on @ www.bdel.com/wtf to read about stieböck’s close call.


Fresh air enters the patented AvaLung

system to provide oxygen supply.

Exhaled CO2

is expelled

through the back.

HOW THE AVALUNG WORKS

if you get buried in an avalanche,

the AvaLung could be the difference between

life and death. By allowing an avalanche

burial victim to breathe fresh air from the

snowpack, the AvaLung buys precious

lifesaving time during a rescue.

AvaLung: TIMe Is lIfe.

SEE THE COMPLETE STORY:

www.avalung.com

Draw air directly

from the snowpack.

64- 65

nick Devore dodging icebergs in an ocean of powder, Denali, Alaska.

1 A D A M C L A r K

Streamlined and

lightweight even with

built-in AvaLung

Enclosed shovel and

probe organization

sleeve keeps everything

dialed and ready

Diagonal ski

carrying capability

w h i t e s m o k e y a n d t h e b a n d i t

packs

“This season of filming in ak… flying in a heli, excitement and

adventure every day, ever changing conditions… it was the best trip of my life.

The Bandit avaLung pack was with me on every run because it offers me a

tighter show in tight situations. From the peaks of ak to the access gates

at our local ski area, this small pack is the choice because it’s built

for only what you need for a day in the backcountry and nothing more.

That’s why we go out in the mountains—to leave it all behind!”

— Seth Morrison, a regul ar in major ski films for 15 years

and the man who has taken huge cliff-drops in ak to another level

by throwing in backflips, lincoln loops and double front-flips,

spent six weeks in al ask a this past winter filming Under the Influence

with TGR. During the crew’s 19 days of filming, Morrison skied

99 runs, wearing his Bandit avaLung pack on every one of them.

1 a d a m c l a r k

pACKs | 66- 67

pACKs | 68- 69B l A C K D I A M o N D e q u I p M e N T. C o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

OUTLAW & OUTLAW AVALUNG < NEW >

A deluxe all-purpose snowboard or ski pack with unique “back door” access,

the Outlaw has plenty of room to comfortably carry all your day-tripping needs.

The hypalon®-reinforced snowboard wings ensure your deck will be strapped

down tight, and the slick “back door” zippered access allows you to get at your

gear without having to take off your board or skis. An interior pocket serves as

the dedicated avy-tools organizer with room for shovel and probe, plus there’s

a hydration bladder sleeve for housing your h2O. Additional features include

dual compression straps, hipbelt pockets, an insulated hydration sleeve on the

right shoulder strap and a fleece-lined exterior goggle pocket. Avy savvy users

will want to step up to the Outlaw with integrated AvaLung for premier protec-

tion while riding in the backcountry.

ToRso leNGTHs: S/M: 41-48 CM (16-19 IN), M/L: 47-55 CM (18.5-21.5 IN)

voluMe: 32 L (1,939 Cu IN)

sToCK WeIGHTs: ouTlAW — 1.25 KG (2 lB 12 oZ)

ouTlAW AvAluNG — 1.65 KG (3 lB 10 oZ)

ColoRs: ouTlAW — BLACK

ouTlAW AvAluNG — BLACK OR GREEN OLIVE

OUTLAW | #681052

OUTLAW AVALUNG | #681053

BANDIT & BANDIT AVALUNG < NEW >

This is our minimalist, low-prof ile avy-tools pack for the frontcountry and

beyond. The minimalist Bandit has a low-volume, zippered main compartment

with an interior shovel and probe organization compartment and hydration

bladder sleeve—plus just enough room left over for a wind shell, hat or extra

gloves. skis can be carried diagonally on the pack without blocking access

to the insulated hydration sleeve or the exterior stash pocket where you can

stow your keys, energy gels or cell phone. The Bandit is available with a cleanly

integrated AvaLung, a crucial avalanche safety device for anyone traveling in

the backcountry.

ToRso leNGTH: ONE SIZE: 41-48 CM (16-19 IN)

voluMe: 11 L (690 Cu IN)

sToCK WeIGHTs: BANDIT — 650 G (1 lB 6 oZ)

BANDIT AvAluNG — 1.02 KG (2 lB 4 oZ)

ColoRs: BANDIT — BLACK OR GREEN OLIVE

BANDIT AvAluNG — BLACK, GREEN OLIVE OR MUSTARD

BANDIT | #681050

BANDIT AVALUNG | #681051

I N S I D E


ALIAS & ALIAS AVALUNG < NEW >

A streamlined, lightweight top-loading ski pack for gram counters, the Alias has a “pro-level” avy-tools

sleeve designed to organize your probe, shovel and snow saw, as well as a zippered top pocket with slots for

keeping all of your accoutrements dialed in. The dual compression straps keep your load tight and double

as the sleeves for carrying your skis A-frame style. The removable aluminum stay can be taken out to reduce

weight, while the foam back panel ensures a comfy carry. The Alias is built with an interior hydration bladder

slot and insulated, exterior hydration sleeve. The Alias is also available with an integrated AvaLung—an

essential item in any backcountry skiers avalanche safety set-up.

ToRso leNGTHs S/M: 41-48 CM (16-19 IN), M/L: 47-55 CM (18.5-21.5 IN)

voluMe: 30 L (1,818 Cu IN)

sToCK WeIGHTs: AlIAs — 1.15 KG (2 lB 8 oZ)

AlIAs AvAluNG — 1.5 KG (3 lB 4 oZ)

ColoRs: AlIAs — CHILI PEPPER

AlIAs AvAluNG — CHILI PEPPER OR GRAVEL

ALIAS | #681054

ALIAS AVALUNG | #681055

COVERT & COVERT AVALUNG

This panel-loading, fully featured backcountry pack comes with or without an integrated AvaLung for

traveling off-piste. The pack is built from tough, water-shedding 420d nylon and 1300d Ballistic reinforce-

ments using a clamshell design for easy gear access. On the exterior, an adjustable ski/board attachment

system, ice tool loops, compression straps and an avy-tools pocket let you conveniently carry your essentials,

and the right shoulder strap features a zippered hydration tube pocket.

ToRso leNGTHs: 22 l — S/M: 41-48 CM (16-19 IN), L/XL: 43-51 CM (17-20 IN)

32 l — S/M: 43-51 CM (17-20 IN), L/XL: 51-58 CM (20-23 IN)

voluMes: 22 L (1,343 Cu IN),

32 L (1,953 Cu IN)

sToCK WeIGHTs: CoveRT 22 l — 1 KG (2 lB 3 oZ), 32 l — 1.23 KG (2 lB 11 oZ)

CoveRT AvAluNG 22 l — 1.3 KG (2 lB 14 oZ), 32 l — 1.57 KG (3 lB 7 oZ)

ColoRs: CoveRT — BLACK OR MUSTARD

CoveRT AvAluNG — BLACK, GRAVEL OR MUSTARD

COVERT 22 L | #681030

COVERT 32 L | #681032

COVERT AVALUNG 22 L | #681031

COVERT AVALUNG 32 L | #681033


ANARCHIST & ANARCHIST AVALUNG

A utilitarian, top-loading ski pack (with or without an integrated AvaLung), the Anarchist is perfect for

carrying multiple days’ worth of gear on backcountry tours. The motion-friendly design includes a unique

y-rod suspension and dynamic, channeled foam backpanel, hipbelt and shoulder straps that complement,

rather than hinder, the motions of skiing. The expandable, top-loading style features a side-access panel for

grabbing gear on the fly. A dedicated quick-access pocket for snow safety gear rides on the exterior and on

the right shoulder is an insulated hydration tube pocket. The 420d nylon fabric and 130d Ballistic reinforce-

ments offer water-shedding, long-wearing performance.

voluMes: 32 L (1,953 Cu IN) ReCoMMeNDeD foR ToRso leNGTHs 43-51 CM (17-20 IN)

42 L (2,653 Cu IN) ReCoMMeNDeD foR ToRso leNGTHs 48-56 CM (19-22 IN)

sToCK WeIGHTs: ANARCHIsT 32 l — 1.48 KG (3 lB 4 oZ), 42 l — 1.50 KG (3 lB 5 oZ)

ANARCHIsT AvAluNG 32 l — 1.88 KG (4 lB 2 oZ), 42 l — 1.93 KG (4 lB 4 oZ)

sTRIppeD WeIGHTs: ANARCHIsT 32 l — 1.19 KG (3 lB 4 oZ), 42 l — 1.63 KG (3 lB 10 oZ)

ANARCHIsT AvAluNG 32 l — 1.59 KG (3 lB 8 oZ), 42 l — 1.26 KG (2 lB 12 oZ)

ColoRs: ANARCHIsT — KELP ANARCHIsT AvAluNG — BLACK

ANARCHIST 32 L | #681034

ANARCHIST 42 L | #681038

ANARCHIST AVALUNG 32 L | #681035

ANARCHIST AVALUNG 42 L | #681037

REVELATION < NEW COLOR >

The diverse needs of climbers, mountaineers and skiers are easily

met with the organized design of the Revelation. it keeps your gear

quiver easily accessible, protected and riding close to your body.

The zippered top-loading design features backpanel access for mak-

ing quick grabs. your shovel and probe stow separately in their own

quick-access pockets and the exterior attachment points for skis, ice

tools, crampons and helmet are simple and dependable. To com-

fortably handle large loads, it uses a y-rod aluminum stay and chan-

neled foam backpanel, waistbelt and shoulder straps.

voluMes: 35 L (2,136 Cu IN), 45 L (2,746 Cu IN)

sToCK WeIGHTs: 35 l — 1.52 KG (3 lB 6 oZ), 45 l — 1.55 KG (3 lB 7 oZ)

sTRIppeD WeIGHTs: 35 l — 1.33 KG (2 lB 15 oZ), 45 l — 1.35 KG (3 lB)

ColoR: CHILI PEPPER

REVELATION 35 L | #680057

REVELATION 45 L | #680056

Clemens stieböck above Lake hallstadtersee, Krippenstein, Austria.

1 h E r M A n n E r B E r


www.bdel.com/ packs

74- 75

Andy Jacobsen’s glove, Wasatch backcountry, Utah. 1 J Ay B e y e r / p W 0 8

gloves | 76- 77

100% waterproof and

breathable Gore-Tex to

keep your digits dry

Short gauntlet

designed to be worn

under the cuff

Lightweight, PrimaLoft

insulation wards off

even sub-zero cold

t h e m a k i n g o f a l e g e n d

gloves

“When I tell people I live in Chamonix, they often say to me:

Doesn’t it get tracked by the crowds ten minutes after a snowfall?

sure it does, if you are too lazy to put in a little effort for your turns.

Right now it hasn’t snowed for three weeks and I hear people

complaining constantly about the conditions. But only yesterday

I skinned for 30 minutes from the lift, boot packed for 90 minutes

and got first tracks on an 800-meter, 50-degree couloir.

sometimes it’s all about opening your eyes.”

— Stian Hagen, an ex-pat Norwegian and pro skier

living in Chamonix , Fr ance, has skied the globe over,

from most of the cl assic and steep lines on the peaks above Cham’

to 60 0 0 -meter peaks in south Americ a . His glove of choice?

The legend, of course.

1 P e t e r M at h i s

Gloves | 78- 79B l A C K D I A M o N D e q u I p M e N T. C o M 1 8 0 1 2 7 8 5 5 3 3

MAD MAX

Molded knuckle pads over the f ingers and back of hand

add protection and warmth to this glove, making it ideal for

aggressive freeride and frontcountry users who need uncom-

promised protection. Durably built with all-leather Pittards

construction to withstand abrasion, the Mad Max features a

warm, 100% wool liner, backed with super warm PrimaLoft

to insulate you in the coldest of conditions. Gore-Tex® water-

proof/breathable protection seals out that cold cruel world.

imported.

TeMpeRATuRe RANGe: -28/-12˚C (-20/10˚f)

sIZes: S, M, L, XL

WeIGHT: 280 G (9.8 oZ) MeDIuM pAIR

ColoRs: BLACK OR NATURAL

MAD MAX | #801530

LEGEND

A frontcountry glove that places a premium on protecting your

hands from the cold and wet of winter, the Legend will make

you a believer. soft, PrimaLoft insulation keeps fingers and hands

warm on numbing days and continues to insulate, even when wet.

The four-way stretch shell fabric accentuates dexterity and resists

abrasion; it features foam knuckle pads for protection from what-

ever comes your way. includes Gore-Tex with XCr Product Tech-

nology inserts for highly waterproof and breathable protection,

and is designed to be worn under the cuff. imported.


sIZes: S, M, L, XL sIZes: XS, S, M, L

WeIGHT: 224 G (7.8 oZ) MeDIuM pAIR WeIGHT: 200 G (7 oZ) MeDIuM pAIR

ColoRs: BLACK OR NATURAL ColoRs: BLACK OR PEARL

MEN’S WOMEN’S LEGEND | #801605 LEGEND | #801610

GUIDE

The Guide fends off serious cold, ugly conditions with a

combination of fabrics including a wool pile liner and a layer

of soft PrimaLoft® for exceptional warmth. The four-way

stretch woven shell with supple Pittards® leather on the back

of hand and palm provides ultimate durability for all-season

use. The Gore-Tex® with XCr® Product Technology insert

provides unwavering waterproof and highly breathable per-

formance, whether you’re digging a pit or breaking trail. The

removable liner enables quick drying for multiple-day use.

imported.



WeIGHT 310 G (10.9 oZ) MeD pAIR WeIGHT: 298 G (10.4 oZ) MeD pAIR


MEN’S WOMEN’S GUIDE | #801511 GUIDE | #801512

PRODIGY

Offering a balance of ultra-warmth with detail-oriented

dexterity, the Prodigy is as versatile as a glove comes. The

Gore-Tex with XCr Product Technology insert adds high-

performance storm protection and breathability while a 100%

PrimaLoft liner wraps your hand in soft warmth. Capped with

Pittards goatskin, the fingers provide excellent grip, sensitivity

and toughness while coming with a removable liner for fast

drying. Four-way stretch fabric shells allow the full range of

flexibility for adjusting boots or removing skins. imported.



WeIGHT: 296 G (10.4 oZ) MeD pAIR WeIGHT: 280 G (9.8 oZ) MeD pAIR


MEN’S WOMEN’S PRODIGY | #801551 PRODIGY | #801555


FEVER / FEVER MITT < NEW >

Soft to the touch on the inside and out, but still tough enough to handle full-blown snowstorms,

the Fever is the ticket for frontcountry cruising. PrimaLoft insulation keeps your digits warm and comfy,

while the Gore-Tex with XCr Product Technology inserts and knit cuffs completely shut out the wind and

weather. The fingers and palms are reinforced with Pittards leather for exceptional grip and durability.

A zippered pocket in the back of the glove is sweet for stashing money, key or a heat packet. imported.

TeMpeRATuRe RANGe: -26/-9˚C (-15/15˚f) TeMpeRATuRe RANGe: -28/-12˚C (-20/10˚f)

sIZes: S, M, L, XL sIZes: S, M, L, XL

WeIGHT: 182 G (6.5 oZ) MeDIuM pAIR WeIGHT: 179 G (6.7 oZ) MeDIuM pAIR

ColoRs: BLACK OR CHARCOAL ColoRs: BLACK

MEN’S FEVER | #801564 MEN’S FEVER MITT | #801568

sIZes: XS, S, M, L sIZes: XS, S, M, L


ColoRs: BLACK OR PEARL ColoRs: BLACK OR PEARL

WOMEN’S FEVER | #801566 WOMEN’S FEVER MITT | #801570

Derek nipkow and Kevin Meadows

unleash the 75 recoilless on

snowbird, utah’s avy terrain.

1 W i L L W i s s M A n


REBEL < NEW >

An all-leather glove for warm days at the resort, the rebel was

born for spring skiing. Bring on the soft snow—the 100% wa-

terproof BDry™ insert and knit cuff will keep the wet stuff out

and your digits dry. The leather is reinforced at the fingertips

and palms to ensure the rebel will live to see many a season.

A midweight 100 gram fleece provides warmth without limiting

dexterity—allowing you to keep your gloves on while cracking

open your après-ski beverage of choice. imported.

TeMpeRATuRe RANGe: -17/-1˚C (0/30˚f)



ColoRs: BLACK, COCOA OR NATURAL ColoRs: BLACK OR PEARL

MEN’S REBEL | #801560 WOMEN’S REBEL | #801562

PATROL / PATROL MITT < NEW >

An all-season, all-weather, all-mountain performer, the Patrol is for the skier or boarder who runs laps at

the resort. A leather and four-way stretch shell works in conjunction with the 100% waterproof BDry in-

sert to keep the elements at bay. The fingers and palms are reinforced with leather for excellent dexterity.

Warmth is assured thanks to the Patrol’s toasty PrimaLoft and Polartec® hi-Loft® insulation. imported.

TeMpeRATuRe RANGe: -17/-1˚C (0/30˚f) TeMpeRATuRe RANGe: -21/-4˚C (-5/25˚f)

sIZes: S, M, L, XL sIZes: S, M, L, XL

WeIGHT: 144 G (5 oZ) MeDIuM pAIR WeIGHT: 112 G (3.9 oZ) MeDIuM pAIR

ColoRs: BLACK, COCOA OR INDIA INK ColoRs: BLACK

MEN’S PATROL | #801401 MEN’S PATROL MITT | #801411

sIZes: XS, S, M, L sIZes: XS, S, M, L


ColoRs: BLACK OR INDIA INK ColoRs: BLACK, COCOA OR INDIA INK

WOMEN’S PATROL | #801403 WOMEN’S PATROL MITT | #801570

if this trailer’s a rockin’, don’t come a knockin’.

Josh Vanjura firing into some unique terrain,

Big Cottonwood Canyon, utah.

1 B r E n D A n n i C h O L s O n

B D R Y


KINGPIN < NEW >

A tough all-leather glove for all-mountain use, the Kingpin is a

great choice for warm-weather skiing. An adjustable neoprene

cuff keeps the glove locked down tight, and the Polartec®

Thermal Pro® lining staves off the chill. imported.


sIZes: XS, S, M, L, XL


ColoRs: BLACK OR NATURAL

KINGPIN | #801409

IMPULSE < NEW >

Choose the Impulse for skinning, approaching or running

when a lightweight breathable softshell is all you need to get

the job done. The Polartec® Power shield® softshell works with

the fleece liner to provide ample dexterity and warmth. The

impulse has an outstanding grip thanks to its thermoformed

knuckles and a leather palms with Kevlar stitching. imported.

TeMpeRATuRe RANGe: -7/4˚C (20/40˚f)

sIZes: XS, S, M, L, XL


ColoRs: BLACK

IMPULSE | #801450

RENEGADE / RENEGADE MITT < NEW >

The perfect glove for a weekend at the resort, the renegade is made with wool and fleece lining and

100% waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex, ensuring your hands stay warm and dry. The fingers and

palms are reinforced with leather for durability and the over-the-cuff design shuts down snow from

sneaking in and chilling your hands. imported.




ColoRs: BLACK, COCOA OR CHARCOAL ColoRs: BLACK OR PEARL

MEN’S RENEGADE | #801431 WOMEN’S RENEGADE MITT | #801446

sIZes: XS, S, M, L


ColoRs: BLACK OR PEARL

WOMEN’S RENEGADE | #801436


www.bdel.com/ gloves

speAK ouT foR s IleNCe | 86- 87

1 S t e v e n L L o y d

Many of the backcountry locales we ski at

throughout the Western united states are at seri-

ous risk—regionally renowned places such as

utah’s franklin Basin, Wyoming’s Togwotee pass, Colorado’s

Hahn’s peak and California’s leavitt Bowl to name only a

few. These are places where not very long ago you might have

found no more than a few other hardy tele or AT partners to

share trail-breaking duty, rewarded by lap after lap of untracked

powder bliss. visit these areas today and you’re more likely to

find a melee of snowmobile-produced deep ruts, blue smoke

and engine brap.

No, I’m not against snowmobiles. I’ve logged my share of

miles on a sled, commuting for three winters to a cabin high

in the Wasatch Mountains and on occasion accessing remote

powder stashes that would have taken days to approach on

skis. plus, my wife says the lingering smell of a two-stroke on

my clothes is sexy. so I freely admit that snowmobiles have

their place in the backcountry. But it isn’t every place.

The vast majority of backcountry ski-

ing in the u.s. takes place in National

forests. unfortunately, the u.s. forest

service’s approach to managing our win-

ter playgrounds —a policy where all areas

not protected as Wilderness are open

to snowmobiles unless specifically desig-

nated and signed as closed—results in a

backcountry free-for-all where those with

the biggest, loudest, most powerful toys get their run of the

place and the rest of us get pushed aside.

Backcountry skiers, however, can change that. Three years

ago the u.s. forest service began a process called Travel

Management planning that requires the development of

“motor-vehicle use maps” to designate where motorized users

can go on each of the 177 National forests in the u.s. While it

may appear subtle, this shift from an “open unless designated

closed” to a “closed unless designated open” policy has huge

implications and can go a long way in protecting areas for non-

motorized use.

The process, however, has a serious loophole: snowmobiles

are actually exempt from the new management

policy (unlike other motorized recreation vehicles such as

ATvs, oRvs and dirt bikes) unless the local forest service

official specifically includes them in his or her Travel plan. With

local budgets and staffing already slashed due to federal cuts,

it’s easy to understand the temptation on a forest supervisor

to focus only on summer use and leave the current laissez

faire system in place for winter use. plus, the process is heavily

weighted toward those interest groups willing to organize and

speak up. With nearly 2500 snowmobile clubs (compared to

only a handful of backcountry skier groups) in the u.s., it’s no

surprise the opinions of the motorized snowsport enthusiasts

are the ones being heard by the forest service.

yes, I know, backcountry skiers don’t do process. We go

it alone, break our own trail. However, in this case it’s simple:

get involved or live with an outcome that will likely mean being

backed into a few pockets of accessible Wilderness or secret

stashes overlooked—for now—by motorized users.

The best way to get involved is to meet directly with

your local forest Ranger. Tell them

your concerns and why they should

include snowmobiles in their Travel

Management plan. explain to them the

areas that need to be preserved and pro-

tected for backcountry skiing. And com-

ment in writing when a proposed plan

is opened up for public input. Winter

Wildlands Alliance (WWA), a national

non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving

the human-powered backcountry snowsports experience, can

help. The WWA can tell you how, when and where to comment,

as well as give you talking points, statistics and tools to be

effective when meeting with forest service officials or writing

a letter. visit www.winterwildlands.org to know more.

The time to act is now. The majority of National forests

have already begun the Travel Management planning process

and some have even completed their Travel plans. The National

forest service has a goal of completing all Travel plans by 2011,

so time is extremely short. If you value a backcountry experi-

ence where you can hear the sound of your own voice, the time

to use that voice is now.

speAK ouT foR sIleNCeM A R K M e N l o v e

Mark Menlove is the executive director of Winter Wildlands Alliance. For information about how to get involved and have your

voice heard, check out WWA’s website, www.winterwildlands.org. To find out more details about the U.S. Forest Service’s Travel

Management Planning, go to: www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/ohv/index.shtml 1 M . M E n L O V E

I T ’ s s I M p l e : G e T I N v o l v e D

o R l I v e W I T H A N o u T C o M e

T H A T W I l l M e A N B e I N G

B A C K e D I N T o A f e W p o C K e T s

o f A C C e s s I B l e W I l D e R N e s s

o R s T A s H e s o v e R l o o K e D

B y M o T o R I Z e D u s e R s .

Warning: Some aspects of mountaineering and related activities, in-cluding but not limited to technical rock, ice, and snow climbing, are potentially hazardous and dangerous. Any person using our equip-ment in any manner is personally responsible for learning the proper techniques involved, and assumes all risks and accepts full and com-plete responsibility for any and all damages and injury of any kind, including death, which may result from the use of any equipment purchased through this catalog. Books and catalogs like this one can help, but they are no substitute for personal instruction by a qualified person well versed in all appropriate safety techniques.

Limited Warranty: We warrant for one year from purchase date and only to the original retail buyer (Buyer) that our products (Products) are free from defects in material and workmanship. If Buyer discovers a covered defect, Buyer should deliver the Product to us at the address on

the back cover. We will replace such Product free of charge. That is the extent of our liability under this Warranty and, upon expiration of the applicable warranty period, all such liability shall terminate.

Warranty Exclusions: We do not warranty Products against normal wear and tear, unauthorized modifications or alterations, improper use, improper maintenance, accident, misuse, negligence, damage, or if the Product is used for a purpose for which it was not designed. This War-ranty gives you specific rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Except for expressly stated in this Warranty, we shall not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or other types of dam-ages arising out of, or resulting from the use of Product. This Warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, express or implied, including, but not lim-ited to, implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose (some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of inciden-

tal or consequential damages or allow limitations on the duration of an implied warranty, so the above exclusions may not apply to you).

This catalog refers to the following registered trademarks: Gore-Tex® & Gore-Tex with XCR Product Technology® (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.); Hypalon®, Kevlar® & Teflon® (E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co.); Pittards® (Pittards PLC); Polartec® Hi-Loft®, Polartec® Power Stretch®, Polartec® Thermal Pro® & Polartec® Power Shield® (Malden Mills); PrimaLoft® (Albany International Corporation); Pebax® (AtoChimie); Pieps DSP® (Pieps GmbH); Snickers® (Mars, Inc.); Boa® (Boa Technology, Inc.); Black Diamond™, Black Diamond®, BDry™, Dual Torsion Bow Technology™, FlickLock®, Formula One Technology™, Power Transmission Control™, Triax-Pro Frame™, Triax-Performance Frame™, Triax-Tour Frame™, and the are registered trademarks of Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd

WALKING THE TALK

We are committed to preserving access to healthy moun-tain, crag and canyon environs. specifically, we support the efforts of our non-profit partners with cash, donations, sweat and fierce optimism. Whether it’s donating to a group of climbers raising money to purchase and protect their backyard crag, organizing our annual fundraiser for the utah Avalanche Center or lending a few catalog pages to raise awareness about issues of consequence to climbers and ski-ers, we walk our talk. And we don’t stop there—visit www.bdel.com/partners to learn more about our global efforts to give back and run a more sustainable business.

American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA)www.amga.com

The Conservation Alliance www.conservationalliance.com

Friends of Utah Avalanche Center www.utahavalanchecenter.org

Winter Wildlands Alliancewww.winterwildlands.org

Youth Outdoors Legacy Fundwww.youthoutdoorslegacyfund.com

Check out a list of all the organizations we support, visit:

Dawn patrol in the Wasatch backcountry, utah.

1 C J W h i T TA K E r

* www.bdel.com / partners

pARTING sHoT | 88- 89

Catalogs:To sign up for the BD HotWire Email Newsletter or request Black Diamond Climbing or Ice catalogs, log on to: www.BlackDiamondEquipment.com/catalog

To Order: Call Black Diamond Mail Order (801) 278-5533, Fax: (801) 278-5544Email: [email protected]

Cover Photo: Flo Koefer in the moment at Zürs am Arlberg, Austria. —pEtEr MAthis

Back Cover Photo: Asha waiting patiently to charge down the Whaleback, Nelson backcountry, British Columbia, Canada.—stEvE OglE

BD Catalog Team: Adam Chamberlain, randy hankins, Jim Knight, liz Knight, Matt law, holly Merriman, Colleen Nipkow, Andreas schmidt, Boone speed, Jonathan thesenga and Jenn Walsh.

Musical Inspiration: Betty Carter

Studio Photography: Butch Adams

North America:Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.2084 East 3900 southsalt lake City, Ut 84124 UsAEmail: [email protected]

the BD store in salt lake City:(801) 278-0233Dealer inquiries: (801) 278-5552Fax: (800) 775-7625

Europe:Black Diamond Equipment AGChristoph Merian ring 74153 reinach, switzerlandphone: +41 61 564 33 33Fax: +41 61 564 33 34Email: [email protected] European Event info: www.ready2climb.com

Asia:Black Diamond Equipment AsiaNo. 3 lianfeng roadZhuhai Free trade Zoneguangdong, p.r. China 519030Email: [email protected]

Check out the Black Diamond 2008-09 Ice Climbing catalog:

www.BlackDiamondEquipment.com

© Black Diamond Equipment, ltd. 2008.

All rights reserved. printed in China.

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Black Diamond ski Catalog 2012

Documents

Transcript of Black Diamond ski Catalog 2012