2012-2013 KLIИT (Klint) Karver
127-72-110 @172cm r=14m
Manufacturer Info:
KLIИT
205 16th Street,
San Diego - CA 92101 USA
Ph: 619-876-5060
Fx: 619-798-3547
http://www.klintsnow.com
Suggested Retail Price (MSRP):
$890 usd
Usage Class:
Frontside Carving
Rating (with comments):
(1="get me off these things"->10="I have to own a pair")
10
Summary:
The KLIИT Karver is a superb example of a modern frontside carver with a bias toward race-like performance rather than recreational cruising. The Karver has a impressive command of edge-to-edge transitions on hard surfaces and rewards athletic input with a thrilling ride, but can be skied more casually than most carvers with this level of performance. The Karver holds lines and changes directions precisely and with complete control, even at higher speeds without any nervousness or "darty" behavior. It dampens vibrations very well while maintaining a very light feel underfoot. This is not a damp race plank, but a technical, precision carving tool with a wide range of friendy hehavior. This ski could advance an intermediate-level frontside groomer enthusiast to upper-level carving skills without demanding Herculean input, and make ex-racer types grin ear-to-ear as their daily frontside ski. The Karver should be considered one of the standards by which narrow-waisted frontside carving skis should be measured. Excellent ride with high-quality construction.
Technical Ski Data:
Vertical laminate birch hardwood core, dual-layer Titanal sandwich construction, UHMW sintered base, stainless steel tail protector. This pair was fitted with Tyrolia SP130 demo bindings, no raceplate. This model incorporates their "Reflection Applied Concept" which means they proportionally scale the geometry of the ski for each length, so the tip, waist and tail dimensions vary between sizes to produce the same relative personality traits among the different length skis. Manufactured by one of the most experienced ski facilities in the World.
Pre-Skiing Impression:
Top-shelf fit, finish and materials, strong, snappy rebound response to hand flexing. Strong torsional rigidity, thin vertical profile, lighter weight than expected. "Industrial" look with it's brushed-metal topsheet appearance. "Businesslike" look and feel. Modern frontside carver shape without excessively large shovel and tail widths (less radical than some carvers). The hardwood core should provide a very long lifespan for this ski.
Test Conditions:
This initial report is the result of two runs on hardpack, ice, frozen granular and hardpack chalky groomer surfaces at a multi-day demo event in Vermont. Terrain was intermediate-level only, so this initial review should be taken with a couple grains of salt. I hope to get back out on this ski on steeper terrain.
Test Results:
The KLIИT Karver grabbed my attention at the very first turn. The next few turns immediately made me grin as I picked up speed and began to bang out directional changes while picking up speed. The light weight and narrow waist, combined with a 127mm tip allowed the ski to shift edges and pull itself into turns with very little effort. While some skis want you to roll them over and pressure them into the next turn, the Karver pulls you into the next compressed arc when you tip onto new edges. This means you get excellent turn initiation with very few calories required per turn. Once the Karver gets into its sweet spot radius, it is happy to hold itself there, or you can tighten or loosen the arc smoothly as needed without any loss of confidence or security. Some carving skis like to ride in their design radius, but get balky if you try to tighten it up, but the Karver is happy to adjust turn shape on command without any change in grip underfoot. That's a good thing. The Karver has no hint of nervousness or darty behavior, thanks to two layers of Titanal (one below and one above the birch core), yet has none of the "metal battleship" feel of some race skis or carving skis trying to achieve the same performance. The Karver also has a remarkably wide range of speed, allowing you to ride it slow and gentle, weaving back and forth without effort, or turn it up to race-pace and drag your hip across the hill with race-like acceleration on demand. Conditions for this test were excellent for carving skis, with a mix of real ice, eastern boilerplate, packed powder and granular snow, and the Karver's behavior was quiet, confident and agile on everything I could find. While there was no thick snow available to test the handling of these skis, I will assume they will behave like a 72mm waisted ski. Hopefully we can get out on the Karvers in softer snow this season and see how they behave off their hardpack home surface.
Analogies: (this ski is like...)
A high performance club-racer Porche for civilians. My favorite quote from PhilPug at EpicSki.com describes this ski perfectly: "This ski is like a drug."
Things I Would Change About This Ski:
Nothing at all, but maybe dress up the graphics a tiny bit with a piece of discrete and bolder color, but the industrial grey look grows on you.
Short Answer When Someone Asks "What Do You Think About This Ski?":
This is a superb example of what a modern frontside carving ski should be. Race-like grip and powerful response with razor-quick reflexes in a well-controlled, lightweight chassis. Not for soft snow.
Advice To People Considering This Ski:
Expect to hone your carving skills with this ski. Don't expect to have any fun in soft snow. This is a ski designed for excellent hardpack carving without needing to be an olympian athelete.
Self-Description of Skiing Style, Ability, Experience, Preferences:
5' 11", 180 lbs. 52 year-old expert, "old-style" race inspired, "foot steerer" with fairly sensitive edging feel. Loves to hold long arcs with lots of pressure on the downhill ski (you know the type), but also loves the feel of both skis on-edge leaving tiny railroad track edge tracks. Loves powder when it's not tracked out. Trees and odd terrain angles are fun.
Pics:
(click images for larger versions)
