Ramp Sports - Frenzy / Hysteria 2011
126-80-110mm r=14.88m@169cm

Manufacturer Info:

Ramp Sports
2750 Rasmussen Rd. Suite 103
Park City, Utah, 84098
1-888-406-0567
http://www.rampsports.com


Suggested Retail Price (MSRP):

$875 ($699 "street price" on the website)
Sales in 2011 are direct-to-consumer only, no dealers
Applying the "insider" deal code (free if you sign up at the website) applies 18.5% discount for final price of $573. Free shipping.

Usage Class:

Frontside Carving

Your Rating (with comments): (1="get me off these things"->10="I have to own a pair")

9+ for piste, 6 off-piste. (see test results for details)

Summary:

Superb frontside race-carver with remarkable edge grip and responsiveness in a lightweight package for about $573 delivered to your door.

Technical Ski Data:

Wood-core, fiberglass construction. No metal layers.

Techsheet from Ramp Sports:
http://www.rampsports.com/store/media/specs/Ramp_Tech_Data_Frenzy.pdf
http://www.rampsports.com/store/media/specs/Ramp_Tech_Data_Hysteria.pdf

Pre-Skiing Impression:

Very good quality construction and finish.  This pair of demos was the final production version, without graphic topsheet.  Progressive flex and impressive torsional strength.  Fairly lightweight for its size. Thin vertical profile.  Good rebound response and vibration dampening. Nicely squared tail shape. Appears to be the same as the Hysteria women's model geometry and construction.

Frenzy Description

You love blazing speed at a frenzied pace on groomers and hard snow. Period. You’re first on the lift for virgin cord. When most people get there, you’ve already had 24,000 vert. Speed Range:  7-10

Hysteria Description

The faster you go the more hysterically happy you get. The only thing holding you back is the flapping of your clothes. You go early for virgin cord and by the time most people arrive, you’ve already had a full day’s vert. Speed Range:  7-10

Features- The most modern version of this ski is wider and at 80mm under foot it’s rock solid, stable, grippy and even handles softer snow when you’re in it. The traditional camber is designed for hard-snow, high-speed hookup. The Razor Cut sidecut gives this carving ski the best possible edge grip on the hardest snow.

Test Conditions:

Powder (shin deep), cut-up powder, packed powder and hardpack surfaces, very cold, dry snow. No really steep-and-deep or big-mountain terrain.

Test Results:

I immediately hooked up with this ski after three turns and found it made really secure, really fun racing turns with little effort.  The Ramp Frenzy is a no-nonsense racecarver with excellent manners and top-shelf performance for a bargain price.  The more I skied it, the more I wanted to push it harder and harder.  The Frenzy has excellent feed into a turn, confident transition through the highest-pressure point and a sweet finishing shape and acceleration into the next turn off the tail. You can modify the turn radius at any point in the turn and change edge angle with no problem.  The Frenzy goes where you point it and generates as much oomph out of the turn as you want, with confident grip at all times.  I really liked the Frenzy and wanted to try a version mounted with a race plate.  Extremely quick and it feels like a slalom carver rather than a GS carver, but with the quiet manner of a GS racecarve ski at higher speeds.  If you buy bindings with your skis, Ramp extends the warranty to two years.  New brand for 2011.

Analogies: (this ski is like...)

Audi S4 with new, sticky tires and a fresh set of firm struts and elastomer bushings on fresh pavement.

Things You Would Change About This Ski:

Try a race plate for a bulletproof-surface version.

Short Answer When Someone Asks "What Do You Think About This Ski?":

Racy race carver capable of high-angle carving in a variety of turn radii without wearing out the driver.

Advice To People Considering This Ski:

Not for soft snow, but a special tool for groomer-carving enthusiasts looking for a slicing, turning machine that does not require an olympic-quality pilot.

Self-Description of Skiing Style, Ability, Experience, Preferences:

5' 11", 180 lbs. Expert groomed-surface carver, "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. 10 year coach for youth race team in New England (bulletproof is the norm).