Black Diamond Zealot Skis 2013

Specs

• Terrain: Alpine Touring, Big Mountain, Powder
  Alpine Touring

  Also known as backcountry skis, alpine touring (AT) skis are designed for going uphill as well as downhill. These skis are typically light for their width and many feature fittings that accept climbing skins. AT skis vary in width and weight, with the wider heavier versions usually used for winter/deep snow touring and the skinnier, lighter skis usually used for spring/summer/long distance touring.

  Big Mountain

  Big mountain skis are designed for charging big lines with high speeds and big airs. These skis varry in width from wide, powder-oriented skis for skiing Alaska spines to narrower, mixed condition skis for ripping the beat up headwall at your local mountain. Skis in this category tend to be on the stiffer side, often with more rocker in the tip and less in the tail.

  Powder

  These skis are for the deep days. If you like to find powder stashes at your local resort, go on backcountry missions for the freshest of fresh or heli ski trips to BC, powder skis are what you need to stay afloat. Skis in the powder category are wide and most often have some form of rocker or early rise plus a relatively soft flex. Many powder skis today are versatile enough to handle mixed conditions and harder snow.
  
• Ability Level: Advanced-Expert
  Advanced-Expert

  Whether you charge the steepest lines, carve with race-like precision, hit the biggest jumps or halfpipes; advanced to expert level skis/snowboards are for the more aggressive rider. You will often find the addition of layers of metal, carbon, bamboo, or other stringers in these. These features work to make a stiffer ski/snowboard with more power and rebound.
  
• Rocker Type: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
  Rocker/Camber/Rocker

  Rocker/Camber/Rocker skis have the playfulness and float of a rockered ski as will as the added edge hold of a cambered ski. The contact points on skis with this profile are closer towards the middle of the ski than a fully cambered ski, but still not underfoot. The cambered midsection provides a longer effective edge on hardpack, increasing edge hold and stability, while the rockered tip and tail provide floatation in deeper snow and allow the ski to initiate and release from turns easier.
  
• Turning Radius: Long
  Long

  > 22 m radius is best for powder and big-mountain.
  
• Core/Laminates: Wood
• Tail Type: Partial Twin Tip
  Partial Twin Tip

  Partial twin tip skis have a tail that is turned up, but not as much as the tip. This gives you the ability to ski backwards and back out of tight spaces, but these skis are mainly designed to ski forward.
  
• Ski Awards: Freeskier Editor's Picks
  
• Warranty: 1 Year