Pampering yourself downhill skiing with alpine touring skis

This article is a follow-up to the first article, which appeared in our February 2023 issue: “ICI Skis: made for Eastern North America”.

For this month’s test, another pair of talented skiers, Chantale Ruel and Maxime Gagnon – owner of the shop Max Ski Service – tested for us ICI skis by Jasey-Jay Anderson. For this second test, the maker of ultra-high-end skis suggested to our skiers that they tackle the Tremblant slopes on skis from his “alpine touring” line. Goal: to test out their skiability index in downhill.

To choose touring skis, the usual procedure is to ask yourself whether you want to focus on the climbing or the downhill run. The skis made by hand by Jasey-Jay in his Lac-Supérieur workshop appear to have resolved the problem and allow alpine touring outings without compromise.

“The first time I tried alpine touring skis, I quickly realized that this was not a ski made for skiing. All right for sliding, but definitely not for making turns,” explains Jasey-Jay Anderson. “I went back to the technology I use for my downhill skis […] because from my perspective, we have the right to enjoy making a few turns. My goal, then, was to make a really high-performing ski that was very light so the climb would be easy.”

The series

In addition to offering the RTT (Red Tip and Tail) and BTT (Black Tip and Tal) ranges, the ICI SKI company produces three series of touring skis, respectively 103, 90 and 86 mm wide, in several different lengths. The side cuts differ according to the series and are obviously designed to provide the best sensation of sliding on our mountains.

“I tested my wife’s 150s and I adored them. I realized that a short ski is not necessarily too short,” Jasey-Jay states. “By adjusting a few parameters, it can be used in several scenarios. My 185, which is the longest, is designed for the West, for freeride and powder. My shortest is the 150, which I adore skiing on at Tremblant. It’s small, light, and becomes my snowshoe…my touring ski. It runs so well that I can ski on it all day long. You can literally do anything with it.”

The test

Chantale made six runs to test four different pairs of skis. As a result, she was able to re-test two pairs on two of her runs. Maxime tested six different pairs of skis. As usual, we questioned them as soon as they reach the foot of the slopes.

Chantale’s reactions

RTT – Length: 160 centimetres – Width: 86 millimetres – Radius 15 metres

Light and high-performing. I really enjoyed them; they allowed easy changes of direction. I was easily able to chain up large turns and small turns. Very stable. I felt that I could push them and they would respond. Very pleasant to ski on.

BTT Length: 165 centimetres – Width: 90 millimetres – Radius 12 metres

We have no cause to envy the Austrians. This is really a beautiful local product. The more I asked of it, the more it gave. Super-performing. Really a nice feeling of sliding. Well worth discovering.

RTT – Length: 150 centimetres – Width: 86 millimetres – Radius 14 metres

Also a super-good ski. Shorter, so easier to manoeuvre. I had to adapt a bit, though. The second is my favourite so far, but I’m going to retry the first.

RTT – Length: 160 centimetres – Width: 86 millimetres – Radius 15 metres (2nd test)

It is torsionally stiff. But the more I let it go, the better it ran. The 165 – 90 BTT is still my favourite.

RTT – Length: 177 centimetres – Width: 103 millimetres – Radius 15 metres

It’s a tank. On a steep slope, it’s a bit too much. But when the slope was less steep, I could let it go more. It’s the first time in my life I’ve tried a ski this wide. Very stable, but a fraction too long for my level of skiing. I was able to ski it, though. It’s a beautiful product, too. Each of them has its own personality, but they’re all stable and they all hold throughout the curve.

BTT – Length: 165 centimetres – Width: 90 millimetres – Radius 12 metres (2nd test)

All those I’ve tried today have their stability in common. But I like this one the best. It lets you adapt to all surfaces and change your types of turns. This is definitely my favourite.

Maxime’s reactions

RTT – Length: 170 centimetres – Width: 103 millimetres – Radius 14 metres

For a ski of this width, I’m impressed. I could turn on a dime. It’s a notch higher than all the touring skis I’ve been able to try so far. I was able to push on ice and the ski held. Incredible feeling. I really like the whip they give me at the end of the turns, For a ski of this width, it’s exceptional. For a good skier looking for the best uphill-downhill package.

RTT – Length: 170 centimetres – Width: 86 millimetres – Radius 16 metres

This is an incredible ski. I would go do a Super-G course; they felt that solid. The side cut is longer. I had a slightly longer radius, so fewer natural pronounced ellipses. I had to be a bit more precise, but when you’re on the sweet spot, the rebound is incredible. The whip was even more marked than for the first ski. More solid, too, and even more stable, from what I felt.

RTT – Length: 177 centimetres – Width: 103 millimetres – Radius 15 metres

Again, fantastic. As wide as the first ones. You can’t even tell it’s a touring ski, it’s so solid. Even at 103, you can carve really easily. It’s exceptional. It’s incredible that a ski so wide can hold as well on the slope. I have never seen anything comparable with skis that are this wide. And again, I recently tested skis from an Austrian company. You’re holding the whole length of the turn and it doesn’t slip…

BTT – Length: 165 centimetres – Width: 90 millimetres – Radius 12 metres

In this kind of snow, the boots are important. These lacked some rigidity relative to the skis. The conditions were difficult. Lots of ice. But the ski was incredible; it held super well. It just didn’t let go. We took the Windigo and it was stiff: the snow was difficult. The ski was easier to turn. I could adapt to all kinds of terrain. I think it’s my favourite so far.

RTT – Length: 160 centimetres – Width: 86 millimetres – Radius 15 metres

Great performance. It’s an explosive ski. A real carving machine. It has torque: it’s incredible! It’s almost a racing ski. It’s surprising, because it’s still hyper light. You can have incredible fun going downhill, particularly at Tremblant. You can climb here and you can head down any of the runs…in contrast to the usual touring skis, these are just so solid on ice. It’s mind-boggling, and we really had fun.

Ideal for Tremblant. They combine ease and agility going up and skiability on the way down.

RTT – Length: 150 centimetres – Width: 86 millimetres – Radius 14 metres

This is the first time I’ve tried a ski this short. It’s an incredibly stable ski for this length. It held like a tank. It mixes me up a bit…all my ideas about ski length. A very solid ski. Super light for the climb and hyper stable on the descent.

For more information, visit iciski.com & maxskiservice.com

More from this author by clicking on his photo below.