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The Armada TST all mountain ski is a playful performer, but it's not a one-trick pony. A lot of skis that place a premium on turny, surfy skiing don't necessarily give you the confidence to rail on firm snow, but the Armada TST accomplishes this with a unique shape.

K2 Ski's Seth Morrison pro model skis have been long-standing favorites from the Seth Pistols to the Obsethed, and now K2 has created the  Sideseth the latest iteration - and we think it's the best yet.

The K2 Sideseth has a similar tip rocker profile to last year's K2 Obsethed; low and gradual starting way down the ski - not too far forward of the front of the binding, for tons of float in powder.

Here comes the next big deal, our Salomon Ski Sale! We got great pricing on the 2012 Salomon Rocker 2, Salomon Sentinel, Salomon Enduro XT 800 and Salomon Origins Bamboo, and we're passing the savings on to you. You've got to act fast though, we've got extremely limited quantities, so they're going to be gone in a hurry.

The 2013 Atomic Automatic looks like it's going to be one of the hot skis this year - for good reason.

Atomic says it blends the playful powder surfing Atomic Bent Chetler with the hard charging straight lining power of the Atomic Atlas.

We say it's one of the most versatile fat big mountain skis out their, and a real candidate if you want to ski a fat ski everyday.

All mountain skis, big mountain skis, freeride skis, powder skis - there are so many types of skis today it can be a little overwhelming when shopping for a new pair - which skis are best for you?

But with the right information, it can be that much more exciting - they variety means you'll be able to find just the right pair.

So let's start going through some categories - as you go through from top to bottom, you'll progress from skis best for hard snow and groomers to skis best for powder and soft snow.

The Dynastar Cham 97 was just awarded Outside Magazine's Gear of the Year for 2013 - Best Alpine Skis.

It's definitely an interesting ski, worthy of consideration from a wide range of skiers for a great all-mountain ski.

Sold out, check out our new SKI SALE now!

If you've been waiting for the best price on a pair of Nordica Skis, this is it: the Nordica Blemish Ski Sale!

Every year the Start Haus uses our super-secret connections to scoop up a bunch of the previous year's Nordica Skis with minor cosmetic blemishes at almost unbelievable prices, then pass the savings on to you. Whether you're looking for Nordica all-mountain skis, Nordica powder skis or something else, this is the best price you'll find.

August 31-Sept 3, 2012
Hours: 9:00-6:00

 How it works....

For the buyers:

Start Haus staff will be on hand to help you with purchases, we are here to serve you.  We will assist you with sizing and making sure the equipment is appropriate for your needs. If we don’t think it is the right item for you, we will let you know.

For the sellers:  

We will begin taking in your equipment on August 1st. Start Haus staff will help advise you on pricing for the gear you wish to sell.  We recommend that you price your equipment aggressively so it sells, of course you will have the final say on what price the ski equipment will sold for.  At the time of listing the items, you have the choice of either 100% store credit -or- 70% back to you in the form of a check.

Items accepted:

Skis:

Race, Powder, All-mountain & Kids

(skis sell better tuned and with bindings)

 Outerwear:

Jackets, Shells, Speedsuits, Armor

(Clothing MUST be cleaned and in sellable condition)

 Items not accepted for resale:

Spring is the time of the season that we begin testing skis and boots for the following season. Here are some key reasons why we stress testing now opposed to the summer time:

Snow: When testing products you should test it on a condition that is most similar to what you will be racing on during the season.  This all revolves around the feel of the ski or boot.  Depending on the condition you will find that there can be differences that will/can eventually add up to a time difference in the course and that can be the separation between you winning or losing.

Tune:  Having the ability to test multiple different brands of products with the exact same Start Haus tune.  This will result in you being eliminate the tune as being a variable in the test and making it easier for you to feel exactly how the ski feels.

Product:  Ultimately you are testing skis or boots to see if you are faster than other brands.  When you have the ability to test multiple different skis or boots in one

2 Years on the Rossignol S7:

As some folks may recall, I was on board with the Rossi S7 pretty early. I got a sample pair in the spring before the ski was in general release and then kept it in my quiver for the next two seasons. Initially, I was stunned by the quickness and maneuverability and I found it to be stupid easy to ski in trees and tight spots. Eventually, I skied it a bit more in wider, more open areas and in heavier snow and started to discover a few limitations. The S7 tends to get knocked around a bit in rough conditions and the narrow tail can tend to “wheelie” out from under the skier in a sharp downhill to flat transition. At first, I attributed those issues to the soft tip and tail and the rather abrupt rocker profile. The S7 also skis very short and I suspected that I was slightly undergunned on the 188. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that the tapered tip and tail profile also played a part. For all that, the S7 was and is a remarkable tool in untracked snow and

This article has been sitting in my queue for quite sometime however after receiving the sad news of Sarah Burke's passing I felt this to be a wake up call for all of us spending time on the mountain.

Just as your old skis have lost their energy and edge, your ski helmet may have loosened up and have become unsafe.  It doesn’t take much for a helmet to lose its fit or protective qualities and depending on how old your helmet is, it may not have some of the important safety features we see today.

Within the recreational ski world we have seen huge improvements when it comes to helmet safety and technology.  Safety is ultimately the number one goal of wearing a helmet; I know it’s a big surprise that it’s not about making a fashion statement. For a helmet to be accepted into the US market the helmet must meet a certain level of criteria to be called a helmet. Some key factors are impact absorption, penetration resistance and rear head protection, all of which are imperative for you to

The MX 88 is the ski that single handedly built the formidable reputation of the Kastle brand. Some brands may have a ski model that become a hot seller for one year, but almost invariably, they feel the need to tinker with it and change success. Fortunately for all concerned,  Kastle does not work that way. The Kastle MX 88 has been the flagship of the collection since its inception, has not really changed at all and yet it still sells out early every year. There are some very good reasons for this with the primary one being the construction and feel that sets Kastle apart from other brands.

Most ski companies tout their technology and construction and of course they should. A lot of times the new “whiz bang” tech that is “going to change everything” is just smoke and mirrors. With Kastle it is a different program. Kastle utilizes design and construction techniques that give their skis a unique and highly desirable feel, they tune the build and flex for the target customer, put on a