On my recent trip to Andermatt, Switzerland, I was pleased to meet the owner and founder of the Birdos Skis, Dan Loutrel. (For more info on Dan and Birdos Skis, read Antti’s nice interview from last season, “Birdos Freeride Skis from Andermatt“).

While skiing the Swiss Alps I was curious to test something from Birdos against my beloved Armada JJs. While I love the JJs and find them very FUN skis in almost all conditions, sometimes I feel that a bit more effective edge and girth would be welcome. You know, all those hard surface/piste runs, avalanche debris, cruddy conditions, occasional icy patches in the couloir/line entrances etc. While telling all this, Dan quickly gave me a pair of “Early Birds” 191cm for a test in Andermatt. Thank you Dan and Birdos Skis for the test!

Birdos Skis Early Bird specs, test conditions and about the reviewer

Dan described these skis simply: “built for speed”. He also stated that they are not overly stiff though, round- medium-flex and slight rocker on both ends adding some versatility, while the relatively traditional shape and long(ish) effective edge would offer the needed stability for varying Alps conditions.

The shape is fairly standard 143-111-124mm and sidecut radius 28,5m. The skis are offered in three lenghts 171, 181 and 191cm. (Read more on Birdo’s own site.) Note also that all Birdo’s shapes are available in custom rocker profiles and flexes – very cool option in my opinion, you can choose standard skis if they suit you, go semi-custom with an available shape or create just the monster (or beauty!?) you have in your own mind. Try that with big corporate manufacturers! One thing I also like is Dan’s approach to use only local, sustainable subcontractors and materials. Check out the the mentioned article by Antti (above) if you want to read more about that. Another argument for why you might consider a small scale local ski builder (like Dan and Birdos) for your next ski purchase?

Tip Rocker

Tail Rocker

Test conditions were pretty optimal, some new snow, variable crud here and there and moguls forming up in the most popular routes. We skied everything from boot deep light powder to soft moguls on the test day. The only negative thing was that the visibility was pretty low all day – so no good skiing pics this time. Also, the low visibility restricted the possibility to really “open it up” (where these skis obviously shine). So, take my observations with a grain of salt. And for example pictures of the snow condition/terrain click my Andermatt trip report.

Few words about the reviewer. First, while we have been quiet with the blog for some time, I was able to log most days in eight(!) years this season: over forty days so far, and March and early April giving some twenty ski days.  I’d say that I am fairly strong all-mountain skier that can ski pretty much everywhere and in every conditions.  My stats are: height/weight: 184cm (~6feet), 83kg (~160lbs), some 29 years of skiing experience, mogul back ground. I like playful skiing and eventhough I can’t call myself a “newschool” skier (anymore) I still like to jump here and there and ski some park too at times. I also do more and more telemark skiing these days (19 days this season).

Birdos Skis Early Bird on the Mountain

My first feel on these is that the skis are long and quite heavy. And compared to my JJs the 191cm is at least true to the announced lenght (see the picture below).

Once you start skiing some of that feel disappears. The flex is not overly stiff and the skis absorb little ruts/chopped up stuff nicely. At first we ski some ungroomed runs that are skied by hundreds of others already, making them good testing grounds for pretty typical Alps conditions; the snow is still soft but moguls start to form up and the snow is uneven, somewhere you still go through everything, somewhere you get bounced by the early-stage moguls. Here the skiing is easy and effortless, as long as there is enough space to just go for it and open it up.

Then we hit the real off-piste and to our bad luck the visibility gets worse. Traverses over some exposure feel harder/scarier with these skis than on my own, the added lenght definately feels there. Slow speed skiing on the steeps is also quit a lot harder, the more traditional shape with moderate rocker doesn’t seem to help much here. The skis are ok but feel a bit dead and unresponsive, or should I say “traditional”. The 28,5 turn radius also feels a bit longer than you might expect…or maybe I am (too) used to the JJs almost “slalom-like” sidecut probably?

We manage to ski a little bowl of perfect powder while having a “sunny window”. Now, once you get the skis to plane properly the rocker starts to work and you can “slarve” /”schmear” the turns (similar to my JJ’s or e.g. Praxis Powders). Skiing powder in low visibility is a bit frustrating, knowing that just a bit of more speed would really make the ski alive – ski at too low speed and these skis require quite a lot of power and your legs get tired pretty soon. “Built for speed” seems really appropriate slogan here!

Near the village we got to (or have to?) ski some soft moguls. The skis work suprisingly well. You feel the lenght and weight but the relatively straight tail lets you finish the turn by sliding the tails old school style. The ski won’t “hook up” or do anything too suprising. Just stay forward and aggressive. At least I can say the 191cm lenght is not for the weak/technically less skilled skiers.

Cons/pros of the Early Bird skis and another observations

Pros

• Stable and damp
• Shines at speed on long radius turns, while not being overly demanding to ski – very good combo
• Long turn radius (feels longer than announced, could be bad too if you like turny skis)
• Lets you dictate the turn shape, no “locked in turn” feeling. Rocker adds  to this but IMHO only works at speed on this model (or compared to e.g. Armada JJs which are easier to ski on slow speeds)
• Forgiving, round flex makes the 191cm model easier to ski than you would expect
• Nice finishing, hand made feel, materials seem bomb-proof to me
• Custom option on the flexes, camber profiles and graphics = very nice
• Not “just another big brand ski” (if that means something to you)

Cons

• Just a tad heavy (could be good too – just plows through the crud. Note: Marker Jester demos are not light weight either)
• Quite “traditional” feel (if you are used to the “fun shape” feel)

Other observations

• I would like to have tried the binding just a tad more forward, 1-2cm
• I would love to test the “Floater” and “Floater 110″ shapes, Floater 110 with NTNs as tele skis…hmmmm
• Read this and you’d probably consider buying from Birdos too…