Field Notes

15 Inches at Vail: A Powder-Day Test on ShredShox

After a holiday week with family and friends in Vail, it was time to put the ShredShox platform through its paces in serious powder - 15 inches overnight, flakes still falling, and a side-by-side plan to settle it.

The plan was simple: alternate runs on the ShredShox setup and the control skis for a clean side-by-side, across a mix of deep powder, trees, crud, and chopped-up groomers. Here's how the day played out.

Run 1: Over Yonder - ShredShox

I started in Sun Up Bowl, weaving through moderately spaced trees and dropping into the bowl. Deep snow and hidden bumps made for a great first test. The impact was noticeably less jarring on those sneaky, powder-covered bumps than on traditional skis, and the suspension smoothed the ride - absorbing shocks and cutting fatigue. In smooth powder the benefit was subtle, but the hidden bumps under the surface really showed what the platform can do.

Run 2: Riva's Ridge - ShredShox

Riva's Ridge was a chopped-up mix of fluffy snow, skied-off sections, and bumps - and with its varying pitches, a perfect test track. The ShredShox setup handled the mix with ease, making the transitions between conditions feel smoother. By the time I reached Golden Peak, I felt fresh and ready to compare against the control skis.

Run 3: Over Yonder - Control Skis

Switching to the wider, longer Bent Chetler 110s, I headed back to Over Yonder for a direct comparison. The wider platform floated well but didn't absorb those surprise bumps as effectively - the impacts were sharper and more noticeable, and the lack of suspension meant more effort to manage the terrain.

Run 4: Whiskey Jack to Northwoods - Control Skis

On Whiskey Jack I felt every rut and bump, and by Northwoods I was carving through crud with more effort than before. Ice patches and variable snow caused significant chatter - exactly what the ShredShox had smoothed out earlier. And the strain wasn't just a feeling; it showed up in the data.

110 bpm average on the control skis vs. 100 bpm on ShredShox - the added strain, quantified.

Final Test: Riva's Ridge - Control Skis

On the last run the bumps had grown larger, and the difference was stark. Where the control skis transmitted the chop, the ShredShox had noticeably reduced chatter and absorbed impacts earlier in the day, letting me ski more efficiently and with less fatigue.

Key Takeaways

• Powder: If you're a powder purist on a bottomless day, the gains from ShredShox can be subtle.
• Chop & crud: For skiers who transition from morning powder to afternoon chop, ShredShox is a game-changer.
• Fatigue reduction: The suspension reduces physical strain - measurably - making longer days on the mountain more enjoyable.

"ShredShox: Back Bowls Ready, Frontside Ninja on a Pow Day!"

Closing Thoughts

Today's 15-inch powder day at Vail confirmed that the ShredShox platform excels in variable conditions. From the hidden bumps in the back bowls to the chopped-up frontside runs, the suspension delivered smoother, more controlled skiing. If your ski days include tackling mixed terrain after the freshies are gone, ShredShox might just be your ultimate companion.

The freshies were fun. The hours after they got skied off were better.

ShredShox - Full Suspension for Skiing.