FREESKI COLLECTION
Off-piste skis
Creations made for those seeking freedom off the beaten track.
Off-piste Freeride skis with natural wood grain topsheet, inspired by people, emotions and amazing places…
The Freeski Collection is the OPERA Skis Freeride specific line, in finely crafted natural wood.
Within the Freeski Collection, you can find All-Mountain Freeride skis, lightweight touring skis for cross-country skiing, twin-tip skis for freeride-freestyle use and dedicated models for deep and much sought “powder snow”.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR OFF-PISTE SKIS
To find your ideal freeride skis, choose the length, width and weight according to your technique, experience and skiing style.
Ski Width & Geometry
Freeride skis are wider and with less sidecut when comparing to alpine skis. Off-piste specific skis start from 90/95mm width at the center; cross-country skis can be slightly narrower, while dedicated powder skis, also known as “fat”, will have a width greater than 110mm.
The wider the skis, the better their floatation in deep snow, making riding in powder easy. On the other hand, this goes to the expense of grip and responsiveness on compact snow while also increasing the ski’s weight.
Ski Length
Most of the time, an intermediate skier will have an easier time with a shorter pair of skis, while an advanced skier will prefer longer skis, which have more floatation and stability, adapted to ride at higher speed even in deep snow.
If you are an expert skier and you enjoy wide curves in open spaces, you can choose a pair of skis that exceeds your height by even 10 to 20cm, especially if characterized by a rocker profile,a feature that makes skis easier to manoeuvre despite their length.
For all-mountain and ski touring, we instead recommend choosing a pair of skis close to your height, which will ensure a good compromise of lightweight and manoeuvrability during ascent and descent.
Ski Weight
Both the dimensions and the materials in use affect the ski’s weight, making different models more or less suitable for different routes and off-piste terrains.
Therefore, it is necessary to find the right balance, according to what you want to use the skis for and your level of training and experience.
A lighter construction is undoubtedly better if you like steep ascents, but it can be unstable on the descent and less performing in powder snow. On the other hand, a wider and more structured ski will be more fun and floaty downhill but bulkier and heavier when climbing uphill.
HOW OPERA OFF-PISTE SKIS ARE MADE
FREERIDE PROFILE
This profile combines the traditional camber underfoot with a modern, wide and elongated rocker tip. In the Freeride / Rocker skis, the front contact point is set back from the tip, while the rear contact point remains close to the tail. The rockered tip gives a better flotation in powder and keeps the skis manoeuvrable and less “catchy” on hard snow. On the other hand, the camber transmits energy to the edges and guarantees excellent edge hold, making these skis versatile enough to handle mixed snow conditions.
FREERIDE COSTRUCTION
A mix of ash and poplar in different percentages to obtain a lightweight but powerful woodcore. Perfect for floating in powder and reliable for carving even on the hardest snow and in icy conditions. We chose triaxial fiberglass combined in some models with flax-carbon reinforcements to keep the skis light while improving their performances in different terrain and conditions. Finally, a bamboo plate positioned underfoot makes all our skis compatible with both ski-touring and telemark bindings. The bamboo and our trademark wooden topsheet keep the weight low, while the best quality edges and bases complete the construction, making it strong and durable.
WHAT KIND OF FREESKIER ARE YOU?
WHAT KIND OF FREESKIER ARE YOU?
Every ski model from the OPERA Freeski collection is a specific tool and the right choice for you will depend on your primary use for the skis, as well as subjective parameters.
Check out the categories below according to the type of freerider you are, and select the model you like best to view its specs. Contact us directly for more information or advice.
ALL-MOUNTAIN FREESKIER
All Mountain Freeride Skis are versatile models designed for those who want to enjoy the whole mountain in any snow condition and all types of terrain: from soft powder to slushy snow, from the hardpack to groomed slopes, descending through dense forests or wide and open slopes.
Wider and with softer flex than alpine skis, all-mountain freeride skis guarantee good floatation in powder. But, thanks to their structure and mid sidecut radius, they can still maintain the responsiveness needed to have fun even on groomed snow while remaining reliable even on icy and mixed terrains.
art96
SKIALPER
Our Touring skis are lightweight skis designed for facilitating long ascents with climbing skins. They have a reduced central width in comparison to the more freeride or powder oriented models, but they adapt well to all conditions you can find on the mountains, from fresh snow to wind or ice.
POWDER CHASER
Powder skis with a wide shape and rocked tip to ensure superior floatation in deep snow. Big mountain skis and extra-wide “fat” models, designed for riding the snow of your dreams, from Canada to Japan…
FREERIDER / FREESTYLER
Twin-tip skis are characterized by a rocker profile at the tip and tail, designed for freeride and freestyle use. These are particularly fun and playful models: lively, dynamic and with a “surfy” feeling in powder snow.
TWIN-TIP ROCKER PROFILE
In our Twintip Freeride-Freestyle skis, the contact points are closer to the middle of the ski but remain out of the binding area. The cambered midsection provides a longer edge, increasing edge hold and stability also on hard snow, while the rockered tip and tail provide floatation also in the deepest snow, giving our twin rocker skis incredible manoeuvrability.
art111
Freeride skis with a Freestyle vocation, thanks to their directional twin-tip shape
art125
Pronounced rocker on tip and tail, plus a directional twin shape for epic powder days.
OFF-PISTE SAFETY
Freeriding means entering a natural environment without human intervention or control. Beyond the undisputed charm and emotions derived from it, this can inevitably expose you to objective and significant risks and dangers. Don’t only think about avalanches, but also about ice, holes, and obstacles in environments that can sometimes become difficult to reach.
Off-piste skiing requires good preparation, knowledge of the mountains and awareness of your own limits.
The essential safety kit for every freeeride descent includes 3 basic elements:
- An Avalanche transceiver
- A foldable shovel
- A snow probe
OPERA Skis recommends that you never venture off-piste alone, nor without these essential safety elements.
If you are just starting to venture into the world of freeriding, be accompanied by a guide or other skiers with proven experience and knowledge of the local mountains.
HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BEST ON-PISTE SKIS FOR YOU?
