Gear reviews | Black Diamond Megawatt

In recent years, Black Diamond has spared no effort to catch up with the big names in ski construction. As is well known, the American company opened its own ski factory in China in 2012. The factory attempts to combine modern ski construction with the demands of sustainability. A large proportion of the electricity consumed is generated by solar power. In addition, all skis are pressed with prepreg fabric (glass fiber layers pre-impregnated with epoxy resin and hardener, the hardening of which is prevented by deep-freezing). This avoids superfluous synthetic resin and at the same time increases process reliability. Most skis are now also fitted with an ABS sidewall.

Changing snow conditions are no problem for the ski

The first skis from this factory came onto the market this winter. They included a revised version of the powder flagship "Megawatt". The ski mainly underwent adjustments in the nose. The shape and flex are said to have been changed so that the new Megawatt is much more flexible and maneuverable, but still provides stability for big turns.

Tester and test conditions

First about me: 175 cm tall and around 75 kilograms "empty weight", plus almost always around 8 kilograms of photo equipment on my back. I'm a rather aggressive rider who likes to go fast and jump down or over if something gets in the way. A Marker Baron was mounted on the ski on the standard mounting point. Skis I like: old Salomon Rocker, BD Amperage, Scott Scraper. From bottomless conditions in the southern Alps to the sad, hard conditions in the north, everything was there. Tours up to 1000 vertical meters were also in the program.

Hard conditions and piste

Of course, there is no need to talk about piste quality with a ski of these dimensions. Nevertheless, you can hardly avoid skiing in hard conditions from time to time. For a ski with 125 mm under the binding, I found the ski surprisingly good. Its talent naturally lies in long radii - it feels a little stubborn on short turns. The newly installed 8mm ABS sidewall provides more grip here compared to the previous Cap version. When it gets really hard and steep, the ski naturally reaches its limits, but that's not what the Megawatt is built for.

Powder

The Megawatt is definitely a ski for deep powder days! The tapered sidecut (2cm less width at the back than at the front) has been well designed by Black Diamond. The pronounced tip rocker generates good flotation. In combination with the semi-rocker tail, the Megawatt convinces in all soft snow conditions. You quickly get a surfing feeling and the ski is very agile in soft snow. The turns are surprisingly easy and can be carved as well as drifted beautifully with a little weight shift and enough speed. The suitability for treeskiing has therefore increased compared to its predecessor.

Mixed conditions

The asymmetrical shape and the tightly tuned tail allow the Megawatt to ride very smoothly. In addition, the long, rear-facing tip comes into its own here. Thanks to this, the Megawatt can be skied effortlessly through choppy terrain. The ski doesn't even get rattled by snowpack so quickly. It provides a great deal of security here. But be careful not to switch to autopilot. In these situations, the ski requires active skiing.

The Megawatt is also a good choice for jumps. The combination of lift from the tip rocker and wide shovel with the tight tail works perfectly when landing. The tip doesn't sink and the tail prevents wheelies.

Touring

No one will use the Megawatt as a pure touring ski. If you are looking for a ski in these dimensions for touring, you are certainly better off with the carbon version of the Megawatt. Nevertheless, it is by no means impossible to take the Megawatt into the backcountry. Due to the width, ascents on steep, hard slopes become a shaky experience, as you can hardly put enough pressure on the edge. If the ascent is mostly in soft, grippy snow, I think it's worth taking on the extra weight, as the ski is convincing on the descent. For someone who often tours from ski resorts up to a maximum of 1000 meters in altitude in good conditions, the Megawatt is worth considering. As a nice feature, BD has built a plastic part into the end of the Megawatt ski, which makes it easier to position the skin.

Conclusion

"The epic continues with the third generation of our legendary powder slayer, and it just keeps getting better. With the addition of sidewalls, the Black Diamond Megawatt gets even quicker and more stable on firm snow, while retaining the premium powder high performance it has come to be known for." - Black Diamond

This is Black Diamond really shooting their mouth off. But I have to agree with them to a large extent. The Megawatt convinced me. It is a ski with almost all-round qualities. The ski is in its element off-piste. Good float, stable, homogeneously tuned. The Megawatt is not a super-easy powder machine, it wants to be actively skied. It has a relatively wide range of use, but is one thing above all: a big mountain weapon.

The Megawatt is a ski for advanced skiers who like to step on the gas. I think the ski is also suitable for heavier skiers thanks to its firm flex. A good ski for days in the ski area with fresh snow, but also soft old snow as well as for freeriders who work out smaller descents in the "slackcountry" on skins.

PS: One more thing about the workmanship of the Megawatt. A Megawatt (not the test ski) also survived a fall over a 50-meter rock face, into a rather rocky field with little snow, almost unscathed. (Don't worry, there was no rider on the ski.)

Advantages & Disadvantages

+ Significantly more agile than the previous model
+ Well-tuned hardness results in a lot of smoothness
+ Elongated ski tip is forgiving
+ Good in set, but soft snow
+ Skin attachment at the end of the ski
+ Lighter than the previous model
- Rather thin base