In recent years, more and more manufacturers have presented wide touring skis that are also designed to deliver great downhill performance in powder. Thanks to modern materials such as carbon, these skis are also very light. Dynafit is also launching a real freetourer on the market with the Chugach. We were able to take a closer look at the ski in the local mountains and in the ski touring Eldorado of Norway.
Tester
As ski tests are always subjective, here are a few details about the tester. I am 178 cm tall and weigh around 70 kilograms. I also have between five and ten kilograms of equipment in my backpack. A Dynafit Radical FT binding was mounted on the recommended mounting point. I normally ski with a heavy freeride setup and prefer more playful skis. In principle, I would describe myself as a leisurely skier, but I also like to step on the gas from time to time.
First impression
According to Dynafit, the Chugach is primarily aimed at freeriders.
A real freetourer. The first impression is also very promising. Compared to the "Cho Oyu", "Nanga Parbat" or "Denali" models, where the geometry of the ski at the tip is somewhat unusual, the Chugach is more like a typical powder ski. Nevertheless, like all Dynafit skis, it has a skin attachment at the tip.
With its large rocker at the tip and a center width of 108mm at a length of 188cm, it should definitely float well in powder. However, when you hold the Chugach in your hand, you quickly realize that this ski is not an absolute lightweight. However, at 2,050 grams, it doesn't do too badly. The core of the ski consists of a lightweight ash-poplar wood core, which is also supported by fiberglass and a carbon space frame. According to Dynafit, this should ensure high torsional rigidity and a smooth ride.
Practical test
As the Chugach is supposed to be a real freetourer, I took it with me in my luggage for our trip to Norway. As the snow conditions were not ideal this time, it had to prove itself above all in hard and wet snow. Despite its width, it can still be skied surprisingly well, even in these difficult conditions or on very icy, hard snow. The good edge grip is also more than okay for this width. This may be due to the carbon-reinforced wood core and the not entirely uncompromisingly optimized lightweight construction. The ski is also very easy to turn and is particularly fun in combined terrain, which was a great advantage for me in Norway! As the ski is so easy to turn and is relatively good-natured, it was quite relaxed to ride, especially in completely soaked wet snow, which tends to cost a lot of energy when skiing. During fast turns on hard ground, however, it does start to flutter slightly.
On the ascent, of course, you notice that the Chugach is not a pure touring ski. In hard conditions, for example, the width of the ski makes it less easy to edge up. To summarize: The Chugach is naturally not a perfectionist on the ascent, simply due to its dimensions, but it doesn't perform badly at all. As with all Dynafit skis, skinning up is very easy thanks to the well-functioning skin attachment.
During my test, the ski also experienced optimal powder conditions on a few days. That's where the Chugach is really fun. It is easy to ride as usual, but it remains relatively stable even on fast powder runs.
Conclusion
For me, the Chugach is an all-rounder that can do pretty much anything. That's why I didn't use it exclusively for ski touring, but also for powder days in the ski area. I would recommend it to people who are looking for a ski that is also suitable for longer ascents, but still focus on downhill performance. Of course, you can't compare the ski with a pure touring ski either.
Advantages and disadvantages:
+Relatively stable in terms of speed
+Easy to ride
+Large range of use
+Skin attachment at the tip
-High price
-Weight
Details:
Dimensions:
(173cm) 134 - 106 - 124
(181cm) 135 - 107 - 125
(188cm) 136 - 108 - 126
(194cm) 137 - 109 - 127
Weight and radius:
(173cm) 1,850g - radius 20m
(181cm) 1,950g - radius 22m
(188cm) 2,050g - radius 24m
(194cm) 2,150g - radius 26m
