DesertSnowJunkies.com

RENOUN SKIS are what you would call a “boutique” brand. They inevitably elicit questions from curious fellow skiers on the chairlift. Renoun relies predominantly on a direct-to-consumer online sales platform. Their skis are not cheap, but pricing is right in line or even a little less than other premium handmade brands.

In place of a retail demo opportunity, they have a unique “Risk Free” program where they’ll send you the skis, you have them mounted with your bindings, and you try them out for a period of time. If you don’t like them, just send them back (yes, with the screw holes in them!) for a full refund.

From the Renoun website: “Ski them up to five days within six months of delivery and if you’re not absolutely in love, exchange or return for a full refund” (including return shipping).

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ABOUT THESE SKIS:

Both models feature Renoun’s patented “VibeStop” material and they are marketed as being more “knee friendly” than other ski designs. More on that later. The E88 has two full sheets of metal and the E98 has just one partial sheet. Both skis have a fairly traditional shape and design with things like rocker, splay, and taper all kept within the moderate zone. A big thank you!

Despite the fact that Renown skis are manufactured in Quebec, Canada and headquartered in Vermont, IMO their character is anything but “east coast”. You might expect a typical east coast oriented ski to be rather heavy, stiff, and damp to best deal with prevailing conditions. The Endurances are actually on the lighter side of the spectrum and seem to behave more like skis with very little or no metal. They are very light, agile, quick, and playful. And while this will always come at the expense of some stability and dampness, it’s remarkably little.

So what is this patented VibeStop Polymer Technology?

Renoun’s claim: When subjected to high stress, such as during intense turns, the polymer instantly stiffens, providing enhanced stability. Under low stress, it softens, allowing for more flexibility in softer snow conditions. Reduced chatter means better edge contact and more control. Reduced vibration leads to less muscle fatigue and more runs.

My take: While it’s impossible for me to determine if this VibeStop stuff really works, there is definitely something good going on here. Both models feel very light underfoot and maybe the most effortless turning skis I’ve ever been on. The fact that this performance comes at so little cost in dampness and stability is really quite amazing.

I can attest to the fact that these skis definitely feel less fatiguing as the day wears on than other skis I’ve been on. This brings us to their claim of being more “knee friendly”. If the VibeStop is responsible for less chatter and a smoother ride, and the skis are overall very light and easy to turn, then I’d guess they probably are not only more knee friendly, but total body friendly.

My advice is to take advantage of their unique “no jeopardy” guarantee program, and just see for yourself.

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SPECS:

Endurance 88:

• Stated length & dimensions: 177cm………..129-88-112
• Measured length & dimensions: 175cm……127-87-110
• Stated turn radius: 16M
• Recommended mount point: -10cm / Actual mount point: -9cm (by choice)

Endurance 98:

• Stated length & dimensions: 177cm……….132-98-118
• Measured length & dimensions: 177cm……134-97-119
• Stated turn radius: 17M
• Recommended mount point: -10.1cm / Actual mount point: -10.1cm
  

Both models come from the factory with 1 degree base and 1 degree side edge bevels. This seemed a bit conservative, so I had both filed to a 1&2.

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PERFORMANCE:

Groomers, hardpack & Carving: (8/10)

Not too surprisingly, both models perform very much alike and I am quite impressed at how good both are at laying tracks in fresh corduroy.

They both easily reward the slightest forward shin pressure at turn initiation. With an easy roll of the ankles and knees, turn progression is both smooth and predictable. Once the edge is fully engaged, the skis bend nicely and it’s easy to build edge angle. A balanced position as the turn progresses puts you in solid control of your turn shape. Rebound at the finish is healthy, but comfortable. For me, the 16m & 17m turn radiuses are the perfect formula for laying over some aggressive arcs on skis of these widths.

As you would expect, the E88 is the superior carver. It’s a bit faster edge to edge and a bit snappier with a slightly tighter turn radius. With a narrower platform and more metal, it feels more torsionally stiff and thus provides a better grip on icy or hardpacked snow.

I would characterize both models as very intuitive and user friendly and very suitable for any intermediate through expert level skier. As mentioned before, as with any lighter weight ski there is a speed limit and lack of stability you might get with a heavier ski. I find this slight disadvantage to be a fair tradeoff.

This was an interesting development: my very first day on the E88 was a frozen spring morning. I immediately noticed the tinty or pinging sound from the skis on the scratchy surface and also whenever the skis tapped one another. Kind of a “hollow” sound. It bothered me a little as I thought the skis might be somewhat out of their comfort zone. It was not “love at first ski”.

But as time has gone by, I’ve gotten used to it and no longer really notice the sound. Ironically, now when I find myself facing say some icy moguls and my partners are all bitching, I’m feeling totally fine with it. It’s like NOW, they truly feel at home in those very conditions. So if you just ignore the odd sound, the skis truly deliver. Is it the VibeStop tech? Hmmm.

Note: I really didn’t notice this issue as much, if at all, with the E98s.

Bumps & Trees: (9/10)

This is where both models truly excel. Adjectives that come to mind: effortless, quick, agile, nimble, playful, forgiving, and FUN! The E88s may actually be one of the best all-mountain bump skis I’ve ever been on. I found them both to be predictable and forgiving, even in bumps that were not. The flex pattern makes it easy to stay forward on your toes and keep the tails loose. The skis promote a centered and balanced position and don’t really punish you badly for mistakes.

Staying forward on your skis in the trees is always the biggest mental challenge. With the E98s staying forward and aggressive feels very intuitive. The fact that it almost felt like you’d just “think turn” and it seemed like it was already happening made the tight trees of Keystone Outback a pure joy.

Powder, Crud & Variable Conditions: (7/10)

I was able to get one day of 6″ fresh pow. The E98 was an absolute hoot that day. Not that deep, but the floatation seemed perfect for what you’d expect from a mid-fat. The fresh was over frozen which usually meant some scraping at the finish of the turn. Some of my partners were struggling with this issue, but I found the nice balanced feel I was feeling at that point may have taken some of the sting out of it.

I kind of expected the E88 to be a little more stable in choppy conditions due to the additional metal laminates and because it’s actually slightly heavier than the E98, according to the website. I found this not to be the case and the E98 seems to be a bit more grounded. This may be in part to the additional girth, a little less sidecut, slightly more tip taper, and possibly even the extra 2cm of length (See SPECS).

While neither ski really excels in the stability area, neither is so bad that I found it to be any problem. While the VibeStop tech is probably very effective at muting vibrations, physics says nothing but sheer mass will really overcome heavy chunky crud.

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Endurance 88:

A very traditional shape with just a very moderate amount tip & tail splay and taper leaves a nice cambered edge for effective carving, yet still provides very adequate off-trail performance. Despite having two sheets of metal, you can visually notice the sidewalls are quite thin and the skis are not heavy at all. The physical inputs required to make these skis turn is amazingly little.

Some things to note: my 177cm length skis actually measured out at 175cm and are indeed 2cm shorter than the 177cm E98s (which are accurate).

I also felt the factory recommended mount point of -10cm from true center was a bit more directional than I might prefer. So I instead mounted them at -9cm and find them to be very playful, yet still perfectly balanced.

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Endurance 98:

As mentioned above, these skis measure out right at a true 177cm. Compared to the E88, in addition to the additional width and length, they also have slightly more tip and tail splay (both length and magnitude) which plays into a more off trail orientation.

As a ski instructor, I tend to prefer the narrowest ski that can effectively deal with any day’s conditions. Having a four ski quiver with widths from 80mm to 108mm, the E98 would probably not be my first choice for a typical hardpack day. The E88 would likely be more appropriate. But in the interest of testing, I had it out in spring conditions days after the last snow. Bottom line: if this was my only ski, I’d be a happy camper!

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MINOR CRITIQUES:

Length Measurement Consistency: – or lack thereof as mentioned above. I’ts widely known that ski measurements are all over the place between different manufacturers and even model lines. Why? I’ve really never understood, but between two models within the same line, it should be pretty straight forward… (For more on this, see comments below)

P-Tex: I’m not sure whether they use a different base P-tex, or even if there are different kinds that manufacturers can use. But even after a few days of skiing, the bases seem to look chalkier than they should. It’s my understanding that this is not any kind of oxidation or such, but tiny micro-hairs that form from wear.

Tip protector: A metal or hard plastic tip protector would be nice. I have no idea how much it will progress, but I’m already showing some wear on the tips. (Likely a result of my poor technique!)

Website Info: Their website is quite good with loads of info, but missing one thing. The waist width and turn radius for each model is listed, so you have to assume it remains the same for all ski lengths. That being said, nowhere can I find any specific dimensions for any skis. Although they are printed on the skis themselves, it would be nice to see the Tip-Waist-Tail dimensions listed for each length of each model shown on the website. (For more on this, see comments below)

Graphics: It’s very cool that Renoun offers two choices of graphics for both models. Just me, but never been a big fan of different graphics on each ski, but most especially when they need to be on the correct side to form a particular picture (in their case, a sailboat)

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THE BOTTOM LINE:

Above all, I like skis of this width to be versatile. All-mountain mid-fats are the “Swiss Army Knives” of skiing. They are intended to be used all over the mountain and in every condition. My previous go-to line of skis for years was the Salomon QST line, but their recent redesigns have now pushed them too far in the freeride direction for my tastes. This was my motivation to look for replacements.

My ideal skis in this category would have a fairly traditional shape, some light to moderate rocker and taper, but still a good solid cambered effective edge. They can handle speed and carve well on piste, but are not too stiff and heavy for the bumps. They are quick and responsive in the trees, but still directional enough for open bowls and variable conditions. Obviously this is a lot to ask from any ski, and no ski can do it all perfectly. These skis seem to meet those criteria as well as any I’ve ever used.

(For next season I hope to add the Renoun Atlas 80 to the quiver. I certainly like what I see on paper. Once again a common sense approach to designing a ski for that frontside carver niche. It appears they’re basically taking a race ski layup, mellowing it out a bit for us mere mortals, and shaping it somewhere just north of a full-on SL. Then adding just a hint of early rise in the tips to reduce the hookiness that racers prefer, but we don’t. Sounds like a winner! Expect a full review forthcoming).

Any comments or questions are certainly welcome.

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Disclaimer: I bought these skis on their Pro-Deal program and have no working relationship with Renoun.

Tester: 71 y/o male Level 2 ski instructor. 5’11”, 172lb.

Boots / Bindings: Technica Mach 1 130 MV, Salomon Strive 14

Conditions: Late season. The total spectrum – great to not very. Soft, grippy corduroy to scratchy and wind packed. Fluff or slush bumps to icy moguls and frozen crud. Totally bony to up to 6″ of new light pow. Winter to Spring temps.

Location: Colorado – Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, & Keystone