Scott Mission Skis

Scott Ski Test – 2012 Ski Review

The Skiing Department Independent Ski Test – Scott Sports, March 2011

Location: Scotland, Glenshee

Snow Conditions: Fresh powder on a hard pack base

Weather: Overcast and windy, between -1 and -4 degrees centigrade

I was invited to take part in one of the Scott Sports ski tests to try out the new ski models for 2012. Scott Sports was founded in 1958 and is a leading manufacturer of ski hardware and apparel. Well known for their poles and goggles, Scott Sports started making skis in the late 1990’s. Since then they have developed a range of products that focus more on the freeride, big mountain and all conditions sector. In 2002, the Santiago Ski was launched, alongside a new elongated ski-tip concept that has become known as ‘Rocker’. All of the skis reviewed today have ‘Venturi’ or ‘Pro-Tip’ Rocker technology.

I tried out several skis in Scottish ski conditions that were challenging, windy and overcast. Although I would have preferred a bluebird powder day, I believe the conditions underfoot (some fresh snow lying on a hard base) actually give you a better idea of the skis performance and their differences.

So, here are my reviews of the different Scott skis I got to test out:

Scott Reverse Ski

Scott Reverse Ski

Group: All Condition, Piste 50% / Off Piste 50%
User Profile: Expert skiers seeking high performance in all terrain
Lengths: 156, 166, 176

The Scott Reverse is an all mountain ski that is designed for expert skiers that require performance both on and off the piste with the same ski. My first impression of the Reverse was how smooth the turns were on the variable conditions I was skiing on. The ski performed exceptionally well on any hard pack snow that I found, making for confidence building edge control and a smooth ride.

Scores:
On Piste: 5
Off Piste/soft snow: 3
Bumps: 4
High Speed: 4
Ease of turning: 3

Scott Crusade Ski

Scott Crusade Ski

Group: All Condition, Piste 40% / Off Piste 60%
User Profile: Skiers seeking performance and comfort in all terrain
Lengths: 159, 169, 179, 189

The first thing I noticed with the Scott Crusade was the re-bound out of the turn. The ski seemed really lively and fun to be on and turning was easy. No surprise I guess as the ski is designed for skiers at recreational level and upwards that want something to handle deep snow but perform on piste too.

Scores:
On Piste: 4
Off Piste/soft snow: 4
Bumps: 3
High Speed: 3
Ease of turning: 5

Scott Aztec Ski

Scott Aztec Ski

Group: All Condition, Piste 60% / Off Piste 40%
User Profile: Intermediate to expert skiers looking for all mountain freedom
Lengths: 155, 165, 175, 185

The Aztec is a really fun and versatile ski that seems to deal with anything you throw at it. I’ve skied on previous models of the Aztec and this certainly has the familiar consistency of performance that I’m used to. If you ski mostly on piste but occasionally want to explore some more varied terrain then this is a great ski for you. It’s also a great ski for teaching on.

Scores:
On Piste: 5
Off Piste/soft snow: 3
Bumps: 4
High Speed: 3
Ease of turning: 5

Scott Venture Ski

Scott Venture Ski

Group: Freeride All Condition, Piste 30% / Off Piste 70%
User Profile: Advanced and expert skiers looking for a freeride experience
Lengths: 168, 178, 188

The Venture is freeride ski that combines performance with ease of turning. I found the conditions underfoot a bit underwhelming for this ski and knew that it demanded something more steeper and deeper than what Glenshee could offer! Saying that, I enjoyed skiing on it and they make smooth turning really easy on soft snow conditions.

Scores:
On Piste: 3
Off Piste/soft snow: 5
Bumps: 2
High Speed: 3
Ease of turning: 4

Scott Mission Ski

Scott Mission Ski

Group: Freeride All Condition, Piste 30% / Off Piste 70%
User Profile: All levels of skier that enjoy taking on the whole mountain
Lengths: 168, 178, 183

The Mission is one of Scott Sports classic all mountain skis that has become synonymous with the freeride experience. It’s a versatile ski that seems happy enough cruising down a piste as it does in deep powder. I’ve skied on the mission many times and it performs at its best when faced with tricky and variable snow, but for anyone that skis mostly off piste and still wants some performance on the red run home this is the ski for you.

Scores:
On Piste: 3.5
Off Piste/soft snow: 5
Bumps: 2
High Speed: 3
Ease of turning: 4

Scott sports continue to release updated and new skis to suit the all terrain, all conditions and freeride market that are satisfying and fun to ride. My top ski in the conditions faced, in this test, is the brand new Reverse. Its versatility and ability to deal with the changing snow without fuss was both confidence boosting and pleasingly reliable.

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2 responses to “Scott Ski Test – 2012 Ski Review”

  1. peio avatar
    peio

    i´m interested in scott reverse but I don´t know if they are good to ski turing. if you can say how is can you say me?
    thanks.
    peio

    1. Robert Stewart avatar
      Robert Stewart

      Yes, I think the Reverse are suitable for ski touring, as would the Mission and Venture be too. I personally own a set of Missions with touring bindings which work very well. You could also check out Scott’s mountain range of skis which include the Powd’air, Crus’air and Xplor’air. These skis are not in this test but are designed for ski touring and ski mountaineering. Hope that helps?