This isn’t so much a ski review as it is a celebration of the floatiest, fastest, non-tip divingest pleasure-boards I’ve encountered.

Black Diamond Megawatt
Length=188cm
Dimensions=153-125-130mm
Turn Radius=42m

I’ve had the privilege of being a BD product tester for the past 4 years. The latest items to fall into my lap (and it wasn’t easy because everybody wanted a pair) were a pair of Megawatt skis. This isn’t a ski review and I’m not an unbiased individual. Black Diamond is partnered with myself, and Powderwhore Productions, but this report is done on my own. For reference, I’ve been on “alpine” skis of the fatter variety for the past 10 years, Rossi Bandit xxx and Atomic Big Daddy’s until this season.

First off I was surprised at how much I like them more than my Big Daddy’s (190cm, 145-125-129mm, 41m radius), the dimensions are really similar and so I wasn’t expecting to be blown away, but I really was. This leads me to believe it’s all about the rocker in the tip. This ski turns quickly, but isn’t squirrelly at speed. Tele-skiing in deep pow or funky junk, the tip dive on the rear ski can take you down quick and often does, this has only happened once and I think it had more to do with me being OC. They are not light on the feet (4.7kg) for the uphill, but the hip flexors will adjust. They joined me on a 7k-day and my legs didn’t fall off.

I didn’t think a big ski like this could be my everyday ride, but they have become that. Unless it hasn’t snowed for a week, or I’m going light and far, this is the ski of choice.
They make 4” feel like 8”, 8” feels like 12”, and anything above that are all face-shots anyway.

Join me for a test drive.

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