What’s In Your Quiver - Chris Eckert
We’re happy to welcome Chris Eckert, Ski & Ride School Supervisor and E:K Guide, back to the Kirkwood family! Chris took some time to tell us what’s in his quiver this season…
I’m STOKED to be back out @ Kirkwood again for this season. I haven’t really made any changes to my ski quiver, from last year, just updated with the new versions from Nordica. You know what they say, “If it’s not broken…”
My daily driver is the Nordica Soul Rider (134-97-124-185cm) w/ Early Rise camROCK. The wood-core Soul Rider is super playful, snappy, and can be taken anywhere from the park and pipe to the long groomers on Chair 4 and steeps of Thunder Saddle.
On powder days you will find me surfing the Nordica Patron (143-113-132/185cm) w/ High Rise camROCK. These skis are built to ski powder in ways never before thought possible. With significant rocker in the tip and tail, these skis float effortlessly. By retaining a bit of camber under foot, these skis are still exceptionally stable and track comfortably in all snow conditions.
Staying with Nordica, the Girish Pro boots wrap my feet with a solid flex (130) and a shock-stopping boot board underneath which ensures big-mountain stability, softer landings and efficiency of energy allowing me to react quickly to those last second terrain changes and stay in control.
The only thing new this year, for me, is switching to the Marker line-up for grippers (bindings). I went with the Marker Jester Pro’s on the Soul Riders primarily to lighten up my setup from last year. The Patron’s are mounted with the Marker Duke’s for BC accessibility. This binding is “beefy” enough for in bounds charging on pow days yet comes equipped with an easy climbing function to ascend up the hill during those sessions in the BC.
Thanks Chris, and welcome back!
~Cassie
