‘Fresh tracks’… the endless pursuit of most boarders to be the first to descend a mountain full of freshly fallen snow. At most resorts it is tough to be to first on the slopes so this drives the truly hardcore into the backcountry. These people hike up slopes for hours in waist-deep snow just to get one or two runs a day in the virgin snow – a ‘high‘ that is tough to duplicate.
The pursuit of freshies just got a little easier! MTN Approach has announced the first three-part, light weight, folding approach ski. Designed by snowboarders and weighing just 3.5 pounds per foot, each ski has two hinges that allows this 150cm ski to fold down to 53cm (approximately 21”). This might not sound like a big deal, but as someone who has snowshoed all-day to ride on some fresh powder, the use of skis make the ascent much quicker and easier as they do not sink into the snow as deep. Sure, snowshoes work fine to hike up a slope, but they often do not fit snowboard boots very well. This means that more equipment is required to be carried if a second set of boots is needed.
The MTN Approach skis do not utilize traditional ski bindings requiring specific, ridged boots. The MTN Approach skis has bindings that a straps similar to snowboards which allows the use of just about any snowboard boot. These skis also feature metal edges, side cuts and full camber. This permits the rider to perform a more confident ascent of the mountain, especially when traversing a slope.
MTN Approach is located in Central Idaho in the middle of some of the most isolated backcountry zones in the country. MTN Approach was started by Cory Smith who has been involved in the snowboard industry for over 20 years. Growing up in some of the most rugged backcountry terrain in North America, Silverton Colorado, he immersed himself in the snowboard industry at an early age. At 18 he began his career as a professional snowboarder and as a sponsored athlete; he started learning the ins and outs of the industry. Through competition, editorial work and backcountry filming missions, Cory became a well known personality and well-rounded veteran snowboarder. Tired of the compromised performance of splitboards, Cory started concept development of the MTN Approach skis three years ago. Now, with the help of esteemed designers and engineers, the project has gone to the next level. MTN Approach is the first snowboard specific backcountry brand by and for snowboarders that are focused on riding better terrain with better equipment.
Set to be released to retailers and sold directly through their website, MTN Approach skis have an expected retail price of $795 which will include skins and the integral backpack.