AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Continuing to improve
Kevin has never stopped developing his skis, always making improvements.
The original production TS-201 skis were 5.5 inches wide, and the new “Tunnel Wide” deep snow model is 7 inches wide. The newer UX-301 skis are 6 inches wide, but the outside mini keels turns in more. There also is the PX-301 model that is 6.75 inches wide and is a preferred snocross ski, for Pro racers like Mike Island.
USI’s Tunnel Blade ski is 5 inches wide and has strakes on the bottom for less friction. Strakes often are found on boats and are small steps that let snow fall off, making the skis faster and ideal for groomed trails. A stiffer version of the Tunnel Blade series is the SS-Railer, which many consider the ideal trail model and Kevin says is up to 2 mph faster than other skis.
The latest, most advanced ski from USI is the X2 Triple Threat. This ski has an inner shape with strakes that make it fast on the trail. The ski also has a wider second level with mini keels that catch more snow once you go off the trail into deeper powder. The rear of the ski also has a shorter tapered tail that lightens the steering effort.
In addition, the X2 has different plastic “Shark Fins” that can be inserted both front and back to tailor the ski response to conditions and the rider’s preferred feel. There are 50 different combinations with this ski, so everyone should be able to come up with their own “custom” ski to fit their style and snow conditions.
USI offers short racing skis for oval, drag and asphalt racing. Kevin’s asphalt wheels are the favorite of many asphalt racers because of their stable feel and high mph limit.
All USI skis come with a solid aluminum saddle, and for good reason. Kevin has tried complete plastic skis, but they have not met his performance standards as the bushing holes wear out too fast and the skis flex too much under aggressive side load.
Eliminating the aluminum saddle would cut costs, which is why OEMs make them that way, says Kevin. He adds that there is no coincidence that the present darting problems started at the same time as the factories went to full plastic skis.
The solid saddle will prevent darting by eliminating the side-flex that allows the runners to be “sucked” into grooves on the track surface.
“We will always have a solid aluminum saddle on our skis because we know the result is longer life and better performance,” Kevin says. With 24 years in the ski development business, he should know.
Kevin saw the potential for improvement, and so steel skis went the way of the dodo. Like a true pioneer Kevin is not letting up on development, he promised us that there are a number of new ski products ready to be released that will take us another step forward in ski performance.