It didn’t take lengthy to really feel comfy on ZAG’s up to date 2024/25 UBAC 95s, however I eased in anyway. I felt like I knew them shortly by means of tender snow, bushes, tender chop, and powder. They simply felt straightforward proper off the bat in good situations. However then one nighttime tour, WHAM, I landed on my face, scorpion model, and each skis shot off my ft into the darkness.
That was a demo binding setup error on my half. And whereas my confidence was shaken and a light-weight concussion set in, I slowed down and eased again into belief constructing with the UBAC 95s. They weren’t like the opposite skis I’ve been testing this yr.
My first few weeks with the UBAC 95s didn’t showcase Colorado’s finest backcountry situations. It was plenty of hardpack, breakable crust, and sun-baked nastiness, with the occasional fluffy windrift thrown into the combo. And like with most skis in these situations, I wasn’t thrilled.
My preconceptions in regards to the UBAC 95s have been defective at finest. I had assumed that they’d be stiff, with a stout, secure edge for icy steep snowboarding. I anticipated some sacrifices in liveliness and tender snow skiability. And that preconception comes from my clearly free understanding of skis designed in and for Chamonix, one of many world’s steep-skiing capitals.
ZAG has been a boutique ski model in France for 20 years however in the event you haven’t heard of them, that’s comprehensible as that is their first yr breaking into the North American market (you should buy them on Evo.com this yr and their complete lineup seems to be on-sale as we close to the top of the ski-buying season.)
I anticipated a rugged steeps weapon, however the reverse was truly true. The UBAC 95’s have been a lot softer than I anticipated each lengthwise and torsionally, particularly within the shovels. That meant they weren’t perfect for the tough situations at hand – they felt imprecise and just a little bit nervous, however they got here alive as soon as snow situations improved.
The UBAC 95’s sport 130.5/96/117 dimensions within the 184cm size, which lands them within the second skinniest slot of the 4 mannequin UBAC line. By way of form, they’ve bought average tip and tail rockers and a medium camber underfoot – fundamental, tried-and-true geometry.
At their core is paulownia with a layer of carbon and glass fibers, and a sheet of phenol underfoot for binding retention as a substitute of titanal, presumably for weight financial savings. That’s all packaged along with full ABS sidewalls.
Snowboarding the UBAC 95s. Picture: Peter Van Dyke
Snowboarding Efficiency
Regardless of having only some months with the demo skis, I used to be capable of ski them in nearly each snow situation I’d sometimes discover between November and June in Colorado’s backcountry. Most of it good, a few of it downright nasty.
As quickly because the high-pressure system moved on and the snow began falling, I discovered their candy spot. They weren’t floaty like massive powder skis, however they remained energetic, fast, and agile within the deep stuff. Higher, in actual fact, than I might have anticipated from a ski lower than 100mm underfoot. Anytime the snow trended towards tender, the UBAC 95s carried out properly – not higher than most powder skis, however good contemplating their conservative dimensions. They have been straightforward to pivot and smear even at slower speeds, which isn’t at all times the case for historically cambered skis on this width class.
The UBAC 95’s are fast, quick flip radius skis relatively than massive, longturn crushers. The formulaic 19.5m flip radius is brief, and I discovered that in actuality they thrived with even shorter turns. Low-angled powder turns, for instance, felt enjoyable and energetic the place larger skis can really feel sluggish.
As a good friend and I ventured out for a number of afternoon sizzling pow laps, I wasn’t certain how they’d fare contemplating that they have a tendency to get tossed round by onerous chunky snow, however they did surprisingly properly within the south going through dense, moist powder. With just a little little bit of pace, the information stayed afloat, they usually continued to excel with fast, lively, quick radius turns. They felt nimble in what would have been difficult situations aboard larger, heavier, longer-turn oriented skis.
They reacted equally to solar crust. Solar crust remains to be the worst, however I didn’t really feel just like the UBAC 95’s bought locked in as drastically as with another skis I’ve been on. Altering route didn’t really feel like as a lot of a chore – I used to be capable of soar flip and pivot with out a lot hassle, aided by the sunshine weight and beneficiant tip rocker. “Straightforward” is the descriptor I hold coming again to. Straightforward and predictable by means of most tender(ish) situations.
The UBAC 95s are gentle on their ft and in your again. Picture: Jack Sunderland
Central Colorado’s snowpack hasn’t lent itself to steep snowboarding within the backcountry but this season, however I used to be capable of substitute with steep runs on the resort. And I’ll be trustworthy, this isn’t the ski I’d take to the backcountry steeps, ski mountaineering, or anyplace I would encounter glacial ice. They simply don’t maintain a confidence-inspiring edge the best way my Fischer Transalp 92s, Black Crows Orb Freebirds, or Kastle TX 103’s do. Regardless of the total wooden core, they lack the torsional stiffness all through the ski to provide them good chunk. The absence of steel underfoot is noticeable.
For that very same purpose, I wouldn’t make use of these skis for any quantity of resort snowboarding apart from health laps. The marginally stiffer tails hold them from feeling like noodles, however like I mentioned earlier than, they’re obscure and just a little bit nervous on agency snow and ice.
Construct & Setup
On condition that they’re on the softer, friendlier facet of the spectrum, I used to be capable of get away with snowboarding them on my lightest boot, Scarpa’s F1 XT, even of their longest 184cm choice (I sometimes get away the sunshine boots for skis beneath 180cm lengthy). They have been a strong match throughout.
I additionally threw my Fischer Transalp Carbon Professional’s on the helm, in addition to the brand new Scarpa Maestrale RS, however these extra highly effective boots didn’t unlock any additional dimensions to the ski apart from offering just a little bit extra assist. The UBAC 95’s are gentle, tender skis that pair properly with gentle, softer boots.
Even with a demo binding from ATK, the UBAC 95s felt gentle in hand and on foot. The specs agree. The 184cm size I examined clock in at a claimed 1,480g per ski. Whereas they’re within the light-weight ballpark, they’re not absolutely the lightest on the market for the gram counters – the Blizzard Zero G 95’s clock in at 1315g (185cm), Atomic’s Backland 95’s are comparable at 1,455g (185cm), and although barely narrower, Fischer’s new Transalp 92 CTI’s weigh 1,310g within the 183cm size.
There weren’t any surprises on the pores and skin observe. The sunshine weight and comparatively low floor space on the snow in comparison with larger powder boards meant they went uphill like they have been born to do it. It’s definitely one of many arenas the place they thrived.
The ZAG UBAC 95s on the up. Picture: Clayton Shaver
Sturdiness
Light-weight skis could be weak to untimely rocky destruction. Whereas I did bounce off my justifiable share of rocks, logs, and one buried steel gate (sorry ZAG), the bases are in respectable form, and have but to endure a core shot. It is a comparatively quick check interval, although, provided that they’re demos on mortgage from ZAG.
Justin Park, Wildsnow’s editor, didn’t have the identical luck with the equally constructed ZAG UBAC 112s (in 184cm. They’re 114mm underfoot right here however 112mm in the event you go 176cm.) geared toward skiers in search of extra float in backcountry pow with out an enormous weight penalty.
I acquired a demo pair of the ZAG UBAC 112s in early November and our snowpack wasn’t nice. Feeling like I wanted to get to testing, I skinned up my favourite native honey gap after a 6-inch dump in December. Uphill was nice regardless of the width, couldn’t anticipate the downhill. The UBACs surfed comfortably and my first 10 turns have been my better of the yr to-date after which I lurched ahead as I discovered backside on a flippantly lined rocky ridge that was buried simply sufficient. But additionally not sufficient. See picture beneath for core shot.
The photograph is instructive principally to point out that it is a pretty thin-based ski which is a part of how ZAG pulls off a 114mm-width ski that weighs a claimed 1640g. The core shot scraped absolutely by means of the bottom with no ton of effort. Most any light-weight touring fats skis will current an identical fragility. Flip flippantly, my pals.
I repaired the crater and had a number of extra days on the 112s and got here away with an identical normal impression to Bergen’s on the 95s. The UBACs are stiff sufficient for his or her weight, fast in tight spots, and float nice regardless of a 184cm size that’s on the quick facet for my choice and weight. Nobody likes breakable crust, however they did higher than most staying close to the floor. They weren’t a lot enjoyable and chattered loads on onerous resort-skin groomers, however you wouldn’t anticipate them to be something totally different given the load and dimensions. My takeaway is that it is a compromise fats touring ski that tries to steadiness weight financial savings with efficiency in tender snow. I might see myself reaching for the UBAC 112s when I’ve an extended strategy to get deep items, however they’d doubtless keep house if I felt like I might abdomen a number of hundred additional grams to get an extended, damper pair to the highest.
Justin Park
Who’re they for?
So the place do these skis slot in, and who’re they for? I’ll begin with who they’re not for. I wouldn’t advocate the UBAC’s 95’s for aggressive skiers demanding precision or energy out of their touring rig. And whereas I haven’t examined them within the spring but, I’m assured that they gained’t be my first or second choose for objective-oriented steep snowboarding the place publicity, freeze/thaw situations, or ice is inevitably on the menu.
However for skiers inquisitive about a mid-winter ski, who sometimes ski in tender snow, the UBAC could be an excellent match. Their tender, pleasant character would make them good light-weight touring skis for newbie and intermediate skiers seeking to enterprise deeper into the backcountry, too. Above all else, they’re straightforward to ski, even in ugly situations like breakable crust. That’s not at all times the case for skis on this weight class, which might lose some dealing with ease in alternate for weight financial savings.
For extra superior skiers who aren’t inquisitive about hauling a giant, fats powder ski round, the UBAC 95s might fill the mid-winter low-angle powder snowboarding area of interest that occupies a lot of Colorado’s winter. They’ll deal with nearly all the things apart from onerous snow properly in the event you’re prepared to dial again the “freeride” only a hair and luxuriate in some mellow, quick radius turns.
Conclusion
Each time I soar on new skis or boots, I’m instantly drawn to their weaknesses earlier than I can flesh out the place they shine. It’s my poisonous trait. However over time, I grew to love the UBAC 95s once I eased off the gasoline and met them the place they thrive – mellow turns, tender snow, lighter boots, longer days, and many vert. They’re not the skis I’m reaching for once I’m itching to ski quick and aggressively, or push my limits within the steeps. Somewhat, they pair properly with Lou Dawson’s Mild Excursions of Colorado guidebook, mellow fluffy turns, and extra informal mid-winter outings.
Not each backcountry skier is in search of stiff, highly effective, hard-charging skis, however plenty of us are in search of one set of light-weight skis to deal with early and mid-winter tender snow situations. And for the suitable skier with the suitable backcountry intentions, the UBACs might match the invoice. Simply know their limitations earlier than you end up staring down an icy couloir.
Justin Park is the Editor of Wild Snow. In 2009 whereas residing in Hawaii, he bought invited on a hut journey in Colorado. He had no backcountry gear, discovered Wild Snow, learn up on backcountry snowboarding and purchased some body bindings for a pair of G3 Reverends so he didn’t have to purchase touring boots. He moved to Breckenridge, CO a yr later and right this moment he skis 100+ days a yr, most of them backcountry.
