Equipment Review: PM Gear Skis

It took some time for my friends to get me on skis from PM Gear. One in particular, an Alpine Meadows instructor, had tried for about 5 years. I should have listened sooner. After a year of skiing PM Gear products, I am a believer. PM Gear skis are more commonly know as the “Bro Model” ski, as that designation is more apparent than PM Gear. What many people notice first about PM Gear skis is the tagline “FKNA Made In The USA” found on the rear of each ski. Indeed, the skis are made locally in Reno, Nevada.

There’s essentially not much advertising for PM Gear. It’s likely the only way you would learn about them is seeing a pair on the hill or frequenting the ski forum at Teton Gravity Research. In fact, jump on a pair of Bros and you will likely meet strangers asking you for “change for a nickel” or if you’re “training for Alaska”, the current TGR secret handshakes. It’s at TGR that PM Gear CEO Pat Keane heard I was looking for the proverbial one ski quiver.

In April 2011, Pat contacted me with an offer I couldn’t refuse, a pair of Bro 183 Fats with an extra stiff layup. And so it began…

Bro 183 Fat (2010 model)

I managed to get the skis mounted up just in time for the Sierra’s record breaking spring and summer ski season. The skis had just the right amount of stiffness for skiing spring corn and crud, without the added weight of a metal layer. The specs on the 183 Fats are 136/112/126 with just a hint of tip rocker. The 2010 layup is fiberglass over a poplar core with a weight of just over 4 pounds per ski. What you get is a stiff ski with a very versatile shape that is lighter than most production skis on the market. That makes it a great choice for alpine skiing, an AT setup or telemark setup. Even with alpine bindings, these skis are a pleasure to strap onto a pack for a hike.

These skis do rally to any occasion. The skis are snappy on groomers and hold an edge as well as my sloppy style allows. The 33m turn radius lets your arc big turns, while the short length gives you some room in moguls, trees and chutes. The stiffness was just what was needed for dominating spring and summer snow conditions, while the rocker made spring powder effortless.

The construction on the skis is nothing short of burly. I put roughly 50 days on them between May and November. That included skiing in all sorts of conditions, including creek beds and talus slopes and countless rock encounters, with not one blown edge or core shot. With the marginal coverage this season, I actually used my “summer skis” for most of the season, finally getting a coreshot in March on Tiegel Chutes. For what it’s worth, both skis lost their metal tail vibration dampeners within the first 7 days of use. That really did not affect the way they skied, but Pat still made good and offered a new pair from the fall lineup. He definitely stands behind his product.

A quick word on mount points. The factory mount point was a bit far back for my tastes. it’s there to allow for easy slarved turns in all conditions. Danny at the Sports Exchange knew I was looking for more responsiveness, so mine are mounted considerably forward, which gives them the feel of a Porsche on a race track. In talking with Pat, he may be marking both points on future models.

2011 Bro 183 Fat Hybrid

In November I picked up the new 183 Fats, which are essentially the same ski with a new hybrid carbon and fiberglass layup. The ski is topped with a clear nylon topsheet, allowing the carbon fiber to show through. They are beautiful, and even lighter than last year’s model. With conditions extremely marginal through the holiday season, they didn’t go anywhere until a January trip to Revelstoke. With fresh powder every day and a lot of tight tree skiing, they were a perfect tool for that trip. The stiffness also allowed for some fast rallying down Revy’s long groomers.

In continuing to ski the 183 Fats through a regular season, the only place I saw a short coming was that the short length did not hold up as well in light powder, mostly because I am a a big guy and 183 is pretty short. I would love to try out the 187 Fats. But that led to another PM Gear acquisition…

Lhasa Pow 191 (2010 model)

I know people that call the Lhasa Pow their “one ski quiver” and I can see why.  The specs are 140-112-120 with a 39m turn radius, and still under 5 pounds per ski. The pintail design is becoming pretty popular in powder skis and it’s easy to understand. There is amazing control at high speeds in powder on these skis. Although described as a “big mountain ski”, it’s quite responsive when you ask it to make turns. A few people dislike the narrower tail, claiming it bogs down in denser snow. That just makes me get my weight more forward, which is usually a good thing.

They are not just a powder ski though. The stiff layup and rigidity means they can lay down some fine big arcs on the groomers and slash through the crud at high speeds. They would definitely be my one ski quiver, but at 191cm they scare me in bumps and trees. No fears though, the Lhasa Pows come in 179, 186, 191 and 196 lengths.

Where can you get some?

There’s the rub. This season, demos of PM Gear skis were available only at Tahoe Daves in Tahoe City and the skis are currently sold only online at PMGear.com (or the easy to remember FKNA.com). Availability is limited and some models go quick. It’s often best to check in with Pat and see what’s coming up in production to plan your purchase accordingly. It’ll be worth the wait.