Touring backcountry skis
Product 2021
Man
We tested the Zag Ubac 89 in size 171cm. A ski that you can easily take a bigger size.
Because the Zag has two major characteristics: very light (1170g in 171cm) and very easy pivoting.
The first sensations with this Zag Ubac 89 remind you very quickly of 100% old school ski touring skis. There’s no doubt it is brilliant in the uphill because you don’t waste energy with them being so light, they position easily, and are pleasant doing conversions, and carrying them on your pack you can almost forget they are there.
They’re capacity to pivot makes them brilliant for reacting rapidly and effortlessly in moguls, and forest skiing. Some testers even thought that the pivot was too much! In deep snow and powder the ski tip lift also helps in problematic snow conditions.
This isn’t a playful ski but it is reactive. The Zag Ubac 89 oversteers, something that you need to have the skills to master. More experienced skiers that are looking for glide, fluidity, to lengthen the turn, aren’t as convinced. You need to load the tip to improve the fluidity of this straight ski. Skied in the centre of the boot the Zag Ubac 89 stays fast and you need to keep an eye on it when going in a straight line for example when the skis can cross.
If you want the Zag Ubac 89 to ride on the edge you need a nice rolling soft-snowy piste where you can dose your angles and take your time. The radius is very long. It really isn’t in its programme.
We wondered if it could be efficient on a steep slope. Its lacking grip imposes limits even if it’s fine at doing jumped turns. We would’ve expected better reactivity. The grip isn’t very convincing. With a backpack the Zag Ubac 89’s character is amplified, so you need to manage the oversteering and its fore and aft bending.
The skiers who have a more upright skiing stance and enjoy skidding or smearing turns will like the Zag Ubac 89. The classic ski tourer will also be happy in the uphill.
But, a more technically minded skier won’t particularly enjoy harmonizing with its oversteering and lack of fluidity in the turns. At a higher speed you have to keep an eye on the Zag Ubac 89. Its skiability is in line with its weight, which is light, and needs careful positioning in how you load it because it bends a lot fore and aft. We found its limits very quickly.
We loved its design, the finishing is pretty good, and it has a stunning base.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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