SNOW Magazine hosts a ski test every year on Aspen Mountain. We choose a select group of the top ski industry professionals, from ski buyers, to ski pros, ex racers, etc. Meet the group of testers for the Best New Skis 2017 – 18 Season.

Dave Stapleton

US ski team 1976 – 1981

Former Jr skier of the year

Nor-Am overall champ 1978

Best WC finish  3rd Combined Wengen DH  SL

Turned pro 1982 – 1992

Owned, operated Stapleton Ski  1992- 2009

 

Georgie Bremner

Aspen Ski Instructor and Trainer

I like long pistes through trees coated in fresh powder, where the sunlight sparkles through flurries and a leggy cab sav is waiting by an open fire beside mountain folk who believe in taking showers, good music and eating a lot.

Started out skiing as a wee tike on the snow volcanoes of NZ. Chased the winter to Europe to work summer jobs teaching skiing while pretending to get a degree at University. Ended up in Aspen where I’m still pondering what I would like to do when I grow up.

Qualifications include being a mum attempting to juggle work, play and a serious ski addiction.

 

 

Jared Ettlinger

Gorsuch Aspen General Manager

Being a Gorsuch Ski equipment buyer for 10+ years, vetting skis for their retail and demo buy for 5 locations has given me thorough knowledge and experience testing skis. I grew up skiing in upstate NY and Vermont, throughout Europe, and have been skiing in Aspen for the last 21 years.

 

 

 

Jill Dorken

Aspen Ski Instructor

I started skiing at 2 & would skip school to ski. Yes, I’m every parents dream come true. Not!

Began ski racing at 7 & through university. I have been on 4 demo ski teams and in several powder 8 competitions.Began teaching skiing at the age of 15. I coached ski camps in the summer in Whistler, BC & Mt Hood, Oregon.

If the sun is shining, every ski mountain is amazing for cruising or playing in the bumps. On a big powder day, steep steep steep is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Skis that work for me tend to be stable at speed, easy to turn, versatile in on mixed terrain & hold well on ice.

 

 

Susan Kinstler

Home Mountain: Heavenly Ski Resort

Standing 5’9”, I’m a “big-boned” gal from Northern California, with 40+ years of skiing experience. I raced on the South Tahoe High School Ski Team in California before being hired at Heavenly Valley and then Mammoth Mountain. By age 22 I had earned the Associate Certification, Full Certification, and Examiner status. Skiing tip-to-tail with Julia Findley through the gnarly bumps on Lower Dry Creek at Mammoth Mountain or the steep with Barbra Sanders off-piste in the Austrian Tyrol are my favorite memories. I joined the United States Navy for six years as a backup to injury plan but stayed for a career and now spend my winter days skiing or traveling to ski the western U.S. and Canada.

 

Mike Shea

VP Sales & Marketing at Aztech Mountain.

I grew up in a beach town in Massachusetts and I learned how to ski at Sugarloaf, Maine while attending Colby College. After Colby, I moved to Aspen with four friends with the intention of staying for one winter, until I got on the right gondola on the right day and met my wife. That was almost 13 years ago and I’m still chasing Layne, as Aspen native, around the mountains. If I’m not skiing with Layne and our 3 year old son Henry, my ideal ski day is on Highlands. I love to catch first chair and lap Deep Temerity until the bowl opens, throttle 2 or 3 laps off the top and spend the afternoon skiing the steeps on the lower mountain, riding the Thunderbowl chair.

 

Carolina Vivo

International ski coach and instructor with 20 seasons of experience working in USA, Europe and South America. Originally from Bariloche, Argentina, won international prizes in freeride and synchro competitions with my team Aspen Divas and with a partner in the Powder 8’s.

Being on the mountains gives me more of a sense of fulfillment than anything in the world. With friends or alone, I like the mountain in all its ways. Going downhill or uphill, skiing on a fluffy powder day or carving some turns on fresh corduroy… I’m from Bariloche but I love the area of Aspen Snowmass, so, to be fair, I’d say my favorite run is the double black Bariloche at Aspen Highlands. I love skis that I can count on in every surface and snow condition. A playful ski with some silhouette that can rip around everywhere.