Sneak peek at next year's Gear: Black Diamond Helio Skis – VIDEOS

Black Diamond has a new line of skis for the 2016/17 season called “Helio”. These are touring focussed skis which are light weight yet strong, in fact they’re the lightest and strongest skis Black Diamond currently manufactures. They use a balsa flax core with full carbon over and underlay, ABS sidewalls and a titanal mounting plate under foot which provides more torsional stiffness, and gives a damper response. In addition the Helios will be made in Austria… where they know how to make skis. The Helio Skis will come in 88, 95, 105, 116 cm under foot with minimal camber underfoot, early rise in the tips and a small turn up at the tails. 

Having skied on the Black Diamond Helio 105 at the Winter Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City this January I can report that they provide a nice progressive flex in a really light weight ski. This one ski that I look forward to testing in more depth in the backcountry this spring and next fall.

Look for a full review of the Black Diamond Helio Skis next season but in the mean time watch the following video overview below.

I've just been informed that the Helio 105 is available now in the 175/185 lengths on the Black Diamond web site so if you don't want to wait until next year to give this super fun ski a try - have a look at the Black Diamond site.