Dynafit Chugach Ski – reviewed by Geoff Unger

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Dana Ladzinski

Screen Shot 2016-04-11 at 10.11.12 AM The Dynafit Chugach hits the mark. Over the past decade or so I’ve tried a number of different Dynafit ski models. For the most part I have found a lack of downhill performance. While the weight savings and uphill ability of the of the skis was great the downhill aspect left something to by desired. The Chugach nails the downhill ski performance category. The weight has come up some and there is a sacrifice for the way up, but in my opinion the downhill pleasure trumps the uphill pain with this ski.

The Chugach has a good amount of float with 108mm under foot(188cm length). For the width, the sidewall and carbon construction maintain the ski stiffness and edge hold in all but the firmest conditions. At speed the edge hold on the Chugach was far superior to any other Dynafit ski I’ve ridden.

Photo by: Geoff Unger There was a sacrifice for this performance: each ski weighs over 2 kilos(188cm). This definitely ate into my energy on long skin tracks. For the weight, length and width I would definitely recommend straight skins instead of custom fit skins to reduce drag. The ski is wide enough to provide solid grip with a 100-105mm skins.

One thing you’ll notice is the lack of camber on this ski. In fact the ski is flat underfoot and has substantial rocker in the tip and tail. Up until recently I’ve preferred a more traditional cambered ski. For those with the same background it is valuable to size up in this ski. For example if you normally ski a 180 then it is definitely important to go with the 188. Personally I could have gone with the 194, but wanted to balance the maneuverability of the ski in trees and couloirs. The reason for this is the rocker is to provide both float in powder and a more new school ‘surfy’ feel for the ski. For forward and aft stability the added length will make the ski feel more natural for the traditionalist.

After a couple of days skiing and touring on the Chugach I went to Aspen Highlands to ride the lifts and hike the bowl with 12-16 inches of new snow. The skis were perfect for the conditions. A combination of riding the lifts and hiking with the skis over my shoulder was the sweet spot for the Chugach. I enjoyed the surfy nature of the rocker profile and though the underlying snow was firm I rarely felt it as the skis floated effortlessly through all the terrain. A bit later in the season I got the opportunity to tour more extensively on the ski and found it to be more nimble than expected on the skin track. On the same week long tour we had some of the deepest snow I’ve skied and the Chugach excelled even above their previous level of performance.

Photo by: Geoff Unger The bottom line is the Chugach is a great ski for those who do a combination of touring and lift access side country terrain. Being aware of the rocker profile and the way that may affect the feel of the ski should be taken into account when purchasing, but otherwise the Chugach is a winner.