Description
The Lib Tech Backwards Skis are a celebrated freestyle ski designed by Colby Albin, a “Tahoe all terrain freestyle wizard.” For skiers in Millcreek, Utah, who spend significant time in the terrain park but also demand a ski that can confidently carve groomers, butter around, and even dabble in playful freeride, the Backwards is a versatile and durable choice. It’s built to withstand the rigors of park abuse while offering a surprisingly capable all-mountain performance.
Performance in Utah Conditions:
The Lib Tech Backwards skis are surprisingly versatile for Utah’s diverse terrain:
- Terrain Park: This is their home. They excel on jumps, rails, boxes, and halfpipes, offering the durability and pop needed for progression.
- Groomers: Thanks to the camber underfoot and especially Magne-Traction®, these skis hold an edge remarkably well on hardpack and can carve surprisingly confidently.
- Side Hits & Natural Features: Their freestyle contour and poppy nature make them incredibly fun for turning the whole mountain into a playground.
- Variable Snow: While not a dedicated powder ski, the early rise tip and tail, combined with the medium waist width (typically 92-94mm), offer decent float for playful laps in light fresh snow or navigating chopped-up conditions.
Binding Compatibility:
The Lib Tech Backwards skis are flat skis (they do not come with integrated bindings). You can mount any modern alpine, touring, or telemark binding designed for flat skis. Lib Tech recommends a brake width equal to or at most 15mm wider than the ski’s waist width. They also provide guidance on mounting points (“Sweet Spot” for traditional feel, “Core Center” for more regular switch riding).
Why choose Lib Tech Backwards Skis at Salty Peaks?
For the freestyle-focused skier in Millcreek, Utah, who wants a durable and versatile ski that can handle endless laps in the park but isn’t afraid to rip the rest of the mountain, the Lib Tech Backwards Skis are an excellent choice. Their bombproof construction, Magne-Traction edge hold, and playful yet poppy flex make them a go-to for pushing progression and having a blast in any snow condition. Salty Peaks understands the needs of park and all-mountain skiers and proudly offers these unique, high-performance skis.
Specs
Key Features for Park Domination & All-Terrain Playfulness:
The Backwards skis are packed with Lib Tech's signature Mervin Made technologies, focusing on durability, pop, and edge hold:
- Twin Terrain Park Perfection / Nearly Symmetrical Shape: Designed with a true twin or near-twin shape, making them ideal for skiing and landing switch, a crucial aspect of park and freestyle skiing. This shape also aids in buttering and playful maneuvers.
- Flat Lift Early Rise Camber Freestyle Contour (Rocker/Camber/Rocker Profile):
- Flat Lift / Early Rise Tip and Tail: Provides a press-friendly feel and reduces swing weight, making butters and spins easier. The early rise in the tip and tail also aids in turn initiation and flotation in softer snow.
- Long Camber Pocket Underfoot: Delivers powerful pop, stable edge hold, and strong carving performance on hardpack and jumps. This camber section provides the classic "pop" and rebound that freestyle skiers crave.
- Magne-Traction®: Lib Tech's iconic "serrated edge" technology. This unique sidecut design features multiple contact points (like a steak knife) along the ski's edge, significantly enhancing edge grip on hard snow, ice, and mixed conditions. This means you can keep your edges detuned for urban and park use and still have excellent grip for carving groomers or pipes in Utah.
- Thicker Steel Edges: A crucial durability upgrade for park skis, designed to withstand frequent impacts with rails, boxes, and other features. This increases the lifespan of the skis, even under heavy park use.
- Thicker Sintered Eco-Friendly Sublimated Bases: A highly durable and fast base material that stands up to abuse. The "eco-friendly sublimated" process reflects Lib Tech's commitment to sustainable manufacturing. These bases are built to conquer the "steel park world."
- Sustainably Harvested Wood Core (Often Aspen/Paulownia Blend): Provides a lively and durable core that offers a good balance of pop, stability, and forgiveness.
- Tri-Ax and Bi-Ax Fiberglass Laminates: A blend of fiberglass layers that provide strength, torsional rigidity, and a lively feel, ensuring the skis respond well to rider input.
- Sintered UHMW Sidewalls: Ultra High Molecular Weight sidewalls are extremely durable and absorb impact, further contributing to the ski's bombproof construction.
- Bio Beans Topsheet: A tough, lightweight, and snow-shedding topsheet made from plant oils, showcasing Lib Tech's environmental commitment.
- Medium Flex (typically 5 to 6 on Lib Tech's 10-point scale): This mid-range flex provides a good balance of playfulness for jibbing and buttering, with enough stability and pop for jumps and all-mountain cruising. The flex tends to get slightly stiffer with longer lengths.
