First of all, pay no attention to the small child in the background of this video. She may be stuck but I promise I freed her after recording.

Secondly, how about some skis that'll rock your boots off!?!

Surface Skis is a company based in Salt Lake City Utah. I met the founders in Denver and instantly connected with their passion for the snow. They're almost know as much for their art as they are for the incredible skis they manufacture in Austria and sell through the coolest shops in the United States.

Mike Schneider launched Surface in a garage in 2004, created the 3 Stage Rocker™ in 2006 (which was quickly copied by the big brands) and is now celebrating his 10 year anniversary.

The Live Free is a classic design that's not going anywhere. The first time I rode these at Breckenridge, Colorado, they felt like lightweight SUVs on my feet. At 8.6 pounds for the 181cm, I've paired them nicely with the brand new to the market, Fritschi Diamir Vipec binding. They rode over everything with ease and the smile never left my face.

Camber, combined with the early rise tips and tails, made them poppy in the powder and allowed them to soar through the crud, leaving me with an expression of bewilderment on my face. How could I be having so much fun in the crud of a groomed run? I stopped asking questions and let my mind focus on the run.

I've paired the Live Free's with G3's Alpinist Climbing Skins for the ultimate in lightweight traction for the backcountry. I opted for full coverage on the bases this time around.

If you're looking for a lightweight touring setup, check out the Walk Free's from Surface. Judging by the numerous awards they've won, you can't go wrong.

Dimensions of my 181cm Live Free skis: 146 / 110 / 130.

Links

Surface Live Free Skis: http://goo.gl/yvRw32
Surface Walk Free Skis: http://goo.gl/HAVS8C
Fritschi Diamir Vipec binding: http://goo.gl/7k9W2N
G3's Alpinist Climbing Skins: http://goo.gl/3IOEwM
More gear reviews: http://goo.gl/0x4zz