Portland-based ON3P is a start-up ski manufacturer founded last year by Scott Angus. Though still in their infant period they boast an interesting array of skis geared to freeriding and freeskiing.

Ski: ON3P Billy Goats model 2009/2010
Shape: tip rocker: 23cm x 2cm, tail Rocker: 13cm x 1.5cm , full twin, 140-115-120 mm, 20,3 m radius
Weight: about 4.5 kg
Available lenghts: 176 cm – 186 (tested in 176cm)
Mounting point: Right at the mark (white mark at the sidewalls) as recommended by ON3P
Bindings: Dynastar ST
Boots: Dynafit Zzeus

ON3P Billy Goats

My very first run with the Billy Goats was back in February this winter (in the French resort Puy de St. Vincent). Snow conditions were ridiculous bad with some new, extremely wet snow. The run started with a narrow, bumpy slope. Despite the challenging snow conditions I immediately felt the great agility of the Billy Goats. They are really just as advertised. With their ability to make fast and easy turns they are a really playful tool. Soon the bumpy run led to mellow meadows with only just a few tracks. It seemed that no one was eager to leave the groomed pistes in these almost surreal snow conditions. First, I could not imagine that it would be possible to have fun in this slushy snow. Not so with the Billy Goats! They floated perfectly on top of the slush. Just this one run was enough for me to fell in love with the Billy Goats as skis and not only as perfectly designed art-work.

A few days later I had the chance to test the Billy Goats in more winter-like conditions. A very welcomed storm system has deposited about 20-30 cm new snow and temperatures have fallen significantly. Though the fairly strong winds resulted in wind-packed snow higher up we expected to experience fine powder in the abundant larch woods of the Haute Queyras. Just as advertised the Billy Goats excel in soft snow. They are extremely easygoing. Changing the rhythm of the turns needs almost no efforts. The larch woods happened to be the perfect playground. The easy turn-ability of these skis makes them perfect for tree skiing. Though I did enjoy the Billy Goats in windpacked I did not feel that secure as it was with Pmgears Lhasa Pows (see my Lhasa Pow review).

At least in soft snow skinning is really easy with kickturns posing no problems. However I would hesitate using the Billy Goats over steep traverses in very hardpacked or even icy conditions.

Cruising wind-packed snow with the Billy Goats (Haute Queyras)

Performance on (hard) groomed runs was o.k. but carving the groomers is certainly not what is intended with these skis. I felt the BGs were a little bit ‘fickle’ and giving no assurance at higher speeds.

Later on this winter I used the Billy Goats everytime when I expected to encounter the typical dense woods (with the associated bushwacking) of the local Vienna hills.

The Billy Goats are a perfect choice for having fun in the dense woods of the Viennese hills

To sum up: A playful and very agile ski with a strong focus on powder snow. The design and graphic layout is truly eye-catching. The quality of the handicraft seems to be top. Given the relative low price (especially for a handmade, boutique-like ski) a widespread success of ON3P’s Billy Goats seems to be guaranteed. Note that the shape of the 2010/11 model has been slightly changed due to feedback of the freeride community (especially over at TGR) with the aim to improve their performance on hardpacked snow. The design has been changed as well and it is again an example of wonderful art-work.

PMGear is an independent boutique-like ski manufacturer based in Reno (Nevada) with roots in the freeride community around the TGR forums. With its deep embededdness in the U.S. and (more and more) worldwide freeride community PMGear produces a whole bundle of skis developed entirely for the needs of the off-piste crowd.

One of their latest ski models is the Lhasa Pow. Last summer I used the pre-sale conditions and ordered a pair of 186 Lhasa Pow in its carbon type model (there is a fiberglass model on offer as well). After one winter (I used the Lhasas as my “first choice” from February to April) on these skis I think that I do have enough experience on them to write a review.

Just some basics about their features:

Ski: Lhasa Pow Bro model 186 Carbon 2009/2010
Shape: tip-rocker, semi pintail, 3 mm positive camber, 140-112-122 mm
Weight: about 4 kg
Available lenghts: 186 cm – 191 cm – 196 cm (tested in 186cm)
Mounting point: Right at the mark (red line) as recommended by pmgear

Lhasa Pow Bro model (pmgear)

Rigged with Dynaft Comfort bindings (about 1 kg) the skis are comparatively lightweight for their size making them perfect backcountry touring skis.

During the winter I accounted a great range of snow and terrain conditions. I skied them from the dense woods at the Unterberg near Vienna to the wide, open glaciers atop of La Grave (France). Snow conditons varied from fresh powder over wind-affected snow and crust to slushy spring time snow.

Though it is fair to say that the Lhasas are powder-oriented skis they excel in all snow conditions. They even stood up to the test at the icy moguls of the home-run in the woods down to La Grave. Their versatility is incredible making them a truly one-quiver ski just as advertised. From big mountain lines to narrow tree runs and steep couloirs they performed really well. Even on groomed runs you would not believe to have 112 mm under your food.

Lhasa Pow at the entrance of the Narrndattl couloir (Schneeberg)

As expected their performance in powder is superior. Thanks to the tip rocker and the ski’s general shape they float perfectly in soft snow. Though I like them best using long lines they are surprisingly easy to turn even with narrower radius. Changes between different radius is easy and takes virtually no effort at all.

Floating with the Lhasas in fresh snow (Queyras, France), photy by gerrit

What is especially astonishing about the Lhasa Pow is their excellent performance in sub-par snow conditions. Crusty snow is usually quite detrimental to having fun. Not so with the Lhasas. The same holds true with wind-packed snow. Skiing the Lhasas in these snow conditions is almost as easily and as enjoyable as in real powder.

After the Jack Wolfskin incident, which was by the way a huge PR disaster for Jack Wolfskin, another big corporation wastes its energy and its reputation within the community with law issues concerning a possible trademark issue with ON3P. Scott USA Inc, known for its ski, ski accessories, bikes and other related stuff, is harassing ON3P, an infant Oregon-based ski manufacturer with a cease and desist letter. Scott Andrus, the founder of ON3P has labeled its flagship big mountain model “The Big Scott”, obviously after his first name (and its maybe also a reference to the “Great Scott Bowl“at Alpental, a ski resort in Washington state, US).

Honestly, that is starting to get annoying. Are the current market incumbents really so fearful of tiny, independent ski manufacturers? There is nothing wrong about protecting your intellectual property rights but naming your brand after a common name and then whining about possible trademark issues may be regarded as ‘uncool’. Such a behavior might be regarded as detrimental for the reputation within the skiing community.

Here is the post at the TGR forum by Scott Andrus from ON3P informing possible customers about the issue:

This post is meant to inform anyone who has to date purchased a “Great Scott” ski from ON3P, or those who are considering a future purchase. In late October, ON3P received a cease and desist order from SCOTT USA Ltd., and its affiliates SCOTT Sports SA and SCOTT USA Inc., demanding ON3P immediately cease commercialization and sales of all “Great Scott” branded skis for reasons of trademark infringement.

We are current exploring the legality of the use of “Scott” in the name of our ski “Great Scott” and should reach a decision in the near future.

Once we have reached a decision, I will post an update on the matter.

Scott Andrus

Some gear experts argue that ON3P skis are superior over Scott USA skis anyway. And ON3Ps are definitely more amazing from a design point of view. So it is probably quite good to get the word out about the ever growing number of independent ski manufactures who strife with all their heart and energy to build skis for dedicated skiers.

Update November, 30th, 2009: Scott Andrus from ON3P has now officially renamed the ski to Cease and Desist to avoid any potentially costly disputes.