Deep Dive: ZAG releases the new Slap 92
Published on February 16, 2023
by Dan Kasper
Originally Published On : Freeskier
For 20 years Zag has been making freeride, all-mountain and touring skis that meet the performance needs necessary to adventure in their own backyard of Chamonix and on mountains across the globe. Their vaunted Slap line, a French acronym that translates to ‘Freestyle Backcountry,’ has gained the reputation of skis that can shred powder and dig trenches on groomers with equal ability. At 92 mm underfoot, the new Slap 92 might not be a pow slayer, but it will bring an added level of versatility to the line when it arrives in the fall.
“This ski is a bit different for us—both from the other skis in the Slap line and from a shape perspective,” Zag R&D Director and Shaper Bastien Saillard said. “We think this will make people happy both carving on the groomers but also playing—pivoting, hitting jumps off the side and more.”
The playfulness comes courtesy of tip and tail rocker and a layer of rubber under foot that moves directionally and helps to improve skiability on hard pack and icy conditions. A paulownia and poplar wood core combined with four-way fiberglass provides torsional rigidity and the predictability to rip arcs on corduroy with ultimate confidence.
The Slap 92 continues Zag’s commitment to conservation by using recycled materials. The ski’s edges are made from entirely recycled stainless steel, the bases consist of 85% recycled scraps and 30% of the ski’s resin is also recycled material.
Building this ski was a top priority for the Zag team and it came together in short order thanks to a small lab in their Chamonix office, located just 200 meters from the resort. In 2022, the team worked through roughly 20 prototypes of the Slap 92 out of that lab, taking those skis to the snow and then quickly returning to the office to adjust the rocker value or the tip radius.
“We were skiing it a lot, prototyping a lot and this is really the key to the success of this ski,” Saillard said. “The more we went and skied it, the more we prototyped, the better the ski became and the more human it felt. We really worked a lot on the wood profile to get the flex perfect. It is a slightly different flex pattern than the other Slap skis to ensure it is excellent at carving.”
While the carvability on groomers is a hallmark for this ski, it is the maneuverability that sets it apart. Whether in bumps, trees or other diverse terrain, the Slap 92 has the ability to pivot and butter turns that few on-piste, more directionally-oriented carving skis have in their arsenal.
“It is excellent to add the Slap 92 to the line because it is different than anything we’ve ever produced,” Zag Marketing Manager Alan Lemasson said. “If you want to carve, you can easily carve on the groomers. If you want to slide, you can slide. We now have a really great carving and playful ski that we’re very proud of.”