From: dittmare@gtewd.mtv.gsc.gte.com
Newsgroups: rec.skiing
Subject: RE:  Fischer Revolution Micro Skis
Date: 26 Jan 93 10:58:28 -0800
Organization: GTE Govt. Systems, Electronics Def. Div.

> From: lee@nihon.ucs.ualberta.ca (Lee Cameron)
> Has anyone tried Fischer's new skating ski that only comes in 147cm length?

Caveat:  This review comes from a diagonal freak.  I hope you get some input
from skaters who have tried the Revolutions as well.

My wife tried the out the waxless Revolutions just this Sunday for the day. 
When she pooped out, I talked the rental shop into letting me try them out
(both waxless and skate) on her nickel.

The waxless pattern held just fine on good snow, but tended to slip on icy
conditions (more than my waxless racing skis).  If I was using them for a day,
I'd carry some type of grip aid for the pattern for certain conditions.  The
glide was pretty darn good for something that had pattern over half it's
length.  We ran some comparisons by starting to slide on a downhill at
the same time and seeing who went further at the runout.  

The skating Revolutions were also neat - they felt a lot like I imagine roller
skis would feel (I use roller blades instead).  Them short suckers defenitely
held on the uphill, but modern high-quality skate skis should hold better on
icy conditions with their little metal edge inserts.  I'd think they're strong
enough support you just fine; but since they're smaller they don't have as much
surface area to float you on the snow when it's soft, which should affect your
glide.

> The Fisher seems well made and durable. The down side  
> is that its companion model for traditional  style is a no wax "fun" ski. I  
> don't know if the skate is in the same category as the traditional model or 
> is it a serious ski.

Hmmm... waxable-waxless/serious-fun?  If you ever visit us down south here in
California, I'd suggest skating or using waxless when you're serious.  Save the
waxable skis for fun (or perhaps for a race held in the early morning before
conditions start to vary).  It's LOADS of fun ;-) to change wax three or four
times a day, and still have terrible performance in the afternoon because the
conditions change so much, even in the space of 100 yards (slush in the sun,
ice in the shade).

General notes about both types:  The good news is, that just like you'd expect
from short skis, they turned real easy.  I had no troubles doing tele's on a
steep slope, while I usually have troubles getting track skis to do that trick.
It's tempting to take a pair of Revolutions to a downhill resort and have some
fun freaking out the non granola eaters (A friendly little hello to all you
dedicated downhillers crossing over to read this message and sticking with it
long enuff to read that). The bad news was, again just like you'd expect from
short skis, they were a little squirrely at higher speeds, especially out of
track.

In summary:  All-in-all they were neat toys, but I wouldn't recommend them
for *serious* skiing.  Take Fischer's statement to heart that they are for
anything "up to" racing.  IMHO, if you're an expert or an intermediate working
on improving  I think you'd be better off with a *real* ski.  However, given
the opportunity, I'd *fun* around on Revolutions again.

E
 r
  i
   c  - diagonal :-)