I broke down last week and despite not having a place to stay in after the 20th (that's changed now, obviously), I bought a new pair of skis and a new pair of boots.

The skis are something I've been salivating over since I arrived in Vail. They are fat twin-tip Salomon "Pocket Rockets". They are so fun I can hardly believe it. I'm ripping all over the mountain in ways I never thought possible. The boots are Lange which I bought because they were on sale from $425 to $70 and fit like a glove which is more than I can say for my other boots which are awful.

My old Rossi skis are fine. There's nothing wrong with per se, but the Pocket Rockets just blow them off the mountain.

The Salomon Pocket Rocket has made quite a name for itself among today's freeriders. The space-age graphics make you stop and gawk but its performance on the hill is what's most impressive. With tip-waist-tail measurements that dwarf traditional fat skis, and it's typical Salomon soft flex, this ski makes an incredible powder tool and excellent touring ski. Oh yeah, did we mention it has twin tips?