Kevin Bramble Goodz Monoski ($5,000)

I have been riding the same Freedom Factory Revolution Pro Comp for eleven seasons and close to a thousand days. With the possibility that I might buy a new rig, and hardly any opportunities to test drive different monoskis, I couldn’t pass up this chance to test drive a brand new rig from Kevin Bramble Goodz.

Overall Rating: ***** 5 Stars

Pros:
No moveable parts, nothing to break

Very durable

Shock Absorber

Cons:
Not Adjustable

Heavy

Cost

Review:

Thanks to a friend from Scotland who stores his monoski here in Steamboat, I had this opportunity to ski the Bramble and see how I liked it. While the bucket wasn’t a perfect fit, I was still able to get a good idea how it performed and in several kinds of conditions. I skied heavy powder, a few moguls, and a couple of groomers to get a feel for it.

What I liked most about the Bramble was the shock system. With an adjustable, canister fed shock and almost 8 inches of travel, it was like stepping out of a 1986 Honda hatchback and into a 2010 Mercedes. And it handled everything from bumps to powder to groomers with no problems. And the feel of the ski under me felt indestructible and solid.

What I liked least about the Bramble coincidentally, was also the weight. While it does feel solid beneath you, it also feels somewhat cumbersome. If I didn’t have abdominal muscle control, I think it would be a tough rig to get used to and perform well in.

Overall, I would recommend the Bramble to advanced level skiers only. Since Kevin’s team will build your monoski to the exact specifications that took you many years of skiing to perfect, and the Bramble is no doubt the burliest rig on the market, this is the last monoski you will need to buy. Now while it was an incredibly comfortable ride, the jury is still out for me until I test drive a couple more models.