When ski makers start from scratch to make a women’s ski, the usual target isn’t the most talented lass, but those less likely to succeed without a little help. All the features that make the Wild Belle DC 84 adapted for women are attuned in particular to ladies who are still ascending the learning curve. It’s cushioned Double Core, two-tiered binding platform and soft, round flex all work to promote better balance and reduced effort on the part of someone still learning the ropes.
The “DC” in the Wild Belle DC 84 stands for Double Core, its tip-to-tail damping technology that inserts a rubber mat between the upper and lower poplar and beech cores. The core makes a ski that’s supple and damp, with a sidecut that promotes early turn entry and a gentle release. Its whole shtick is making a smooth, carved turn on groomed slopes while the pilot operates from a comfortable stance.
The Wild Belle’s other signature technology is a two-piece plate that interfaces with the ski to level the stance of a woman still cultivating her carving skills. The toe and heel plates are spaced closer together to allow the ski to flex more easily, and the adapted stance will put the less skilled woman in position to succeed with less stress.
That the new Wild Belle DC 84 is made to serve the needy is underscored by the fact that it’s a system ski – i.e., sold exclusively with its own binding – intended to retail for $649.99. This slice of the market is the entry point for skiers ready to stop renting or fed up with hand-me-downs. The Wild Belle DC 84 is their first step towards a lifetime of skiing.
