COLD TESTED

Many dedicated snowmobilers know they can alter their sled ’ s front and rear suspension settings to change the way their machine rides . But how about adjusting your skis and , specifically , how they are mounted to your machine ?

Designs from Ski-Doo and the aftermarket now allow riders to dial in or out their preferred amount of protruding carbide runner . But composite ski innovator USI took things in a different direction with its Epic 1.5 Skis that we evaluated on our 2024 Ski-Doo Backcountry X 850 last winter .

When we unboxed the Epic skis , we were struck by how substantial they were . With ski loops and brackets attached , the skis were 41 inches long and weighed 9.2 pounds each .

The skis were also wide . They were 7 ¼ inches wide near the mounting bolt but ballooned out to 8 ¼ about near the nose , a design feature intended to improve flotation when in powder . The ski ’ s tail was raised and tapered for improved deep snow counter-steering while also making it easier / less likely to trench when backing up a sled .

Also notable were substantial traction nubs on the ski ’ s top surface , making them easy to step on when in a bind .

The ski bottoms , meanwhile , feature a substantial , squared-off 1.4-inch-tall vertical center keel that tapers toward the front . The keel takes a break toward the rear then starts again with a small 1.5-inch-long knob after a gap . There are also raised edges on the outer edge of the bottom designed for optimal straightline handling .

The mounting brackets , though , were the real key to the skis ’ incredible adaptability .

The first decision we needed to make was how to set the mounting bracket on top of the ski body . The four mounting bolts from the Shaper Bar carbide runner come up through the center of the composite ski body , but the metal mounting bracket that goes on top of the ski body has three parallel rows of mounting holes , set 7 / 8 inch apart on center .

That allows the rider to significantly alter their sled ’ s ski stance . Using the outer-most rows to mount the brackets on both skis ( which would move the skis inward on the spindle ) would result in a ski stance 1.75 inches narrower than the center holes , and 3.5 inches narrower than if the inner-most mount holes were used .

Because last season ’ s snow-challenged winter has us conducting our testing in hardened snow with no loose powder to play in , we opted for the center holes .

Once the brackets were mounted in our preferred positions , it was time for another decision . The stand-up risers on the metal bracket that hold the ski mount bolt also have a series of holes , giving the user more options . There are seven sets of holes , but only the middle three holes on each side are usable due to the cutout in the top of the plastic ski body .

Even with that limitation , though , the user can decide to effectively move the ski 1 inch forward or rearward from the center position , dependent on which holes are chosen . USI officials said they advise most customers to start in

the center hole and then adjust from there depending on their desired handling characteristics . In general , using the more rearward holes will improve straightline tracking but slow handling , they said . Using the more forward holes will lighten the required steering effort but will make it so the rider has to more decidedly pull the skis back to center , they said . But those are general guidelines : Skis will react differently to different front suspension geometries .

It theory it can be confusing , but if you have the time or interest in trial-and-error , it ’ s actually quite intriguing to dial in the exact feel you want out of your sled ’ s front end .

In The Field

As noted earlier , we chose a neutral ski stance and focused our attention on the effects of moving the ski mount bolt location forward and aft .

On the first day of our test , we utilized the center holes to mount the skis , figuring it would be the most neutral . We then headed out on the crunchy spring trails .

The skis definitely gave the front end a more positive / hooked up feeling compared to the stock Pilot DS 2 skis , but it was borderline too much . The sled steered heavily , and in some instances it felt like we were fighting against the rear of the keel in turns . Frankly , with the skis in that position , we

46 / FEBRUARY 2025 / SNOWGOER . COM