The Alpina Frontier S is a great classic/touring ski for recreational and fitness level skiers looking for smoothness, stability, and ease of use. With a little bit of sidecut, an ultra-light wood core, and a skin tech base, the Frontier S has a lot of benefits and attributes that are normally reserved for much more expensive skis. The cap construction keeps it all functioning as one cohesive unit, so skiers will get a ton of energy out of these skis, giving them a better overall experience. The skins are great for both grip and glide, and lead to a smoother feeling from tip to tail. Our testers loved the versatility and well-rounded nature of the Frontier Skin.
Owen Hall-Kochoskied the 182 and loved the stability, glide, and weight of the Frontier. Owen’s a pretty experienced Nordic skier, so it’s great to get an upper-level athlete’s perspective on a more recreational ski. He notes that they’re “versatile on groomers, and with our snow conditions, they were great. It’s a nice addition to your Nordic quiver if you have a classic scaled ski. Light weight and easy to pivot. The middle width gives good stability while maximizing glide.”
Jeff Neagle, also an experienced skier on the 182, loved the well-roundedness of the Frontier S. His scores were all very consistent, right down the 3.5 out of 5 mark. These types of scores are indicative of versatility, which is right where Alpina wants this ski. Jeff states that it’s “a good choice for a fitness touring center skier. Kind of the opposite of the control series. Feels much better in a track. Even a decent choice for someone thinking about getting a little more into racing. Not a race ski feel, but more of a performance oriented ski overall.”
Not quite as experienced of a skier, Bob St.Pierre skied the 182 and scored it mostly 4’s out of 5. He calls it a “great glider! Has a ton of speed and it’s a pretty slick and sleek looking ski.” It’s nice when a lesser-experienced skier has a similar reaction to a stronger one, as this shows that the character and personality of the ski stands out to a wide range of skier types.
Shelby Parenteau was also on the 182, but it was a bit long for her. As a result, her score of 5 out of 5 for speed is not surprising. Similarly, her score of 4 out of 5 for glide makes sense too. On the other end, her scores for stability and versatility were on the lower end, but we feel that this is due to the longer length. “I found it hard to get the skin to grip unless I was in a very aggressive position. They did glide very well but it was harder for me to keep the skis straight.” It’s pretty important to note that if the ski is too long and the skier is lighter, they won’t hit the right spot in the camber, resulting in decreased grip.
Peg Lackey fit a bit better on her 182, and gave top marks for stability. Glide was lower on the scale, as was speed and maneuverability. Peg calls the Frontier “Light weight and easy to turn. Grip was good and glide was okay. I would think almost a touring center rental, but is lighter and a bit higher-performing than most rental skis.”
These Alpina Frontier Skin skis are a great choice for the recreational and fitness level skier looking for a light, easy to use ski that has a lot of versatility. It’s a great ski for the skin application, as it’s happy both in and out of the track.
