The Voile Hyper Vector is my favorite ski of all time. Having skied the standard Vector for a few seasons as my go-to (2013-2016) for the Western Chugach, I was stoked to learn about the development of the much lighter Hyper Vector. It maintains the ski-ability of its predecessor, but is much more efficient for deep wilderness missions and alpinism/mountaineering.
While I used the standard Vector for a few seasons years ago as I ticked off classic “extreme” ski descents around Southcentral Alaska, I used the Hyper Vector during the 2018-19 season to push the envelope with first descents and ascents in both the Western and Central Chugach. Jess Tran and I also used the Hyper Vector exclusively on a ten day ski-peakbagging trip to California’s Eastern Sierra at the end of the epic Eastside 2018-19 season, where conditions ranged from world-renowned Cali corn to a few feet of late May blower pow. We climbed and skied Dunderberg, Black Mountain, Tioga Crest, Mt. Scowden, Mt. Dana, Koip and Kuna Peaks, Bloody Mountain, Mt. Johnson, Mt. Gilbert, and Mt. Thompson.
The Hyper Vector is a great all-around backcountry ski, and a well-qualified “quiver of one” for Southcentral Alaska. While it won’t perform as well as a dedicated powder ski in DEEP conditions, it can still float and will surf at speed. The ample rocker facilitates this. It’s especially good for deep conditions when the descents are steep and technical. When I encountered these conditions in the High Sierra, I couldn’t have imagined anything skiing better than the Hyper Vector.
The Hyper Vector has the typically bomber full-size edges of classic Voile construction, but this doesn’t make it any heavier than competing skies of comparable size. As for the ski construction itself, it has taken a beaten and only exhibited Voile’s typically bombproof durability. With it’s camber and sidecut, it can hold an edge on hard-packed winter snow as well as pre-ripe spring corn. This reduces the need for as much ski-cramponing.
The best part: Voile skis are made in the USA at an unbeatably affordable price for the quality and durability.
Jess skinning above South Lake (east of Bishop and Aspendell):
Jess at the top of Mt. Gilbert’s north couloir:
His and her’s Hyper Vector looking down Gilbert’s north couloir:
Jess in Gilbert’s north couloir:
Jess stoked on the late May, crotch-deep, full sun, blower pow of Gilbert’s north couloir:
Looking down my booter after my first climb up Mt. Johnson’s north couloir en route to summit and ski the NW face:
My tracks down Mt. Johnson’s NW face:
Jess climbing and skiing Johnson’s north couloir:
Looking up and down the Non-Moynier couloir on Mt. Thompson:
Jess on the Dana Plateau after climbing and skiing Mt. Dana via the north couloir:
Jess nearing the summit of Bloody Mountain:
The Hyper Vector after skiing a corn couloir on Bloody Mountain:
Video from the May 2019 High Sierra ski-peakbagging trip:
I used the Hyper Vector for several other missions during the 2018-19 season, including Randoism via Rosie’s and Randoist Mountain.