Why we chose the Black Diamond Impulse 112: Lively, fun, powerful
Lengths (cm): 181 & 186
Sidecut (mm): 139 / 112 / 126 (186 cm)
Radius: 21m (186 cm)
Rocker Profile: Rocker-Camber-Rocker
Weight (per ski): 2,050g
Price: £700 / €700 / $799
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Sitting at the top of Black Diamond’s all-new Impulse range of resort / backcountry freeride skis, the Impulse 112 offers a large platform and a powerful build for pure big mountain freedom.
The Impulse range replaces Black Diamond’s previous Boundary range of skis. If you’re unaware, the Boundary range was stiff, heavy and sported a long turn radius. All of that resulted in a ski that was pretty demanding for all but the hardest chargers out there. Now for 2021/22, BD have looked to rewind the difficulty dials of the Impulse range just a touch.
That’s not to say that these skis can’t charge. Far from it, in fact, you just have to take a look at BD athlete Parkin Costain sending it into Corbet’s Couloir on a pair of Impulse 112 to grasp how capable these planks are.
Black Diamond Impulse 112 Build
The Impulse range is made up from Black Diamond’s all-new ‘high performance’ fibreglass layup. This construction features two fibreglass laminates, which both sit on top of a lightweight and snappy Poplar woodcore. The top laminate spans the full length and width of the ski, while the second is a weave of fibreglass stringers that provide an increase in power without too much of a weight gain.
“The Impulse 112 offers a large platform and a powerful build for pure big mountain freedom”
These fibreglass laminates have been pre-impregnated which essentially means that the fibreglass layup comes with just the right amount of resin, rather than it being lathered on. Typical fibreglass constructions result in excess use of resin, and most importantly an increase in weight, so this prepreg method is a neat way to save a little weight.
