Archive by Author

SItzmark welcome sign

January 20th 2018 – The 3rd Annual Altai Skis Demo and Hok Festival Sitzmark Ski Area

Hoksters Unite!   Saturday, January 20th, 10 AM to 3 PM – Sitzmark Ski Area in the heart of the Okanogan Highlands.   Gather your 3 pin boots out of the closet, collect your friends, and ❄️Bring Your Hoks ❄️ Once again we are inviting all Hok and Kōm skiers to Sitzmark of our 3rd annual ski festival. For those who have not tried our skis,  come join us and  try our backcountry friendly skis. We will have some short lessons and demos on up and down with Hoks as well as the Tiak (single pole) Dubbed by some friends this year as the Wizard Stick. The festival is free, and discounted lift tickets are available for registered Festival goers – if desired. There is plenty to do and ski if the vertical world is less appealing 🙂 The festival is on a Saturday  January 20th, a week earlier then last year.  Sitzmark Ski Area, the great little ski area deep in the Okanogan Highlands of NE  Washington state and is close to the world headquarters of Altai Skis in Curlew. Many of us have been going to Sitzmark since the 1980s and its friendly retro atmosphere remains the same, grace with a wonderful absence of hype. The lodge is converted from a old grange hall and the area features a single chairlift and a rope toe. Lots of beautiful Hok touring terrain adjacent to the area.   Some lodging options  are available for those coming from out of the area – A nice AirBnB close to the ski area – here . More AirBnB In Tonasket (closest to Sitzmark) here .There are some Tonasket Motels and lodging as well  here. Oroville if you are coming from up north, eh, is also quite close. Wauconda there is Diamond Belle Ranch – good skiing and beds for more then 20 with kitchen too.. Republic has some lodging as well.  Over an hour from Sitzmark, it is on the west side of Sherman pass (excellent skiing) and on the way home if you are coming from Spokane or points east. There is a winter fest in Republic this weekend so lodging may be tight there.  Also of note there is the Republic Brew Pub .   Sitzmark Ski Area Sooo….. Where is Sitzmark? From Oroville, where you would be if you came down through Osoyoos, BC. From Tonasket, if you were coming from the south on Hwy 97. From Curlew or crossing from BC at Grand Forks and also crossing at Midway. From Republic and Highway 20 (this is the very scenic route!). From Colville and traveling north on Hwy 395. Sitzmark:  Openning with a rope tow in the 1950s, Sitzmark  now has a double chairlift and a rope tow. The terrain is a mix of mostly beginner through advanced intermediate with some nice open forest. The area is very kid friendly and has rentals  of alpine gear and snowboards for kids. We will also have some Ballahoks (the kids hok ski) available As well as quite a few of the 125 Hoks. The lodge is small and cozy with a big fireplace. There is food and hot drinks available and brown bags (your own food) are welcome. We will post updates here and on our Facebook page. We hope you can make it and – BRING YOUR HOKS! We will try and do a group picture of as many Hoks in one place as possible – perhaps a Guinness record! SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSave

Altai Skis Cool Map

2nd Annual Altai Skis Demo and Ski Festival – Sitzmark Ski Area – January 28th

For all you Hoksters, Hokettes, and Hokstars – (and Kōm Skiers too) ! Saturday, January 28th at Sitzmark Ski Area in the Okanogan Highlands of NE Washington We had such a good time at last years festival that we decided to do a  repeat! This years Altai Skis event is on Saturday, January 28th and again will be a demo and ski day at Sitzmark Ski Area, the smallest most retro ski area in the state. The area is close to our world headquarters in Curlew, Washington and has been a favorite for many years with its laid back atmosphere and total absence of hype. It is a ski area for locals and a great fit for the Altai Skis demo and gathering as we have a certain inclination to retro as well 🙂 Demos and activities are scheduled from 10 AM until 3 PM.  Lessons on skiing with the Hoks  (up down and on the flats) will run through out the day and discounted lift tickets are available for those registered attendees interested in using the chair lift. The lift is optional to the festival though, so come and join us even if you are inclined to the less tilted version of Hok skiing.  We will have a bunch of Tiaks there as well and will be offering up some tips on this unique and ancient style of skiing  that is ideally suited to the Hoks. We will have a few tours going out as well, in some of the ideal Hok country adjacent to the ski area. On board will be Keith Wakefield, a long time Hokster and part of the original team at Altai Skis, Nils Larsen, Altai Ski owner and cofounder, Lisa Green, founding Hokette member, and special guest from the Methow Don Portman, Northwest crosscountry skiing guru, and recently, a dedicated Hokster.  We have some of the Tahoe Hok posse coming up for the event as well as a lot of locals. It will be fun! Some lodging options  are available for those coming from out of the area – A nice AirBandB close to the ski area – here . In Tonasket (closest to Sitzmark) there are some AirBnBs – here and some motels here. Oroville if you are coming from up north, eh, is also quite close. Wauconda there is Diamond Belle Ranch – good skiing and beds for more then 20 with kitchen too.. Republic has some lodging as well.  Over an hour from Sitzmark, it is on the west side of Sherman pass(excellent skiing) and on the way home if you are coming from Spokane or points east. Also of note there is the Republic Brew Pub . A general map of the region can be seen here with my notes on it.     HokStars   Sitzmark Ski Area Sooo….. Where is Sitzmark? From Oroville, where you would be if you came down through Osoyoos, BC. From Tonasket, if you were coming from the south on Hwy 97. From Curlew or crossing from BC at Grand Forks and also crossing at Midway. From Republic and Highway 20 (this is the very scenic route!). From Colville and traveling north on Hwy 395. Sitzmark:  Openning with a rope tow in the 1950s, Sitzmark  now has a double chairlift and a rope tow. The terrain is a mix of mostly beginner through advanced intermediate with some nice open forest. The area is very kid friendly and has rentals  of alpine gear and snowboards for kids. We will also have some Ballahoks (the kids hok ski) available As well as quite a few of the 125 Hoks. The lodge is small and cozy with a big fireplace. There is food and hot drinks available and brown bags (your own food) are welcome. We will post updates here and on our Facebook page. We hope you can make it and – BRING YOUR HOKS! We will try and do a group picture of as many Hoks in one place as possible – perhaps a Guinness record!

sitzmark-sign

Upcoming Events

We have 3 events of note in January, starting with a demo day at 49* North Nordic Center   Next up is the Ferry County Rail Trail ski day at the Kiwanis trail head on the north end of Curlew  Lake.     and finally , our 2nd Altai Skis Sitzmark Ski Day at Sitzmark Ski Area near Havillah WA on January 28th – more on this later!  

Koms bottom

Fall Kōm Ski update

At long last we have all three sizes of the Kōms in stock! We have a limited quantity in stock now and more on order. These skis are made in Canada (Quebec) and have been well received in the limited sizing we have had. You can find them here – Canada, US  Here are some details on the Koms: – 174cm – 124/98/120 approximate wt. – 7 lb. 4 oz. (3250 gm.) – 162cm – 124/98/120 approximate wt. – 6 lb. 8 oz. (2960 gm.) – 150cm – 124/98/120 approximate wt. – 5 lb. 12 oz. (2630 gm.) kom-ski-information      

Hok Colors

Fall 2016 Hok Updates

Last fall (2015) we began looking at some updates for the Hok skis. They have remained unchanged since their introduction in 2011. Our initial change was in the skin design, the business part of the base and what really defines the Hoks as a new and different way to ski. The skin material – the same used in many backcountry climbing skins – is costly and not to be wasted. We worked on a design we used with the Balla Hok that allows us to nest one piece into the next. We built 10 pairs last year and tested them in all manners of snow from January on to see how the performance compared to our old design. Our goal was to equal or exceed the performance we had with the old design, and we succeeded! After that we felt it would be a good time to (slightly) update the graphics so we could differentiate old from new. We love our graphics and look, and are quite keen on not changing graphics every year as is the norm these days. We felt a change in design was a reason to update the look. We kept the jute (burlap) layer in the top sheet (it’s real and does have a structural component) and it is quite unique and distinctive. Below are the changes to the Hoks. The 125 and 145 Hoks have a  new skin shape. We did this to reduce waste on the skin material, testing the new shape for most of last season. Our goal wast meet or exceed performance of the previous shape while allowing us to reduce the waste of this material.  We succeeded in this! In changing the skin design we felt it was a good time to change the graphics a bit. We kept the same theme but changed colors on the tail design and gave each size its own color on the graphic detail. We now have a Hok family. We also added  a tip logo on the base that is inset into the black ptex. This is done with clear ptex so you can see the wood core through the logo. We like it!   We changed the mounting point on the 145 cm Hok, moving it back 3 cm (about 1 1/4 inches). Several users have asked about the forward position, and we have been testing this for a while. The forward position of the mounting gives the Hoks a easier to maneuver factor, as well as makes them break trail better in deep snow. For non skiers it is easier to have a long thing attached to your foot following you then one leading the way… :-). Many of us as well as our users are finding the 145 to be a fun tool to really go out and explore/ski in more adventuresome terrain. In pushing the mounting point of the 145 back, we are pushing the 145 a little further toward “ski” on the ski to snowshoe continuum. Finally, we also changed a layer of fiberglass in the 145 to make the ski about 7% stiffer overall. This  gives the ski a bit better floatation for big guys (breaking trail or skiing) and also make the 145 a bit more sturdy skiing at higher speeds.               SaveSave SaveSave

inlodge history

Altai Skis Demo and Instruction coming to Sitzmark Ski Area

NEWS FLASH!  – Saturday February 6th  For all Hok Skiers or  Wannabe Hoks Skiers Altai Skis is having a demo and ski day at Sitzmark Ski Area, probably the smallest most retro ski area in the state. The area is close to our world headquarters in Curlew and has been a favorite for many years with its laid back atmosphere and total absence of hype. It is a ski area for locals and a great fit for a Altai Skis demo and gathering as we have a certain inclination to retro as well 🙂 Demos and activities will run from 10 AM until 3:30PM. We will have demos and lessons in Hok skiing (both up and down) and will offer discounted lift tickets for those interested in joining the Altai Skis program. Also a chance to try a Tiak and learn how to use it.  We will also have a few pairs of Kōms available to try, and lots of 3 pin boots for Hoks and/or Kōms. Lift tickets are optional.   On board will be Keith Wakefield, a long time Hokster and part of the team at Altai Skis , Nils Larsen, Altai Ski owner and cofounder, Lisa Green, Hok Maven, and special guest from the Methow Don Portman, Northwest cross country skiing guru, and recently, a dedicated Hokster. Sitzmark Ski Area Sooo….. Where is Sitzmark? From Oroville, where you would be if you came down through Osoyoos, BC. From Tonasket, if you were coming from the south on Hwy 97. From Curlew or crossing from BC at Grand Forks and also crossing at Midway. From Republic and Highway 20 (this is the very scenic route!). From Colville and traveling north on Hwy 395.   Sitzmark: Openning with a rope tow in the 1950s, Sitzmark  now has a double chairlift and a rope tow. The terrain is a mix of mostly beginner through advanced intermediate with some nice open forest. The area is very kid friendly and has rentals  of alpine gear and snowboards for kids. We will also have some Ballahoks (the kids hok ski) available As well as quite a few of the 125 Hoks. The lodge is small and cozy with a big fireplace. There is food and hot drinks available and brown bags (your own food) are welcome. We will post updates here and on our Facebook page. We hope you can make it and – BRING YOUR HOKS! We will try and do a group picture of as many Hoks in one place as possible – perhaps a Guinness record!                        

RailTrail_SkiDay2016_Poster FINAL

Ferry County Rail Trail Ski Day

If your close by in Canada or the US come to the 6th annual Rail Trail Ski Day. Free demos of xc skis and Hoks for all ages. The location this year is different – This year the event is moved to the trail head at the N end of Curlew Lake (Kiwanis Rd) and will include the rail trail going south over the recently renovated trestle across the lake – this should make for some great views. There also will likely be a Hok route set up as there is excellent low elevation snow this year :-).   Hope you can make it!

The road to the pass

Fires Hit Local Ski Trails

Many people have heard about the fires in NE WA recently. Sadly, one of the casualties of the fires locally was the Deer Creek (Boulder Pass) ski trails, the closest trails and higher elevation terrain to Altai Skis headquarters. We have been skiing these trails since their origin in the early 1980s. Along with the only groomed trails in the county they offer a lot of great Hok terrain and we have been using them a lot for testing, photos, and tours out of Altai Skis in Curlew. At 4600 ft the pass is the 2nd highest all season pass in the state, and has (had) a great mix of terrain that was heavily forested – much of it old growth – and hard to ski on much else then the Hoks. I took a look at it yesterday and the fire came through with a lot of wind and extremely dry conditions, so the forest is 99.99% torched. Below are some pictures of the area before and after. We will all be sad to see this go as it was a beautiful forest with some really nice old growth fir and larch to ski in. It will be more open now and easier skiing but there is nothing quite like skiing through ancient trees stacked with snow.

FAQ page image

Updates to the website

We have just added a FAQ page to the site. Any additional information you would like to see on there please email us a request. We are also updating the site generally, adding a media page for on line published media, and a testimonial page – thanks to all those who sent in their comments! The FAQ page is set up with a submenu for easy searching. It will expand over time. We do not have any of these in French as yet but we will try and get that translated soon.