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theabortionator
April, 2025

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"The Kicker Tool"

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mhuddy_22
Posts: 313 - Karma: 769
Just saw this new backcountry shovel called The Kicker Tool by DMOS. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/576463145/the-kicker-tool-build-better-jumps/description

Definitely something that I want to back and you should too as I feel it will be so nice to have a shovel in the backcountry that is specifically designed for building jumps and is also so portable. This little beast has an integrated rake and is 56 inches long. The whole shovel can be completely taken apart and be put into most backpacks. Cant wait for the release!



10 years ago
46 6
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brov1
Posts: 1826 - Karma: 8,838
yeah i saw this too tim durschi has been heavily endorsing it for some time. its apparently fucking great for jump building i might pick one up later this season
10 years ago
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jca
Posts: 4180 - Karma: 6,366
Looks great for finishing off a jump but not the right shape for cutting blocks (best way to build). It also looks pretty useless as an avy shovel which is a complete no go for me.
10 years ago
10 1
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theabortionator
Posts: 52601 - Karma: 174,340
I don't really see the need to put lines in your booter in the middle of backcountry but that's just me. I guess it's nice to have the rake option though for shaving down sections and moving snow. Idk though. Generally with powder I feel fine with a shovel. It's with the crustier shit I like my rakes.

I'd be down to try it but don't know that I'd buy it without trying one out somewhere.
10 years ago
3 1
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Deepskier
Posts: 3269 - Karma: 4,864
I only think the handle should come out into a snow saw and the handle should be an ice pick then id 10/10 buy
10 years ago
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Pmoore
Posts: 1802 - Karma: 1,246
it looks really heavy and cumbersome for a avy shovel. I suppose on a shorter walk I would be down to bring it as a jump building shovel but it seems not as good as a smaller snow pusher shovel?? (not sure what exactly they are called but they are suaully greed) and not as light as a avy shovel, and like someone said above, avy shovels already work great for building jumps using the block method. Seems to be a shovel for a situation that does not occur very often.
10 years ago
1 1
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theabortionator
Posts: 52601 - Karma: 174,340
I misunderstood the picture. I was thinking it had multiple heads. That should be a thing. Without that I really wouldn't be down. Honestly would want a shovel more than a rake in that situation.

If I had this I'd still bring a shovel, but that would get bulky to cruise around with.
10 years ago
0 0
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250r
Posts: 2276 - Karma: 1,013
well weather its worth it or not i'm not sure. but at least when i build a jump in the backcountry i don't wander too far from the resort. no point in touring for 5 hours just to hit a jump that you could build anywhere. a lot safer in the case of injuries too obviously. i have had days where the snow wasn't great for building, but i still wanted a jump. cubes dont work out so well in those cases. you end up getting rather annoyed at the small length of your avy shovel after a while. would also be nice to have the extra length for your in run. raking your in run might make it a bit faster too



i guess what i'm saying is that if i'm going to build a jump i dedicate the whole day to it. carrying an extra shovel just isn't a big deal. hell ive brought full on drive way shovels up with me before
10 years ago
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,018
looks like a decent tool for a park crew, but not in the backcountry. who grooms their jumps in the bc?
10 years ago
2 0
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CHORIZO
Posts: 2003 - Karma: 10,039
seems heavier too, like everone said only practical for putting those finishing touches on the booter
10 years ago
1 0
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Emma_Watson
Posts: 4491 - Karma: 6,798
looks like an expensive shovel.
10 years ago
2 0
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Holte
Posts: 10751 - Karma: 7,996
Why would they put all that work into trying to make a game changing shovel and then give it a T handle?
10 years ago
4 1
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
250rno point in touring for 5 hours just to hit a jump that you could build anywhere.


I would like to go to this "anywhere" you describe with a nice in-run, landing, and good snow.
10 years ago
6 0
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QuinnBestwick
Posts: 693 - Karma: 751
Seems almost useless other than for perfecting the look of a jump, like how is this any different than a park rake. If you guys get sick of chopping blocks with avy shovels you should just buy Poly pro's shovel the tuffy, durable not to heavy if your just going to a jump and I believe have warranties if you do manage to break them. If I am solely going somewhere just to build, I just strap it to my packs snowboard carry. So much nicer for transporting already cut blocks than an avy shovel
10 years ago
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drinkbutter
Posts: 179 - Karma: 2,850
Ive been building inbound/Bc jumps in Utah for over a decade... was a little skeptical about this tool as well. Unfortunately the video doesn't show the shovels being put to use..but after reviewing the raw footage of them shaping jumps in Argentina... I was sold.
*Also if you've ever tried to bring a rake into the backcountry its a bitch and a half. Stacking chunks with avy shovels has worked for years and still will, but I also think the two most important features of a booter is the in-run and shape of the jump. At my home mountain (Alta).. you can maybe hit 3 in bound jumps switch..with the rake feature In-runs are gonna be a breeze. May not seem like an ideal to the average park/urban skier, but I personally can't wait to use this tool in the backcountry.
10 years ago
2 0
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drinkbutter
Posts: 179 - Karma: 2,850
Ive been building inbound/Bc jumps in Utah for over a decade... was a little skeptical about this tool as well. Unfortunately the video doesn't show the shovels being put to use..but after reviewing the raw footage of them shaping jumps in Argentina... I was sold.
*Also if you've ever tried to bring a rake into the backcountry its a bitch and a half. Stacking chunks with avy shovels has worked for years and still will, but I also think the two most important features of a booter is the in-run and shape of the jump. At my home mountain (Alta).. you can maybe hit 3 in bound jumps switch..with the rake feature In-runs are gonna be a breeze. May not seem like an ideal to the average park/urban skier, but I personally can't wait to use this tool in the backcountry.
10 years ago
1 0
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
My buddy and I came up with a very similar idea like 3 years ago. The idea was a tool that could be used as both a shovel and a spork.

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/788638/BC-Shovel-Spork

We decided that even if we could figure out the engineering, the market probably wasn't big enough to get any legit return on investment.
10 years ago
1 1
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jblaski
Posts: 5569 - Karma: 1,130
So you're supposed to carry this shovel, and a real avy shovel with you into the backcountry? If my touring/skiing partner showed up with this as his only shovel, I wouldn't let him come with me.
10 years ago
5 0
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jynx81
Posts: 359 - Karma: 479
I would use this for urban or by back yard because this should help me with my shit kickers. Or build a descent jump on the town sledding hill.
10 years ago
0 0
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jackdonovan
Posts: 2248 - Karma: 3,079
bought this as tool to build and shape nice lips in my yard for my rails, have around 12, and for urban and other shit. hopefully it works well
10 years ago
3 0
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
jblaskiSo you're supposed to carry this shovel, and a real avy shovel with you into the backcountry? If my touring/skiing partner showed up with this as his only shovel, I wouldn't let him come with me.


Yea, at least ours attempted to be a shovel. Part of the reason we abandoned the idea is that we knew it would never function as well as a standard backcountry shovel in an avalanche burial.
10 years ago
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