Even liked the Voile skins, great glide in the wet snow, no clumping. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. The rubber strap connecting the tail attachment has a helpful amount of stretch, which allows one to connect and remove the tail clip without too much muscle strain. I was surprised how long I was able to go before feeling the need to put the ski crampons on. Its a recipe for disaster. The Voile splitboard skin tail attachment is burly metal connected to a highly adjustable strap. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Objective is supple, has plenty of tip rocker, and does not feel nervous. And the Ever Dry hydrophobic treatment makes sure they keep gripping, whatever the weatherno need for sprays or waxes to stop the glop.These are the climbing skins you reach for when your destination is especially remote or when making fast time is critical. The grip provided is abundant, which makes them great for learning on; they can also be a loaner or backup pair when your technique grows out of them. If we find a ski that goes ok to good on the down, isnt too heavy, and costs less, then Id call it entry level. Of course if the entry level customer wants the best, there are plenty of online stores, website affiliate links and retailers who will be happy to advise (grin). So now gotta decide whether to put bulldogs (4hole) on them or get some switchback 2's. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page. What I envisioned was all white with the simple V logo at the tip and the American flag with Made in USA at the tailboth modestly placed, of course. Skied these yesterday in some new, wet spring-like, very, sticky/grippy snow. Make sure to grab a pair of Voile Hyper Glide Objective Skins for your next big outing! While Im not sure Voiles idea beat my aesthetic conceptions, they did nail it with a very appropriate name: the Objective. If youre looking for a quiver-killer, all-arounder check out the bigger Voile Vector. All trademarks property of their respective owners

Question will be displayed after moderation. I use Binding Freedom inserts. Ok, ski crampons on for a bit, and then came the steep exposed booting with the axe. Our expert team purchased and extensively tested 7 models How to Choose Splitboard Skins for Backcountry Snowboarding. Let us know! Eric, the problem with no-wax for me isnt so much the grip (you can always stick some ski crampons on), its how they ski downhill. My take, anyhow (grin). Except for the no-wax. I also have skis with Meidjos and Lynx and like them too. Less weight is good and winter ski touring in Colorado is easy on skis, but abuse your ski tip or tail in icy or rocky conditions and you might need more protection. These are the climbing skins you reach for when your destination is especially remote or when making fast time is critical. After a dozen or so tours, it weakened just enough to make pulling the skins apart a bit easier. The tail attachment provides ample adjustment to allow for the skins to be shared between splitboards of roughly the same length. This was another great test for the objective as it was late in the day and the corn was getting sloppy. 164 cm : 112-80-97 mm / 171 cm : 115/82/99 mm / 178 cm : 117-84-102 mm, 164 cm : 1,9 kg / 171 cm : 2,10kg / 178 cm : 2,27 kg, Radius: 18 (164cm), 18,5 (171cm), 19,5 (178cm). Privacy | Cookies | Terms, Exceptional in many ways, this previous Editors' Choice winner ticks many boxes. Lightweight. Feel like Montana stone grinding those things off but no. The black ribbon prevents new skins from being overly sticky but after a couple years of use can be removed to expose newer and stickier glue which can then keep the skins working for even longer. But on a spring corn day or a wet powder day in BC, or any mellow tour with lots ups and downs, its can be pretty darn wonderful. Next up for the Objectives first day in the Chugach Front Range, was the Ramps NE couloir. But except for that, seems to me a Cho Oyo might be a better choice. Lou and Andy: thanks to both of you for the feedback on the Cho Oyo vs the Objective. In my opinion, pattern vs. smooth base is the same for at and nordic skating is more fun. Ever Dry hydrophobic treatment wards off moisture to keep these skins light and free of clumping snow. The hytrel tip attachment and toggle remain flexible when the temperature plummets, and an elastic universal POMOCA tail clip ensures your skins stay snug and secure. It skied quite well, handling hardpack in an understated yet reliable style, and on the soft stuff feeling like the supple 84 mm waist ski it is.

The tip attachment on these skins is stout metal, with serious rivets securing it to the skin material; it appears mostly unchanged from what this company has used for several years, and we are not aware of any durability issues associated with it. These are the climbing skins you reach for when your destination is especially remote or when making fast time is critical. skis well and light ? For full disclosure, Voile has been a supporter of the grassroots and volunteer Anchorage Avalanche Center since its inception. Conditions were again perfect for this ski here, and it was purely delightful booting with the featherweight on my back. Another vote for Binding Freedom inserts. The 100% waterproof membrane between the fibers and the adhesive drastically improves durability and glue performance while reducing weight and making them more pliable for easy stowing. Are you going to do a review of the BD Helio 88s? Lack of edges and protector at tail reduces weight and probably helps with cost. And ues, I realize you were testing the smooth-based version.It can drive you crazy, and for what you do 99% of the time it doesnt make sense. I like my V6s. Lou. Id a bought a 195 if they made them. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. But Im still a weight weenie and when a ski comes in this sleek and affordable I perk up and take notice. It is only necessary to trim the width of these skins, as the tip and tail attachments come attached.

In other words, as tester Bob Perlmutter said, throw the lack of weight, lack of coin and reasonable performance in a hat, mix it up, grab a handful, youve got a winner in the Voile Objective..

decisions, decisions. I even got my 180cm Vectors jammed in a couloir that was less than 180cm wide once. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Made of a 70% mohair and 30% nylon blend, these 85mm wide skins have enough grip for the steepest skin tracks, while keeping the friction low for those longer approaches. Asnes Combat-Combi Norwegian army skis (ONLY from Neptune Mountaineering, Boulder, CO) These are for BC touring on less challenging terrain. Or, how about a powder touring ski with no steel at all, just some ABS edges? I love my Vectors and am looking for a lighter/skinnier option. But, if youre going to forgo edges to save weight and cost, why not go farther and see what happens? I know people are down on no-wax, but in the PNW, such bases work incredibly well in nearly all conditions we get.

Ski ya in the BC!

Made with the perfect blend of 70% mohair and 30% nylon. Sending a good skier out on heavy gear to suffer through 3k vertical to ski something that was regularly skied on 210 long x 55mm wide skis and leather boots 25 years ago is not doing them any favors.

How can we improve GearLab? As with the other Voile skis Ive used extensively (Vector and Charger), the Objective seems like it will withstand a beating. Should I get the 164 or the 171 length? The 164's would work well. WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. They might be good if youve been backcountry skiing for 15 yearsbut not if youre new to the sport. I really do. Id use them for an versatile uphill fitness rig.

For someone looking for a robust introductory skin to last for years, then this is a good value. This page was generated at 02:37 PM.

By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. Lou, G. Its from the batch of skis they make for ski testing, which sometimes is part of the greater production run and sometimes not. The tail attachment is a newer innovation; it is a simple design that does its job well and is fairly easy to attach and remove. Its like having bad wax on x3. Friends and Resupplies on a Ski Traverse of The Colorado Trail. Sounds like I might need a pair of each. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. I imagine in better snow, theyd ski pretty well. Some of this has to do with truncated edges at both tip and tail, along with construction thats clearly optimized for touring not for hardcore downhill skiing. Safer Skin membrane is 100% waterproof, increases tear resistance, and reduces the weight and bulk. Thanks for the review. After discovering this low-mass sleeper, I re-mounted with lightweight bindings that do them justice. The hytrel tip attachment and toggle remain flexible when the temperature plummets, and an elastic universal POMOCA tail clip ensures your skins stay snug and secure. Me, I wish theyd put it in as we love that type of skin attachment. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Nordic skate skiers seem to do ok without steel, why not powder skiers? Had the V8 176 which skied too short (Im 61, 185 lbs) then got Charger bc 182 and loved it! are light, grippy, and glide so well youll think you left your skins in your pack. Available in three dimensions specifically fit to the go-far Voile Objective and Objective BC touring skis, these climbing skins offer the extra grip needed to make difficult ascents possible without adding unnecessary weight.

I cant recommend this ski highly enough for spring ski-alpinism in the Western Chugach.

One thing I cant decide though is whether to put skins on starting from the tip or starting from the tail. I dont like the shortened edges idea. Vectors been around a good while now and still no longer size. Available in three dimensions specifically fit to the go-far Voile Objective and Objective BC. No ads. For more about Lou, please see his personal website at https://www.loudawson.com/ (Blogger stats: 5 foot 10 inches (178 cm) tall, 160 lbs (72574.8 grams). It proved quite capable. Monday to Friday 10am-12am & 2pm-6pm (GMT +1), Special Price My Vectors worked with leather boots in soft snow, so it may be something to consider in your binding choice, especially if you don't need free pivot. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Durable, stellar grip, sturdy, easy to use, affordable, reliable glue, above average attachment, avoided glop in most conditions. Got feedback? I love my Karhu Guides for exactly this reason.

Weight weenies and rando racers might want to look elsewhere, as these don't glide super well, and are heavier and bulkier than the lightest equipment out there. 178 is the longest length? I had to step out of the skis and yank them violently to free them, but theyre still going strong a couple years later. I bought mine the first year and they are 188. Expert skiers, sure these might be greatbut we really gotta keep beginners out of this type of gear. (This is old now but back in the day I was teaching the kids, they were great for resort use: I was on telemark bindings and if the kids needed me but were uphill from me, I could just turn around and go uphill.). These skins are tried and true and offer decent performance. Test a few on an old ski or a piece of wood before drilling into your new Voiles. IMO, unless you can get a Objective BC with a Aspen core like the Ultra series this ski doesn't have a reinforcement area for tele bindings as well as Voile doesn't think the light core and tele bindings are compatible.

The sturdiness of the nylon fur allows users to confidently cross short rock sections without as much concern for their skin integrity, as would be the case with a nylon/mohair mix skin. Then down: more pure, spicy mountain joy through the skinny, exposed zig-zagging Thunderbolt that was sporting plenty of slide for life this day.

IMO, when talking about fishscales and the ability to climb, foot print is king. Voile is rockin now! In those conditions, we found all the skins to suffer equally with snow sticking to them. Did think that the tails are pretty soft though. Please point me to an insert system you'd recommend. I loved the idea of it but not practical for the type of skiing I do. Apples to oranges somewhat. Weather, snow, and avalanche conditions are constantly changing and we are only able to provide small, static snapshots of this dynamic phenomena. It will be less noticeable on shorter and steeper ascents. Yes, it has plenty of camber to grip anything worth skiing (Im no pow snob and dont mind it FIRM)but the rocker and sidecut maintain Voile skis characteristic playfulness and ski-ability through variable conditions. THX. The warranty issue did it. This seems like an interesting ski but if the longest length is 178, not for me. Your donation directly supports the Anchorage Avalanche Center! One other thing about how it skied, short. Snow was very sticky, so hard to get an accurate impression of the skis capability. There are more exciting skis, there are more expensive skis, and there are heavier skis.

My boots are Scarpa T3 and they do very well on the Atomic TM 22 skis. I now use the Vector BC with speeds because (1) they climb very well on all kinds of snow; (2) they handle all kinds of crud on the way down, even boot and snowshoe tracks; and (3) they are short, fat, floating, quick to maneuver, and hold and edge even on icy groomed snow, where there is just a tiny bit of buzz (much less than the others mentoned above). I try to be objective. After a season's worth of testing, we realized that pizazz is not necessarily a quality to look for in your climbing skins. Easier does seem like the right thing for a pack laden long tour. Well, I was out on them again today, in good snow and difficult snow, was impressed. Despite being quite rockered at the tip, the Objectives camber allows it to grip like a beast. Lou, You guys realize we tested the smooth base version of Objective, right? My first turns were down the Ramps NW couloir. The Voile Splitboard Skins make a strong argument for simplicity, reliability, and grip.

Good choice, I have 6 or 7 year old Vector BCs with Switchbacks and love them. I wouldnt look twice at them if I still lived in Colorado. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lou.dawson.writer. Most newbies I see in the backcounty are strong skiers new to the aerobic side. Just got these to go with my new objectives and everythings working great so far! Stainless steel rivets on tip attachment points will stand the test of time. However, it can't be too strong to where you dislocate a shoulder pulling it apart. 43.00, Regular Price: For an intermediate to advanced splitboarder seeking high performance, it might be a let down.

GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. These skins are relatively user-friendly and just about as much as we would expect in this category. The 100% waterproof membrane between the fibers and the adhesive drastically improves durability and glue performance while reducing weight and making them more pliable for easy stowing. Hytrel tip attachment and toggle remain pliable in any and all conditions. Lou. It is also very reasonably priced, and made in the USA (no worries about their labor practices). Id disagree that light skis NEVER go down hill well. decisions, decisions.

In order to effectively use and apply the information found on this website you need to be educated and experienced in regard to avalanche safety, hazard recognition, and rescue. I think the Voile Traverse would also a good choice for this ski. The Voile utilized a tried and true system that has been keeping clips on tips for years. Notes: This is 6th lightest ski weve measured in weight/surface chart with a score of 64, and one of our lightest in plain weight/length ratio as well. 10-6 Monday through Saturday, 10-5 Sunday. For me the big plus is I get to use my old Garmont 75mm boots, way more comfortable for me than any TX Pros. Stopping and scraping off the sticking snow and then rubbing a soft wax on the skins does reduce the issue at least temporarily. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. When brand new, the glue on these skins sticks to itself quite strongly and does require significant force to pull it back apart again. Next was back up the Thunderbolt and north face of OMalley to the summit. Previously I had used the following waxless skis: Madshus Voss (NNN-BC), Salomon X-adv (3 pin), Karhu Pinnacles (3 pin) Fischer Outtabounds (3 pin), and Karhu Guides (Dynafit Speeds). Did that get axed? We dont mind that at the tip, but be aware that if your type of skiing involves much scrounging through rock fields and hopping dirt patches, a tail without much of a protector is vulnerable. These skins harness POMOCAs research and development of materials, weaving techniques, and fiber attachment systems to provide a combination of gripping power and durability in a light weight package: Leadville Outdoors and Mountain Market 2022, The physical store is open! Was this a pre-production ski or is this the final product? This will be noticeable on longer days that involve significant amounts on low angle and rolling terrain. Any thoughts or preferences from people who use these? Bryan, I hear you about entry level. If I use that term I mean it in a positive sense, in that every consumer item is a combination of shopping goals, and that the newbie has a different set of goals, often including price since theyre getting hit with buying a big kit all at once. I see recipes for disaster relative to beginner skiers in the backcountry on a constant basis gear does matter to a certain extent but first and foremost beginners might be better served learning to ski in a more controlled environment .. just my two pennies .. 2.

Light weight skis NEVER go down hill well. Interesting. Check out the Voile Hyper Glide Objective 85mm Skins. Starting from the tail is awkward cause theres no notch on the skis, so I have to deliberately hold it in place while affixing the rest of the skin. Downhill, due to aforementioned snow conditions, I did not like them. Jackson New Hampshire I ski them with TLT6 boots often without tongues or straps; in the more difficult snow, Ill put in the yellow tongues. Anyone know what size V6s were available at introduction? Randonnee Ski Touring AT ski gear What is Hip? Inspired by skimo racing, the latest members of our ski family place an emphasis on fast ascents and long-distance travel.

2022, Ski The Whites.

I thought this would be classy. Advantage of litedogs is step in and a bit easier k&g. But Ill have to pass on the Objectives as I really do like my Cho Oyus for firm to shallower soft snow and my Movement Shifts (with Plum Guides) for medium deep soft snow; Im looking forward to trying the V8s bc, but havent had a chance.

Topping out on the summit ridge was the crux of the day and involved some easy mixed climbing. Thanks for your input!

It does limit the crowds, of course. They are also noticeably slow when skiing down short hills and will stop the skinner faster than someone using mixed nylon/mohair skins. The Safer Skin membrane will protect your glue on wet spring days, and the Ever Dry hydrophobic treatment will stop the glop to boot! R. on them (but I use my Chos for the apline/glacier skiing).

Great for the long road approach. I hate the way they feel. I paired it with Dynafit TLT Speed Superlite bindings and Dynafit PDG boot. I ski mine with old Rivas mounted on a HW riser. My atomic backland 85s are 165s. long approaches, ice fields) in British Columbia. I have regular switchbacks on vector bcs and I love that combo. This tape also has the benefit that after a few seasons of use, the glue starts to lose its sticking power; removing the tape will expose fresh glue underneath and revitalize the sticking power of the skins. I love the idea of the Objective, but they are twice as expensive as the Madshus Annum.

Assuming you don't just cut the tails off, I would still start with the tip and put it on like a race skin: snug elastic but not overly stretched. I am intrigued, because of the no-wax base option for mellow spring skiing (e.g. The Anchorage Avalanche Center (AAC) and its associates assume absolutely no liability or responsibility for the use of information provided on this website. Voile has not donated any money to the Anchorage Avalanche Center, but they have provided generous product to support AAC efforts. Nothing worse than sending entry level skiers out into the backcountry with light skis. All times are GMT-7. Turns out I like glide and a packed or icy track has the scales noisily slowing you. Any shop has a dozen sitting around theyll give or sell for a few bucks. In the spring of 2016 I received quite the gift from Voile: a ski meeting or exceeding what Id imagined. The glue does a great job of sticking the skins to the splitboard, and we had very few issues with it not fully adhering to the splits. When flexing out, tail seems slightly soft, luckily Objective is not too rockered or turned up at the tail, otherwise it would wimp out. Ya gotta be stinkin kiddin.

A few years ago I had a conversation with Voile about a new ski that might fit well in their lineup: something to fill the niche between the very proud, tried and true Vector and the skimo specific Wasatch Speed Project. Conditions were perfect for the ski (very firm, chalky spring snow but still with fast, low volume sluff), and I was grinning for a steep 1000. Voile Objective touring ski, proof that the one-kilo option is real. Ive been wanting a set of Vectors and the Objective looks nice too. These skins harness POMOCAs research and development of materials, weaving techniques, and fiber attachment systems to provide a combination of gripping power and durability in a light weight package: We are trying to be better about sending out newsletters -at the very least we'll send out info about sales, events, and the occasional photo essay from a recent trip. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North Americas highest mountain. And the Ever Dry hydrophobic treatment makes sure they keep gripping, whatever the weatherno need for sprays or waxes to stop the glop. This model avoided glop in all but the most challenging of conditions. The Eternal Decision, A Shoulder Season Ski Traverse: Three People, Three Sleep Systems, Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame, Choices in the Wasatch: the DPS 94 C2 and DPS 100 RP. Its fun to ski because it is lively and pops. touring skis, these climbing skins offer the extra grip needed to make difficult ascents possible without adding unnecessary weight. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. Congratulations Baaahb. I didnt know it was a feather thats just about the lightest ski weve ever tested. So in my experience a Charger BC will out climb a Vector BC and a Vector BC will out climb the smaller versions of fishscale skis. And the Ever Dry hydrophobic treatment makes sure they keep gripping, whatever the weatherno need for sprays or waxes to stop the glop. Our first impression was that they appeared boring and lacked some of the pizazz offered by other skins in our review. Lets face itthe weight penalty going up is irrelevant if youre skis are deflected 6 ways to Saturday every time you point them down. Outdoor Explorer: Grassroots Avalanche Center. So go with forehead height if you want this guy to work like a normal plank.

A Vector BC is going to out climb a Objective BC so you will stop sooner to add skins. Light and Fast or Fun and Functional? The bungee is super stretchy, so starting from the tip seems like Im gonna stretch it out and then have the skin be too loose on the tail.

I probably would have called the ski the Voile Purist or Alpinist, denoting its primary use for human powered, ski mountaineering objectives deep in the backcountry. Hi Dennis, that is the conundrum when having dual elasticity/adjustability on the tips and tails of a skin. as a deep snow ski; with my Mercuries, they were a blast skiing powder side-country lift-served.

Cho is a sidecutty feeling ski thats fairly stiff and doesnt have much rocker. Aventure Nordique, the outdoor webstore. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Pulled the plug on some ultravectors. Cho has its place. The Voile is an interesting product in terms of value. Oh, it was such a joy moving so quickly and efficiently knowing I still had a capable ski on my back for the descent. We are conflicted. The online shop where to buy trekking and mountain equipment. Voile trimmed mass from the Objective by truncating the steel edges some distance from tip and tail. They do glide but have more friction to overcome, which makes them inefficient over long touring days. Made with the perfect blend of 70% mohair and 30% nylon, Hyper Glide Ski Skins are light, grippy, and glide so well youll think you left your skins in your pack. The strip of tape in the middle of the base reduces the amount of glue surface area and lessens the force needed. Nonetheless, the edges do appear burly and are not the skinny, weak edges often found on skis in this weight class. I have two pair of BC skis: 1. old ATOMIC TM 22 Tele skis for steeper terrain Friday Night Lights Uphill Series at Black Mountain. The Voile was very robust at first, but over time, found a nice middle ground. Elastic tail-strap and universal clip keeps your tail secure all day long. The adhesive on skins needs to be strong and prevent skin failures. True long-term testing is beyond the scope of this review, though we can confirm that this brand of skins has a good track record. A view of the glue side of the Voile splitboard skins near the tail. Available in three dimensions specifically fit to the go-far Voile Objective and Objective BCtouring skis, these climbing skins offer the extra grip needed to make difficult ascents possible without adding unnecessary weight. Love your Voile Objective or Objective BC Skis, but do not want to spend hours custom building skins for the tip notch?

Closeup view of the nylon skin material and the sturdy tip clip Voile uses to connect the skin to the nose of your splitboard. I put inserts in and will try them with my kreuzspitze tts soon.

This contender has a stellar grip, and the nylon fur clings superbly to skin tracks. From the OMalley summit I jogged the ridge down to the WSW facing summit line from False Peak. Hello!

However, the design got me through the variable, mank, and glop with ease. I might be disappointed. Really nice on the up. Rainier. My old Vasque leather 75 mm ski boots are better with the Asnes skis. I have Voile release bindings on both and use Voile cable bindings with them.

If any skin is applied incorrectly (with any gap in this area) or in particularly challenging conditions, snow will eventually find its way in here; the stiffness of these skins helps more than some of the softer skins. Hard to compare to Cho Oyo. 64.95. Information provided here is one piece of the puzzle in effectively evaluating backcountry snow conditions and avalanche hazard. Maybe so but only if the snow is less than a inch or two deep and flat. No sponsored content. Also, even on the coldest of mornings, the Hytrel tip attachment and toggle will remain pliable enough for a tip rip with expedition mitts on. And not much less expensive. To that end, wed like to see is a ski such as this that totally goes for the edge elimination by only having steel under the non-rockered mid section. The third run of the day, the OMalley Thunderbolt couloir, provided a true test for the Objective as a mountaineering ski. The edges end a few inches before the tip and tail, so be mindful of abuse (primarily around the tail). For reference, Im about 61 and 180 lbs and have been skiing a 171cm Objective (since I use it for climbing intensive endeavors that dont usually involve much powder). 03846 United States, Monday & Tuesday: Closed / By AppointmentWednesday - Friday: 10AM - 5PMSaturday:9AM to 6PMSunday:9AM to 5PM, Powered by Shopify Newer splitboarders who perhaps bootpacked or snowshoed previously will be less likely to notice this poor glide since any glide is noticeable and appreciated, relative to those forms of locomotion. So, go read the description of this ski at the Voile website and see what the intended use of the ski is. Learn more. skis poorly. But, But But the Objective will K&G better and skate. As with their other skins, Voile teamed up with Pomoca to produce a top-notch product. Then hopefully leave the tail adjusted such that it's a relatively loose clamp-over (remembering that tail straps mostly prevent the skin from peeling and are not supposed to hold the skin on under tension which actually makes it more likely to peel at the edges). If you are not convinced already, the Safer Skin membrane also cuts down on bulk to make these skins incredibly package. I have skins for them but have yet to use the skins even for low-level tours at Mt. The fairly high weight and large volume (when folded up) did cost these skins in the side-by-side comparison.



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