My affinity for Kastle skis began with a faded poster of Swiss ski racing legend Pirmin Zurbriggen and a pair of RX12’s in 1989. Since their resurrection as a brand in 2007, this storied Austrian company continues to be synonymous with quality.

One of the company’s best and most versatile frontside skis is the FX95 HP. This is a burly ski that’s well-suited for firm snow. The HP has no speed limit. The ski is stable and handles predictably with a balanced swing weight. A relatively stiff flex pattern available in sizes 159-189 centimeters (with a 22-meter turning radius in the 189-centimeter length) should provide an option for almost any skier out there, so long as it’s not deep pow they’re after.

The HP model differentiates itself from the standard FX95 by including two sheets of Titanal in addition to fiberglass in the layup. Low camber, dual rocker, semi-cap/sidewall construction combined with a precision milled silver fir and beech core (machined to within 1/10 millimeters) are the ingredients in the 95’s success. The contact points on the tip and tail have been moved toward the ski center, which dramatically reduces the hooky sensation that often accompanies skis designed with on-piste endeavors in mind.

A long, smooth rocker profile on the tip provides additional versatility in soft snow and an ever-so-subtle pintail aids in the ski releasing from a turn. Another key features in the Kastle line are their Hollowtech inserts. Excess material removed from the tip, which reduces swing weight, allows the shovel to absorb an impact and recover to the natural profile quicker without deflection and increases torsional rigidity. Hollowtech 2.0 in the new iteration of skis changes the size of the insert to correspond with each model depending upon length and width. --Sam Cox

126-95-115

157, 165, 173, 181, 189

18

This season, Head cut the fat on their new line of freeride skis by stripping the Head Kore 93 of its traditional plastic top sheet and leaving the polyester fleece top layer exposed and making it the lightest ski in the line.

Graphene in the tips and tails provides a thin profile that the Union skiers fell for hard. “High level performance inbounds on hardpack, crud, and soft old pow,” said Crystal Sagan. “I would love to ski this with tech bindings on the uphill.” On the downhill, the Head Kore 93 railed on corduroy and shocked the Union when it didn’t chatter at high speeds thanks to the use of a thermally welded honeycomb material called Koroyd. The lightweight, but strong material gives the Head Kore 93 a notable dampness that isn’t typical of skis at this weight.

“This is an exciting new ski,” said Abigail Barronian, noting the ski uses the same honeycomb core that is typically found in helmets. “It carves amazingly on groomers, is responsive and I felt really confident on it right away. It rips.”

The Karuba wood core keeps the Kore 93 poppy and playful, and ski instructor Kelsey Barnes said as hard as she tried to push this ski to wobble and bounce, it remained stable. For deeper days, the Union collectively agreed they’d rather opt for a wider ski underfoot, like the similarly constructed Head Kore 105. --Sierra Davis

133-93-115

153, 162, 171, 180, 189

16.4

The J Skis Masterblaster is made with a maple core sandwiched between two sheets of Titanal, making it an incredibly damp ride. The sidecut matches the rocker profile, which means it has a long effective edge. Top that off with durability in the form of full sidewalls and an extra thick base, and the Masterblaster is the definition of an all-mountain ski.

When I hopped on the Masterblaster at Powder Week, it was immediately clear that I was the one driving. This ski is easy to control and steer. It whips around turns fast, or it can hold a long, fast edge. (That effective edge also means it skis long for its size.) It’ll stay glued to the ground, but it can also catch air and smear. Some skiers may find the speed limit on the Masterblaster, but the majority of us will enjoy many days and many seasons on this ski. Which shouldn’t be a surprise.

Jason Levinthal, the founder of J Skis, has been making skis for more than 20 years. When he designs a ski, he designs it specifically with a skier in mind. In this case, the Masterblaster is for the inbounds resort skier who likes to bang out top-to-bottom laps covering the gamut of bumps, chalk, pow, corn, and corduroy. They like to ski fast, but also to pop off a feature or two and have fun in the park. Wherever they go, the J Skis Masterblaster will keep up. --Julie Brown

125-96-114

168, 175, 181, 187

17

The Elan RipStick 96 emerged last winter as a nimble, feisty model from the founders of the Amphibio technology--an asymmetrical rockered outer edge and cambered inner edge--that shines when arcing big turns in the wide-open spaces found at Big Sky. To take advantage of the Amphibio tech, make sure you have your skis on the right feet: there’s a left and a right. The Ripstick 96--a Skier’s Choice pick last year--remains unchanged from its first iteration. Built with bamboo, poplar, and carbon fiber, it is an agile, sporty resort ski. The Amphibio technology helps improve turns by increasing grip and stability with its elongated edge contact. The TubeLite wood core ski moves fast and charges like a metal-made ski and handled the chunder in the steep Dictator chutes.

While the 188 felt too long to maneuver in tight trees and tracked out bumps (I felt a bit sloppy and in the backseat here) the Elan Ripstick 96 holds a strong edge on hard packthe terrain it’s made for. --Sierra Davis

134-96-113

167, 174, 181, 188

18

I didn’t grow up skiing racing, and it’s only in recent years that I’ve come to recognize a former racer arcing turns down the mountain. There’s an unmistakable confidence, body positioning, strength, and beauty in the way racers ski, and I felt like I could tap into that power when skiing on the Stockli Stormrider 95.

Sțockli reinforced the super light core with two sheets of Titanal, making the Stormrider 95 a strong, stable ski in a variety of conditions. Naturally, it is most at home on long, steep groomers, where it rails with seemingly no speed limit. Incredibly easy to roll over, making turns on the Stormrider 95 is graceful and fluid--like driving a very high-end car that just wants to be set free.

I couldn’t stop smiling as a linked turned down the steep and chalky Headwaters behind a slew of former gate-chasers. I knew I wasn’t one of them, but the Stormrider 95 made me feel like I could be. Because of the stiffness, I got a bit of bounce in the crud, and this is not the ski for someone looking to spread a little butter. When I took the Sțockli Stormrider 95 front to back and back to front at Big Sky, however, I couldn’t find any terrain or snow type this ski didn’t handle well.

The Stormrider 95 skis wider than it is, which isn’t a point against Sțockli for me, but worth noting for a skier expecting something narrower underfoot. --Sierra Davis

131-95-120

157, 166, 175, 184

17.2

As skiers, it’s easy for the rare alignment of perfect conditions, skis, and terrain to captivate your imagination. A solid daily-driver is often overlooked, but crucial during the season. The Atomic Vantage 100CTi is one such companion.

Atomic skis are crafted in their legendary factory in Altenmarkt, Austria, where skiing is the lifeblood of the town--it’s been this way since the company was founded in 1955.

In the Bowl at Big Sky, where the ever-present wind had buffed the entire surface to optimal chalk conditions, the Vantage 100CTi proved to be snappy and smooth. Turn initiation is effortless thanks to ample tip and tail rocker, while camber underfoot provides energy and edge hold as your speed increases. As the day continued, I became increasingly impressed with how well the ski adapted to variations in snow consistency and terrain features. I would be completely confident and content on these as my daily ski.

Atomic blends a poplar and ash core woven with a carbon tank mesh that reduces weight, provides dampening qualities, and optimizes torsional rigidity. A titanium insert runs the length of the ski and is the secret to the power under the hood of 100CTi. The profile is 15 percent tip rocker, 75 percent camber underfoot, and 10 percent tail rocker. The Atomic Vantage 100CTi is a good choice for anyone looking to have a killer whip that dominates in nearly all conditions. --Sam Cox

136.5-100-123.5

172, 180, 188

18

The J Skis Allplay is a 98-millimeter waisted do-all trick stick. If there were a category called Funskiing, these would be at the top of the list.

Jason Levinthal is the Willy Wonka of the ski industry. The founder and owner of J Skis has a million ideas, works at an alarming rate, and is a bit crazy. One thing I know for sure is that he understands his customers and what they want. That’s what comes with over two decades of award-winning ski design. When he creates a ski for a particular skier it usually ends up in a two thumbs up scenario. He is so confident in his product that he offers a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee attached to all his skis. He builds his skis in Canada, just a short drive from his house in Burlington, so he can keep a watchful eye on the entire process.

All of J Skis, including the Allplay, are built with strong maple cores. He uses the thickest edges and most durable base materials in the game. The AllPlay has a rockered tip and tail that are milled thin to provide the ultimate butter stick. The softer tips and tails, married with a mounting point four centimeters back from center, mean the skier on board should view the entire mountain as a park. I promise this ski will hit every Jersey booter you can find and by the end of the day you will have a high score in the game of Tranny Finder.

The one downfall would be when things get big. Whether it’s the mountains, snow, or jumps, I would be a little concerned about stability. In the three years the J Skis Allplay has been in J’s lineup, it has had 15 different graphics. Levinthal is working at the speed of the internet and when he wants to create a new graphic, he simply does just that. There are no trips to Germany and Japan to see what their markets think of a color, name, or graphic. J skips the long and painful roads that most other major brands must go down. So a word to the wise, if you don’t like the graphics he has available at any given time, just wait a couple months and he will come out with another one. Some loyal J customers even buy multiple pairs and collect them like baseball cards. --Ryan Rubino

120-98-117

171, 178, 184

21

Now in its seventh iteration, ON3P's Billy Goat ski isn't resting on its laurels. 2018 brings change for the marquee ski, including the incorporation of asymmetrical tip taper. This is intended to help the ski shine even more where it already performs best, smearing in soft snow and floating through powder.

2017's version introduced the Reverse Elliptical Sidecut (RES), a convex elliptical arc from the tip to the boot sole, with traditional sidecut in the tail. This winter sees an update to the RES that blends the radius between the tip and tail. The goal: improve the experience on hardpack to give the ski more all-around versatility for the freeride and big mountain skiers using the Billy Goat on a regular basis.

This directional ski retains a progressive flex into the tips, and a rocker-camber-rocker profile. Like most Portland-made ON3P skis, the Billy Goat is constructed with a 100 percent bamboo core, a durable and environmentally friendly grass. This means it can bend and pop back easily. Carbon fiber provides extra stiffness, helping the ski power through junk with speed.

At Big Sky, we set out by lapping shorter runs on the bowl accessed by the Powder Seeker chair. Here, the Billy Goats easily initiated big, round, and fast turns. Soon, low visibility pushed us toward the trees over in Moonlight Basin. The Billy Goats weren't the most light-footed ski I've threaded through a treed run, but when the pressure was on, they still skipped through tight spots. After finding some untouched snow, the Billy Goats skied smoother with each run.

Despite the new RES, it didn't feel like these skis genuinely loved the hard stuff. Like my first awkward middle school relationship, it was a bit forced. Classic, soft conditions are still more up the Billy Goat's alley, and few skis perform in that realm as well, or with as much style. --Clare Menzel

141/116/125 @ 197 | 142/116/126 @ 184 | 143/116/126 @ 189

179, 184, 189cm

136.5 @ 179 | 140.5 @ 184 | 29.4 @ 189

The Faction Candide 3.0 was one of my favorite skis at Powder Week this year. I usually live in the 98- to 105-millimeter underfoot range, but the Candide 3.0, at 108 underfoot, skis narrower and was perfect in not-so-fresh powder and chalky buff off the Challenger lift. At a 108, the Candide 3.0 still packs enough ski for bigger storm days, too.

The 176-millimeter length is my ideal size for every day in or out of bounds. I trust this Faction ski in any condition. While following a local off the Big Sky tram down the icy and semi-sketchy surface of Otter Slide, I confidently took the Candide 3.0 straight down the fall line for thousands of meters of unrelenting vertical.

They carved on buffed chalk, popped around bumps, plowed through chopped up powder and railed at speed thanks to an all-purpose profile with very minimal camber underfoot, rockered tip and tail, 22-meter turn radius, and a wood core with titanal metal under the binding. High speed GS turns are so much fun on this ski whether it’s on corduroy or off-piste.

Surprisingly this ski comes in at a relatively light weight, allowing it to serve as a touring ski option as well as the in bounds all-mountain charger that I would use it for. My knees were thankful for the low weight of these skis, even though they are on the wider end of the spectrum. For a playful ski that can do just about anything, the Faction Candide 3.0 will serve you well. --Lyndsay Strange

136-108-132

162, 169, 176, 182, 186, 192, 204

20

The K2 Marksman is a successful play on two sensibilities: The Marksman’s vintage graphic appeals to the 56-year legacy of the brand, while the asymmetrical shape and modern personality is directed toward today’s skier. I’m more of an inbetweener. I came of age in the heyday of the TNC’s and Extremes made famous by Scot Schmidt and Glen Plake, but, like many of us, I have long since graduated to more maneuverable, poppy skis.

Which is where the Marksman hits the spot: a surfy powder ski where individual style, as Schmidt and Plake taught us, is in the eye of the beholder, not any regimented clinic. While many of the skis favored during Powder Week are a reflection of Big Sky’s steep, challenging terrain and variable snow--that is, skis that are stiff and directional--I found a nice reprieve in the Marksman, whose asymmetrical cut and forgiving flex pattern allowed for some less aggressive skiing. Which is to say, fun skiing through bumps and trees on the low-angle terrain of Andesite Mountain.

A ‘Double Barrel’ core of aspen and fir keeps the ski lightweight but sturdy on the edges for torsional stiffness. The asymmetrical (and rockered) tip and tail is unique, providing a design that exaggerates the taper on the outside intended to give a surfy, playful feel. The longer effective inner edge enhances edge control on hard snow, so you can survive on less than ideal conditions. But railing an edge on ice is not what the Marksman is for. Picture someone who grew up skiing terrain parks and bumps who now wants to expand their boundaries to throwing tricks in powder. That’s what the Marksman does best. --Matt Hansen

123-106-126

170, 177, 184

20

If you are looking to try out a new shape that draws some attention from the crowds, check out the Meridian 107 from Moment. Non-symmetrical tips and tails paired with a trippy topsheet are sure to make for some good conversation starters in the lift line.

Moment has fully embraced the craze behind fully rockered skis with the Meridian lineup, but with the intention of creating a well-rounded ski instead of a powder-specific full rocker design. The Meridian 107 is incredibly easy to put on edge. Take this ski out on a groomer or windbuff day, and you will find that it does everything you want from smooth turn initiation to holding stable at higher speeds. It would also be a fun powder ski for someone that does not want to surpass the 110-millimeter waist width. The full rocker shape will inherently make floating through soft snow very fun and easy, while the aspen and ash core helps the ski feel strong and consistent.

The Meridian 107 has a very versatile size in that it can handle groomers, old snow, or fresh powder. That being said, it shines best in untracked snow. While doable, it takes a bit more effort to maintain control of the ski when you get into any sort of less-than-perfect snow. The full rocker shape wants to take control, leaving you working to keep it together.

Ultimately, this ski is made for the person who has made, or is ready to make, the conversion to full rocker. Excellent waist width for groomers and powder, easy turn initiation, and suited for a more relaxed stance. --Dane Weister

136-107-127

171, 181, 187

21

Outside the shack, I switched skis with Tim Dyer. He works for Liberty Skis, the Avon, Colorado-based brand founded in 2003 with a dream to make high-performance twin tips. Just a few turns on the Liberty Origin96 had me wishing I’d been skiing them all morning. I had been on a women’s specific model, the Genesis 106, which skis well, but with paulownia added to the core, it’s lighter and less powerful. The Origin, on the other hand, is built with bamboo, poplar, and carbon fiber and is agile and sporty. Liberty has been a champion of bamboo as a core material for more than a decade, extolling its lightness, strength, and ability to bend deeply and snap back.

For many skiers, the Origin96 clocks in on the skinny side. (It debuted in 2017 as the narrowest ski in the Origin series, though this winter welcomes a new 90-centimeter model). But, for flotation and fleet-footedness, the well-rounded Liberty features a full tip and tail rocker, with positive camber underfoot. They have the chops to take on big lines but are ideal for those wanting a quick, easy-to-carve resort ski. It was just stiff enough that I didn’t need to wrestle it into a turn, but it responded well to powerful initiation.

On the mellow groomers we skied back to Moonlight Basin’s six-pack chairlift, I made a thousand turns, lapping up the ski’s graceful snappiness and need for speed. --Clare Menzel

130-96-118

171, 176, 182, 187

17.5

I took the Kastle BMX 115 to the Challenger terrain at Big Skysteep, rocky, chalky with some wind buff my go-to testing area during Powder Week this year. The terrain was varied and with the way the wind blew and deposited snow in places I haven’t seen in 20 years, I was able to playfully ski through technical sections as well as point steep chutes and see how the tails of the different skis would respond at very high speed.

The BMX 115 skied smooth as velvet and it was exactly what I wanted and needed underfoot. It was lightweight and had a very surprising quickness edge to edge for a ski that is 115-millimeters underfoot. In the 185-centimeter length, I could go as fast as I wanted, but it is far more forgiving than its bigger brother in the 195-centimeter length. It has a stiff tail that keeps you from dropping into the backseat when arcing out of fast turns, but is still forgiving enough to lay trenches on a blue groomer.

Built with a traditional sandwich construction fiberglass, silver fir, and beech wood core between two layers of titania with slight early rise in the tip and an elliptical radius sidecut, this ski will hold an edge in any condition and will float in the deepest of powder. This is a ski that I need in my quiver, because I would only need this one ski.
--Dave Stergar

141-115-130

177, 185, 193

24

Since its inception, Black Diamond has always stuck to what it knows: how to make sleek, lightweight, and super athletic products to go up and down any mountain.

The Boundary Pro 115 is a departure from the sleek and lightweight products that have dominated the Black Diamond brand. This is the burliest ski that Black Diamond has ever made, born of athlete influence and input.

The skis’ strength is made possible by a triaxial pre-preg fiberglass construction and under-binding reinforcement. The maneuverability is retained with only a moderate amount of sidecut and a poplar wood core, while still having a great sense of underfoot stability and predictable feel.

The float is great to excellent depending on how centered you are in your stance, as the Boundary Pro 115 has a fully rockered tip and tail. (See Black Diamond’s previous MegaWatt and GigaWatt skis for historical comparison.) These three components come together to make a solid big mountain ski that can both float and charge. It feels like a radical new product from an old favorite. Bottom line, this is a no-excuses, no-nonsense, big mountain charger like Black Diamond has never made before.

This ski requires a perception change as most folks are used to using Black Diamond’s skis in a skin-track setting, which may not suit the Boundary 115 Pro as much as a tram, cat, or heli. Also, these are going to be in a limited run at the moment, so if my above description is akin to whispers of sweet nothings in your ear, I would get on the horn to your local Black Diamond ski retailer ASAP.
--Wally Phillips

142-115-124

185

22

The Volkl Confession is a big mountain ski that won’t punish you for skiing like a normal human being on normal terrain, and also instills confidence on shitty snow when the only choice is to ski fast.

I’ve found that, for me, stiff skis like the Confession ski better mounted a little forward of recommended. A more forward stance allows me to make more than one kind of turn with less effort, and get away from the stance and turn shape confinements that stiff, directional skis usually come with. The Confession’s sweet spot is at plus-2 of recommended. Having these 117-millimeter underfoot, metal skis hanging from my feet got me fired up to haul ass at Big Sky. The Confession responded to my every wish above treeline, which consisted of medium-to-long radius turns through “hurry up and get through this shit” snow.

The Confession’s long tip and tail rocker profile minimizes ski-to-snow contact in hard-snow conditions, which makes it very nimble in tight, bumpy trees. Meanwhile, the ski’s metal construction stabilizes it, virtually eliminating the wandering feeling I’ve experienced in many other full-reverse-camber skis.

Though not an obvious first choice for skiing rutty bumps, with a little style change, I was able to have fun. I was mashing through sets instead of finding the troughs, airing into less than smooth landings with relative confidence, and not getting my quads worked in the process. The Confession isn’t going to be the first choice for folks that like skis to flex into a turn, nor is it a one-ski-quiver for anybody other than true big-mountain jocks. But it won’t limit the average skier to any particular type of skiing, which can’t be said about many directional, metal, big mountain charger skis available this year. --Alex Buecking

144-117-133

179, 186, 193

23.8

An important aspect of any powder ski is a good strength-to-weight ratio. You want the ski to be light enough that it is easy to turn in deeper snow, but you still want it to be strong enough to be able to power through your turns. With this in mind, Head has created the Kore 117. At a length of 189 centimeters, and 117 millimeters underfoot, the Kore is incredibly light for being such a large ski.

Head uses karuba wood, which is very lightweight and capable of maintaining its stiffness, unlike balsa wood, which is also light but relatively weaker. Another way the Kore sheds weight but not performance is the lack of a traditional topsheet. Instead of a hard poly or fiberglass, the Kore incorporates a fleece fabric topsheet that is then pressed in the heating process. Surprisingly, it is still strong and resistant to wear. Furthering the solid strength-to-weight ratio is the use of a carbon sandwich construction. Head uses Graphene throughout the entire length of the ski to help keep it consistently rigid.

Other skis that incorporate a carbon structure tend to have dead spots where the carbon ends, but because it runs the entire length of the Kore, you are left with a much more lively ski. Despite the presence of so much carbon, the Kore is still easy to turn and you will not find yourself being overpowered by the ski. Overall, the Kore 117 is best suited for someone looking for a powder-specific ski. Whether you ski the heavier snow of the East and Pacific Northwest, or the lighter snow found in the Rockies, you would absolutely have fun on the Kore. It is light enough to be used on an every day basis, but the waist width combined with the sidecut can be very noticeable when you get the ski up on edge on a groomer. --Dane Weister

145-117-129

180, 189

24.6

Utilizing a fir and aspen core, K2 brings back the Pinnacle 118 for skiers looking for big, carving ski for big, deep days. While a ski with this much surface area is bound to float on powder, the Union was most impressed with the easy turn initiation that comes from the ski’s tapered tip and tail with Hybritech sidewalls. By blending the sidewall construction underfoot with a full cap construction, the Pinnacle 118 maintains accuracy and power, while the overall ski weight stays at 2330 grams.

“A 118 that carves? Awesome! The Pinnacle 118 has a great float, it’s poppy and fun, and super easy to pivot,” said Wally Phillips, who can’t wait to take this ski to Trenchtown.

The Union was impressed with the ski’s ability to hold a strong edge in the turn and cut through chop and crud, while some felt its light weight was the reason they got bounced around in firm snow. While the K2 Pinnacle 118 can hang with the all-mountain crew, this is a powder ski through and through. “I couldn’t see shit off the tram, but was glad to have this ski underfoot,” said Matt Hansen. “With low visibility and variable snow, I put my trust in this big ski and it made me feel at home. It was so good that we went back for another lap.” --Sierra Davis

145-118-135

177, 184, 191

23

The widest ski in Salomon’s lineup, the QST 118 will make you wish the snow is deeper. Always, deeper. The full twin rocker is designed to help you float in the deepest powder. The Spaceframe construction uses carbon and flax to give the QST 118 the stiffness and strength of a metal ski, but not the weight. Essentially, at 1980 grams per ski, it’s a light ski that doesn’t actually ski like a light ski. “The ride is smooth and damp, while a more forward mount point allows easy maneuvering and the early rise prevents the tip from getting buried without making me feel like I was doing a wheely,” said Kade Krichko, who took the QST 118 down Big Sky’s Big Couloir. “I was kind of gripped, but my first two or three turns were quick and they handled just fine in a lot of different conditions, and I didn’t feel tip chatter at all, even though I could see it.”

The Union found the sporty sidecut a bit hooky, and with a 26 meter radius, the QST 118 needs room for big turns--exactly the kind you want to make on the deepest day of the year, and not so much though tight couloirs or trees. --Sierra Davis

142-118-129

171, 178, 185, 192

26

At 115 underfoot, the Fischer Ranger 115 is a smooth ride that shows its pedigree. Fischer’s Air Tec Ti wood core with sandwich sidewall construction makes the ski light and nimble, but doesn’t compromise on the stability of the ski.

A bit of taper and rocker in the tail gives the skier more agility in deep turns, but carbon in the tip keeps the ski damp. The result is a ski stiff enough to feel powerful, but light enough to feel maneuverable. It has edge-to-edge strength to cut turns through sketchy crud, and a perfect ratio of rocker to camber to plane through fields of pow.

The Fischer Ranger 115 is the ski you want in Alaska, or when you’re standing on top of a big, untracked bowl full of powder. If you’re looking for this kind of excellence in an everyday package, pick up the Ranger 108. The Ranger series made Fischer the dad-brand-turned-hip. Like how acid-wash mom jeans are en vogue in Brooklyn.

And Fischer knows how to make skis. They are a legacy ski company founded in 1924 in Austria and one of the largest manufacturers of ski equipment in the world. Fischer is repeatedly on the podium of the World Cup and the Olympics. --Julie Brown

144-115-134

178, 188, 196

20

Line’s Sick Day series has developed a bit of a cult following of skiers looking to blur the line between something they can get playful with but still drive without being battered around too much. The new Sick Day 114 makes me think Line is moving toward a stiffer and directional feel, as this ski is burly as all hell. This is a welcome update made possible by an aspen core that provides the best strength-to-weight ratio along with some carbon filaments for added dampness and rebound out of the turn. This construction, along with a just below 24-meter radius sidecut, gives this ski a lighter feel with added responsiveness.

In short, this ski does not sacrifice all mountain performance to cut weight in the pow. Instead, it is the glorious combination of both light and sturdy. That being said, there are skis that go lighter than that 2000-gram mark that perform similarly, so I wouldn’t go throwing a lightweight tech binding on this ski unless you have the boot to push it properly.

In addition, while there is no question that at speed the Sick Day 114 will elicit Cheshire cat grins, one needs to maintain that speed or the ski gets bogged down and can react slowly. The rocker amount in the tip and tail seems right for the width, and it translates pretty well to softer snow conditions in all but nipple-deep days with a shovel that reaches 140 millimeters of width. This was evident off the South Bowl reaching the Yeti Traverse on to Lenin as about three to six inches had blown in the night before. The cloud cover had socked in a bit but the ski pushed me to go harder when conditions got tougher.

If you are looking for a directional, powder oriented ski that you can push the speed limit on that wants you to push it even more after that, then the Sick Day 114 from Line is your ticket to a good time. --Wally Phillips

140-114-126

180, 190

23.9

The conditions during Powder Week were not as variable as in years past, so I was able to ski the Stockli Stormrider 115 on groomers, crud, and wind buff. In the 195-centimeter length, this ski was a top performer for me. However, due to its sheer size, this ski might not be ideal for everyone. (Editor’s Note: Dave Stergar is one of the strongest skiers on the Powder Union. Let’s just say he knows how to drive a ski.)

The Stormrider 115 has a GS race-factory feel. It needs (and loves) to go fast in order to arc turns. Stockli has maintained its traditional look, only slightly updating the graphic over year’s past. Their titanium top sheet maintains the traditional look of the Swiss ski company. I felt the top sheet also added some torsional stiffness. Like models in years past, the ski still features a laminate construction with lightweight durable woods and a fiberglass layer that makes this ski incredibly damp. When you get it up to speed, it will pop you from turn to turn.

What many skiers will really like about this ski, especially if they have a race background, is traditional camber with a very slight early rise tip for ripping powder. The straight tail allows for completing turns on hard snow and groomers. With this construction, you know you will be able to hold high-speed turns down steep faces. The Stormrider 115 felt a bit heavier than some of the other skis in this category, something for which Sțckli makes no apologies. --Dave Stergar

137-115-128

159, 168, 177, 186

19.3

I skied the J Skis The Friend in a variety of terrain where it performed admirably. The Friend’s construction incorporates a rubber laminate layer that is paired with carbon fiber stringers. These design features help to give The Friend a surprising amount of pop and energy. The ski’s waist width and rocker profile were the perfect combination for making aggressive big turns through soft/mixed snow conditions.

Although the skis aren’t completely one dimensional, they thrive in the wide-open, bowl-type environments. When the terrain levels up, the skis become a little more difficult to manage. Its 115-millimeter waist feels slightly clumsy in tight trees, and in more complex situations they aren’t the easiest to maneuver around natural obstacles. On groomers, The Friend comfortably initiated turns and felt stable enough while carving at high speed.

These powder boards were more than adequate when faced with hard pack snow. The Friend wants to live in wide-open terrain, however, and dominate big deep turns. It is exactly what you want on a powder day: a trusted companion with a bond of mutual affection for the steep and deep. --Eric Gerrmann

136-115-125

173, 180, 186

19.5

In its sophomore year, this very thin, very light ski is damper and more stable than the first iteration of the Volkl 100Eight, due to an added layer of fiberglass. It has full rocker, early taper, a wood core and carbon stringers, and trademark Volkl fast-skiing, big-turn reliability.

This is a softer and more accessible ski than other Volkls, like the Katana. At 108 millimeters underfoot, the 100Eight is ideal for the older Western ex-racer that lives in a place where it snows a lot, and wants a ski that can float as well as carve without tiring you out. Its subtle rocker bends along the entire length of the ski, and Volkl simply knows how to make a ski that can hold an edge.

“This is a comfortable, fun, forgiving, mass-market ski,” said David Page. “It’s easy to jump into--a versatile tool for all terrain and conditions.”

Get on the 100Eight and it feels like a high-quality, non-chattering, machine, if not a very playful one. These skis are meant to float or get on edge, not butter, slash, jump, or twist. Entering and exiting a turn, however, comes easy. The 100Eight, with those minimal edges, weighs just 1970 grams, extremely lightweight for a ski this size. “It was awesome in soft snow and it engaged and was stable on hardpack and variable snow, too,” said Abigail Barronian. “Overall it wants you get forward and make big, gorgeous turns and surf the soft stuff. It’s an ideal ski for a charging skier that lives in Utah or the PNW.” --John Clary Davies

141-108-124

Let’s keep this simple: The Black Crows Atris, and the Atris Birdie for women, is a fantastic ski for 95 percent of my days. Pure and plain, it rips all over the mountain. It’s the sweet spot in the Black Crows’ lineup, with universal appeal that translates to me skiing whatever I want on any given day. Could be trees in a thick storm, the great wide open in the high alpine, or average wind buff days at the ski resort.

Black Crows gave the Atris a classic shape that many ski companies have dialed in recent years--camber underfoot, early rise in the tip and tail. New this year, Black Crows touched up the design, giving the Atris a longer turning radius and softer flex, and making the early rise in the tail more pronounced. These tweaks make the Atris more stable at higher speeds than previous years, without compromising its versatile and playful DNA.

The Birdie, which is a tad softer than the men’s version, comes in two sizes, 169 and 178 centimeters. It’s made with a poplar wood core and semi-cap construction, and a 20-meter turning radius, a bump from previous models. The bright orange top sheet is an eye-catcher and the chevron design is a thicker white in the center, a visual cue that mimicks the camber design of the ski.

When I took the Atris Birdies out for a spin at Powder Week, I felt graceful and confident. I’d bring these to steep, no-fall-zone lines in the Alps, or I could mess around on the Atris all day inbounds, popping off jumps and rocks and arcing turns on groomers. The progressive rise in the tail is soft, buttery, and forgiving--so I could ski without fear of punishment. At times, the Atris’ 109-centimeters underfoot felt a little slow transferring from edge-to-edge, so I’d probably grab another pair of skis on super firm days. And those who like to press the gas pedal all the way down may find they lack a little “oomph.”

Otherwise, the Atris is a ski to get high on. And Black Crows is already experiencing a high in the United States, a market they’ve only just begun to establish themselves in. A lot of people are jiving on Black Crows, for good reason. They make solid skis that prove themselves. Meanwhile in Chamonix, Black Crows has already climbed to the top of the ladder, a place they’ve been since breaking out in the late aughts. It’s only a matter of time before they achieve that status on this side of the Atlantic. --Julie Brown

138-108-125

169.1, 178.3

20

Maybe it’s the endorphins, or the cold air, or the sweet anticipation of skiing untracked pow. Backcountry skiing gets me in the mood to fall in love. I love this view! I love this day! I really love my skis!

That’s about how it went with me and the Atomic Backland FR 109 W. They first caught my eye in the chalky trees at Big Sky. But I didn’t seriously commit to them until about halfway up a powdery slope on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore, a backcountry zone with perfectly spaced old-growth trees and an otherworldly view of sky and water. The sparks were real (that sparkly pink and purple top sheet!) but my love for the Backland faded into a longterm commitment after they held up in tight places. Like when I was side-hilling a 40-degree bowl in the Eastern Sierra that had yet to transition from ice to corn.

Sixty-five percent of the Backland FR 109 W is camber underfoot, giving me the edge-hold I needed on the skin track. Turn around for the descent, and that’s when the rocker in the tip and tail came in handy, giving me peace of mind that I can hop in and out of turns easily--falling is the last thing I want to do when I’m skiing on tech bindings.

Speaking of tech bindings, the Backlands are as light as I’d ever want to go, clocking in at less than four pounds per ski. They’re not as uber-light as a skimo stick. But I’m a skier, not a mountaineer. And I need some matter to lean into. Some may not like the Backlands as an inbounds ski. Their lightweight construction translates to feeling every bump, rut, hit on the snow, which can be a problem at a ski resort. Atomic put carbon inserts to run the length of the ski. Still, the Backlands ski above the crud, rather than cut through it.

But the true destiny of the Backland is powder. HRZN Tech blends ABS sidewall construction with a rocker shovel in the tip that gives the ski more surface area. Which means the Backland and I will float on in the deep, deep snow all the way to the sunset.
--Julie Brown

132-109-122

159, 167, 175

17.5

New this year, the Icelantic Maiden 111 celebrates all that is feminine in skiing.

The centerpiece of the artwork on the topsheet, created by Icelantic co-founder Travis Parr, represents mindfulness and intuition. The rest of the ski is built for women to go out and explore the high mountains.

Pairing the design from Icelantic’s bestseller, the Nomad, but with a lighter wood core called Pacific Albus, the Maiden 111 is a member of the rocker tip-and-tail, camber-underfoot club. (If that sounds familiar, it’s a profile every ski company has dialed recently.) The Maiden’s two millimeters of camber underfoot are enough to make this ski turn, pivot, and crush terrain up and down the mountain. The ski responded gracefully to controlled, fast turns down the narrow, chalky chutes of Big Sky’s Headwaters. It held an edge on long arcs on the groomers, but whipped up tight turns in the trees. The wide shovel in the tip planed through crud and set-up the carve in windbuff.

The Maiden checked all the boxes except for one. She is an earth-bound vessel. She’s predictable, not lively--which can be a good thing, but also makes it harder to pop up and catch air.

The best part of the Maiden is that it fits a wide range of women, coming in a size run from 162 to 177 centimeters. Add to that the rest of the Icelantic package--handmade in Denver, Colorado; a three-year warranty--and the Maiden is a solid addition to a company whose values are rooted in outdoor exploration. --Julie Brown

146-111-136

162, 169, 177

16

Salomon knows you don’t mess with a good thing. Which is why the Stella 106 (which uses the exact same construction as the unisex QST 106 in shorter sizes and with a different top sheet) is back this year unchanged from last year’s debut model. I fell hard for this model last year and I’m not surprised to see it rise to the top of the pack for the second year in a row. Above all, this hard-charging and versatile ski gives me the confidence to take on any type of terrain.

Made with a light Spaceframe wood core fortified with an edge-to-edge sheet of titanal that extends beyond the mounting zone and a layer of Salomon’s carbon-flax blend, the Stella 106 is extremely responsive and solid underfoot. Initiating turns is nearly effortless. It moves seamlessly from edge to edge. But it’s no soft noodle. Instead, the Stella 106 is perfectly weighted.

Because Salomon engineered the Stella 106 to easily dump speed, and hold a strong edge even in icy steeps, I was comfortable skiing more aggressively at Big Sky on this ski than anything else. The lightweight construction keeps them up top on powder days, yet they are stable enough I don’t get any chatter when it has been a while since the last storm. At 106-millimeters underfoot, these skis fall in a sweet spot that mean I take them out for a rip regardless of conditions. When I traveled last winter, this was the only ski I packed. --Sierra Davis

138-106-125

159, 167, 174

20

The Nordica Santa Ana 110 stands apart on the women’s ski market for the two sheets of metal and carbon that sandwich the wood core.

Wait--metal in a 110-underfoot women’s ski? That’s a ski marketer’s nightmare. Most women are intimidated by metal. I understand. Metal adds weight and stiffness to the ski, making it more difficult to ski.

But metal also gives a skier confidence. It gives the ski the strength to cut through the snow, not skip on top of it. Personally, I lose confidence the minute I feel bucked around and thrown into the backseat. That happens the most when I click in to lightweight skis that don’t have a spine. Conversely, a ski I can cut into the snow with, that I can trust to lean into and drive, that’s a ski that makes me feel like I’m a really good skier. And that’s the Santa Ana.

It’s not a heavy ski. Nordica lightened up the guts of the ski so they could compensate for the added weight in the metal. The wood core is a combination of lighter weight woods poplar, beech, and balsa. Above and below the core are layers of Titanium and carbon. The result is a powerful, stable ski that will unlock the mountain for any female wanting to take their skiing to the next level.

The best chairlift at Big Sky is a triple named Challenger. It’s a slow ride up a face with a healthy amount of pitch. Some of the best lines weave between the lift towers. Conditions are typically windbuff supreme. It’s a zone I lapped many times at Powder Week on many different skis. Some skis wanted to turn--a lot, too much. Others didn’t want to turn at all--and I feared for my knees. But on the Nordica Santa Anas, I found my stride in my first lap. The second lap, I pushed the gas petal. By the third, fourth, and fifth laps, I wasn’t even thinking about my skis. I was thinking about how much I love to fly. --Julie Brown

140-110-129

161, 169, 177

16.5

The Blizzard Sheeva 10 returns stronger and lighter this winter. It’s lightweight and nimble, and carves like a dream, but this is no sissy ski.

Added carbon gave this Blizzard model good rebound on the variable terrain found at Big Sky, while lighter materials in the multi-wood core--paulownia, balsa, poplar, and beech--shaved weight without sacrificing strength.

Refreshingly available in a 180 centimeter (a length that’s hard to find in women-specific skis), the Sheeva 10 held steady on groomers, cut the crud in the bumps, and allowed me to check my speed without fear of washing out, though I did experience some skidding when throwing my skis sideways at high speeds.

The Sheeva 10 carves like you’d expect from a Blizzard ski but aren’t too stiff or as aggressive as some of the others boards in their fleet. If you typically gravitate toward men’s skis because you want something bigger and more serious, but still playful and maneuverable, the Sheeva 10 is your ski. --Sierra Davis

131.5-102-121.5

156, 164, 172cm

14.5m

Where my girls at? I think of Coalition Snow as the Beyonce of the ski world. Singing and fighting for all the glory that is female. If you like Queen B as much as I do, put a pair of Coalition’s SOS’s on your feet.

This is a women’s ski made by a women’s ski company (though, to be fair, a lot of the guys at Powder Week raved about this ski, too). Coalition is the only company in the ski industry to completely focus on the feminine. And they aren’t achieving this by “shrinking and pinking” a dude’s ski. Their skis are designed from the start with the woman in mind.

The SOS is 109 underfoot (in a 180; waist width goes down in shorter sizes), which is a great size for just about any day on the mountain. The birch wood construction allows for a strong flex and holds up at high speeds. It also charges through the crud. A rocker tip and tail with traditional camber underfoot turns quickly. I could feather at the top of the turn if I didn’t want to commit. They don’t have a ton of pop, so you have to work in the transition to get the ski around.

As good as they ski, the artwork might be the best part about the Coalition SOS, and the rest of the company’s lineup. They are women’s skis that look girly, in a totally I-am-a-woman-hear-me-roar way. This ski will work for the lady who wants to shred groomers exclusively, and the lady who doesn’t go anywhere without her beacon, shovel, and probe. Put the ass back in sass and get your beautiful self a pair SOS’s. Because ladies, you don’t need saving but you do need a pair of kick ass skis. --Hannah Victory

129-105-119

157, 166, 173, 180cm

25m