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How to use ski reviewsWe understand that skiers sometimes cannot test skis before buying and must rely on reviews to decide what to buy. Nevertheless, we demo before slapping leather if at all possible; even carefully researched reviews cannot substitute for personal experience. Ideally, reviews are used as tools to reduce the bewildering number of choices to a manageable number of models for personal testing. Trying a few skis in a couple of lengths is the best way to be certain of finding the right choice. We are surprised that some people buy $1000 skis without first skiing them, but if at all possible, try before you buy—it is the only sure-fire way to get the right ski. If demo really is out of the question, we suggest you take advantage of the hundreds of 12-Point Reviews on our subscription site—it might help avoid a costly mistake or even make possible huge savings on eBay or at a sale. Comprehensive Ski Reviews on Member SiteHere's an example of the Member comprehensive ski reviews. We have reviews dating back ten years, including 278 reviews of 2010 ski models. Please be certain to click "what the symbols mean" — the numbers and symbols in the two left-hand columns are the most powerful parts of our reviews. Beyond ski reviews, if you are serious about gear and game improvement, taking skills to a high level, saving money and having a great season, please subscribe. We're confident you won't be disappointed. We hope you find this abbreviated review useful; The full review and accompanying articles are available on the Member site: information here Anton EX CarbonThis ski is unique; there is absolutely nothing like it. Over the years we've seen a lot of interesting "innovations": Ski boards, skis with no tails, skis with two tails, skis filled with ball bearings and oil, skis with weighted tips, "shaped skis" with pencil-ski center sections and on and on. This, unlike many of those abandoned experiments, is the real deal. The Anton version we skied is the Carbon EX and consists of a 154cm carbon ski on which is mounted a full suspension spring that in turn supports the binding. The spring deforms under pressure, stopped by two independent adjustable front and rear progressive flex adjusters—stoppers—that de-camber the ski as the spring suspension forces them into contact with the top of the ski. The system features 20—twenty—positions, each of which creates a different flex pattern allowing the ski to be adjusted to feel like anything from a soft 11m radius groomer cruiser to a full-fledged 180cm-feeling GS ski. Based on our tests, which included a coaching session with a strong skier pursuing true expert status, we can report that the system works well and is an exceptional training device, beyond being a great ski. Armada "bottom-line" reviewsAR 6 One of Armada's premier models, this is a pipe and park ski that also performs well for all-mountain skiing, although, as one test skier noted, "It lacks some of the pizzazz of the T-Hall." Good on hard snow for a pipe twin. ARV One skier mentioned how much this ski reminded him of the late and much lamented Salomon Pocket Rocket, "with some meat on its bones." Good in powder, but probably not the best choice for hard-charging big mountain free riders. Several skiers noticed tip vibration at speed. ARVW Solid big mountain/powder ski for skilled females. Not a good choice for lessons or skill camps, but a strong and fairly nimble 1-ski-quiver for upper level skiers who spend a lot of time off-piste. ARW Female-specific twin intended primarily for freestyle park and pipe, but also fairly capable as an all-mountain ride. Requires good skills and strength. T Hall At its debut, our testers found this the most versatile of Armada's park/all-mountain combos, performing well not only in terrain parks and half pipes, but in virtually all situations and conditions an all-mountain skier faces. El Rey Probably one of the best values in Armada's line. Versatile (although not great at speed), easy, predictable, excellent in soft snow, capable in moguls and very forgiving. Good choice for learning jibber. Not for aggressive skiers. Atomic "bottom-line" reviewsD2 Race GS According to Atomic, D2 technology is being used on the World Cup and while these are not "real" WC skis, they are certainly worthy tools for college, citizen and Masters racing. Great grip, responsive and although there can be some tip chatter on really hard snow at high speed, the D2 Race GS is acceptable for competition right up to (but not including) Division I NCAA. D2 VF 75 Woman Our female skiers served up strong praise for the female-specific VF 75. "Awesome ski!" "Wow! Solid, stable, sure-footed, quick and plowed through any condition." D2 VF 82 Comments ranged from "Good luxury resort ski," to "Very stable, very solid, very fun ski that instills confidence," to "Laughed at crud," to "I could own this ski." The VF 82 represents the essence of Double Deck versatility. Cloud 7 Our testers were not impressed with the Cloud 7. It seems to fall in a "Catch 22" area. The skier who would not feel constrained and held back by the 7 should rent demos rather than buy. Beginners and casual skiers will find it non-threatening, but anyone who skis more than a few days per season will probably become disappointed in a fairly short period of time. Cloud 9 If light weight and lively feel without sacrifice in performance except sheer speed are top requirements, the Cloud 9 is an attractive choice. Quick, light and lively, adept in mild bumps, relaxing and forgiving, the 9, as one skier said, "could be the perfect instructor ski." Bent Chetler We only received one comment (and relatively few test cards), but it was so perfect, we just had to use it. According to one, er, dude: "The sickest of all rocker skis!" If you know what that means, it may be worth trying. If not, this ski definitely is not for you! Blizzard "bottom-line" reviewsGS Magnesium Everyone competing at any level below NCAA Division 1 will likely find the GSR a much better tool for winning. Free skiing on the GS is a good way to get your ticket pulled; non-functional at less than race speeds. Sport Ride The more relaxing member of the Cross collection. Suitable to less aggressive skiers and, like the CRS, a good buy for frontside fall line fans not seeking skier cross competition-level performance. Like all cross skis, responds best to modern technique. G Force Supersonic Blizzard has been going through big changes, including new ownership and distribution and the skis themselves now begin to exhibit a new "feel." In the past, many have found Blizzards demanding, if very powerful. That is changing and the Supersonic is an early example. The Super, powerful and high performing, is easier to ski than some past Blizzards. This is a solid front side carver, surprisingly nimble and definitely worth a test ride. Magnum 8.1 "Sweet spot feels a bit minimal" and "extremely stable" and "superb on ice; tenacious edge hold and great power." Summery: solid, demanding, high-speed all mountain ski for experts and strong skiers. The 8.7 tested as more versatile in terrain and skill level. Titan Atlas Although it is wider for more float, and in the words of one,"Skis light for its size and stiffness," we suspect the Cronus will prove more enjoyable for most non-pros. The Answer Straight from the cards: "Serious effort to arc" and "You should ski them fast" and "Not bad for a mid-mount" and "Probably best for new school skiers for whom 'pop' means something" and "Skis like a board with turned up ends."If this is The Answer, the question must be: "What's a good powder ski for experts?" Dynastar "bottom-line" reviewsContact Cross TI The new Cross TI is the rapid-fire frontside carver for skiers who found the 4X4 a bit more demanding than they preferred. Short of a World Cup slalom, this is the ideal tool for rebound fall line short radius turns. It is very quick and holds a carve with virtually any other ski. In test skier words, "This is a fun ski. Surfs the mountain with catlike changes of direction." There are few skis its equal as a learning tool for modern cross under technique. Exclusive Elite "Super fun ski." Great carver, a bit stiff for bumps. Testers felt that the Elite was a serious short radius turn generator, but that it was limited and not a good choice for all mountain skiers. Still, if frontside speed is the issue, worth checking. Best with modern cross under skills and a good choice for developing skills in lessons or at technical camps. Booster 10 4 X 4 "Lite" and a worthy descendent of the legendary 4800. This was a surprising ski. Billed by Dynastar as an intermediate ski, we found it to offer more. Great for skill development or lighter skiers, capable of handling virtually anything short of serious speed or genuine "Eastern" ice, where it can be a bit unstable. Otherwise a competent ski that delivers more than was promised. Legend Sultan 80 Less aggressive and even easier to ski than the 85. Not for hard chargers, but aspiring experts who both ski the groomed and venture off-piste on occasion will like it. As one skier put it, "This ski has a HUGE sweet spot; it gets better every year" (we can only assume this tester compared it to the 8000, which is not an exact match up. We like the 85 more for serious, committed skiers looking for a top notch all mountain carver 1-ski-quiver. The 80 may also be a good option for very light or relaxed skiers. Exclusive Legend Female-specific all mountain carver. Test skiers loved it. Great crud ski for females and a good choice for a 1-ski-quiver. Interestingly, the ski was graded in skill level from casual skier to high performance. One of our overall favorite female skis. Legend Pro Rider Modified for 2009:even bigger and more exclusively focused on big mountain free riding. Suitable for competition in Alaska, Crested Butte, Snowbird and Jackson, etc.—you get the idea. Elan "bottom-line" reviewsBlack Magic This woman's all mountain 1-ski-quiver continues as one of the best values in Elan's line. The ski has a slightly wider waist and significantly narrower tail than its predecessor, which has improved large radius turn suitability. It is now more versatile and balanced for females who primary ski the groomed. Comments along the lines of "More ski than the price" and "Rides like a more expensive ski" were included on several test cards. GS Waveflex Masters, citizen, college race nirvana. Much of the power, holding ability and stability of the GSX and much less demanding. Sheer speed merchants who ski fast on the groomed will also find this a great ski. Speedwave 12 Speed fans should get the 14, skiers working on carving skills may prefer this easier to handle version. This ski is livelier in feel, but not as stable. Speedwave Magic Exceptionally versatile. Fairly easy to ski at slow speeds, but the 14 really comes into its own at "macht schnell" velocities. Great medium to long turn super fast frontside carver. "Locks into a turn and hang on! Woo Hoo!" Puzzle Not for backside or frontside rippers, but a good crossover park and off-piste ski that could be dubbed a "new school 1-ski-quiver." Comments included: "Loved its moderate sidecut, no chatter, smooth, quick and fun." Pure Magic (Formerly Pure Spice) Women's ski, companion to the 78, performance more on par with the Ti version. As is sometimes the case with "comparable" models, our female testers gave this ski slightly higher marks than did the men the 78Ti. A ski that lesson-taking sport skiers can grow into, yet that will not prove intimidating at first. Highly recommended. Fischer "bottom-line" reviewsRC4 World Cup RC Pro Truly exceptional frontside carver and citizen race ski. One tester reported that he could not complete the easy turning at low speed section (a component of the relaxing rating) because he "never went slow!" Others, however, found it very easy to handle at lower speeds. For the few remaining frontside techno-mavens, definitely in the mix. Progressor 9+ It would be easy to lament the passing of the RX Fires were it not that the Progressors, now 3 in number, legitimately replace the classics. These all feature Fischer's dual radius sidecut in which the tip has a deeper sidecut than does the body and tail making for, Fischer says, faster tip hook up and turn entry. The truth is that it really works and these are among the quickest fall line carvers available. Not only does the ski carve short radius turns as well as anything else, the longer radius body sidecut enhances the skis ability to hold a longer radius turn, even on hard snow at speed. Anyone who lives on the frontside should take one of these for a test ride. Watea 84 Exceptionally versatile and user-friendly big mountain carver that skis much narrower on the groomed than it should with this kind of waist. Light, stable, quick for a relatively big ski. No discernable speed limit; powerful in broken snow. At home resort inbounds or for Mammoth, Squaw, Jackson, The Bird, BC, heli and cat skiing. KOA 84 My Style This female-specific companion to the Watea 84 is one of the highest scoring Fischers we've tested. Our skiers absolutely loved it. "This is a really great all mountain ski—good in all conditions." and "one of my favorite skis of the test. Forgiving yet stable, For many skier types." and "Great Ski! No problems. Best woman's all mountain as of yet!" Watea 101 Aggressive, powerful big mountain free ride ski. No speed limit, smooth and undemanding for a pro-grade backside ripper. Like all wide rides, the 101 is focused on stability and predictability, but it also handles well in less challenging conditions and even on the groomed. The Watea, several skiers noted, skis "more like an 88 than 100mm ski." That's versatility of a rare level for this kind of power plank. Addict Pro Excellent twin, good for park and pipe and also serves double duty as all mountain ride. One skier used the word "comfortable" as an overall description. "1-ski-quiver for the baggy pants set," opined another. Head "bottom-line" reviewsWorldcup i Speed Head is one of the decreasing number of companies that have race skis available for testing. While this ripper does not meet FIS regulations (27m radius), it is legal for Masters and other citizen racing programs and remains a single-purpose workhorse for GS. Very few skiers will want to muscle this ski around during free skiing, but serious sub-NCAA level racers will find it superb in the gates. Supershape Speed This is the Head race-derived product for frontside free skiing and is also an excellent citizen race tool. Very stable, holds fiercely and while not as demanding as the World Cup Speed, still requires energetic input and strong modern skills to perform at its best. Successor to the xrc 11/1200. Supershape Magnum Almost as solid as the Supershape Chip, more nimble. Skis "lighter" than the Chip. Ice hold not quite as good (still good by any standard), quickness and rebound are almost in the same class as the original SS. This is probably a more versatile choice for all but the fastest and most aggressive skiers. Easier to control in bumps than the Chip. Peak 88 Confusion—and clarification. The Peak 78 is identical, except in name and paint job, to the Monster 78. Ditto the 82. This one, the 88, actually is new, with less titanium than the old Monster 88, although deemed on the stiff side for less aggressive skiers. Overall the consensus is that the new 88 is more versatile for more skiers than the older model. Good ski for skiers who spend a lot of time off-piste, but who also appreciate hard snow and competent frontside performance. Changes are for the good; this ski was exceptional when it appeared in 05/06 and the updates keep it the running. The most appropriately renamed of the Monsters. The only question: Does Head really need both the 88 and 82? Perfect One Less demanding than the Power One and recommended for skill improvement, along with groomer cruising, even at fairly high speed. Is it actually "perfect?" Probably not, but it's close for the right kind of skier. Wild One Power-tool 1-ski-quiver for strong female skiers who are oriented toward big mountain and deep snow adventure. Demands energy, but delivers top notch performance, even on hard snow and groomed, although this really is best off-piste. Unshakable in crud and chopped up snow. K2 "bottom-line" reviewsCrossfire For a company that has become synonymous with backside and freeride, K2's certainly hasn't lost its knack for building a versatile carver. The consensus is that the new Crossfire is the best carver K2 has produced in a while. It has great edge hold, is well balanced in term of performance characteristics and even drew rave comments about its graphics. It is nimble, stable, easy to ski and readily responds to traditional technique. "Another WOW!," wrote one tester. "I relaxed and enjoyed the ride, even though I was tired when I skied it. That's praise, if you think about it . . . Free Luv Good choice for developing skier who spends a lot of time on the groomed and is beginning to venture off-piste and into reasonable (6"+/-) powder. Definitely should not be skied as fast as the Burnin' Luv under most conditions, but should satisfy most recreational skiers of Level 7 - 8. Recon Still the Apache "Reliable." Excellent all mountain ski, with solid hard snow performance. Damp, stable and still fairly lively. Can be balky with steering technique. The numbers don't really tell the story. The Recon is more than the sum of its parts. For good skiers . . . Raider Recon lite! Soft, user friendly, lacks the Recon's powerful top end. For lighter and less aggressive skiers. Good first "all-mountain" ski for level 6/7 skiers. ShesBack Why this ski is included in the new backside question is a mystery; it has all the characteristics of and all mountain or Big Mountain Carver, although free heelers should like it as well. Agile, nimble, solid edge hold, stable and easy skiing were some of the words our testers used to describe the She'sBack. This is much more than a freeride special. It is a well balanced 1-ski-quiver, suitable to skiers of levels 7 through 9. BackLash More forgiving and lesser performing than the Hardside. Versatile in the sense that it has good frontside manners, but it may be best as a ski for those who are just becoming serious about back country skiing. Good choice for entry-level backside free riders. Kastle "bottom-line" reviewsRX The RX, a frontside carver with astonishing range, both in terms of terrain and skill suitability, is one of the best carvers now on the market. Distribution is extremely limited, and prices head north of $1500, but very much worth a test ride. MX 78 The 78, like all Kästles, performs at the top of its genre. Those seeking an excellent all mountain 1-ski-quiver along with a guaranteed lift line conversation starter, need look no further. We don't know if it's Kastle's attention to craftsmanship and detail, including tuning, but seldom do we receive test cards that are mostly 5's and with some 4's, which is how this one came in. MX 88 The performance scores were at first suspect, but as we went through the cards, they were confirmed to be the majority opinion. We can't recall any ski that received perfect fives across the board, but the 88 came close. MX 98 Not as versatile as other models, still a strong big mountain and powder ski for skilled, aggressive skiers. The 88 is a more versatile ski, especially now that the superb 108 is on the scene for pow chasers. MX 108 Big mountain hard charger for big mountain hard chargers. Reasonably easy to handle inbounds, but this ski was built for the backside and it delivers! By no means a 1-ski-quiver, but anyone who loves the outback should give the 108 a try. "What I would ride if I were a pro on the freeride circuit," according to one tester. "Wow! Awesome, Dude," exclaimed another. Unshakable stability and absolutely no speed limit. Avoid bumps and tight glades. . . Note: the new FX models are reviewed on our Member site Line "bottom-line" reviewsChronic Line described this as a crossover all mountain freestyle ski, but our test crew found it more limited than that description would suggest. "Definitely," as one tester summed it up, "not for all around skiing." "Ski wanders at high speed," noted another. This is best kept in the park and pipe. Be sure to test this one before purchase if at all interested. Chronic Cryptonite Our clear favorite all mountain/big mountain ski in the 2010 Line, er, line. In fact, our testers favorite Line model. "Hold was amazing." and "Can ski 50% to 100% and still be effective" and "Ripped!" and "Loved it!" are the kind of comments that signify a solid winner. Line hits one out of the park. Mothership Great name; "Macho-ship" would work just as well. This is an example of an extremely focused, one-dimensional ski. If power and stability, a solid landing platform and straight line stability are requirements above all else—in other words skiers who are pro or near pro level free riders, this will do it. The cost, however, for anyone who skis any amount of time at all on the groomed, is that the ski does not do well out of its element. Prophet 100 The 100 is more versatile than the Mothership, except perhaps in terms of "cool factor," and is probably the best choice among Line's 100+ ultra-wides than the MS for most skiers. Like the 90, this even beefier big mountain/all mountain board is surprising nimble for this kind of ski. Still demands energy and skill, but a better back country roamer for those not shooting chutes and landing fakey off big rocks. Prophet 90 For the all mountain skier seeking a solid crossover biased toward general off-piste skiing, the Prophet is all that the Chronic is not. Versatility is greater, especially in-bounds. Good carver, stable, quick for a ski this wide and not as demanding of energetic input as one would expect. Our male test skiers found it a to have wider suitability envelope in terms of skill than did their female counterparts the Celebrity. Celebrity Female equivalent to the Prophet 90. Beefed up construction, still versatile and smooth. Remains a good 1-ski-quiver for strong female skiers who spend time both on and off piste. Nordica "bottom-line" reviewsHR 74 xct Low level groomer-only ski for occasional and casual skiers. We usually recommend renting rather than buying at this level, especially for skiers who plan to pursue technical improvement. More "hatchback" than Hot Rod . . . Firefox Thoroughly enjoyable frontside carver for females. Wide performance range, wide skill level suitability. Recommended for serious technical improvement and in the words of one skier, "just plain ripping fun!" HR Pro Burner Replaces the Afterburner. Virtually identical, although there were enough performance changes that we publish results of the new test. As we said last year, "Slightly tamed version of the Jet Fuel and an easier ski all around, with relatively little sacrifice at the top end. This is probably the better choice among the two for all but the most aggressive off-piste skiers." In other words, a good choice for intermediate to advanced skiers seeking one of the burgeoning hot breed of "Big Mountain Carvers." The "Pro" designation is a bit ambitious . . . Jah Love For high end free riders and athletes who spend virtually all the time on the backside of truly big mountains, shooting chutes, dropping cliffs and blasting through the untamed at serious speed. Period. Conquer Still a powerful all mountain carver for skilled, strong female skiers who ski fast, although a number of skiers opined that it performed better on-piste than off and should not be used as a ski of choice for bumps. Everyone else, see the Victory. Dead Money A surprise. Multi-purpose twin that one skier described thus: "The most versatile ski in the Nordica line. Do anything, any day, on any mountain for almost any ability." We'd amend that only to say that there are better hard snow skis from Nordica. Fast skiers may prefer another choice. Palmer "bottom-line" reviewsPO 2 Palmer's unique design, especially the relationship between complex-curve sidecut and pressure distribution zones, has produced a ski that feels different from any other we have tested and one which seems like it could etch perfect carves into a pane of hardened glass. And—the amazing part—at the same time, the PO2 can be skied at low speeds with soft and progressively soft edges. All this adds up to a superb on-piste ski capable of almost anything at any speed. One caveat; this ski simply does not respond well to steering technique. PO 1 Twin Like the 2, this model is also best managed with modern technique, but will work with traditional technique, provided the skier is sufficiently skilled. Not for intermediates or even "advanced." If in doubt, please read our skier type definitions. PO 4 Palmer's most versatile wide ski scored better than the original PO 1. Those who can adapt to the "Klothoid feel," which is different, should find this a great 1-ski-quiver for backside fanatics who still must negotiate getting to and from big mountain terrain and conditions. This ski performs extraordinarily well on groomed and hard snow for a ski with this large a footprint. Rossignol "bottom-line" reviewsClassic 70 TI Effective teaching and learning ski (for cross under skills on the groomed). Definitely focused, shines at moderate to higher speeds—several test skiers commented specifically that it was relatively difficult to handle smoothly at very low speeds. That's most likely the "TI" at work. Avenger 72 Middle-of-the-road groomer cruiser for less skilled, energetic and infrequent skiers, those we describe as "casual" skiers. Raises the rent vs. buy question, on which we suggest renting, especially for those who ski 5 or 6 times per year (including destination trips). Anyone interested in building skills can do better, for example the Avenger 70. Attraxion XII 70 TI for women. We don't know exactly why, but, as is surprisingly common, our female testers scored the XII slightly more highly than did men the 70. Good instructor ski, good cruiser. Avenger 82 Carbon Ti, or not to Ti . . . That's the question and our skiers thought, for the most part and for most skiers, not to Ti. One tester of both 82's said this: "Much better ski at low speed, and loses little at high speed." According to another, "Very springy, much more fun than the Ti, much lighter." "Loved this ski! Rossi is back!" was one of the more telling comments. Attraxion VI The "Every woman's" Attraxion. Despite the speed rating being the same as for the 12, the 6 is definitely more versatile, in our skiers' opinions, on terms of utility and suitable skill level. If the 12, like the Classic 70, is an effective teaching/learning tool, the Attraxion VI is an excellent teaching and learning ski. And a comfortable, high performing recreational ski as well. The 6 is very well balanced, which is the essence of versatility. S6 Caballero Big mountain ski for big mountain skiers, best in big radius turns. Surprisingly easy to ski for an ultra-wide, but by no means intended for much duty except off-piste, the more off the better. Roxy "bottom-line" reviewsSwell And now for something really different . . . Roxy's Bliss incorporates a "scalloped" tail, designed to make finishing the turn easier for beginning and cruising intermediates. This is not a technical learning tool, so if game improvement is the game, move on. But if having more fun and skiing easier at level 5 or 6 is the main aim, the Swell may be just swell. Summed up by one tester: "Confidence inspiring." Bliss "Nice, cruising ski, very smooth, easy to ski." summed up one test skier. Roxy is the second company known for other pursuits, in this case surfing, to jump into the ski biz back in 2008, along with Palmer Snowboard Co. The secret here is that these skis are built by the Dynastar-Rossi combine. As far as we know, this is the only purely female oriented company selling skis; it will be interesting to watch whether if the ploy succeeds in finding additional outlets for Dynastar/Rossignol skis with flashy graphics. Joyrider Roxy's high-end 1-ski-quiver for female skiers. Biased toward the groomed, but capable of handling the entire mountain and virtually all conditions. Highly versatile in terms of terrain and conditions, and in terms of suitability for a wide range of skill levels—an excellent teaching ski. "Wow!" noted one skier, "Wicked fun!" Broomstix Updated for 2009, unchanged for 2010. Professional grade crossover for strong female skiers. Sarah Burke won X-Games gold on the prototype of this ski and, like the Shazam, the ski is not limited only to pros. Remarkably versatile for this level ski. Shazam Roxy's well balanced #2 crossover for females. Quick, stable, light, easy to ski and excellent (for a twin) on the groomed. Pro level and aggressive skiers may prefer the redesigned Broomstix. Salomon "bottom-line" reviewsOrigins Opal (Updated) Nice, comfortable, easy to ski groomer cruiser. Best suited to relaxed skiers who are not involved in serious skill building. Raises the rent or buy question; it is often more cost effective for occasional skiers to demo rather than buy. XW Tornado Less demanding than the TI, still with plenty of performance. Definitely a better choice for non-professionals. Most test skiers felt it was enough ski for almost anyone and found it more relaxing. Smoother than the TI, stable at speed, more versatile. A definite hit for Salomon. Lord Those looking for a Salomon rocker (and unless you've been on a rocker, it would be risky to buy any without trying first) will probably find the Lord a better choice than the Czar. While still focused on deep snow and backside terrain, the Lord is more versatile and handles reasonably well on tamer terrain to and from the steep and deep. A rockered ski is, for the moment at least, about as far from a 1-ski-quiver as is a World Cup slalom. Any special purpose ski should probably be a second (or 3rd) pair, unless the skier is fortunate enough to have access to powder most of the time. That's unusual, even at resorts like Alta or Steamboat. Lady Female-specific companion to the Lord and it elicited fairly similar, though slightly lower, scores. Same cautions apply . . . Mai Tai "Easy ski, great on most terrain. Felt solid for a twin, but not much on hard pack." And, according to another succinct appraisal, "nice and mellow, not at all good on hard snow." If you vacilate between terrain park and the backside and plan on only one ski, the Mai Tai should do the trick. Suspect Less demanding version of the Dumont. At least one tester asked," Where can I get a pair?" Freestylers tend to get recommendations from friends and we predict the word of mouth on the Suspect will be strong. Stockli "bottom-line" reviewsLaser SC Stöckli Laser models are superb, precise carvers and the SC, a somewhat tamed version of the World Cup SL, is definitely in the hyper-carving hunt. Good citizen and masters race ski, excels at short radius fall line turns, without being energy draining. Definitely limited to the groomed (and the harder the snow the better), the SC is a technical turn fan's delight. If you are at all tentative about carving skills, this may not be the best choice. If you plan intensive skill building, race training or technical camp, it could be perfect. Cross Edition For most, a better choice than the Pro. More versatile, more forgiving and yet most of the top-end performance. Lighter, quicker, easier to ski. Stormrider Light One of our most experienced testers described the Stormrider Light as a "kinder, gentler stormrider, more in the rotor mold than a serious off-piste ski." Definite speed limit, not as solid on ice and hard snow as other Stöckli frontside models. Good ski for developing skills, but could be outgrown fairly quickly by a skier who takes lessons and gets a lot of mileage. Rotor 74 Edition Replaces the original Rotor 76 and provides a similar range of attributes to a broader range of skiers. Still one of our all time favorites. "A groomer cruiser for skiers that like a smooth, solid feel without much sacrifice in carvability." Great comment, but the ski is versatile enough to qualify as an all mountain carver. Easy turning, solid at speed. Even amenable in mild off-piste circumstances. Rotor 106 Test skiers seldom write long comments, but this one by one of our top testers summed up almost everyone's observations (word for word): "Beautiful! Great look, great style, great feel—Awesome! Easy and forgiving yet easy and capable of skiing aggressively. This new ski is a great choice for the average person looking for a powder ski and can perform at the highest freeride level." Another simply said, "get some!" Spirit Globe Similar to the Cross skis. Like all Stöckli technical skis, the Globe is a beautifully built and precise carver. More like the Cross than the Cross Pro in its demeanor, the Spirit Globe is a well balanced 1-ski-quiver biased toward the groomed. It is more relaxing than the Cross skis, but capable of much of their performance—except at extreme speed. One of our younger test skiers dubbed it a "frontside ski for the parents." Volkl "bottom-line" reviewsTigershark 8 Foot The least aggressive member of the school of Tigersharks, this "bargain" model was described by one of our skiers as a "low effort, high performance ski." Not for heavy, extremely fast or aggressive skiers, the 8 is still a solid choice for strong sport skiers, skiers who are improving technical skills and for those, like instructors, who need a high degree of versatility primarily focused on the groomed. Close in feel to the 4 and 5 stars of a couple seasons ago. AC 3 Motion An ego builder for groomer bound level 6 and 7 skiers. Good learning tool, good in reasonable bumps. Only lacks stability at high speeds; great cruiser on all but the hardest surfaces. Fuego Our favorite female-specific frontside ski from Volkl. Great for teaching, great for learning, great for cruising at almost any speed on almost any surface. AC 20 The key word in many of this model's write ups is "Fun!" While lacking some of the top end performance and stability of the 30, the 20 is still a versatile ski for recreational skiers of less than expert skill. Even easier to ski, a good ski for improving skiers who spend a lot of time on the groomed. Estrella Very easy, very forgiving ski for casual and occasional skiers. May make sense to demo or rent at this level, eg. skiers who ski only a few times each season. Gotama
Some of our skiers loved the Gotama. Others hated it. Very few fell in between. This is a powerful, high speed big mountain/all mountain ski for good skiers who gravitate toward gravity. You know who you are, as the saying goes
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