Dynastar "30-Second" ski reviews

These reviews are of new and updated 08/09 models. More detailed reviews of many more models, current and past, are now available on the subscription site.

Contact GrooveAn aptly named fall line carver also capable of large radius turns except on serious bulletproof, where a long arc may prove difficult to sustain. Responds best to modern carving technique. Exceptionally smooth for a 12m ski. Effective for honing carving skills.

Contact 4 X 4Dynastar's most versatile ski and one of the best 1-ski-quivers on any mountain outside of the Chugach. Virtuoso all mountain carver: powerful, silky smooth, stable, agile, predictable and, for all that, easy to ski. Likely to be on our Skis of the Year list.

Exclusive ActiveUpdated and upgraded female-specific analog to the 4 x 4. Just as versatile, just as well suited to be a 1-ski-quiver. It does everything well and without being too demanding of technical perfection or high energy. Top rank teaching/learning ski.

Legend 4800Updated and, we fear, downgraded. This is the latest descendant of one of our all time favorite Dynastar skis, the Intuitive 74. Now significantly wider and beefier, it has lost some of its versatility. The Intuitive 74 was split in 2006 into the 4800 and the 8000. Until now, the 4800 was placed on the less aggressive end of the 74's ultra-wide performance spectrum; the new 4800 is more like the 8000. We recommend the 4X4 over this new version of the 4800. This is still an excellent all around ski, but the bar is raised!

Huge TroubleThe ski floats! That should be obvious with specs of 140/115/130 (33m), but beyond that, and unlike some other ultra-wides, the Huge— Dynastar's mammoth freestyle-freeride crossover—is surprisingly responsive... in the park and in deep snow; still, this ski will never be totally at home on the groomed.

Legend Pro RiderModified 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.