The Liberty V82 is a carving ski that thinks it’s an all-mountain model. It doesn’t know it’s supposed to be a specialist, laser-focused on maintaining snow contact as it stitches an endless braid of medium-radius turns. Of course it can do that if that’s what you like, consider the box checked, but if that’s all you ask of it, shame on you.

No other ski in the category is as open-minded about turn shape. Not only will the V82 make short-radius turns, it will make them to order. Want to make quick, snaky arcs that never leak? Done. How about sudden, snaps off the edge that elevate across the transition? Ditto. Unhurried and languorous? Suuuure. Rat-a-tat quick? Natürlich.

And that’s just the short-turn menu. It has the same as-you-like-it attitude towards turns medium and long. Whatever the V82 does, it does with distinction. It matches its pilot’s moves as if it were his shadow. No matter how you ski, after one run on the V82 you’ll declare it skis just like you. It’s that versatile.

Of course you can’t please all the people all the time. The V82 catches flak for a presumably diminished capacity in off-piste conditions, but it actually acquits itself nobly in moguls and other tight spots encountered off the machine-tilled path. Its pretensions as an all-mountain ski are only pricked by its inability to imitate a fat ski in powder, an illusion no Frontside ski can maintain for long.

Tester comments were uniformly positive. “What a surprise.” “Predictable and versatile.” “Easy skiing.” “Stable and secure.” “Legit carver.” And my personal favorite, “Man, oh man, they is sick.” [sic]

Skiers who have been away from the sport for a decade or more need a re-entry vehicle that will feel immediately comfortable and reassuring. The V82’s VMT technology is totally fresh, but its snow feel and response are infused with Old School solidity and style neutrality. For its willingness to adapt to the skier’s interests and aptitude, we award the V82 a Silver Skier Selection.