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Rossignol’s S86 ranked No. 1 in the Men’s Mixed Snow category (see p. 73). The women’s version is, thankfully, not watered down: Vertical sidewalls, two sheets of metal and a full wood core give it plenty of hard-snow integrity. Meanwhile, a rockered tip and tail ease through crud and bumps like water running downhill. (It scored No. 3 in Forgiveness.) Testers agreed that the S86W suited the category perfectly: a Jill of all trades that scored highly in every criterion, but didn’t stand out in any one. A very versatile ski for all levels. “Super fun and smooth,” said Gillet. “You could really take them anywhere.”

Remember when skiing wasn’t cool anymore? At the height of the snowboard revolution, a college kid taking woodshop helped bring our sport back. Jason Levinthal, Line’s founder, built what were arguably the first skis for the jib generation. Now, Line boasts a huge following among core skiers, for good reasons. One of which is the Celebrity 90, which stomped the category in powder and was No. 3 in Quickness/Bumps, too. It turned up its nose at hardpack, though, scoring last among winners in Hard-Snow Grip. But take a look at the price. Westerners: Buy this board. “What a ripping ski,” said Humes. “I was giddy.”

Völkl’s got a thing for Japan. We suspect it’s because they craft skis as fine as samurai swords—and the graphics are cool, besides. Enter Kenja (“wise one”). It has the same hip freeride feel as the wider Aura and Kiku—plus Völkl’s classic edge-grip to rail on the groomed. It’s No. 1 in Stability and Rebound and last in Quickness/Bumps, which tells you it likes speed and power. It’s stiff, too, but a tapered tail scrubs speed in powder and releases relatively easily on groomed, earning it respectable scores in Forgiveness. Still, its talents are best suited for experts. “Stable, yet not heavy,” said Gibbons. “Performs best when pushed.”V

We’re still scratching our heads: A tank that plows through crud like this one does shouldn’t be able to effortlessly dice up tight trees, too. The Koa 84 is a standout for striking the perfect balance: a solid powerhouse that’s ridiculously easy to ski. Its hallmark is a glued-to-the-snow feel (it’s No. 1 in Hard-Snow Grip), which lends the driver the assurance to send it into the trees without checking speed. It’s predictable, stable, and has a ripping, racy feel. Its heavier weight is comforting, but it sinks more than most in powder. “A stable ski that rips in all conditions,” said Beale. “I was a charging animal on this ski!”

Typical. K2 has another ski that’s fun, versatile, playful—and did we already mention fun? Like all the K2s we tested, the Lotta Luv is suited for the broadest range of ability levels. A huge sweet spot makes it forgiving enough (No. 2) for advanced intermediates, and two sheets of Titanal give it enough spine for experts. A bit of tip lift makes it easy to pivot, and yet the edge engages so easily, carving feels automatic. No. 1 in Quickness, it’s a lightweight, easygoing ride that won’t give you attitude—even if you’re not on your game. “Ski it aggressively or ski it easily,” said Humes. “It’s just plain fun.”

Chris Davenport is a cool dude, being one of the world’s greatest big mountain skiers and all that. So it follows that the ski he inspired, as one tester put it, “RULES!” The FX94—the newest in Kastle’s freeski/mountaineering line—eats up the fall line regardless of what lies beneath: powder, trees, crud, cord, bumps. It’s ravenous for speed and can never get enough. Two sheets of metal sandwich a wood core—the sturdiest in the category. (It’s also the only unisex model; Kastle’s women’s line is in the works.) “Crushed the chop, great float, and could still carve way out from under me,” said Schultz.

As the fattest ski in the category, the Spire was at a disadvantage in terms of quickness and hard-snow grip, but it held its own nevertheless. It’s fluid, supple, strong and surprisingly agreeable in bumps. And with that 98-mm waist, no one doubts its powder-day capabilities—especially with its touch of tip rocker. Flotation won’t be a problem. Aside from the rocker and width, it’s the same as the Apex (see No. 13), which testers liked for all-mountain, all-conditions applications. But if you ski lots of powder, the Spire will satisfy. “Easygoing, balanced, round and smooth in longer turns,” said Casey.

The Jet Fuel makes a lot of skis in the category feel like river barges. That’s how light, lively and quick it is. The layup is classic: wood core, vertical sidewalls, two sheets of metal. But this year Nordica lightens it up by using a less-dense wood core and replacing a section down the middle with foam. Nordica says it’s 20 percent lighter, and that weight savings is immediately apparent. Testers loved it in bumps and short-radius turns, especially, but they warned that it gets knocked around some in crud. “Slingshot turn finishes and nimble quickness; a high-energy ski,” said Gleason.

In a category where versatility is prized above all else, the Apex gets the job done with a pleasing blend of power and forgiveness. Testers gave it high marks for its hard-snow performance. Yet with plenty of taper (i.e., relatively narrow tail in relation to tip), it releases readily at the end of each arc, so you’ll never feel overmatched. It’s a no-gimmicks, unrockered, wood-core, vertical-sidewall, metal-reinforced construction with a smooth, supple feel—plenty of fun at speed. “Direction changes are quick, stability is super high—it does everything well,” said Preston.

Line this year introduced the Flite (see No. 10) as a dialed-back, lighter, more forgiving version of the venerable 90. Interestingly, while the 90 is still marketed by Line as the “higher-performing” model, testers found the Flite more to their liking, scoring it slightly higher across the board. Still, hard chargers will love the 90’s hefty, powerful, damp vibe, and the metal-reinforced construction feels especially rugged and durable. Like the Flite, it’s also one of the better values in the test. “Built for the all-mountain ripper: stable, solid and well balanced, though you have to be ready to work a little,” said Scholey.

At 96 mm, the Mantra was second-fattest in the category. That put it at a disadvantage in terms of quickness and all-mountain versatility, but it will rock those powder days. It’s a traditional-camber, wood-core, laminate construction—built for racy edge-grip that belies its girth; demanding, but also rewarding. It was No. 3 in Flotation, yet still in the middle of the pack for Hard-Snow Grip. It loves long arcs and high speeds, erring on the side of power over finesse. Among all the rockered skis, it feels especially long and burly, which skilled traditionalists will love. “A dynamic one-ski-quiver gem for experts,” said Malone.

Here’s an interesting design that elicited strong reactions, mostly positive. Salomon bills the Twenty Twelve as a park/freeride hybrid—but if you’re not a park rat, don’t dismiss it yet. Yes, it’s aggressively rockered, tip and tail. Its sidecut carves as well backward as forward. And our test model felt forward-mounted. Yet it surprised us with easy-going, fluid freeriding skills and supreme forgiveness. All that rocker smooths the ride in bumps and harbor chop. It’s nimble and buoyant. And on the groomed, well, you get used to it. All in all, a refreshing eye-opener. “Easy skiing; requires very little effort,” said Gleason.

The Kendo, frankly, sparked disagreement. It’s a narrower version of the highly decorated Mantra (see No. 13). Kendo means “way of the knife,” and with a sturdy, race-ready construction and two sheets of metal, that’s an apt image for its performance on groomed. Its lightness surprised us, and there was consensus regarding its Quickness (No. 2). But some testers saw it as a burly carver most at home on hardpack; others enjoyed it more in bumps and crud. One of our pickiest testers was its biggest proponent. “Rips the heck out of the hill in every facet: pow, crud, bumps, carving,” said Elling.

Was it just three years ago that Line was the scrappy little independent brand with way more passion than market share? Times have changed, though certainly the marketing muscle of parent company K2 must have helped. The twin-tipped Prophets have been tester favorites all along. The Flite is a lightened version of the 90 (a former category winner), ranking No. 3 for Forgiveness. Some testers wanted more edge-grip, but the price is certainly right, and Line still ranks No. 1 in street cred, whether it’s for you or your teenager. “A solid bump ski, quick in the trees, even moonlights in crud; was a joy,” said Malone.

Where the After Shock (see No. 5) features K2’s “all-terrain” rocker, its little brother the Rictor gets “speed rocker.” Just the forward 10 percent is rockered—the rest is traditionally cambered. K2 pairs that profile with a huge tip and aggressive sidecut for an 80-mm ski that carves with enthusiasm but never talks back. It gets excellent marks in Forgiveness—truly an everyday frontside ski and a worthy successor to the late, great Apache Recon. “The tip rocker loosens up the front of the ski, making it just plain easy to turn and more versatile off–piste for such a narrow ski,” said Elling.

Fischer has gone to great lengths to lighten up the 94-mm Watea, milling out parallel channels in the core, then filling them with reinforcing carbon-fiber I-beams. Then it gives the tip a unique shape—a 3D prow like the hull of a speedboat—the better to slice through soft snow. The result: The Watea 94 was No. 1 for Flotation and No. 2 in Crud Performance. As testers pointed out, there are quicker and more energetic skis in the category, but the Watea loves cruising in long, fast arcs on the groomed while waiting for the next powder day. “Fun at high speeds; awesome in crud; all-mountain versatile,” said Boller.

It’s built like a race ski in some respects—wood core, metal laminates, vertical side walls. Blizzard’s new Power System—a carbon reinforcement bar connected to an oil-filled piston underfoot—adds tip and tail pressure at speed while quieting the ski between turns. Blizzard softens the flex and adds tip rocker for manageability and soft-snow versatility, but it’s still very much a go-fast ski: No. 2 in Stability at Speed, No. 1 in Hard-Snow Grip. It’s thrilling, but it expects you to know what you’re doing. Easterners will love the tenaciousness. “Give it the gas; it gives back,” said Malone.

Here’s a super-sized version of the Sultan 85 (see No. 2). Dynastar gives it the same burly construction (it scored a shade higher in Stability); the differences are simply width (94 mm instead of 85) and rocker (about 23 cm in the tip instead of 18), plus a slightly longer sidecut radius that prefers going down the hill instead of across it. The result is a surfier, floatier feel that’s more at home in soft snow and a little less versatile for frontside applications, though it’s still among the favorites. Testers gave it the top score in Crud Performance. “Strong, well balanced; perfect for rooting out the last pockets of powder,” said Elling.

K2 goes deep with rocker. Almost every ski in the line gets some, from huge helpings in powder skis to subtle tip rocker that makes hard-snow skis easier for skidders to pivot. In an all-mountain ski like the After Shock, a 15-cm section of tip rocker gives it float in powder, smooth shock-absorption and quickness in bumps and crud, and forgiving maneuverability on hard snow. That left our 174 cm test length with about 160 cm of traditional camber—plus two sheets of metal—with which to carve trenches as deep as we cared to. “Fun, lively, quick and easy. A true one-ski-quiver ski,” said Garrett.

No. 1 in Stability at Speed, No. 2 in Hard-Snow Grip…. Yeah, it’s an Atomic. And a No. 2 Overall Impression ranking shows that testers were more than willing to overlook the tradeoffs in forgiveness and quickness. The Crimson­—traditionally cambered, metal- reinforced and a perennial tester favorite—loves to go fast, and doesn’t seem to care what the snow conditions are like. That big tip hooks up with ease, and thrilling rebound propels you from one turn to the next. It’s not for sissies, though. “Rewards those willing to set an edge an stand on it,” said Casey.

Blizzard makes rockered skis, too, but the Atlas proudly rocks traditional camber, and its No. 3 overall ranking speaks volumes. Among the fattest in the category, it floats through crud and powder as you’d expect, but its edge-grip and carveability are faultless. The camber gives it a responsiveness and explosiveness that rockered skis lack. “Such a silken grip; surefooted in chunky snow; nice round turn finishes,” said Gleason. The Slider binding interface gives you options: Buy another Slider ($75) for a tele or AT binding, and presto: interchangeable bindings.

High marks across the board speak to the Sultan 85’s balance of skills. It’s an ideal intro-to-rocker ski for the traditionalist. A touch of early rise—starting about 18 cm back from the tip of the ski—gives it smoothness and flow in powder and crud. But bomber construction—vertical sidewalls, wood core, two sheets of metal—and traditional camber along the majority of its length give it the snap and rebound that some all-mountain experts still prefer. It’s solid and fluid, quiet on the snow but never lifeless. “A solid ski for solid skiers,” said Preston.

Big mountain athletes Crystal Wright and Jess McMillan tell us what they think about the changes to the Nissan Freeride World Tour.

Rossignol had a great test this year, and here’s the poster child of the Rooster’s fully fledged return to relevance. The S86 is an accomplished generalist. Sidecut and traditional camber underfoot combined with a wood-core, metal-reinforced construction make it surefooted on hard snow. But rocker and reverse camber tip-and-tail make it fun and easy in powder, crud, even bumps. It pivots, skids, smears, carves—whatever is asked of it—making it a great choice for anything but the deepest powder or hardest ice. “Hungry for fun in all conditions, especially crud and bumps,” said Scholey.

Rossignol had a great test this year, and here’s the poster child of the Rooster’s fully fledged return to relevance. The S86 is an accomplished generalist. Sidecut and traditional camber underfoot combined with a wood-core, metal-reinforced construction make it surefooted on hard snow. But rocker and reverse camber tip-and-tail make it fun and easy in powder, crud, even bumps. It pivots, skids, smears, carves—whatever is asked of it—making it a great choice for anything but the deepest powder or hardest ice. “Hungry for fun in all conditions, especially crud and bumps,” said Scholey.

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Breck adds four feet to their pipe for the winter.

Tuning pro, Peter Boyer shows you the process for getting your skis in shape for the winter.

Here are ALL the skis we tested at last winter's ski test. See anything you like? Over the next few weeks we'll be showing you which skis out editors liked best, and why. On October 26, we'll introduce our personalized gear finder, which will allow you to find your perfect ski based on where you ski, how you ski, and how you want to ski.

Tuning Vid

Bariloche, Argentina is home to mountains, lakes, wine, chocolate, and beef; not bad for ski bums traveling from the Northern Hemisphere. The local ski area, Cerro Catedral, sells tickets for around $40 U.S and offers tree runs, piste, jump-building opportunities, and a limitless backcountry decorated with monolithic rock spires. When I visited, during a lucky storm, we arrived nonchalantly everyday for the mountain’s 9:30 a.m. opening. The second week, we explored the city, drank the wine, and visited Bariloche’s popular and hidden establishments. Here is what I found.—Molly Baker

To get ready for the premiere of Matchstick Production's “The Way I See It" this Saturday in Boulder, Colorado, we caught up with Ingrid Backstrom to chat about the new flick, Twitter, and getting redemption on a snowmobile.

The third annual film fest will feature movie premieres, concerts, and more.

If you go camping in the fall or into the winter, you'll need a bag that's warm and protective. This bag does the trick.

Eye Trip, the newest ski movie from Level 1 Productions, debuts Friday, September 10th, at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, Colorado. We spoke to Josh Berman, director/producer of the film, about the upcoming night of powder and debauchery and from our best guess, it will be a heck of a fun time.

Three full days of food, wine tasting, and cooking demonstrations at Northstar at Tahoe.

On Monday, Vail Resorts announced a location-based mobile and web app, called Epic Mix. The company's Interactive Director, Mike Slone, sat down with us to discuss check-ins, pins, and where digital experience collides with a typical ski day.

Here are five Labor Day activities throughout ski country. Enjoy music festivals, beer and wine, and celebrate the last few days of summer.

Long absent from the Sierra Nevadas, heli-skiing returns to Lake Tahoe after a nearly forty-year absence. We spoke to the owner of the newly opened Pacific Crest Heli-Guides about filling the void.

A few Tahoe-based pros show you how to session a lawn circuit. Plus, how to set one up in your own backyard.

Warren Miller Entertainment videographer Tom Day filmed with athletes Sam Smoothy and Ted Davenport in Queenstown and Wanaka, New Zealand. Here are more photos from their shoot.

New York City's Big Apple Barbecue Fest comes to Aspen.

After traversing the North and South Poles, Larsen is leaving Saturday for the final leg of his 365-day ‘Save the Poles’ expedition: the summit of Mt. Everest. His journey is aimed at promoting clean energy and global warming awareness, and showing the world how pollution is affecting earth’s harshest places.

We checked in with pro skiers Erik Roner, Dash Longe, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, and Grete Eliassen to see what they’ve been up to since the snow has stopped falling. They told us about their BASE jumping trips, Hawaii vacations, and mountain biking excursions.

Think you could run 100 miles in one shot? Champion ultra runner Anita Ortiz fills us in on how she does it. Plus, a break down of the most intense ultra races this fall.

When mountain guide Ruedi Beglinger faced an avalanche that claimed the lives of seven of his guests, his world was turned upside down. Award-winning documentarian Steven Grynberg takes a look at his life and family in this feature-length film.

The WME film crew headed to New Zealand this week to shoot with big mountain skiers Ted Davenport and Sam Smoothy. Here are some images from their adventures so far.

Pine beetle problem could offer valuable alternative energy solutions to Vail Valley.

This Saturday, August 21, the Warrior Dash makes a stop in Colorado. This nation-wide race phenomenon requires competitors to jump, crawl, and climb their way the finish line. Expect to get dirty.

The Canadian mountaineer is attempting to ski two million vertical feet under his own power this year. He’s more than half way done. He broke down the vert, told us what he does to stay motivated, and gave a warning about Chilean chicken heads.

Non-profits team up to clean up.

This is the gear we used and abused all summer long. We love it and we think you will too.

Outstanding in the Field brings farm-to-table dinners to ski country.

Here is your chance to peek behind the closed doors of the 2010 Summer Outdoor Retailer show. Take a look.

Go to this Taos spa for skier specific treatments performed by experienced massage therapists.

A new system of downhill mountain bike trails would provide year-round recreation. But what are the environmental impacts?

Twice a year, gear companies meet behind closed doors to preview next year’s gear. You’re probably not allowed in. But don’t worry—here's a sneak peek at new, game-changing outdoor product. Commence drooling now.

Mountain bike with Lance Armstrong and raise money for cancer.

Go fly fishing with this crew, and you're sure to catch fish.

Try the fresh seared bass or the New Mexican chili chocolate rubbed Muscovy duck at this fine dining restaurant.

Mountain biking is an easy way to get some summer vertical and keep enjoying the mountains after the snow melts. It's also great ski conditioning. Here's some gear for the trails. By Ramsey Bernard.

Check out the past, present, and future at Jay Peak Resort. By Becca Fanning

The spa includes a fitness center that will keep you in shape your entire stay, as well as help you recover from a long day with their skier-specific treatments.

This family-friendly diner-style restaurant specializes in all types of sweets, as well as a variety of burgers, salads, and hot dogs.

Stop in for a couples treatment at this intimate day spa.

The development of a new water park will provide jobs and year round business to suffering Vermont towns.

Looking for one more late summer adventure? Here are our favorite multi-day backpacking trips in ski country.

We pulled our favorite Skiing covers from the past for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy drive-in style dining.

A historic hotel with a modern update.

Try the famous fish tacos.

The mountain-top Seattle Ridge Day Lodge has won awards as the best day lodge in ski country.

People watching and 360 degree views.

A steakhouse right at the base of the mountain.

This pet-friendly hotel is right on Mainstreet in Frisco.

A cozy bed and breakfast on Mainstreet in Frisco.

Get hands-on with the dinosaurs that used to live in Utah.

An interactive museum for the whole family.

This timeshare lodge is perfect for visitors that return to Breckenridge each year.