Völkl Flair 81 E (2018)

Though the Flair 81 was new (and a medal-winner) last season, Völkl’s German engineers don’t turn off their laptops that easily. This season, they took the already light and strong construction and decided to integrate 3-D Glass, which wraps torsionally rigid and lightweight fiberglass over the sidewall underfoot where you pressure the ski. The result is even better edge grip—and a category-topping overall score. Testers were impressed that a ski without metal could be so damp and smooth—noting it flowed downhill like a river. “Combines the feeling of silkiness and suction,” Barnes said. “Instills confidence at speed.”

Strengths: Balance of Skills/Versatility, Overall Impression 

See all of the Official Selections from SKI Magazine’s Ski Test in the Women’s Groomed Category here.